"Are you sure?" Arthur asks anxiously.

Merlin rolls his eyes. "Yes, Arthur," he says. "We've already postponed our honeymoon for three months and gotten you into the year's second round of psych training so that we have this time. Alice cleared me for all physical activity. What more do you want?"

Arthur still looks reluctant. "I don't want to hurt you."

Merlin gives up on verbal persuasion and advances on Arthur. Arthur opens his mouth to protest, but then Merlin's lips are covering his and Arthur finds that he doesn't want to protest anymore. His hands trail up Merlin's back and twist in the hair at the base of his neck.

"Merlin," Arthur groans.

"I'm your husband, Arthur, and you will do as I say. And right now, I say I want sex. It's been three months since the surgery, I'm fine, and now I'm horny. No more arguments."

Merlin fastens his lips on Arthur's again before the latter can even think of arguing. Merlin pushes Arthur so that he is walking backwards until his back hits the wall. His hands scud down Merlin's sides and push up his shirt, his fingers brushing over nipples.

Merlin hums appreciatively and presses himself closer to Arthur, moving steadily downwards as he ravishes kisses onto Arthur's chest.

It's not long before Arthur gives in with a groan and allows Merlin to pull their clothes off. Some buttons are lost, but Merlin thinks it's worth the sacrifice. "Bed," Arthur mumbles against Merlin's lips.

"Too far," Merlin replies. He flips Arthur around so that he is pressed up against the wall. "Stop that," he chides as Arthur starts moving against the wall, desperate for some pressure against his aching erection. Arthur whines but does as Merlin asks.

Merlin kneels down behind Arthur, gently pulling his cheeks apart. Arthur stops trying to push against the wall and starts trying to push against Merlin. Merlin chuckles as he braces his hands against Arthur's back, holding him still.

Slowly, he tortures Arthur as he licks gently, teasingly closer towards his hole. "Merlin…" Arthur whines and Merlin laughs, finally giving in and letting his tongue brush against Arthur's tight hole. Arthur gasps and Merlin can feel his own erection throbbing, but he ignores it, focusing only on drawing those delicious sounds from Arthur.

As his tongue worms its way inside Arthur, Arthur's whole body shudders with pleasure and his knees shake slightly. Merlin presses hard against his lower back, bracing him against the wall. This only makes Arthur moan louder. All the while, Merlin's tongue does evil, evil things inside Arthur.

He jerks back as Merlin withdraws, searching the pockets of his discarded pants for lube. Merlin kneels up again, allowing his erection to brush against Arthur's calves, making his head spin with want. He quickly slicks two fingers and pushes them into Arthur.

Merlin smiles, concentrating as he twists his fingers, searching for the place… he knows he's found it when Arthur's knees nearly buckle and he shouts Merlin's name so loudly Merlin won't be surprised if they heard it down at reception.

"Come on," Merlin says, tugging at Arthur's legs. Arthur realises when Merlin wants and quickly complies, going down on all fours on the thick carpet. Merlin slides his fingers back inside Arthur and adds a third. Arthur presses backwards, keening when Merlin's fingers move around inside him, reducing him to a wailing wreck.

As Merlin adds a fourth finger, Arthur can feel Merlin's cold wedding ring inside him. This snaps whatever fragile self-control he had and he moves one hand to grip his weeping erection. Merlin takes his fingers out and quickly positions himself, wanting to come when Arthur does.

Arthur gasps as Merlin thrusts inside him, slow at first, then faster. Merlin closes his eyes, trying to make it last, but he's seconds away at best. His fingers dig into Arthur's waist as he pulls him closer with each thrust. Arthur is panting hoarsely and muttering Merlin's name as he pumps his own erection.

Merlin feels the warmth coiling in his stomach and his fingers dig into Arthur as he cries out, black blossoming in front of his eyes as he comes harder than he ever has in his life. Wave upon wave of pleasure assault him as Merlin's yell goes on and on, and he pumps every last drop out of his orgasm.

He collapses heavily on Arthur, who gives one final pump before he is coming too, tensing around Merlin and pushing back on his wilting erection.

Finally, the two of them fall down in a sweaty heap, panting. Merlin thinks he drifts off for a while, for when he is next aware, Arthur has cleaned most of the come off the carpet.

"See?" Merlin mumbles. "It was fine."

"Well, if it was just fine…" Arthur trails off teasingly, surveying Merlin, still lying bonelessly on the floor. Merlin laughs as he rolls over and reaches for Arthur to help him up.

"The staff probably won't be pleased with us by the time our stay is over," he says, surveying their room guiltily. There are still traces of white on the carpet, and they've knocked one of the elegant paintings off the wall.

"The hotel advertises itself as an ideal place for honeymoons," Arthur points out. "I can't imagine we're the first to… well, I'm sure they'll understand."

Merlin chuckles and grabs a pamphlet from the table. "There's twenty four hour room service – and those guided tours. Look, they have a list of all the things we could see. There's a tour leaving in an hour…"

Merlin trails off as he sees Arthur watching him.

"We're not going to end up seeing any of the sights, are we?" he asks, trying to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

"Well, now that I know you're not going to collapse the second I touch you, I'm rather reluctant to let you out of the room…"

Merlin throws the pamphlet over his shoulder, his eyes only for Arthur.

Xxx

Merlin hovers anxiously outside the door, waiting for the introductory lecture to finish. A few other people are milling around, presumably also waiting to help their friends and family move into what will be their home for the next year.

Arthur comes out in the middle of the group, his eyes searching for Merlin. Merlin waves and Arthur makes a beeline for him. Despite the tense set of Arthur's shoulders, Merlin is pleased to see him talking friendlily to a pretty girl with dark hair next to him.

"Hey," Arthur says, taking Merlin's hand and giving him a peck on the cheek. "This is Mithian."

Merlin shakes hands with the girl. "I'm Merlin," he says.

"Nice to meet you, Merlin," she says.

"Are you here alone?" he asks.

"My brother came here last year," she says. "He's just in the parking lot trying to find a trolley for my bags, then he'll help me set up."

She glances between Merlin and Arthur, seeing the way Arthur hovers at Merlin's side, how Merlin keeps a reassuring hand on his back.

"Come on, I'll show you something," she says, grabbing Arthur's hand and pulling him and Merlin along. "What's your room number?" Mithian asks.

"Eleven B."

"Here you are," she says, striding into Arthur's room, going straight to the window. "Look here," she says. "There's a drainpipe going all down the side of the building – it's pretty sturdy, too." She turns to grin at them. "My brother's girlfriend told me." Mithian moves her gaze to Merlin, eyeing him speculatively.

"You look light enough to make the climb. I hope you're not afraid of heights." She grins. "I'll leave you two to get settled in."

Mithian winks at them before leaving and closing the door behind her. Merlin can't help going over to inspect the drain pipe and glances at Arthur.

"They won't be happy if we're caught…"

"I don't care," Arthur says. "Just one night a week?"

"One night a week," Merlin agrees.

Xxx

Merlin and Arthur talk for hours every night on the phone, except for the one night when Merlin risks sneaking into Arthur's room. Despite Arthur's brave smile, Merlin is worried about him.

Though he knows logically that nothing has really changed, Arthur's nightmares have gotten worse again since not sleeping with Merlin, and on the one night when Merlin does stay, he wakes to find Arthur's limbs clenched, clam-like around him. They had been starting to loosen over the years, but it's just like it was in high school.

"Arthur? Are you coping ok?" Merlin asks quietly, two months into the programme. They're having lunch at a local café in Arthur's free hour.

"I – I just miss you," Arthur says. "It's – well, we didn't expect it to be easy."

Merlin nods. "You know… I wasn't going to let you give up just because you were scared, but if this really isn't working for you, Arthur, you could back out. I mean, are you tempted at all to…?"

"To find another Nimueh?"

Merlin cringes.

"Sometimes," Arthur says. "But I can call Owain – or you. Or I can talk to Mithian; she's been great. She's lived with her family all her life, so this has been strange for her as well."

"So you think you'll be ok? Because if you think you won't be…"

"It'll be fine, Merlin," Arthur says bravely, and Merlin believes him. Arthur wouldn't lie… but Merlin can see that he's struggling. To tell the truth, Merlin is struggling, too. After so long of living with Arthur, of never going more than a few hours without seeing him… well, he doesn't know exactly what withdrawal feels like, but he imagines it's something similar to his current situation.

From then on, Merlin takes to sneaking into Arthur's room twice a week.

While the time takes its strain on both of them, it forces them both to grow, too. Arthur learns to do fun things and relax when Merlin isn't around, and Merlin has to learn not to worry about Arthur constantly when he's not in his line of sight. Merlin has Arthur and Mithian around for supper whenever the programme will allow, and he soon finds he likes Arthur's friend.

All in all, by the time Arthur is six months through the programme, both he and Merlin are feeling a lot better about the whole thing. It's half way done, and they've both survived so far. It won't be that long until they are together again.

Though their official anniversary will only be after Arthur finishes his training, Merlin thinks that it would be nice to get out and celebrate for a bit, and the anniversary of their first date is coming up. So he sneakily checks Arthur's schedule and books a night at the local theme park.

"Merlin, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," Merlin says, keeping his hands firmly over Arthur's eyes. Arthur frowns as Merlin uses one hand to help him manoeuvre into the leather seat and starts strapping him in.

"Merlin…" Arthur says, sounding a mite anxious now.

"It's a surprise," Merlin repeats, struggling to do up his own straps one handed. "Promise me you won't open your eyes until I tell you."

"Alright," Arthur says reluctantly, and Merlin removes his hand.

He grabs Arthur's hand as the roller coaster slowly starts moving up to its apex. "It's six years today since our first date," Merlin says quietly.

"I remember," Arthur replies, a beatific smile lighting his face.

"I love you," Merlin whispers, watching as the coaster reaches the peak, about to tip over the edge. "Open your eyes."

Arthur's eyes open, but he doesn't look around. His eyes are only for Merlin. "I love you," he says. Merlin's reply is lost as the roller coaster streaks off, the wind whipping in his face. Beside him, he can hear Arthur laughing. Merlin squeezes his hand tightly, intent only on never letting go.

To be continued

That's the end of part two! Part three (the final part) will be coming soon. Please leave me a review? :)