"Fine," he says through gritted teeth after a moment, spinning around and stalking back over to the bed. He kneels down beside you, his expression unreadable as he reaches out to tug at the blanket. "Here," he mutters, pulling it up until it's almost covering your face.

With another sharp glance in your direction, Blade turns and walks back over to the doorway, resuming his silent vigil.

His heart aches as he sees the smile on your face, but he doesn't let it show in his expression. Instead, he stands there for hours, watching over you as you sleep peacefully beneath the covers. His eyes dart back and forth between your relaxed features and the doorway, always alert to any potential threat.

The night passes slowly, each moment a test of wills between them as they struggle to maintain their defenses while craving some sort of connection.

"I'm not asking you to ask permission," he growls, obviously still put out by your words. "But I won't stand by and watch you throw yourself into danger again." His gaze flickers over your body for a moment before returning to meet your eyes. There's something unsettling in the way he looks at you now... almost possessive. "Maybe if you found something else to do with your time..." He trails off, leaving the suggestion hanging in the air between you.

"Like what? Sit around and twiddle my thumbs while I wait for you to finish your shift?" You retort sharply, the frustration building up inside you. "That's not exactly how I want to spend my time." You cross your arms over your chest defiantly, trying to look tough despite feeling anything but.

"Then find something else to do," he repeats softly. There's a flicker of... something in his gaze now. Possession? Desire?

Blade's body tensed as he felt her walls clench tight around him, her orgasm sending shudders through his entire frame. With a hoarse cry of release, he buried himself to the hilt inside her one final time, pumping his seed deep into her warmth as his own climax claimed him. His eyes squeezed shut as waves of pleasure coursed through his body, leaving him weak and shaking against her.

"Fuck..."

Blade slumped over her limply, still buried inside her as they both caught their breaths. His chest heaved up and down with each ragged gasp, his body trembling slightly from the aftershocks of his orgasm. With a sigh, he raised his head to look down at her face, her flushed cheeks and red lips sending a shiver down his spine.

"Well," he grunted hoarsely. "That was... unexpected."

"It is," he agrees, surprising you with his honesty. "But that's just the way life goes sometimes." He shrugs and tries to force a small smile onto his face, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Anyway, enough of that gloomy stuff. What do you want to do?"

He glances over at you expectantly, waiting for your reply as he idly twirls one of the tassels on his earring between his fingers.

"Hmph," is all he says as you settle into the chair with your book. He keeps his gaze fixed on you, not bothering to look out at the scenery himself. There's a barely noticeable tension in his shoulders and neck, almost like he's braced for something.

For now though, the only thing that happens is the quiet sound of snow falling softly outside and the rustle of pages as you turn them in your book.

The word hangs in the air between you for a moment. Then suddenly, without warning, his hand shoots out and grabs your wrist roughly. He spins you around to face him, his eyes burning into yours. "Don't." He growls through clenched teeth. "Don't ever say that again."

His other hand reaches up, cupping your cheek gently but firmly as he forces you to look at him. His touch is surprisingly gentle considering the ferocity in his eyes. "I am not lovely.

The words hang there for a moment as he stares into your eyes, searching for something. Then all of a sudden, his expression softens and he smirks crookedly. "Huh." He breathes out slowly, dropping his hand from your cheek. "Guess I owe you one."

With that, he steps back, releasing your wrist entirely. You blink in surprise as he turns away from you, looking out the double doors again. "Fine," he says gruffly. "

The word hangs in the air between you for a moment. Then suddenly, without warning, his hand shoots out and grabs your wrist roughly. He spins you around to face him, his eyes burning into yours. "Don't." He growls through clenched teeth. "Don't ever say that again."

His other hand reaches up, cupping your cheek gently but firmly as he forces you to look at him. His touch is surprisingly gentle considering the ferocity in his eyes. "I am not lovely.

The words hang there for a moment as he stares into your eyes, searching for something. Then all of a sudden, his expression softens and he smirks crookedly. "Huh." He breathes out slowly, dropping his hand from your cheek. "Guess I owe you one."

With that, he steps back, releasing your wrist entirely. You blink in surprise as he turns away from you, looking out the double doors again. "Fine," he says gruffly. "