“The deployment date has been moved up. We leave in the morning.”

“…I see. That’s not the answer I wanted to hear.”

“I don’t want to leave like this.”

“Neither do I.”

“….”

But Etia’s pleas vanished into the void. 

Derek couldn’t give her the answer she wanted, nor could he stay by her side. The thought of him leaving for a distant battlefield by morning left Etia with nothing but a hollow laugh.

How had it come to this? Where had it all gone wrong, and how could it ever be set right? The uncertainty of when—or if—such a time would come left her feeling helpless. 

Could he even come back alive? This wasn’t a simple subjugation or a war for territorial gain. The more she reminded herself of this, the more the crushing anxiety threatened to consume her.

“Go get some rest. You need to sleep, even if only for a little, before you leave.”

Etia rose from her seat, resigned. She had said everything she wanted to say, and there was nothing left to add. Keeping him here any longer, knowing he had to leave for war, felt like a disservice. Whether following such logic was good for her or not was another matter entirely.

But as she turned to leave, Derek grabbed her wrist.

“Please…”

His voice was hoarse, and the warmth of his hand startled her. When she turned back, her eyes met Derek’s face, twisted in pain.

He couldn’t say anything more, as though swallowing back tears. His cracked voice left Etia feeling just as shaken.

“You might regret this.”

“I won’t.”

Derek held her gaze for a long moment before slowly raising a hand to her face. The warmth of his touch made tears well up in her eyes, but seeing him struggling to hold back his own tears made her swallow them down.

Still hesitant, Derek finally leaned toward her. Their lips met in a hurried kiss, their breaths mingling as they clung to each other.

Derek wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Even through the fabric of her dress, the delicate curve of her body made his heart race uncontrollably.

Before they knew it, they had fallen onto the bed together, as though this night was their last.

Etia wrapped her arms tightly around Derek’s neck, leaving no space between them. Derek, too, held her close, one hand gripping her waist while the other slid down to her thigh. 

As her skirt bunched up, Derek’s hand brushed against her soft skin, and Etia gasped at the heat of his touch.

What unsettled her most wasn’t how close they were after years of distance, but the look on Derek’s face. He seemed like a man in pain, his expression strained even as he kissed her. The sight of it made her chest ache.

But she didn’t let go. Even if this was impulsive, it was better than the uncertainty that had plagued them. The warmth of their skin against each other felt more reassuring than the doubts and fears that had kept them apart. 

Even if she wouldn’t see him for a long time after tonight, Etia closed her eyes and let herself fall into the moment.

Derek’s kisses trailed from her lips to her cheeks and down her neck. His lips lingered on the thin fabric covering her chest, teasing her with his tongue and teeth. 

Etia gasped, unable to contain the sound. When she instinctively moved to cover her mouth, Derek bit down gently, making her cry out again.

“Don’t hold back.”

Derek’s voice was low as he pulled her skirt up further, eventually removing it entirely. He used the fabric to bind her wrists above her head, leaving her wide-eyed with surprise. 

Was this really the same man she had married? 

With her arms pinned, she couldn’t move, and the unfamiliar side of Derek left her flustered.

But his movements were unrelenting. Positioned between her legs, Derek cupped one of her br*asts with one hand while the other slid lower. Her undergarments were already soaked with her arousal, and Derek’s fingers pressed against the damp fabric.

“Ah—Derek…!”

As he continued to touch her, Etia’s gasps grew louder. She bit her lip, trying to stifle the sounds, but Derek’s persistence made it impossible. 

She wanted to close her legs, but Derek’s firm grip kept her from moving. The slick heat between her thighs only deepened her embarrassment.

Her undergarments had long since lost their purpose. Derek discarded the thin fabric and slid a finger inside her, making her tense with a sharp intake of breath.

“Ah—!”

It had been so long that even one finger felt foreign, almost uncomfortable. Etia’s body squirmed reflexively, but Derek held her hips steady, preventing her from moving away.

“If you move, you’ll hurt yourself.”

His deep voice filled the room, gentle yet firm. The tone startled her, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

Derek added another finger, moving them slowly. The initial discomfort began to melt into a strange, unfamiliar pleasure. Etia’s body trembled involuntarily, her breaths coming in short gasps.

“Derek… please… just…”

This slow, deliberate pleasure was new to her. Their wedding night had been rushed, painful, and overwhelming—anything but enjoyable.

For Etia, everything about this felt like a first. Derek’s careful attention to her reactions, his focus on her pleasure—it was all so new and overwhelming that she couldn’t help but blush. Her face burned as she realized what was happening.

She found herself wishing he would just take her already. The embarrassment of his teasing touches was almost too much to bear. It would feel less awkward, less vulnerable, if he simply claimed her.

“Not yet. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“But… please… ah!”

Derek ignored her pleas. He remembered their wedding night all too well. It hadn’t been a good memory for either of them, but he knew it must have been especially difficult for her.

Even now, as their emotions ran high and their actions were driven by impulse, Derek didn’t want to lose control. He didn’t want to hurt her, no matter how much he desired her.

So he continued, his fingers exploring her until he found the spots that made her tremble. 

Her body responded instinctively, her slick warmth coating his hand. The wet sounds of his movements filled the room, mingling with her soft cries.

“Ah—Derek… ah!”

When he finally brought her to climax, Etia’s body shuddered violently. Her breath came in short gasps as she clung to him, utterly spent.

Derek leaned down to kiss her, his lips urgent against hers. Though her wrists were no longer bound, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding him close.

“If it hurts, tell me.”

Derek positioned himself carefully, his hand still caressing her as he slowly entered her. The stretch made her gasp, and a faint ache reminded her of how long it had been. But instead of pulling away, Etia held him closer. She didn’t want him to stop.

Derek’s movements were slow and deliberate at first, his lips brushing against her skin as he murmured her name. Gradually, her discomfort gave way to a gentle pleasure, and her soft cries encouraged him to move faster.

“Ah… Derek…!”

Their breaths mingled in the warm air, their bodies moving in sync. Derek’s steady rhythm brought her closer and closer to the edge, her mind clouded with sensation.

“Derek… please… ah!”

As her cries grew louder, Derek’s restraint began to slip. He held her tightly, his movements growing more urgent. He kissed her deeply, his lips silencing her gasps as he drove them both toward release.

When they finally reached their peak together, Etia’s body trembled uncontrollably. She clung to Derek as her vision blurred, her mind overwhelmed by the intensity of it all.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Their breaths were heavy, their bodies slick with sweat. Derek kissed her softly, his lips brushing against her forehead.

“I’m sorry…”

The faint light of dawn began to fill the room as Derek dressed and prepared to leave. Etia lay still, her exhausted body unable to move. 

As Derek stood, her eyes caught a strange mark on his lower back—a symbol she didn’t recognize. She hadn’t known he had a tattoo, and the sight of it lingered in her mind.

Long after Derek left, Etia remained in bed, staring at the door he had walked through. Only when the sun was fully risen did she finally drift off to sleep.