A letter to the post man

It was getting late, and the night air grew cooler with each passing moment. Damian glanced at the flickering fire and then at me.

"You should sleep," he said. "I'll stay up and keep watch on the fire."

I was too exhausted to argue. My legs ached from the long walk, and the makeshift leaf rack Damian had prepared looked inviting enough. I lay down, closing my eyes as fatigue overtook me.

It wasn't long before sleep claimed me, but in the dead of night, I was startled awake by the chorus of frogs croaking nearby. Groggy and disoriented, I shifted slightly—and my head pressed against something warm.

This isn't the leaf rack, I realized. The surface beneath me was firm, radiating a gentle heat that was oddly comforting. I instinctively snuggled closer, feeling my weight sink into it, until something brushed against me—a hand, securing me firmly in place.

My breath hitched as reality struck. I wasn't lying on the leaves. I was lying on Damian.

He moved his arm, pulling me tighter against him as his deep voice rumbled, "You should've told me if you wanted to get this close to me."

Embarrassment flooded me, and I tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. "I didn't—" I stammered, but his amused chuckle cut me off.

"Relax," he murmured, his voice softer this time.

I stopped struggling, realizing it was futile. His warmth was lulling me back to sleep, and despite the flurry of emotions whirling inside me, I eventually drifted off in his arms.

When I woke the next morning, Damian was gone. The fire had died down to smoldering embers, and I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Damian?" I called out, scanning the area.

There was no response, so I got to my feet and wandered toward the river. The sound of water rushing over rocks grew louder, and soon I spotted him standing waist-deep in the water.

My breath caught in my throat. His bare chest glistened under the morning sunlight, droplets of water cascading down his chiseled muscles. He ran his hands through his wet hair, pushing it back, and I couldn't help but stare.

He looked up suddenly, catching me in my blatant admiration. A sly smirk curved his lips. "Why don't you come in and touch it?" he teased, his voice playful yet provocative.

I snapped out of my trance, my cheeks burning. "I—no thanks!" I stammered, crossing my arms and looking away.

"You should take a bath, at least," he said, more serious this time.

I hesitated. The idea of bathing sounded tempting after days in the woods, but I knew Damian was up to something. Still, I reluctantly stepped into the water.

The coldness was shocking, sending a shiver through my body as I waded in. I didn't dare go too far, wanting to get it over with quickly. But as I tried to steady myself, my foot slipped on a mossy rock.

I let out a startled cry as I lost my balance and fell. The river's current pulled me under, and panic seized me as I struggled to surface. My limbs flailed uselessly, and water filled my lungs.

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me up and out of the water. Damian's voice was distant, calling my name, as he carried me to the shore.

When I regained awareness, I realized I wasn't breathing properly. Damian leaned over me, his face inches from mine, his hands pressing against my chest. Then his lips covered mine, his breath filling my lungs in rhythmic bursts.

I coughed violently, water sputtering from my mouth as I gasped for air. Damian pulled back slightly, his face filled with concern. "Reina? Are you okay?"

Before I could answer, my gaze locked on his lips—those lips that had just saved me. Without thinking, I leaned forward and kissed him.

The kiss was hesitant at first, but Damian didn't pull away. Instead, he kissed me back with an intensity that made my heart race. His hands slid around my waist, pulling me closer as the warmth of his body enveloped me.

His lips traveled down my jawline, leaving a trail of heat in their wake, before moving to my neck. I tilted my head back instinctively, a soft moan escaping me as he nipped gently at my skin.

His hands found the hem of my dress, and I felt the fabric slip away as he peeled it off me. My breath hitched as the cool air kissed my bare skin, but Damian's touch quickly replaced it, his fingers grazing over my damp, trembling body.

His eyes met mine, searching for permission. My cheeks burned, but I couldn't bring myself to stop him. He leaned down, capturing one of my breasts in his mouth, his tongue swirling over the sensitive peak.

A wave of pleasure coursed through me, and I let out a soft cry. His other hand cupped my remaining breast, kneading it gently as his lips moved to give it the same attention.

"Damian…" I whispered, my voice laced with both desire and hesitation.

He paused, looking up at me. "Reina…"

Reality came crashing back. What were we doing? I pushed him away gently, shaking my head as embarrassment washed over me.

"Stop," I said, my voice trembling. "I… I can't."

Damian pulled back immediately, his expression filled with regret. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I thought for a moment… I thought you were my Reina."

His words stung in an unexpected way, and I quickly pulled my dress back on, avoiding his gaze.

"It's fine," I muttered, though my cheeks burned with shame and confusion.

Damian stood, running a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have…" he began, but his voice trailed off.

We returned to the campsite in silence, and Damian busied himself roasting fish and gathering fruit for breakfast.

"Damian," I said softly, breaking the awkward tension, "we can't stay in the woods forever."

He nodded. "You're right. I need to get you back to your family."

I frowned. "Will I ever see you again? Don't forget—I promised to help you find her."

He turned to me, his eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "Reina, stay out of this. I don't want to lose anyone else."

Hearing him say my name sent a shiver down my spine. It sounded sweeter when it came from his lips.

I wanted to argue, to promise that I wouldn't let him push me away, but I remained silent. My feelings for Damian were a whirlwind—confusing and intense.

He spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I… I was wrong."

"It's fine," I said, meeting his gaze. "Let's just… move on."

Damian nodded, but the lingering tension between us hung heavy in the air. Despite everything, I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward him—a connection that scared me almost as much as it excited me.