A soft knock interrupted Daemond's whirlwind of thoughts. He froze for a moment, his mind still tangled in confusion, unsure if he had imagined it. But then the door creaked open, and there she was—Mahnoor, standing in the doorway with a knowing look in her eyes.
Without saying a word, she walked in and closed the door behind her. The darkness in the room didn't seem to bother her; she moved confidently toward the bed, like she belonged there. Daemond sat up, watching her, a mix of emotions swirling inside him—guilt, desire, confusion, and something else he couldn't quite name.
She didn't say anything as she slipped off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, positioning herself comfortably against the headboard. She motioned for him to come closer with a gentle gesture, her eyes soft and inviting.
He hesitated for a moment, still wrestling with the storm inside him, but the pull of her presence was too strong to resist. Slowly, he shifted toward her, letting her guide him until his head rested in her lap. Her hands immediately went to his hair, gently stroking, her touch soothing and tender.
"Relax, Daemond," she whispered, her voice low and calming. "Just let go. Stop thinking so much."
He closed his eyes, his body tense, but her hands were like magic. Each stroke seemed to ease a little bit of the weight pressing down on him, loosening the knots of tension in his muscles. Her fingers threaded through his hair, massaging his scalp in slow, deliberate circles. He let out a long breath, sinking deeper into her lap, feeling a strange sense of safety in her embrace.
"I can see it in your eyes," Mahnoor continued softly. "You're overthinking everything. It's okay to just feel, Daemond. You don't have to figure everything out tonight."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she shushed him gently, her fingers tracing the outline of his face. "You don't need to explain anything. Not right now. Just be here with me. Let go of all those thoughts in your head."
Her touch was so calming, so tender. It was different from the fire they had ignited together earlier—this was something softer, something that allowed him to let his guard down in a way he hadn't even realized he needed. He felt his body slowly relax under her care, the tension that had been gripping him for hours gradually melting away.
Mahnoor continued to stroke his hair, her hands moving with the same gentle rhythm. She wasn't pushing him, wasn't demanding anything from him. For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't feel the weight of expectation hanging over him. All she wanted was for him to relax, to let go, to simply exist in the moment.
"You can be free with me," she whispered, leaning down slightly so her breath tickled his ear. "You don't have to hold back. Not with me."
Her words sunk deep into him, wrapping around his heart. Could he really trust her with everything? Could he let her see the sides of himself that even he didn't fully understand? The beast, the rawness, the vulnerability—could she handle all of it?
Mahnoor's hands never faltered, their steady rhythm lulling him further into a state of peace. He felt the edges of his consciousness blur as her presence enveloped him, warm and safe.
"Just breathe," she said, her voice almost a hum now, a soothing melody in the dark. "I'm here, Daemond. You don't have to be anything for me. Just you."
For the first time in a long while, Daemond felt something that resembled peace. He didn't need to fight. He didn't need to think. All he had to do was let go, surrendering to the warmth of her lap and the comfort of her touch.
Maybe, just for tonight, that was enough.