Sleeping Bag Promises

After the fire had died die, Kurt and Marina found themselves face to face, in a sleeping bag made for one. The sleeping bag was warm, a cocoon of shared body heat that made Marina's heart race. Their bodies close enough that the rise and fall of their chests could've been mistaken for a single rhythm.

Kurt shifted slightly as he faced her, his firm arms wrapped around her. He could feel the tension in Marina just as well as he could smell her arousal. Kurt opened his mouth to say something, anything, to put her at ease.

"You know," he said, his voice low and smooth, "I never thought I'd be sharing a sleeping bag with a fiery redhead. Especially not one who can't decide if she wants to run from me or strip me naked."

Marina's eyes lit up in amusement as she tried to prevent a smile from spreading. She pulled herself closer, slipping one of her legs between his. "I wouldn't exactly call this running away," she shot back, her voice soft and sultry.

Kurt's resulting laughter was a deep, rumble that vibrated through the sleeping bag. Marina felt it more than she heard it. "I stand corrected."

Kurt felt the subtle tension in her body ease. He nuzzled her cheek with his nose, sending those electrifying sparks through her. She closed her eyes and focused on the pleasure and excitement they created within her.

"I'm just not ready for more yet. But one day I will be." Marina murmured.

Contented with Marina's affirmation of a future with him, Kurt changed the subject. "Hey," he said, voice tinged with a curiosity that was impossible to miss. "What's the story with Valentino? You're related? You've never mentioned it."

Marina's breath caught, a small, almost imperceptible hitch that Kurt didn't miss. She looked away, her gaze dropping to his chest. She watched it rise and fall as she decided what to say. "He is technically my uncle, " she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I've never met him."

Kurt raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Never met him? But he called you his niece. That's… complicated."

Marina nodded, her hair brushing against the fabric of the sleeping bag. "It's always been complicated. My family… we don't exactly have a normal relationship. Valentino is my father's younger brother. My father hunts the Lunaria and Shadowcrest bloodlines, and basically tortures them while looking to claim their power as his."

Marina shifted her eyes back to Kurt's. "Valentino is the opposite, he works to protect these same people, rescuing them and destroying my father's facilities. Valentino is the hero, my father, the villain."

The words hung in the air with unspoken pain and loss. Kurt didn't pry any further. Instead, he reached up, his fingers brushing against her cheek that was both gentle and reassuring. Marina didn't pull away, didn't flinch. She just lay there, letting her thoughts drift away as she focused on his touch.

Kurt broke the comfortable silence first. "You know, your past doesn't have to define you. You've got us now—me, Selina, Liam. We're not just friends, we're your people. Your pack even. We won't abandon you."

Marina tilted her head, her amber eyes catching the moonlight. They glistened with unshed tears, but her voice was steady. "Thank you, Kurt. That means more than you know."

The conversation shifted like a flowing river, moving from the weight of her past to lighter topics. They talked about everything and nothing, and a future the could have. Kurt mentioned Storm, his wolf, and how eager they both were to help Marina free her chained wolf, Wyldfyre. "When you're ready, we'll be there every step of the way," he said, his voice filled with confidence.

Marina smiled, a small, tentative thing. "I'm glad you're here," she murmured, shifting closer to him.

Kurt's hand brushed against Marina's lower back, a fleeting touch that sent a spark through both of them. She gasped, arching her breasts into his chest. His blue eyes locking onto hers as he reached up, cupping the back of her head and gently pulled her closer. Marina's breath froze and her heart raced as his lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss that sent a rush of emotions through her.

Her mind battled between the desire to pull away and the longing to stay close. But in that moment, she decided to trust, to let go of the fear and the past. She relaxed into his embrace, her hands finding their way into his hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.

She shifted slightly, her body brushing against his. It was a small movement, almost imperceptible, but it was enough to make her heart race faster as the fluttering in her chest threatened to take her breath away.

She could feel his erection pressing against her, a solid and unyielding presence that sent an overwhelming wave of desire through, causing her breath to catch. For a moment, she froze, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of possibilities, each thought more tantalizing and vivid than the last.

Not yet, she thought, as she lost herself in the moment. This willingness to trust, and to let go of the fear was foreign sensation. Kurt pulled his lips away. She could feel his breath on her neck, warm and steady, and it sent a shiver through her as he whispered.

"Marina," his voice low and rough, like gravel underfoot. "You're safe with me. I promise."

She didn't respond, didn't need to. She knew he meant it, could feel the sincerity in his words. It was a strange feeling, this trust, but it was there, buried deep in her chest.

Marina's thoughts drifted to Wyldfyre, her chained wolf, and Selina's offer to help her be whole again. She had always believed that freeing her wolf would destroy everything she loved. But now, with Kurt's arms around her, she felt stronger, and wanted control over her own destiny.

It was a subtle shift, almost imperceptible, but it was there. For the first time in her life, Marina felt like she had a choice, like she could forge a path that wasn't dictated by her father's cruelty or the weight of her family's legacy. And it was all because of Kurt, because of the way he made her feel—like she was worth fighting for.

As the night wore on, the stars twinkling above like diamonds, Marina felt a sense of peace settle over her. It was fragile, fleeting, but it was there. And in that moment, she knew that she would be okay, that she had the strength to face whatever came next.

The forest was alive with the kind of quiet that only happens when the world decides to take a deep breath and hold it. The sleeping bag was a cocoon of warmth, the kind of heat that clung to your skin like a second layer. Marina lay still, her back pressed against Kurt's chest, the rise and fall of his breath a steady rhythm against her shoulder. The forest outside was a symphony of crickets and rustling leaves, the occasional hoot of an owl breaking the monotony. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of sweat and pine, the faint tang of desire lingering like a ghost.

Marina's mind was a battlefield, her thoughts a tangled web of fear and longing. She could feel Kurt's hand resting on her hip, the weight of it a gentle pressure that sent a shiver down her spine. His fingers were calloused, rough against her skin, but there was something comforting about the touch. It was grounding, a reminder that she wasn't alone, that there was someone beside her who didn't want to hurt her.

She shifted slightly, her body brushing against his, and felt a spark of electricity run through her. It was a small movement, almost imperceptible, but it was enough to make her heart pound in her chest. She could feel his erection pressing against her, a hard, unyielding presence that made her breath catch. For a moment, she froze, her mind racing with the possibilities.

But then she relaxed, her body sinking into his, and let herself feel. It was a foreign sensation, this willingness to trust, to let go of the fear that had been her constant companion for so long. Kurt's hand tightened on her hip, his fingers digging into her flesh as he pulled her closer. She could feel his breath on her neck, warm and steady, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Marina," he whispered, his voice low and rough, like gravel underfoot. "You're safe with me. I promise."

She didn't respond, didn't need to. She knew he meant it, could feel the sincerity in his words. It was a strange feeling, this trust, but it was there, buried deep in her chest like a seed waiting to sprout.

Marina's thoughts drifted to Wyldfyre, her chained wolf, and her father's words that she was a danger to everyone around and needed to be locked away. She had believed him, that freeing her wolf would destroy her and everyone close to her. But now, with Kurt's arms around her, and the support of her friends, she knew that he was wrong.

It was a small shift, almost imperceptible, but it was there. For the first time in her life, Marina felt like she had a choice, like she could gave a future that wasn't dictated by her father's cruelty. And it was all because of Kurt, because of the way he made her feel—like she was worth fighting for.

As the night wore on, the stars twinkling above like diamonds, Marina felt a sense of peace settle over her. It may have been fragile, but it was there. Marina rested her head on Kurt's arm and drifted into a peaceful sleep.