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The stars sparkled brilliantly in the dark blue of the night. The sweet scent of azalea and magnolia trees wafted through the cool air; every now and then a gentle breeze sprang up, ruffling the needles of the larches and tearing off a few loosely clinging flower petals. The late spring slowly turned into summer, the warmth had already crept into the afternoons, but at night, the refreshing cool still held sway.
Every soul in the house was already asleep, except a few turtle servants who were cleaning the last surfaces. The supplies for afternoon gardening had been put away, the garden shears rested in the drawers; the pastry boards and vessels needed for making the noodles were drying in the kitchen after being washed. Thin curtains fluttered in front of the windows, letting the fresh air in, the light of the candles filtered through them here and there, as the last residents were heading to their sleeping quarters.
A white moonbeam illuminated the wall of the house. In the room behind one of the windows, the strong light of the full moon and the stars bathed the double bed, above which a richly embroidered, circular silk canopy hung down, its heavy folds cascaded down on the sides of the mattress, casting shadows. Paintings depicting dragons, turtles and various aquatic creatures were hung on the walls — the most striking one was the one hanging in a prominent place, set in an ornate frame, depicting a boy and a girl, with a lantern in their hand, which they were lifting towards the sky. The canvas was almost completely overwhelmed by elaborated details; the thousand glowing lanterns dotting the sky, the waterbells, the two dancing butterflies and the moss creeping up the trunks of the trees were all crafted carefully, by gentle, attentive hands.
The blanket moved.
“Mmmh,” Elang mumbled and pressed his face against my collarbone. I was laying on my back in the bed, a soft pillow was supporting my head, my husband’s body was laying half-across me while he lazily draped his left arm around me.
I lifted my arm to stroke his long hair before I pressed a kiss on his head. He moved sleepily and squinted at me — in his gray eyes, under his long lashes tiredness and a hint of mischief sparkled.
I chuckled softly and smoothed a stray lock of hair from the bridge of his nose.
“What a tame dragon,” I whispered jokingly. Elang growled.
“I haven't been a dragon for a long time,” he replied, and squeezed my waist lightly with his fingers. I flinched and pressed my lips together to keep from laughing out loud.
“When you still had claws, you touched me as if I were made of porcelain,” I retorted.
In response, he stretched out his neck without a word and softly kissed my collarbone, then a little above it. He moved higher and higher up, planting light smooches on my neck until he reached my face. His touch was warm and gentle, and I felt my cheeks turning red — I was hoping that he didn't notice how hot my skin became. Elang lightly kissed my cheek, nose and chin before whispering in my ear.
“You’re gorgeous.” His breath ruffled the babyhairs by my ear.
“You can’t even see me,” I replied and gave thanks for the shadow of the canopy for hiding my red face.
“I don’t need to see you to know,” he responded, then, the very next moment, he ruined it. “By the way, the moonlight is illuminating you.”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Elang rubbed his nose against my face, then sleepily let his head rest on my shoulder and settled comfortably, closing his eyes. He absentmindedly caressed my waist with his thumb.
Placing my left hand on his back I started stroking him lovingly, listening to his soft breathing. I felt his warm breath on my skin not covered by the neck of the nightgown, and the rising and falling of his chest as it pressed against me. If I was paying close attention, I could feel the steady beating of his heart, too.
I raised my arm, letting the moonbeam illuminate the red string on my wrist. I stared at it thoughtfully, then my gaze drifted to Elang’s face, and I lowered my hand to lay my palm against his cheek. He rewarded it with a faint smile, with his eyes still closed.
As I slowly caressed his skin with my thumb, his breathing became steady and deep. His body pressed against me, relaxed. I didn’t notice when my eyelids closed; my last memory before falling asleep was Elang’s hair framing his face and the calm rise and fall of his chest.