51 Missing You

The room could not have been more familiar to Dawn. She had lived here for years after all.

Her mind felt more than a little groggy as she looked around the familiar yet strange surroundings. She could not say what was wrong but something in the back of her head did not feel comfortable.

She stood up from the bed and walked around, trying to disperse the nervous energy. Trying to figure out what was wrong. Why did she feel like this?

It hit her after the third turn around the room. She wanted to see Arrion! Of course, her dear sweet, albeit strange, husband.

She glanced at the door, wondering where he was and what he was doing. It was late, after all. Surely, he should have come to bed by now.

She walked back to the bed and plopped down. Trying her best to be patient. But she really felt this ache to see him. To wrap her arms around him and just hold him. It felt like forever since he had peppered her face with incessant kisses, though it could not have been that long. He pretty much did do that every day ever since he had told her that he had fallen for her. So, it really could not have been that long.

The door to her bedroom opened and she looked up and smiled to see her beloved shape changer as he entered. He looked tired, yet his eyes still had that alertness that was always there.

"Arrion!" She stood up and without even thinking of it ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Wow there, sweetie." He caught her and laughed, then buried his face in her neck, murmuring against her skin, "So exuberant, my dearest queen? That is not like you. Are you okay?"

"I just…" She furrowed her brow, feeling like something was in the back of her mind. Not being able to recall she shook her head and wrapped her arms tighter about him, "I just missed you is all."

"You saw me just this morning." He scooped her up and walked over to the bed. Plopping down he pulled her into his lap, and nipped at her neck lightly.

She swatted his chest, but did not really stop his advances. "It feels like longer." She grumbled softly.

He paused as he was starting to kiss her jaw line, "You are being surprisingly almost sweet today."

His beautiful eyes sparkled happily, as they shifted in color with no rhyme or reason. She reached out to cup his cheek, feeling the smooth surface of his skin. Despite the fact that at least a third of the time he was in an entirely fuzzy form, he hated the very idea of growing a beard. Which meant he never even had stubble. Perks of being able to shift his body, facial hair was not a problem unless he wanted it to be.

"I do like you, my dear husband." She closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his. His eyes went wide at her taking the initiative and he smiled in delight.

"Well," He cleared his throat and gave her that besotted look that was reserved solely for her, "I'm not complaining."

He placed a tiny kiss on her nose, and as she wrinkled the feature went on to smother her entire face with his kisses.

She basked in the feeling of his love. Running her hands down his arms she marveled at the feel of his lean muscles. Those muscles that belonged solely to her.

Arrion pulled back from her even as he laid her down on the bed. She blushed as she saw him reach to remove his shirt. She felt self-conscious all of a sudden even though this was a pretty normal thing for them.

But it suddenly seemed all the dearer to her that they were husband and wife. She could not explain it, did not even know why. But it was so.

She found herself examining his face, admiring the handsome shape he was wearing at the moment. His smile was so charming, just like always. So full of happiness and a zest for life that suited him so well.

His eyes, the only thing that remained the same no matter what he did, was focused on her and she could see herself reflected in his pupils.

How had she ever lucked out to get such a wonderful man to love her and be so devoted to making her love him?

She reached out her arms to him, feeling the need to make sure he understood something. She could not wait another minute.

"Arrion…" Her voice sounded rather soft to her own ears. She did not think she had ever sounded like that before.

"Yes?" His voice had a catch to it as he seemed influenced by her tone of voice, "What is it, dearest?"

"I…" She beckoned him closer and he came willingly, leaning down over her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed into his ear, "I love you…"

"Dawn…." His voice cracked. And she could hear raw emotion in his voice. His lips pressed to her ear.

Then he pulled away and grinned at her. His swirling eyes caught her glance and she stared entranced. Those beautiful eyes of his seemed to drink her in and make her feel as if she was falling into a deep pit from which she never wanted to climb out.