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There had also been a lot of playfulness and laughter – as well as the occasional growl from him.

Even though they’d spent days similar, the meaning behind them had been about desire and lust. This time, he’d made her feel different, like she was cherished and cared for. She couldn’t help smiling now because of it.

Laying on her side, she let her eyes flutter open.

He was laying with her on his side, facing her as she was him. Their legs were tangled while they both had to keep their upper bodies apart because of the handfasting rope in the way, but his hand was firmly clasping hers.

Amalia frowned a little before she brought her face closer to his slowly, being careful not to jostle the bed.

Is... Is he sleeping?

Indeed, he was. Rurik was asleep next to her. Not even in his Dragon form had he ever fallen asleep in her presence, and she’d known he was completely averse to the idea in his human one.

Even after everything that had happened on the night of the black moon, he’d come to trust her. She couldn’t help the silent tears that welled and fell as a smile grew on her face. They didn’t take long to fade, the heavy spike of joy calming so she could just look at him.

He looks so peaceful.His dark lashes were long, fanning shadows over his soft and calm expression. The scar that ran across his face wasn’t as puffed – like he had always carried tension in his features – while his inch-long hair was like a small black pool around his head in the dim light.

He really does have a lovely face.

She wanted to touch him. She wanted to caress her fingertips over the curve of his nose, his lips that were just parted, his cheek bones. They wanted to whisper over the scar she liked, making him look rogue and rough, which was exactly how he could be.

But Amalia didn’t. She didn’t want to disturb him, didn’t want to rob him of sleep or herself of this moment.

She could still feel her arm tingling with magic, and she just took in this moment of contentment, of peace.

Many things had come to pass over the nearly two months since he came to her as a strange little flying lizard in her cottage. Sure, there were some things that she really wished she could change, but she wondered if she would do them again just to see him sleeping next to her with trust like this.

Amalia had never thought her life would turn out this way, or that she wouldn’t live in her cottage forever.

My life is different, but I prefer it this way.

She had a Dragon who couldn’t seem to get enough of her, and she may have just as deep of a craving – although she often tried to pretend she didn’t. She couldn’t help giggling, in those times, at his face of dumbfounded disbelief.

It was like he couldn’t believe he wanted her more than she did him. He’d almost seemed offended.He is either too egotistical or he is truly insecure.She would put her money on the former rather than the latter.He is a rather arrogant bastard,and she’d told him that many times.

But he could also be very sweet and charming.And he is soft for me.Looking around at the room he carved, filled, and given to her, she realised he’d had a soft spot for her for a while and neither one of them noticed.

He’d also made her feel safe when she had very much felt the opposite.

Her eyes fell back to his face just in time to see it tense slightly. Then his eyelids lazily flipped open, revealing those silver eyes of his that often made her feel at ease.

“Why are you so far away?” he mumbled groggily, before he reached out with his free hand and tried to pull her forward, which forced their connected arms to go straight up against the headboard with a thud.

“That might be why,” she answered when he seemed annoyed that it happened.

“You woke before me. I did not expect that.” He moved his hand up so that he could grab a handful of her hair, lifting it into the air before letting it fall.

“Yes, and no matter how much I shook you or yelled, you refused to wake.”

Her lips were pouted into a playful smile.

He frowned with his lips pursing. “I thought you did not lie.”

“Only when I am not jesting.”

She let out a quiet squeal when he rolled them over, so he was on top of her.

“You further my belief that you are actually wicked.”