My memory ran toward a certain night when I was still living in the Lair.
Warm temperature, heavy breathing, wide and shaking eyes...I could hear his erratic breathing and perhaps because of our bond, his panic.
"Nat--"
"Valen..." the name coming from his lips was rough, gritty...obsessive. "Can you...get away..."
My heart dropped at the way his voice contained so much struggle. He closed his eyes and furrowed deeply, as if the sight of me was an immediate threat to his sanity. Oh, it broke my heart to see how much he was struggling, especially after realizing that I was the one causing it.
And Mother--still he tried to not force himself on me. Oh, how I loved him so, so much.
"It's okay," I raised my hands and cupped his heated cheeks. I could feel them tremble beneath my palm. "Nat, it's okay."
