I thought it didn't affect me, but it did. Especially when we were supposed to sleep. I woke up with sweat covering my body and my heart pounding in my chest. I had never been afraid of the police, but now I was. Every time I saw a police car, my heart leapt up into my throat.

"It's okay," Arlo murmured very tiredly when I had woken up. Again. From nightmares.

"I just want to sleep," I whispered and pressed my face to his chest.

"I'm right here. No one will hurt you when I'm here. Nothing will ever happen to you, while I'm here," he murmured softly and kissed my horns. His arm was around me and his body was so warm. I felt safe and small in his arms, my body pressed against his. He cocooned us in the duvets, so I felt even safer.

"Sleep now, love," he murmured into my hair.

"I'm afraid," I whispered.

"It's okay. It's okay to be afraid, Dion." His fingers found their way into my hair too and it relaxed me. Calmed me right down. "I was afraid too. I am afraid too. I don't want anything to happen to you and I don't trust the police anymore."

"We'll just have to stick it out, and then we'll leave this city. Just a little more, right?"

He pulled back and smiled down at me. "Yeah. Then we'll get a cute little house by the sea on an island with like three-hundred residents."

"Gods, that sounds perfect." I smiled too. "What're your thoughts on kids?"

His eyes widened. "You want kids?"

I shrugged. "Maybe? I think I do."

"I'm... Infertile," he muttered and bit down on his lip. He released it again, but still dodged my gaze. "If we were to have a child that was biologically mine, we'd have to go to hades. It'd have to be created like I was."

"I wouldn't mind a little one like you." I put my hand on his cheek, getting him to look at me.

"We wouldn't know if they'd even want to be human. Maybe they'd want to be a hound and hounds don't fit in up here. You'd have to be the father, if we were to have kids."

I moulded that over. "I don't think I'd mind."

"Little children with horns like yours," he murmured and kissed me very passionately. He crushed me to him as he kept kissing me.

It was adorable that got him this... Riled up. Talking about our future together. And it did sound adorable to have little kids with my horns running around. Especially watching Arlo with little kids. I wanted him to be the father of my little kids.

"Three. Three kids," he murmured against my lips.

"In a little house by the sea. It sounds perfect. One thing though." I pulled back. "I wanna adopt. At least one of them."

He smiled and nodded. "Or all three. I'm perfectly happy adopting."

He didn't even have to ask why I wanted to adopt. He just knew. Or maybe he didn't need to ask. Maybe he wanted it too. I just knew I had to adopt. I had to prevent at least three little half lives from turning into to mine.

I had to prevent half lives turning into mine.

"We have to join that resistance group, Arlo."

He arched a brow at me. "Yeah? What made you think of that now?"

"I can't... I can't let anyone else live my life. Never again."

He pulled me close as my voice broke. "I understand," he murmured.

"Not fully," I said and clung to him, so he couldn't pull back and look at me. I couldn't bear if he looked at me. "Arlo, I feel so ashamed. I never wanted this. I just wanted to be normal, but I'm not and I don't think I ever can be."

He stroked my back, slipping his fingers under my shirt. It felt so nice and comforting.

"Dion, this might sound weak but... You have nothing to be ashamed of. You did what you had to do in order to survive. I don't know if this means anything to you, but I don't judge you."

"It means everything," I breathed and pulled back, only so I could kiss him.

I pulled on him and got him between my legs, me ending up on my back and him hovering over me. He didn't need more guidance on what I wanted. He kissed me softly and I needed this. I just needed him to kiss me. I needed to feel him. I needed to ground myself.

"What do you want?" he murmured as he pulled my t-shirt over my head.

"You. I just want you." I fumbled with his sweats and he lifted up for me, so I could pull them down. He took over when I got them to his thighs and then he took care of my shorts.

He ran his hand over my thigh, smiling. "You're so beautiful," he murmured. He lifted his gaze, meeting mine. "I love you."

"I love you too," I panted.

He was taking his time, slowly running his hands over my skin and looking his fill. I didn't even feel embarrassed. Arlo could look as much as he wanted, and I knew he loved it. He loved watching me and that did everything for my self-esteem.

He lowered himself and kissed my stomach, moving downwards. I was losing my mind already and he was just preparing my body. His fingers were in me and he was kissing my hip like there was no tomorrow.

I groaned and ran my hand through his hair. He growled back and kissed his way up to my mouth. He had full lips and they were so soft as he pressed them to my chest, really taking his time to appreciate my body. And I felt appreciated. I felt loved. He was never in a hurry to get off and he didn't mind making me feel as comfortable as possible. I just... I just really liked that part about him. His attention to me and my needs.

"I love you," he murmured and kissed me on the mouth this time. "I love you so much, you beautiful man."

Heat spread in my chest as I trailed my fingers over his ribs down to the softer parts of his body. His stomach was one of those areas. I loved his tummy.

"Are you ready?" he whispered in my ear as his hands ran down to my hips and thighs.

"Yes, I want you," I almost whimpered back.

He smiled an almost victorious smile as he pushed inside of me. I latched onto him, holding him still. I just needed a moment. I was overwhelmed with love and passion. Overwhelmed with him, really.

"Move," I groaned and lifted my chest up.

Arlo slowly started moving his hips back and forth. He was so gentle, and I loved it. Sometimes we'd be rough, and he'd be tied up. I'd tell him how hot he was and pull his hair.

But then we'd also go back to what we had in the beginning. Love. Making love. He was just kissing my throat so softly with those silk lips of his. Growls would travel through his body, making it vibrate under my fingers.

He was losing himself in every movement and so was I. It wasn't just about pleasure it was about connecting as a couple. Connecting on another plane that didn't need words. Where we didn't need to explain anything. Where we weren't two individuals. We were a couple. Almost one entity that moved together. Breathed together. Our heartbeats lined up to the same rhythm.

And I needed this more than ever. I needed things to be simple and when we were in bed together like this, it was.

"I love you so much," I moaned, digging my nails into his back.

He growled back and lost control. His nails and teeth grew out and he stopped.

"Don't stop," I panted and put the palm of my hand to his cheek. His eyes were just deep pools of black but filled with worry. I pulled him down and kissed him and he lost it.

He grabbed my thigh, still gently, his long nails not breaking my skin. He didn't get rougher, but he wasn't holding back either. His other hand was resting next to my head, his thumb running over my horn. But he was growling with every thrust. He had a bit of a hard time kissing me without his teeth grazing over my skin. I didn't mind it at all. I honestly found it hot.

So hot, I finished before even realising I was close. Arlo followed the rhythm of the pulses going through my body and then I felt him finishing too.

His body shook as he carefully kissed me and then lifted off me, dumping down beside me. He turned to the bedside table and picked out a pack of wet wipes from the drawer.

"Then we won't have to leave the bed," he said and smiled.

The fact that he thought about this... Like he had gone to a store, picked these up just so we could get cleaned up faster and then cuddle. Without leaving the bed.

I couldn't help but laugh and took one from him, cleaning my stomach, tossing it in the trash. He got cleaned up too and then his body curled around mine, bringing the duvet with him. I was in a cocoon again, feeling safe, warm and completely exhausted.

I could finally rest.