This Was Never Casual
Chapter 2 (Read Chapter 1 here)
Pairing: Nozel Silva x Fem OC
MINORS DNI 🔞
Warnings: Smut
Here's chapter 2!
Some months earlier…
Eterna stands outside the ornate double doors of the captain’s office in the Silver Eagles base, stack of reports in her hand. She could have sent it via courier, or a Spatial Mage; after all, the documents aren’t so significant that they need to be summarised in person.
And yet here she is, taking deep breaths before she raises her fist to knock. She raps on the door three times and awaits the deep ‘enter’ before steeling herself, turning the door handle.
There sits Nozel Silva in all his glory, the streams of sunlight catching in his silver-white hair and his sharp features as he remains unmoving, looking through documents placed meticulously about his desk.
“What is it?” he asks, not looking up from the report he’s reading.
“Just came to drop these off,” Eterna responds with as much confidence as she can muster, placing the documents on an empty spot on his desk before standing in front of his desk, back straight and hands clasped behind her back.
He looks up as soon as he hears her voice, his gaze following her every move. The softness of her jaw and button nose, the curve of her neck that hides beneath the high collar of her Golden Dawn uniform. His eyes find themselves travelling down to her legs, where he can see the skin of her thighs between her short skirt and thigh-high socks; modifications of the uniform courtesy of her captain, William Vangeance, to ensure full mobility when using her magic.
“Thank you,” he says evenly. She nods, waiting to be dismissed, but he never does. His eyes instead now travel to her mouth, which is soft, pillowy, and full.
“Is there… something else I can do for you, Captain?” she asks, her cheeks heating from his intense gaze. He says nothing, his gaze never leaving her. She gulps. “Captain?”
His eyes finally snap to hers. “What?”
“You’re staring.”
His brow lifts, but he doesn’t deny it. “So I am.”
“Why?”
“You are distracting.”
This time, Eterna’s breath catches, not expecting such an answer. She shifts slightly, rubbing her thighs together and averting her gaze from his. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says softly, looking down at her feet.
“I think you do,” he says. This time, he stands up and walks around his desk to stand in front of her. She sees his long finger approach her until it hooks under her chin, which he tilts up to face him. She inhales sharply when she sees the pure intensity behind his now-dilated pupils and the small smirk playing on his lips. “Do you really think I am not aware of the way you watch me when you think I am not looking?”
Eterna’s face is now crimson, embarrassed about being caught. She thought she was subtle whenever she stole such glances. But one can never truly escape the eye of an eagle. “I… I’m sorry--” she begins, but is cut off.
“Such distractions,” he muses. “Should be eliminated.”
Eterna’s heart begins to thunder in her chest in horror, her eyes widening and her blood going cold. She swallows thickly. “Do you intend to kill me, Captain?”
Nozel simply hums, his thumb now pressing down on her pillowy lips before leaning down toward her, inhaling the scent of jasmine. “There are… other ways to eliminate distractions,” he whispers in her ear.
A shiver travels up her spine and she nearly collapses to her knees at the rather scandalous implication. She doesn’t pretend that it doesn’t excite her though; after all, there have been many nights alone where she dreamt about those eyes gazing down on her and that mouth travelling places they normally shouldn’t.
“What are you suggesting?” she whispers, breathing unevenly.
He pulls away, leaning back against his desk. She immediately feels the chill from his absence. “An arrangement,” he says simply.
“An arrangement,” she repeats.
“Yes,” he responds. “I have needs. And it is clear that you do, as well.”
She crosses her arms. “Terms,” she says.
“No attachments. No obligations. No staying the night.”
She nods once. “Of course,” she responds. “This is not to interfere with our work.”
“Naturally. And this ends when it becomes inconvenient.”
“When one of us says so,” she finishes.
Nozel nods after a few moments. “Agreed.”
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Eterna says, immediately turning and walking out of the office. She finds a private corner where she leans against the wall, clutching her hand to her chest as she tries to catch her breathing.
Did I… Did I seriously agree to sleep with Captain Nozel Silva?! What the hell am I thinking?! She thinks to herself, but she still can’t help the small smile that forms on her face. He had been paying attention to her, when she thought they were merely sharing a captain-junior relationship.
Nozel remains where he is, looking at the office door long after she leaves. He sighs to himself as his fingers drum rhythmically against the edge of his desk, wondering if he made the correct decision. Despite the way he found himself drawn to her since her performance during the Magic Knights entrance exam, she is still his subordinate. It is an inappropriate way to go about pursuing a woman he’s interested in, but he also knows that he’s not interested in pursuing anything real at the moment. Because something real means becoming emotionally vulnerable. And emotional vulnerability is a weakness. And he most certainly does not want that for himself, seeing it as unbecoming of a Magic Knight captain.
So he settles for this. A way to get close to her without needing to put in any effort.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Eterna sits curled up on the chair in front of her desk in her room later that night, reading the novel in her hand. Or at least, trying to.
She returned to the Golden Dawn base quite some time ago, immediately opting for a shower where she chose the best-smelling products she owns, and shaving… just in case. Afterwards, she tried to write in her journal or sketch, but her hands were trembling so much she couldn’t put down a single stroke.
So now here she is, novel in hand, wearing pyjamas that are on the comfier side to make it seem like she’s not trying too hard, not overthinking all of this. She groans in exasperation and tilts her head back, hanging backward over the backrest of her chair, then closes her eyes to calm her breathing and racing heart.
There’s no way he’s going to come tonight. We didn’t arrange a time, and he has no idea where my room is. Calm yourself, Eterna.
Little does she know, the man she’s been thinking about is on her very balcony, watching her through the glass-paned doors. How he managed to figure out which room is hers is no one’s business, but one could suppose he has his ways as a captain. He sees her curled up in her chair, her head hanging back over the backrest, exposing the curve of her neck. Her usually braided hair is now in a bun that’s held in place with a gold hairpin. She’s wearing a short robe, concealing the clothes underneath. He exhales once more before knocking on the glass, immediately capturing Eterna’s attention. She shoots up from her chair and opens the door, letting him in as she steps backwards into her room.
“That didn’t take very long,” she says softly, deliberately letting her robe slip down her shoulders. Nozel’s breath catches as he sees what’s underneath: a shirt with thin straps that crops just below her chest paired with loose shorts that hang low on her hips, showing off her toned midriff. He can immediately feel the pool heat up in the pits of his stomach as his fingers itch to touch her slightly tan skin.
“Are you certain you wish to do this?” he asks. Even though this was a mutual decision, even though she expressed she wanted this too, he still feels the need to give her one more out. He can’t explain to himself why.
“Yes,” she says without hesitation, looking directly into his eyes, hers bright, eager.
That is all he needs before he shuts the door and draws the curtains behind him. His hands find themselves on her waist, his breath shuddering at the warmth of her skin. He finally pulls her flush against his chest and crashes his mouth against hers. They move with desperation and urgency as she tries to keep up with him, her hands grasping his collar and pulling him closer as she stands on the tips of her toes. Nozel notices and he lifts her without warning, placing her on her desk before he steps between her legs, all without breaking the kiss, swallowing her gasps eagerly.
He pulls away from her mouth and begins to trail heated, open-mouthed kisses down her jaw, and then her neck, and then her collarbone. When he hears her gasp once more, he stays there, focusing on that sweet spot, sucking on her skin enough to elicit a soft moan, but not enough to leave any evidence the next morning. She leans her head back, giving him more access, as her hands explore his body the way she had always fantasized. They travel to the hem of his tunic, where her fingers curl as she lifts the fabric.
“Off,” she’s barely able to gasp. He pulls back from her neck to pull his tunic over his head, revealing his very toned and muscular body which is otherwise quite well-hidden by his clothes. She nearly drools as her eyes trace over his defined collarbone, pecs, and his abs, as well as the definition of his biceps and forearms. “Whoa,” she whispers.
“Enjoying what you see?” Nozel smirks in response, before returning to his position between her legs. He grabs her thighs and pulls her closer to him, grinding his hips against hers as he returns to kissing her with fervour. She gasps and moans into his mouth as she feels his very prominent erection, her hands now raking through his well-kempt hair, disheveling it. As he keeps one hand against her lower back to steady her, his other hand finds itself creeping up her stomach and under her cropped nightshirt, gently cupping one of her breasts before squeezing it lightly, eliciting another loud gasp from her.
He pulls back for a moment, confusing her. He then reaches his hand around her head, pulling her hairpin free, allowing her long locks to cascade down her back. His breath catches at the sight; he’s only ever seen it in that tight crown braid, practical, elegant with not a single strand out of place. And now, seeing it down makes her seem more unguarded, more vulnerable, more… like a woman. He runs his fingers down her hair, the strands feeling like silk against his skin, before placing both hands on her thighs.
Without a word, he lifts Eterna, who wraps her legs around his waist on instinct, then carries her to her bed, throwing her onto the mattress gently, a gasp leaving her lips from the impact. He then slowly removes her shorts and underwear before leaning over her to push her nightshirt over her chest, exposing her breasts. His eyes don’t leave hers as he strokes his fingers against her folds, a soft moan leaving her lips.
“So wet already,” Nozel says, voice husky. “And I barely touched you.”
She only whines in response, bucking her hips toward his hands. He chuckles before inserting two fingers into her, while his mouth catches one of her breasts, his tongue playing with her nipple. Eterna arches herself into him as her fingers dig into his scalp, her moans becoming louder as she approaches her climax. He immediately stops stroking his fingers before she gets there, giving her a small smirk when she whines again.
He lines himself with her as he strokes himself with his now wet fingers. He leans over her again, resting one hand on the mattress next to her head as he uses his other hand to tease her with the tip of his erection.
“Tell me if it hurts,” he murmurs before he finally pushes himself inside her, letting out a low groan as he feels how tight she feels around him. She arches her back at the sensation of being stretched out, her mouth opening but no sound coming out. Once he pushes all the way in, he remains still, waiting for her to adjust to his size. She nods once she does, and he begins moving, slow and steady as he lets her get used to the pace.
“Captain,” she gasps. “Faster.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
Her breath shudders at his new pet name for her. He adjusts himself based on her requests, finally pleased with himself when the only sound that escapes her mouth is patterned panting and soft moans, along with a whispered ‘yes, just like that’. She digs her nails into his back, eliciting groans from him as she drags her nails down his skin. They move against each other, her hips meeting his, as the sound of skin slapping against skin fills the room alongside pants and groans.
At some point, Eterna’s breathing becomes ragged, approaching her climax once more. Her nails dig deeper into his back, signalling that she’s almost there. Nozel understands immediately, moving one of his hands to play with her clit, pushing her closer and closer. Finally, she moans and convulses, squeezing him as tight as she can in her arms as she arches into him, her head leaning back into the pillows. Nozel follows soon after, letting himself release inside of her with a deep groan, resting his forehead against her neck as he rides out his orgasm.
For a few moments, they just stay there in silence, processing the line that was just crossed and the complete and utter bliss that resulted from it. Nozel is the first to move, pulling himself out before slipping out of her arms, sitting up. He looks down and observes Eterna’s current state: trying to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed as she readjusts her nightshirt to cover her chest, her eyes not leaving his.
“That was…” she breathes before trailing off, too mindblown to articulate herself.
“Yes,” Nozel agrees simply before he gets off the bed. Eterna covers herself with her blankets, watching him immediately get dressed, leaving her shorts on the wooden floor. He dresses with practiced efficiency and ease, as if this were a nightly routine for him. He turns to her as he adjusts his belt with his grimoire case to his hip. “Clear your schedule at the same time next week. I will come by again.”
And with that, he steps outside and summons his mercury eagle before flying off into the night.
Eterna sits there, watching him disappear through the glass panes of her balcony doors, still covering her lower half. The amber in her eyes dim just the slightest degree and her grip tightens against the sheets as what she signed up for truly sinks into her. The release and what led up to it felt euphoric, but once she returns from that high, once the room begins to cool down, her chest begins to feel… empty. She’s not able to articulate why, or name what she was expecting after the act was done.
She also can’t bring herself to fall asleep in her current sheets, now infused with his scent of steel and rain, without wanting to cry. So she stands up and pulls on her shorts, strips the sheets, and replaces them with a new set, removing any traces of what transpired earlier.
Ah… so that’s how it’s going to be, she thinks to herself as she curls into herself in the fresh sheets, closing her eyes.
Eterna could end this arrangement now, walk away from it all before she finds herself wanting more than what he’s willing to give. But she thinks about how intoxicating his touch and mouth were, and she realises her desire of wanting him close outweighs what she knows she deserves for her well-being and happiness.
She’s just going to have to get used to this. Even if it means breaking her own heart.
