Chapter 34: Just the two of us
The room was bathed in soft dimness, lit only by the warm glow of magical lamps along the pale walls. The sound of Aeris's ragged breathing mixed with Ethan's steady breaths, one hand gripping her hip firmly, guiding her movements.
Their clothes had long since been discarded on the floor. Aeris, her face flushed and eyes half‑closed, was riding him, her body trembling with every downward motion. Strands of her hair clung to sweat‑dampened skin, small locks swaying as she moved.
Ethan watched her with hungry eyes. The sight of Aeris, usually so shy and respectful, now completely undone, fascinated him. Every soft, stifled moan she let out seemed to ignite something deep inside him all over again.
Aeris moved slowly, feeling every inch of him fill her. Her body shuddered, and she bit her lower lip to keep a sound from slipping out.
But Ethan wanted to hear it.
"You don't need to hold back," he said. "I want to hear you."
She drew in a shaky breath, trembling harder, then let out a low moan, as if finally surrendering to that request. Her hands braced against his chest, nails almost digging into his skin as she found her rhythm.
The heat between them built with every motion. The air itself felt heavy, thick with the sweet scent of Aeris mixed with their shared excitement. Her thighs quivered slightly, showing her effort to keep going.
Ethan lifted a hand, trailing it up her body to the nape of her neck, pulling her closer. Aeris leaned down until their lips were almost touching, and for a moment they just breathed each other's breath. Then she kissed him, soft but hungry, their tongues meeting between quickened breaths.
Aeris's back arched as Ethan began to thrust up from below, pushing deeper still. A sharper gasp escaped her lips, her eyes fluttering open for a heartbeat, clouded with pleasure.
"Ethan…" she whispered, barely a voice, her forehead resting against his.
"You're beautiful," he murmured back. His hand slid down her back, drawing her tighter to him, making her nearly lose her rhythm.
For a moment, she seemed to hesitate, embarrassment painting her face, but she surrendered again quickly. Her movements grew faster, the sound of skin meeting skin echoing through the room, softened only by louder, breathier moans.
Her fingers clutched the sheets beside his body. Ethan could feel every tremor of her thighs, every subtle tightening that drove him closer to losing control himself.
But he didn't want to rush. He wanted to savor every second of this sight: Aeris, flushed, breathless, so lost in it that she barely realized how she was wordlessly begging for more.
"Just like that…" he murmured, and she answered with only a trembling nod, lips parted, struggling for breath.
The moment seemed to stretch on forever, the heat, the scent, skin against skin, until Aeris felt release approaching, her whole body trembling. Ethan felt it too, holding her tighter, ready to carry her through it.
And so they stayed: two bodies joined, completely focused on each other. And in that moment, nothing else existed.
Aeris barely had time to catch her breath. Still gasping, she felt Ethan switch positions, laying her down on the rumpled sheets as he rose over her. His golden eyes looked down at her calmly, contrasting with the almost wild excitement in his touch.
"My turn now," he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Aeris blushed even deeper, lips parted, trying to form words, only to be silenced as Ethan entered her again in a single deep thrust. A louder moan escaped her without her control, echoing off the walls.
He began slowly, his hips moving with measured force, each thrust deep enough to draw new gasps and muffled moans from her lips. Aeris gripped the sheets as if they were the only thing keeping her grounded, dark hair spread messily around her head.
Their eyes met, and in her gaze there was something beyond shame and pleasure: devotion, but now not to the Herald, only to Ethan himself.
Ethan lowered his mouth to her neck, brushing her sensitive skin with his lips. His fingers tightened at her waist, guiding each thrust to draw even deeper reactions. Aeris felt herself losing control completely, heat gathering far too quickly, her legs trembling around him.
"Ethan…" she whimpered, words almost lost between ragged breaths.
"Say it," he teased, keeping his pace, his breath hot against her skin.
"Don't… stop," she managed, face flushed, nails lightly scratching his arms.
"I won't," he promised, voice a mix of certainty and teasing.
The thrusts grew faster, deeper, and Aeris felt the climax building inside her again. Her back arched involuntarily, legs wrapping around his waist to pull him closer.
Ethan leaned down until their foreheads touched. "Let me hear you," he whispered.
A loud moan slipped from her lips, beyond her control, and then came the warm wave of release, so intense it drew a trembling cry from her, a sob of pleasure. Her thighs squeezed around him, muscles contracting, senses overwhelmed.
Ethan didn't stop. He kept moving, slower now, drawing out every spasm, keeping her suspended in that peak until she began to calm down. Then, unable to hold back any longer himself, he pushed deep one last time and came, his body trembling above hers.
The sound of their breathing was all that remained in the room. Aeris, flushed, still felt her heart pounding, breath uneven. Ethan stayed over her for a few seconds before lying beside her, pulling her into his arms.
For a few moments, they stayed like that. Two sweaty bodies, hearts racing, breaths slowly steadying.
Aeris turned on her side, nestling against his chest. "I… never imagined it would be so…"
"Perfect?" Ethan finished, his tone calm, almost teasing.
She hid her face against him, mumbling something too soft to catch, her body still trembling slightly. Ethan slowly ran his hand through her hair, feeling its softness and the warmth still between them.
"Remember, you're mine, Aeris," he said, his voice firm but not harsh.
Aeris lifted her gaze, eyes still red, but now shining with something between embarrassment and happiness. "I always was," she whispered.
They stayed silent in that closed room, while Ethan simply waited for Aeris to rest a little… before starting the next round.