Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 145

Lexa's POV

While I did not expect such an enthusiastic response to my coming back, I certainly am not complaining.

When I wake up the next morning, I look outside and nearly curse aloud. If the light streaming through the window is any indication, it is nearly noon. I know that the blacksmith said he would have everything finished by the afternoon but I would rather get there sooner rather than later.

Rather than making Clarke wake up to a cold, empty bed again, I decide to wake her up. Just enough so she will know where I am and not worry.

I yawn and fight away the drowsiness that seeps into my worn-out limbs. Clarke and I only went to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. Our... vigorous exercising coupled with the physical and mental strain of making two rings made me more exhausted than I realized. I turn around in Clarke's arms and blink the last of the tiredness out of my eyes.

Her expression while sleeping is sometimes so calm and gorgeous, it nearly makes me cry because of her beauty. But mornings like these, when she is very worn out and exhausted, her expression is a little different. I love every aspect of her, including how she sleepily snuggles closer to me unconsciously after I turn around. I even love the little bit of drool coming out of her mouth. The side of her face is practically smooshed onto the furs beneath us. I fight the urge to snicker when she lets out a quiet, soft snore.

"Clarke," I whisper in a gentle tone. She does not stir. "Clarke, hodnes (love). Wake up."

Clarke grumbles, but as she is still mainly unconscious, I cannot understand what she is saying or if she is saying anything at all. She moves her head so it rests on some of my hair, effectively trapping me.

"Even when you are asleep, you figure out ways to keep me next to you." I murmur jokingly, reaching a hand up to lovingly brush a stray strand of hair from her face. "Clarke."

My words do not seem to be working, so I decide to use a different tactic that I like better. I lean in and plant affectionate kisses across her face, first tracing her jawline and cheekbones. She stirs when I reach her nose and a languid grin stretches across her face.

"Hey baby." She breathes out without opening her eyes.

Not for the first time, I wonder if her voice is raspy because she just woke up or because of our late night (and early morning) activities.

"Good morning." I whisper back.

"Hmm. It certainly is a good morning with you in my arms." Clarke beams wider at my smitten smile and blush. "So, what's up? Why did you have to wake me up so early?"

"It is nearly noon," I point out. Clarke just shrugs and continues to look at me with her loving gaze. I sigh softly, wishing I could stay here for longer. "I have an errand to run."

"Another one?"

Oh gods, she is pouting. I can rarely resist her anyways, and that pout weakens every feeble defense I have against her.

"It will not take long, hodnes (love). I promise. I will do it and rush back to you."

"Good. Go rush off, do whatever you have to do." Clarke gives me a tender kiss on the lips. "Octavia, Raven, and I will probably be on our way to the river by then."

"You will be in that swim suit again?"

"Yes, I will." Clarke confirms, her voice thick with amusement. "Put your bathing suit on underneath your clothes. Then you can run your errand and meet us there."

I mentally run through what I might have to do and nod. "Alright. I will do that. I will see you soon, Clarke."

"I better," Clarke says. It is a familiar tone, half-joking and half-serious.

I kiss her deeply until we are both breathless. "Ai hod yu in (I love you)."

"Ai hod yu in sentaim (I low you too)."

Clarke grins again, looking even more alluring than usual as she props herself up on one arm. Her golden hair shimmers in the sunlight filtering through the window and the furs do not cover much. I drag my eyes back to her face before I get too tempted again.

I kiss her again quickly before reluctantly getting out of bed. Luckily, it is not as difficult as it is in other places because the bed is about as warm as the morning air so I do not get cold when I stand up. The main loss is the loss of Clarke's touch.

In order to get everything done and get back to her as soon as I can, I get dressed faster than usual. Clarke watches me with interest and amusement as I hurry. I give Clarke one last lingering kiss before I walk out of our room.

"Hey, Commander." Raven greets from one of the couches, sitting next to Octavia. "I didn't think you'd be awake this early. It seems like you up pretty late last night."

"The rooms are relatively sound proof." I remind her, confused as to how she knew what we were up to last night.

"Not when you're screaming at the top of your lungs, they're not." Octavia says bluntly and I flush. Clarke and I did do a lot of screaming. "Don't worry, it was only just loud enough that we could hear because we're right next to you. Anyway..." She trails off and sits up straighter, her eyes bright with excitement. "Are you going to go pick them up?"

"Yes."

"Can I come? I really want to see how they turned out!" Octavia pleads, trying to use her 'puppy dog eyes' with me.

"Ooh!" Raven exclaims excitedly. "I want to come too!"

"No." They deflate. "You can both see them after I talk to Clarke." I decide not to use the word propose just in case Clarke is no longer in bed and listening. "And you are going with Clarke to the river. I will meet you all there once I have picked it up."

A slightly longer chapter... And why did I have songs from Moana stuck in my head for the entirety of writing this? I did buy the soundtrack but it's really weird to have them playing over and over in my head while writing... Having Dwayne Johnson singing about being a demigod is kinda distracting (but also amazing because I love that song). Anyway... Next chapter, they head to the river that the town's built along! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!