So nice to get an update out on time for once. This is another personal favorite chapter just because of the bonding experience...

Disclaimer: you know the drill.

as always read, review, critique comment ask questions to nuts and have fun!

theme song: This Love by Taylor Swift

Chapter XLVIII: Touch

Wet clothes formed a lascivious path to the bed where two slender bodies laid naked and intertwined. The magnificent mattress welcomed their weight and they sank into its loving embrace. The sheets were casually ripped away but the comforter concealed all but their torsos from uninvited eyes. The only sounds were the occasional creak of stretched wood, the rustle of sheets, and a symphony of tiny, ecstatic giggles and deep, guttural moans.

"Hmm—ah!" Yugi's moan morphed into a high-pitched giggle. He felt Timaeus smirk against his skin and covered his mouth when the other teased the spot he'd just kissed with tiny licks and playful nips. Both hands covering his lips, he giggled under the furry of tiny kisses littering his chest until he could bear it no longer and shrieked with laughter.

Timaeus pulled away, smirking and eyes ablaze. He braced himself on his elbows and surveyed his work: Yugi's chest heaved in tiny, frantic pants, peppered with tiny red marks, and looked quite delectable dressed in nothing but shiny wet kisses. Lotus-blue eyes were half-lidded and clouded with lust, shadowing them to a sparkling impish indigo that reminded him of amethysts. Those soft, flower-petal lips opened slightly to breathe, and tempted him with a teasing lick of that soft pink tongue. He cocked his head slightly like a curious bird, but also exposed the tender flesh of his throat.

Timaeus shivered with a hungry, guttural growl and licked his lips. With Yugi's lips curled and cheeks smirking, eyes bright and sinfully beaming, and that oh-so-tempting tongue… It made Timaeus want to abandon all caution and pounce and devour the delectable little spriteling sprawled beneath him completely. He knew Yugi could not resist him if he did.

If anything, the little sprite was baiting him.

Yugi caught him staring, and purposely lowered his eyelids and tilted his head too far right, then left—examining him like a curious bird and exposing the oh-so-tender flesh of his throat: like Timaeus was the patient, clever fox and Yugi was the bird waiting to be eaten. He blinked his eyes, purposely slow—batting the thickest, prettiest lashes Timaeus had ever kissed. Could he be more obvious?

Timaeus' response was a greedy chuckle that showed teeth. Manipulative little imp's a damn tease. Never before had he felt such need for another person.

"Ah…"

Never had his heart pounded as hard as it did when he heard Yugi moan. Never had his skin burned whenever it brushed against Yugi's. Never had his blood boiled with such fierce, wild abandon as it did when he looked down at Yugi's flushed, panting face. He felt wild and powerful, uncontrollable—like a single sound or gentle touch and he would shatter and release the beast he kept so discretely caged within. Knowing Yugi, however, that was exactly what the imp wanted.

He had been doing just that since their rainy, wet kiss. Since that delicious, monosyllable left Yugi's lips, every tilt of his chin, every wink of his eyes, every casual stroke of his fingers had been a cleverly planned seduction—a game of who would break first. A game Timaeus was all too eager to play and had proved it so by lifting the devious little sprite into his arms and all but sprinted back to the confined safety of the staterooms.

The moment the doors closed, the game had begun, and Yugi wasted no time undoing the lacings of his bodice, eyes half-lidded and shadowed with lecherous ambitions. Timaeus played along, his own free hand going to the clasp around his throat and undid it with a click that sent his mantle pooling behind him in mid-step, and then went to the lacings of his own jerkin. But his gaze was on Yugi's talented fingers sensually undoing the lacings behind his back and slipping the silk from his shoulders.

The silk dropped to the ground with a soft wisp.

With lustrous eyes and a teasing half-smile, Yugi had swayed his hips seductively and set to work on the waist, undoing the belt and—tantalizingly slow—slid the skirt, tights, and small clothes off his hips. Inch by inch, he revealed the soft, honey-milk curves of his waist, hips, and thighs, and finally his shaft until the garments dropped to a puddle at his feet. He'd stepped out of them, unabashed and invulnerable.

Timaeus was unashamed to admit Yugi had almost won, but he'd glimpsed at Yugi's naked flesh before, and though those long, creamy legs and the cat-like way he walked nearly broke him, he'd undone the last of his lacings and slipped the under-armor slowly off his arms. Then down his chest and off his hips until it pooled at his feet, revealing his own golden flesh in all its war-torn perfection: pale sun-kissed skin littered with a valley of scars. To Yugi's dismay, however, Timaeus had purposely left on his small clothes. Tauntingly, Timaeus had asked Yugi what he'd wanted but the other had remained stubbornly silent.

Then Timaeus played his trump card.

He took his strong hand and ran it down his hip, stopping at the waist of the garment and slowly—oh-so-torturously slowly—pulled the hem down, exposing only the skin of his left hip. Yugi could stand it no more and pounced, demanding Timaeus kiss him. The elder was all too pleased to grant the request, but not before lifting Yugi into his arms and pinning him to their bed.

Gazing down at his little one now, face flushed and pleading—demanding—his attention, Timaeus grinned.

Yugi's arms, limp and level with his head, were bare save for the wedding bracelet encircling his wrist in gold and purple flowers that seemed to sparkle with their own mischievous plots. The sight of it sent a jolt of possessive pride through his bones. The fact that that was his shabka Yugi wore—his marriage token, his symbol of undying love and unity that encircled Yugi's wrist—set a fire burning in his blood, so hot and unquenchable that he thought he'd burst into flames if he didn't have Yugi's kisses to quell them. Yugi was his, he realized with a smirk. Truly his. No one else would see him like this. No one else would kiss those petal-soft lips, taste the sweet nectar of his mouth, and stroke that honey-milk skin that mimicked silk beneath his fingers, or hear all the delectable little sounds he made.

No one else was permitted to see Yugi like this.

Just as the ferocious, hungry beast he felt slipping through the cracks of his will like hot blood through armor was for Yugi's eyes alone, that part of himself belonged only to Yugi, Timaeus decided, and solidified the decision with another fierce kiss.

His hands slid up Yugi's chest and arms and then finally intertwined lovingly with his fingers, but successfully pinning Yugi's hands to the bed. The younger must've discovered the strategy because he gasped into the kiss and started wiggling his slender hips and torso, but his arms stayed in their place, trapped under the weight of Timaeus' corded muscles. Timaeus ended the kiss too early, and pulled away with a smirk. Yugi pouted with a groan, the lines of his eyes furrowing to a slanted V, and yanked on his arms with a growl of cupidity.

Timaeus' only response was a boisterous laugh. "What's the matter, sweetling?" He released Yugi's arms to rest his chin on his hands and plopped his lower half on top of Yugi's. The boy's growl morphed into some rancorous hybrid of a lusty groan and a needy whine.

Timaeus shifted and leaned his chin on one hand, the free appendage tracing spidery patterns around the curve of Yugi's naked, trembling hip. "Don't you like what I'm doing?" He cocked his head, voice dripping with mock hurt, and shifted his hips. Their lower halves brushed together—his clothed hips against Yugi's naked flesh.

Yugi shivered in impatience and want, but his voice was a chorus of deep, ragged breaths. Timaeus smirked again. He couldn't care less who heard them, and who no doubt would. Yugi was by no means a quiet creature, and Timaeus intended to see just what kind of sounds he could get his little lover to make.

He considered removing the small cloth for a moment; the tight material did nothing to conceal his passion and the material brushing his heated skin was causing so much friction that his skin burned. But it would've meant pulling away from Yugi. It would've meant spending—wasting—precious seconds pressed against Yugi's warm, naked flesh. Seconds he had not the time, nor patience, to waste. And of course, it sent Yugi into an apoplexy when he snaked his hands teasingly around the other's waist and, instead of heated skin and man's flesh, he felt only rough, tight cloth—the best parts of his lover still kept preciously secret. It was the imp's own fault though, Timaeus chuckled. He'd played his trump card too early.

"Timaeus…" Yugi whined when Timaeus closed his eyes. A pleading edge crept into his voice. The elder's eyes popped open and examined his pout. Timaeus chuckled. "Yes?"

Yugi smirked, and snaked his arms around the elder's torso and pulled him close. Close enough that his warm breath brushed across Timaeus' cheek. "Kiss me," Yugi ordered softly, eyes glimmering like twin pools of dark water.

Timaeus' eyes slanted and he leaned forward just enough to press his lips to Yugi's: a soft, chaste kiss—ghost-like and feather-textured—not so much intense as it was intoxicating. The moment Yugi felt those warm lips on his own, they parted obediently and tasted the other in his mouth. His eyes clouded and his mind fogged. His shaking arms clenched the elder for support and his body gave way, limp and suddenly weightless like all his bones had turned to water and he'd forgotten everything but how to breathe.

He did not register being laid down until his back sank into the mattress, nor did he feel Timaeus on top of him, until a blanket of warmth enveloped his skin. The kiss was but a brief moment that lasted for eons, and when Timaeus pulled away, Yugi whimpered. When his senses cleared, he found the other on top of him and his wrists trapped above his head in Timaeus' strong hand. His shabka bracelet gave a twinkling click when it moved and their fingers laced lovingly together.

Timaeus seized the opportunity to kiss his throat and Yugi squirmed under the gentle treatment. His nails sank into Timaeus' hands, creating crescent shapes, but the pain sent a spike of desire up Timaeus' spine.

"Timaeus," Yugi whimpered, squirming. He rubbed his face in Timaeus' soft hair and inhaled deeply. His scent reminded Yugi of the desert after a heavy rain: sharp and musky like wet sand, warm air, and with a hint of spices. He looked the other up and down, examining the beautiful, powerful body and yanked hard at his wrists, wanting to explore. "Please…"

His need for Timaeus had become a physical one like breathing or dancing. Blessedly, Timaeus understood and released his wrists to settle his hands on Yugi's hips and set to work kissing and marking the skin there. Yugi wasted no time. Hands explored, converting to memory the map of scars and hills of pulsating muscles. Emboldened by the freedom, Yugi raked his nails over the Trierarch's chest, earning a beastly sound between a growl and purr as his reward.

Deciding he liked Yugi's sudden boldness, Timaeus allowed his hands to rove lower, enjoying the way Yugi's skin trembled under his hands. Yugi wanted him—that was evident—but Timaeus didn't want to move too quickly. Bold as he was being now, Timaeus knew well the idea of taking that final step—becoming one with another person was still a daunting prospect for Yugi, if not terrifying. Curiously, though, he wondered, how far Yugi would let him go, how much he was allowed to touch.

Curious and hungry, his fingers wandered lower. Down to the soft, silky junction between Yugi's thighs and pelvis, teasing the skin there, brushing the semi-erect member, and ghosting over the puckered hole that called Timaeus to own.

Yugi gasped and his eyes flew open, wide with uncertainty. His entire body became alert, like it had suddenly been doused by cold water. He flinched visibly when the hand at his lower back traveled lower, and shivered nervously when it cupped his bottom.

Timaeus' acts of wooing stopped immediately. "As much as I enjoy your boldness," he commented, managing to sound stern and starved at once. He whispered, "Do not be brave if you're still uncertain."

His smile was an unbreakable vow and in his eyes was all the honesty of the world, but there was also a twinge of sadness that nearly cleaved Yugi's heart to pieces. He threw his arms around Timaeus' shoulders and clung to him tightly. "I'm sorry." His voice was choked with tears and pleasure. "I do want you." He clenched the man assuringly. "I do… I just…"

A soft kiss pressed against Yugi's temple lovingly. Yugi blinked, surprised, but Timaeus only smiled. "You are uncertain. I understand," Timaeus spoke for him. His words were more than a promise. "If you are not ready, there is nothing wrong with waiting. I could wait forever."

And Yugi knew that Timaeus would. He'd already proven himself a man of incredible patience—especially when it came to Yugi. His heart nearly burst from relief and broke from realization. Timaeus could and would wait, but he shouldn't have had to—and Yugi didn't want him to. Every step, every kiss, every intimate act they'd taken until that point had only been a sample, a taste of what Timaeus had promised him from the very beginning, had he only the courage to accept it—to open his heart as well as his body and truly accept the other's mind, body, and soul. As terrifying a prospect as that was, Yugi wanted that, he knew he wanted that—wanted Timaeus—in every way a wife wanted her husband. Yet as those kisses and touches set his blood on fire and left his heart singing, there was still that lingering, unnamable fear that doused the flames of desirej and sent ice through his veins.

He didn't understand it. He couldn't name it. But he wanted nothing more than for it to vanish and set him free.

"Timaeus—" He tried to speak, but the weight of everything and the overwhelming relief of it suddenly left him dizzy and drowsy.

"Shhh," Timaeus hushed. Oh, that deep sultry baritone was so soothing to his ears. So soothing… Yugi thought, blissfully dreamy. Suddenly his eyes were droopy, and his body felt so heavy. He mumbled something incoherent and fell consumed by a warm, familiar darkness.

Timaeus opened his eyes, not recalling when he'd closed them, and listened to the shallow, steady breathing of his lover. "Whatever you decide, I'll—"

Yugi collapsed against him, limp and heavy in his arms. A soft snore confirmed Yugi had innocently drifted into a sound peaceful sleep.

Timaeus gaped open-mouthed in shock. Then he barked out a short snort of laughter. "What am I to do with you?" he asked his sleeping lover in an amused, gruff voice.

Gently, he laid his naked lover down on the bed and tucked the furs over the soft, supple shoulders. He brushed the loose strands from Yugi's sleeping face with a feather-soft wisp of his fingers. His finger traced a smooth line down Yugi's cheek. It was soft and warm under Timaeus' fingers, like honey silk and cotton fuzz. His fingers trailed and settled on the sweet, subtle curve of Yugi's lips, like lotus blossoms. Gods above, Yugi was beautiful. Everything about Yugi was beautiful and soft and sweet.

Deliciously sweet. Timaeus licked his lips, still tasting his skin on his lips. The sweetness of his lips. It made him want more—craved it like a drowning man craved air.

With a growl, he forced himself to pull away. Breath expelled in a sharp, panting curse, followed by shallow intakes and deep, loud exhales that did little to calm his raging senses. Quickly, he kicked off the sheets and hoisted himself up. Sitting, he rubbed the sweat from his face and slapped his cheeks. When that did nothing, he jogged to the privy and splashed the cool waters over his heated skin. Wetness dampened his ears and neck and scattered raindrops down his chest and back. The action had been meant to cool his overheated skin the same way the sudden rush of cold, crisp water was meant to awaken his mind and calm his frazzled senses.

Both techniques were only half-effective.

Taking loud, rhythmic breaths, Timaeus braced himself against the scuttlebutt, stealing a sideways glace at Yugi's peaceful, slumbering face. It was not long, but it was enough. He collapsed against the barrel, retrieved a bucket, plunged it deep into the water and upended it over his whole body. The galvanizing reaction it brought was a welcome jolt, like suddenly awakening from a long, deep sleep. He shook his head and brushed wetness from his face and combed the damp bangs back with his fingers.

Exhaling a final sigh of relief, he retrieved a cloth from the wall and dried himself.

"Gods be good," he breathed, still heaving.

Never with any of his other lovers had he been so tempted. Never had the desire to take and bend and make love to another been so strong and almost unquenchable. Not even that first time when his hormones raged and threatened to consume him completely. It was unsettling, this unquenchable, unbearable, unbreathable heat—like he was drowning in scalding-hot water and yet he had no desire to breathe. As a man who prided himself on his emotional control, the sudden all-consuming surge of instinct shocked him, but not nearly as much his desire had. That overwhelming urge to kiss his lover awake, tease him senseless until he was moaning, writhing, and begging Timaeus for more. To pound him into the mattress and thrust the shyness from him and do so again and again and again, until the only broken syllable his deliciously ruined, frazzled mind could remember, let alone speak, was "Timaeus!"

Timaeus couldn't help but chuckle. "We'll never survive until our wedding night at this rate," he laughed, hand covering his face. Retrieving his clothes from the floor, he grimaced, finding them still wet, and tossed them in the privy. He settled on a looser equivalent of his under-armor and a fresh pair of small clothes.

Once dressed, he found himself staring at his slumbering bride. Cute, round face pulled into a dreaming, peaceful smile that played across his lips with such childish sweetness, Timaeus thought his heart would burst.

He slid next to him and gently played with Yugi's bangs. Chest fluttering when Yugi snuggled into his touch with a sleepy moan.

Yugi was so beautiful.

Everything Yugi did, everything Yugi was… "Tempted" wasn't the right word, Timaeus thought. More like "delighted"? "Excited"? Whatever it was left him in a near-catatonic state of bliss. He would do anything to keep Yugi smiling and looking at him so lovingly. It was an experience Timaeus had never encountered, but one that made him feel just… happy. It was the only word that could describe it. No, Timaeus decided, stroking Yugi's soft gold and black tresses once more. "Tempted" was not the right word. He didn't care what it was so long as this sweet child's heart was his. Now if only his body would relent…

Timaeus has no desire to break his word—he'd taken the oath, but that had left a hole in the bond between them that needed to be filled, lest it unsettle Yugi further. Yugi was not shy, but he was timid when it came to true intimacy. Timaeus could not hold that against him. Virile as Yugi was, he was still young and clearly, the idea of giving himself so completely to another person—let alone someone like himself—still frightened him.

Let alone the act of the intimacy itself.

Yugi would need a gentle awakening, he decided confidently. A short one, no doubt, but a gentle one nonetheless. Yugi was already comfortable enough to fall asleep and wake in his arms, and neither had he any quarrels with Timaeus' constant kisses and intimate touches nor was the wily minx above initiating such acts himself. No, it seemed to be just the act of penetration that left him startled and unhinged.

Well, they would work on that together. After all, Timaeus thought with a grin, Locri was still only a day or two away.

(Queen sips her wine and a butterfly lands on her glass) Long live the Queen! I'm back baby!

Lots of heat this chapter: which is why it was so difficult to write but it was totally worth it!

I know everyone was expecting a lemon but I hope you were satisfied with the lots and lots of citrius and emotional moments instead. I never intended the lemon to be at this moment more like this is the moment where it's very very clear there is something THERE. Like not just the physical or not just the emotional something is actually, completely there...and now they need to start building it, in their particular case possibly from scratch. For me it's better that way. The emotional is the easy part despite popular belief (and modern media) when it comes down to it and you really love someone than taking a PHYSICAL next step is freaking terrifying! We've all been in Yugi's shoes and Timaeus' as well and I personally love having them in ther situation where they're trying to bridge the gap between the emotional and the physical and the process it takes...but like Tim said Locri is coming and then things will start to beat up ;)

this is actually part one of two so stayed tunes for part 2 next week.

NEXT TIME: The aftermath of the night before yields some mutually uncomfortable revelations and delights.

NEXT UPDATE: October 1st