CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 281: OUR FOREVER, OUR RULES

~Evric’s POV~

I woke early, around 5:42 a.m., feeling remarkably better, stronger than I had any right to be after such an intense night and short rest. The room was bathed in the soft, gray light of dawn. Sometime during the night, my cock had finally slipped out of him.

Now, my energy was roaring back. I felt restored, capable of going for hours. I looked at Zayn, sleeping soundly beside me, his breathing slow and even. An immediate, selfish thought struck me: Is it proper for me to wake him up?

I gazed at his bare back, the sight of him still devastatingly beautiful. The curve of his waist, the line of his spine, made the desire flare up all over again, a powerful urge to slide inside him once more. But no. He needed his rest. I had promised him gentleness and care.

Instead, I reached out a cautious hand and gently brushed a stray curl of hair from his nape.

"Babe," I whispered, the sound barely loud.

"Mmm," he hummed in response.

I hadn’t truly expected an answer, and I paused, surprised. Then, as if sensing my gaze, Zayn stirred. He slowly, gracefully rolled over to face me. He nestled his head onto my shoulder, resting securely in the crook of my arm, and threw a leg over my hip, pulling us flush together in a casual, familiar embrace.

I looked down at him. Even in sleep, his features were perfect. His eyelids were heavy, his lips slightly parted, and a look of profound, trusting peace settled on his face. He slept so soundly, so beautifully. This view—Zayn, safe, warm, and deeply asleep in my arms, was far more precious than any physical release.

I tightened my hold slightly, drawing him closer until I could rest my chin on his head, breathing in the scent of our mingled skin and passion. I didn’t need to speak or move. Just watching him, being his anchor in this quiet, early morning moment, was enough. I allowed myself to exist, savoring the feeling of having him exactly where he belonged.

After an extended period of rest, Zayn finally stirred. A soft "Mmm" sound preceded his movement as he tightened his grip around my waist. He then pressed a gentle kiss against my chest. This action caused a slight upturn of my lips.

His hand began to move, rubbing across my body, starting a slow ascent from the lower abdomen and ending at my chest.

I smiled subtly and said, "Morning, sleepyhead," my voice carrying a residual warmth.

Zayn slowly opened his eyes, directing his gaze toward mine. "Morning," he replied, his voice still low from sleep. He then settled his face against my neck. "Did you sleep well, and how do you feel this morning?"

"I feel better than I have in months," I admitted, increasing the pressure of my embrace. "I slept sufficiently."

He let out a low chuckle, the sound perceptible against my skin. "That sounds excellent. The look in your eyes when I arrived initially caused some concern, but I’m relieved you are better now."

I shifted closer, giving him a soft kiss. I told him I was alright now, that everything lately had been overwhelming, but being with him in this moment made things feel so much better.

Zayn smiled and said, "I feel better staying beside you too, baby."

I hugged him tight for a while, just savoring the contact, before I finally spoke again. "Babe."

He answered, "Yes?"

"Babe, now that we are getting closer to getting married, don’t you think it’s time to talk about our do’s and don’ts? Especially about you, Zayn."

His brow furrowed slightly. "Why?"

I cupped his face, my thumb tracing the faint curve of his lower lip. "Because everything about you is precious and fragile to me, my love. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I did anything—even accidentally—to hurt you. We are building a life together, and I need to know all the blueprint details."

Zayn considered this, with a gentle expression on his face. "Okay. That makes sense."

I kissed his forehead and explained, "I need to know your safe zones and your weak spots. What is your favorite way to spend an evening? What scent do you hate? What color do you truly despise?" I paused, smiling. "I already know your favorite color is black, I know you have allergies to shellfish, and I know you like a dog and a cat which you don’t actually know how to care for."

Zayn instantly tapped my chest, pushing playfully. "Babe, stop! I was only not around for a few months, what do you mean that I don’t care for my pets?"

I couldn’t help but laugh at his mock indignation. I leaned down and silenced him with a quick, soft kiss. "I’m sorry, baby," I murmured against his mouth. "Forgive me. You already have a cat and a dog, and you care so much about them. They are perfectly pampered, and I already have a full dossier on their dietary requirements."

Zayn chuckled, a deep, satisfied sound. "What a sarcastic man," he teased, then promptly turned over, sulking dramatically by presenting me with his bare back.

"Zayn," I groaned playfully. "No, no sulking. Baby, I’m sorry, okay? You know this is an important conversation. Forgive your anxious fiancé, okay?"

He didn’t answer, but a faint smile played on the corner of his mouth, which I could see in the subtle twitch of his cheek. I wasted no time. I reached out and gently tickled the sensitive skin on his side. He squealed, twisting immediately and rolling back into my arms, laughing.

"Okay! Okay, I forgive you," he conceded, catching his breath and burying his face back in the crook of my neck.

I held him tight, relieved and happy. "Good," I whispered, kissing his hair. I settled him comfortably, my voice turning earnest again. "Now, where were we? Tell me what you dislike, so I can promise never to bring it into our home. Tell me what you love, so I can fill our life with it. I need to know everything about my future husband."

That makes sense." He shifted slightly, settling more comfortably against me, ready to talk.

"What I don’t like..." he began, thinking for a moment. "I don’t like surprises that involve large crowds or sudden, unexpected changes of plans. I value routine and knowing what’s coming."

He listed a few more things he dislikes, then shifted to the ones he does enjoy.

"As for the things I like—it’s usually something quiet. I love cooking, especially creating new recipes, and I can spend hours listening to classical music. And honestly?" He looked at me, a soft smile forming. "My favorite thing is having a slow, peaceful morning with you... exactly like this."

"Okay, baby," I replied, pressing a kiss to his shoulder.

He then asked about my preferences. I kept it brief; he knew most of it. My focus had always been outward, on him. I just needed him.

Then I shifted, realizing we needed to address the more sensitive, yet crucial, subject.

"Baby," I started, tracing the curve of his waist.

"Yes, love," he answered.

"Can we talk about our sex life for the last time? We’re not talking about it because we are just boyfriends anymore, but because we are planning forever together." I moved my hand to stroke his back again, the movement deliberately soothing.

"I need to know your true limits, your bandwidth. How many times a week, a month, can I touch you in ways that feel good and not draining? And more importantly—you can never hide your pain from me again, not like you did last night. I need to know everything you feel, Zayn. You know how much I love sex and how vital intimacy is to me, so this topic is important for our future."

Zayn’s expression grew serious. "Evric, I need to be real with you, especially since this is about forever. Honestly, my body almost always feels desire for you, but while I can usually handle the beginning, sometimes after a while, I just can’t take the intensity. So I feel like my mind and my body are disconnected—my mind wants sex, but my body can’t sustain it. I’m still trying to figure out if I’m lazy or if I’m just not accustomed to the feeling yet. I’m still trying to adjust, Evric. We can have sex anytime you want. Just... ignore my pain. I will get used to it later."

I couldn’t help the little, sad chuckle that escaped me. I gently shifted my weight and sat him up so he faced me, my hands resting lightly on his knees.

"Zayn," I said, looking him straight in the eyes, my voice soft but firm. "I understand everything you just explained. And thank you for the honesty. But I promise you, I cannot and will not ignore your pain."

I lifted his chin gently. "My love, sex is not a chore you have to get used to or endure for my sake. It’s supposed to be enjoyable for both of us. For you to genuinely enjoy sex, you need to relax. You need to feel safe, not like you’re trying to meet a quota or a timeline."

"If your body can’t handle intensity, then we stop. We go slowly. We find other ways to be close. We take breaks. We use toys, we use our mouths, we hold each other. Intimacy isn’t just penetration. It’s about connection. And if we’re going to last forever, we’re going to do it right. You’re my most precious person, and I would rather wait a year for a session that leaves you satisfied than have one right now that leaves you hurting and quietly regretting it. We will learn your body’s true language together, okay?"

"Okay, baby," he answered softly, then began, "And you, Evric? Are you okay with—"

I didn’t let him finish. I nodded toward his hand. "Baby... check your finger."