Peeping Princess

By Evil Orange Crayon

Disclaimer: I own nothing, if I did I probably wouldn't be writing this here and show would have some definite adult overtones to it. :E

She's at an appropriate age for this to be reasonable. She's a little ooc cuz well... I honestly doubt she'd do this. So she's channeling my inner perv. While this part may not have any real "adulty" goodness to it there are some definite overtones to it that I personally enjoy. It's rated M for the mature content that I intend to place in it.

Warning: There is most definitely adult content in this chapter and it is not at all appropriate for anyone that is not of a decent age to read it. If you are no of age or the idea of reading sexual relations transpiring between two consenting characters bother you then I suggest you venture no further and question the fact that you would willing read a story that is rated M. C'mon now. Another fair warning, I put a bit of kink into this. So, if spanking is a bit too much for you you may not want to continue. Don't say I didn't warn you :D

Prepare yourself! This is a long one. I sure can stretch sex out to be quite a few pages. I impress myself!

She found herself hurrying up to his tower much like she had the day when she created the trouble for herself. Only, this time, she remembered to knock. She tapped at his door lightly, already dressed appropriately for potion brewing, cleaning, or anything else he might intend for her to do. While her apprentice robe was hung on a hook in his workshop, she decided to forgo the princess gown with all its petticoats and bounce.

When he opened the door he didn't look as pleased to see her as she was to see him, though that wasn't entirely unusual. She had thought since he kissed her yesterday he would be more eager to see her. "Princess," he greeted her and stepped aside so she could enter.

She stepped in hesitantly, turning to look at him curiously, "Mister Cedric."

"We have quite a bit to do," he said with air of aloofness., fetching her robe and handing it to her. "There is no time to dawdle." With that said he went to his work table to leaf through his backlog of potions and assignments, "Potions." He handed her a stack that she would be brewing. "Let's get to work, shall we?"

She stood there listening to him, then watching as he busied himself with the work of potion making, standing there with her robe hanging from one arm and a small stack of potions assignments held in one hand. She was confused. She wasn't sure how to react, she thought perhaps after he kissed her the day before when she came in for her lessons that he would be affectionate. She had admitted her love to him. But, here he was, acting as if nothing had happened. She thought she might cry.

When he turned to fetch ingredients for himself, he saw that she just stood there and growled at her. "Come on now, Sofia. This is not the time to dawdle. Get moving."

She sniffled and shrugged into her robe, then began to start on the work he had given her. They worked seamlessly together in silence, the only interruptions being his curt instructions and tidbit on the particulars of the potion she was brewing. She listened intently and asked questions when appropriate. It was different than the last time, she was humming with energy to approach him about her wants from him, where as last time she struggled with facing him after seeing him in a state of undress.

She worked diligently, following instructions and being a dutiful student. Soon, she was lost in her task, nursing her wounded feelings as she put ingredients into the cauldron, stirred as it rolled to a boil then waited patiently for it to turn a certain color. Once that was done and he dismissed the fire and she started to ladling the potion into vials. As she labeled them and put them where he instructed he cleansed her cauldron for her to start the next potion.

They worked until a tapping at the door broke the silence of their work. The castle steward opened the door and peered in at them. "It's almost time for dinner, Princess. You should hurry down to clean up and dress for dinner with your parents."

She looked at her cauldron, knowing her own was almost finished. "I'm almost done with this potion, Baileywick. As soon as it's finished I will come down to dinner. Just let mom and dad know I will be a little late."

"Alright, Princess," he smiled lightly. "Just be sure not to stay too much longer. I am sure Cedric would also like to get dinner." His usual barbs to the sorcerer were dropped, which it seemed to draw a curious glance from him. The steward closed the door behind himself without another word.

"Well," the sorcerer scratched his head. He peered over her shoulder then at her cauldron. "I can finish the potion, Sofia, you go see to dinner with parents."

"No," she kept on, pausing only to look at him. "Finish what I start." He raised an eyebrow at her but she carried on, adding the last ingredients in and giving it a quick measured stir. That done she went to fetch more vials to prepare to store them. She labeled the potion into the vials, labeled them and put them away. She could feel his gaze on her back and it gave her a bit of a thrill. She pulled her robe off and hung it on the hook she had claimed so long ago.

That done she went back to his side at the work table, looking up at him with a new found sense of determination, "That was my last one, I hope it helps you." He watched her as she closed the distance between them, raising an eyebrow. She felt challenged and suddenly brave. She took a hold of his arm, mostly to keep herself balanced, and rose up on her tiptoes to press her lips against his. She slanted her mouth against his, parting her lips so that she could taste him.

The arm she was using steady herself went around her waist and latched onto her hip, he gave her a light tug forward and she was against him. His other hand tangled in her hair, he tilted her head back and immediately seemed to engulf her. His tongue swept into her mouth, curling around and caressing her own. She quickly lost control of the situation she created. He pressed her back against the work table, breaking the kiss long enough to lift her up and deposit her rump onto it. That done, he was between her knees and kissing her with a passion she could barely keep up with.

She heard noises that she was distinctly aware that she was making, she delved her fingers into his hair and sought out to feel something other than the velvet of his robe. It didn't give her a whole lot of options, just his hair and his face. His face felt smooth and his hair silky, but her finger itched to explore more of him. She tugged loose his bow tie and started unfastening the buttons at his throat. All the while his mouth plundered hers.

He tasted of bitter tea and was surrounded by the scent of sandalwood, she wanted to curl up in him and wear his scent. The feel of his body, something she wanted to drag her fingers over and explore, was cushioned by the thickness of his robe. Though, where he was positioned between her knees there was a sharpness pressing against her. She rolled her hips against his and he groaned, low in his throat. He tugged his mouth from hers and she followed, not at all willing to give up the taste of him. She missed his mouth but caught him on his jaw, not at all deterred she followed it down to the bit of his neck that she exposed.

"M-merlin's mushrooms," he ground out before pulling out of her grasp. "You are expected at dinner. And you best get to it." He managed to un-wedge himself from between her knees. "Your persuasiveness has gotten you your way, but that is quite enough of that."

He seemed to tremble slightly and she slid off his work table to stand close to him again. "I will be back after dinner," she had a confidence to her she hadn't felt before. She toyed with the sash of his robe, "You will be here when I get back." It wasn't a question.

"I still have things to do," his voice sounded a bit rougher than usual and she found it hard to resist closing the distance between them again. He looked up and cursed lightly, "You will have me burn the tower down, he waved his wand at the smoking cauldron. "Go," he growled then huffed as he glared at the ruined potion, "I will be here."

She turned and with some reluctance left his tower to join her family for dinner.

She had rushed through dinner, much to the displeasure of her parents. Her father was none too pleased with her state of dress, complaining that she didn't look like the princess she was. She ignored their complaints though and woofed her dinner down in the most unladylike fashion, dodging the glare of her sister. She then waited an appropriate amount of time to ask to be excused.

Once her father excused her, she was off again. She stopped by her room. She had to catch her breath and regain her barring. If she went back to him, she didn't doubt what she would attempt to do. Surely, he didn't miss the implications of what she would be returning to do. She felt jittery with the knowledge that she would be going him with the intent of seducing her sorcerer.

She stood inside her bedroom, breathing and trying to get the confidence that she had felt before back. He wouldn't reject her after how he had kissed her before, would he? How would she face him if he turned her away? Insecurities swam in her mind and she found herself sitting heavily on the floor as she struggled not to let her fears overwhelm her.

"You want this," she whispered to herself. "You can do this." She stood and picked up her 'do not disturb' sign. She opened her door and hazarded a glance out into the hall, hanging the sign on her door knob. Sure that she wouldn't been seen, she hurried back to his tower.

She paused at his door, insecurities rearing their ugly heads. She heard nothing behind his door. But, he said he would be there. She felt a flare of anger rush through her as she knocked heavily on his door. She waited a moment, for any of his usual snark or for him to even answer the door. All she got was silence. She knocked again, trying to resist the urge of going in uninvited. When he didn't answer the door, though, she couldn't contain herself anymore.

She shoved the door open and stormed in, her rare temper flared to its peek. The workshop was dark and if she hadn't looked around, she would have missed him. Her sorcerer was leaning back against his work table. He had looked decidedly relaxed. He wore the familiar olive green shirt, crimson vest, and black trousers. His usual attire, save the robe and yellow bow tie. She stood still, staring at him for a long moment in shock. She hadn't expected to see him.

"Is this what you would do, then?" He watched her, his arms folded over his chest. He looked dark, cast in shadows and she suddenly felt afraid. "You knock and when I don't answer you come right in?"

She didn't know how to answer, she couldn't deny it after she had just done it. "I said I was coming back," she trembled just a little.

"So, you did," he pushed off of the work table and stepped closer to her. He started to circle her, not touching her but seeming to be striving to stir uncertainty into her. "Just what did you come back for, Princess?"

Her brows furrowed, "I intend to finish what I started."

"What is it that you think you started?" He stopped circling her and stood just within reach. "Just what do you intend to finish?"

She was at a loss for words, staring at him in confusion. "I want you," she said simply.

"What is it exactly that you want of me?"

"I.. I," she swallowed hard, trying to think how to confide in him what exactly what she wanted. It wasn't proper, she knew this. What she wanted from him was the most improper thing, aside from her being unwed and him essentially being the help. Not to mention the age difference. She frowned at him, still unwilling to back down. "I want you, all of you. I want you intimately, I want you physically. I want you emotionally, I want to take you for all that you are." She released the stress of saying it all with a breath, "I just want you. I want to take the moment where we kissed and make more of it."

He looked flabbergasted, not expecting her to answer. Or perhaps, he thought she would lose her nerve. Or he thought it was a passing fancy. He should have known her better than that. "Well, then," he seemed to collect his thoughts. He turned and closed the door to his tower, then latched the lock to it. "Come into my parlor then, little fly," he went to the door to his private rooms and opened it, with a grand sweep of his arm he gestured for her to enter.

She entered with only a little trepidation, there was a short series of steps down into a smaller room set off his main workshop. It was occupied by a simple bed, large enough for two but her own bed seemed larger. Aside from his bed was a large wardrobe and a simple writing desk. His chamber pot and copper tub took up one corner of his room. It seemed crowded in there and she had the distinct feeling that he didn't get much company in here. She glanced over her shoulder to see that he followed her, closing that door and even going so far as to secure the lock on it as well.

"If," he started, eyeing her carefully, "we are to do this, I have... I have a bit of vengeance that I would like to extract from you."

She raised an eyebrow, her stomach turning into a knot. "Vengeance?"

He stepped past her and sat lightly on the edge of his bed, "You have taken quite a few liberties with me. You have seen me in a few compromising positions, bribed my pet, and entered my work space without my consent. I believe I should be entitled to punish you for said offenses."

"Punish me?" She swallowed hard, unsure where he would go with this. "How?"

"I will spank you," he said evenly. He paused noticing the fingerless gloves he still wore, he began to pull them off. "You peeped upon me twice? Bribing Wormy and entering my tower without permission… I think we will call us even with five."

"Spank me?" Her voice shook and she felt unsure, she watched as he removed his gloves and placed them into his pants pocket. He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow at her, daring her. "F-five what?"

"Five spankings. Slaps to your behind, whatever you would like to call it," he shrugged nonchalantly as if what he was suggesting was not at all a big deal. Like, it wasn't at all an unreasonable request.

It sounded perverse. Though, whether her crime was worse than the punishment he proposed left her unsure and slightly afraid. "Is this what you like?"

"Whether I like it or not is irrelevant, if it is something you like and enjoy," he gave another nonchalant shrug, as if all of this was a simple thing to discuss, "we can explore it another time."

"We will be even after five? What do I do?" She fidgeted as she looked at him.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "What is it that you are wearing beneath that frock?"

She blinked and smoothed her hands over the skirt, "A corset, a shift, bloomers and stockings."

"No petticoats?" She shook her head, the dress was simple. Something similar to the dresses the girls in the village wore. He nodded, eyeing her dress speculatively. "You can remain clothed, I do ask that you remove your bloomers. I believe the skirt and shift will be adequate padding for what I assume is your first spanking." She nodded and with a slight wiggle she managed to get her bloomers down her rump without lifting her skirt. He watched, she could feel the intensity of his gaze. He patted a hand on his lap, "You will lie across my lap with your behind in the air and I will use my hand."

"Will it hurt?"

"That's the intent, yes, but I will not hit you so hard you will be unable to walk," he took her hand and rubbed his thumb along her wrist. "I will make it better afterwards," his voice had taken a persuasive tone to it.

"Okay," she trembled as she followed the gentle pull of his hand. She carefully bent over his lap, swallowing hard she tried to support her weight between the odd angle with her hands. She shook waiting for him to begin.

His hand hovered lightly above her rump, she was distinctly aware of it. When she glanced over her shoulder at him, she saw him raise his hand. She held her breath, preparing for it to land. "One," his hand landed solidly against her behind, hitting her just so that she felt it across both her cheeks. Despite the fact that she held her breath, a soft cry was still forced from her. She struggled to remain across his lap, his other hand steadied her. "Two," his hand came down against her again, in the same place. Even with her skirt and shift, she still felt the sting from the contact.

"Three," his hand came down against her left cheek. He didn't give her the time to adjust to the contact, just as quick his hand came down on her right cheek, "Four." Then he hesitated, making her tense as she prepared for that last lick. "Five," his hand came down hard against both cheeks. It was hard enough that it forced another cry from her.

After the last strike his arm came around her shoulders, his mouth against her ear, "Are you alright?" She nodded shakily, unable to collect her thoughts enough to answer, "Do you need a moment?" She nodded again, "Do you wish to continue?"

"Yes," she tried to look at him, but he stilled her when his tongue swept along the shell of her ear. Her eyes closed when she felt the coolness of his hands brush against the smarting flesh of her rear. Her breathing became shaky with the combination of his stroking hand and his mouth, he had sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth and she leaned further into his lap. She felt his excitement pressing into her side and she felt thrilled. His hand drifted between her thighs, stroking along the length of her slit and his mouth had found her neck, it wasn't long before the memory of him spanking her was lost.

She rocked back against his hand when he parted her dampened lips and found the bundle of nerves at the top of her sex. She heard noises that she knew that she was making, but she couldn't fathom them coming from her. All logical thought was focused on where his hand was and the feeling it was igniting within her. His mouth on her throat wasn't so much a distraction of a catalyst for his other actions.

Abruptly, he stopped. With apparent effort, he pulled his mouth from her neck and his hand from between her legs. "Can you stand?" He voice had taken a raspy tenor that she decided she liked. She nodded and she started up carefully, him helping when she started to tremble. Her rump burned, though it wasn't entirely unpleasant. Her sex throbbed, and while it wasn't unpleasant either the aching emptiness between her thighs was. "We have gotten sidetracked," he stood beside her. "I got so consumed by you that I was ready to rut with you on the floor like a teenager," he sounded bemused as he moved to stand behind her.

"I wouldn't have protested," she said, glancing over her shoulder at him. "I am a teenager."

He snorted as he began to work the buttons to her dress loose, "My first time having you will not be on the floor of my room. Not when there is a perfectly good bed right here." Once he got her garment open he began pushing it off her shoulders until it plunged to the floor. It left her in her corset, shift, and stockings. "No," he buried his nose into her hair. "You've worked so hard to worm your way into here, I may as well reward you justly." His hands began the hard work of loosening the laces of her corset, not an easy feat. She let him, because really donning and removing a corset really required help. He cursed and when he got it loose enough pushed it down her hips to join the growing pile at her feet. "Damn undergarments," he growled. "It would have been easier to just charm the bloody thing off of you."

Left in nothing but her shift and stockings she stepped out of the small pile of clothes and turned to him. "They're just as hard to get on," she smirked at him. She toyed with the straps of her shift before she pushed them off her shoulders and let the plain white fabric slip off her. She stood before him bare, save her stockings, and seeing his reaction was enough to banish insecurities that haunted her before.

Hunger was evident on his face and in his eyes, she thought suddenly that he may just pounce her and take her right on the floor. But, he stepped forward and cupped the cheeks of her face, wiping away the dampness that had been there. She blinked, had she cried while he spanked her? She hadn't been aware. "I am unworthy of you," he confided softly.

"I don't care," she felt self assured now. Standing before him near nude, but feeling beautiful and powerful. "I love you and I want you," she closed the distance between them and pressed her mouth to his. She kissed him with a possessiveness she had never felt before. As if she could claim him with merely a kiss, but she would now think of him as hers. Though she had always thought of him as her sorcerer. This kiss, her tongue in his mouth tasting him, her wanting him with every bit of herself. It sealed it.

He turned her towards his bed and with a little coaxing backed her towards it. He was about to step away, but she caught ahold of his vest and kept him close. "I want to undress you," she murmured against this lips as she started undoing each button.

"Haven't you seen enough of me?"

"No," she growled as she made short work of his vest and then worked the buttons of his shirt loose. His didn't make it easy, he distracted her with his mouth and hands, kissing her and touching her. His hands had cupped her breasts and his fingers had worked her nipples into painful peaks. She squeezed her thighs together feeling each caress and pinch seemed to make the ache between her legs worsen. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and made him stop his distractions. All that laid in her way was his pants, nerves now made her fight with his belt. It made her fingers tremble at the final button. His pants opened she delved her hands in at his narrow hips and pushed them down.

She intended to explore though, she pulled her mouth from his and looked down as she grasped him in her hand. His erection pulsed in her grasped, thicker than when she had seen it last and apparently larger than she remembered. She swept her grip up then down the length of him and was rewarded with a choked breath from him, his hips arching into her fist as she stroked him. The skin felt silky despite the hardness of his erection and the head of it was nearly purple, a curious pearly liquid escaped the tip. She caught it in her palm and brought it to her lips for a taste. It was salty. She could have continued to play with him if his hand hadn't caught her wrist. "You're going to unman me," he rasped at her. "It doesn't matter how much I want you, once you unman me I won't be of any use to you."

She stopped and met his gaze, she wasn't prepared to put an end to this too soon. "What do I do?"

"Sit down, lay down," he instructed, "Allow me to do the work, Princess." She sat down on his bed and watched as he ungracefully kicked his trousers off then his socks. She smiled at him and he only offered her a glare, he gave her shoulder a light shove and she was laying back on his bed and surrounded by the smell of him. She tugged at his comforter bringing it to her nose and inhaling, she looked back down at her sorcerer. He had an eyeful of her, a hand reaching up to caress her thigh and pushing her legs further apart.

He began to kiss at her knee, keeping his eyes on hers as he slowly started to trail kisses further down her thigh. She felt apprehension as he closed the distance to her sex. She tried to close her legs, not at all sure she wanted him kissing her there. He didn't let her have her way, instead he positioned her legs over his shoulders and scooted her rump close to the edge of his bed. She watched, unsure just what he intended, and was soon surprised by the feeling it created. He parted the lips of her sex after pressing an affectionate kiss to them, then his tongue swept along the length of her opening.

She bucked her hips upward as the feelings unexpectedly shot through her. His tongue swirled around the button at the top of her sex and she gasped as the feelings intensified. His mouth closed around her clitoris and she groaned aloud. He pressed a finger into her and while it was nowhere near filling the ache it stoked it then his finger curled and started to withdraw. She found herself arching up to meet his hand, rolling her hips and moving in an effort to something that felt as if it were just in reach.

He inserted another finger into her, thrusting them in and out of her, and coupled with the suction of his mouth she could take no more. She tensed uncontrollably and released a short cry as an orgasm crested. It swept her away and left nothing but the trembles of her muscles as she seemed to melt into a puddle at his hands.

He gathered her up and shifted her position on his bed. He moved her into the center of it, lengthwise. He hovered over her as she came down from the euphoric high he had given her. She felt his kisses on her cheeks and lips, she tasted an odd tang on his mouth and tongue as he kissed her. It took her a moment to realize what she was tasting was herself. She should be repulsed, but it made her hunger for him quicken. He had lain against her, between her thighs with his hips pressed against hers. She could feel his erection throbbing against her opening.

He pulled his mouth from hers, "A-are you sure … Are you sure you want this?" He pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes clenched closed as if restraining himself was painful. "Are you sure you want me?"

She winced and wrapped her arms around his neck, regaining the her sense just enough to understand what he was doing. He was giving her the opportunity to change her mind. Her chest started to hurt, she loved him so much. She buried her fingers in his hair and tilted her head so that she could kiss him, "Yes, I want this. I want you. Always, yes."

When she claimed his mouth again he shuddered, he held himself up on his elbows and shifted his weight to one. He reached between them and she felt him position himself against her opening. His hips shifted back and he carefully began to press them forward. She tore her mouth from his to gasp out as he began to stretch her apart and slowly force his way into her. Once he was fully sheathed into her, he stilled. "I am not worthy of this," he rasped against her, burying his face against her neck.

She felt a fine tremble from him, she could feel him throbbing now inside of her. She almost couldn't make out where she ended and he began. There was a discomfort, she felt incredibly full and stretched as far as she thought she could go. She adjusted herself and moved her thighs to hug his hips, it wedged him deeper. She didn't think it was possible. She breathed heavily as she tried to get comfortable with him piercing her. But, then he started to withdrawal. She clung to him, thinking he was going to stop, until he plunged his hips forward again.

Thoughts left her, the only thing she was dimly aware was a mantra of 'not worthy of this' seemed to punctuate each thrust he made into her. She met his thrusts the best she could, rolling her hips and shifting her legs around so they were wrapped around his hips. It helped ensure that if he made the bad decision of stopping that he would be hard pressed to. He built a steady rhythm that she found easy to match. The friction of their movements soon made the discomfort of his initial entry an afterthought. The only hang up she had was his self deprecating murmurs and with a little adjustment they were easily silenced with a kiss.

They moved in tandem and she felt a now familiar feeling building with each of his thrusts, it was enough to get her bucking with effort. She was ready to fall apart, thinking with him inside her that it would be all the more delicious of a feeling. A feeling that she could easily see herself becoming addicted to. She tore her mouth from his and began to cry out with each of his growing frantic thrusts. She was close, oh so close. He ground in hard and she couldn't stand it any longer. Her fingernails bit into his shoulders, trying in vain to keep her together, but she went tumbling apart.

She saw stars before her closed eyes and she felt him still thrusting into her. He managed to continue, though it wasn't much longer before she felt him stiffen above her and felt the warmth of him come spilling out inside her. It burned and she trembled, thinking she would have it no other way. He slumped onto her, putting his full weight on her as he seemed to lose himself in his own orgasm. Even with as slight as he appeared he had manage to feel heavy. She didn't mind, the feel of his weight was something she would endure. It was pleasant.

He managed to regain himself and picked himself up, he was panting and she watched him now with an air of curiosity. He reached back to unhook her legs and then slowly, with a whimper, he pulled himself free of her tight hold. He then fell beside her, his legs tangled amongst her own, appearing totally spent. When his breath evened out she thought, perhaps, he had fallen asleep. She winced, though she wasn't entirely sure what she expected from him after their coupling.

She snuggled in closer to him and the markings on his upper arm caught her attention. Now that he appeared to be sleeping it was as good time as any to inspect them. She brushed her fingers along the one that encircled his arm, looking closely to see if she could place the script, though she couldn't. She pulled away and sat up, her thighs trembled in protest and she felt a tinge of pain between them. It didn't give her nothing more than a pause as she moved to study his back. She drew her fingers along the width of one of the smaller circles. On a whim, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to the tattoo then she swept her tongue along it, following a line only a short distance.

"Don't try to worm your way into another go, girl," he grumbled beside her. "I'm old. There's no chance of me getting it up twice in one night." She turned to look at him and see he was watching her. "I should have known you would be insatiable."

"I thought you were asleep," she confided, laying back down beside him. "I just wanted to see your tattoos. I wasn't trying to do anything more."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, "Yes, you were looking with your tongue. Not at all trying to push my buttons." He groaned and rested against her, "Am I so inept that I wasn't able to at least tire you out even a little?"

"No," she smiled as the pleasant aches of intercourse finally caught up with her. "You can consider me thoroughly pleased. You got to see all of me and I wanted a chance to study that part of you a bit closer." She kissed him and sighed, "I guess a nap is in order. You'll let me look at them another time, won't you?"

"I'll consider it."

She couldn't help but smile, "You know I'll make it worth your while."

"You are insatiable, you'll be the death of me. What have I done?" He buried his nose into her hair and sighed in defeat, "It will be a hell of a death. Let me sleep, girl, you can plot my death later."

"Mister Cedric?"

He pulled away and gave her a cross look, "Mister? Really? After all of that? I am fairly certain you can drop the 'Mister' bit otherwise this will be more awkward then it really needs to be." He took a moment to tug his blankets from under them enough so he could cover the both of them, he settled back down and wrapped himself around her. "Yes, what is it?"

"I love you," she smiled as she was surrounded by him and his scent. She would easily be able to drop off into sleep curled up beside him.

"Yes," he said after a moment. "Well, of course," he grumbled, threading his fingers through her hair, "I love you, too."

Sorely tempted to just end it like this. Lemme sleep on it.