From the top of the crescent dune, Endymion could see stunning landscapes of lush forests to his left and oceanic islands to his right. The view of the islands somehow elicited a memory to him. A memory that made his lips curl into a wide grin, his heart hammered as if he were actually experiencing the memory currently by partaking in the wondrous acts he viewed in his mind.
The bright blue sky above with the sun brightly shining over the crystal clear water and the sea breeze giving off the warm briny scent, relaxed him from his royal duties.
Making his way further down the beach, he noticed Serenity wading in the ankle-deep water. A gentle breeze was billowing her loose sleeves as she tried to tame her escaped hair that wisped about in the wind. Her beauty was purely unmatched, even at her young age of nineteen summers. There was no one else in this world who could even compare to her ethereal loveliness. He stood in the wet sand, simply watching the alluring nymph as ocean waves lapped, desperately trying to reach him.
The water was calm and serene. It made it easy for Serenity to locate the pretty seashells spread about on the shallow shore. She came upon a unique looking one with an irregular shape of various warm colors. Once she picked it up, she examined it against the sun's rays, almost as if to try to peer inside of it.
"It's called a marine oyster." Endymion had made his way closer to her, glancing at her newfound discovery.
"An oy-ster?" She asked, perplexed.
He nodded his head and added, "It must have come ashore after the storm we had last night."
"Oh, it's open!" She observed, showing him.
"It's dead then and is no longer edible." He supplied with a frown.
With a disgusted face, she replied, "Eww, you can eat these?" She turned the shell over, tapping it with her pink-painted fingernail.
His laughter rangout. "Not the outer shell. But, the inner part inside the shell." Endymion grinned. "In fact, they are very nutritious and have some health benefits. You can eat them raw or cook–"
"Raw?!" Serenity shuddered at the thought of eating the poor thing as is or was…
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him, having her bottom flush to his pelvis so she could continue to study the bivalve mollusk. With laughter he continued, "Some even believe they are a natural aphrodisiac..."
She opened the oyster, simultaneously as he said that, his statement passed over her completely as she observed the poor creature's lifeless body. Endymion felt her shoulders slump, understanding her sadness.
"While it is unfortunate that the creature died, it is not without remembrance of its life." Softly taking the oyster from her, he showed her where whitish round stones were hidden beneath the creature's body.
Serenity gasped. "Are those – are those pearls?!" Reaching for one of the pearls, she admired the precious stone between her thumb and index finger.
"They are. We can make a necklace and earrings with them, if you like?" He suggested as he handed the oyster back to her so he could pull her closer to him and place a kiss on the crown of her head.
Carefully closing the oyster, she turned in his arms with a broad smile. "I would like that, Endy."
He bent his head to bring his lips to hers. After the soft kiss, she pulled back a little. Peeking up at him through luscious lashes, Serenity asked, "What about a ring?"
His laughter rang out around them, her allusion not going unnoticed. "If that is what you desire, it shall be done!"
This time she pulled him down for a kiss. It was now his turn to pull back. "With this pearl, which finger would you like it placed upon? Your right or left ring finger?" His ocean blue eyes sparkled mischievously at her.
Her crimson blush confirmed to him of her understanding of his question. "I don't need a ring to marry you, Endymion." She answered honestly.
His love for her bloomed even more, if it were possible. He scooped her up in his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist. Endymion kissed her with such breathless passion, she couldn't tell if this was real or a dream. His kiss was perfectly pleasurable and uniquely theirs.
Still holding her to him, he placed his forehead to hers and whispered, "Serenity, I would give you a million rings to marry me."
A soft sigh escaped her parted lips. "Oh, Endy." Her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest. She cupped his face, bringing her lips to his eyelids, cheek, chin, and then to his awaiting mouth.
"We don't need a natural aphrodisiac…" Serenity observed his arousal for her pressing against her heat. His words came back to her all of a sudden.
He let out a growl before wading them further out into the ocean so they could remain unseen by onlookers observing the ocean from the castle.
Her laughter danced around him as she held onto him in his efforts to move them further out.
Endymion could still hear her laughter from the memory. His fists clenched at his sides. He wanted nothing more than to scoop her up and make his way down to those islands so they could continue that memory from life-times ago.
The meeting between him and Serenity brought about a sudden rise of energy and a state of euphoria. The deep melancholic feeling of something long-gone missing was no longer there, even though it was only until recently that he had this feeling. She was someone he felt he recognized instead of someone who he needed to gradually get to know. And her beauty was familiar somehow, and absolutely breathtaking. Her image was permanently planted in his mind's eye and he was not upset in the least about it.
His thoughts and feelings were all so confusing. He hoped that soon this would all be settled and explained. His heart was beginning to feel whole again and life suddenly seemed ...almost complete.
The gum Endymion chewed on was to help reduce the thirst discomfort he would surely experience today during the games in the desert. It tasted of wintergreen, also a product of mind perception to influence his brain, the suggestion of his body feeling cool in this heat.
"Mmm. I love wintergreen." Her soothing voice rang in his wonderstruck head. A grin graced his features at the new ability she acquired, before turning into a frown.
Endymion turned to look around him. She was nowhere in sight. "Serenity?" He whispered in the dusty wind.
"I'll be there soon, my love." His heart hammered at her term of endearment. The simple anticipation of seeing her had his painful heartache subsiding as he could sense her nearness. He calmed himself to prepare for her arrival. Endymion couldn't run to her. He had to continue pretending they didn't know who each other was.
After their incidental encounter last night - of seeing the enticing goddess and experiencing the touching of her sweet, soft skin…a sweltering sensuality enkindled a lustful appetency to have more of her. The powerful regret of not tasting her delectable lips when she demanded it from him was more tortuous than tantalizing himself with holding her while restraining himself from engaging in her enchantment.
His thoughts drifted to what he should've, could've, would've done with her last night. One being how he would have lifted her skirt with agonizing grace before grazing her inner thigh with delicate fingertips while gently nuzzling her collarbone as he descended-
A moan-turned-coughing fit woke him from his erotic musings. Seems Serenity gained another newfound ability and could now envision his thoughts just as vividly as he could imagine them.
The masculine pride Endymion felt at Serenity's moan almost caused the casualty of discovery if he hadn't been able to tame his manly ego. Instead he opted to gloat internally while all covered eyes were on Serenity who had now joined the designated area for today's stage.
Endymion couldn't see her blood-rushed cheeks but he could feel the heat from her escaped embarrassment and the intensity of the ignited passion coursing through her veins.
She started imagining waves of frigid water splashing around her as she remembered arctic swims in polar ice temperatures. The heat of the desert was nothing in comparison to the furnace her Snevain was bringing about and nothing short of those arctic swims could cool her lava-flowing-flushed body.
The Elder was giving his commencement speech, allowing Serenity to focus on the course instead of the Godlike temptation whose proximity was only a tall rock pillar away.
Today's game was desert racing through a naturally created sand labyrinth. The Elites had to choose between a motorbike or a quad to maneuver through the maze-riddled tunnel systems. With no intelligent force behind the construction, the sand caverns lacked any sort of pattern or order, making the time completion of this course unknown.
The Dreseats were similar to camels in their ability to survive the harsh living conditions that accompany desert life. They have tiny blood veins where heat can escape from, helping keep their bodies cool. The bloodstream is also where the Dreseats store their water reserve without increasing blood pressure. Being able to regulate their body temperature can help them control their perspiration so they don't lose much water.
They have thick skin that helps block out the sun's hot rays while also keeping them warm during the cold desert nights. Their skin tone matches that of the colored sand around them, camouflaging them if the need arises.
Every Elite participating in the desert games opted for the Dreseats' survival abilities. Not knowing the length of time it would take to finish this game was enough for every Elite to consider the dreadful possibilities.
As expected, the Dreseats started well and remained in the lead for the first few hours. Serenity and Endymion knew their best chance for completing this stage, not even considering winning this stage, was to keep up with the Dreseats. They knew their territory and the tough conditions better than anyone. And so together they trailed the Dreseats.
No one could tell how much of the course they completed as the day passed, but the Elders could tell by the distance advancement that they were a quarter shy of the end.
The sun was setting, already changing the temperature drastically. Without the aid of the sun's bright light, traversing the tunnels was going to be more difficult.
With the motorbikes they had chosen, they were making their way through the tunnels when they heard an ear-piercing scream. Endymion and Serenity looked at each other before doing their best to gain more speed to find the source of the scream. When they arrived, one female Dreseat was visibly upset as she tried clawing at the collapsed tunnel of fallen sand and stone.
"No, no, no, no, no!" The female Dreseat screamed. Endymion and Serenity started to help her before a loud rumbling caused them to stop and view what was happening. The tunnel next to the one they were currently trying to dig out, was starting to crumble. Endymion pushed the Dreseat out of the way before the sand and stone could buckle on her. This then caused him and Serenity to be trapped on the other side of the fallen sand and stone next to the other caved-in tunnel.
After the dust settled and they were able to cough out the remaining inhaled particles, Endymion, who shielded Serenity from the rubble, checked her over for any injuries. The intense worry that slammed her hard was overwhelming, causing Serenity to fall back from the force of it. She did her best to assure him she was okay so that his worry would subside.
When it finally subsided and Endymion slumped down from the adrenaline dump, Serenity continued to try and dig out whatever the Dreseat was trying to get at. She believed it to be a fellow Dreseat and Serenity was not going to leave anyone behind, let alone die if she could help it.
"Serenity, what are you doing?" Endymion asked, alarmed with how more sand was starting to fall around her at her antics.
"We need to find them before it's too late!" Serenity continued what she was doing with more fervor, as if something was taking over her. A fuzzy memory started to come to light.
"Wait!" She hollered after him as she tried to catch up to him. When she grabbed his wrist, she whispered, "Please...wait."
"What?" He simply replied, annoyed, half turning to her, but not looking at her.
"Can we talk? We should discuss –"
"Save it, Serenity. I've heard everything you've had to say since you left the forest. SEEN everything!" He interrupted bitterly with a scowl.
She dropped his wrist that she still held. A flabbergasted look appeared, unseen by him, until she started thinking back to what would appear to him as an intimate encounter she shared with Seiya earlier.
"...What...? You...heard...no – seen.. Why…why are you…" She attempted to reach for him again, but he stepped back, away from her as if she were holding the bloody dagger that she just stabbed him in the heart with.
"...But... how come...how did you know where...when did – you?" Her emotions were clouding her ability to think straight – to comprehend something so simple.
"You mean how come you didn't know that I returned? Returned to claim what is MINE? MY betrothed?!" He was lurching towards her angrily.
"How I wanted to surprise the woman I love." His fingertips lightly brushed the side of her face. Tears started to stream down, trailing wetness down her colored cheeks. "Whom I love more than anything in this godforsaken world!?" He retched his hand away from her and she choked on a strangled sob. What right did she have to cry like this?
"You couldn't comprehend the hurt, anger, ...BETRAYAL you inflicted on me with your actions - so caught up in his mesmerizing gaze and lingering touches?" Endymion spit out the words with what he made feel like disgust to her – of her. He looked at her now, trying to convey his words with agonizing intent so she could feel an iota of the pain he was currently experiencing because of her. The thought of that man looking - no - touching what was his; his blood started to boil from the anger and the adrenaline being produced and his mind went green with jealous rage.
Serenity's eyes were glowing a soft blue radiance and her eyes almost seemed crystallized from all the tears spilling forth. Her breath caught as he bore into her soul with his haunting eyes.
Sobbing uncontrollably, he looked away from her. He wanted to console her, his only love, for what he was doing to her with his hurtful words, but what she had done to him… could he even forgive her?
Letting the words sink in, she thought back. "...Wait. That's not fair."
"What's not fair, Serenity?" He bellowed as he turned back to look at her. The audacity of her claim!
"What's between Seiya and I...he was only showing me compassion …after all of this..." Her hand gestured between herself and Endymion. "...after you LEFT ME!" She screamed at him in frustration. "You DESERTED me, ABANDONED me. For a YEAR!" Serenity slumped to the ground, deflated from all the emotions running amuck.
Now he was confused. His eyebrows knitted together trying to recall what she was speaking about. "What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about?" She jumped up and barked back at him with hysterics. "Don't you play dumb now. I received your letter - terminating our relationship, our BETROTHAL! You even ordered me to be immediately removed from your castle!" She was pounding on his chest with her fists. "How could you do that to me? Do you have any idea what THAT put me through?!"
Memories, thoughts, explanations, were all running a mile a minute through his mind. 'What is she speaking of?'
Serenity turned from him and fell to the ground again. "I thought… I thought you died…" She whispered. "Thank goodness for Rei… for… for… sav-"
Endymion dropped to his knees behind her. He wanted to reach out to her but how could he after everything he just accused her of and everything she just confessed?
"Serenity. Serenity, please tell me, what color was the letter you received?"
"What?" She turned back to him, her eyes puffy from crying, her cheeks scarlet, her lips parted and swollen… He couldn't help but run his finger across the bottom of her lip before cupping her face with both hands. His beautiful blue eyes were also swimming in tears.
"Please try to think back. What color was the letter?" Endymion had an idea of what happened and he swore to the gods above he would torture every last one of them for simply putting this distress on his beloved - not counting the pain and suffering both of them went through this entire time.
"Ivory, why?" Endymion pulled her into his embrace then, falling back so he could hold her, comfort her, soothe her, love her…
"Didn't you know my letters to you were always pink. Your favorite color."
"Yes, I was confused at first, but everything you wrote about-"
"Fucking Dolus. He did this. He asked me to write a letter for him to give to his betrothed. He wanted to end things with her, but instead he delivered that letter to you. I should have known better…"
Endymion lifted her face so he could look into her grieving blues. "You believe me, right? Serenity?" She nodded and started crying again. "I am so, so very sorry." He held her tighter and kissed the crown of her head.
"Can we get past this? Do you still love me?" Endymion asked her quietly.
Serenity looked up at him incredulously. "I will need time to process all of this and recover from this train-wreck of a year…"
He nodded in understanding. "Take as much time as you need. I would wait an eternity for you." Pulling away from her, she stopped him.
"No! Please don't leave me again! I want to recover from this with you!"
Then his lips descended to hers, his soft kisses felt like sweet torture.
"Endymion, never let me go."
"Never."
Serenity started to cry. Endymion couldn't see her tears because of the suit, but he noticed her shoulders slump forward before she fell to her knees. He rushed to check on her.
"Love-Serenity? Are you okay?" His tender touch and gentle voice soothed her.
"I thought… I thought you died…" She confessed. "Please don't ever leave me, Endy…Endymi…Endymion…" Her agony punched the air out of his lungs. She was referencing their past life. He hadn't failed to notice her calling him by his real name either.
Endymion wrapped her in his arms and molded her to his body.
"These memories…thoughts…experiences - whatever they are, are so confusing… and taxing on me."
Holding her, he agreed. "I know. For me too."
"We still have to finish this stage, with two more to go." She reminded him and herself. Bringing her attention back to their current situation. Pulling away, she assessed their options. Being in his arms was bringing back feelings and emotions she wanted to explore further. But now was not the time. She needed to focus.
He let her go. It was then he noticed the lack of sparks flying between them. Either they were maturing in this relationship of theirs or… he didn't even want to think of the alternative. "Hey, meet me somewhere after we finish this race, okay?"
"Okay. Where?"
"Do you know where the waterfall is at the base of the mountain?"
She nodded.
"Let's-"
A loud boom sounded before sand and rock crumbled, revealing a wide enough hole for them to squeeze through. In that hole was the Selas Endymion was seen speaking to before.
"Kunzite!" Endymion praised his comrade. "Thank you for finding us so quickly." Kunzite nodded but shot a quick glance to Serenity. Kunzite's words from earlier coming back to him.
"...she alone has the ability to hold your fate in the palm of her hand."
"What about the Dreseats stuck in there?" Serenity pointed to the rubble behind her.
"We will take care of it." Just then three more Selases showed up.
A tall brunette Selas jumped through the hole, trying to usher Serenity and Endymion out of the hole. "You two need to continue or you will fall behind or be disqualified."
"We can't let that happen." It was said by a man with long blonde hair tied back with a string, outstretching his hand for Serenity to take.
"Luckily everyone else was also stuck in this area until we could make a path." The shaggy-haired Selas winked. "We cleared the path for you two first, but you have to hurry."
Serenity didn't know what to think of their actions. Were they cheating? What did it matter if they placed first? She just wanted to finish this damn race. Her mind was at ease when she saw them clear the path of the Dreseats she was working on saving.
"Here are your bikes. Now go!" She didn't need any further prompting. Her bike roared to life. Serenity heard Endymion thanking the Selases, but she was eager to get out and away from this sand.
xx
—-
xx
It was about an hour after the race. Serenity was waiting at the base of the mountain for Endymion to arrive. It was late at night and the stars were shining brightly, illuminating her immediate surroundings. It was still too dark for her to view the majestic waterfall, but she would get to see it tomorrow when they had their stage in the water.
She thought back to the end of today's race. Two Dreseats passed the finish line before her and Endymion could. He allowed her to cross first, putting her in third place for this race. Shortly after that, he sent her a quick message through telepathy: 'Remember our deal?' She nodded and he disappeared in a whirlwind.
xx
—-
xx
"What the hell, Endymion?!" It was Nephrite who questioned him.
Zoisite balked with an open mouth. "You cannot be serious."
"I don't give a shit about this tournament anymore." Endymion slammed his glass down on the table as he stood up.
Kunzite stared at him with impassive eyes, only listening to their conversations.
"You cannot possibly mean that. Think of all the good that will come to your territory…" Zoisite was trying to reason with him.
"It doesn't matter anymore!" Endymion swiped the glass off the table, sending it flying across the room and shattering into a million pieces as it collided with the brick wall. "She is my reason for existing." He looked at each and every one of them, challenging them to say otherwise.
"I can feel it." He glanced to his hands, raising them to show them the electricity that was sparking, traveling from one hand to the other. "She makes me feel more powerful than any tournament victory ever could."
They looked at him with wonder, yet hesitated to agree.
Kunzite pushed himself off the wall. He was the only one who had enough courage to dispute Endymion's claims. "How do you know this type of power will not destroy you or her, even? What if it's evil based and will destroy our world? You don't know enough about your past with her. Maybe there was a reason you two were separated?"
Pain. There it was again. Endymion was feeling that a lot lately. Kunzite was Endymion's favorite and his wisdom was always highly regarded and considered in his decision making. So it was hurting Endymion to hear his best friend disagree with his heart.
"How do I know that it's not you who is keeping me from being with her?" Endymion questioned all of them but kept his eyes on Kunzite.
"Your anger only seems to come about when we are around." Nephrite clearly specified.
"Touché." Jadeite commended.
"I don't want to fight with you all. Help me with this." Endymion's hands were pulsing with white light now.
"It won't be easy." Zoisite declared.
Endymion smirked, happy to have his friends back. "The best things in life never are."
Jadeite snorted before he could stop himself. "What are you — a Hallmark card?"
Even Kunzite smiled at that.
xx
-–
xx
They needed privacy for a tête-à-tête conversation. That's why he asked her to meet him at the waterfall. And now he was running late meeting her. He hoped she hadn't left yet. His friends didn't agree with him when he told them he was going to meet up with Serenity and that delayed him. Fortunately they were willing to help him, even if it was begrudgingly.
Teleporting was the easiest way to get around, but it also left an invisible trail for someone to follow him with. So he had to travel the normal way, with a few diversions here and there. Something else that was delaying him.
Endymion didn't see her at first when he arrived. He looked around one area and would travel to another area in hopes of finding her. Thoughts of her leaving because of his lateness panicked him. They really needed to talk.
Just as he was about to give up, her scent surrounded him, tantalizing him. He inhaled deeply, slowly releasing his breath through his mouth.
Serenity was laying on a large moss-covered, smooth rock. Her eyes were closed, indicating she must have fallen asleep waiting for him. He felt guilty for making her wait when this was his idea.
Not knowing how long she slept for, he watched her for a bit, feasting his hungry eyes on her delicious-looking body. It wasn't as if her body was exposed - far from it. She was completely bundled up in a matching sweatsuit with the sweater being a little oversized for her perfect figure. Serenity wasn't coming here to seduce him. She wanted to be comfortable from their strenuous and long day.
But his body responded to hers whenever it was near. Baggy clothes or not, he knew what her figure felt like and if his memory served him correctly of their past life, her body was exquisite.
Endymion could no longer keep away from being near her. He approached her carefully, only caressing her face when he crouched down to be eye-level with her.
"...you prom-ised…"
Her words startled him. She must be sleep-talking, he surmised. Endymion brushed a stray hair away from her eyes.
"...stay…love me…"
Endymion wanted to wake her, but now he was curious as to what she was dreaming about - who she was dreaming about…
He placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"...Dimi…"
His lips curled into a grin. Now that he knew, it was time to give her the real deal. A dream he had recently of her clued him in on her favorite way to wake up… but he couldn't do that with her yet, so he opted to gently massage her head with gentle fingers.
Serenity stirred at his ministrations. "Endy?" His smile brightened at her shortening of his name.
"Sorry, I must have fallen asleep." She rose up and yawned, rubbing her eyes awake.
"No, it's okay. I'm the one who is sorry. I was detained and couldn't get to you sooner." He smiled as he stood up to sit next to her on the rock. His arms wrapped her waist, pulling her to him to keep her comfortable and warm.
"'Sokay. Mmm, you smell good and are so warm." She snuggled into him deeper. His chuckle vibrated across her body. Her body started to react to his and she gripped onto his fitted sweater tighter, her dreams still fresh in her mind.
Serenity pulled back to look at him. His head turned her way when she sat up. She reached up to touch his face, being gentle and exploratory, as though she were mapping the planes of his face, memorizing each detail.
He repositioned her so she was facing him, sitting in his lap. His restraint demonstrated with fistfuls of her sweatpants placed firmly at the side of her outer thighs.
Taking a deep breath of his natural scent mixed with his cologne, she slowly ran her hands down his clothed chest, resting on his abdomen. His intake of breath to calm himself had her smirking. The muscles of his abdomen shuddered at what she would do next. She began lifting the sweater slightly to allow her hands under it to run her soft hands up his firm and chiseled torso. Her hands were slightly chilled by the night air so her touch to his heated body caused an inferno to erupt into liquid fire through his veins.
His tailored jeans couldn't hide his arousal and so when she felt it, a shaky moan escaped her parted lips. There was that moan again and this time he could gloat in delight.
She arched her back and tilted her head, exposing her neck. It was an invitation and he accepted. He left open-mouthed kisses along her neck and jaw, nipping, sucking, and licking along the way.
Her hands threaded through his hair, keeping him in place or bringing him closer. Her breath was staggering and her body started convulsing. His hands still rested at her sides, but she wanted him exploring her body with them.
Coaxing him, she began to slowly grind over his erection, the friction helping her body with some kind of reprieve as well. Endymion's hands were tightening and pulling and pushing against her thighs as she rocked her sensual body over him.
"This isn't talking." He tried, not really wanting to end this heavenly torture.
She laughed. "I don't want to talk right now." Then she removed her sweatshirt, exposing her lace bra. Her heaving swells and perky tips enticed him more than water could to a thirsty man. "Unless it's me telling you to go faster or harder."
"Fuck, Serenity!" Endymion was on the edge of succumbing to the temptress's seduction technique. All he needed to do was nip at the perfect peak positioned for his mouth's pleasure...
Lust was in possession of Serenity and she didn't want to release it. Her desire for Endymion was stronger than anything she had ever experienced. She would give up everything just to experience a passion-filled session with him. It was honestly so startling and should scare her, but she could think of nothing else but having him deep inside of her, bringing her to rapturous delight, while being high on ecstasy.
Waves of fire were roaring through her trembling body and white-hot flames were licking at Endymion. His body was only waiting for the oxygen that would fuel this fire and Endymion giving in was that oxygen.
There wasn't a single thing on this planet that fired his imagination or his hunger the way she had. Like some exotic siren of myth and legend, she had captured his soul with her smile, his heart with her laughter, and now he couldn't think of anything else.
In the back of his mind, his heated discussion with his friends from earlier was nipping at him. 'What if this power is evil based or would destroy us or this world?'
A moment of clarity revealed itself. It was of him and Serenity, some time in the past. It was something he shared with her.
Endymion bowed his head, but didn't touch her chest. "As much as I want this…" He laughed and pulled his head back up. "Gods how much I want you, Serenity…the only one and thing I want right now…" She smiled sweetly at him. "We cannot do this right now." Her face fell, a frown replacing that beautiful smile. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek.
"For all of eternity, you will always be the most beautiful shining star of all."
As if a spell broke, Serenity froze. Her eyes blinked several times before she shook her head to clear her head. When she came to, she looked at Endymion with confusion.
"En-dy-mion?" She blinked again at him. "When did you get here?"
He could only stare at her. Was she really put under a spell? Possessed? What happened?
"I'm sorry I'm late. You fell asleep. Let's try to talk another night." He stood up then, sliding her down. It was only then that she realized she was sitting in his lap. And her sweatshirt was missing. She covered her chest as best as she could as Endymion bent down to pick it up and hand it to her.
"I promise you that nothing happened between us. You sleep-talk, but maybe you sleep-walk too?" His smile expressed a warming feeling of a possible truth.
"Maybe." She said as she pulled the sweatshirt back on. A little embarrassed at that thought, but her heart told her Endymion was hers and she was safe with him.
"Let's get you home." He put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her in close.
His smell was intoxicating, comforting, and very familiar… "Thank you."