Shortly after their intimate discussion, Aurelia and Avilas left the restaurant known as Man Delikatess.
They walked silently through the nighttime streets of Downstride. Aurelia kept her hood up to conceal her hair and Avilas held her close to his side, his arm draped over her shoulder.
Aurelia could never shake the feeling of those five men following her on her first night in town. She kept glancing over her shoulder and each time, taking a lungful of Avilas scent and it eased her weary head.
This did not go unnoticed by Avilas and he leaned down to her ear.
"Nobody is following, you are safe. Nobody can hurt you while you are with me", he said to her as he flashed his brilliant predatory teeth with a smile.
With all these confushing emotions, Aurelia kept allowing herself to forget that Avilas was the apex predator of Valdera, and he belonged to her and she alike.
The night started to grow colder and Avilas made the decision to take them back to the homliness of tunnel system.
"So... is this your home, Avilas?", Aurelias aksed as she sat on the sofa by the fire. There were small aspects of his life that she was curious about.
"Sort of. I am from a city in the Northern region of Valdera, Absenia. But I have not been there for some time", Avilas avoided Aurelias gaze when talking about Absenia, he busied himself making her tea by the fireside. It had been nearly two centuries since he had returned to his true home. There was more about his home than she needed to know right now.
"Oh... is it okay that I stay with you? I have nowhere else to go...", Aurelia asked sheepishly. She had stayed here because Avilas saved her from her demise with the human men. She did not want to take advantage and overstat her welcome, even if they had a relationship now.
"I hoped that you would. You needn't ask to stay with me, my love", Avilas smiled up at her, she really did not need to ask but he was glad that she wished to stay with him.
"We have had a long few days. The night is drawing in, and you should get some sleep. Tomorrow, we head out to go find some more answeres. Maybe find ourselves a more permanent abode. Unless there is anything you wish to talk about further?".
Avilas was aware that Aurelia needed to sleep. Though this was not essential for Draugr, he enjoyed the night he spent asleep with her and he was anxious to be that close to her again. This was the intimacy he craved from her.
"I do have a few...", Aurelia blushed. She had all sorts of questions, ranging from their sexual encounter together, the Draugr, why Avilas had not been to his home, what would become of them as time passed...
Avilas handed her a mug with a devine smelling tea which she clutched in her now cold hands.
"But I am getting tired now. I do not know how to ask this without it sounding wrong but...", at this rate is Aurelia continued to blush so much she would become light headed. This was all so new and she was trying to find her footing in negotioating any kind of relationship. Especially with this exceptionally handsome Draugr.
"If it is your wish, I will sleep in the bed with you," Avilas anticipated her question and grinned at her.
Their eyes met and they held their gaze. As though their minds were linked, they both thought of their encounters in the bed earlier that day. Excitement and nervousness eminated from the couple though their words held no ulterior motive.
Aurelia took in Avilas wonderful features. His jawline was hard and fantasticallt sculpted. His eyes shone from the dark depths they dwelled in. His lips were stained red but it was perfect on his face. Her eyes were drawn down to his throat, his adams apple bobbed as he gulped in apprehension.
Avilas adored the way this girl looked at him. He could feel her drinking in his features and he had never felt so much like a love struck teenager. He felt shy and exposed but he also did not want her to avert her gaze. He wanted every part of her on him, in every way.
"Drink that tea, it will ease you to sleep. When you are done, we will get ourselves comfortable. I'll be right back", Avilas gave Aurelia a small warm smile before leaving the makeshift library.
Aurelias sipped at her tea and it was unlike anything she had tasted before. It was soothing and warm but had the sweetness of the fruits she had tried earlier. She could feel the muscles in her body relax and any lasting anxiety deflate.
Avilas returned with a large sack filled with chopped wood over his shoulder and fresh sheets draped over his free arm. He did not stop in the library and headed down to the room Aurelia had been sleeping in.
Avilas returned again a few moments later and beckoned Aurelia to come to him. She had finished her tea and hastily went to him.
They walked down to the bedroom to find Avilas had fueled the fire, changed the bedding and had placed a fresh jug of water at Aurelias bedside.
Within moments they were in eachothers arms, just holding eachother in the bed.
Aurelias felt unbelievably at ease for the first time in her life. Her had was on Avilas bare chest where he had undone the buttons of his shirt. His arms were wrapped around her body, like a blanket of love and protection as she sank into a deep sleep.