I thought you said forever over and over
Despite the unease that lingered in the back of his mind, Liam allowed himself to sink into the contentedness that permeated the scant space between them. He hummed his agreement with Maea's sentiments - staying home through the coming winter seemed like a prudent course of action - but fell otherwise silent until the Ancient stirred. He tried to stay out of her way as she rinsed herself again and again, as though she could scour any traces of what had transpired in recent weeks from her skin.
When she finally climbed from the water, droplets beading on her naked body and dripping onto the rug beside the tub, Liam watched her with clear admiration. It always amazed him that someone so beautiful could have chosen him, and he might have taken the opportunity to show Maea just how grateful he was had she not stifled a yawn. Remembering that she must be exhausted, he stood, accepted the towel, and started to dry off. In truth, he, too, could use some rest: he hadn't been sleeping well without his lover by his side, and the events of the day had taken their toll.
Once he was mostly dry, he wrapped the towel around his waist, then took Maea's hand. "I brought an extra shirt for you," he told her, gesturing to the counter, where a simple t-shirt waited. "It'll be huge on you, but it's something until we can get you home tomorrow." Or perhaps he should have said until they went home tomorrow, since he had agreed to move in. That was going to take some getting used to.
In the end, it took very little time or effort to get them both into Liam's bed, where he curled up with Maea in his arms. Despite his exhaustion, he waited until Maea's breathing had shifted to the steady rhythm of sleep before drifting off himself, if only to reassure himself once more that she was here, alive, and whole.
fin
When she finally climbed from the water, droplets beading on her naked body and dripping onto the rug beside the tub, Liam watched her with clear admiration. It always amazed him that someone so beautiful could have chosen him, and he might have taken the opportunity to show Maea just how grateful he was had she not stifled a yawn. Remembering that she must be exhausted, he stood, accepted the towel, and started to dry off. In truth, he, too, could use some rest: he hadn't been sleeping well without his lover by his side, and the events of the day had taken their toll.
Once he was mostly dry, he wrapped the towel around his waist, then took Maea's hand. "I brought an extra shirt for you," he told her, gesturing to the counter, where a simple t-shirt waited. "It'll be huge on you, but it's something until we can get you home tomorrow." Or perhaps he should have said until they went home tomorrow, since he had agreed to move in. That was going to take some getting used to.
In the end, it took very little time or effort to get them both into Liam's bed, where he curled up with Maea in his arms. Despite his exhaustion, he waited until Maea's breathing had shifted to the steady rhythm of sleep before drifting off himself, if only to reassure himself once more that she was here, alive, and whole.
fin
A sleepless night becomes bitter oblivion
Liam
