Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 1988

Estelle leaned her forehead against his, whispering softly, "Not the shoulder, it's my back."

Jonathan wrapped his arms around her and glanced down at her back as her robe had slipped to her waist, revealing her skin in the warm, honeyed light. Her delicate complexion was smooth, with a few faint pink marks scattered like cherry blossoms on a gentle stream, rippling along her graceful curves and reflecting the shimmer of waves.

Estelle tilted her head back, with her eyes closed, and pressed a kiss to his lips; her voice was hoarse, "It'll be soon. Once I finish the mission, we can go home. I miss Max, I miss Milo, and I crave Wilma's desserts!"

She longed to lazily sit with him on the swing set in the backyard, basking in the sun.

Jonathan kissed her back passionately, "Stay safe!"

"Mhm," she murmured.

She was never going to be a caged canary or a clinging vine for him. She was an eagle soaring through the sky, with a world of her own to roam.

He could escort her through the journey, but he could never clip her wings.

They were partners, side by side!

He wanted her to remember that. And he would remember it too.

Jonathan's body tensed as he continued to kiss her, from the corner of her lips down to her chin, her neck, and her collarbone.

When he held her body in his arms, her delicate shoulders, her perfect curves, and her cream-like skin,drove him wild with a desire to meld her into his very being.

From the balcony to the bedroom, dawn was breaking.

Jonathan held her close, "Sleep now, and I'll leave once you doze off."

Estelle was exhausted but hesitant to fall asleep in front of Jonathan, so she gently pushed him away, "It's nearly morning. You should go. I won't rest easy if you're still here." "What do you mean?" Jonathan frowned with a light chuckle, "You can't sleep peacefully with me here?"

"With you here, I'd hate to waste the moment sleeping!" Estelle sat up, grabbed a shirt to help him dress, and kissed his cheek, "Go on, now!"

Jonathan sighed, "This is just like a secret affair!"

Estelle couldn't help but laugh, "Is it thrilling?"

"No, it's infuriating!" Jonathan said.

With her smile widened, she soothed him with another peck on his cheek, "Thank you, Mr. Lamont!"

Jonathan stood up, "Why do I get a bad feeling now when you call me Mr. Lamont?"

Clutching the covers to her chest and leaving only her twinkling eyes visible, Estelle teased, "Don't be so sensitive!"

He turned and kissed her forehead, "Get some good rest."

"Mhm!" Estelle half-closed her eyes, watching Jonathan leave.

She was truly spent, but only after he had gone did she slip off the potentially betraying necklace and hide it under her pillow.

Then she dressed herself thoroughly before finally lying down.

Because she knew that tomorrow, it would be Lambert waking her up.

Even though she despised Lambert for his arrogance and endless chatter, it seemed she had entrusted her life to him!

Maybe she did trust him, after all.

With these thoughts blurring in her drowsiness, Estelle drifted off to sleep.

She was going to meet her teammates. Sometimes, she felt an illusion that they were waiting for her somewhere, pulling her into dreams again and again.

So, was her current reality the true one, or was everything in her dreams the real thing?

Could it be that she was dreaming right now?