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If on a stormy night, you encounter a Lemurian the right thing to do would be to grab his hand and run for shelter. Past the tourists taking refuge under awnings of random shops and locals covering their windows. All the way back to our shared hotel room.

The warmth of the room contrasts with the coldness outside, causing goosebumps to form against my damp skin. My clothes are thoroughly soaked, but I still attempt to shake them off. If anything it lets me vent my frustration.

This whole trip had been.. Interesting to say the least. If the goal were just to learn more about Rafayel and Lemuria then I wasn’t even half successful. Sure I knew more than before, but every small bit of information only led to more questions.

Shimmying out of my outfits outer layer I kick it over by the rest of the laundry. Rafayel's jacket, also dripping wet, begins to ruin my undershirt as well. I don’t want to let it go. Something makes a wet thump on the ground near me but I pay more attention to the book I bought. I make sure the rain didn’t damage it before placing it on the nightstand. Maybe the text is entirely fictional, but at least it has clear answers.

Unlike him.

Much in the way I brought him back to the hotel, Rafayel leads me into the bathroom. He draws a bath, and the warm water releases comforting steam. His back faces me. When did he take off his shirt? I’ll admit, it’s a sight for sore eyes. Watching as drops of water roll down his back I’m reminded of my desire for something deeper. Something more than our usual playful teasing. But, do I even have the right to ask for that?

I pull the jacket tighter around myself. “Is it difficult to think of an answer to my question?” My voice comes out quieter than I meant it to.

He turns around. “I’m wondering if writing something like how to care for Lemurian would be easier. Or would it be quicker to tell you 1001 Lemurian stories?”

I look up from where my unsure gaze had fallen on the floor. “Don’t you know the consequences of the second option? If the ruler hears the same story again the storyteller will be-” Dragging my thumb across my neck I mime the future that could await him at my hands.

Rafayel's usual air of playfulness returns as he steps up to me. “Oh? But guess who’s the one that falls into a trap without realizing it.”

He places his slender fingers on my shoulder and touches the damp jacket. “You can be my caretaker and I can tell you 1001 stories.” Our eyes meet as he leans in a bit closer. “I’m okay with every choice you provide.”

This game is familiar but it still makes me swoon. Gentle touches, arguably innocent gestures, are how he teases me. Little things that make me feel like I’m reading into them too much when he inevitably pulls away first. It’s like there's a wall of glass in between us. A little fishie that taps at the glass for my attention only to swim away from me.

As he moves to take off the jacket Rafayel's hand touches the strap of my undershirt. He freezes, coughs, and then quickly pulls back his hand and his jacket. He seems sheepish as he looks away. “But you should take a bath first, or else you’ll catch a cold.”

Despite my disappointment, as I see him about to walk away I somehow manage to muster up my courage. “You can’t leave. You still haven’t answered my question.” Maybe my suddenness startles him but as I grab his hand Rafayel‘s body stiffens and he stumbles backward into the bathtub.

There have been moments, however brief, where the glass shattered. I can count them on my hand but in those instances it felt like I got to see glimpses of Rafayel's true feelings. Real vulnerability. Sometimes I find it hard to see sincerity in his cavalier attitude. I know part of this feeling is simply my own insecurity. Still the thought of him only returning half of my feelings hurts. It’s all in my head until I ask, I suppose.

A quietness settles into the bathroom. The sound of the heavy rain battering the windows mirroring how my heart is pounding. Soaked, Rafayel looks at me, the emotions in his eyes inscrutable.

“Do you want me to stay?” He’s disheveled, damp strands of hair clinging to his neck. Meanwhile, his jacket is behind him floating on the surface of the water.

I speak up, clearing my throat. “You can spare me the details, but there’s something important that you should tell me..” Leaning over the tub, I stare down at him trying my best to seem serious rather than desperate.

“How do you Lemurians express your love?”

Rafayel's laugh is breathy and quiet. His expression is one that gives nothing away, yet it has my full attention. “Do you really wanna know?” In the dimly lit, steam-filled space, he abruptly grabs my wrist.

“Rafayel- you!” Before I can move he has pulled me in with him, submerging the rest of my clothes in warm water. It splashes around us as I re-adjust after the fall. I end up straddling Rafayel's legs, my hands resting on his chest. All of my annoyance fades as I get to feel his heartbeat. Barely distinguishable from my own, they seem to thrum in time with one another.

“When Lemurians fall in love with someone all our senses are committed to perceive them without question.” Rafayel takes my hand and brings my wrist towards his face.

“Your senses? like.. this?” I reach out, touching his lips with my finger. He breathes out and takes a pause before his next sentence. “..your way of triggering my ‘senses’ has only touched the surface.”

Continuing from his lips I trace an invisible line to his chin. I nudge him so that he looks at me as I keep following the trail down his neck. I can feel Rafayel's adam's apple move as he swallows. Even though my goal is further down I can’t help but linger there. Eventually I reach his collarbone where my fingers play with his necklace.

“Are all humans idiots?” He mocks me.

Why am I an idiot? Is it for teasing him the same way he does me? For working him up so much only to have no plan on following through? Brow furrowed his jab only eggs me on.

Rafayel blinks slowly, his eyes seem heavy as he sits passively for me. Until I try to take my teasing past his chest. He gasps and as if on reflex he quickly grabs a hold of my wrist once more. In an instant our positions are switched. Now on top of me, Rafayel pins me to the other side of the tub.

A flash of lightning briefly illuminates the dark room. “Someone’s intentions are as clear as day.” Maybe.. maybe I got swept away in the moment. He’s right though. I don’t intend on just playing anymore.

“You don’t like it?” It seems obvious, but I need to hear him say it. If he can’t say it then why are we even here?

Rafayel mutters a response, his cheeks beginning to turn red. “If I said I didn’t, would you stop?”

His non-answer discourages me a little. I meekly poke his chest, just under his collar bone. I want to feel his heartbeat. Our heartbeats won’t lie. As I try to get closer Rafayel suddenly grunts before pressing himself against me. “Ah!” In an instant it felt like I was dunked in the freezing ocean.

“your body- it’s so cold…” Just as unexpectedly he pulls my chin forward and presses our lips together. Deep rumbles of thunder shake the room from outside. The perfect backdrop for a kiss as hungry and passionate as his.

The kiss leaves me lightheaded when he finally pulls away. He's completely flushed. Even in the dark just a glance at his ears can tell me that they’re red. While I’m still gasping for air Rafayel presses his thumb to my lips. “hah.. And you’re warm. I like that.”

I reach out and hold his face with both hands, granting me a good look at his face. Rafayel.. I rarely get to see this expression on him. Glistening lips, wide pupils, the candid emotion in his gaze makes me feel silly for ever doubting that he felt it.

“Rafayel… you seem different.” His eyebrows turn up at that. “Different?” He shakes his head, “Then will you still like me… no matter who I become?”

One harsh yank from where his necklace is hooked around my finger and he's slipping back towards me. Even though he caught himself almost immediately, Rafayel looked shocked. I want to keep that look on his face. Leaning in, I place a perfect bite over the right side of his collarbone. He’s just too cute sometimes! His little gasp as my teeth left their indent was absolutely precious. How am I supposed to resist wanting to bite him?

“I need to tell you this…” I caress the fresh mark lovingly as Rafayel practically falls over himself. “When humans fall in love with someone, we try to leave a unique mark on them.”

“If you say so…” I feel his heavy breaths against my neck before I feel his lips. “Raf-!” He leaves several marks of his own, littering my neck and the underside of my jaw. “If this is part of your human lifestyle, then I’ll embrace it as well.”

I feel the shape of his words while his lips are still on my neck, still making marks as he kisses up and down the column of it. They hurt for a moment before the pleasure makes me shudder. All this talk of embracing crystallizes the ache in my chest into pure want, ready to be acted upon.

“Huff- huff- I want to- embrace you too.” There’s barely enough air for me to get my words out. At first I’m not sure if he heard me since he doesn’t stop, but slowly Rafayel leans back. He doesn’t stray far, giving me hope that he won’t pull away completely. I’m not sure what I look like right now but I can feel all of my blood rushing to my face. He looks at me with a sultry smile.

“Join me, then. Let’s drown in the ocean. Together.”

Our lips are sealed together once again, and I willingly let Rafayel’s tongue inside. I busy my hands with the waistband of his pants, failing to make any meaningful progress with his button. Annoyed but not deterred I use a break for air as time to take off my sopping wet shirt. All of our movement causes water to slosh out of the tub. It stopped being warm a while ago but that's only a minor discomfort.

Frantically, I try to get as much of his skin touching mine as possible. My leg brushes against his erection. He presses into it for more pressure and I feel excited for what's to come. Although, a half full tub sounds like the last place I want to do that in.

“The water is too cold.” My words are spoken softly into his ear. Rafayel nods, sitting back so I can get up. I step out carefully so as to not slip on the water we got all over the floor.

We shed the rest of our wet clothes and quickly dry off before rushing out the door together. His hands haven’t been off me for more than a minute and yet it still feels like it’s been too long without him. I’m lucky the bed faces the bathroom door as I blindly walk backwards pulling Rafayel along with me towards our relationship's next step.

The feeling of his knees hitting the bed frame momentarily breaks Rafayel from your trance. All at once he realizes that he’s on top of you. His arms are braced on either side of your shoulders while you try to pull him closer, deeper into your space.

The only thing he can do is look at you. His cheeks flush as he realizes that it's the same for you. Your gaze, your attention, your devotion. Although he wanted the entirety of it, its weight was crushing sometimes.

Your foreheads touch, noses barely a breath away. Anxiety becomes the only chain holding back his desire and keeping him together.

But what if you end up hating it? What if things end up as they always do? What makes things any different from last time? Wherever you touch him, familiar brands light up under his skin. Even in this moment when all of his instincts tell him to break away his attention stays on you. For doing anything else would be betraying his own heart.

“Tell me.. What exactly do you think I'm going to do to you?” The question was meant for you as much as it was meant for himself. He can feel it, the overwhelming wave of all his emotions lapping against his restraint. Tearing it apart as if it were nothing but sand.

Although he knew it was better to keep some things close to his chest, it was difficult. He wants this, the elusive intimacy of finally opening up to you. Sometimes he felt like it was all that would satisfy him. He’s conflicted, a part of him still afraid of losing you. Giving in like this almost felt too good to be true.

Instead of answering you cross the small gap between your lips. His kisses haven’t gotten any less hungry. Rafayel presses his open mouth against yours, his fervor threatening to leave your lips bruised if they weren’t already. With him on top of you you can’t hear the sound of the rain over his heavy breaths.

Maybe it didn’t matter. Maybe all that mattered in this moment was the connection you two shared here and now. Pushing his body between your spread legs, Rafayel breaks away for air. His eyes rub over your face, taking in your half-lidded gaze and wet lips.

“I want it, Raf” you gasp out. “Give it to me.”

There's enough space between your bodies for you to reach down and touch him. That alone is nearly too much. Soft fingertips rub his shaft, almost in reverence. It feels like heaven yet it burns like the sun. He stiffens under your delicate caress. Rafayel hangs his head, making his warm breaths hit your ear.

“You have it.”

As you line him up his breath hitches when his tip hits your entrance. Rafayel’s eyes snap to where the two of you are becoming further entwined. Rather than push himself all the way in he forces himself to sink into you gradually.

Your hand touches his cheek, bringing him back to this moment. A wave of sudden shyness washes over Rafayel. He was blushing wasn’t he? God, he needed to pull himself together. He never expected that he’d be this close already. You always said he was cute when you caught him like this, but he just sort of felt like a mess.

He doesn’t know what you’ll do if he acts a little rougher. He doesn’t know what you expect from him right now. All he knows is that if he wants to discover more he at least needs to last longer than five minutes.

Rafayel tries to steel himself but it's futile. The noises you’re making are quiet but sweet. Too sweet. You can feel the pronounced vein on his cock against your walls. In an almost involuntary reaction, you squeeze down on him. He grunts, having to put more force into his movements. Rafayel watches, mouth open slightly as he wills his legs not to tremble.

With his size, Rafayel is still only a little more than halfway in. Without meaning to, he had accidentally been teasing you once again. You surprise him, hooking your legs behind him and pulling him flush against you, fully inside. A gasp and stifled moan escape him. Neon couldn’t even begin to describe how bright his cheeks were. He could feel his blood pumping under his skin, split in opposite directions and still barely reaching his brain.

Still he has enough sense left to take your obvious hint. Rafayel starts pulling out and pushing in at a near perfect tempo. Your nails dig into his shoulders as you cry out. Biting back a moan of his own he continues pressing into your walls. Each movement becomes quicker than the last until Rafayel is totally lost in your warmth. Now a man solely focused on the force of his own thrusts. Frantically chasing that heat he had craved for so long.

Rafayel finds himself drowning in ecstasy far too soon. Maybe his natural sense of rhythm had made him overconfident. Not a shred of his usual effortless gentility was here. He forgets about stifling his moans or whimpers. When his hips stutter he fumbles, nearly slipping out. Rafayel would be embarrassed if he could think right now.

Despite his clumsiness you cling onto him, whispering praises and encouragements in his ear. “That's it, keep going, so good- ah! There!” There was no effort to stop him. The reason was simple. Your love needed you too badly to slow down, and you couldn’t bear to let him go.

Through the curtain of his bangs Rafayel catches your gaze. His desperation, his passion, was mirrored in your soft look. When your hips next meet you clench around him. Whether or not it meant you were close, that was the end for Rafayel.

He calls out your name, and it’s the only warning you get before he spills all over you. Painting the outside of your cunt.

The tension slowly leaves his body. He curses, damp hair tickling your neck as he rests on top of you. Your scent was much more subdued than usual, tempered by being caught in the rain. You still faintly smelled of it, like the most alluring call to home.

Pleasure rolls over me like a thunderstorm, striking quickly before disappearing into the night. Only leaving me wet in its wake.

Should.. should I say something? Or would he be offended? I guess it’s better to not be too greedy. A moment of quiet ensues, long enough for me to overlook any lingering disappointment. Even if it was brief, I sort of got what I wanted. It’s not that I thought Rafayel would be bad, rather it’s more like I didn’t have many expectations for how the night would go.

As I feel him soften I start moving back until he slips out. Rafayel whines and, to my surprise, grabs my hips to force me to stop.

“Raf?”

“Don’t move.” He responds quickly, voice clipped.

“But you-”

“-and you.. didn’t.”

Things go quiet as he catches his breath. I weave my fingers into his hair, reassuringly. “It's ok. We can stop here.” I’m prepared to take it in stride, content to have just another tease. I mean really, how could I be upset that my boyfriend is so in love with me that he got too excited during our first time? The possibility of a next time is more than enough to make up for it.

I sit up, seeing him standing in front of me with a somewhat dazed look. “Really, it’s fine. I..” When I try to explain further he just shakes his head. At a loss I give up.

Suddenly Rafayel leans down and captures my lips in a passionate kiss. His arms embrace me, as I'm drawn in deeper and deeper. Using his weight to settle me back onto the mattress, his fervent attention leaves me breathless. Every kiss he places on my neck tickles. I place my hands on either side of his face and gently push him back. Enough for me to get a good look at his face and..

Oh.

What greets me is a hypnotizing sight. Unlike their usual state, the glittering pink in Rafayel's irises had completely overtaken the blue. The intensity of his adoring look makes me shiver. It reduces me into a mumbling mess.

“Why- why did you.. uhm-” He presses his thumb to my lips, quieting me.

“Please don’t push me away, cutie.” As he sits up he carries me with him. Replacing me further up the bed, he even takes the time to make sure my head is cushioned by the pillows.

“Let me make it up to you.”

His grip on my shoulder is firm but there was a hint of sadness in his desperate gaze. Before I can answer, Rafayel returns to kissing my neck, peppering his loving marks where it connects to my shoulder. He groans. “Mhh- I promise. I can do much, much better.”

My heart swoons. Now who would I be to refuse that most eager offer? “Ok.” I reply, simply.

Rafayel hums before biting my collarbone. “Ok?” My eyes fall half-shut as I trace the indent his teeth left with my finger. Would he leave more? Looking down at my own body I imagine myself as a canvas, one already marked by him but with space for more.

Belatedly I realize that he’s waiting for my answer. I nod a bit over enthusiastically, my tongue feels clumsy. “yes.” My heart is pounding, I’m sure I must look hungry for it because now his airy chuckle is cutting the tension. He has me all flustered. It was a little silly, I guess, how much our respective actions affected each other.

Continuing further down my body, he leaves a path of kisses on my chest. Not leaving a mark, just letting me feel him there. I feel his breath fanning over my tummy. He nuzzles into me with unspoken gratitude. Rafayel squeezes my sides, letting his beautiful hands caress all of my body's contours.

Rafayel’s hands continue rubbing me down, now having gotten to my hips and thighs. Taking his time holding the weight, lightly squeezing them, feeling me up. It’s as if he’s mapping my body. Everytime I make the slightest of noises his gaze flicks back up to my face. My cheeks get darker and darker and I find it hard to sit still.

“What are you studying?” I ask.

He hums, kissing my knee as his fingers press into my calf muscle. “You. I want to learn everything about you.” Rafayel’s meticulous deconstruction of my senses has left me hungrier than ever. No doubt communicated through the way I look at him. “What a diligent student. I have to warn you though, the exam is about to start.”

He looks at me questioningly. I answer by spreading my legs for him. I can only imagine the sight I am. Laying open with his cum dripping over my entrance. His fingers are warm, I can feel their fire starting to melt away the ache inside my body. For now Rafayel is just gently exploring. Even the slight touch makes me shudder and whine.

“You know.. I'm a little offended.” He says, catching me off guard. When I open my mouth to answer I instead squeak out something incoherent as his slender fingers (god, when did he get two in there?) discover the spongy nerves within me.

I finally manage to reply. “Why?” Rafayel speaks unhurriedly, keeping me clinging onto his every word. “Because for a minute you thought that I couldn’t satisfy you.” Cum flows between his fingers and down his hand as he buries another inside of me. He doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by it, rather he pays attention to how badly I’m keeping up with the conversation. “Ah!- N- no. I just- I just don’t want to push you too far..” Slightly flustered, my sentence ends in a barely audible mumble.

Rafayel stops pumping me abruptly and with a finality that tells me he’s made his mind up about something. His whole hand up to the wrist is slick with a combination of his cum and my arousal. Without a trace of hesitation he sucks his fingertips clean. He looks at me but I shy away. It feels like there’s a spotlight above my head, dedicated to illuminating this erotic scene.

The next moment I get startled by the feeling of his warm breath replacing the cold air of the room. I jump, which only presses my clit further against his pursed lips. “Rafayel!” I cry out as it takes everything in me not to crush his head between my thighs.

His words vibrate through my tender g-spot. “Push all you want. You can break me if you desire it.”

Rafayel presses his mouth to my cunt. Rather than escalating he starts over. Only letting his tongue graze my folds as if his fingers weren't just three knuckles deep inside me. When I try to move for more I find that I can't. His grip on my thighs feels gentle but there's a strength behind it that keeps me right where he wants me.

Gradually, Rafayel works his way up to properly fucking me with his mouth. He doesn't just stop there though. It’s a lot like the way he kisses me. Pressing in for long stretches, raising the intensity until my lungs beg for air. Then he eases back, leaving a stray mark from his lips on my thigh.

Where our bodies connect there’s a searing heat that only grows in intensity. “D-don’t stop-ah..” My legs tremble as my walls eagerly squeeze down on him. He grunts, rhythm stuttering for a moment. Rafayel’s actions become more fervent. His hands bring my thighs further apart and he moans as he gets to taste more of me.

My back arches involuntary and I let out a breathy moan. More of that clear fluid gushes out from my slit, though it's hard to tell since Rafayel cleans it up before most of it even hits his face.

The heavy rise and fall of my chest persist for several more moments as I fail to catch my breath. I groan, body feeling too limp to move. Though even in such a state I can tell Rafayel is savoring everything I have to offer him. Meanwhile my head is spinning and I feel a little stunned.

Just a little while ago my boyfriend seemed like a blushing virgin. Now he was like Eros incarnate.

“Raf, enough.”

Obviously reluctant, he stops. Resting his chin on my thigh, Rafayel flashes a playful grin up at me. “Admit it. You underestimated me.”

I smile as well, shaking my head “No. I never did.”

He finally sits up, his face scrunching up slightly as his cock drags against the bed. My eyes are drawn to its bobbing form. It’s hard, tip red and smeared with precome. I eye it hungrily. Rafayel notices. “Haven’t had enough of me? Don’tcha think you’re kinda greedy?” His teasing lilt carries no actual malice. If anything he seems flattered.

Before he can stand up I reach out, grabbing his necklace to pull him back down on top of me. What a man, completely falling for the same trick twice in the same night. The smirk on my face is one of pure self satisfaction.

“You’re right, I am greedy. So where exactly do you think you’re going with that?” There’s a pout firmly set on Rafayel’s lips but his eyes are burning with desire. I revel in his passionate gaze, issuing an unspoken challenge. His eyes are still that deep maroon color. Magnetic in the way that a dark sky compels you to keep gazing into it.

When Rafayel gets off the bed he almost pulls me alongside him with that look alone. "Come here." A gentle command paired with an outstretched hand. When I take it Rafayel helps me stand up so he can sit on the edge of the bed.

I immediately climb onto his lap. Rafayel lets out a soft chuckle. "I like that you're so excited." He holds my hips steady, as I make sure he's lined up properly. From this position I can get a better look at his expression. I expected him to be blushing from ear to ear, unable to keep a smile off of his face, but seeing it makes my heart feel lighter. It's the hottest thing in the world.

Pressing our bodies together I quiet my voice down to a whisper, to make sure he's only listening to me and our heartbeats. "Of course I am. I've been waiting a very, very long time."

Holding me tighter, Rafayel also lowers his voice. "I know cutie. Let's not waste any more of it."

There's a sweetness to his words that comes out through his actions as well. It’s in the way he sits back, just barely guiding me to sink onto him comfortably. By now my walls are used to yielding to him. His cock fills me up easily, but it feels like way more than before. All from just a change in direction. Fully seated, the sensation is like nothing I could have imagined.

My breaths come short so I rest my chin on his shoulder for a break. I can feel Rafayel's hands cradling my lower back, a subtle warmth radiates out from them. "..Are you using your evol?"

Rafayel answers, looking slightly sheepish. "I don't want you to be super sore later."

While hugging him I press my hand against his chest. The thrumming of Rafayel's heart settles down as I send a ripple of my own evol to him. Not so much that it would be overwhelming, just enough for more than just our bodies to be connected.

Muffled rumbles of thunder quickly get overtaken by the sound of skin meeting skin. Steady hands support me, lifting me up so I can drop back down. The impact is a lot stronger than earlier. His cock rubs against every nerve my poor cunt has. At the end of each stroke, when the tip hits my deepest point, it’s like fireworks go off. We collide with tender affection. Our arms remain around each other, even as sweat beads on our skin.

Rafayel’s lap becomes a mess with my arousal smeared over the lower part of his abdomen. Exactly where me clinging to him created delicious friction against my clit. I try to lean back, but he just presses forward harder.

“Ah! Mmff..” My moans become muffled as Rafayel brings his lips to mine once more.

Don’t go.

The contrast between Rafayel sweetly nuzzling into my neck, and fervently grinding into me makes me dizzy. Despite his sustained ferocity he's making a concerted effort to go much, much slower this time. Making me feel every inch of his cock. Rather than being overwhelming, the fullness was comfortable. It felt like we could rock like that all night. Maybe we did. Maybe we became so lost in our own resonance that time was no longer a consideration.

Another storm came, longer and heavier than the last. Having only each other as shelter we both became drenched. Still we held onto one another and ignored anything else. The clouds didn’t break and the rain didn't stop until the last roar of thunder passed through both of us.

In the depths of the night, the rain starts easing up. The bedside lamp casts a warm glow on the worn pages of my book. I’ve already taken another bath and cleaned up the wet clothes so all that is left is to relax. Rafayel leaves the bathroom with a towel on his head and wearing a scarlet silk robe. He lays down next to me looking positively luxurious.

“Sooo what’s in that book?”

I lean against the headboard, showing him the cover. “It’s a fantasy story inspired by Lemuria. On a stormy night, a traveler meets a Lemurian. Enchanted by his singing voice, the traveler follows him to the seabed.” I flip back through the earlier pages as he leans over to look at the illustrations. “The plot itself isn’t really creative. What draws the reader in are those questionable rumors about Lemuria.”

He waits for me to continue but I offer him no more information. “Like?”

There's another pause as I hesitate to tell him. Before there wasn't a problem with the contents of the book, but now faced with an actual Lemurian all of the rumors that drew me in sound so silly.

“...There’s this miraculous conch of wonders at the bottom of the sea, that can store sound, and they even hold the unique underwater ceremony-” Rafayel starts laughing as he listens, his shoulders shaking. Like it's really funny to him. I pout even though I knew it would be like this.

Rafayel's light, downright bubbly laughter brings a subtle heat to my cheeks. “What?” Even after that he can’t stop himself. Maybe my expression makes the whole thing funnier.

“It’s nothing.” Another moment and he calms down enough to resume talking. “I’m wondering… if I actually told you stories about Lemuria, 1001 nights wouldn’t be enough for that.”

Attempting to squash down my mild embarrassment I put on a curious look. “If on a stormy night, you do encounter a Lemurian in the ocean… Could his singing voice truly enchant you and drag you down to the seabed?”

The book on my lap is suddenly pulled away. Seizing this chance, Rafayel leans in and takes my hand. There’s mirth in his eyes, full and genuine.

“Do you want me to tell you?”

At that suggestion I nod enthusiastically. His playful smile widens as he appreciates the way my eyes light up. “Then tonight, allow me to share with you the first story.”

Forgetting about the book I lay back and get comfy under the covers. Like a child preparing to hear their favorite bedtime story. Maybe whatever tale Rafayel was about to tell me would become my new favorite.

I want to close my eyes, but Rafayel lowers his head and kisses the back of my hand. His moist lips then brush against my knuckles. Soft like a whispered promise. Ah, I definitely won’t be able to sleep if he keeps doing that. I hold my breath as even the storm seems to quiet down in anticipation of his next words.

“Our story begins with the very first Sea God, long long ago…”

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