#disclaimer; do not rub the skin with hypothermia or of mostly frozen person. can do much more harm than good. but i liked the aesthetic her

[frostsinth]

Your Heart's Got Teeth - Pt. 6

Part 1|2|3|4|5 - Masterlist

Here, have another part of this enemies to lovers-esque story. Come off the cliff hanger I left from the last update.

Thoughts and impressions appreciated. My thoughts? These two are idiots and I love them. Also, this is not close to done. So enjoyyy.

Language and innuendo warning. Viewer discretion is advised.

----

“You pompous, arrogant, son of a-”

SNNAAAP!!!

I gasped as suddenly the air was forced out of me by the freezing waters and the sound of the storm was muffled by the river in my ears. Before I could even think, my head dipped below the surface, and I sucked down a mouthful of the icy liquid. Then my feet hit the bottom, and half on instinct alone I pushed off. Bouncing back towards the surface. But I was waterlogged, heavier than when I had fallen in. Even with the momentum, I barely crested the surface. Trying desperately to get my face out. Flailing and kicking. Still not sure if I was up or down but feeling the hint of cold wind over the top of my wet hair before I dropped back below the surface.

As suddenly as I had fallen in, I felt the suck of the water around me as I was yanked back out. Gasping as soon as the icy wind hit me square. Struggling to breathe. My chest clenching tight and preventing real air from flowing back into my lungs from the shock of it. Solid ground hit my knees, my hands. But I couldn’t fully feel them, couldn’t lock them in to hold my weight. And so I flopped to the ground. Gaping like a fish and instantly shivering so hard my bones rattled in my frame. Blackness dotted the edges of my vision, and I groped and wriggled slowly. As if I could claw my way out of the icy grip the winter had me in. Something around my waist, pulling my face from the snow. Then a heavy force hit my back with a thump. Once, then twice. At the third strike, my diaphragm kicked back to life. Spasming and leaving me painfully coughing. Gagging up the water that had found its way to my lungs.

Another shocking gasp as I left the ground again. Hoisted up, then smacked against something firm (though softer than the ground). The wind was a bit lessened in this new position, but I couldn’t feel anything other than that. I tried to wiggle my fingers, tried to draw in another breath. I struggled with both, my body just refusing to obey.

“Hold on!!” Came a familiar voice over the raging wind.

I tried to make sense of it all. Tried to remember what was happening. Where my hands were, my legs, my head. Trying to remember who I was. Where we had been. I knew dimly that I had fallen into the river. I knew that someone was carrying me now through the storm. But where could we go?? I had to get out of the storm. I had to get warm, and fast. Or I wouldn’t be remembering anything else ever again.

An echoing laugh danced in my ears. A memory, so long past I had almost forgotten it. I reached, clawing, tugging.

“C-Cave!” I gasped as loud as my stricken throat could manage. “E-Ea-sst-sst!”

I thought I heard a growl, or a grumble. Maybe I felt it in my cheek. I felt my head swirl, felt darkness quickly circling my vision. Felt myself grow heavier, and at the same time, felt nothing at all.

My ears rang with the sudden silence when the wind cut out, and I managed to find enough semblance of myself to shiver. Quake really, from head to toe. As if a rattle being shaken enthusiastically by every child who would ever think to shake it all at once. Then I was falling, but there was no crash at the end. Something hard and cold, and I ran my fingers over it. Stone? I was on my side now, I thought, and a clatter had me trying to look about.

A soft snap and hiss. Orange red light. Filling the void of my vision. Having me blinking rapidly. Shaking my head, though no one would notice since my entire body was in spasms of cold.

“Here. Quick.”

I felt tugging. Pulling. Fingers? Hands maybe. I was too numb to tell. Like ice sheets dragging across my skin. The crunch of something crashing into stone. Something new around me? No… wait, yes? Distinctly floating, then not again. Wrapped up, tingling numbness. Wet, maybe warm? Warmer. Still quaking, still shivering. That was good. Good to shiver. Meant my body was reacting to the cold. It was so cold, it burned. I almost cried for the pain of it. Twisting, trying to find my hands. My limbs. The burning singe at the tips of my fingers, the edges of my skin. Felt like they weren’t there at all. Then realizing my eyes were almost frozen shut. Forcing them open.

A dark beard, two long, thin braids trailing from it. A thick green neck that flashed as he breathed. Copper yellow eyes. Piercing and sharp. Staring down at me. A furrowed brow, thick lashes. Huge teeth, a wide mouth. I blinked stupidly, trying to figure out why it was so close. He shifted, and my nose was tucked against that green neck. Against the warm skin. It was warm. I could almost feel the warmth now. Even amid my lack of feeling, I could tell it was different than my cold.

“Listen, you little bitch,” Came the soft, rumbling growl, “You’d better not freeze to death on me. Or so help me I will kill you.”

I would’ve scoffed, if I had more presence of mind. My lips were still numb, but my teeth were clacking together now. I thought I might bite my tongue if I tried to speak.

“I-i-id-d-dio-ot-t.” I chattered.

It was worth the risk.

Arms around me tightened. He shifted the furs, shifted closer to the fire. “Keep talking.” He said softly. “Keep talking, vile woman.”

I felt my eyes start to close, felt my breath become shallow. I nearly gasped as he shook me, my head flopping about painfully.

“No. Don’t sleep. Don’t you dare.” He growled. “Talk to me.” He stymied another attempt to close my eyes with another little shake. “Talk to me!”

“F-f-fff-uck-k oo-o-ooff-ff-ff.” I stammered through clattering teeth.

A rumble of approval. “Better. At least you can follow directions.”

I felt my fingers curl into a fist. As if I might punch him. Punch that smug look off his face I was sure he had. I couldn’t find the strength to do more than that.

“O-oh, y-yy-yo-oou…” I tried, then sneezed. “… B-b-b-b-”

“You brilliant creature?” He offered. “Beloved chief? Beguiling rogue?”

“B-b-bbb-bas-tt-tard-d.”

He scoffed, shifting me again, pulling another stick over to the fire. “Sorry, didn’t quite catch that.”

I tried to shove at him. Sneezing again instead. His thick, powerful arms barely let me shift an inch.

“B-b-b-bas… Bas- b-b-b.”

“Becalming.” He suggested. “Bright. Brilliant. Beautiful?”

“Ba-Bass… B-b-bast..tard…”

A chuckle now. “Whatever motivates you. Stay awake.”

I blinked slowly, still shivering. My toes and fingers remained numb, but other parts of my body tingling painfully as if hundreds of needles were pricking them. I tried to look around, but felt his grip tighten. As if I might try to climb out of the warm cocoon he had me wrapped in. I scoffed quietly, letting my head drop back amid the furs wrapped around me. Feeling my breath shudder and shake as it spilled down his bare chest.

“… W-whe… w-w-where…?” I mumbled, shaking and trying to wiggle my fingers and toes.

“Cave.” He reminded me, and one of his hands came around to begin rubbing firmly at my feet. “Already had wood stacked in here… yours?”

I managed a small nod. Trying to pull my thoughts together better. He rumbled again, giving me a little squeeze. He passed me something, and when it fumbled from my hands he brought it to my lips instead. The warm liquid felt good on my throat, and I almost sighed when he finally lowered it.

“Not enough wood for the night. Not to keep it warm enough to melt your frozen heart.” He explained. “But enough to get you thawed out a bit.”

“C-c-Cold.” I managed.

Another dry chuckle. “Obviously. Taking a bath in the frozen river in the middle of a massive blizzard will do that.”

I managed to thump my fist weakly against his chest. “Y-y-you-ou… b-b-bas-bastard-dd.” I accused.

He grunted. “Sorry, can’t hate me until you can function properly again.”

His other palm was at my back now. Rubbing between the shoulder blades. Over my neck. Firmly rolling down my back. I felt my eyes droop at the pleasantness of his firm fingers. I gasped again as he shook me.

“No sleeping.” He ordered.

“F-ff-ffuck…” I tried, then sighed tiredly. My fingers slowly uncurling. Resting my cold palm flat against his chest. I felt goosebumps raise under my touch. He offered me another drink of the warm water, and I drank it obediently before settling back into his arms.

I lost track of how long we sat there in silence. His hands rubbing up and down my chilled skin. My fingers, my shoulders. My toes and arms. I blinked, trying to keep myself awake. Trying to make complete sense of what was happening. My mind swirling uselessly, my body shivering with cold and exhaustion. Another little sneeze escaped me, and I shifted a little against him.

“… Still awake?” He asked finally, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

I managed a tiny nod and a petering, affirmative sound.

“Good.” I felt him shift around me, and managed to look up in time to see him craning his neck towards the cave entrance. “We’re stuck here at least for the night.” He told me. “I’ll need to get more wood.”

“T-treessss.” I mumbled.

“What?”

“Y-y-you g-ge-get w-wood-d fr-f-from t-treesss.” I stuttered through shivering lips. “C-ca-case yo-you-you’ve n-n-never h-ha-had t-t-to b-b-bother be-before.”

He shook his big head, beads chiming in his braids as he did. “You’re a dead woman.” He grumbled.

“A-an-n-n ax w-worksss b-b-bes-”

“Oh, shut up.” He cut me off. “Even half frozen you’re still a bitch.”

I almost smiled, but wasn’t quite sure I had the muscle strength to do so yet. Still, I was starting to feel warmer. Starting to feel as though my body might obey me if I tried. I turned my face towards his warmth. Sighing again instead. Breathing in his musky scent. Feeling my heart skip a bit as his arms encompassed me. He was so warm, and despite his firm muscles and biting words, he held me very gently. Like a doll made of glass. I wondered suddenly what it would be like to wake up in these arms. Which brought stirring to the surface the memory of the last time we had been alone together. The taste of his warm mouth against mine, the press of our bodies…

Almost as cold as the icy river, I felt guilt slowly wrapping its fingers around me at the memory. Which made his once gentle touch burn as if he had dropped me in the hot coals instead. I shifted in his arms, starting to pull back clumsily. I felt his body tighten around me.

“P-p-put m-m-me-me d-d-d-”

“I didn’t drag you through a blizzard just for you to freeze to death in a cave.” He snapped before I could stammer it out. “Hold still.”

I shoved at him weakly, wondering how my elbows didn’t break from the attempt in their current weakened state.

“I-I-I ss-ssaid, p-p-put m-m-me d-down.” The order was weakened by my chattering teeth. But I shook my head stubbornly.

He wrapped his arms further around me. “Even if it’ll keep you alive, you still can’t stand the idea of an orc touching you.” His voice was quiet and dark, somehow filling the room as effectively as a choking smoke.

“I-I c-c-c-an’t… ” I tried to push away from him again.

I gave an unglamorous ‘Omphh!’ as he suddenly dumped me from his lap. Standing up and glaring down at me. His hands balled into fists, his teeth bared.

“Fine then. FINE! Freeze to death. See if I care!” He tossed his hands up, turning and grabbing his big battle ax before stomping out the cave entrance.

I stared after him for a long time, and shivered in the silence. Torn between my own shame of letting him touch me and now the growing guilt of his fresh disdain. The cave felt colder with his absence. Despite the fact that his huge body was no longer filling the tiny space, I felt like the walls had shrunk. Like it would all collapse on me at any minute. I sniffled, blinking back the anxiousness that settled like a shroud over me. Trying to push back the emotions that threatened to suffocate me, shifting a bit closer to the fire he had built in the center of the cave. Hearing the distant drip of water from somewhere amid the crackle of the flames. I noticed some jerky put to warm by the fire, and took a small piece to chew. Even the little bites sapped my energy reserves, and I felt myself droop as I waited for the warm food to hit my stomach. Shivering again.

I reached out from his big cloak which he had left around me, pulling out one of the last smaller logs and shakily placing it on the fire. The movement had a draft of cold sweeping across my skin, and I quickly re-bundled myself even as I quaked on the stone. Which made me realize… I had no clothes.

I glanced down quickly as if to confirm the fact. Then wrapped up his cloak even tighter around me and feeling what could pass for a hot flush in my current state rising to my cheeks. That whole time? That whole time, he had been rubbing his big, meaty hands up and down my naked body? Had me pressed directly to his bare chest?

I almost groaned, my throat suddenly burning. Feeling like I would have cried if I’d had the fluids left to do so. If I could be sure they wouldn’t break like ice at the corners of my eyes.

The Gods were punishing me. I shouldn’t have survived. It would have been better if he had just let me sink to the bottom of the river. This was worse somehow, knowing I’d let him… And even now, I was wrapped up in his cloak. It stank of him, and I felt my nose rub against the fur a little as I drew in a deep breath of it. Shivering, and not just from the cold. I shifted a little closer to the fire, feeling guilty for even that.

I tried to think of something else. Looking around the little cave. I felt a flood of memories come to the surface of my cloudy thoughts. The sound of my brother’s laughter. His smile. I felt my guilt turn to sorrow, which only doubled the ache in my heart. This was one of many of the caves that had been our hideouts. Adequately stocked for our excursions, packed to near bursting with memories. My brother had never been the strongest of constitutions. Often he would wait in one of these caves while I hunted nearby… I hadn’t been back to any of them since he had passed…

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, wallowing in my guilt and sorrow. Watching the fire crackle. Half wishing I could just let it burn down to nothing. Just sink into darkness, and let myself fall asleep. My eyes did feel heavy, and a few times I felt them close. But the howl of the wind or the distant snap of a branch would waken me. And I stared at the entrance instead. Pulling the fur up over my damp hair. Rubbing at my fingers and toes. Wondering if Jou’kiel had decided to leave me here. Wondering if he was going to let the elements do what he had always wanted… Wondering if it would be worth the burns to pull some of the coals in and hold them against myself. Just to feel some real warmth again.

Finally, his lumbering steps announced his return. Dragging a small tree behind him and shaking the snow off his broad, bare shoulders. Reminding me I was currently wrapped in his cloak. Leaving him completely exposed to the storm’s biting winds. But I swear I could see steam rising off his body, and wasn’t sure it was all melting snow dripping down his huge, muscled back.

He glanced at me as he came in, as if unable to resist. Looking away as soon as he saw my eyes were open. Then brought the tree in as deep as he could. It filled the space, and deftly he began trimming down the branches. Filling the room with the scent of pine and sap. He moved down its length, then took his big ax and cracked it into the trunk itself. Careful not to pierce all the way through and damage his weapon on the stone floor. It was a battle ax, so not the most efficient thing for cutting up the wood. But it did more than well enough, and soon he had a new pile of wood sitting beside the old. Starting to dry out in the smoke of the fire.

“Given the blizzard, I’ll suffer you a little longer.” He told me haughtily, plopping down on the stone floor almost on the opposite side of the fire. Tossing a fresh log and rubbing at his arms as it sparked to life. “Soon as it breaks, you can get the fuck out.”

I didn’t answer, staring at the crackling flames. Watching them lick over the new log, snapping and creeping up its length. The fire and its warmth growing to fill the cave again. I blinked slowly, still shivering, and wondering if I just closed my eyes, if I’d be able to shut it all out. At least for a few hours. I rubbed at my runny nose with the back of my hand.

I saw him glance at me, then give a huff. Shaking his damp braids.

“… Considering how much you apparently hate us, you sure have a knack for saving orcs.” He grumbled angrily. I peeked at him, and he made a point to look away.

I didn’t answer, sitting and shivering. Staring at the fire. I saw him sneak another piercing glance at me. Then a low growl formed in his throat. He pulled some more jerky from the pack and set it beside the fire to dry out and warm up.

“What, too good to speak to me now?” He demanded in an angry hiss.

“… I d-didn’t save ann-nyone.” I assured him after a long pause, my tones soft and bitter.

He dragged one of the branches over, slowly snapping the twigs off one at a time absentmindedly and tossing them into the fire.

“You saved Izu.” He ticked off one finger, still sounding angry, then tossed a stick to the flames.

“I-I just let hhhim go.”

Another scoff. “Hear him tell it, you fought off a horde to aid his escape.” He stared down at the latest stick in his big hands, twirling it deftly. “… And you saved me.”

I jerked a bit, looking up at him in surprise. His dark scowl flicked to me, then back to the stick. He tossed it into the flames with the others after a moment.

“… I broke the ice.” He told me quietly. “It was my weight that caused it to break. If I had fallen in, you would never have been able to pull me out. But you irritating, horrible little thing that you are… you shoved me out of the way.”

I huffed a bit, pulling his cloak tighter around myself and shaking my head a little. “D-d-don’t give mm-me that c-credit.”

His scowl deepened. “Gods forbid anyone discovered you saved not one, but two orcs.” He snarled. “You might just die of the shame.”

I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut. “… Y-you sh-should hhhave left m-me.” I mumbled.

He rolled his eyes, twisting and yanking the next stick off the branch. “I owe you a debt now too.” He grumbled. “I fucking told you I didn’t want to owe you anything.”

“Y-You don’t.”

“You don’t get to decide that.” He snapped again, copper yellow eyes darting up to fix me with a glare. “And even if you hate orcs, even if you might slit my throat, I will honor that debt.”

I felt my own brow furrow. I rubbed the back of one hand at my nose and shook my head.

“I th-thought yoou didn’t m-make promises.” I mumbled bitterly.

He scoffed, snapping a particularly large twig with a resounding CRACK. Tossing it into the fire to have the flames leap and lick at it eagerly.

“I don’t. That’s not a promise.”

I ran my thumb up and down the furs. Still staring into the fire’s center. Shivering a little, with a deep chill that felt like it was set in my bones already.

“Y-you’re an i-iddiot.” I told him around my mostly numb lips.

He bared his teeth at me. “Maybe I am. Getting caught up in you.” He tore his gaze away, looking around. “Getting stuck in this cave. I should have gone back with Izu. Made sure he was safe. Should have dragged you back like… ” He glared back down at the branch. Snapping off a few sticks angrily. “I should have just killed you the first time I saw you… And kissing you? That was my worst mistake. A stupid, stupid mistake.”

I wasn’t sure why that bothered me as much as it did. I felt a fresh guilt claw at my throat, making it burn. I blinked back icy tears, shivering and wondering again if the burns might be worth it. If I could sit in the center of a pyre, just so that I could feel warmer. Could feel anything. It was as if the chill in my skin sought to sink to my heart.

“… Ssorr-” I stopped my apology short, then huffed a little angrily. Looking down at the ground. “… I-it can’t hh-happen again.”

He snarled, shoving the branch off to the side angrily. “You frigid bitch. How dare you? How DARE you think you can order me around??” He slid closer so that he could jab a finger at my cold shoulder through his cloak wrapped around it. “You are the hostage here. No matter what Izu might think,” I winced a bit at the reminder, and his scowl deepened. “You will do as I say.”

I shot him a sour look, half buried in his cloak. “J-just leave me al-lone.” I mumbled bitterly.

He leaned across the gap between us, leering over me. “I’d love nothing more. But now…” He stopped, then adjusted his mouth, scowling again. “… Now I can’t. No matter how much you want me dead.”

I shifted, avoiding his eyes.

“… I d-don’t want you dead.” I told him quietly, then winced guiltily.

Another scoff. “Sure. You only insult and threaten the people you like.” His free hand went up to rub at his neck, where just a few hours previously my blade had been pressed. “Gods above, what did an orc ever do to you to make you hate us so.”

“Ass-side from d-decimating the village that r-raised me?” I said, half under my breath. A bit of ire rising in me at his jabs.

“You hated us long before we stepped foot here.”

“I don’t hh-hate-”

“Don’t lie to me, Calliope!” He snarled, his breath hot in my ear he was so close. I flinched, and he jabbed his finger at me again. “There! You can’t even bare to be near me. Can’t even…” He growled, a deep rumbling in his chest that filled the air around us, and I jumped as his huge hand suddenly grabbed my chin. Forcing me towards him. “Just look at me, damn it!”

My ire fully sparked and burned, and I shoved his hand away. Glaring at him. Matching his scowl with my own.

“You don’t know me!” I snapped. “You don’t know an-anything about me! You sss-spoiled, arrogant-”

He grabbed my chin again, a little more firmly this time. Bringing himself even closer. His copper eyes as hot as the coals in the fire beside us.

“You kissed me back.” He reminded me, and I brought both hands up to try to tear myself from his grasp without avail. “For a minute, just one solitary fucking minute, you didn’t hate me. Now you’re repulsed by me, even more than before. And I find myself trying to figure out what made me kiss you in the first place. How I could crave such a bitter little hateful bitch so much that I thought I wanted to fuck her.”

“Let me go!” I cried, twisting in his grasp, the cloak slipping down my shoulders a bit as I did.

“Why??” He growled. “Does my touch burn? Does it bother you that I wanted to fuck you? That was until I realized what a raging, odious bitch you really were.”

“You dumb, m-mindless oaf!” I snapped again, punching at his arm weakly. “How can you be so f-fucking thick hh-headed!”

“No better than a monster, right? Isn’t that what you think of orcs?” He asked angrily, his tone crackling hot with his rage, his volume raising to be thunderous in the cave around us. “No better than fucking a mindless beast. Do I really disgust you so??”

“I DISGUST MYSELF!” I shouted back at him.

A final shove amid his surprise and he released me at last. Dropping his hand away and staring at me. I gasped, collapsing a bit and wrapping my arms around myself. Shaking again, and not from the cold. My eyes felt hot, my throat burned. The echo of our shouting seeming to bounce about the stone walls in our sudden silence.

“… For wanting me.” He reasoned after a few quiet moments, his deep baritone a barely discernible rumble at its current soft volume.

“You ssself-centered bastard,” I scoffed, “It’s not about you! It was n-never…”

I stopped short, then shook my head viciously. Trying to take back the confession even as it welled up inside me. I turned away, pulling the cloak as far up around myself as I could without disappearing into it entirely.

“I-I…”

Another rumble from somewhere deep in his chest as I dropped off. “… Don’t tell me you’ve lost your nerve now.” He pressed. “What else am I supposed to think? How could it not be-”

“It’s my f-fault.” I whispered, shivering again.

He stopped short, staring at me. “… What’s your fault?”

“You are.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “Being here. All those… Everyone’s dead…” I gushed. My voice shook, and I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “Because of me. Because I let Izu’lemi go. Because…” I choked, shaking my head again. Burying my face in the furs as I shook with the weight of my guilt. “You should have let me d-drown. O-or freeze… You should have buried me…” A single tear escaped my defenses. “I deserve it.”

There was a long, drawn out silence. I hid my face, refusing to look at him. Drawing in one deep, agonized breath after deep, agonized breath.

“… Izu didn’t tell us about your village.”

My head snapped up, and I looked at him with wide, red rimmed eyes.

“What??”

He shook his head. “Izu didn’t tell us. One of the soldiers did.” He grunted, shifting a little to cross his legs and almost absentmindedly put another log on the fire. “Some bastard who tried to sell his own people for a little coin. Izu actually tried to stop the order to attack.” He didn’t look at me, poking at the fire with a long stick until it crackled back to life. “So if that's what all this is about, you’ve been beating yourself up over nothing.” A smirk started playing across his lips. “And you have the nerve to call me an-”

He gave a shout of surprise as I whacked him across his shoulders. Looking over at me with his previously abandoned branch clutched between my hands. Tears still in the corners of my eyes. I brandished the branch again, scowling at him.

“You bastard!” I snapped. “You self-indulgent pig! You didn’t ever think to-”

Now it was my turn to shout as he snatched at the branch even as I swung it to hit him again. A firm yank, and I came toppling forward. Stubbornly refusing to release my hold. Resisting weakly as he pulled me even closer. He had my arm now, and twisted it so that I dropped the branch. Bringing us perilously close together.

“Don’t push me, woman,” He snarled in my face, his nose almost brushing mine, “I can still bury you!”

I brought my free hand out and smacked him soundly across his cheek. “So much for your debt!” I shot back as I did. “You stupid, arrogant, son of a -”

He gave a quiet roar. Lunging at me. Knocking me on my back and pinning me there. The cloak half twisted around me. I wriggled beneath him for a moment, and he shoved his big head back in my face. Crouched over me on all fours.

“You irritating! Frigid! Stubborn-” He started, his voice as thunderous as his brow.

Then we froze, almost as one. I felt his hot breath against my face. Saw his copper eyes smolder, his jaw shift. I swallowed a lump in my throat, closing my mouth after realizing I had left it gaping. Panting a bit from my exertion as he hoovered over me. Half of my cold skin exposed before him, which sent goosebumps racing down my bare flesh. Staring at each other.

I felt suddenly weightless, as if his hands were the only thing keeping me from floating away. Felt my heart pump with the most ease it had in months. Felt the heat burning in me like a rushing river where once there had been a dam. I wasn’t sure I could stand it. I was certain I would drown beneath the waves of heat. Though I couldn’t tell if it was anger or desire, and my breath fluttered in my throat.

Based upon the intensity in his copper eyes, I knew he could sense the change in me. I watched his nostrils flare, saw his fat tongue come out to lick his thick lips. We both shifted, nearly at the same time. As if a string were tied between our bodies, lashing us together. The heat between us growing tenfold in the spans of a breath.

My head cracked back against the stone with the force of his kiss. I fed him the gasp, and he dropped his huge body over mine. Only the strength of his massive arms keeping him from crushing me completely. My own arms came up instantly. Wrapping around his neck. Pulling him deeper into me. He gave a deep, pleased chuff somewhere inside him that rippled directly against my skin pressed to his chest. His mouth was hot, almost feverish, in pursuit of mine. His tusks crashing against my face, his braids a curtain around us. Burying me in his scent, which had me shivering almost as much as his hot body half writhing against my own. I brought one leg up, wrapping it as far as I could around his hips, which had him growling against my lips.

He pulled back just enough to trace his mouth along my jaw, down my neck. Burying his face there for a moment until his thick tongue worked out a soft sound of pleasure from my own lips.

“You bastard.” I breathed, running my hands over his huge shoulders. Over his arms. Touching every part of his body I could reach.

He came back to my mouth a moment later. Smashing us back together. I traced my tongue out and found it met his in the middle. Hot and feverish, desperately in need to taste and press and roll around each others. He shifted slightly, sliding one arm along the ground so that he could bring his hand to my face. Pushing my hair back, tracing down to my neck, Wrapping his fingers there and resting his thumb upon my throat as I swallowed.

All of a sudden, he drew back, and I looked up at him in surprise. My breath coming in shallow pants. A smirk twisted his lips.

“I thought we can’t let this happen anymore?” He reminded me, his breath husky.

“Oh, shut up, you pompous-” I hissed.

I had more insults lined up. But he forced them back into my mouth with his. Though I realized it was not as feverish, not as rough. He slowly lowered his body beside mine. Shuffling to pull the cloak a little further around me. As his kisses slowed, I pulled back a bit, still breathless and weak.

“You need to rest.” He grumbled, and I thought he sounded a bit bitter despite himself. “Can’t fuck you silly if you’re still half frozen.”

I almost shivered at the suggestion, bringing my hands out to his broad chest. Feeling it rumble in amusement as I did. Then he fully settled himself beside me, neatly cupping me between his body and the fire. He stretched and curled, reaching up one massive arm to draw a few logs closer. Tossing one lazily onto the fire. Then his hungry eyes returned to me, and I saw them drift down my body.

“… Your tits are showing.”

I thumped a fist into him. Turning as if to roll back up fully into his cloak. I heard a low growl, and his arm snaked out. Wrapping around my middle and pulling me into his chest. Tucking me against him and shuffling to pull the cloak over us both. Well, partially, at least. I was certain I was far more covered than he was.

“You’re an ass.” I mumbled, shifting against him and finding his body so pleasantly warm I couldn’t help but melt into him.

“And you have a nice ass.” He returned, taking up a palm full of it beneath the makeshift blanket. I slapped the offending hand and he drew in a sharp breath before laughing lightly. The sound making my heart skip. He buried his face in my hair. “I look forward to making it bounce.”

I shoved my elbow into his ribs. “Don’t even think about it.” I said, my voice weak with my exhaustion but still bitter. “I’ll smack you raw.”

“Promise?” He purred in my ear, nibbling at it.

“Get off.” I grumbled, but without much force behind it I merely felt him chuckle around me.

He did relent after a moment, sighing heavily and wrapping me up in his arms. Resting his chin on the top of my head. I settled against him, not thinking too hard about how bare and exposed I was, tucked against his hot skin. I felt warmer now, with only the barest lingering pins and needles at my distant extremities. Which had the exhaustion of the whole ordeal catching up with me. I felt my eyes growing heavier, no matter how intensely I stared at the crackling flames.

“… As easy as that?” He asked me quietly, then I heard the smirk form on his lips. “You like me now?”

“Not in the least.” I grumbled tiredly. “You’re still a stupid, pompous-”

His hand came up, cupping over my mouth. Smothering the last of my insults into his palm. I wriggled weakly against him, and his lips kissed my jaw, then nibbled at my ear. I managed to rip my mouth free as he distracted himself tasting my chilled flesh.

“Don’t get any ideas in your head that we’re friends.” I mumbled half-heartedly. “I still haven’t decided if you piss me off or…”

He chuckled as I dropped off hesitantly, and I felt him shift. Bringing his lips down to trace along my neck, then my shoulders. I sighed, feeling myself relax even more at his touch. Feeling him press a warm kiss between my shoulder blades. Then he have a rumbling ‘hmmm’ against my skin.

“Fair enough.” He murmured against me. “Not sure I trust you won’t kill me in my sleep.”

I scoffed tiredly. “Smartest thing you’ve ever said.” I shrugged his mouth off my shoulders. “Now shut up and go to sleep.”

“Yes dear.”

His grunt as I dug my elbow into his ribs was satisfying, Then he sighed, wrapping me up a little tighter. Throwing yet another log on the fire, and settling down behind me.

To be continued....