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Jora’s breath caught as she met those half-lidded eyes, that damned gaze he gave her when he knew exactly what strings to pull to flip their game on its head. Her smirk twitched, struggling not to melt into a grin of pure want. He always knew how to push back just enough to make her heart beat louder in her chest, to make her feel like she might be the one undone for once. “Oh, don’t get clever with me now,” she murmured, though her voice had dipped low—husky with desire and affection both. Her hands, confident and deliberate, slid along his sides and down to his hips, fingers hooking gently at the hem of what little remained on him. “You’re supposed to be the breathless one here.” She leaned in again, brushing her lips over his jaw now, slow and maddeningly deliberate. “But if all it takes is a look like that to make me squirm…” she chuckled quietly against his skin, “then maybe I should be worried.” Still, she didn’t back off. Instead, she let herself press a little closer, thighs tightening around his hips as she whispered, “Then again… I always do enjoy a challenge.” She shifted slightly, finally tugging away another layer from him, but she took her time with it. Every touch was intentional, designed to drive him just a bit mad. To make him want her the way she wanted him—desperate and unguarded. Their game might’ve had a dozen rounds by now, but this? This was their wedding night. And she had every intention of winning. |
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Sage felt his grin widen as he noticed Jora pause, eyes locking his his expression. Good, he was going to make her squirm. They played this game so often, and each time she came out on top. But he didn't give in easily....no, he always gave her that challenge she so desired. "Ah, but that's the thing. The more breathless I get, the more you're undone yourself," he purred right back, letting his voice lower into a sky, husky tone he knew would make her toes curl. "Maybe you should be," he teased, eyes glinting. He knew he should be too, but he liked this game too much to be worried...and she was the same way. Of course, her actions she took to get him the way she wanted did just that. As she pressed herself in, letting her lips move along his skin tantalizingly close to the sweet spot of his neck, he could t help the small groan that escaped his lips. She always got what she wanted. And he was ok with that. This was their wedding night, this was special. So if she wanted him to perform ....well, he'd pull up old tricks and do just that. She deserved it. |
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The glint in Sage’s eyes made her breath catch, and for a heartbeat, Jora forgot how to breathe at all. He knew exactly what he was doing—how to tilt his head just so, how to drop his voice into that low, teasing tone that sent a shiver crawling up her spine. Stars, she hated and loved that he always managed to get to her first. But then again... maybe that was what made it so good. She leaned in closer, fingers dragging slowly over the lines of his chest, savoring every twitch and breath he gave in return. The room around them faded away—the low rustle of wind outside, the soft scent of salt lingering in their home, the faint golden sheen of moonlight filtering through the windows—it all blurred. None of it mattered compared to him. To them. “We’re really married,” she whispered, her lips brushing the shell of his ear. And then she kissed him again—deeper this time. Not playful, not teasing, but full of everything she felt. All the devotion, the heat, the love.
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Sage had hummed softly, nodding as she spoke. "We're really married," he repeated solemnly, before laughing and adding a "finally," on to the tail end of the statement after a moment or so. He kissed her back then, full of everything he felt for her, his arms going around her and tightening their hold. Not just their passion, but everything else as well. It was more than just another kiss, and they knew it. They felt the same way. It was nearing dawn when they'd finally calmed and settled in to sleep, the sun already starting to peek over the horizon. But that was ok....Selene and Joras mother, who he supposed would also be his mom in a way, were spending the day with Lyra. They had all the time they needed....which meant sleeping in was more than ok and most definitely an option. And that was exactly what he planned to do. |
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Jora shifted slightly, the warmth of Sage’s arms still curled around her as the first golden rays of dawn slipped through the windows. Her eyes fluttered open just enough to take in the glow brushing across his skin—soft, golden, and entirely too perfect for someone who’d barely slept. She didn’t move, not really. Just enough to press her forehead to his and smile faintly. “Finally,” she echoed softly, her voice still rough from the long night and the lack of sleep, but filled with quiet satisfaction. She could still hear his laughter from earlier, feel the memory of his touch imprinted in every inch of her. But more than that, she felt the weight of it all—the comfort, the joy, the overwhelming love. It didn’t feel like a dream anymore. It was real. Sage was her husband. They were married. And even with the sheets tangled around their legs and her hair a complete mess and the scent of sea salt still lingering faintly in the air, it all felt...right. Whole. Like the world had finally clicked into place. Her fingers lazily traced a line along his chest, just resting there now. “You’re not going anywhere, are you?” she whispered teasingly, already knowing the answer but loving the sound of it when he said it out loud. She could hear the muffled calls of birds somewhere outside, the rustle of waves not far from the shore, the low hum of life waking up beyond their windows—but none of it mattered right now. Not yet. Not when his heartbeat was steady beneath her cheek and they had nowhere to be but here. Jora let out a soft, content sigh. They had all the time in the world. And for once, she was in no rush to chase the next adventure. |
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Sage had stirred when Jora woke and pressed herself against him a bit firmer, smiling somewhat groggily at her as she spoke. Of course, he chuckled as she asked him if he was going anywhere, and he shook his head. "Hell no," he sort of grumbled, though in a im-tired-and-not-leaving-this-bed-anytime-soon aort of grumbled and not a im-annoyed-with-you sort of grumble. She'd know that. He just moved to turn and wrap his arms around her, nestling against her lazily, drifting into that half awake and half asleep sort of state. The breeze off the sea drifted in through the open window, and that combine with the scent of her was....perfect really. The sun was warm on his back as it rose too, peering from behind the curtains and weaving itself around them like a sort of blessing from their home. It was perfect. It was home. And he was never going to get used to it, or even begin to imagine how lucky he was it had all happened like this for them. |
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Jora felt her smile deepen as Sage grumbled his reply, the sound of his voice making her chest ache in that quiet, sweet way it always did when he said something so simple and so certain. She didn’t need flowery words or grand declarations—not from him. Just that low, tired, unmistakable “hell no” wrapped in his warmth and the smell of salt and wind was enough. She shifted with him easily, letting him pull her closer as his arms looped tight around her. Her face tucked into the crook of his neck, her breath slow and steady against his skin. She didn’t even bother to respond right away—there was no rush, no need to fill the space. Not when the weight of his touch and the lull of the ocean breeze said more than words ever could. Eventually, she murmured into his collarbone, “Good.” It was all she needed to say. This—this was everything she’d never dared to believe she could have. A home with windows open to the sea, sunlight kissing their tangled limbs, the world quiet just for a little while. She’d fought for so much in her life, held herself together with grit and steel and purpose—but with him? She could melt. She could just be. His breathing had started to slow again, that peaceful, heavy rhythm that told her he was already slipping back into sleep. She stayed awake just a little longer, watching the curtains sway and letting her fingers trace small, invisible circles along his back. She felt it in her bones, the truth of this moment. She was safe. He was hers. They were home. Jora finally let her eyes drift shut again, a final thought brushing through her head like a whisper: Let the world wait. Today, it’s just us. |
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Sage stirred a few hours later, admittedly more awake now than he was before. He was still groggy though, and half asleep. Besides, there was no reason to need to wake up or go get up and ready for the day yet....so he simply stayed where he was, curled up tightly with Jora. They were a tangled mess of limbs and hair, as theirs had both come undone over the course of the night. He didn't mind, not at all. He felt a smile cross his face though, as he breathed in Joras scent, nose pressing lazily into her hair. She was his wife. They were married. He couldn't get it out of his head. He moved to finger the ring that was on his finger....it was a stark contrast to the silver he had on his lip and in his ears. But it was perfect... everything he'd ever wanted, really. A family who cared for him. A home. A beautiful daughter and now, thanks to jora, a mother. He wasn't sure she quite saw him as a son yet....she hardly knew him after all. But he hoped that, with time, that too would happen. Part of him knew better than to hope for anything. He already had so much...would hoping for any more ruin it? The other part chided him, reminding him that hope was what allowed all of this to happen. It may not all have been on his end but....it had been there. So why shouldn't he hope for more? He wasn't sure what to believe. He was torn, as he was about so many things. But Jora and Lyra...their home...that was the one steady thing in his life. Everything else was a shit show and chaotic, including his mind and dreams and emotions. But he could handle that, as long as he had his family there at his side. |
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Jora stirred faintly as Sage shifted beside her, his movements slow and gentle, like he didn’t want to disturb her. She didn’t open her eyes—she didn’t need to. She could feel the way his breath caught just a little, the way his fingers toyed with the ring on his hand, the quiet weight of his thoughts as they tangled around them both. She nestled in closer without a word, her arm tightening where it was draped over his waist, as if to remind him she was still there—still his. She always would be. The morning light filtered through the curtains in golden slivers, dancing across the floor and catching the edge of the sheets. It made everything look a little softer. A little more surreal. They were married. The thought hit her all over again, and she smiled sleepily against his skin. It wasn’t the ceremony or the rings or the music echoing in her memory that made her heart ache—it was this. Him. The way he still held her like she was precious. The way he didn’t try to hide when he was stuck in his head. She could feel that quiet war in him now. Hoped he knew she felt it, even if he didn’t say anything. Jora didn’t open her eyes yet. She just let herself listen—to the waves outside, to the birds starting to stir in the trees, to the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her cheek. She let herself feel it all, because this wasn’t a dream. It was real. It was messy and uncertain and overwhelming in the best way. |
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Sage let himself lay around like that for a while longer, just letting the two of them wake a little bit more. They weren't getting up, not for a while, but even so after another half an hour or so, he just pressed a lazy kiss to her head. "I love you," he'd noted, voice crackly from sleep but full of emotions he knew he may never fully understand. But he understood enough, and that was all that mattered. He loved her. She loved him. And that was never going to change. He was still clearly just wanting to lay around for a while....though he knew they'd both be hungry. He lay around for another fifteen minutes or so before pecking her again and slipped out of bed, murmuring a "be right back" to her. He couldn't cook very well, but he could throw together some fruit and cheese and crackers and the like, and put it all on a tray, bringing it back up and over to the bed. It seemed like a nice touch. Once the food was there, he crawled back in to nestle up with Jora again, lazily reaching for fruit to pick at. He hadn't bothered getting dressed yet....there was no need for that. It would come with time, and he'd probably shower at some point anyway. |
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Steady Rain all Day
