Oh my god…
It will never fit, but my mouth still waters at the sight of his sensitive skin. Need overpowers any thoughts. Tentatively, I bring the tip of it to my lips, tasting the salty pre-cum. I’m rewarded by the sight of his jaw grinding, his hand fisting on his side as he exhales, sounding almost in pain. I smile, losing any shyness left. Cupping his balls, my thumb smears the fluidaround the head of his dick, before my tongue trails its length. I don’t know what I am doing, only guided by the telltale of his features. Sucking, kissing, and I’m deeply pleased when Kai trembles in response.
“Fuck, Vi, how do you do it?” My mouth makes a wet popping sound when I let him spring free of my lips, letting it be my answer. Kai groans, pushing his hips forward. Seeing him so undone by me makes me reach between my thighs, circling my clit, trying to release some friction. I bring him deeper, but Kai doesn't give me a minute to breathe, fisting a handful of my hair. He guides me, imposing his rhythm as I choke on his length. Making my eyes water as I feel the pressure build in me. Trying my best to swallow him whole, but some things are just too big.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous being a good little slut for me, Vi.” Releasing me, eyes watering, I catch my breath as both my hands come to slide up and down his shaft. His features harden, looking a lot like suffering, but Kai’s piercing gaze doesn’t move or falter as he groans.
“Do you still want to taste me, Vi?”
“Y-yes,please,” I can’t help but pant as my tongue comes out ready for him. And he rewards me by shooting his warm cum straight in my mouth, some dripping down my chin. And I swallow every last drop before licking my lips. Kai grabs me by the neck, pulling me to my feet, before crashing his mouth on mine. The hardness of his bite turns into soft kisses, the last one trailing on the bridge of my nose. Taking the pocket square, he gently wipes me clean.
“Let’s get out of here,” he murmurs.
We don’t rush, but there’s an eagerness in our steps, something unspoken, a page turning behind us. Before we reach the door, Kai pauses. His fingers brush the straps of my dress back into place, slow and careful. As if I might disappear if he moves too fast. The touch sends a quiet warmth through me,settling deep. He says nothing, just grabs a small blanket from the chair and drapes it over my shoulders.
Fingers laced together, a promise made without words, we walk out. The last notes of music trail behind us as we follow the winding path into the night. We blend easily among the remaining guests. Some are laughing in hushed tones, others are hanging their card in the Grianstad, and some draw smoke from cigars or something more green.
Snow spirals down, every flake shimmers with starlight as it falls. The air is thick with winter magic, almost touchable. The Institute looms behind us, dressed in white and silence. The statues stand guard, cloaked in frost as if they’re still watching. Still remembering, a warning carved in ice.
Kai doesn’t speak again until we’re deep in the woods, far enough that even the spectre of music and laughter can’t follow us. We walk in silence, the quiet wraps around us like a cocoon. Stopping at a clearing where moonlight filters through the trees, silvering everything it touches, our breath mingles in the cold air. And for a second, the world slows, hidden in the frost. The difference in our heights has never felt more tangible, yet somehow I don’t feel small. Not with him looking at me like that. His eyes find mine with such quiet intensity, I forget how to stand still. There’s something anchoring in them, something that makes me feel seen, at home. Is this what love feels like?
Kai breaks the silence, his voice a little shy. “We’ve still got an hour and fifteen minutes before it’s our turn to take watch.”
I lift a brow.“Really? That much time?”
The corner of his mouth pulls into half a smile, and just like that, the dimple shows, unfair.
“I’ve got a few ideas on how we could spend them,” he murmurs, stepping closer. His hand comes up, cupping my face, as if I’m something precious. “Do you trust me?”
I hold his gaze.
“I thought that was obvious by now, Kai Brackwell.” That earns me a full smile. Bright and open and so disarmingly real, it makes my heart stumble. But then I feel it, not the warmth, the fear. Because he’s beautiful, not just on the outside, not just in the way that makes people stare. He’sgood. Steady, kind, and a little reckless in all the ways that matter. And good things don’t tend to last long around me. That thought pushes on my chest; panic, raw and unwelcome. Because I know what it means to lose people, and more importantly, I know what it would feel like to lose him. So I hold my breath, not here, not now, slowly exhaling. It’s not the time to let that lurking ball of anxiety ruin this moment for me. Fuck that bitch, this is now.
I’m here.
Right here.
Here–
“–vilyna.” Kai’s voice cuts through the spiral; his palms are warm against my cheeks. Voice firm, but soft, “breathe, Princess.” The word settles into my bones as a spell.
I gasp, sharp, uneven, and I feel the warmth of a tear trailing down my cheek before I even realize it’s there. Kai catches it with his thumb, his gaze locked on mine. Something flickers behind his eyes, not pity, never that. Pain, quiet, deep, the kind that sits just beneath the surface. Like watching someone you’d burn the world for, starting to crack, and still, he doesn’t look away. Kai just pulls me into his arms and holds me tight, staying right there with me.
“Don’t cry,” he murmurs, his voice muffled against my hair. “Please. We can head back, join the others, or I’ll take you to the manor, just tell me what youneed.”
“You… you’re what I need,” I murmur, offering the smallest, shakiest smile. “These aren’t sad tears,” I add, barely above a whisper. “I’m just… Grateful for you… I think.” Kai’s dimple reappears, soft and radiant, and that quiet smile spreads acrosshis face, a sunbeam. He leans in, breath brushing my lips, and murmurs.
“I love you, Avilyna Morween Rey,” and kisses me, slow, tender like he’s pouring every unspoken word into it. When we part, he teases me softly, the corners of his mouth twitching. “I think.”
I let out a wet laugh, shoving his chest lightly as I wipe a tear from my cheek.
“Shut up.”
Kai’s gaze flickers toward the trees, a quiet shift in his expression.“We won’t make it back and forth in time on foot. Not with this much snow.”
“Back and forth from where?” I ask, confused.
“There’s a spring,” he murmurs, a secret meant only for me. “Natural hot water, tucked away. It’s quiet with stars… and I want to see your face when you feel warm again.” Kai’s grin turns wicked. In one fluid motion, he shrugs off his shirt, then his pants.
