Elizabeth opened her eyes and saw Alex sitting by her side. He was not looking happy and it saddened her.
"Why are you not happy?" She whispered, jolting Alex who seemed to be lost in thought.
Seeing that she was awake, he was relieved.
"How do you feel?" He asked her. "You shouldn't have joined in the fight, Elizabeth."
Elisabeth tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her body, forcing her to stop. She let out a soft sigh, frustration flickering in her eyes.
"I had to," she murmured, her voice weak but steady. "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
Alex shook his head, the tension in his jaw tightening. "And now you can't fight anymore." His words were quiet, but the weight behind them was heavy.
Elisabeth fell silent, her expression unreadable. She knew he was right, her body felt drained, fragile in a way she had never experienced before. Yet, if given the chance, she would do it again.
"I made my choice," she said softly. "I'd rather lose my strength than lose you."
Alex's eyes softened, but the worry didn't leave his face. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You didn't have to protect me. I can handle myself."
A faint smile touched her lips. "Maybe. But someone has to keep you from doing something reckless."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the medical equipment.
"You should rest," Alex finally said, his voice gentler. "I'll be here."
Elisabeth closed her eyes again, the warmth of his presence easing the ache inside her. Despite everything, she felt safe.
Later at night, Elizabeth stepped out of the bathroom, her bare skin glistening with droplets of water that traced delicate paths down her body. The steam curled around her like a thin veil, but she didn't bother reaching for the towel immediately—Alex wasn't home. Or so she thought.
Just as she bent slightly to grab the towel from the bed, the door creaked open.
It was Alex.
He immediately froze in the doorway, his breath hitching. His eyes widened as they swept over her, lingering just a second too long before he realized what he was doing. But instead of turning away, he stood rooted in place, staring.
Elizabeth slowly straightened, the towel still dangling from her fingers. For once, she didn't rush to cover herself. Something about the way he looked at her—like she was the only thing in the world and it made her heartbeat quicken.
"You're back early," she said softly, her voice smooth but holding a slight edge of surprise.
Alex didn't respond immediately. His throat worked as if swallowing words he couldn't say, but his gaze remained locked on her. His usual calm composure wavered, and the air between them thickened with something unspoken.
"You didn't… lock the door," he finally managed, his voice lower and rougher than usual.
"You didn't knock," she countered, her lips curving into a faint, teasing smile.
The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It hummed with something electric, something neither of them seemed willing to break.
Alex took a step inside, allowing the door to shut quietly behind him. His eyes never left hers, but the tension in his jaw and the slow rise and fall of his chest betrayed the battle he was fighting with himself.
"You're staring," Elizabeth murmured, her tone softer now.
"Can you blame me?" His words came out without thought, and when he realized how honest they were, he didn't bother to take them back.
A shiver, not from the cold ran down her spine. The heat in his gaze made her skin feel even warmer, as if his touch lingered on her without ever closing the distance.
"You should cover yourself," he said, though there was no urgency in his voice. If anything, it sounded like he didn't really want her to.
Elizabeth took a slow step toward him instead. "Do you want me to?" she asked quietly.
The muscles in Alex's neck tensed as he fought the temptation building inside him. He should have left. He should have looked away but he didn't.
"No," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
That one word sent a spark through her, lighting a fire she wasn't sure she wanted to put out. The towel slipped from her fingers, forgotten.
Alex's restraint cracked. He crossed the distance between them in an instant, his hand brushing against her damp skin as he tilted her chin upward. The warmth of his touch burned through her, making her breath hitch.
"You're playing with fire," he warned softly, but his thumb traced a slow, deliberate path along her jawline.
"Maybe I want to get burnt," Elizabeth whispered back.
His lips crashed against hers without hesitation, the force of it sending a jolt through them both. She melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as his hands slid down her bare back, pulling her closer.
The world outside the room faded. All that existed was the heat between them, the way his mouth moved against hers, fierce and, desperate, like he had wanted this for far too long.
Alex broke the kiss just enough to meet her gaze, his breathing uneven. "I shouldn't want this," he confessed, though his hands made no move to let her go.
"But you do," Elizabeth murmured, brushing her lips against his again, daring him to lose control.
A low sound rumbled from his chest as he kissed her again, slower this time but no less intense. His fingers traced the curve of her waist, exploring every inch of her skin as if committing it to memory.
Elizabeth tilted her head back as his lips trailed along her neck, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Her heart pounded in her chest, drowning out any lingering hesitation.
"I want you," Alex said against her skin, his voice raw and honest.
"You have me," she answered, her hands threading through his hair, pulling him closer until there was nothing left between them
She pressed closer, her body molding against his as her fingers tangled in his hair. She felt the tension in his muscles, the way he held himself back, fighting against the desire threatening to consume him. But she didn't want him to hold back, not with her.
"You don't have to stop," she whispered against his lips, her voice breathless yet sure.
Alex pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his dark eyes filled with something raw, something he could no longer hide. "Are you sure?" His voice was low, rough with restraint, but there was a gentleness beneath it, it was a need to be certain.
Elizabeth nodded, her hands sliding down his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her touch. "I want this, I want you."
Whatever hesitation Alex had left shattered in an instant. His mouth found hers again, deeper this time, less careful and more desperate as if he had been holding back for too long. His hands roamed her body, savoring the warmth of her skin, the softness beneath his fingers.
Elizabeth let herself get lost in the sensation. The way he touched her made her feel wanted needed in a way no one else ever had. Her towel slipped from her body, pooling at her feet, but she didn't care. Not when Alex's hands traced the lines of her back, pulling her even closer.
He lifted her effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing, and carried her toward the bed. The air around them buzzed with anticipation as he laid her down, hovering over her. For a moment, he simply looked at her, like he was memorizing every detail, every curve and shadow.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice filled with awe, as if seeing her like this was something he had only dreamed of.
A flush crept up Elizabeth's neck, but she didn't shy away. Instead, she reached for him, guiding him down to her. "Then show me," she said softly.
Alex obeyed without hesitation, his lips trailing along her collarbone, leaving a path of warmth in their wake. His touch was both firm and tender, fingers gliding over her skin as if he couldn't get enough. Each brush of his mouth sent a spark through her, igniting something deep inside.
Their movements grew slower, more deliberate, as they explored the boundaries between them—pushing past hesitation and doubt. Alex's lips found hers again, his kiss turning softer, more intimate. There was no urgency now, only the quiet, burning need to be close.
Elizabeth's hands slid beneath his shirt, pushing it upward until he pulled it over his head and tossed it aside. Her gaze roamed his body, taking in every scar and muscle. She traced the line of his spine, feeling the tension melt away beneath her touch.
"You're mine tonight," she whispered, pulling him back down to her.
Alex's breath hitched at her words, a fire sparking in his eyes. "Yours," he promised, his voice rough with emotion.
And as the night stretched on, they lost themselves in each other, letting their fears and walls fall away until nothing was left but the warmth of their bodies tangled together, and the quiet truth neither of them could deny.