Chapter 196: Cuddling and Confession

Eren stayed silent. The warmth radiating from her bare skin seeped into his back. The familiar itch of her mana passed through his whole body.

But it wasn’t just the mana or hug that made him freeze.

"Violet," he said quietly, his voice losing all its earlier edge. "Your heart is pounding so hard."

"That’s... that’s because I’m angry at you," she mumbled, though her grip only tightened. "And because I’m nervous. And because... because I’ve wanted to do this for so long that now my body doesn’t know what to do with itself."

Eren closed his eyes. The smirk faded, replaced by something softer, something that ached. He could feel her trembling from the bravery it took for a girl who’d spent her life invisible, untouchable, to press herself against someone and demand to be seen.

"You planned this," he realized aloud.

"Of course I did," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shoulder. Her breath came in warm, shaky gusts. "Otherwise you’ll just keep running forever, thinking you’re being noble."

Eren let out a breath that was almost a laugh, but it caught in his throat. He reached down and found her hands where they clasped over his ribs, his larger fingers covering her smaller ones. She flinched at the contact, then relaxed as he gently traced circles over her knuckles.

Then, slowly, carefully, Eren began to turn.

"Eren—"

"I’m not peeking," he promised, keeping his eyes forward as he rotated in her arms, shifting until they faced each other. He kept the sheet strategically positioned, his gaze locked on her widened eyes instead of drifting lower. "There. Now I’m trapped too."

Violet’s breath hitched. They were nose to nose now, her arms still wrapped around him, her bare chest pressed against his. She couldn’t hide her face anymore, couldn’t bury her embarrassment in his shoulder. She was exposed, vulnerable, her lower lip trembling as she stared up at him.

"You’re so unfair," she whispered.

"How?"

"You know how. You’re looking at me like... like..."

"Like what?"

"Like I’m something precious," she said, her voice breaking. "Like I’m worth keeping. But then you say you’re not good enough, and it hurts, Eren. If you’re not good enough, then what does that make me?"

Eren felt something crack open in his chest. He reached up with one hand, his fingers threading through her purple bangs, brushing them back from her forehead. She leaned into his touch like a flower seeking light, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

"You really love me," he said. It wasn’t a question. "Not the idea of me. Not because I’m convenient. You actually..."

"I love you," she confirmed, opening her eyes. They were fierce now, despite the tears. "I love that you make terrible jokes when you’re nervous. I love that you never treated me like I was fragile, even when you were pushing me away. I love your stupid hair and your stupid smile and the way you throw me into trouble."

She took a shaky breath, her hands fisting in the sheet at his back. "And I don’t care about Aria or Norelia or Mira or whoever else is in your orbit. I don’t need your undivided heart, Eren. I need... a corner of it. A small, Violet-shaped corner where I can exist without being a burden. Where I can be normal because you’re near me."

Eren wipes away a tear. His expression had shifted completely, revealing something raw and terrified and hopelessly fond.

"Okay," he said softly.

Violet blinked. "Okay?"

"Okay," he repeated, a small, genuine smile touching his lips. "You win, you tiny tyrant. I’m trapped. I surrender."

"You’re not just saying that because I’m... because we’re..."

"Naked and cuddling?" He raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Well, partly. It’s hard to argue when you’re using the nuclear option. But mostly..." He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers, their breath mingling. "Mostly because you’re right. I’ve been a coward. But I’ll be brave enough to love you back."

Violet’s eyes went wide, her whole body going rigid with shock. "You... you love me?"

"Madly. Dangerously. Probably stupidly."

Violet stared at him for a heartbeat, two—then her face crumpled most beautifully, not with sadness but with overwhelming, bursting joy. She surged forward, burying her face in the crook of his neck, her whole body shaking with relieved, hysterical sobs.

With a sudden burst of energy, she pushed herself up, scrambling over him until she was straddling his waist, hands planted on either side of his head. The sheet slipped down to pool at her hips, and Eren’s eyes widened, his hands immediately flying to her waist to steady her, his fingers brushing the curves.

"Don’t look down."

"I’m trying not to. But you’re making it very difficult."

"Good. Now Suffer."

Then, with tenderness, she pressed her lips to his forehead.

"I love you."

She pulled back just enough to see his eyes, her own shining with joy.

"I love you too," Eren said softly.

Violet dipped down again, another soft kiss landing at his temple.

"I love you."

Another kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too," he murmured, his voice going rough, his hands sliding up her back to pull her closer.

"I love you," she repeated, leaning in, her lips brushing against his forehead again, then his eyelids, his jaw, peppering him with kisses between each confession. "I love you, I love you, I love you—"

"And I love you," he said each time, his voice growing hoarser, his body responding to the sweet torture of her bare skin sliding against his.

Violet paused, her lips hovering just above his, their breath mingling. She looked into his eyes.

"You made me cry," she accused, her voice low and trembling with emotion. "Don’t ever do it again."

And then she crashed her lips against his.

It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, hungry, angry—weeks of pent-up longing and fear exploding into a kiss that made Eren’s vision white at the edges. She bit at his lower lip, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, deeper, as if she could consume him, brand him, mark him as hers through sheer force of will.

Eren groaned against her mouth, his hands sliding up to cup the back of her head, holding her there as he kissed her back with equal ferocity, pouring every apology and promise and adoration.

When they finally broke apart, both gasped. She stared down at him, her grip in his hair possessive.

"Mine," she declared, her cheeks flushed. "Say it."

Eren looked up at the girl who had conquered him completely.

"You’re mine," he promised, his voice hoarse. "Completely. Madly. Forever mine."

_________

[Well, I wanna tell you, guys. After this scene, the plot progresses so brutally that I never even made those fights in my old book which is just a pure adrenaline story.]