Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Small tickles on my cheek woke me up and I realized that those were Duke's lips moving as he spoke in barely audible whispers between kisses, "... I will not leave you… You are my only one… Whatever you need, I will be there..."

His sweet words made me giddy. Did he know I was awake or was he talking to me while I was sleeping?

His embrace was solid, our legs intertwined, and I wished that I can wake up like this every morning.

"What are you doing?", I asked softly.

He gave me another kiss, firmer than the previous ones, before responding, "I'm using the fact that you are sleeping to talk to your subconsciousness."

I smiled and opened my eyes to meet his loving gaze directed at me.

"Are you trying to brainwash me?", I asked jokingly.

"I will use whatever it takes to get you to trust me. Besides, I'm not lying."

I giggled. He was silly.

I noticed that he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt from last night, while I slept in the dress.

My dress was soft and comfy, but sleeping in jeans was probably uncomfortable.

"When did you wake up?"

"I didn't.", Duke responded and when he saw my confused expression, he clarified, "I couldn't sleep."

"You were awake the whole night?"

"Mhm...", he confirmed with a hum. "I had the honor of holding you in my embrace the whole night. I wish I can do that every night."

I knew that he was flirting, but I was worried about him. "Do you normally skip on sleep?"

"My sleep pattern is messed up. I usually work late, sometimes until the morning."

"But you still sleep, right?", I wanted to confirm.

"It's not a problem over the weekend, but on weekdays I get short naps between meetings." Duke saw my concern and he added, "Don't worry about me. I'm not tired."

He usually sleeps, but last night he didn't, and he was not tired.

I had to ask, "What about the last weekend, when you slept in my apartment in London. Did you sleep that night?"

"It's not unusual for me to skip a night of sleep.", Duke tried to reassure me, but his answer confirmed that he didn't sleep that night either.

I wondered if that is an effect of my ability.

I wanted to ask more questions, but I held them back in order not to make him suspicious.

I shook my head at him. "Skipping sleep is not good. If you don't sleep when we are together, we need to take breaks in seeing each other so that you rest. What will I do if you get sick?"

Duke tightened his hold on me. "Don't say such things. I want us to sleep together every night. I was just excited to be with you and the adrenaline kept me awake. I promise to sleep next time. Alright?"

I enjoyed Duke's desperation and his proximity made me feel like I'm floating.

Part of me feared that it will disappear.

I fisted his t-shirt and buried my face in his chest.

'This is real…', I chanted internally while fighting my insecurities. 'Duke and I are together, and he loves me back… This is real…'

I remembered that we have plans.

"What's the time?"

Duke glanced to the side before responding, "Eleven past eight."

"Should we get ready for the farmer's market?", I reminded him.

Duke kissed my cheek and buried his face in my neck.

"A morning in bed with you is better than anything else.", his lips moved over the sensitive skin, and I got goosebumps.

"We can't spend the day in bed."

"Says who?"

I giggled at his childishly stubborn tone.

"There are so many things we can do in the bed...", he mumbled.

My giggles were interrupted abruptly with a gasp when he kissed my neck. A small peck was followed by another one, and another… each lasting longer and then I felt his tongue making small circles just below my ear and all my nerve endings came alive.

I squirmed in Duke's embrace when his teeth brushed over my flesh, and he groaned while pressing me further into him.

"Let me kiss you, Serina…", he groaned between kisses. "I'm holding you the whole night and fighting my urges to taste you. I will stick to my promise and not kiss you on the lips…"

I finally understood why he was so eager to accept the deal of avoiding only my lips. There are other parts of my body he could go for. I was naïve not to think about those, but I didn't hate this, not even a little bit.

My mind was spinning as the warm tension in the pit of my stomach morphed into arousal that erased the last specs of my reluctance to embrace the man whose affection I craved for.

Duke was on top of me, planting kisses on my neck and shoulders, telling me with his actions how much he wants me and the whole experience made me lightheaded.

From the beginning, it was only Duke and no one else. I dreamed about his hugs and kisses and more than that, and I didn't see a single reason to stop.

I hugged him with all my might and spread my legs to allow him to settle between them.

A shaky moan formed in my throat when I felt his hard bulge pressing against my core.

The sound was embarrassing, and I couldn't believe that it came from me.

Duke moved to nibble on my ear, and I used this proximity to latch my lips onto his neck.

As I started sucking, his body stilled.

"Shit…", he cursed under his breath and rolled next to me. His forearm was over his eyes, but I could see that he was troubled.

"Why did you stop?", I asked breathily.

Duke's arm moved, revealing his eyes, and he looked at me with a frown that told me he was fighting against himself.

Instead of answering my question, Duke said, "I'm going to shower."

He swiftly got off the bed and before I could say anything, the bedroom door closed behind him.

I pressed my lips into a line while trying to analyze his behavior. I thought he wanted me, why did he stop? Was it because I still didn't lift the ban on kissing?

My sight fell on the vase that was on the bedside table. It was a thin tall vase with three roses in it, each in full bloom.

It took me a split second to mentally see the image of those same flowers from last night. They were buds that only started opening. Can this happen overnight or was this again my ability?

Even if these flowers opened naturally overnight, that doesn't change the fact that last night all flowers in the living room bloomed and I was fatigued.

I cursed internally when I remembered the ability I am yet to understand.

How can I get so carried away? What if I hurt Duke?

But it can't be hurting Duke. After all, if I'm harming him, he would feel some negative effects, and not be energized to the point of skipping sleep.

But what if my ability is like a drug that gives a temporary boost, and he will feel the negative effects crashing on him later?

I hoped that's not the case. After all, it also happened last week, and Duke seems to be fine.

There was only one person with whom I could talk about this.

I got my phone with an intention to use the opportunity Duke's absence created.

"Good morning, father. It happened again…", I went straight to the point.

"Tell me everything.", Aldus demanded stiffly.

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