“Okay, but it's there if you want it. Help yourself.” He shimmied awkwardly in the tight space and threw his bag at their feet.
Lori didn't respond, just curled her knees up and tucked her chin down.
Lephas sat beside her, feeling awkward. There was nowhere in the small log that he could lie without touching her in some capacity. He didn't want to seem forward, but there was very little option. The demon scratched his head thoughtfully and adjusted his sword belt so he wasn't lying on top of the hard metal.
He cautiously lay back. At first, he tried to roll onto his side facing away from the princess, so at least the only part of him that would be pressed against her would be his back... But there wasn't quite enough space. He sighed deeply, scrubbing his hand over his face.
You're in deep trouble...Lephas chastised himself, rolling over.
His body slotted comfortably behind Lori's, his knees tucking in behind hers. He was sure she wasn’t asleep yet, but she didn't protest.
After laying still for long moments, he steadily began to relax. The commander listened to the girl's breathing – steady and soft, albeit a bit fast for his liking.
His arm hung awkwardly at his side. In the past, any time he had been in a position similar to this with a woman it had been wholly appropriate to drape an arm over her, perhaps resting a palm on her hip. Now, he wasn’t sure.
Lori took a deep, shaky breath in and startled him momentarily. When she began to tremble, he sat up and leant his head on his hand.
Though it was dark inside the log, he could see the glistening tears rolling silently down the princess' cheeks clearly.
Without giving it another thought, he wrapped an arm over her small body and squeezed her. Lephas felt his chest grow tight. He barely knew her, really, but he never had been able to stand it when women were upset.
Lori sniffed and wiped her face. He noticed she still had the handkerchief he had loaned her back at the farmhouse. Just as well, she clearly had more use for it than he did.
They didn't talk. There were no words Lephas could say that would make her feel any better. He figured maybe it was better to just let her get it out of her system.
The faerie princess had had a terrible couple of days and, unfortunately, he wasn't convinced her luck was about to change. At least she wouldn't freeze to death with his body heat wrapped around her in such tight quarters.
The last of the daylight faded and Lephas found himself lying in the pitch black, listening to Lori's soft sniffling. Never had he felt so useless. The demon supposed it said a lot about him that, despite his extensive survival training and combat knowledge, he panicked when faced with something as simple as a crying woman.
With little warning, the princess shifted. She rolled onto her back and then over again onto her opposite hip to face him.
“Is there anything I can do?” he asked awkwardly.
Lori didn't answer but shuffled in closer. She fumbled through the darkness and grasped his hand which was, once again, lying awkwardly at his side. The faerie tucked it against her waist and pressed her own hand over the top of it reassuringly, like she was giving him permission. Lephas held his breath as she wriggled closer still.
He jolted with surprise as her soft, warm lips came into contact with his own.
“Lori, I–” He attempted to reason, but she pressed in insistently.
Shamefully, he didn't require much persuading. Lephas felt his less-than-stalwart self-control crumbling and returned her kiss gently.
Lori's hands were tucked up, pressed flat against his chest. He quickly pulled his gloves off and brought his free hand up to her face, taking care not to disturb her wound. She shivered as he brushed his thumb along her cheekbone. He noted, with sympathy, that her face was still wet with tears.
Lori opened her mouth invitingly and Lephas couldn't resist. He felt excitement fizzing in his chest as he slipped his tongue into her and she met him eagerly with a soft moan that got his heart pumping harder still.
Lephas was suddenly painfully aware that it had beentoolong since he had last been with a woman like this. He reined himself in, being careful not to over-do it when she was clearly in a delicate mental state.
Lori swiped her tongue against his bottom lip before taking it gently between her teeth as he attempted to pull apart from her. A groan escaped him before he could hold it back. The demon felt heat rising in his cheeks. Lori laughed softly and tucked herself into his chest. The moment was over.
Lephas supposed romantically-awkward, boring demonswereher thing after all.
∞∞∞
A dull, distant noise, scratching and tapping, woke the demon commander. He cracked open his eyes, feeling confused for a moment as to where he was.
It was still dark outside but there was a familiar faint glow of sunrise. Lephas came to his senses and realised he was still lying in the hollow log, entwined with the faerie princess. Her breathing was deep and slow – sleeping.
Scratch, scratch, tap, tap...
