In the heart of Venice, where the scent of saltwater and aged parchment mingled, Eirian stood in the dimly lit museum of oddities he had curated over centuries.

The air was thick with the dust of forgotten times and the hushed whispers of the city's past. His eyes, a forest green that seemed to hold the secrets of the deep, scanned the rows of glass cases filled with curiosities. The ticking of a vintage clock echoed through the room, a steady rhythm that mirrored the pulse of the city itself.

Tick tock tick tock...

His dark brown hair, streaked with silver, was styled in a trendy cut that belied his age, and his tanned skin bore the faint lines of age and the intricate dragon tattoos that adorned his arms and chest. The piercings in his ears and eyebrow glinted in the soft light, a stark contrast to his otherwise mysterious demeanor.

Across the city, in a small vintage bookshop nestled between two ancient buildings, Astria was engrossed in a book. The scent of old paper and leather filled the air, a comforting aroma that seemed to wrap around her like a familiar embrace. Her black hair cascaded down her back in loose curls, and her fair skin was dusted with a soft blush from the setting sun that streamed through the window. Her eyes, a warm brown, were lost in the pages of the book, her fingers tracing the words as if she could feel the history they held. The butterfly tattoo on her back was a constant reminder of the chaos that lurked beneath her seemingly calm exterior, a reflection of her unpredictable nature. She was a wildcard, a force of nature that was neither fully good nor evil, driven by impulse and a love for the written word.

Astria and Eirian were bound to each other, despite knowing it will lead them to nowhere.

As the sun dipped below the horizon one usual evening, their paths crossed in a dance of fate, a tango of secrets and desires, set against the backdrop of a city that had witnessed centuries of love and loss. Their story, like the city itself, was a tapestry of history and mystery, a tale of two souls who would find solace in each other's company, even as they grappled with the demons of their pasts.

In the quiet of the vintage bookshop, the air seemed to shimmer with anticipation. Eirian had stepped into the shop, drawn by the scent of old books and the promise of history. He found his love engrossed in a book, her fingers tracing the words as if they were a lover's touch. Their eyes met, and the world around them seemed to fade away. Eirian's heart pounded in his chest, a primal rhythm that echoed the beat of his ancient heart. He moved towards her, his steps deliberate, each one a testament to the centuries of longing that had brought him here. Astria looked up, her eyes meeting his, and in that moment, they were no longer just two strangers in a bookshop. They were two souls drawn together by an unseen force, a force that transcended time and space.

...To be continued...

Eirian reached out, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing against her lips. Astria leaned into his touch, her eyes never leaving his. The air between them was thick with tension, a palpable force that seemed to hum with energy.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, exploratory kiss. It was a question, a silent plea for permission. Astria answered by parting her lips, her tongue meeting his in a dance of desire. Their kiss deepened, becoming a passionate exchange of need and longing. His hand moved from her cheek to her waist, pulling her closer, his body pressing against hers. Astria's hands found their way to his chest, her fingers tracing the lines of his dragon tattoos, a sensual exploration that sent shivers down his spine.

The bookshop faded away, leaving only the two of them, lost in a world of their own making, a world where the past no longer mattered, and the future was a blank canvas waiting to be painted with their love.

Eirian's hand slid down Astria's waist, his fingers tracing the curve of her hip before moving to the small of her back. He could feel the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her shirt, and his body responded with a surge of desire. Astria's breath hitched as his hand moved lower, her fingers tightening on his chest as if she were trying to pull him closer. Their kiss deepened, becoming a wild dance of tongues and teeth, a primal expression of their need for each other.

"Eirian,"

She whispered, her voice barely audible, her breath hot against his lips.

"I need you." Her hands moved to his shirt, her fingers fumbling with the buttons as she pushed it open, revealing the dragon tattoos that adorned his chest. Eirian's heart pounded in his ears, his body aching with a desire that transcended time. He pulled her shirt off, his hands exploring her bare skin, his fingers tracing the lines of her butterfly tattoo. "Tell me your secrets, Eirian," she whispered, her voice hoarse with desire. "Let me know the darkness that haunts you."

His fingers traced the delicate lines of her tattoo, his touch igniting a trail of goosebumps on her skin. He could feel her heartbeat accelerating, matching the rhythm of his own. "My secrets are as old as the city itself," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. "But I'll share them with you, Astria. In the dark, in the light, in every moment we're together."

His hands moved to her back, unhooking her bra and letting it fall to the floor. Her breasts heaved with each ragged breath, her nipples hardening under his gaze. He leaned down, capturing one in his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak. Astria gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. "Eirian," she moaned, her voice a husky whisper. "I want you inside me."

He looked up, his eyes meeting hers, a silent agreement passing between them. He lifted her onto the nearby table, pushing aside the books and papers that lay scattered across the surface. He unbuttoned her jeans, sliding them down her legs, his hands tracing the curve of her hips as he did so. Astria kicked off her shoes, her legs wrapping around his waist as he positioned himself between her thighs. The heat of her body was intoxicating, and he could feel his control slipping, his desire a wild beast within him.

...To be continued...

He entered her slowly, their eyes locked, their breaths mingling in the air between them. The sensation was overwhelming, a mixture of pleasure and pain that left them both gasping. "You feel like heaven," he whispered, his voice hoarse with desire. Austria smiled, her fingers tracing the lines of his chest as he began to move, their bodies moving in sync, a dance as old as time itself. The room filled with the sounds of their lovemaking, the creaking of the table, the soft moans and gasps, the rhythmic slap of skin against skin. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them.

As Eirian's thrusts became more urgent, their bodies slick with sweat, Austria's fingers dug into his shoulders, her nails leaving crescent moons on his skin. "Eirian," she panted, her voice barely audible, "I need to know. Tell me what you've been hiding." Eirian's eyes, dark with desire and something deeper, met hers. "My secrets are not just mine to share," he growled, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

"But I'll tell you, Austria. I was born in Venice, in a time when the city was a haven for the strange and the unusual. I was a man then, but I was turned into something more, something darker. I've lived for centuries, seen empires rise and fall, and I've kept my secrets locked away, hidden from the world."

He paused, his body stilling as he looked into her eyes. "But with you, Austria, I want to share everything. I want to be free of the darkness that haunts me." Austria's heart swelled with emotion, her breath catching in her throat. "And what about me?" she asked softly, her fingers tracing the lines of his scars. "What secrets do I hold?" Eirian's eyes softened, a rare vulnerability in their depths. "You, Austria, are a wild card. You live in the moment, act on impulse, and you're unpredictable. You're a butterfly, free and beautiful, and I want to be the one to catch you, to hold you close and never let go."

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, his body moving against hers in a rhythm as old as time once more. "Together, we can face whatever comes our way. Together, we can create a future filled with love and understanding."

Austria's eyes widened as the memories flooded back, her heart pounding in her chest. "Eirian," she gasped, her voice barely audible, "I remember him. The man who saved me from the river. He had the same... the same look in his eyes, the same tattoos. He said his name was Eirian."

Eirian's body stilled, his eyes searching hers, shock and disbelief etched on his face. "That's... that's impossible," he stammered, his voice shaking. "I've never been to London." Austria's grip on him tightened, her voice filled with determination. "But you were there, Eirian. You were the one who saved me. You were the one who made me feel safe."

...To be continued...