Celeste was accustomed to waking up at Sandor's side, but never like this. His arm was heavy as it drooped over her and his chest rumbled with his soft snores against her back. She felt safe in his arms, and his body heat was urging her to return to sleep. Alas, she knew she couldn't because she could distinguish the early rays of sunlight beaming into their tent and life in the village begins a bit after sunrise.
She stretched and whimpered at the ache between her legs. He was gentle, and it was a surreal experience, but it was uncomfortable. Oddly enough, she was eager to feel everything again. Sandor's touch set her ablaze like nothing has ever done before.
Celeste shifted, and it stirred him awake enough to stop snoring. He groaned and pulled her closer against him. She giggled, "Good morning."
He mumbled against her skin, "What time is it?"
"Not too long until sunrise."
He rolled onto his back but was still close enough for his shoulder to brush against her bare back, "I hate all the sermons, but I hate the one in the morning the most."
"You're grumpier than usual," she teased, sitting up and arching her back to stretch. She began running her fingers through her hair to detangle it, but momentarily forgot what she was doing when she felt Sandor's warm hand press against her back.
"All I want to do now is fuck you," his rough fingertips traced down the bumps of her spine.
Celeste looked over her shoulder at him, smiling at seeing him so uncharacteristically comfortable and content as he lay there. She hummed, "That sounds very tempting."
Sandor chuckled, his hand tracing the dip of her waist, "Good to know you liked fucking me as much as I liked fucking you."
"Well, I don't exactly have anything to compare you to," she teased. "Unlike you."
His expression suddenly soured, and Celeste's stomach dropped. Did she hit a nerve? She added hastily, "I don't care about the women you were with before me; I didn't mean—"
"Shut up, woman," he sat up to face her and even then, he still towered over. Her heart thudded against her chest when he took her chin and ran his thumb over her bottom lip, "I've never had a woman on her back, or look me in the eyes."
She was bold enough to ask, "How would you have them?"
"You ever see a dog mount a bitch? Or a stallion mount a mare?"
When Celeste shook her head, he rolled his eyes, "For fuck's sake, woman."
"I've never had the pleasure of seeing animals mount each other."
Sandor took a deep breath before he spoke. He seemed almost ashamed, "They'd be on their hands and knees, and I'd fuck them from behind. Hard. And rough."
Celeste tried to imagine how that looked, frowning at how awkward it must be to be taken from behind in such a manner. He pressed his lips on hers gently, tickling her with his beard before parting from her, "I'll never fuck you like that; you deserve better."
They dressed for the day and sat along with the rest of the village to listen to Septon Ray's morning mass. Normally, Sandor was grumpy in the morning because he hated sermons and breakfast was served only after the septon was done. Sandor thought he'd be especially annoyed this morning, considering all he wanted to do was have Celeste in his arms and preferably naked. To his surprise, he was in a pleasant mood and felt like anything that might have once annoyed him would just fly over his head. Septon Ray went on about how mornings were a blessing, and Sandor listened somewhat; Celeste's head resting on his shoulder was incredibly distracting.
"Waking up itself is a blessing, and one should always be grateful to be given the chance to experience another day," Septon Ray continued, glancing around his congregation. Sandor wasn't even annoyed when the man noticed him and his wife in such a comfortable state and smiled knowingly, "You should also be grateful for the love of others; even if you think yourself unworthy of it, or incapable of it. Every one of you is worth it and deserves it. Those who truly carry love in their hearts will love unconditionally."
It was hard to focus on their respective chores that day. Celeste had to redo the stitches of a skirt she was mending twice because her mind was elsewhere. To her dismay, the other women were quick to deduce why she was distracted.
"That husband of yours kept you up?" one of them smirked. Celeste blushed profusely. Gods, were they too loud last night? Did the entire village hear them consummate their marriage at last?
"Why do you ask?" Celeste tried not to stammer.
"I know that look," she pointed her knitting needle at her. "You look like a blushing newlywed bride."
"I'm jealous, really," another sighed. "I wish I could still have my husband in bed and have it feel like the first time again—not that I don't enjoy it, but there's nothing like the first time."
"Here, here," the other women agreed in unison. Celeste smiled. If only they knew.
Sandor was equally distracted. He normally worked alone and didn't share conversations with the other men, so his mind would wonder, and he'd sometimes find himself scanning the village for Celeste. When he would catch sight of her, that fluttering in his stomach would occur. She was usually smiling with the other married women, or was braiding a child's hair, or mending a torn sleeve.
They ate lunch together that afternoon in comfortable silence. They exchanged words here and there, but their longing glances spoke for them. They desperately wanted to be alone but sitting next to each other and sharing a meal was satisfactory for the time being. The same went with supper and when Septon Ray began his evening sermon, their patience was running thin. The septon didn't make his sermon too long though—if they knew any better, they'd say he did it on purpose.
"Remember to always thank the Gods for the life you've been given, and for the people who make that life worthwhile," he smiled.
The moment they entered their tent, Sandor grabbed Celeste and pulled her underneath him to attack her neck hungrily. She giggled at his beard tickling her skin and she pushed at his chest playfully, "The other villagers are still awake; let's wait."
"Fuck them,"
"They'll hear…"
"Let them,"
"Sandor…"
He sighed, lifting himself up to look at her. She looked delicious laid out underneath him like she was, and his mouth watered like a hungry dog presented with a leg of meat. He removed his shirt over his head, "I've been waiting all fucking day for this."
"It's flattering to see you so eager to have me," she giggled, reaching out to touch his scarred cheek. He winced out of habit but didn't pull away from her, letting her do as she pleased before he tugged her trousers off. When he tossed them aside, he leaned down to kiss her neck.
"I've never tasted a woman," he brushed his lips against her ear.
"You'd never kissed a woman before me?"
She knew she made the wrong assumption when he rolled his eyes, "You're not allowed to kiss whores, but that's not what I meant."
Celeste never would've guessed what he meant until he made his face disappear between her legs. She was shocked and embarrassed, but it felt so pleasurable. She had to bite her lip and cover her mouth to avoid crying out. He anchored her hips down with one hand easily when she began to thrash with that explosive feeling that was so difficult to describe, yet she didn't care for an explanation—she just loved when it overwhelmed her and left her breathless. She was panting and red to the face when he pulled away from her, kissing her inner thigh before kissing her lips. Celeste felt naughty saying it, but she knew he'd find it amusing, "Was it better than wine?"
His deep chuckle made her heart thump in her chest, "You're getting smarter, woman."
Sandor began undoing the drawstring of his trousers but was pleasantly surprised when Celeste plopped herself up on her elbows and placed her hands on his own, "Can I do it?"
Sandor could see the curiosity in her big blue eyes and clearing his throat, he nodded. He's never allowed the whores he's been with to undress him; he's always stayed with his armor on and fucked them as if he was just pulling his cock out for a piss. He was shocked when he made himself completely vulnerable to her last night, and now he was doing so again. He was usually wary of whores touching him because they'd pickpocket him for more gold, but Celeste was with him because she wanted to, and it was the strangest feeling. He's never been wanted before.
He watched her small hands untie his drawstrings and pull them down. He was flattered when her eyes widened at the sight of him. When she curled her fingers around him, his breath hitched in his throat. Celeste looked up at him, "Is that alright?"
Sandor nodded, finding no words to say, especially when she began stroking him slowly and feeling his skin with her fingertips as if committing it to memory. It was hypnotizing to him, and he hummed in pleasure as his eyes fluttered closed and his hands held onto her shoulders to steady himself.
"Does it feel good?" she asked in a whisper.
He met her glance through half-lidded eyes before reaching down to take her chin between his thumb and forefinger, "Aye, it does…"
He kissed her deeply, and through their kiss her stroking quickened in excitement. He groaned into the kiss and pulled away against his will, "Easy."
"Too much?"
"Aye," he let out breathlessly. He pushed her onto her back gently before entering her slowly. They sighed in unison, and Sandor shivered at the feeling of her hands caressing his shoulders and back. When he began to move within her, they got lost in the sensation for what seemed to be an eternity. Feeling her body arch and press against his own mesmerized him, and when she whispered his name, he felt that familiar shiver run up his spine. It forced him to thrust as deep as he could and remain there until he spilled himself completely into her. It was the best feeling in the world, and his heart burst with warmth when she pecked his cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
Sandor laid on his side and absentmindedly drew circles on the palm of her hand, fascinated by how soft and small they were. He remembers when he first held her hand when they were married in King's Landing, how he was afraid he'd hold it too tightly and possibly break her delicate fingers. Even now, he was afraid of leaving a mark on her and felt a tinge of guilt at seeing her neck was slightly red because of his beard. She was too lovely to have any sort of mark on her and Sandor found himself eyeing all the parts of her he could remember grabbing onto while he made love to her. He was so preoccupied, he almost didn't hear her when she spoke, "From what I've gathered, it seems you've had a few firsts with me."
Sandor nodded slowly, hesitantly reaching for her hair and trying to be as gentle as possible with her soft curls between his massive fingers, "No one's ever wanted me for free."
"I'm glad I was the first woman you kissed."
"You would be," he rolled his eyes.
"Do you love me?"
Sandor didn't know how to answer her question. "I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
"I've never loved anyone before," he shrugged. "I wouldn't know what the fuck it feels like."
"Well," she began, reaching out and pressing her palm against his upper abdomen, "Do you get a strange sensation here when you see me?"
When Sandor's eyes widened in shock, she grinned knowingly, "That's what being in love with someone feels like."
"So that's what the fuck that is," he scoffed. "I thought I had to shit."
Celeste giggled, "It feels good, doesn't it?"
"Aye," Sandor nodded before taking her shoulder in his hand and pushing her onto her back. Celeste let out a laugh as he tickled her neck with his beard and settled between her legs once again, "But this feels fucking better."