Just FYI, this is also posted on my ArchiveOfOurOwn account too. Same name, same story. Enjoy. And don't forget to comment please.
It was slow warm kisses in the shape of a smile pressed against bare shoulderblades that woke him instead of sunlight, kisses that moved from shoulder to neck to jaw to cheek, with soft strands tickling over his face and a scar-calloused hand stroking over his chest, palm flat over his heart to feel the beat, and he knew he wouldn't go back to sleep.
"Good morning," Ulfric sleepily rumbled as Loriel shifted away long enough for him to roll onto his back before he continued his antics, only answering in the form of quietly peppered lips against his skin until Ulfric finally cupped the back of his neck and kissed him fully and firmly, only then did Loriel melt against him.
"Good morning," the Altmer finally croaked against his lips.
And they both laughed.
Laughter turned to a sigh when his touch slipped to trace over the scars that crossed his lover's face, the contact savored for its tenderness, and then transformed into sensualness as his thumb stroked across a chapt lower lip and Loriel met it with his tongue.
He knew how to do that so easily and so well, to make his blood sing in his veins with thrill before they kissed again, shaking the sleepiness from their bodies as they rocked and touched each other, his fingers barely brushing down Loriel's hip, reaching for the cock that was slowly stiffening against his thigh before the Altmer drew himself away with a smile.
"Now that I have you awake…"
Ulfric groaned, rolling his eyes as he tangled his fingers in the other's hair with a mild but punishing tug, "don't tell me you plan on getting me riled up like that just to leave me aching for you like this the rest of the day?" he interrogated, ignoring the way his length twitched when Loriel bit his lip from the hair pulling.
"Did you have something in mind? We do have a very eventful day after all. I would hate to hear a lecture if we're late."
He could only huff and pull the mer down, comfortably turning the tables as he hovered over him, nose to nose and watched the pupils in those amber eyes dialate with anticipation.
"I think we can tolerate a lecture," he murmured.
He traced his nose across the other's cheek and jaw, pinning him by the wrists when he squirmed and sighed as his breath warmed the marks he had made the night before against golden skin, and Ulfric smiled to himself, pleased when he heard Loriel's quietly surprised oh when he straddled the other's hips to show him just what he had in mind.
It wasn't often he was in mood to, but when he was, he was never afraid to let Loriel know it.
As he sat up, Loriel surged after, kissing his king eager and clumbsy with a hand ghosting down his back until he could grab a fistful of Ulfric's ass, and they groaned into each other's mouths as they rutted against each other, unwilling to delay such gratifications as hands blindly reached for the bottle on the bedside table, Loriel's slim fingers around his wrist playfully with a nip and he trailed his mouth down to Ulfric's throat to worry a new mark into the fair skin.
A loud sudden banging on the door jolted both of them away from each other.
"Loriel, you need to get ready!"
The Altmer in question scowled at the door and huffed before turning back to Ulfric with determination, fingers curling in the other's hair and drawing him into a fierce kiss that made Ulfric moan.
"Don't make me come in there!"
"I'm gonna fucking choke him," Loriel hissed angrily against his lover's lips and though still breathless from the kiss, Ulfric could only laugh.
Stroking the other's cheek, he nudged noses, "we'll continue this later," he promised, satisfying him only when it was sealed with a kiss before he gently urged him out of bed and Ulfric admired the jutting hard-on Loriel ignored as the golden elf stalked over and cracked the door to snarl at his sibling before snapping it shut once more, grumbling and grouching as he slipped into something simple and stole several more kisses from Ulfric before he finally sulked out.
The High King of Skyrim only smiled, toying with the bottle of oil still in his hands and he shook his head.
They had an eventful day ahead of them.
And so he finally got up.
Drawing back the heavy curtains, Ulfric admired the view of Haafingar's coast, sea birds not unlike those in Eastmarch circling under the late morning sun with fishing boats cast out in the warm waters, merchant ships loading up at the docks to take their goods to other far off places. The scene from his room in Windhelm hardly felt as impressive, overlooking the city but too far away to see anything but the gloomy Sea of Ghosts and Ysgamor's Beacon in the distance, often too snowy or misty to see citizens walking the streets and yet here the sky was so clear that even so high up in the Blue Palace's overhang he could nearly count the people on the docks.
It was a beautiful day.
Perfect for the occasion.
The city was alive with noise and music and laughter, every house doned with ribbons and flowers, vendors beginning to shout their wares and sales, hoops woven with designs made of threads centered above the paths, and children ran after each other along the streets before him, the occasional eye meeting his with a bow or word of greeting as he wandered to his destination flanked by Galmar who proudly wore a crown of flowers upon his head and Lermion's two eldest daughters seated on each of his broad shoulders, their wheat blond hair braided like circlets above their brow.
Lermion laughed as he greeted them, little girls kissing their father's forehead all the easier from so high before they slipped down and hurried away chasing each other and the blacksmith took over the escort for his daughters, taking him away from the sunlight and sound to the quiet and peace to prepare.
Not much was said as the two men helped him and Ulfric afforded himself the opportunity to let his mind wander.
He remembered many things: treasonous challenges and a song, beheadings and a fierce temper, rose-gold skin and sarcasm, laughter and bloody noses, cats and half-dressed translations, Dunmer and drunken fights, forts reclaimed and a dossier, ex-lovers and bows, temples and prayers, dragon-souls and ornate scrolls, Season Unending and betrayed eyes, losing him twice over and a demand for rescue, whip-lashings and tears dripping over fingers, thunder storms and the weight of him against his chest as he cried, a smile and neglected voice, sleepless nights and worn gifts, secret alliances and assassination attempts, the Tale of Tongues and half-truths, vintage brandy and a lifetime told in a night, heartsickness and safety, reclaimed territory and feeling like he was losing him again, an adventure and a shield, Dwemer ruins and a world beneath the world, an old friend and jealousy, a godly bow and breathing, Dwemer crowns and dragonborns, secrets and sleeping together, the Throat of the World and kissing him for the first time, the Penitus Oculatus and secret kisses, secret meetings and Cidhna mine, the Dark Brotherhood and weddings, sex and thu'ums, housewarming parties and thieves, brokered peace and birthdays, courting and conferences, getting engaged in one moment and watching him fly away the next, a second great war and peace at last, a rain-worn traveler and spun engagement rings.
Everything that had lead up to that moment where he stood now.
They had gone through so much together.
A quiet tap on the door drew his attention as he adjusted the silver-embroidered cuffs and Lermion answered it, a short snort of laughter and he motioned for Galmar, grinning at the Jarl before at last he tipped his head and they stepped out.
And another took their place.
Ulfric couldn't help but stare, the breath in his lungs utterly stolen.
Loriel looked radiant dressed in embroidered silver, a crimson coat olded over his arm and hair completely unstyled, biting his lip to withhold a shy smile.
"I know it's bad luck but I couldn't wait to see you," Loriel admitted, drawing close and Ulfric readily took his hands.
"Bad luck to who? You look beautiful."
The Altmer only laughed, reassured, and they rested their foreheads against each other, smiling fondly as they soaked in each other's presence, so much fondness in each other's eyes that Ulfric's heart surged like the Sea of Ghosts at the knowledge that this stolen moment would be theirs and theirs alone for the rest of their lives.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," he whispered back.
He didn't know how much time passed with them like that, seconds, minutes, hours, but he would have stood there for the rest of his life for that peace if not for the door snapping open and a recognizably exasperated scoff interrupted them.
"Guys, it's time," Laronen sighed.
The bard only chuckled and only moved far enough to raise Ulfric's knuckles to his lips.
"Well. We don't want to be late," he murmured.
Ulfric only smiled, "are you sure we can't be late?"
Laronen groaned and snapped the door shut.
And his beloved stepped close once more, lips soft against his.
"I'm not being late to my own wedding. Neither should you."
Nothing more needed to be said as the High King helped his future husband put his coat on and then, together, they stepped out into the sunlight.