Corrupted Bonds-Chapter 75: A Brief Respite

Lucian's hands, still trembling slightly from exhaustion, reached out to grip Rowan's waist.

His touch was tentative at first, as though he wasn't sure if he was allowed to want this—to need this. But the hunger in his eyes was impossible to ignore.

Rowan hesitated for only a moment before letting himself be pulled, his body sliding up the length of Lucian's until their chests were pressed together, their hearts beating in a frantic rhythm that synced as one.

"Rowan," Lucian murmured, his voice rough, "I need to feel you. All of you." His fingers dug into Rowan's hips, anchoring him in place as if he feared he might disappear if he let go.

Rowan didn't need to be told twice.

He leaned down, capturing Lucian's lips in a searing kiss that was equal parts desperation and tenderness.

Their tongues tangled, hot and urgent, as if they were trying to communicate everything they couldn't say with words.

Lucian moaned into his mouth, the sound sending a shiver down Rowan's spine.

Their bodies shifted, their cocks brushing together through the thin fabric of their clothes, and Lucian's hips bucked instinctively.

The friction was electric, sending a jolt of pleasure through both of them.

Rowan broke the kiss with a gasp, his forehead resting against Lucian's as he tried to catch his breath.

"Lucian," Rowan whispered, his voice trembling. "You're still weak. You shouldn't—"

"I don't care," Lucian interrupted, his voice fierce.

"I need this. I need you." His hands roamed up Rowan's back, pulling him even closer until there was no space left between them. "Please, Rowan. Don't make me beg."

Rowan's resolve shattered at those words.

He sat back slightly, his hands moving to the waistband of Lucian's pants. His fingers were steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside him.

He undressed Lucian with a reverence that made Lucian's breath hitch, his eyes never leaving Rowan's face.

When Rowan was done, he tugged off his own clothes, his movements quick but deliberate. Lucian's gaze raked over his body, his hunger palpable. "You're breathtaking," Lucian said, his voice thick with emotion.

Rowan flushed, but he didn't look away. Instead, he leaned down, capturing Lucian's lips in another kiss as he settled fully on top of him, their bodies aligning perfectly.

The sensation of skin against skin was overwhelming, and Lucian let out a low groan, his hips arching up to meet Rowan's.

Their cocks rubbed together, and the pleasure was almost too much.

Rowan broke the kiss to let out a shuddering breath, his hands gripping Lucian's shoulders for support. "Lucian," he gasped, "I—I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," Lucian assured him, his voice firm despite its softness.

He reached up, cupping Rowan's face in his hands. "Trust me. I need this, Rowan. I want to feel alive again."

Rowan's eyes searched his for a moment before he nodded, his resolve hardening.

He shifted slightly, aligning their bodies more precisely, and then began to move.

His hips rolled against Lucian's in a slow, deliberate rhythm, each motion sending sparks of pleasure shooting through both of them.

Lucian's head fell back against the pillow, his eyes closing as he lost himself in the sensation. His hands slid down to grip Rowan's hips, urging him on. "Yes," he breathed, his voice ragged. "Just like that."

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Rowan's pace quickened, his movements becoming more frantic as the pleasure built between them.

Lucian's cock ground against his own, the friction driving them both closer to the edge.

Rowan's breath came in short, desperate gasps, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Lucian," Rowan moaned, his hands clutching at the sheets beside Lucian's head. "I'm—"

"Let go," Lucian whispered, his eyes opening to meet Rowan's. "I want you to show me how good you feel."

Rowan's rhythm faltered, and then he was coming, his release spurting hot and thick between their bodies.

The sensation pushed Lucian over the edge, and he followed with a low, guttural moan, his cock pulsing as he climaxed.

For a moment, they stayed like that, their bodies pressed together, their breaths mingling as they came down from the high.

Rowan's arms trembled as he supported himself above Lucian, his forehead resting against his as he tried to catch his breath.

Lucian's hands slid up Rowan's back, pulling him down into a tight embrace. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice trembling.

Rowan didn't respond, but he didn't need to.

The way he held onto Lucian said everything that words couldn't.

They stayed like that for a long time, their bodies tangled together, their hearts beating as one.

Finally, Lucian shifted slightly, his lips brushing against Rowan's ear. "Don't leave me," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Rowan's arms tightened around him. "Never," he promised. "Even if you broke, Lucian. I'm not going anywhere."

Lucian's breath hitched, and he buried his face in Rowan's neck, his hold on him tightening.

Rowan could feel the dampness of tears against his skin, but he didn't say anything.

He just held Lucian tighter, his heart aching with a love that was too big to put into words.

"I love you," Lucian whispered, his voice breaking.

Rowan's breath caught in his throat, and he pulled back just enough to look into Lucian's eyes. "I love you too," he said, his voice trembling. "More than anything."

Lucian's lips found his in a soft, lingering kiss, and Rowan let himself get lost in it, in the warmth and safety of Lucian's arms.

For the first time in awhile, he felt like everything was going to be okay.

But the moment couldn't last forever.

Slowly, reluctantly, they pulled apart, their bodies still tangled together.

Lucian's eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but there was a softness in them that hadn't been there before.

"Get some rest," Rowan murmured, brushing a strand of hair from Lucian's forehead. "I'll be right next to you when you wake up."

Lucian's eyes fluttered shut, his breathing evening out as sleep claimed him.

Rowan stayed where he was, watching over him until he was sure Lucian was truly asleep.

Then, he carefully disentangled himself, slipping out of bed to clean up.

When he returned, he climbed back into bed, curling up beside Lucian. His hand found Lucian's in the darkness, their fingers intertwining.

And in that moment, as he listened to the steady rhythm of Lucian's breathing, Rowan felt a sense of peace he hadn't known in a long time.

The first rays of morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow over the room.

The quiet hum of the air filtration system was the only sound, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

Lucian and Rowan lay side by side in bed, their bodies close, the warmth between them a reassuring comfort.

Lucian stirred, his eyes blinking open slowly, adjusting to the soft light around him.

For a moment, everything felt calm—uncomplicated. He could feel Rowan's steady breathing beside him, the familiar rhythm that had anchored him through everything.

He turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of Rowan's profile, still asleep, his hair tousled in the way that always made Lucian smile.

Despite everything they had been through, despite the mental exhaustion and the endless emotional battles, this moment was theirs—free from the weight of the system, free from the chaos of the rifts. It felt like an anchor, a moment of normalcy.

Rowan stirred as well, his eyes fluttering open, meeting Lucian's gaze.

A slight, tired smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Morning," he muttered, his voice rough from sleep.

Lucian smiled back, his heart lightening. "Morning," he replied softly.

His fingers reached out instinctively, brushing through Rowan's hair. "You look... tired."

Rowan chuckled quietly, stretching as he pushed himself up.

His muscles were stiff, the weight of the guiding and the emotional toll clear in the hollow under his eyes. His hand ran through his hair, but Lucian could see the subtle tremor in his fingers.

"It's nothing," Rowan said, though there was an edge of exhaustion in his voice. "Just... guiding you through that mess, I guess. I've been burning the candle at both ends."

Lucian's eyes softened, his hand gently cupping Rowan's face. "You've been carrying us all, Rowan. You need to rest. We need to rest."

Rowan's expression softened at the touch, but there was a flicker of concern behind his eyes. "I'm fine," he replied, though the words came out almost too quickly, as if he was trying to convince himself more than Lucian. "You're finally getting back on track. That's what matters."

Lucian didn't buy it.

Rowan had been through just as much as he had, if not more.

His guiding, his constant emotional grounding, the weight of carrying Lucian through the battle—it had drained him.

Lucian could see it now, in the way Rowan's shoulders slumped as he sat up and rubbed his forehead. The faint hint of a nosebleed, the kind that had become all too common over the past few weeks, appeared—red against the pale skin.

Lucian's brow furrowed as he reached for a tissue. "Rowan..." He said the name softly, but with more weight than it should have had. "You need to stop overextending yourself. You're burning out."

Rowan glanced at him, a small smile gracing his lips. "I'm fine. Just a little off-kilter with all the resonance waves we've been syncing together."

"You're not fine, Rowan," Lucian insisted, his voice firm but caring. "Your body's not keeping up with the strain. The nosebleeds... the tremors. You're pushing yourself too hard."

Rowan sighed, resting his head back against the bed's headboard. "I know. I just... I can't help it. I've been guiding you for so long. I'm responsible for you, Lucian. I promised you I wouldn't let go, but I can feel the weight of it. It's not easy."

Lucian leaned forward, closing the space between them. "Then don't do it alone," he murmured, pressing his forehead against Rowan's. "I'm here. We'll do this together. Always."

The moment was intimate, quiet, and raw—just the two of them, silently acknowledging the bond they shared. But even in this moment of tenderness, Lucian couldn't ignore the tension that hung between them.

Rowan was falling apart under the weight of the emotional strain he had been carrying.

Lucian couldn't just be a passive participant anymore. He had to take more control—not just of his own healing, but of their future.

Rowan looked at him, his eyes full of vulnerability. "I don't know how to stop," he admitted, his voice small, like he was speaking a truth he hadn't dared to confront until now. "I've been so focused on you—on keeping you grounded—that I've forgotten to take care of myself."

Lucian's heart tightened, and he pulled Rowan into a warm embrace. He knew that feeling all too well.

The weight of guilt, the fear of losing someone, of failing them when they needed you most. But this wasn't about him anymore. This was about them, together.

"You don't have to do it all, Rowan," Lucian whispered softly into his ear. "Let me help you. You don't have to carry this weight alone. We're a team."

Rowan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and finally nodded. "Alright. Together."

As the day passed and the team began to gather for their next debriefing, the weight of the mission loomed over them all.

Lucian had begun his recovery, and the system was under his control—but the consequences of the rifts were far from over.

The external threats were still very much present, and their time of peace would be short-lived.

While the room had become quieter since Lucian's recovery, the tension in the air was palpable.

The team was emotionally drained—they had been fighting for so long, pushing themselves past their limits, and the toll it had taken on them was now becoming evident.

Ari and Quinn walked into the briefing room, their expressions worn but filled with a quiet resolve.

Ari's gaze lingered on Rowan, and she could see the strain in his features. She walked over to him, laying a hand on his shoulder in quiet solidarity.

"You've been pushing yourself too hard, Rowan," Ari said softly, her voice filled with concern. "We're all in this together. Don't let yourself break down in the process."

Rowan's lips curled into a tired smile. "I'm fine, Ari. Just... haven't been sleeping well."

Quinn, standing next to Ari, spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "That's exactly the problem. We're all in this together, but you've been holding the weight of Lucian's recovery—and the rest of us—on your shoulders. It's time to let us help."

Rowan let out a long breath and nodded. "I know," he said quietly. "I don't know how to stop, but I will. For the team."

The debriefing continued with the team discussing the next steps, the aftermath of the rift incursions, and the future of the Project Veil system now under Lucian's control. But there was an unspoken truth hanging in the air.

Lucian's recovery was just the beginning.

As the discussions continued, Evelyn and Ren exchanged glances, noticing the wear on everyone, especially Rowan's emotional fatigue.

They had all sacrificed, and the weight of their mission was felt by each of them in different ways.

Sloane stood quietly at the back of the room, as always, his expression hard to read, but the lines of exhaustion in his face were unmistakable.

Vespera, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, her voice carrying an underlying softness that caught everyone's attention. "We're all emotionally drained. The toll this has taken on each of us is significant," she said, her gaze moving around the room. "But we've made it this far. We need to remember that we're not alone."

There was a pause in the room as the team took in her words. The bond they shared wasn't just tactical—it was emotional.

They had all been through the fire together, and now, more than ever, they would need to rely on one another.

Even as Lucian's mind began to stabilize and his connection with the system grew stronger, the presence of Project Veil was still felt.

It no longer manipulated Lucian, but its influence lingered, a shadow that stretched across the future.

"We've only just begun to rebuild," Lucian said, standing in front of the team, his voice stronger than before. "The system is mine to control, but I will use it carefully. I won't let it control me again. And neither will any of you."

His gaze moved across the team, feeling the support in their eyes. But the system's influence was still there. They had won the battle for Lucian's mind, but the war was not over. There was still much work to be done.

"We're not done yet," Lucian added, his voice steady. "But together, we'll make sure we stay in control. We're all in this together."