Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"You could stay," Regulus murmured, his voice warm and low against her ear.
His arm rested comfortably around her waist, anchoring her in place as if he had no intention of letting her go. His breath was steady against her neck, but she knew he was awake, watching her.
"Stay?" She turned to face him. "I've already stayed the whole night."
"And I'm asking for more." His fingers traced lazy circles on her skin beneath the sheets. "Not done with you yet."
Darya let out a soft laugh, brushing back a lock of his tousled hair. "You've gotten greedy, haven't you?"
"Not that I think you mind."
Darya raised an eyebrow, fighting to maintain a serious expression. "What makes you so sure of that?"
Regulus propped himself up on one elbow, the sheet slipping slightly to reveal his bare chest. "Well, I seem to recall you asking me to kiss you... more than once last night."
Darya's cheeks flushed, but she refused to let him see her flustered. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Regulus chuckled softly, leaning down. "Is that so?" His lips brushed her skin.
"Mm-hmm," she murmured, her voice weakening as his kisses trailed along her collarbone. "You're imagining things."
He hummed, unconvinced. "Imagining things, am I?"
She smirked. "Yes. I'm sure you're mistaken."
His hand slid up her side, stopping below her ribcage. "Maybe I am," he said softly, teasing. "Or maybe you're enchanting me like the Siren you are."
Before she could protest, his mouth found hers in a slow, languid kiss, his fingers pulling her closer. For a moment, the world outside his room ceased to exist, and all she felt was him—the warmth of his skin, the way his lips moved with a mix of hunger and tenderness.
Darya raised an eyebrow, though her heart raced. "Last night was... interesting," she teased, "but you shouldn't get ahead of yourself."
"Interesting?" Regulus kissed her neck lazily. "That's not what you said last night."
She swallowed, pulse quickening as his fingers traced her chest. "I say a lot of things."
His lips brushed just below her ear, and he hummed softly. "Oh, I remember. You were very talkative. Begging, if I recall."
Darya's face flushed. "I think you're confusing me with someone else."
"Am I?" His hand slid lower, his grip firm enough to send a shiver through her. "Because you didn't seem so shy last night when you asked me to kiss you here," he whispered.
"Regulus..."
The heat of him, the way his body pressed against hers—it was intoxicating. Her head swam, the line between memory and reality blurring. And then, with a sudden jolt, Darya realized what was happening.
