The Soul of a Dragon

Chapter 19

Vara

I cannot stop my eyes from travelling down his lean, muscular torso. Droplets of rain are sitting like glistening spots on his shoulders. Some are running down his body so excruciatingly slow, I keep staring at them making their journey further down...and down...and down...

A few droplets trace the outer line of his notable biceps and flow along distinct veins that decorate his strong arms...

...down...and down...and down...

They reach Hiccup's veiny, callous, and big hands, dripping off the fingertips towards the ground. I find myself imagining what those hands are capable of. I can almost feel them holding me by my waist, or cupping my face and then going down to softly grab my neck...

My focus darts to other droplets. Their pace decelerates as they hit the slight curves of Hiccup's pronounced abs, then they travel down...

...and down...and down...and down...

I notice the thin and delicate line of hairs starting at his navel and disappearing after the hem of his tanned leather pants. I blush at the thought of what's hiding beneath those garments.

I swallow hard. I've seen him without a shirt when I was tending to some wounds he acquired from fighting dragon hunters all by himself. But at that time, my priority was to heal those wounds, which is why I didn't consciously pay attention to his body. I already know he's strong but I would have never expected THIS under all of that armour.

He must register my staring because when my eyes find their way back to his chiselled face, there's a big knowing grin on his lips. Though, a light blush is colouring his cheeks.

"Uhh...wha-," my voice breaks awkwardly, "Wha-...how-..." I swallow again because a nervous lump in my throat hinders me from speaking like a normal human being. "How did I get here?"

Instead of putting on some clothes, Hiccup hides his hands in the pockets of his pants and leans back against the wall next to a table. His movement causes the muscles in his arms and abs to flex beautifully under the flickering light of the fire. I'm gawking again, so I flinch like someone who's been caught doing something illegal as Hiccup says hoarsely, "I had just woken up and wanted to go change when I heard someone screaming outside in the rain. I recognised your voice and the panic in them, so I ran outside. But by the time I found you, you were lying unconsciously on the ground and Aria tried to nudge you awake. I carried you back to my hut and wanted to lie you down on my bed, but you woke up again. Well, not really. Your mind was still somewhere else, but other than that you seemed to be fine." I focus on his Adam's apple moving up and down whilst talking.

He pushes off the wall and slowly approaches me, stopping approximately two feet in front of my trembling figure. The wet clothes are clinging to my skin like an uncomfortable second skin and the cold is making me shiver and causing goosebumps all over my exposed arms. My breath starts to come in hitches as Hiccup slightly bends down to draw my attention to his eyes. Goosebumps are tickling my arms for another reason now. At the sight of Hiccup's expressive forest green eyes, I find myself getting lost in their familiarity again. "Are you okay, Vara?" He asks, his eyebrows arching up at their inner ends in worry. I nod, too captured by the way his warm breath softly grazes my lips. I bite down on my bottom lip to override the emotions that rush through me at that sensation. For a small second, Hiccup's eyes flash to my lips before slowly travelling up my face until we lock eyes again. His lips part ever so slightly and I can't help but stare at them now. Taking his time, Hiccup straightens his posture so that he's now clearly towering above me. I am once again taken aback by his height and need to look up at him through my eye lashes. Hiccup works his lips with his teeth and tongue and I don't think he even realises he's stepping closer to me. Our bodies almost touch, the naked skin of his torso painfully near my chest. I wonder what it's like to trail the line of his muscles with my fingers.