CH489 Fluttering Heart

***

When Zora and Udara left for the nest, Eleanor informed the two Fury soldiers guarding her that she didn't want to be disturbed under any circumstance. She locked the door, then entered the Sanctuary.

The vibrant, grassy-green scenery was both literally and figuratively a breath of fresh air compared to the dry, barren desert air of Camp Red Rock.

Eleanor sat at Alex's modular workstation and began working through documents—mostly finances and business plans for the expedition party.

Alex had made it clear that trade would be a major part of his interplanar expedition strategy, so Eleanor took it upon herself to prepare comprehensively for it.

After an hour, she stretched at the desk, leaning back into the chair and inadvertently presenting her bountiful bosom in full view.

Alas, there was no one to appreciate it.

Eleanor turned her head towards the resting area, where Alex was still asleep.

She watched him for a moment, then glanced back at the table. A thought flickered across her expression. She hesitated for a bit more than a moment.

Then, as if she'd made a grand decision, she stood up and walked to Alex's bedside.

Looking at the calmly sleeping youth, Eleanor couldn't help chuckling to herself.

'Only when he's sleeping like this… and not oozing that manly, mature aura around him… does he finally look and feel his age.'

She sat beside him and watched quietly, as though he was the most fascinating thing in the world.

She couldn't understand how someone could have such a polarising presence while unconscious.

It was only in moments like this that it truly clicked in her mind—Alex had technically become an adult less than a year ago.

Most of the time, she—and she was sure almost everyone else—forgot that fact, and treated him like an older, more experienced man.

'I guess that's part of his charm… and why I—'

A sudden impulse rose in her chest.

Her expression changed slightly as she tried to resist it.

But in the end, she couldn't help herself.

Eleanor reached out and gently ruffled Alex's hair, like an adult teasing a child.

She imagined Alex being awake—how much he would've been displeased by what she was doing.

Rather than stopping, the thought amused her so much that she continued.

"Eleanor…"

Alex's mutter made Eleanor jump in shock—only for her to realise it was nothing more than a sleepy, unconscious murmur.

Her hands froze.

Alex's brows furrowed, and he shifted closer without opening his eyes, as though searching for the warmth he'd just lost. Only when Eleanor resumed stroking his hair did the tension ease from his forehead, his expression smoothing out in quiet comfort.

"Five more… minutes," he muttered drowsily.

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, the fact that Alex could recognise her even while asleep—and that he seemed to find comfort in her presence—made something in her chest soften.

It warmed her far more than it should have.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Eleanor slipped into the bed beside him and wrapped her arms around him, gently guiding his head onto her chest.

It was a position he'd joked about liking before… one she'd always been too shy to allow.

But now, with him half-asleep and vulnerable, it felt strangely natural.

"Alright," she whispered, voice low and tender. "Five minutes."

She stroked his hair slowly, like a mother coaxing a restless child back into slumber.

And before she realised it, Eleanor herself drifted off.

She woke later—after an indeterminate amount of time—feeling more refreshed than she had in a long while.

She was an Imperial Princess, accustomed to sleeping on the finest beds in the Empire.

Now she was camping in the wilderness, forced to endure cheap inns and rough accommodations.

Yet she had slept deeply and comfortably.

And that thought left her oddly stunned.

'Maybe it isn't the beds that made me uncomfortable…'

Her gaze softened.

'Maybe it's just that I haven't accepted my new life as much as I thought I had.'

Everything about the expedition was a massive change compared to what she'd once known.

There was still so much she needed to adjust to.

But the fact that she'd slept this well—on a bed that couldn't compare to even the worst bed she'd used back home—told her something she wasn't ready to ignore.

'Looks like I really have accepted this man after all.'

Eleanor looked down at Alex, his head still resting against her chest.

But then she noticed something.

Alex's hands moved.

One arm tightened around her waist, while his fingers pressed lightly—almost possessively—on her bosom as he burrowed his face closer, seeking their suppleness without restraint.

Eleanor's eyes narrowed.

"…Alex Fury," she said softly, suspicion creeping into her voice, "you're awake, aren't you?"

Alex's hands froze instantly.

His eyes—still closed—snapped open.

Slowly, he lifted his head out of Eleanor's embrace and shifted to lie on his side, propping his cheek on his palm as he looked at the gorgeous woman beside him.

A cheeky smile tugged at his lips.

"I just woke up," he said smoothly. "I wasn't expecting to open my eyes to such a wonderful view. I couldn't help myself."

He chuckled.

Eleanor reached for his face.

The innocent softness he'd worn in sleep was gone, replaced by that devilishly handsome air he carried when he was fully awake. Yet, it didn't attract her any less.

After all… he was still the same man.

To Alex's surprise, Eleanor pushed herself up and kissed him.

Eleanor usually kept her propriety. She responded when he made a move, yes—but this was perhaps the first time she'd made the first move herself.

And just as suddenly as she kissed him… she pulled away.

Even she looked a little startled by what she'd done.

But Alex wasn't the type to let an opening go to waste.

He caught her before she could retreat further, pulled her closer, and kissed her back—firmly and decisively, as though sealing her impulse into something real.

Their lips stayed locked, heat rising between them as neither wanted to be the first to break away. Only when Eleanor finally ran out of breath did he let her go, his forehead resting briefly against hers.

His body reacted instantly, desire surging like a switch had been flipped.

He was just about to press forward—

Then he noticed it.

The nervousness in her eyes... the hesitation she tried to hide.

He could tell she would give in if he pushed.

But that wasn't how he wanted to take her.

'No. Don't rush, Alex Fury,' he warned himself. 'She's already your wife. When the time is right… she'll come to you willingly.'

His gaze softened, but his thoughts were still sharp.

'And wouldn't that be far more interesting?'

'An Imperial Princess of the mighty Virellian Empire… offering herself to you on a gold—no… a gem-studded platinum platter.' He chuckled.

But then he froze in shock, not expecting himself to think such dark thoughts.

'That's because of the Furor Bloodline, right? Right?!'

For the sake of his sanity, he chose to blame the infernal part of his nature.

He leaned in and kissed Eleanor's forehead gently, then gave her a reassuring smile.

Eleanor felt both pleased and frustrated.

Pleased, because he wasn't pushing her—because he was giving her time to come to terms with everything. It made her feel loved… cherished.

But also frustrated, because she was the older one. She was supposed to be the mature one. Yet somehow, around him, she always felt like the inexperienced one.

It was a strange mix of emotions.

Even stranger… the polarising combination still warmed her heart.

Her cheeks flushed as she lost control of her feelings.

Alex got out of bed, only then realising he was still wearing the clothes he'd had on while tattooing Zora.

'Zora probably didn't want to risk waking me,' he chuckled inwardly.

"How long was I out?" he asked.

***

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