Gratitude

**Dimitri**

The silence in the mansion was deep, almost oppressive. After the chaos and bloodshed of the battle at the fortress, the quiet now felt like an overwhelming weight. Every sound I made in the office—the rustling of papers, the slight creak of the chair—seemed amplified, echoing off the walls like a constant reminder of the difficult decisions that lay ahead. My thoughts revolved around the impending betrayal, the growing distrust now hovering over Haizel, but no matter how much I tried to focus on these issues, the image of Angel kept invading my mind, like a shadow I couldn’t shake off.

Then I heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching the door. Before I could react, the door slowly opened, and there stood Angel. She looked different; there was something in her eyes—a mixture of gratitude and something else, perhaps determination—that immediately captured my attention and made the air in the office feel even heavier.

"Dimitri," she began, her voice soft but firm, loaded with a sincerity that seemed to cut through the air like a blade. "I just wanted to thank you for today... for saving me."

I watched her for a moment, trying to maintain my composure, even as I felt the tension growing inside me like a tide about to overflow. "You didn’t have to," I replied, my voice controlled, but I couldn’t avoid the slight tremor that betrayed the internal battle I was fighting. "I did what had to be done."

She took another step towards me, the proximity between us making the air feel denser, almost suffocating. The atmosphere was charged with something we both avoided mentioning, but it was present between us like an invisible, undeniable force. "I know... but still, I need to thank you. You risked so much for me."

I opened my mouth to respond, to say something that would maintain the distance I knew was necessary, but the words died on my lips when she touched my arm. The touch was soft, but it was charged with an electricity that coursed through my body, sending a wave of heat that made my heart race. Her gaze met mine, and in that moment, all the barriers I had built began to crumble.

"Angel..." I murmured, my voice filled with a conflict I could no longer hide. I knew that getting closer to her was dangerous, that it could compromise everything I had built, but the need to have her close, to feel her, was stronger than any reason.

She said nothing more. Instead, she took another step, and our faces were just inches apart. I could feel the warmth of her breath, and the tension between us became unbearable. Before I could stop myself, my lips found hers in a kiss that began soft, hesitant, but quickly turned urgent, as if all the time we had spent repressing our feelings exploded all at once.

The kiss was a mixture of anger, desire, and a gratitude so deep it felt like it was burning from the inside out. I pulled her closer, my hands gripping her waist with an almost desperate firmness. The office, which had once seemed like a place for rational, cold decisions, now became the setting for something uncontrollable, something I no longer wanted to resist.

Angel responded with the same intensity, her hands exploring my body, sliding over my shoulders, across my chest, as we moved awkwardly towards the desk. Without thinking twice, I lifted her and placed her on the wooden surface, our mouths never parting, as if we feared that any distance might destroy the moment.

Every touch, every caress, was an attempt to make up for lost time, the opportunities we had never taken before. I wanted her in a way that scared me, but at that moment, nothing else mattered except the desire to feel her close, to be sure she was safe, that she was with me.

Our clothes were removed quickly, each piece falling to the floor as if they were the last barriers separating our bodies. When we were finally skin to skin, the world around us disappeared, leaving just the two of us, immersed in the intensity of the moment.

The possession was urgent, almost desperate, as if we needed to affirm that, at least for that brief moment, nothing else existed but us. The desk creaked under the weight of our bodies, but the sound blended with our labored breathing and muffled moans of pleasure.

Every movement was guided by a repressed desire, a passion that had been kept secret for too long. And as our bodies moved in perfect sync, the connection between us deepened, transcending the physical and touching something much deeper, much more significant.

When we finally reached climax, it was as if an explosion of feelings overwhelmed us, each wave of pleasure mixing with relief and fulfillment. We stayed there, together, panting and sweating, as reality slowly began to creep back into our thoughts.

Angel looked at me, her eyes shining with something I couldn’t fully decipher. Maybe it was love, maybe it was just the intensity of the moment. I wasn’t sure, but one thing was clear: the dynamic between us had changed forever.

"I... I don’t know what to say," she murmured, her voice soft, almost shy. "But this... this means so much to me, Dimitri."

I wanted to say something, something that could express what I was feeling, but the words failed me. Instead, I just pulled her closer, holding her tightly, as if I feared that if I let go, she would disappear like a dream.

We stayed like that for a while, in silence, but a silence that spoke more than any words could. We knew that things wouldn’t be easy from now on, that the complications of our world would surround us, but for that moment, only the two of us mattered. The weight of responsibilities, of uncertainties, all seemed distant, as if we had created our own refuge, a space where time stood still.

When we finally parted, Angel smiled, a soft smile, but full of meaning. "I’ll let you rest," she said, her fingers gently tracing the line of my jaw, a caress that seemed to carry unspoken promises. "But... I’ll be here if you need me."

I nodded, watching as she slowly walked away from the office. Each step she took seemed to drag a little of the light that filled the room, leaving me alone with my turbulent thoughts. What happened between us was inevitable, but at the same time, I knew that the consequences would soon come, bringing challenges we couldn’t foresee.

Alone in the office, I felt the pressure of the future weighing on me like a mountain, but for the first time in a long time, there was also a small spark of hope. Angel and I had crossed a line, and what would come next was full of uncertainties. But, regardless of what happened, I knew I would fight to keep her safe—and maybe, by my side.