affectionate

21

FALLON

In the bath, I floated in and out of consciousness. Notes of Lavender tickled my nose and soothed my aches and pains. The rare moments where I actually was aware of what was going on, all I could feel was Lucius gently scrubbing my body down and lathering me in some type of oil that smelled so good I tried to force myself to stay awake to get the name of it. Unfortunately exhaustion was stronger than my need for the oil and I was sleep again in a matter of minutes.

The next time I woke up, I was under soft sheets and my head was on cushioned fluffy pillows. The entire bed smelled like Lucius and I took my sweet time in waking up just so I could breathe in his scent for a little longer. Eventually I pulled myself out of bed in search of the real thing. Slipping out of bed I noticed I was dressed in his clothes and my heart sped up at the realization. I tugged the neckline of his shirt up and over my nose and closed my eyes while tiptoeing my way to the kitchen. This was the only thing I wanted to smell for the rest of my life. The earthy aroma of the woods around him and whatever it was that he used to wash himself.

Rounding the corner into the kitchen, I spotted Lucius sitting at the table with a mug in front of him, steam spiraling out the top of it and dispersing into the air along with the smell of honey and lemon. He looked at me, cornflower blues raking up my figure and the hint of a smile on his lips. I took the last few steps towards him and as soon as I was close enough he was pulling me onto his lap, my legs on either side of his own so that I was straddling him. I brought my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder; my mouth right next to his pulse point so I kissed it. His hands ran up and down my thighs before finally deciding to rest on my lower back and massage it.

"How'd you sleep?" I sighed and snuggled closer to him, I wanted there to be no space in between us; for our bodies to be one, melded together by not only our souls but the real feelings that we shared for each other.

"Fine. I still have a headache though," Lucius pressed a kiss into the side of my head and continued his ministrations on my back. His hands on me always felt wonderful, but now that I was properly marked and we were completely and utterly bonded, his touch sent me to cloud nine and I hummed in content. I wanted to kiss him, my lips missed his and other than the feeling of his skin on mine, kissing him was everything to me and more.

I brought my head from his shoulder, eyes glancing down at his lips then back up to his own eyes. His eyebrows were furrowed and my stomach twisted in fear. His fingers traced the side of my face and stopped right at the side of my left eye. I closed my eyes all together because with the look he had on his face and the way he was touching me, he was definitely about to ask a question that I didn't have the answer to right now and maybe if my eyes were closed he'd get the hint and just let me kiss him.

"Fallon," I groaned and opened my eyes.

"Just ask it, Lucius." His thumb ghosted over my lips and it took every bone in my body to not lean forward and take it into my mouth.

"C'mere," He guided me off his lap until both of my feet were on the floor and my back was to his chest. His hands were still on my waist as he walked me out of the kitchen and back down the hall to his room. He nudged the bathroom door open with his foot and stood us in front of the mirror. He didn't have to say anything in order for me to know what he was talking about.

My tawny irises were gone, and in their place, eyes the color of dying dandelions. My fingers tugged at the corners of my eyes before covering them and forcing them closed. When I opened them again, they were back to being bright brown, not a hint of yellow in sight.

"I thought you said you were human." Behind me, Lucius removed his hands from my waist and settled for leaning his body against the threshold of the door with his arms crossed lazily over his chest. His eyebrows were raised in question, piercing catching the light from above and looking more like specks of glitter.