Chapter 47: The embarrassing moment.

The next day...

Elowen stirred. She suddenly became aware of the warm weight pressing on her. She opened her eyes.

Soren’s arm was draped around her waist, his leg tangled with hers, and his face buried in the crook of her shoulder.

Elowen didn’t dare to move.

She had woken up beside him countless times. But she had never found herself wrapped tightly in his embrace.

Soren had always maintained a distance between them, even when they shared the same bed. It was as though he had raised an invisible wall between them, one she had tried and failed to break through.

But this morning, that wall seemed to have collapsed.

As she lay there, enveloped in his arms, last night’s memories came rushing back.

Heat flooded her as she remembered his intense kisses, the tenderness of his touch, and the way he had held her as though she were the most precious thing in the world.

The warmth of his body, his familiar cedar scent, and the steady rhythm of his breathing stirred the desire within her yet again.

"Elowen," he whispered in his sleep. "Please don’t leave me."

He pressed his fingers on her waist and then relaxed.

Elowen’s heart nearly leaped out of her mouth.

’Did he wake up?’

She held her breath and looked at his face.

Soren’s eyes remained closed, and his breathing soon steadied again.

Only then did she let out a small sigh of relief.

Elowen didn’t even take a deep breath. Her heart was thumping so loudly that she was afraid he would wake up from that sound and discover how flushed she was in his arms.

A low, sleepy groan escaped his throat as he rubbed his face slowly against her bare skin.

His action sent shivers through her.

She couldn’t help but squirm slightly.

That subtle movement stirred him awake.

Soren’s eyelashes fluttered as he finally opened his eyes. When he found her in his arms, a quiet satisfaction spread across his chest.

He tightened his embrace and pulled her closer, burying his face against her bare sternum.

Elowen’s cheeks warmed.

Now that he was awake, she couldn’t remain in bed pretending his closeness did nothing to her.

She tried to wriggle out of his hold.

"Let go... I need to freshen up."

"It’s Sunday," he said, his voice rough from sleep. "Stay with me a little longer."

As he spoke, his lips brushed her bare neck.

Elowen clasped the blanket, trying to ignore the sensations he was sending. But she couldn’t stop the flutters filling her stomach.

"Don’t..." She tried to push him away. "Sera might be awake. She must be hungry. I need to prepare breakfast..."

He pressed his lips against hers, forcing her to swallow her words.

Elowen’s eyes widened. She pushed and hit against his chest, but he wouldn’t let her go.

His hands moved over her bare back, slowly sliding down to her thigh.

Elowen held his hand, knowing exactly where his fingers were moving.

"That’s enough, Soren..." she whispered, her face burning. "We can’t keep doing this."

"Why not?" His lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Last night, you were moaning my name again and again. Now, you are saying no to me."

Elowen glared at him, mortified by his teasing.

He had rarely teased her in those seven years, much less looked at her with such open affection. She didn’t know what to do with this unfamiliar side of him.

Part of her wanted to scold him. And the other part was dangerously close to surrender to his teasing.

"Stay a little longer, wifey." His seductive whisper made her loosen her grip on his hand.

Soren didn’t waste another second. He slipped his two fingers between her legs.

She gasped.

"Already wet?" His lips quirked with interest. "Yet, you are pushing me away."

Heat crept up her neck, spreading up to her ears.

"Soren..." She wanted to stop him, but his finger was already inside her.

"Uh..." She clasped his shoulder instinctively, startled by the suddenness of his action.

His fingers curled inside. He moved closer, closing the small gap between them until his chest was flush against her breasts.

"Mm..."

His eyes locked onto hers with a dark, focused intensity. "You are so ready for me. Not satisfied yet?"

Her face turned even redder in embarrassment. "It’s not..."

But before she could say further, his fingers worked inside her with a rhythmic precision.

"Uh..." Her lips parted widely, eyes rolling up to her head.

He watched her reaction. "You are so responsive."

His body tightened as the heat of the moment settled in him.

He increased the pace slightly, his thumb finding the sensitive swell of her clitoris and applying a steady, demanding pressure.

Soren caught her head, his hand supporting the back of her neck as she slumped against him. He could feel the tremors running through her legs.

Her muscles buckled under the intensity of what he was doing to her.

"Hold onto me," he whispered.

His movement was relentless, pushing her right to the edge, watching her like a predator as she hovered on the borderline of another release.

"Don’t fight it. Just let it go."

His fingers curled deeper, finding the perfect rhythm. He felt her body tense. He didn’t slow down. Instead, he leaned into it.

His own breath hitched as he felt her surrender to the wave.

The shudder broke through her in violent pulses. Elowen’s fingers dug into his shoulder, her nails leaving red crescent marks in his skin.

She let out soft, broken sounds.

Soren didn’t pull away. He held her through it, his breathing turning ragged as he struggled to contain his own desire.

At that very moment, the door creaked open.

"Mommy..." Seraphina stood in the doorway, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Elowen’s body was still shaking from the aftershock. And Seraphina’s soft voice hit her like a shock wave.

She immediately ducked beneath the blanket and pressed herself against Soren, hoping their daughter wouldn’t notice her in this shameful state.

"Hey, Sera..." Soren pushed himself up against the headboard and pulled the blanket securely over them. He smiled awkwardly. "You are awake."

"Where is Mommy? I want her."

Elowen clapped a hand over her mouth, barely daring to breathe.

’Oh, God. Please don’t let her find me like this.’

"Why are you looking for your mommy?" Soren asked, trying to sound casual. "Do you need something?"

Seraphina almost cried. "Last night, I waited for her. She promised she’d come early and read me a story. But she didn’t. I fell asleep alone. I want her now."

Her tearful voice pinched Elowen’s heart.

Seraphina had waited for her, only to fall asleep disappointed.

The embarrassment vanished, replaced by a pang of guilt.

Soren clutched the blanket. "Mommy will come and find you. Why don’t you go back to your room and freshen up first? Then we’ll have breakfast together."

Seraphina didn’t move. Her curious gaze wandered to the rumpled blanket covering her father.

"What is that? Something is moving."