Synopsis: Sevika doesnât cry in front of anyoneânot ever. But when you sit her down on your bed after overhearing a conversation between her and Silco after a meeting, she breaks.
Tags/warning: smut and angst
âYou heard Silco,â you say, your voice quivering.
Her hand tightens on your chin, jaw clenching as her mind flashes backâSilcoâs words still echoing in her head, the sharp look in his eyes, the unspoken accusation. Youâre getting soft. That girlâs making you weak. His voice had been calm, but the meaning behind it hit like a knife.
Sevikaâs throat tightens, her mind spiraling, but she forces the words out through clenched teeth.
âI donât care what Silco says.â
âHeâs right,â you whisper, your voice barely audible. âYou have better things to focus on.â
Her grip loosens slightly. She hears itâthe quiet resignation in your voiceâand it punches the air out of her lungs. Her head shakes, slow and stubborn, like sheâs trying to fight off a reality thatâs already bleeding into the edges of her world.
The lump in her throat rises fast, hard and choking, but she swallows it down and manages to speakâbarely more than a breath.
âNo. No, I donât. The only thing that matters to me⊠is you.â
You gently place your hand on her chest.
The warmth of your touch seeps through her skin like a slow burnâso soft, so careful, it makes her head spin. Every nerve in her body goes tense. Sheâs doing everything she can not to grab you, not to pull you in and kiss you like itâs the last time. Her heart pounds wildly beneath your palm, like itâs trying to speak before she can.
Her voice is barely more than a breath when she finally manages,
âWhat are you doing?â
You donât answer the question. Instead, you say quietly,
âIâm no good for you, Sevika.â
The ache is instant. Sharp. It cuts deeper than she expects. She tries to shut it out, tries to push your words away, but they slip through her defenses and drag her under, swallowing her whole. Her hands tremble as she grabs yours, still resting over her heart, as if holding it there might keep you from slipping away.
Then, softlyâlike youâre breaking right in front of herâyou whisper,
âI think Iâm going to quit.â
Sevikaâs mind goes blank. Her eyes widen, and all the air rushes out of her lungs in a single, silent breath. Thereâs a high-pitched ringing in her ears, drowning out everything else. She barely registers your hand still in hers.
Her voice breaks through the noiseâraw, panicked, desperate.
âNo, no, noâyou canât.â
You squeeze her hand gently, trying to soothe her, even as your voice stays quiet and steady.
âWhy? Itâll be better this way. Youâll see me less⊠youâll find someone better.â
Her heart feels like itâs tearing in half. Her whole body starts to shake. The thought of losing you, of you walking awayâitâs too much. Her grip on your hand tightens like a lifeline, and her words come out choked, almost breathless.
âNo⊠no, I donât want anyone else. I just want you. Pleaseâdonât leave me.â
You reach out with your free hand, placing it gently on her shoulder, trying to calm her.
She flinches at the touch at firstâbut then she feels it, feels you. Her breathing slows just enough. She leans into you, needing to be close, needing to feel youâre still here. Desperation clings to every part of her, but her voiceâthough still shakyâfinds a little more strength.
âWhy?â she whispers. âWhy would you leave?â
You donât say anything. You just let her lean into you.
She rests her forehead against your shoulder, her body melting into yours. The contactâyour warmth, your presenceâanchors her, even as her chest stays tight and her heart pounds like a war drum. Still, being this close to you calms her in a way nothing else can.
âDonât go,â she whispers, barely audible.
You remain quiet. Silent, steady.
Her breathing slowly begins to even out as she clings to you, and after a long moment, she lifts her head. Her eyes meet yoursâso close now, her face just inches away. Her heart stutters. She raises a trembling hand to your cheek, brushing her fingers gently over your skin. The touch is soft, careful, almost reverent.
âPlease donât leave me,â she breathes.
You look into her eyes, holding her gaze for a long, silent second before finally speaking.
âWe should see other people.â
Her entire expression shatters.
The words hit her like a blowâsharp, sudden, merciless. Pain flashes across her face, wide-eyed and raw, and she goes still. Completely still. Her mind reels, spinning too fast to catch up, and her hand drops from your cheek like the strength has drained out of her.
For a heartbeat, she canât speak. Then, broken and pleading, the only thing she can manage isâ
âNo⊠donât. I need you.â
âWhy? Why do you need me?â you snap, your voice suddenly sharp, your anger flaring without warning. âThatâs not what you told Silco.â You scoot away just slightly, your voice a low growl. âWhy do you need me, Sevika?â
The sudden anger in your voice catches her off guard, and for a moment, she freezesâbut she doesnât pull away. If anything, she holds on tighter. Her own frustration begins to boil beneath the surface, colliding with the ache already in her chest.
Her voice trembles as she forces the words out, emotions rushing to the surface too fast to control.
âBecause you complete me,â she says, her voice cracking. âI canât think straight without you. I canât sleep. Youâre in my head every second of the day. All I see is your faceâyour touch. I canât breathe without thinking of you.â
Your eyes narrow, the pain in you sharpening into anger.
âWhat do you even know about me?â you spit. âYou say all this, but what do you really know?â
The question lands like a blow.
Sevikaâs anger collapses beneath the weight of your words. Tears rush to her eyes before she can stop them, and her body leans forward instinctively, needing to be closer, to ground herself in you. Her hands clutch your shoulders, trembling slightly, her gaze locked on yours with everything sheâs got left.
âI know youâre strong,â she whispers, her voice thick, âand youâre smart, and you have a kind heart even when you try to hide it.â Her breath catches. âI know youâre everything I wantâeverything I need. And I⊠I donât know how to exist without you.â
The last words fall from her lips in a whisper, and she trails off, her voice broken.
Your eyes soften, the sharp edge of your anger fading as your hands rise gently to her face.
Sevikaâs heart twists in her chest. The second your fingers graze her skin, she leans into your touch like sheâs starved for it. Every nerve lights up beneath your fingertips, her breath coming out in short, uneven gasps.
âPlease,â she breathes, voice cracking, âplease donât leave me. I donât care about anything else right nowâI just need you.â
You hold her gaze, your touch still soft against her cheeks, and you answer quietly,
âThatâs unhealthy, Sevika.â
The moment the words leave your mouth, her grip on you tightensâhard, desperate. She moves closer, her body almost fully pressing into yours now, like sheâs afraid that if she gives you even an inch of space, sheâll lose you.
Her hand slides across your body, mapping every inch she can reach, trying to memorize it with her touch. She locks eyes with you, her own brimming with raw, overwhelming emotion.
âI donât give a damn about unhealthy,â she whispers, her voice shaking but certain. âI want you.â
Your breath catches in your throat.
âS-Sevika,â you gasp, the sound barely making it past your lips as she towers over youâfierce, vulnerable, and completely undone by the thought of losing you.
Your gasp makes her heart stutterâloud and frantic in her chest. The sound of you saying her name sends a shiver down her spine, raw and electric. Without thinking, she straddles your waist, her hands gripping your hips with purpose, grounding herself in you. Her body presses you down into the mattress, pinning you beneath her, and her voice slips out in a strained whisper.
âSay it again⊠say my name again.â
Youâre unraveling beneath her touch, your resolve breaking at the edges. Sheâs not making this easy.
âSevi, please⊠stop,â you beg, your voice trembling. âYouâre making this harder than it already is. Justâjust let me go.â
The words hit her like a slap. Her fingers dig harder into your waist, her whole body tense, trembling. Her chest aches, her mind spinning out of control as she shakes her head, refusing to let this be the end.
âNo⊠no, I canât,â she chokes out, her voice thick with desperation. âI need you. Please, please donât goâI canât lose you.â
You close your eyes, breathing hard, each second pulling you further under. Then, your voice breaks the silenceâsoft, shaking.
âJ-Just one more night.â
Her breath catches. Her heart surges in her chest, pounding loud and fast as she stares down at you, still clinging to your waist. Her eyes dart between your face and the way your body fits beneath hers, like sheâs trying to burn it into memory.
ââŠJust tonight?â she whispers, barely able to get the words out.
You nod, your voice quiet and final.
âThatâs all. Tomorrow⊠you have to let me go.â
She swallows hard, the weight of your words crashing over her. One night. Just one night to hold you, to kiss you, to touch the body sheâs terrified of losingâitâs nearly unbearable. But she nods, her voice catching in her throat as she forces out the words.
âO-Okay⊠just one night.â
Your hands come up slowly, gently, to cup her faceâtender and careful like youâre already mourning her. Sevikaâs eyes flutter shut, and she leans into your touch, a shiver running down her spine at the feel of your fingers on her skin. Her breath stumbles out in ragged, uneven gasps, and her voice breaks with the weight of everything sheâs holding back.
âPlease⊠please just hold me,â she sobs, her voice cracking.
Your heart fractures at the sound. You know what tomorrow meansâwhat it will take to walk awayâbut you donât hesitate. You pull her into you, wrapping your arms around her neck and holding her tightly to your chest, like maybe if you hold her close enough, neither of you will have to face the morning.
The moment she feels you fully against her, it nearly unravels her. The warmth of your body, the way your arms encircle herâit sends every part of her spiraling. She clings to you with everything she has, her face burying in the crook of your neck as if she can hide from the future in your skin.
Her mind racesâcaught between the unbearable sweetness of now and the devastation waiting just beyond it. A strangled sob escapes her, rough and quiet, as she tightens her hold on you.
She wants to remember everything. Every second. Every breath. Every inch of your body pressed to hers. She wants to burn this into her soulâbecause she knows after tonight, all sheâll have left⊠is memory.
Your heart tightens painfully in your chest as you hear her sob quietly against you. Instinctively, your hands rise to her hair, fingers threading gently through the soft strands.
Sevika shivers at the sensation, tingles spreading through her body with every stroke. She clings to you tighter, her heart breaking a little more with each passing second. Every breath, every touch feels endlessâand yet not enough.
Her face is wet with tears, her voice barely more than a fragile whisper.
You keep running your hands through her hair, wordless, unable to get words out of your throat. The weight of it threatens to shatter you into pieces if you try.
Her whole body trembles now, shaking with the force of all sheâs holding in. Your fingers in her hair are the only thing keeping her tethered, steadying her fragile heart.
She presses closer, as close as she can, as if the thought of you leaving could dissolve her into nothing. Her voice breaks, barely audible.
âPlease donât leave me⊠I canât do this.â
âPlease donât, Sevi,â you beg softly, the anguish in your voice raw and trembling. You canât bear to see her so broken, so utterly undone in your arms.
Your hand moves, rubbing slow, soothing circles against her backâgentle and steady.
âI need you. I need you so bad. Please donât leave me.â
âShh, Sevi. Shh,â you murmur, your touch the only anchor holding her mind from fracturing completely.
The warmth of your hand against her skin is like fireâboth burning and healing.
She buries her face deeper into your shoulder, hands clutching at you like a lifeline. Her voice strains with desperate longing.
âPlease⊠I want to feel you. I need to feel you.â
You slide your hands gently underneath her shirt, fingertips grazing her bare skin slowly, your hands move up and down her back in a soft, rhythmic motion.
Then, unexpectedly, you start to cryâquiet sobs at first, then deeper, wrenching sobs that shake your whole body against hers.
Sevika shivers, overwhelmed by the sensation of your skin against hers. The heat of your touch races along her nerves, igniting a fire beneath her skin. The sound of your crying stirs something fierce inside her, and without thinking, she clings tighter, arms wrapping around your shoulders, one hand settling gently at the back of your head.
âShh, donât cry⊠please, donât cry,â she whispers, voice thick with emotion.
Your tear-filled voice breaks through, trembling.
âYouâre crying tooâŠâ
Her heart clenches, as if your words have knocked the air out of her lungs. She lets out a strangled sob, her whole body trembling against yours. She buries her face deeper into your shoulder, tasting the bittersweet salt of your skin as tears stream freely down her cheeks, soaking into your shirt.
âI know,â she murmurs, voice raw and broken, âI canât help it. I just need you⊠I need you so bad.â
You pull back slightly from her chest, then press your lips gently to the tears streaming down her face.
The warmth of your mouth against her skin shocks her whole body â a jolt that sends her heart pounding against her ribs. She lets out a shaky gasp, her mind swirling in a chaotic storm of feelings and thoughts.
âPlease⊠please donât leave me,â she whispers, voice trembling.
You donât answer with words. Instead, you keep kissing her face softly, your lips brushing over her skin as you wipe away her tears with slow.
Her entire body aches with the cruel knowledge that this moment canât last forever. Her breathing quickens, desperation threading through her voice as the words spill out, raw and pleading.
âKiss me⊠please, kiss me. I need to feel you. I need you so bad.â
Without hesitation, you crash your lips onto hersâurgent, breathless, hungry. Your mouths meld together.
Her lips move against yours with desperate longing, her mind empty except for the overwhelming need to taste you, to lose herself in the moment and forget everything else.
Your body trembles as you kiss her, one hand tangling in her hair, pulling her closer, desperate to feel every inch of her pressed against you.
Sevikaâs heart thunders in her throat, her body aching with need. Her hands dig into your waist, gripping you tightly and hauling you closer with all the strength she can muster.
Your skin against hers blazes like fire, and she canât hold back the ragged moan that slips past her lips as your mouths move in perfect, hungry sync.
You kiss her lips as if trying to imprint her taste into your very soul, desperate to remember this momentâand the feeling of her against youâforever.
Her hand slides up from your waist to your hips, fingers digging in, gripping you with urgent need. She pushes you gently but firmly down onto the bed, hovering over you, her face just inches from yours. Pulling back from your lips, she whispers, breath hot against your skin,
âI need you. I need you. Please⊠tell me you need me.â
âSevi,â you say her name like a warning, your voice cracking.
The way you say it steals the breath right from her lungs. Sheâs already teetering on the edge, body pressed flush against yours.
Tears streak down her cheeks as her voice breaks in desperate pleading.
âTell me. I need to know. I need to hear you say it. Please.â
âFuck, Sevika. I need you. Iâm always going to need you,â you confess, your voice raw and ragged at the edges.
She crushes her lips back to yours, unable to get enough of your taste, clinging to you as if youâre the only thing keeping her alive. Without thinking, her body takes overâher hips begin to move against you, rolling and pressing closer, craving every inch of you.
You grunt low in your throat as your hips rise, rolling messily and needily against hers, matching the rhythm of your kiss.
Sevikaâs mind spins out of control with the feel of you beneath herâthe way your hips move, the heat of your body pressed so close. She canât hold back the sounds escaping her lips, raw and unfiltered.
Your touch feels like ecstasy flooding through her veins. Her hands slide up to grip your hips tightly, pulling you closer as she mirrors your movement, rolling her hips against yours again.
The kiss deepensâdesperate, urgentâher body trembling with need.
You let out a soft whimper into her mouth, your tongue tracing the bottom of Sevikaâs lip as your hands slide down to grip the sides of her torso.
The sound sends a shiver through her bodyâyour hands holding her so firmly, so possessively, feels electric. She deepens the kiss, inviting your tongue inside, her whole body aching to melt into you. Her hands clamp tightly around your hips, anchoring you close.
You snake your tongue deeper into her mouth, your hands exploring her sides as you continue to grind your hips against hers with slow, desperate pressure.
The sensation of your tongue sliding against hers draws a low, ragged moan from Sevikaâs lips. Her head spins, thoughts dissolving into pure sensation. The only thing keeping her tethered is the overwhelming feeling of you pressed against her.
Finally, you pull back slightly, breath ragged and heavy, panting as you keep your hips moving in syncâeach press and grind stoking the fire between you both.
Sevika rests her head against the crook of your neck, breath ragged and uneven, her body burning with needânever quite satisfied. Her hips roll against yours again, the heat pooling deep inside her intensifying, craving more. A soft, desperate whine slips from her lips,
âG-god, you feel so good.â
You flush at her words, hips grinding upward to meet hers. Throwing your head back, you release a low, guttural moan, panting her name,
The sound of her name on your lips sends her head spinning, her hips continuing their slow, hungry rhythm against yours. Her mouth trails hot kisses down your neck as she breathes,
âSay my name again⊠please, say it again.â
Your hand slides up to her stomach, pressing firmly into her skin, feeling the tight muscles beneath your fingers. You grope possessively as your hips move frantically in time with hers, groaning her name again and again,
Sevikaâs breath catches, her body trembling beneath your touch. Your voiceâcalling her name like a prayerâdrives her wild. Her hips grind harder, a loud moan ripping free as she struggles to find the words,
âSay that again⊠please, say it again. I need to hear you say my name.â
Her eyes lock onto yours, desperation and need burning in their depths as she practically begs.
You slide your hand higher under her shirt, fingers grazing warm, bare skin as your hips move faster against hers. Spent and panting, you whimper her name,
Her voice breaks through the haze, trembling with need,
âSay it again⊠please, say my name again⊠I need to hear you say it.â
You chant her name like a prayer, lips barely parting,
The coil in your stomach tightens with every thrust, your hands roaming beneath her shirt, gripping her chest possessively.
The sound of your name echoes in her mind, a hypnotic mantra she canât escape. She grinds desperately against you, every nerve on fire, every inch craving more. Your touch sends shivers down her spine, and she presses her body closer, voice hoarse and raw,
You beg, voice trembling, âPlease, Sevika, please donât stop,â whimpering her name as her hips roll frantically against yours, your fingers teasing her nipples through soft skin.
Hearing you plead is almost too much for Sevika to bear. She needs youâneeds you now. She presses harder against you, her hand tightening on your hips, breath hot and ragged. Your touch on her bare chest nearly overwhelms her, and her voice falls soft, almost pleading, âSay⊠say Iâm yours.â
âW-what?â you ask, confused, mind blank as your hips continue their frantic rhythm.
Sevikaâs control slips completely. Her hips keep rocking against yours with wild abandon, words spilling out like a desperate confession. Her hand slides up to grip your throat, holding just enough to command your attention.
âSay Iâm yours. Tell me Iâm yours.â
âWe shouldnât even be doing this,â you gasp, breath catching as her hips grind harder against you.
âI donât care. I donât care. I just need you.â Her voice rushes out, hand tightening around your throat as her body moves relentlessly against yours. Every inch of her is desperate for you.
âFuck⊠youâre mine, Sevika. Youâre mine,â you finally growl, hips bucking and stuttering as the coil in your stomach tightens, your climax rushing close.
The sound of you claiming her sends a jolt straight through Sevikaâs body, everything snapping into sharp focus. Her movements become more frantic, grinding against you harder and faster, desperate to feel every inch of you.
âSay it again, pleaseâsay it again. I want to hear you say it, that I belong to you,â she begs, her voice trembling with need.
âFuck, baby, you belong to me. Youâre mineâmine. No one else will ever fuck you like this,â you growl, your hips rising to meet hers in a fierce, desperate rhythm.
Sevika moans louder this time, the sound raw and hungry. Hearing you claim her so possessively drives her wild, and her grip on your hip tightens, pulling you even closer, burning with need.
âBaby, Iâm gonna come if you keep this up,â you groan out, frustration mixing with desperation.
But she doesnât stopâcanât stop. Sheâs too far gone, lost in the moment, grinding against you with wild abandon. Her hands grip your hips tightly as her head drops close to your ear, her voice trembling with raw need, âYes, yesâplease come for me. I need to see you come.â
Your core clenches at her words, your back arches involuntarily, hips slamming harder into hers as you tremble on the edge. âFuck, Sevika, fuck, fuck!â you cry out, hands scrambling over her back, nails digging in, leaving scratch marks.
âOh God, yes! Yes, please come for me!â Her mind is gone, completely lost in you. The sound of your begging, the feeling of your hands on her skinâit overwhelms her. She can feel herself teetering on the brink, her body starting to shiver uncontrollably. Her vision blurs, but all she can focus on is you.
âIâm coming!â you cry out, hips stuttering wildly against hers as the wave of your climax crashes through you, overwhelming every nerve. Your voice breaks as you scream, âFuck, Sevika, youâre all mineâyouâre mineâ
Her body trembles in perfect sync with yours, hips stuttering against yours, the sound of your desperate plea sending her over the edge. With a loud, shuddering cry, she succumbs to her own release, collapsing against you as her body quakes through the climax. Between ragged moans and heavy pants, she gasps, âYes⊠Iâm yours. Iâm all yours. Iâm yours.â
You lift your hand gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Your eyes, heavy with sadness, lock onto hers. âYour eyes are beautiful, Sevi,â you whisper.
The way you look at her makes her chest ache. Her breath is still ragged, her mind foggy from everything that just happened. She gazes back at you, drinking in every detail of your face. âNo,â she murmurs, âyouâre the one whoâs beautiful.â
âJust let me have this,â you say softly, your eyes searching hers, knowing that tomorrow will change everything.
She sees the sorrow etched in your expression, and it tightens something inside her. She pulls you closer, letting out a quiet sigh, her gaze never leaving yours. âFine,â she whispers.
Your thumb strokes her cheek tenderly, your eyes lingering on hers a moment longer. âYou have the most gorgeous eyes Iâve ever seen, Sevi,â you say softly, pressing your forehead against hers. A single tear escapes your eye and trails down your face.
The warmth of your touch and the sincerity in your voice send a shiver through her. Her throat tightens, and she reaches up to cup your face, her body still trembling from everything, overwhelmed by the rawness between you. âPlease⊠donât cry,â she pleads.
âIâm sorry,â you whisper weakly, your eyes slipping away from her face.
Her heart twists painfully at the sight of you crying. Gently, she cups your face in her hands and lifts it, forcing you to meet her gaze. âHey, heyâlook at me. Donât look away.â
Tears continue to slide down your cheeks as you lock eyes with her. âMmm, so sorry, Sevika,â you murmur, barely above a whisper.
The raw ache in your voice and the way you say her name shatters something inside her. A lump forms in her throat as she pulls your face into the hollow of her neck. Her arms wrap around you tightly, one hand cradling the back of your head. âDonât apologize. Stop saying sorry.â
You fall silent, your sobs filling the quiet bedroom.
The sound of your crying breaks her heart, and she holds you even closer, her body trembling with yours.
You press a gentle kiss against her neck.
Her voice is soft, almost fragile as she whispers, âPlease donât cry anymore. Please.â
âItâs hard not to,â you answer softly, your voice trembling.
Seeing you like this twists her heart again. She keeps her eyes locked on yours, body still pressed against you, and leans in to place a tender kiss on your forehead.
âIâm sorry we couldnât make this work,â you say softly, your voice barely more than a whisper.
Her chest tightens, a sharp ache spreading through her. Tears sting her eyesâthis isnât how it was supposed to end. Her mind races a hundred miles an hour, but her body responds without thinking, pulling you closer in a desperate hug. Her voice trembles, nearly breaking as she meets your gaze. âPlease⊠please donât say that.â
âSevika,â you say, voice weak but firm, âyou know what I said. I meant it. This is the last night.â
Your words hit her like a punch to the chest. Her body trembles, and her heart feels like itâs lodged in her throat. She struggles to hold herself together. âNo⊠no, you canât. You canât just leave. Youâre mine. Iâm not ready to say goodbye.â
âYou agreed,â you murmur, voice cracking.
She clings to you so tightly, speaking between shaky, gasping breaths, âI know⊠I know. But I canât. I canât live like this. I need you.â
âItâll be okay,â you say, desperation coloring your voice, trying to convince even yourself.
She can feel the breaking in your heart, and it tears her apart. She holds on, unable to stop herself, her head spinning as every fiber of her wants to fight this. But all she can do is cry, her body shaking as she buries herself into you, trying to convince herself this isnât how itâs supposed to end.
You sink back against the bed, pulling Sevika down with you. She clings to you, her body trembling, hands gripping the front of your shirt, her face buried in the crook of your neck.
Your fingers thread gently through her hair, silently trying to memorize every detail, engraving this moment deep inside your mind.
She feels your touch, soft and soothing, and a quiet whimper escapes her. Every second feels like torture. Slowly, she lifts her head just enough to meet your gaze, her eyes tracing the lines of your face, desperate to memorize every beautiful edge, wanting to live here, in this moment, forever.
âI love you,â you say, voice heavy with sadness.
The words strike her like a blow to the chest; her eyes sting with tears as she fights to hold them back. âSay it again, please.â
You cup her face in your hands, your voice barely more than a whisper as you say it again, âIâll always love you.â
She clings tighter, as if trying to hold you close forever. Her voice cracks and pleads, âAgain. Please say it again. Donât stop saying it.â
You bury your face in her neck, silent this time.
She clings like sheâs drowning, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. Her whole body trembles against yours, desperate for more, needing to hear it again and again. âPlease donât stop saying it. Please donât stop telling me you love me. Donât let go.â
Tears blur your vision at her desperation, your heart breaking. âI love you, Sevi. Always will.â
She sobs against your chest, her body shaking as she holds onto you like her life depends on it, grasping every word. âPlease donât go. I need to hear you say it again.â
Instead of saying it again, you pull her closer, drawing her into one last kissâsoft, slow, and gentle.
She melts into the feeling, lost in the press of your lips against hers. A soft moan escapes her, her hand moving to grip the back of your head. The way your bodies fit together drives her wild.
You slowly pull back, eyes locking with hers, noticing the tear stains on her cheeks.
Her gaze is blurry with tears, her chin resting against your chest, a strangled sound caught in her throat. Your faces are inches apart, and she longs to get lost here forever, but the sorrow in your eyes tells a different story.
âItâll be okay,â you say quietly, as if trying to convince yourself.
She hears the lie beneath your words and pulls you tighter, hands clutching at your body like a lifeline. Then, burying her face against your chest, her voice cracks as she pleads, âDonât lie to me. Donât say that. Please, donât say that. Itâs not going to be okay.â
You stroke slow, soft circles on her back, your voice a gentle whisper, âShh⊠go to sleep, Sevi.â
âY-youâll still be here in the morning, right? Please donât leave while Iâm sleeping.â
Your heart shatters, knowing you wonât beâbut you lie anyway. âIâll be here in the morning,â you say, glancing away.
She relaxes slightly at your words. âPromise?â
You donât answer, just keep rubbing slow circles on her back, trying to soothe her.
The silence cuts deep, a knife twisting in her gut. Sheâs barely holding herself together. Her voice is fragile, broken. âPlease say something⊠anything.â
âI love you,â you whisper weakly. âSleep with me?â
You feel her nod against your chest. âYes. Of course.â
Your hand continues its gentle rhythm.
âPlease donât stop. Please donât let go. I canât.â
âShh, Sevika. Just close your eyes,â you murmur against her neck, still tracing soft circles on her back.
You close your own eyes, resting your head on the pillow.
Sevika shifts, seeking you even closer, needing to feel you. Her mind drifts slowly toward sleep, but her body trembles with every breath.
You wrap your arms around her tighter, pulling her close against your body. Softly, you press a kiss to her forehead.
She finally lets go, the last of her strength fading as she surrenders to your embrace. A tired, broken whimper slips from her throat as she clings to you like youâre her lifeline.
âPlease⊠I need you. I need you so much. I donât care. I donât know what Iâm going to do tomorrow. Please donât let go.â
You stay silent for a moment, then speak, holding her even tighter.
âItâs okay, Sevi. Iâve got you right now. Youâre okay.â
She canât hold back any longer; a soft sob escapes her lips.
âI canât⊠Iâm losing it. Donât let go of me. Please, donât let go. I canât.â
âHey⊠itâs okay, baby. Iâve got you. Iâve got you.â
Her body shakes against your hold, tears and sobs escaping uncontrollably.
âBaby, youâre exhausted. You need to sleep.â
Slowly, she drifts off, still clinging to you, seeking comfort in your arms.
You stay awake with her, holding her close, knowing what tomorrow will bring.
Sevika sleeps through the night, her body and mind finally worn out. She vaguely feels you holding her, and instinctively, she holds you tighter.
Without a word, you slip quietly from her embrace Sheâs still mostly asleep when the bed shifts beneath her. The warmth thatâs been wrapped around her all nightâthe safety, the weight, the presenceâstarts to fade. She can feel it even in the haze of sleep, the way you pull away. You head toward the door, your heart breaking with every step. You pause, looking back one last time before leaving her alone in the silence.
Her fingers twitch against the sheets, still clinging to the space where you laid. She tries to reach for you, but her limbs are heavy, too sluggish to respond. Panic flares faintly in her chest, distant but sharp, like a scream muffled under water.
She tries to say your name, to call you backâbut the sound that leaves her lips is barely more than a fragile whimper.
âNo⊠come back⊠pleaseâŠâ
Itâs so quiet, it barely exists. A broken plea lost in the dark.
Her mind tries to hold on, to pull her back to you, but sleep is strongerâpulling her under, dragging her down into its depths. Her body finally relaxes again, surrendering to exhaustion, breath evening out. She slips away into the dream realm, too tired to fight anymore.
But even in sleep, even as her body rests, one question lingers like a splinter in her soul:
Will she ever see you again?