Private Tales Half Burned in Flames

[Eira]

Eira did not dare move her face from his, relishing in this moment. It was intimate, reminding her of the first time she had been this close to his lips before kissing him and making her affections known. But this moment was more that that. He had been so against this from the start, but to hear him speak so freely, to give voice of how much he wanted her despite what kept her from leaving the life she had fought tooth and nail for.

"If it all falls apart, I will come back to you. Here. Make a home here with you..." As long she never lost him, Eira could bear the loss of her earned title of becoming the next leader to her house. "I cannot think of how my life will be if I do not have you and your loyalty..."

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, so hard it was a moment away from breaking skin. The Malennis Heir released it with a shaky sigh.

"Perhaps a Moon Dragon could tear apart my usurper." She grinned, and once the giggles left her lips, Eira could not stop. How hard it was to resist that taste of happiness, of laughter, when he had been the one to bring much more out from her in the past day already. "Gods, that sounds so awful after what I made you witness yesterday..." But the darkness of such humour did not die on her face.

 

[Cullen]

Cullen chuckled softly, his lips quirking into a wry smile. “I… suppose I’ll try not to get my hopes up,” he murmured, though his tone betrayed the quiet ache he tried to hide. His laugh, faint and low, mingled with hers—a sound he knew he’d cling to, no matter where their paths led.

As her laughter softened, his smile faltered slightly, the humour giving way to something deeper. She’d cracked him open in ways he hadn’t thought possible. For so long, he had kept his walls high, his heart guarded, his trust reserved for a precious few. But Eira—stubborn, sharp, and dazzling—had stepped into his life and shattered all those defenses. She’d wrapped herself around his heart, leaving it hers to hold, to protect, or to break.

He let out a quiet breath, his expression softening as he looked at her. “You’ve got a knack for keeping me on my toes, you know that?” His words were light, teasing, though they couldn’t mask the depth beneath them. “One moment, you’re ready to lead your house, safeguard your dragons, and the next… you’re talking about unleashing one on an usurper.”

His lips curved again, warm and unguarded. “I can’t decide if I should worry or admire how dangerous you are.” He lifted a hand, his fingers brushing gently along her cheek, his thumb pausing near the corner of her lips as if to soothe the worry she often carried there. His touch lingered, as did the pause before he spoke again.

“I didn’t realise how lonely I’d been,” he admitted, his voice quiet but steady, “not until you walked into my life. You’ve brought something with you that I didn’t even know I was missing. Something I’m not sure I could give up now.”

The intensity of his gaze matched the words he hadn’t said aloud—words that lingered in the weight of his touch and the unwavering way he looked at her.

 

[Eira]

"And I never realised I was lonely surrounded by my world, until I saw you at the Merchant's Corner. You tried to leave, but... I was glad I did not give up on you."

She had asked for an alliance, had offered him protection.

Eira looked into his eyes, sought the affection and uncovered emotion swimming there for her to witness. It drew her in, as if there could be any less distance between them as Eira lifted herself onto her toes to stand nearer to him. "I have never wanted anyone as much as I need you in my life, Cullen."

A walk forgotten, the promise of rain darkening the skies, but Eira was sure in what her heart wanted. Out here, it was safe to be so open about it, a chance for her chest to open up and allow her lungs to breath fairer than she had in the home surrounded by malice and greed. Here, she had a man that was her compliment, her shelter, a home she could feel warmth in.

"I promise you, I will find a way to be here with you. I want nothing more than to leave Thanasis, to be rid of all that a Malennis means in this world..."

And Eira had lived her life as someone that always made good on promises, on coming through with her word.

She mistook the bitter taste on her tongue to be a product of not drinking a herbal tea, had ignored it as she pulled Cullen towards her as she backed away to lean against the mossy facade of a rock. Eira tasted the breath at his lips as she guided his head to her own, and forgot the taste of her promise as her lips met his.

 

[Cullen]

Cullen’s breath hitched at her words, the gravity of her confession striking him with a force he hadn’t anticipated. He saw it in her eyes—the unwavering sincerity, the determination woven into her every syllable. It was enough to stir something raw and untamed. For a man who had spent so much of his life guarded, the vulnerability she offered was a gift he hadn’t known how much he needed.

When she pulled him toward her, backing into the mossy stone, his hands found her waist as if by instinct, steadying her and grounding himself. Everything else faded into the periphery. There was only Eira, her touch, her warmth, the fiery conviction in her voice that he’d come to admire so much.

“You have no idea what it means to hear you say that,” he murmured against her lips, his voice barely more than a breath. His forehead rested gently against hers for a moment, his thumb brushing along her waist.
His lips hovered near hers, the heat between them an unspoken promise. “I've never been much of a believer in a future” He let out a shaky laugh, soft but full of feeling. "Never thought much about it.. You.. Make me think about it." he frowned.

The distance between them evaporated as he kissed her, a mix of tenderness and hunger in the way his lips claimed hers. He let himself get lost in the moment, in her, the taste of her promises and the weight of the world falling away. One hand curled around the back of her neck, anchoring her to him, while the other remained firm on her waist, as if letting her go might shatter the fragile perfection of this moment.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes searched hers, the storm brewing overhead mirrored in their intensity. He growled quietly. "How am I supposed to let you off of this mountain when I'm already failing so miserably to keep my hands off of you?"

 

[Eira]

"Well..." Eira's hands lifted to his shoulders, squeezing there softly as she gaze dropped down to his chest. Even with the little distance, she could feel him still against her. "Maybe you should take your chances now." Her hands, slowly drifting down his chest and pulled at the fabric of his shirt. Her eyes, lit with something smoldering in the embers of passion, lifted to his own expressive eyes.

"There is no one here to stop you, and I am in no position to want to stop you..."

Her hands clutched at his shirt, using that hold to pull him closer again in a light tug. There was a burn for him, something destructive or... or a flame asking for air to grow. So quickly and fortunately they have found each other, had learned of the loneliness each had suffered, and trusted one another.

She had trusted him ever since she saw he had followed her to that field, had ensured she was not alone.

"We can pretend for a while, you and I... that his mountain is all we have. There is no Thanasis, no duty, no war within my house... I am here... I am yours..." Eira used the stability of rock and moss behind her to jump up and wrap her legs around his hips, had used the momentum to catch him in another kiss. She liked kissing him, liked how soft they were and how they moved against her own motions. How he tasted on her tongue as she took more and more from him to fuel her fire.

Her lips went to his cheek. "Do not." Grazed her teeth against the shell of his ear. "Let..." Her kisses trailed down the side of his neck, paying careful attention to that spot she had discovered was a soft spot. "Me go..."

 

[Cullen]

Cullen’s pulse quickened at the intensity in her gaze, the heat of her touch sending a jolt of desire through him. The way she spoke, the way she pulled him closer —it ignited something fierce inside him. The world beyond them, with all its complications and demands, felt distant, like an echo on the wind.

When her legs wrapped around his hips and her lips claimed his once more, he responded instinctively, his arms tightening around her, pressing her closer to him. The feel of her, the way she moved against him, was like a siren’s call, drawing him in deeper. Her kiss was fire and sweetness, and it made him forget everything—except her. He lost himself in the taste of her, the way her body fit against his, the heat that surged between them.

Her words came like a whisper against his skin, as her kisses trailed from his lips to his neck, each one a spark to a growing fire inside him. He groaned softly at the feel of her teeth grazing his ear and then the gentle exploration of his neck. That spot, where he was most vulnerable—she knew it well. It was as if she had found the secret to unravel him. His breath hitched, the intensity of his emotions overwhelming.

“I've got you,” he whispered, his voice low, thick with the rawness of his desire.

He let her lead the way, the gentle pull of her hands on his shirt, her legs tight around him, all serving to draw him further into this dangerous, beautiful thing they had built together.

As he pulled her even closer, his hands gripped her thighs, his body pinning her to the cliff face.He nipped at her lower lip, his chest tight with longing.

The scene between them blurred into an intense, intimate silence. The sky above them, dark and foreboding, became an afterthought as they became lost in each other, the world outside completely forgotten.

The rocks, their only shelter, formed a natural boundary, enclosing them in this stolen moment. Eira’s hands traced his muscles, the fabric of their clothing a fleeting barrier soon discarded. Cullen’s lips found the curve of her neck again, where the pulse of her heartbeat quickened under his touch, while her fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him closer.

They moved in a rhythm, driven by something primal, something that bound them more tightly than any words or promises ever could. The moment was theirs—quiet, powerful, raw. There was no judgment here, no expectation, just the heat of their bodies pressed together and the silent communication of what they needed from one another.

And when finally, everything came to a slow, heated stop, they clung to each other, breathless, their hearts beating in unison. The rain finally began to fall, soft at first, as if the sky itself was offering them its blessing, and for a moment, all was still.

 

[Eira]

Rain droplets splashed at her forehead, leaving smaller drops to cling to her dark lashes as she gazed at Cullen. There was an overwhelm, a swelling of emotion and attachment that she had never felt before. Her father had fallen in love twice in his life, and Eira never knew how he could manage such a thing.

Because she knew she felt it only for one in this moment.

"What were they like... your family?" She whispered this, her expression soft and looking up at him as if he was the most wondrous thing in the world. "Will you tell me?"

It did not feel too fast, not to Eira. She saw this as their chance to no longer feel lonely, to build a relationship and friendship that was to be cherished forever. That was what she had hoped for, to have the same love all her life. She wanted Cullen, oh so much, and the heir to a noble house knew she would fight tooth and nail to make things right so that she could have him without fault.

Her eyes began to trace such Marks.

A hand lifted to cup his cheek, fingers lightly tracing them. "How poetic that they Marked you like this so that others recognised you and were free to ridicule you... but Cullen... You could turn this against them in the most devastating way possible. They Marked you so eyes are always on you... but you could so easily command their attention..." They were part of him now, and the way they framed his face, added an edge to his softness, Eira pulled herself forward.

Her lips pressed to his temple before doing so on the other side. "There is nothing more powerful than being on stage. You broke me out of my unending scene." She believed he could achieve anything he set his mind to.

One last kiss, softly brushing his lips before Eira pulled away to warm them with her breath.

 

[Cullen]

Cullen watched Eira with a soft smile, his gaze lingering on her as if she were the only thing in the world that mattered. His lips twisted in quiet amusement, a fleeting spark of humour in his eyes, but there was something deeper there too—something that only she had managed to bring out in him.

He slowly lowered her feet back to the ground, feeling the weight of her body shift, and then moved to shield her from the rain. He could feel her heart beat against him, steady and sure, and it anchored him in ways words never could.

His hands found their way to waist, gently kneading the muscles there as he breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of rain and her—the sweet, intoxicating scent of her skin, a mix of wild and familiar. The fire she had ignited within him still burned, aching and alive in a way he hadn't known before.

When she asked about his family, his heart squeezed, and he stilled for a moment, his breath catching. "I'll tell you," he whispered, his nose grazing hers, a gentle promise. But then her hands moved to the marks on his face, her touch so tender, and he couldn’t help but lean into it. He had never been able to embrace them before, but with her... it felt different. Safe.

His lips quirked up, and he let out a soft laugh, the sound bittersweet. “I’ve had quite enough of their attention,” he muttered under his breath, and there was a wry amusement in his voice. “They’ve watched me for years—watched me fail, watched me stumble. But I’ve earned it again. I’ve got their attention now, don’t I?” His hand traced the line of her jaw, his touch light, almost reverent. “Not for the same reasons they hoped for, though. Not for their glory. I’ve found my own path. And having a dragon in Thanasis... well, that’s more than most could ever dream of, but it doesn’t erase these marks..”

He paused, his eyes dropping to her lips for a heartbeat before meeting her gaze once more, soft yet fierce. “But you...With you it's easy to forget..”

His thumb brushed over her lower lip, his voice softening. “I don’t need their attention anymore. Not when I have yours.”

 

[Eira]

Eira's heart burned, her lungs caught on a breath in which he stole all function when he fixed her with that look. So heated, so enraptured by her, it was as if the spell he had fallen under was now his to command, and Eira was his next prize. She liked his attention on her, the way he gave voice to the similar feelings she held for him.

"You have... all of my attention." Her heart beat increased, and she was so sure he could feel it knocking on the cages of his ribs, protecting his heart from her racing one. "Especially... right... now."

It was daring of her to raise a hand to one shoulder, pulling down slightly the sleeve to bare her shoulders. She was not dressed in layers today, as she would have if she had started the day at home. No, here she had the one dress that was not ruined, and it was slightly too loose on her already. "Perhaps we should take our walk later? When it is not misting with rain..."

But she made no move to return. Cullen made it difficult for her to edge out from under him, not when those hands held her still in gentle reminders of the way he held her last night.

Gods, this man would keep her in trouble, and she would invite him to lure her towards it.

 

[Cullen]

Cullen’s breath hitched, the storm of emotions in his chest rivaling the rain that pattered softly around them. The way Eira looked at him, the way she moved—so bold, so alluring—set his blood alight. Her words echoed in his ears, each one threading desire and affection tighter around him.

His lips curved into a sly, knowing smile, the fire in his gaze never wavering from her face, even as her hand pulled down the sleeve of her dress to bare her shoulder. The sight of her, so unapologetically daring, so breathtakingly beautiful, made his chest ache in the best way. His fingers moved instinctively, brushing across the exposed skin of her shoulder, a feather-light touch.

“You make a compelling argument,” he murmured, his voice low and husky, the timbre weighted with a passion that burned just below the surface. He swallowed hard.

And yet, a glint of mischief sparked in his eyes as he glanced toward the rocky path leading back toward his cavern. His grip on her tightened—not harshly, but with enough intention.

Without giving her a moment to protest—not that she seemed inclined to—he tightened his grip on her, and carried her, his strides sure and purposeful despite the uneven terrain. “I have something else in mind.”

He carried her through the rain, the droplets clinging to their skin a cool contrast to the warmth radiating between them. It wasn’t long before the mouth of the cavern came into view, the flickering glow of the hot springs within casting shadows against the walls.

The moment they stepped inside, the world seemed to change. The air grew warmer, steam rising from the bubbling water that filled the pool.

Cullen set her down gently on the smooth edge of the spring, his hands lingering at her waist as his gaze locked onto hers. His hands slid to the hem of her dress, his fingers brushing against the fabric as he leaned closer, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was equal parts tender and demanding. The heat of the spring seemed to pale in comparison to the fire igniting between them, and as the water beckoned them closer.

“Eira,” he breathed against her lips, the sound of her name like a prayer on his tongue. “Let me show you just how much of my attention you have.”

And with that, he guided her into the hot water, their bodies intertwining as the steam rose around them.

 

[Eira]

It was impossible for her not to break her eyes from his, but her head twisted to look around the cavern once the dark shade enveloped them both once again. No longer standing in the blankets of mist falling on them, she could feel the nurturing heat of the pools reach them. The glow from the algae glowing beneath those pools bathed them, reflecting the slight rippling over Cullen's face.

He looked utterly dark and holy, the markings on him a stain, like a warning, but Eira could not help but see his uniqueness and the strength it took to be adorned with it. In this light, he was something sacred, something that begged to be worshiped...

... just as he looked up at her, worshiping her before he tugged her into the pool.

She followed, spellbound by him.

Desire had never flared like this for anyone, and ever since her first kiss with him, Eira had been thinking of taking more from him. He had been hesitant, but she knew he wanted it to. Now, they both reaped the rewards of giving in.

The water was perhaps not too deep for Cullen, but her hands clutched him, praying he did not let her go as they came to a stop in the center of the pool. Steam rose up around them, and Eira could not help the devilish grin lifting at her red lips. "I quite like having your attention." Eira murmured softly. He certainly had her's.

Their bodies were flush against one another, sopping clothes between them, but she swore she could feel a heat radiating from him that different from that of temperature.