Chapter Text
You weren’t sure how long you lay there. Time didn’t feel real. Not with his arm draped over your waist, not with your cheek resting against his chest, not with his fingers gently tracing lazy circles across the small of your back. You’d fallen asleep. Briefly.
Woken to the sound of his steady heartbeat and the weight of him still wrapped around you like he wasn’t planning on letting go. Your soulmark hummed softly where your skin met his. A warm little echo, as if to say: yes. still here.
You tilted your head. “Are you always this clingy after sex?”
He huffed. “Are you always this fuckin’ smug after being railed into next week?”
You smiled. He didn’t let go.
“I’m serious,” you said, voice softer now. “I thought you’d bolt after.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?”
You shrugged. “Soulmate panic. Cold feet. The usual.”
He snorted. “You think I would fuckin’ wreck you twice just to ghost you?”
You chuckled. He was warm. Solid. Very much here.
“…So what now?” you asked, barely a whisper. He shifted under you. Not away, closer. Chin resting on your head now, his breath tickling your hair.
“I dunno,” he muttered. “But you’re not goin’ anywhere.”
You blinked. “You sure?”
He pulled back just enough to look at you. Eyes serious now. Raw. “Yeah. I’m sure.”
You swallowed. Then nodded. “Okay.”
Another beat.Then he grinned. Smug. Relaxed.
“…Wanna shower with me?”
You laughed. “Is this a strategy to make it round three?”
“Obviously.”
You rolled your eyes. “I need food first.”
He smirked. “Fine. Food. Then round three.”
Then, just before you slid out of bed, still flushed and sore and glowing-
He grabbed your wrist. Brought your palm to his lips. Kissed you.
“Mine.”
And for the first time in forever, you felt like you belonged.