A Dance Of Crowns & Thrones | Book I

Chapter 72 | September 23rd | A Day Off?

Timeline - September 23rd | (Next Morning)

Everywhere she looked, there was light. It was bright, warm, and almost piercing, and she tried to hold it at bay for just a few more precious minutes. She wanted to remain hidden, just a little bit longer, but the glare was too strong, and she eventually gave in to wakefulness.

As she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a glorious morning in Allegiant. Sunlight poured through the full-height window, filling the room with too-bright light. She couldn't help but wonder why they hadn't shut the blinds the night before.

"Wake up, Eko," he whispered, his sweet voice spreading through her veins. She wanted to drown out the thought that this was his last day there before the war games started, and he would be gone for two weeks.

While last night and the early hours of their morning had been a marathon of an event, she made sure that he would be thoroughly fucked out to the point of not even thinking about touching any of his fan club whores. However, the prospect of almost two whole weeks without him loomed ahead.

Two whole freaking weeks. 

"No... no," she groaned. "No, no, no." She wanted to return to his chest, hoping it would shield her from the brightness and allow her to linger in the moment a little longer.

"I have a surprise for us," he said, kissing her face, eyelids, the tip of her nose, and then her mouth. She opened her curious blue eyes to him.

"Your surprises are very, very different from my own," Eko squinted, and then he chuckled at her comment.

"Role-playing as a stripper in the streets was your kinky idea. I wonder about your sanity some days."

A smirk played on Eko's lips. "And the hanger was yours. Your fan club loved your naked butt when you were caught."

"I pulled it off quite well," he replied.

"They took you to dinner."

"And you came in, watching the whole car crash of a flirt fest with them," he said, tickling her ruthlessly under her ribs. She squealed, giggled, and squirmed beneath him, trying to grasp his wrists to make him stop.

His grin widened, and he continued his efforts.

"Stop, stop!" she screamed in laughter.

"Come here!" he said, grabbing her so he could torture her with both hands.

"Matthew!" Eko sputtered and gasped with her laughing protest.

She had never been playfully tickled like this before. Perhaps there was a distant memory of herself and her father, or a faint recollection of her brother's laughter, but it faded away with the onslaught of his hands. Her gasps of laughter filled the air.

Somehow, he had managed to bring forth warm and fond memories that she had long forgotten.

Eko was transported back to happier times, like this moment with someone who may disappear from her life in the coming months. But still, he had provided her with security and warmth in a way that no one else had.

"Go on, beg me, babe," he laughed, and she thrashed her head from side to side, trying to wiggle out from under him. Giggling and pushing both of his hands away, but he was unrelenting - grinning down at her, relishing in her torment.

"Matthew, stop!" she pleaded. "I surrender, babe," and he stopped suddenly.

Taking hold of both of her hands, he held them down on either side of her head while looming over her. Panting and breathless with laughter, his breathing matched hers as he gazed down at her with... what?