Writer's note: Oh my, I didn't realize it'd been this long since I updated! The last two months of this year flew by! This chapter is NSFW-ish. There's more of that to come later on as well ;) Hope everyone has a great New Year!

"You're turn."

Astrid's brows disappeared into her bangs. "What?"

Her and Hiccup had worked with the Monstrous Nightmare the day before. It was hard to believe they were interacting with a dragon who only days before was trying to kill you in the training ring. She was astounded at how docile the fatal dragon could be, and even more astounded that a twig of a boy could tame such a beast with the offering of a gentle hand.

Hiccup swept an arm around. "Pick a dragon to train."

"Oh no," Astrid shook her head, not noticing the small step back she took, "You're the dragon whisperer, not me."

Hiccup grabbed her hand and pulled her to his side before she could inch away. "You can do it. I'll be right here if you need me."

Standing there with an axe in her grip and ready to fight a seething dragon to the death seemed far easier than standing in front of one to befriend it. She knew Hiccup wouldn't let her back out of this and resolved to his request.

Astrid pondered her decision carefully. The Gronckle was cumbersome and slobbery. Not really her type. The Hideous Zippleback had two heads to train. Double trouble. That fact turned her away instantly. Which left the Deadly Nadder. Sharp. Swift. Primed. Proper. Now that Astrid thought about it, her and Nadders had a lot in common; something she could work with.

She grabbed a chicken leg from the feeding basket and approached the cage. "Let the Nadder loose."

Hiccup gave her a side-look, nodding approvingly. "I can see it."

She narrowed her eyes at him, figuring he'd put two and two together as well. Astrid raised her chin and stood tall as Hiccup opened the cage. If Hiccup could tame the beasts, she could too…right? Astrid pushed any doubt away.

The blue Nadder squawked threateningly at her, its wings spread wide. "It's okay," Astrid reassured, trying to keep her voice steady. The Nadder remained in its defensive position. "You hungry?" It sniffed the offered chicken leg from its spot and crowed sounds of interest.

"Here you go." Astrid tossed the chicken towards the Nadder, and it caught the food with an eager snap. Once the food was eaten, it turned its head to the side to get a better look at Astrid.

Astrid took one small step after another towards the dragon, palm held out in front of her just as Hiccup instructed her to do. "I'm sorry for all the times I hurt you in the ring. I want to make it up to you, if you'll let me."

For a split second, Astrid was hit by the surrealness of her current situation. She'd hurt this dragon more than once in the training ring. It had every right to rip her to pieces, but it only watched her cautiously as she slowly approached.

Astrid stopped, keeping her hand extended in front of her. "I won't hurt you," she barely said over a whisper, as if any louder would destroy the delicate moment.

Her breath caught in her throat as the Nadder leaned its beak forward and pressed it to her palm. Astrid's mouth formed a surprised 'O' as her lungs filled with air again. She rubbed the Nadder's horn, its heated breath fanning over her arm.

She glanced over her shoulder to find Hiccup watching from the cage entrance wearing the warmest smile she'd ever seen cross his lips. Right there, at that very second as they gazed at each other, something new had taken hold of her and Astrid wanted more.

As they worked with the dragons that morning, new desires stirred in Astrid that had barely been ignited before. She yearned to be closer with Hiccup in ways she wasn't sure how to acquire and needs she didn't realize she had until recently.

They went through their evening routine of sitting by the firepit. Astrid had scooted her bench closer to Hiccup's and rested a hand on his knee. Her cheeks flushed in delight as his arm curled around her waist.

Astrid made sure to get to the bedroom first, leaving Hiccup to wash the mugs and douse the fire. Rummaging through her trunk, she pulled out the sheer nightgown that was gifted to her by the married women of the tribe. She was told to use it to seduce her husband. At the time, the idea sounded preposterous. She never imagined desiring Hiccup in such a way. But now, the thought sent shivery sparks along her skin where she longed for Hiccup's touch.

Astrid quickly changed into the nightgown and crawled onto the bed. She tucked her legs underneath her, the coolness of the air clinging to the nearly transparent material and causing chill bumps on her skin. The rhythmic pumping of her heart carried extra blood to her cheeks and ears. She was a blushing bride if there ever was one!

Her heart leapt into her throat at Hiccup's footfalls on the stairs. Astrid fiddled with her loose hair, twisting it over one shoulder, making sure the flowing locks weren't covering her delectable places.

"Hey Astrid, I was thinking—"

Hiccup nearly stumbled over his own feet as the top half of him came to a screeching halt. Astrid shifted her shoulders, trying to look as pleasing as possible. She was lost as to what to do with her face in an affair like this. She found her bottom lip and nibbled on it, her nerves tingling throughout her body.

The trance Hiccup had fallen into broke, and he averted his eyes to the floor. "You're uh…you're…" His words stuck in his throat.

It was apparent by his immobility that he wasn't going to make the first move. Astrid left the safe zone of the bed and closed the distance between them. She tried to steady her breathing. This was uncharted terrain; a step in the direction she'd never entertained.

Her mother had given her several lessons on the subject of the "marriage bed". The biology behind it was the first lesson taught. How both the man's and the woman's bodies were to react to each other and how it was to all play out. The points were basic, and to Astrid the whole matter was like two giant puzzle pieces fitting together. That part seemed simple enough, but she didn't count on the desires being this strong or this complicated or this confusing. That lesson was hardly covered.

Hiccup's gaze was careful to stay fixed on her face, their eyes locked in a strange battle of wanton and heavy blushing. Astrid took the lead, leaning in to press tingling lips to her husband's. Hiccup's breath was heavy on her face as she closes the space between them.

Astrid wasn't sure if this was how these matters were supposed to play out, but her natural instincts aided her limbs to move on their own accord. It took a hesitant moment for Hiccup to respond, but as Astrid worked her lips on his, his startled state began to melt away.

Hiccup grasped her hands in his, holding tight as if she were his lifeline from drifting out to sea. A shiver coursed through her and Astrid knew exactly what she wanted. She guided Hiccup's left hand to the soft mound awaiting to be touched.

She swallowed Hiccup's gasp. He wanted to pull away, but this was a barrier they needed to break down and Astrid knew she had to be the stronger one to do it.

Astrid held his hand in place, his palm covering her breast. Cupping the outside of his palm, she worked his hand to squeeze the mound of skin through the sheer nightgown that left nothing to the imagination. She can feel the trembles that shook up his arm, and the reaction did the same to her.

Astrid wrapped nimble fingers around his waist, drawing Hiccup flush against her. Her mind was hazy, and her vision was seeing stars at the newly founded needs.

Astrid paused at the feel of something hard on her thigh. Her recollection of what was happening all came to her. She wasn't sure what it looked like, but she did know the man was supposed to become hard down there during intimate endeavors. She wondered if her touch would feel just as good to him down there as Hiccup's ministrations were on her breast.

Astrid slipped a hand between them, cupping the hardness in his pants. Hiccup's hips suddenly jerked and he hissed as if burned.

"Does that feel good or bad?" Astrid asked uncertainly, inches his lips.

"Good," Hiccup choked out. His eyes screwed shut as his jaw clinched.

She pressed into the bulge one again. Hiccup groaned deep in his throat.

Astrid wasn't sure what should happen next. They both needed to be unrobed for the puzzle pieces to fit together. There was an uncertainty inside her whether she wanted to get to that part yet. There was so much more exploring to be done, so much more mapping out of both their bodies.

The squeeze of his hand on her breast elicited excitement inside her, like when Hiccup held her waist as they fell asleep at night. Astrid wondered how he'd react if she slid her palm up the length in his pants. With unabated curiosity, she did just that.

Hiccup's bulge spasmed under her stroke. He whimpered and groaned and made noises Astrid didn't think he could produce. He doubled over, pressing his forehead into her crook of her neck. One hand gripped her forearm as the other needled fingertips into the curve of her waist.

He looked as if he were more in pain than he was in pleasure. Astrid hoped that Hiccup would tell her if something was wrong.

Dampness had somehow seeped through the material of Hiccup's pants, and Astrid removed her hand at the unexpected liquid.

"Did you wet your pants?" she asked, afraid she'd pushed him too far too soon.

Hiccup's eyes shot open in horror as he jerked his head up. "Oh no," he panted, out of breath. "I gotta—" He glanced down at the state of his pants. "Oh my Thor—I gotta go—"

"Hiccup?" Astrid called out as she watched him make a quick beeline out of the bedroom. "Where are you going?"

"I'll be back!" echoed from down the stairs.

Astrid huffed as she stood there, abandoned and bewildered at what in Thor's name had happened.