Fang-Kissed

Chapter 12

I didn't expect to wake up with the side of Raphael Fang Gold's head nudging mine... if anything, I kind of expected him to take full advantage of having his second-hand sleep inches to his right.

All I got was his forehead brushing against my temple as he slept so deep late through the next morning, he ended up on his side and didn't move. Neither did I.

I could sense a deep peace from within him.

Kami and Toni were whispering outside the tent, keeping quiet, also making comment about Raphael's unexpectedly deep sleep-in.

Apparently, he loved waking up at dawn every morning, but I am thinking he had too much moonshine last night.

I hadn't noticed any drunken effects on his behaviour, although he was playful with me on the way back to the camp late last night.

Right now, I needed to pee pretty badly but I didn't want to move. I was laying down just staring at his scar and his handsome face, completely relaxed.

Eventually from my staring, or maybe it was the sun splitting through the thin tent onto his face – has his eye lids finally peeling apart... the slow waking beast looks right at me.

I am not embarrassed that Raph caught me staring. I wasn't doing anything else, just. I had already figured this deep sleep was probably from having answers about Raze for the first time in 2 years.

"Hey, Clary," Raphael's morning growl sounds gravelly and deep, as he rolls onto his back reaching up and stretching, yawning and rubbing at his eyes before he notices the sun shining in, "...we must have slept late..." he murmurs to himself.

I sit upright and I see Raphael looks so vulnerable in his sleepy state, all douche-baginess is completely absent from his waking moments. I had to take note.

I also take the opportunity to remind him of a fact he clearly forgot.

He sees me sitting up with a small smile on my face as I reach over and I tap my finger to his cheek.

Raphael stiffens with my poke.

"I'm your second-hand," I remind him, "A very good morning to you, Prince Fang Gold."

I think I sound rather pleasant! But I also see the shock on his face.

Raphael definitely forgot he agreed to my assistance as a second-hand.

Before my moody Fang can process the consequences of that, I scramble out of my bag, I somewhat crawl over his legs and I leap out of the tent.

Okay, I really need to fucking pee.

I smile when I see tea boiling over the fire in a pot.

Toni and Kami are nearby gathering more firewood and I wave to them as I disappear into the forest for some privacy.

I do my business, I also took a water bottle with me so I could wash my hands.

The forest was perfect this late morning. Everything about it was warm, the bugs were out but not bothering me. The smell of Kami's wild garden was sweet and divine. And we had one more night all alone out there on the outskirts of Fortitude, to spend time together.

I finally return, feeling very happy and content.

Honestly, I'm on top of the world since my unexpected arrival to Fortitude.

Neither did I think I would be so happy to hear I am Raphael Fang Gold's second-hand last night. Even though I quite literally asked persistently to be so. I knew it wouldn't be easy, I knew he was hard work, but damn did that wild Fang need a helping hand forward.