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Ariel
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Ariel can't help but smile as Mason falls asleep on his stomach, his face pressing into the pillows.
'He knows I'm here…he fell asleep feeling me lay on top of him…he wants me here.' Ariel feels a thrill running through her at that thought of Mason acknowledging her even in such a small way.
Ariel begins to study Mason's back, he'a broad shouldered, with defined muscles, but something she hasn't been able to see any of the other times before now, are the scars on his back…they are faint but they almost remind her of a man's belt.
A soft rumbling growling sound, sounds in Ariel's chest as she runs her fingertips over the faint scarring, her lips curling back to reveal the sharp teeth of her draconic nature.
Ariel's hands start roaming over Mason's stretched out and defenseless body, looking for more signs of abuse.
And though Ariel is surprised that Mason's breathing remains slow and steady, the kind of deep rhythm only a true comfortable sleep offers...she is thankful for it.
The RV is quiet except for the soft hum of the fridge and the faint creak of the walls shifting with the night air as Ariel sits on the small of Mason's back. Ariel flinches when Mason suddenly stirs beneath. A breath of relief leaves Ariel as Mason quickly settles back down after having only faintly, muttering something incoherently into his pillows, without waking up.
Ariel's hands hover for a moment, then settle back onto his bare back, the warmth of his skin the feeling of his strong muscles underneath her palms.
A small smile forms on Ariel's lips as she starts massaging the knots in his back, working in slow circles. Mason's body reacts even in its unconscious state, it's nothing more than a subtle loosening in his shoulders.
But to Ariel it means a lot.
Ariel tilts her head, watching Mason's face buried in the pillows, a soft smile on her lips.
That turns into a bit of a scowl as her thumbs trace the ridges of old scars, kneading deeper, savoring the feel of him beneath her hands.
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MC PoV
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I start to wake up…I wasn't really all that tired when I decided to crash on the bed.
'I'm not really sure why I'm so tired lately…okay I'm lying to myself I laid down to go to sleep just so that Ariel would come.' I think enjoying the feelings of both Ariel sitting on my back and massaging my shoulders.
Ariel's hands are moving in a steady, slow, pace working my muscles that have been tense since I got here…in this work.
I try to keep up the appearance that I'm fully asleep but a grun-okay it's more of a moan than leaves me but it's concealed by the pillows.
But Ariel must pick up on it because she lets out a soft giggle.
"…Ariel." I call out to her but it comes out as more of a rasp.
"Shh." Ariel murmurs…no coos as her hands pause, then keep moving, sliding along my spine. "Shh-shh, Go back to sleep." Ariel continues in a cooing murmur, as she leans in close to me so close that her chin rests against my right shoulder.
I don't fall asleep but I do let myself slip deeper in this feeling of comfort, just as I'm about to fall asleep I feel Ariel getting off of me to leave.
'I want her to stay.' That thought crosses my mind and I move tackling Ariel onto the bed pinning her underneath me. I know that she's strong enough to launch me into the woods from here but I rest my head on her perfectly toned belly.
My arms wrap around her waist, and I breathe her in…Ariel…still doesn't push me off of her or try to escape, she just stays underneath me, her warmth…her scent it all feels wonderful not to mention the feeling of her lazily running her fingers through my hair.
"Stop slipping away before I wake up…and start taking some responsibility." I murmur sleepily.
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'If that's what you want…' Ariel thinks as a soft dreamy if not a little confused smile plays across Ariel's lips.
"I'll start taking responsibility, my mated one."
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I wake up to an empty bed. 'Damnit she did it to me again! And here I thought we were getting somewheres!' I complain in my head as I roll over and lay on my back staring at the ceiling,
'Did…did I push her away yesterday when I said that dumb shit about her taking responsibility?' I wonder and my stomach drops at the implication that I have.
'What's that smell?' I wonder and then it hits me hard, what I'm smelling that is, why? Because it smells like sausage and pancakes.
concentrating a little bit harder I can hear the sausages sizzling in a skillet.
I bolt upright 1911 coming out of my inventory on reflex. I look down at the heavy weight in my right hand before sending it back into my inventory.
'Maybe it isn't a good idea to keep weapons in the inventory because if that's my reaction to unexpected stimuli…I'm gonna end up shooting someone by accident.' I think and slap the palm of my right hand to my forehead and proceed to run said hand down my face.
Sadly my RV doesn't cook for me on it's own… 'That would be a neat function to try and enchant though.'
Sliding out of bed, stomach growling as I start to pull on a pair of sweats.
I stop in my bedroom doorway that is just at the edge of the kitchen space.
I gulp hard at the sight laid out before me, 'God she looks so beautiful.' I think as I watch her cook with her luscious red hair tied back, standing in nothing more than one of my shirts, bare legs catching the light through the blinds, spatula in hand like it's a mighty sword to slay a dragon…
'She didn't leave…' I think as I continue to watch her taking in every detail that I can, the faint hum under her breath, her shoulders and hips swaying a little to a rhythm only she hears.
'She didn't leave…' I think again and
let out a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding, Ariel turns towards me, her mouth forming an O of surprise…and I'll be damned if it doesn't look cute on her.
"I'm taking responsibility…my mate…" Ariel murmurs in a bashful shy way I never would've ever thought possible.