"..Astarion? What are you doing here?"
"These are my chambers too, you know," he teased. He pushed the door shut behind him with a soft click, a wicked smile playing upon his lips.
"Right," Luna snorted. "It's been so long since you were last in here, I'm surprised you even remember."
Letting out an awkward laugh, he reached up to rub at the nape of his neck. "..alright," he conceded. "I deserved that."
"Yes, you did."
Whirling on her heels, she headed over to the vanity and set her brush down, mindlessly fiddling with whatever lay across the worktop in a bid to block out the sudden, longing flutter in her stomach. "You didn't answer my question," she said, absently rummaging through the drawers. "What are you doing here?"
"Do I need a reason?" he said playfully, venturing deeper into their chambers. "As Lord of this palace, you'd think I'd be able to go where I please."
She stilled a moment with a subtle tick to her jaw, fatigued by his incessant need to not-so-subtly dodge any question put to him that he didn't care to answer. "You can go where you please," she replied. "It's the 'why' that concerns me, not the 'how'."
"I see," he mused, pausing to admire his perfectly preened nails. "Well, what can I say? I just happened to be passing by and thought I'd pop in."
Clamping her eyes shut, she gripped the edge of the vanity and took a deep, steeling breath, willing herself to remain calm. "I'm in no mood for your games today, Astarion," she sighed. "Just say whatever it is you came here to say and go back to your evening revelries."
"Gods, you really are cross this evening, aren't you? Who pissed on your petunias?"
Almost instantly, that wanting flutter he'd stirred within her shifted to bitter annoyance, and she whipped round to meet his taunting gaze. "You did, obviously," she yelped, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Who else in this place has the ability to piss me off so much?!"
"It's true," he snickered, bringing a finger to his chin musingly. "I am somewhat of an expert at it."
"Damn right, you are," she huffed. His inability to take things seriously was only making her more frustrated, and she ran a hand down her face wearily. Realistically, she didn't have it in her to argue with him right now. And so, she turned and set off towards the balcony, sparing a glance over her shoulder as she walked away. "Just go back to the party, Astarion. We can do this some other time."
"By the nine hells.."
His frustrated grumble followed after her even as she stepped out onto the balcony, leaving her rolling her eyes as she leaned against the stone parapets and looked out across the palace gardens below. It really was a picturesque scene. Not all of their descendants were blessed with their ability to walk in the sun, so the gardens had been filled with lots of nocturnal flora for everyone to enjoy; bushes of night phlox and night blooming jasmine lining the pathways, vines of pretty moonflowers entwined around the grand water fountain, and thick hedgerows of evening primrose all in bloom. Truly a beautiful sight for any nocturnal creature who cared for such things. With the moon high in the sky and a soft breeze carrying through the air, it felt serene out here. Peaceful.
At least.. it did, until she heard Astarion's echoing footsteps looming close behind, the gentle wafts of his scent growing ever closer until she could feel his presence right beside her.
"You do realise that you're the one who left the party first, correct?"
"We have parties all the time," she said, offering a noncommittal shrug. "I'm sure people won't mind me excusing myself just this once."
Huffing in exasperation, he turned to face her and braced his weight against the stone parapet, intently studying her expression even while she refused to look at him. "Darling, I organised this little soirée especially for you."
"Yes, and then you proceeded to spend the evening ignoring me and cosying up to Nerellion yet again," she snapped. "You'll forgive me if I had no interest in hanging around to see it."
His fair brows shot up to his hairline, amusement playing across his handsome, chiselled features. "Hold on now, is that what this is all about?" he taunted. "Why, amora, don't tell me you were jealous?"
A pit of sadness settled in her stomach upon hearing him call her that. Gods, just how long had it been since she last heard it? And now, to use it while he was damn near laughing in her face? That was a low blow.
"Do you really remember nothing of how we came to be here?" she said solemnly.
"..what?"
Blinking back tears, she kept her gaze fixed on the pretty gardens ahead, reluctant to let them fall in front of him. "All those nights we used to spend talking by the light of the fire at camp.. the nights you'd stay with me whenever my Urges would take control," she said softly, so quiet her words were almost swept away with the breeze. "Helping me turn against the whims of my father.. us working together to defeat Cazador.." At last, she finally turned to face her handsome lover, looking upon him through a veil of teary mist. "..do you truly remember none of it?"
His eyes widened at both her sincerity and her dismay, a little blindsided by a sight she seldom let him see. "I.." he fumbled. "Of course I do.. I remember everything."
"..then how can you treat me this way?" she said sadly. "Have I come to mean so little to you?"
For a moment, sorrow marred his perfect brow, knowing damn well he had nowhere to hide. Because deep down, he knew this wasn't just about tonight. He'd been avoiding her like the plague for a little while now, and he'd by no means been discreet about it. "And you think I.." he muttered. "With Nerellion.."
She thought back to all those times she'd catch them quietly colluding in dark corners. How she'd find them in his office 'working' together at all hours, and how they'd act shifty as anything the moment she entered the room. Hells, how was she not supposed to think that? If anything, she was annoyed at herself for not having realised sooner.
Imagine her surprise, and utter shock, when her thoughts were interrupted by an almighty cackle. Whipping round to look at him, she watched as he threw his head back and erupted with laughter, so loud and genuine in its intent that she could feel her heart shattering with each passing second. Say what you will about this man but, he'd never taken enjoyment from her plight before. Clearly something had changed in him, and not for the better. Seeing this side of him made her heart sink, and her rage soar tenfold. "You know, if you're going to act like such a twat about it," she clipped angrily. Forgetting the extent of her vampiric strength, she clamped down on the parapet in her anger and heard the crunch of crumbling rock. She looked down to find great cracks embedded through the stone, and cursed under her breath at her own expense. "Fuck."
"Easy now, darling," he chuckled. "You-"
"Don't you dare 'darling' me," she snapped, whirling on him. She pointed an accusing finger his way, his eyes flicking down as she jabbed him in the chest. "You do not get to avoid me, mistreat me, betray me, and then come in here and laugh in my fucking face about it. If you no longer wish for me to be your Consort, that's fine, but I will not-"
"..it is, is it?"
She stilled, somewhat thrown by the sudden severity in his expression. "Excuse me?"
Stepping closer, he held her pinned within his captivating, scarlet gaze, his focus so intense now that it damn near made it hard to think. "It's 'fine' if I no longer wish for you to remain my Consort?"
"Of course it isn't fine! But I'd rather that than being left to hang out to dry just because you don't want me anymore! I deserve better, Astarion."
His sleek brows pulled into a frown, his nose crinkling in distaste. "You know, I wish you'd stop calling me that."
What happened next was.. unexpected. His features completely softened, his ruby eyes glittering beneath the moonlight as he smiled down at her, bringing a hand up to rest upon the slope of her slender neck. "Deary me, my precious little idiot," he said fondly. "It seems you haven't just gotten the wrong end of the stick here, you've been clinging to a branch from an entirely different tree altogether, haven't you?"
She froze at his sudden closeness, caught off guard by the intimate touch she'd been deprived of for so long. "W-what.." she stuttered, a little flustered by the contact. "What do you mean?"
"My, you really don't get it, do you?" he teased, letting out a soft, tittering laugh. "Darling, I want you in ways words can hardly express." He paused a moment, quietly admiring the details of her delicates features while his thumb began to trail along her throat gently, almost reverently. "More than the scorching desert hungers for the storm.. more than the homeless beggar man yearns for a hearty meal.." Looking deep into her eyes, his fingers slipped round to the nape of her neck, deftly burying themselves amongst her thick, golden locks. "..I crave you in a way no other has longed for their love, Luna. You can trust me on that."
If she still had a heartbeat, no doubt it would be racing to the high heavens by now. Dazed in the wake of his intimate touch, his bold declaration, all she could do was stand there, lips parted in stunned silence as she tried to comprehend what in the world he just said.
"And for the record, I haven't, nor will I ever betray you," he insisted. "Honestly, I'm a little hurt that you could even think that of me."
He spoke with a softness he seldom used, a quiet tenderness he only ever reserved for when they were behind closed doors. But she could see the sincerity in his gaze, hear it in his voice.
"Can you blame me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "If I'm truly mistaken, then why have you been avoiding me all this time?"
He laughed a little, standing so close now that she could feel the soft gusts of his chuckle brushing across her cheeks. "See, you still aren't asking the right question."
She frowned at that. "Then what is the right question?"
His features spread into a wicked smirk, mischief glimmering in his gaze. "You've yet to ask why tonight's celebrations are being held in your honour."
It's true.. she hadn't. Honestly? She'd just assumed it was all for show. To mask the darker truth of unrest lurking between them. But if that wasn't the case..
"Alright, I'll bite," she said, watching him studiously. "If it wasn't, in fact, to save face.. then why?"
Flashing a lopsided grin, he relinquished his touch and looked down as he delved into his pocket, pulling his hand out to reveal a pretty, silver box clutched within his grasp.
Was this.. is this the object she saw Nerellion handing to him earlier?
"I had hoped to make a big song and dance about this," Astarion began, holding the box in the space between them. "But seeing as you're so intent on sulking in here all night.."
She watched, transfixed, as he slowly peeled the box open, revealing a beautiful, silver ring sat upon a cushion of white silk, the intricate band dotted with pretty sapphires that twinkled under the starlight.
"..what is that?"
"It's a ring, darling," he snickered. "Just how much have you had to drink tonight?"
"Gods, you're impossible! I know it's a bloody ring, you pillock. I mean, what's it for?"
Holding her gaze, his features spread into that cheeky, debonair smile of his. "Why, to ask you to marry me, of course," he said playfully. "I would have thought that was obvious."
She blinked rapidly in surprise, her mind racing a million miles an hour as she processed his rather casual admission. So cool and collected she almost questioned whether she'd heard him correctly.
"I'm sorry," she flustered. "You're.. proposing?"
"Oh, amora, you are a funny little thing sometimes," he chuckled, smiling in amusement. "We're vampires. I'd say any illusion that this was a casual thing ended the night I turned you, wouldn't you agree?"
"But.. the way you've been acting lately," she frowned, shaking her head in confusion. "I've barely seen you for nigh on a month now. You've barely talked to me, looked at me.. hells, you practically recoiled when I tried to touch you earlier."
"Well, yes, because I've been bloody nervous about proposing, haven't I? It's not exactly an easy thing to do, you know."
"Wait," she realised. "That's why you were acting so jumpy?"
Sighing in exasperation at her apparent ineptitude, he shook his head, took a deep breath, and sunk down to one knee at her feet, slowly holding the beautiful, delicate ring out towards her. When he looked up into her eyes, his expression morphed to something so open, so adoring, that it would've damn near taken her breath away if she had any to take. "Luna Tavris," he began. "It should come as no surprise that I didn't much care for you when we first met.."
Quirking a brow at his remark, she sunk into her hip and folded her arms across her chest. "Yes, brandishing a dagger my way did sort of leave me with that impression," she quipped.
"True.. perhaps not my finest moment," he chuckled. "But times have changed since then. Together, we have overcome much that others could scarcely dream of. Rejecting your father.. usurping Cazador so I may claim the Rite for myself.. defeating the Elder Brain and saving the city.. not many could lay claim to such feats."
"You're right," she smirked. "We're heroes."
"Ugh, don't," he grimaced. "This is supposed to be a tender moment."
Gazing down at him, she chuckled softly, not saying anything more to allow him the space to continue freely.
"My point is.. I think about how much we've accomplished since then; building our beautiful home, siring a new coven, creating a new way of life here in the city.. I know I wouldn't have been able to achieve any of that without.. well.. you. And I honestly don't think I would have wanted to, either," he confessed, smiling warmly. "I have come to care for you in a way I've never cared for anyone or anything before. You've given my life so much more meaning. More purpose. I'm truly grateful for every day that I get to have you by my side.."
With his free hand, he reached out and took hold of her own, intertwining their fingers into a perfect, seamless hold.
"..but it isn't enough," he said sincerely, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "I love you, Luna Tavris, and I want you to stand as more than my Consort. I want you as my bride. My Queen. My equal, in all things. I can no longer bear the idea of eternity if you're not there embracing it with me, truth be told."
Tears welled in her eyes as she listened to his heartfelt words, and she sunk down to her knees to join him, a soft laugh slipping through her lips from the sheer elation she felt. Clearly she wasn't alone in that regard, because it only took moments before he was laughing right along with her. "Soooo.." he said finally, giving her hand a loving squeeze. "If you're agreeable, I would love for you to do me the divine honour of marrying me. I assure you nothing would make me happier."
Holy hells, was this really happening? After everything that had transpired, she'd been entirely convinced that his distance, his silence, were all sure fire signs that he was tiring of their commitment to one another. And all along, this was what he'd been planning? Gods, she almost wanted to pinch herself to check she hadn't merely slipped into a lucid trance somewhere along the way. But she could feel the adoration in his touch. Feel the overwhelming power that practically radiated off of him. She wouldn't pretend to understand how or why but, this moment right here.. this was real.
In that moment, a tremendous guilt washed over her and she reached for him, internally kicking herself for having misjudged him to such an extent. "I'm so sorry I doubted you," she said regretfully, cradling his soft, pale cheek.
"Mm, as well you should be," he smirked. "Do you have any idea how tricky it's been trying to keep this from you? I've had to bribe Ilmir like nobody's business just to keep his bloody mouth shut."
Luna thought back to her prior actions while confronting her dear friend, realising now why he'd been acting so strangely. "I fear I may owe him an apology as well," she confessed, chuckling softly.
"Mm, well, perhaps we could focus on me first," he teased. "You realise, of course, that you've yet to give me an answer.."
"That's right," she teased, tilting her head lazily. "I haven't, have I?"
His eyes narrowed into a persecuting glare, and she couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
"Now who's playing games?"
"Yeah," she smirked. "Payback's a bitch, huh?"
He rolled his eyes and tutted at her taunting jibes, and it only made her smile more. But as she took a moment to look at him, really look at him, she could see the little cues of anxiety bleeding through. The look in his eye, the clenched fist, the bobbing of the knee.. he truly was nervous about this. Somehow, that knowledge touched her even more, and she smiled. "Yes, amor," she said finally. "I would love to marry you."
His eyes damn near lit up like the twinkling stars glittering overhead. "Yes?!"
"Yes," she chuckled. Her hand trailed down his neck, careening lower until her outstretched fingers splayed out across his chest. "I'll gladly spend eternity by your side, if you'll have me."
He laughed a little in a mixture of elation and relief, the anxious tension in his shoulders slipping away. "My sweet, there is nothing I'd like more."
Looking down, he gently pried the pretty ring from its cushion and held it out towards her expectantly, smiling when she offered her hand in answer. It slipped on her finger with ease, a perfect fit, and she took a moment to examine it more closely. "It's beautiful," she said fondly. "And it fits like a glove."
"Of course it does," he boasted, grinning proudly. "Over the years, I've come to memorise every inch of that delectable body of yours."
Her eyes flicked up to meet his own, a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth. "You haven't forgotten then?" she teased.
"Darling, please," he scoffed. "By now I've committed you to memory so well that I can envision you naked even beneath that.. rather lovely attire."
Taking a moment to openly drink her in, the licks of heat in his gaze suggested he was doing precisely that, and it sent a flood of warmth rushing to her cheeks. It felt like forever since he'd last looked at her this way. Honestly? It was a little hard to take, in the moment. "Well," she tittered, running a hand through her hair. "I can't say I'm not relieved."
His smile fell away then, perhaps realising just how notable his recent distance had been. Setting the little, silver box aside, he sunk down onto both knees and scooched closer, resting a hand atop her own. "I am sorry for the misunderstanding, amora. Truly," he said, holding her gaze. "I just.. I wanted everything to be perfect. For tonight, I mean. All that time planning and everything, I never thought-"
Seeing the truth of the matter now, she didn't need to hear anything further by means of explanation, so she leaned in and pressed a soft, sweet kiss upon his mouth to erase any such thoughts from his mind. He startled a little at first, but she could feel him smiling against her lips as she eased away. "It's water under the bridge, Ari," she assured him. "I'm just glad we're okay."
"..you called me Ari," he grinned.
He looked like a happy little puppy upon hearing it and she shook her head with a laugh, amused by the sight upon such a formidable creature. "Yes, well, I'm not mad at you anymore."
"I should bloody well hope not," he smirked. "I don't go around doing this for just anyone, you know. I had this outfit made especially for tonight, and I had not intended on wearing it to kneel upon the cold, hard ground."
"Just like old times, eh?" she joked.
"Yes, and whilst I do like to revisit the memories of our early days now and again, I believe that some things are best left in the past.. kneeling amongst the dirt being one of them."
With that in mind, he straightened himself to standing and pulled her up along with him, brushing the miniscule speckles of grit from his finely pressed trousers. Now standing toe to toe, Luna took a moment to take him in, admiring the outfit in question. Gods, he really did look handsome. Adorned in black, elegant finery from head to toe, it stood out in striking contrast to his fair hue and crimson eyes, while the tailored blazer was embroidered with silver buttons and matching filigree detailing. Just by looking at the design, you could tell that this had been made for his body alone. It clung to his lean, muscular physique perfectly. Undoubtedly worthy attire fit for a ravishing Dark Prince such as he. Almost without thinking, she found herself reaching for him, lovingly smoothing out the lapels of his jacket. "The tailors did a wonderful job," she said fondly. "You look beautiful, amor."
He looked down to admire himself, a tittering laugh slipping through his lips. "I do, don't I?"
"Yes, you do," she chuckled.
After a moment, his eyes flicked up to her face, and he seemed to take her in with much the same sense of appreciation. "Though, not nearly as beautiful as you look," he said, reaching out to trace the curve of her cheek. "Especially in the gown you wore this evening. You looked positively radiant."
That same sense of guilt wracked through her once again, finally realising the full extent of her actions. He'd organised the party tonight as a celebration of their engagement, and instead, she'd stormed off like a sulking teenager before he could even pop the question. No wonder Ilmir was so intent on convincing her to stay. "You know.. if you help me fasten my gown, there's still plenty of time for us to head back to the party," she offered.
"That is awfully sweet of you," he said, laying a hand atop her own. He gently brought it away from his chest and raised it to his mouth, holding her gaze as he planted a kiss upon her open palm. "However, I was rather hoping we might have ourselves our own little party," he purred. Another kiss upon her palm, so soft and delicate that it sent a wanting shiver flooding through her. "A.. celebration of lovers, shall we say."
She felt a rush of excitement at the dark promise in his words, his gaze. It may have been a little while but, she knew that look all too well. What it meant, what it symbolised. It spoke of untold pleasures looming on the horizon, and for the life of her, she couldn't bloody wait. "I could be open to that," she said enticingly. "Providing you still remember how, of course.."
She flashed him a daring smile, and his ruby eyes lit up at the challenge. Stepping into her space, his fingers trailed down her throat, curling round the nape of her neck to hold her possessively. "My sweet," he said. "If there is one thing I will always know how to do, it's how to make you come completely undone in my arms."
Gazing up at him, a longing heat pooled in her lower belly, knowing damn well he wasn't lying. But gods help her, she couldn't help but goad him on anyway. "Then prove it," she purred.
For a moment, he simply stared deep into her eyes, holding her pinned within his gaze like the calm before the storm. Then in the blink of an eye, he swooped in and crashed their mouths together, burying his fingers amongst her thick locks as he took her lips like a man starved for it. She caved. Gods, did she cave. Clung to his blazer and pulled her to him with the same sense of urgency, moaning into his kiss as she was swiftly overwrought with the blazing passion she'd been deprived of for too damn long.
"Gods, I have missed those sexy little noises you make," he growled.
Fuelled by it, he urged her backwards until she bumped into the stone parapet, running his nails across her scalp with just enough pressure to have her eyes rolling back into her skull in pleasure. She entwined her arms around his neck, riveted by the raw heat of his body pressed so firmly against her own. It was another of Mephistopheles' blessings. Left her feeling like she was embracing the most captivating flame, wanting to coax the fire if only to feel the thrill that came with being burned.
For the longest time, they just stayed like that, their tongues eagerly entwining like they just couldn't enough. Determined to make up for every last second they'd spent apart. Hells, even that was enough in itself to drive her wild. She could feel herself getting wet from his kiss alone. "Fuck, I've missed you," she breathed.
"Oh, amora, I've missed you too." Holding her to him, he finally tore his mouth away and buried his face in her neck, punctuating his words with needy kisses pressed along her throat. "I've missed your smell.. your taste.. your eyes.. your perfect smile.."
Her head lulled beneath his affections, her eyes falling shut as he showered her with endless attention. Until finally, his lips trailed up to her jaw, her mouth, and he reclaimed her kiss like it was rightfully his to take. She felt his hands drift to her shoulders. Felt him tuck his fingers beneath the flimsy straps of her nightgown and slowly peel them away, coaxing them down her arms until the garment slipped off her body and pooled on the ground at her feet. "And I have definitely missed your perfect body," he purred, tracing the curve of her spine.
With that, he cruelly tore his mouth away, taking a step back to soak up the view of her completely bared to him. Knowing she had no reason to hide or cover herself, she watched his eyes follow the winding paths of her curves a while, his lips spread into a smile that promised of trouble. "You are undoubtedly the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on.. and you're all mine."
She stepped closer and lay her hands upon his chest, blessing him with a soft, seductive smile. "And you're all mine."
Curling an arm around her slender frame, his other hand crept up to cradle her cheek, and he dragged his thumb ever so gently across her bottom lip. "Now and forever," he promised.
With a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, she nicked his thumb with her fang just enough to draw a little blood. He hissed in surprise, though the sound was quickly replaced with a moan when she wrapped her lips around him and sucked softly, relishing in the decadent, metallic taste.
"You're a little minx, you know that?"
"Hmm," she hummed. "Only for y-"
Suddenly, they heard an almighty thrash and their heads whipped round to a couple of balconies over. The doors had flung open, the loud crash swiftly followed by a barrage of whoops, hollers and cheers as a group of inebriated partygoers flooded outside.
"Well," Astarion said. "I guess that's our cue."
Out of nowhere, he swooped in and clamped around her waist, lifting her up and into the warmth of his firm body.
"Oh," she startled. On instinct, she wrapped her legs around him and entwined her arms around his neck, the world whizzing past in a blur as he hastily carried her back inside. "Ari, what in the world are you doing?"
"What can I say? I'm a greedy man, darling," he grinned, playfully squeezing the curve of her behind. "I don't do sharing. Not when it comes to you. This sight is for my eyes only."
Gods, she loved it when he got all possessive. Made her feel wanted. Protected. Sent a scorching heat blazing across her skin just as surely as his familiar, intimate touch.
"You know, it hardly seems fair that I'm here completely naked while you're still fully clothed."
Carrying her towards the bed, he answered with a mischievous chuckle. "All in good time, my sweet."
Laying her down amongst the silken, ivory sheets, he climbed on along with her and settled between her spread legs, ducking down to take her lips in a bruising, heady kiss. As their mouths collided, her hands crept down to tend to the fastenings on his blazer, blindly undoing them, one by one, until she felt the raw heat of his bare skin beneath her fingertips.
"Someone's eager," he purred, smiling against her lips.
"Says the man who instantly got me naked," she teased.
"Ha.. touché."
Caressing the muscular planes of his stomach, she took his lips eagerly, driven by the feel of his hands upon her skin, his body pressed up against her own. With a hand in her hair and the other curled around her thigh, he held her exactly where he wanted her. Pinned beneath him as he began to grind, slow and steady, until he had her moaning into his kiss. "I want to taste you," he murmured.
Craving his bite just the same, she didn't say anything, merely tilted her head to allow him better access.
"Oh, darling, you're so sweet," he teased, tittering lightly. "As invigorating as that may be, it's not quite the tasting I had in mind."
The shift from confusion to understanding was almost instantaneous, and an immediate thrill rushed through her at the thought. Lord knows that tongue of his wasn't solely skilled in the art of witty retorts. "Be my guest," she said enticingly.
Satisfied with her reply, he dipped down to bestow a savouring kiss, letting his lips venture lower as he slowly made his way down her body; her jaw.. her neck.. her chest. Wrapping his mouth around the hardened peak of her nipple, she hissed from the sudden heat of him, her breath catching as his fangs gently scored across the sensitive, rosy flesh. And all the while, his hand left her hair to toy with the other, squeezing and fondling the ample curve until she began writhing beneath him.
"I just love how sensitive you are.. I don't even need to touch you to know how wet you are for me."
Travelling further still, he kissed a path down her stomach, each one tingling like an electric spark against her skin. Propping herself up on her elbows, she looked down to meet his gaze. "You are going to touch me though, right?"
"Oh, amora," he smirked. "I'm going to do a darned sight more than that."
Climbing off of the bed, he straightened himself up and removed his blazer the rest of the way, letting it fall to the floor behind him without a care. And there he was, standing over her while his eyes feasted as though she were spread before him on a silver platter. "You are perfect," he said, soaking up the view. "I could happily spend my night just standing here looking at you."
From where she lay, she took a moment to openly admire him just the same, that wanting flutter stirring in her stomach the longer she looked. Her eyes wandered oh so freely, taking in those taut, flexing muscles and his lean physique.. his sharp, handsome features and piercing, ruby eyes, framed by snowy, voluminous locks that curled away from his face. By the hells, was he hot. "I know the feeling," she purred.
His features spread into a subtle smirk, no doubt sensing the thoughts running through her mind right now. "Now then," he said boldly. "Where were we?"
Before she could even think to reply, he suddenly clamped around her ankles and yanked her across the bed towards him in one swift move, chuckling as she yelped out in surprise. "There we go," he grinned, sinking down to his knees. "That is much better."
Propping up to look at him once again, the sight of him nestled ever so nicely between her thighs was pleasure enough to leave her aching in anticipation. "Looking good down there, Ari," she teased. "Suits you."
"You should see the view from down here, darling," he smirked. "Quite exquisite, to be sure."
Curling his arms around her thighs, he subtly coaxed her legs wider and leaned in close, holding her gaze as he pressed kisses across her tanned skin softly, almost teasingly. Venturing close, so close, but never quite reaching where she was already hot and wanting. But after so long, even that was enough to spike her desire, and she bit her lip to quell the moan it was sure to coax from her.
Except he caught it all too easily. Knew exactly what she was trying to do. And so, he brought an end to his teasing games, somewhat abruptly, and glided his tongue right through her glistening wetness in one fell swoop. Had her falling back amongst the sheets with a blissful sigh, staring up at the twinkling stars through the skylight overhead.
"Like that, did you?" he teased.
"Gods, yes," she breathed. "Keep going."
His brow quirked at her demand, a wicked smile playing at the corner of his mouth. It wasn't something he was used to these days, being told what to do. Only when they were in the throws of passion. Try as he might to deny it, to hide it, she knew he secretly enjoyed it. Perhaps that's why, despite his proud nature, he was all too happy to oblige. Buried his face amongst her folds without another word passing between them, eagerly lapping up her wetness like he just couldn't get enough.
"Sweet gods," she moaned.
She clung to the sheets desperately, writhing beneath him as he continued to pleasure her, gently sucking on her clit and lapping up her taste. She could feel herself growing tense. Could feel that lusting ache inside her building to intolerable levels as her desire grew. She was close. So close. And he damn well knew it.
"Well, look at you," he said enticingly. "Purring for me like a little kitten."
He brought a hand away from her thigh and let his fingers leisurely glide through her aching wetness. He slowly eased them inside and she moaned to the ceiling, reaching down to run her fingers through his thick, snowy curls.
"Fuck," she cursed. "Ari, I'm.. I'm gonna come."
"I know you are, my sweet," he grinned, playfully nibbling her inner thigh. "That's the point."
Slowly working her with his fingers, he wrapped his mouth around her clit and sucked hard in an unrelenting onslaught. Didn't stop until she was bucking into him and panting desperately, teetering on the edge of her release.
Just.. just a little more..
And that's precisely what he gave. Within minutes, her body trembled and shook, and she cried out his name as she unravelled beneath his expert touch. Wave after wave of pleasure rippled through her being, the sensation only heightened after being denied for so long. Shivers and tingles spread from her head down to her toes, overwhelmed by the rush of her long awaited climax.
And then she felt it. Felt the unmistakable twinge of fangs embedding themselves in her thigh, the heat of his mouth and the thrill of his bite making her come even more, even harder, as he drank from her eagerly, hungrily. There really was nothing quite like it. Felt like pure adrenaline flooding through her veins. Like a thousand electric kisses across her body, everywhere at once. He sucked and drank to the same pulsing rhythm of her orgasm, letting out his own pleasured moans as he relished in her sanguineous taste.
Until finally, those ripples of pleasure began to ebb and ease, and she felt his fangs gently recede from her flesh. Gods, she could hardly think. Hardly speak. All she knew was that she craved him. More than anything.
"Fuck, I want you," he growled.
Quick as a flash, he pushed up to his feet and braced his weight over her, gazing down at her with a blazing heat in his gaze and a rivulet of crimson trickling down his chin. He ducked down and crashed their mouths together, burying his fingers amongst her hair as he kissed her with a bruising fervour. She could taste herself on his tongue. Feel his thick length pressing into her even through the restraints of his attire. Craving the feel of him, her hands slipped between their bodies and blindly tended to the fastenings on his trousers, only stopping when she felt his hard cock resting in the palm of her hand. She began to work his length slowly, meticulously, and he all but groaned at the sensation.
"I need to be inside you," he demanded. "Now."
She shivered in delight at his commanding tone, gliding the thick head of his cock through her wetness as she guided him to her opening. The moment he felt it, he buried himself inside her so quick, so deep, that they both clung to one another desperately, their collective, needy moans filling the otherwise quiet room.
For a moment, neither of them moved, neither of them spoke, they just lay there entwined together, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of their shared pleasure.
But then their eyes locked, and the world almost seemed to come to a still. Gazing down at her with the most adoring smile, he reached out to tenderly cradle her cheek.
"Until the world falls down?"
Those little flutters in her stomach kicked off something rotten, a touched smile spreading across her face. She pulled him down and kissed him deeply, passionately, finally easing away to look deep into his eyes.
"Until the world falls down," she promised.