The night was still and peaceful.
Even the dogs that usually howl at that time were asleep, and the crickets' chirps were none to be heard as well.
But the calm silence was broken as he suddenly bolted upright, gasping, panting... a bead of perspiration trailing from his brows down to his chin where it finally dropped and stained the white linen sheets.
They've returned.
Every single fiber of his body was tensed, rigid, as he tightly shut his eyes, trying to block the nightmares' debris left on his mind. He had thought he had rid of them, but tonight, they haunted him. Again.
Over and over, they played like a broken record. Fear and Guilt had settled like unwanted visitors and wrapped themselves around his pounding heart, cloaking him with a darkness that rivals even the shadows of the night. He could feel their claws torture him as they painfully sank into his soul. Agony was an old friend he didn't want to meet, but he had no choice in the matter.
He didn’t realize how long he must have sat there. He was tired... exhausted, like something heavy weighted down his shoulders. Wearily rubbing his face with both hands, he tried to steady his breaths, too focused on getting it back to its normal rhythm that he failed to notice her stirring beside him until she softly touched his arm.
"Come back to bed."
He flinched at the contact of her skin upon his, but relaxed gradually when he heard her voice. Her tone was gentle, soothing. It was a cool breeze in the smothering space around him. Opening his eyes, he tried to adjust it to the dimness of their room before setting his gaze upon her. He could see worry evident on her features. In her steady stare, however, he found a fire of strength that pierced through the icy grips of Fear in his chest. No questions were asked. She already knows him too well to know what was bothering him.
He nodded his assent to not concern her any further. Perhaps she was right. It was time for him to rest. Giving her a reassuring smile, he hoped it could convey to her that he'll be fine. But the gesture didn’t quite reach his eyes and it came out all wrong and weak, looking more like a grimace than anything else. He could only wish she didn’t notice. Sliding back under the covers, he spooned against her, where she immediately took his arm and pulled him nearer. He heard her made a small sound of contentment. Reflexively, he nuzzled the gentle curve of her neck, inhaling the familiar fragrance of her hair. He slowly closed his eyes, savoring the comfort her warmth brought and feeling the tension ebb away from his body.
She turned in his arms, facing and molding herself to him, and planted a soft kiss that lingered longer than usual. He smiled. This time, a genuine one. Somehow, she always manages to drive his monsters away. She deepened the act, threading her fingers through his hair, and he groaned. Moving over her, with her, he drank until he was intoxicated.
Afterwards, no words were uttered.
All that came next was the branding of souls. He left his marks on her neck, and she, her marks on his back. Each feathery breath that fanned through the other's cheek, each guttural moan drawn forth from their lips, each sigh that was reverently whispered like a prayer... were waves strong enough to burst through the thick stone walls of torment, carrying them away with the current and drowning them until all air from their lungs were lost.
He’ll never get used to how dying that way feels so damn sweet.
And the tangle of sweat-sheened limbs that they were, moved into a frenzied crescendo, higher and higher and higher until finally, with blinding intensity, they reached that final peak of Heaven.
In her arms, he felt blessed.
The night redeemed the peace it had lost.
And everything in the world was all right again.
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I posted a link at ffform.blogspot.com earlier, but I wasn't sure if it was allowed to post personal stuff there so I took that post off.
Anyhoo... This one is still for you, baby. *taps chest with the side of fist and points at her in the crowd*
Happy Anniversary.
