Chapter 14

Leo's pov

I wake up to a warm body pressed to mine and a head on my chest resting comfortably. My heart flutters when I snuggle closer to him and he tightens his grip on me by coiling his arm around my neck with his scent enveloping my being. It is bliss. Even my groggy morning self thinks so.

I have never considered him a cuddler.

I smile as I raise my arm to gently pat his hair because I simply couldn't help it. My devotion to the act grows when he reacts so sweetly to it by nuzzling his nose to my neck. In slow rhythms, my fingers travel through his hair, his wavy curls tickling my palm before I slowly settle it on his nape.

Can we give us a chance

His words from last night are still adhered to my mind acting as a reminder that in fact I haven't just imagined last night happening. He was here. He is here.

He will always be here - Rex states possessively.I concurred it by hugging him close.

After everything that had happened yesterday, the last I expected was for him to think about us. I had seen how scared he was. His terrified eyes almost haunting as it's one expression I never wanted to see from him. I promised I would never let that same fear ever cloud his pretty eyes. Yesterday also made me immensely protective of him even if he won't welcome but thankfully now I have his permission.

The thought alone brought an uncommon amount of pride and ease to my chest but there's also buzzing frustration it came along with.

I look down to find the evidence of that particular frustration.

Shit! I have a boner

Fuck. Continuously swearing to myself I try to get out of the bed without waking Seb beside me. Oblivious to everything he still clings to me refusing to let go. After some continuous efforts, he finally releases me with some reluctance and I replace myself with a pillow instead for him to hug before I rush to the bathroom.

Staring at my reflection horrifiedly, I attempt to calm the raging hard on my pants are sporting.  Ssh deep breaths.

1...2...3....

I count in my head until the numbers exceeded couple hundred while thinking all other unappealing things that might help distracting myself. Goddess. It really isn't a decent thing to get hard just by thinking of protective things about my mate.

I take some more time to subdue the vile thing that is my dick but all the effort almost undoes itself when I exit the bathroom to the sight of Seb. His sleepy form stretching as he supports himself on elbows as he blindly searched for me with his eyes half closed.

" Leo!" He calls my name when he finally finds me standing at the door.

I cross the room in big strides before taking his stretched hand. I smile when he closes his eyes again ready to fall back into bed.

" It's still early, go back to sleep. " I tell him as he settles his head on my shoulder and before nodding and drifting back into sleep. This time taking me with him.

I only wake up after what felt like an eternity with the rustling of sheets and panicking figure of Seb beside me. I clear my groggy throat to ask why him he's panicking.

" I have an exam in an hour. " He states staring at clock in horror. " I, I- won't make it. " he adds, hanging his head low and looking at his palms. I can feel the waves of panic mixed with misery swirling in him.

" I will drop you off. We will be able reach if we start in five minutes. " I assure him even though he shakes his head not quite believing my words. I know the task is close to impossibleness but I will take him to another planet back and forth in an hour if that can make him less upset.

Getting off of bed, I change into fresh clothes and heading down to take out the car. He makes it closely after me before hopping into the passenger seat. I give him a quick nod before speeding off the vehicle to it's utmost capacity.

I don't how I did it but we make it just in time for the test to start. " It's a three hour test, don't wait here. Go home. " he says as he gets down and sprints towards the building without even waiting for my reply.

I chuckle as his retreating back greets me yet again and somehow the university, the people here and trees around, everything felt so familiar indicating the habit we developed over the last few months which has become very personal to us, atleast to me.

That's when the idea struck me.

What if I take him there?

It was a thought that stemmed from purely out of delirium. I still don't know what's the extent of the things I could go for when he said " Giving us a second chance". But spending some time together should be a good start. Right?

I am still thinking about the same thing when he appears infront of me, slowly walking towards the car. My breath catches in my throat as he opens the car door before getting into the passenger seat.

" How did the exam go? " I manage to ask him after few seconds.

" It went fine I guess ." he answers, adjusting his seat belt.

" Are we heading straight to home or Do you want to be anywhere. Your parents home? Actually I will take you there. Checkup on Lyra- "

" There's no need for that. " he states with a calm tone. " I already called mom and um- she said not to come..go, I mean Lyra is fine, her friends came over and she's playing with them so it's better to leave her like that. You know, not overwhelming her or something like that. "

"Are you sure? " He gives me a curt nod.

Seb is tensed, very tensed. It is evident with every word he spoke. I wanted to comment on it and say he doesn't have to pretend to be unswerving in this situation but it can only trigger him even more so instead I say

" Okay." And he looks so relieved.

I start the car only to stop a second later.

It won't hurt to try, would it?

"Before we go home,I uhm- I want to take you somewhere. Can I ?"

" Sure. Where to? "

" You will see." I say trying to hide my smile.

For the first time in my life, I felt both nervous and immensely confident as I drove us through the rocky road that led us to the venue that witnessed my worst breakdowns and carefree laughs. Nervous that he may not like it as much as I do and very excited that I am finally getting to share something so special and important with him, with only him.

A familiar scenery comes into our vicinity as the rocky road ended leading to a flat land, tall trees hovering us blocking the harsh sunlight and disguising it as it's softer counterpart.

The serene atmosphere makes me instantly feel at home.

I park the car in the usual spot, lowering the glass of the windows letting the cool air hit us before turning my head to look at him.

If someone were to tell me that I have lived whatever years of my life just to lead up to this moment to witness the shiny eyes of my mate as he looked around my favourite place in awe, I would believe them.

" Where are we? " he asks me without taking his eyes off the place.

" On a hill. "

" We are? "

And I nod yes.

" It's so-- this place is beautiful." He exclaims.

" Do you like it? "

" I do! I have never been to a place like this. "

I unlock the doors on both sides signalling him to get down and he does. And with great enthusiasm I take him to show the stream first, there's a small path formed by the leeway of the rocks that led to the constant stream of water which eventually descends and becomes one with a nearby river. I showed him all the big trees, all the small spots that looked magical.

After a while, when we sit on a grass patch, " I really like this place. " Seb says beaming at me. I carefully consider the situation before saying

" I was thinking, everyday after classes I can drive us here and we can talk, get to know each other...you know, like you said. "

His expression instantly turns into one of confusion and....skepticism.

" You would do that?"

" I would. You don't- you don't like the idea? "

" No! Ofcourse I love it. It's just I was surprised. " He answers covering up his bewilderment and I smile at his attempts.

" I really want to get to know you. " I admit to him without hesitation. Not anymore. " Can I? "

He looks at me, his cheeks filling with pink before saying the magical words.

" Yes."