Vanessa fell back on the pillow, her heart still beating fast from the passionate embrace she was just in. Tears were still falling from her eyes, but she didn’t care. After all, those were happy tears.
She turned a bit on the side to look at Nozel. He had happy tears in his eyes as well and a soft smile on his lips. A rare sight on his face, but it made it even more precious.
Both reached out to cup each other’s cheeks.
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Vanessa whispered. It was maybe the third or fourth time she said those very words this night, but she didn’t care. Repeating them felt like making them more true each time.
Nozel didn’t answer. He just caressed her cheek with his thumb, looking at her as if he was seeing paradise. Vanessa moved her hand to touch his bandaged arm. The fact that he had been hurt on his last mission was still shocking to her.
“It’s not that bad, my love,” Nozel whispered, putting his other hand on hers.
“It could have been… You told me that those renegade nobles were more powerful than expected.”
“We still defeated them.”
“Nozel, please don’t make it sound like it was nothing.”
“Isn’t that something you Black Bulls always do?”
Okay, he got her there.
Still, the mere fact that Nozel got wounded had been not only shocking for Vanessa, but also scary. If those renegade nobles had been even more powerful, there would have been a huge risk that… that he wouldn’t have made it. And she wouldn’t have been there with Rouge to save him.
Maybe she was a bit overreacting. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t had news from her boyfriend for three days. Maybe it was because she hadn’t been part of that mission. Maybe it was the huge relief that Nozel was fine.
Vanessa hated losing people she loved. Thanks to Rouge, this couldn’t thankfully happen.
Most of the time.
When she was present.
Today, Vanessa realized that she could still lose people if she wasn’t at their side. Be it the Black Bulls or the man she loved.
And this was a scary thought.
Maybe she’ll calm down, after the stress and huge relief would themselves calm down. It helped already that she was in Nozels arms, to know that he was fine and that he came back to her.
“Three days without hearing from you was hell…”
“I know. I had to keep it a secret, so that our team could catch those renegade nobles by surprise. But… three days without you… I wish I wasn’t so disciplined.”
“Don’t you love discipline, honey?”
“Not when it keeps me away from you.”
Vanessa giggled. Nozel certainly meant it a 100 percent, but it could also pass as a joke.
She moved closer to him, cuddling against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. It was just as fast as hers.
“I’m glad you’re back, honey. I missed you.”
“I missed you too. So much.”
“I can’t believe it was just three days.”
“They felt like three centuries.”
“Three centuries? You missed me that much? No wonder you came immediately to me after returning instead of reporting the mission yourself to the Wizard King.”
“Curtis can do it as good as me.”
Vanessa hummed, nuzzling against his chest. Behind the sweat and heat, she could still smell his familiar lavender scent.
“You’ll still need to tell your siblings that you’re back and safe. Noelle was worried.”
Nozel sighed, caressing her hair. “I know. I’ll do it first thing tomorrow, when they’re awake. But I really needed to see you again…”
“And I’m grateful you came, Nozel. I really am…”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They kissed each other, a long and deep kiss, showing again how relieved and happy they were to be reunited.
Maybe they’ll start another round of passion soon. Maybe they’ll be exhausted enough to fell asleep. Vanessa didn’t care. Nozel was here, she was in his arms and everything started to be good again.
Just a little snippet to give me writing motivation^^