#v: king of essetir (historical)

[kingcenred]

" what if i did have feelings for you? " /aelin

@ircnwrought

Those were the last words he had expected to come out of his wife's mouth. It had been a marriage of convenience, a mutually-beneficial alliance, without any feelings involved. Yet, a deep fondness had quickly grown between them that even Cenred could admit to: he craved Aelin's company, always.

"I - um," the great and mighty King Cenred, struck dumb by discussions of the heart. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "That would be fine. Good, even. I'd - yes."

[kingcenred]

His hands dip back down to her hips, as he slowly withdraws from her. "Mhm," he hums his agreement, smiling at the press of her lips against his cheek. "Do we have to return to our guests? I would much prefer to stay here," his fingertips trace up and down her spine. Often, Cenred found it difficult to sit still for long periods of time - restlessly preferring to spend hours on the training field, than sitting through speeches and meetings with his court. But here, with Aelin naked on his chest? He could happily wile away the hours just like this, with no where else he would rather be. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever set eyes on," he tells her, sincerely, as he nuzzles his nose against her cheek. "Sorry about your dress. Frankly, it is a shame that you have to wear clothes at all," he teases.

__________△        SHE       CANNOT       HELP       HER       CONTENTED       SIGH       INTO       HIS       KISS       OR       HOW       HER       FINGERS       PLAY       WITH       HIS       HAIR       GENTLY.       a   shiver   courses   through   her   at   his   caress   along   her   spine    &&    she   presses   her   lips   softly   into   his   cheek.     ❛    forever    ??       it   is   a   good   thing   our   guests   can   be   left   to   their   own   devices   for   so   long   then,    ❜       she   teases.       she   still   feels   the   remnants   of   her   high   from   only   moments   before,       satisfaction    &&    warmth   rippling   just   under   the   surface   of   her   skin.     ❛    a   lifetime   alone   would   not   be   enough.    ❜     her   hummed   agreement   meets   him   as   she   draws   impossibly   close.     here,       in    the    sanctuary    of    their    room    &&    their    embrace,       there    is    no    war.     here,       she    knows    what    it    is    like    to    be    safe    &&    cherished    beyond    all    measure.

[the-lions-mouth]

my fave merthur fics, all first time/getting together

Come back to the source to reblog as it gets updated occasionally!

Long Canon Era: 

The World I Built For You: 32K, T, If I told you to execute Mordred, would you do it? Merlin wondered, losing himself in the blue of Arthur's eyes. Can I save you like this, even if it damns me? you didn’t think s5 could get any more emotional but u were wrong

Touch My Skin To Make Me Whole: 64K, E, The Kingdom of Essetir has once again fallen under new rule, and Arthur travels to visit its new king, determined to make peace. The new king is treacherous though, and he may have just found the one weakness that will force Arthur’s hand. Note: AU Post Season 4 the ultimate hurt/comfort

Short Canon Era: 

The Coming of Spring: 10K, E, Kings, even new ones, were not supposed to long for their menservants.

Golden Threads: 12K, E, When Arthur drinks enchanted water Merlin does everything that is in his power to save his king, even if it breaks his heart.

Visiting Hunith: 9K, T, Five times Ealdor had visitors.

Beauty in the Ashes of Our Lives: 22K, T, After Merlin is executed for Uther's murder, Arthur's world falls apart.

Apotheosis: 9K, T, magic reveal, love vs destiny

Dying to Return: 20K, T, after Merlin leaves, a mysterious sorcerer comes to Camelot

As a Sea Shell: 13K, T, When Arthur discovers Merlin’s magic, he banishes him from Camelot. But Merlin is destined to serve Arthur until the day he dies. sorry team i’m gonna shameless rec myself

Modern AU:

Serious Eyes, Suddenly Smiles: 11K, E, When you are young everything seems definite. You are either in or out. Finishing up at university or messing up your whole future.

Unsteady: 10K, T, merlin is a private investigator for arthur, who’s dating sophia (a bit dark at points, read tags)

Perfect: 15K, E, infidelity, internalized homophobia

Reincarnation:

Do Not Go Gentle: 5K, T, “Don’t you understand?” He shakes her. “I cared more about him than I did about his kingdom, more than I ever cared about magic...I didn’t care about Arthur the King of Camelot. I only cared about Arthur the man.” His chest is hurting. He can’t get enough air. “I fucked up, Gwen, and I’m sorry. Do you want that in writing?” 

The Heart You Call Home: 16K, M, Arthur writing about stories he can only barely remember, Merlin, depressed and with major survivors guilt, finds them, much angst

Historical AU (honestly i love historical aus, that’s why there are so many here):

Gaudy: 6K, G, political AU in the 1960s thru 1997, honestly the best characterizations of all time

A West-Country Romance: 91K, E, Poldark AU, the slowburn “Arthur as the lord, Merlin as his servant” historical au you deserve

True Heart of Wexford: 21K, E, Wexford, 1798, Merlin is the Catholic groundskeeper on a manor belonging to Anglo-Irish aristocrat Arthur Pendragon. While Merlin's day job entails looking after Arthur's property, he's also involved with the United Irishmen. Political upheaval is about to plunge the country into turmoil. In the midst of all this stands Arthur Pendragon, who's become Merlin's staunch friend in spite of everything that divides them: faith, class, position, and obligation.

Something Worth Fighting For: 21K, E, Set during World War II. Arthur is sent to the front lines to fight for Britain, while Merlin is left behind, struggling to cope with the absence of his best friend. Seeking to give Arthur some comfort, Merlin begins to send him pieces of a story, which tells of a legendary King and his devoted manservant.Through their letters, Arthur and Merlin grow closer, and perhaps begin to discover feelings that they could not put into words before. 

Yet The Man Would At Once Run Away With Your Heart: 4K, M,  Mordred comes to stay at Avalon Hall and takes a shine to Merlin. Arthur is most unimpressed by this turn of events.

High school/Teenage AU:

Out of Body: 53K, E, Finding out that his best friend is gay shouldn't be a big deal. But then, catching Merlin wanking to gay porn shouldn't turn Arthur on, either. With his plans for uni in shambles and his position on the high school footie team lost to injury, Arthur's determined not to disappoint his father any further. Running away from Merlin seems like the easiest thing to do, but his denial might cost him everything. the teenage au you’ve been dreaming of

Should You Choose to Accept It: 11K, T, so pure, childhood friends to falling out in middle school to falling in love in high school

A Personal History of Midwestern Running: 20K, T, hahah the ending kills me every time, the one where arthur teaches merlin how to run

Beyond the Neon Trees: 56K, M, Falling in love with your best friend is never easy; especially when you’re living in the deadbeat rundown Holly Street Estate in East London.

Canon Era AU:

Gadarene: 77K, E, Arthur is the regent but Agravaine has the power, merlin is sold to arthur, I was dubious of the set up but this is a v satisfying well told story

Smut:

Merlin’s Place: 3K, bath

Brighter When We Come: 4K, bath

Night Sky Changing Overhead: 5K, bath (there’s a theme here sorry)

What I Want You’ve Got, It Might Be Hard to Handle: 3K, magic made them do it (100% consenual tho)

The Dirty Little Things You Say: 9K, arthur gets so turned on from merlin’s dirty talk

At Our Best When It’s From The Hips: 13K, loss of virginity

Solace: 1K, bath

Love is a Doing Word: 4K, role reversal 

Embrocation: 7K, massage

For Want of Wreckage: 27K, the one where the druids give Arthur a tattoo that makes him wet and horny but highlight is the massage scene

Forgive My Thoughts When I’m Asleep: 4K, angsty huddling for warmth

[kingcenred]

@ircnwrought Aelin gets puppies from Cenred!

It had been several weeks since the assassination attempt and, thank God, Aelin's shoulder appeared to be healing well. So far, the king had followed through on his threat to turn into her personal guard dog - he'd hardly allowed her out of his sight since she'd returned to her feet. But he also hadn't forgotten about his other promise.

Ever so carefully, he carries a large basket into the room where Aelin is reading. The contents are covered by a light piece of fabric, but the surprise is ruined as the basket whines, and then barks quietly. "I bought you a gift," he smiles, placing the basket gently down onto the table, and trying to stop one of the inquisitive puppies from climbing out too soon.

[kingcenred]

[ WEARY ]: sender notices the receiver about to fall asleep during a task, and picks them up to carry them to bed so that they can actually sleep properly for once. / aelin

@ircnwrought

Disapproval creases his brow as his search for his wife comes to end; she should not be working at this hour, particularly not in her delicate state. His expression softens almost immediately, however, when he sees how her head begins to dip over her desk and he strides across the room. Without so much as a greeting, he tenderly scoops his wife, and their unborn child, into his arms.

"Shh," he murmurs, before she can rouse in protest. "There will be plenty of time for you to answer those letters in the morning, my love. Our kingdoms will be far better served by a well-rested Queen," he assures, as he carefully walks the short distance towards their shared bed. Ever so gently, he lays her down and kisses her twice - once on the lips, and secondly on the growing curve of her stomach. "You're not allowed to get out of this bed until I do," he warns, as he pulls the blankets up over both of them.

[kingcenred]

“You and me. Always.” / aelin

@ircnwrought

Rumours that Morgause was once again within Essetir's borders had spread: it happened occasionally, a soldier or scout mistaking an innocent blonde woman for the traitor who had almost killed the king. This time, however, there seemed to be an inkling of truth to the reports and Cenred, true to form, had taken the news very badly.

Roaring orders to his men, storming down to the stables to join the patrols himself, and yelling at any of his advisors who dared to question his actions was all bluster to stop himself from acknowledging the true emotion that just the whisper of his ex-lover's name provoked: fear. And now, it was not just his life that was in danger. If Morgause laid a hand on his wife...

But Kings did not feel fear: Kings were never afraid. So deep had that indoctrination been that he found himself unknowingly avoiding his wife; one moment alone with her, and he knew that Aelin would see through the anger to what was truly troubling him. And then what? What Queen wanted a scared, weak man as their husband?

But, of course, his evasion lasted only a matter of hours before Aelin captured him. All it would take was one look for her to see the tension running through every inch of his body...and yet, the words that left her mouth was most certainly not what he had been expecting.

"You and me. Always."

He reached for her, pulling her tightly against his chest and hiding his head in her hair for a long moment - breathing in her soft scent. "Yes," he simply said, "yes."

[kingcenred]

“Anything you want, anything you need, all you have to do is ask.” /aelin

@ircnwrought

Despite the best efforts from his men, and the round-the-clock care from a team of his very best physicians, the substantial wound Cenred received on the battlefield had become infected. There were fears that the king's fever would not break, and he had already spent over a week drifting in and out of consciousness. When he did rouse for a few hours at a time, his senses seemed overloaded with bright lights, thundering sounds and extraordinary pain. In his feverish daze, he was often unsure what was real and what were figments of his imagination.

But in those brief moments of clarity, he knew that his wife was always by his side. Again, it was her voice that dragged him from the dark yet blissfully pain-free corners of his mind and his eyelids fluttered open. This time, however, his vision was clear and his breathing seemed suddenly easy. Was this it? Had his fever finally broken?

"Anything I want, hmm?" he rasped, fighting against his heavy eyelids as he managed to gently squeeze Aelin's hand. "That's a rather dangerous promise."

[kingcenred]

[ SHAVE ]: sender sits in the receiver's lap so they can carefully shave the last of the receiver's stubble from their face. / listen cen trusting aelin with a knife around him means a lot to me okay

@ircnwrought

It had been a while since Cenred had been clean-shaven, but with the heat of midsummer approaching and the near-endless battles he'd grown tired of washing the sweat and blood from his beard. Naturally, he'd not trusted any of the servants with a blade so close to his throat, so he'd sat in front of a mirror and shaved himself. He'd made a reasonable effort, but his large, war-trained hands struggled with the delicate curves of his jaw and a faint curse escaped him as he nicked his skin.

The king did not protest as his wife plucked the knife from his hands, and settled herself in his lap. Instead, a lazy smirk tugged his lips upwards as he wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her, and tilted his head to one side to allow her better access to the last few patches of stubble. The last time a woman was so near to him with a knife, he had barely lived to tell the tale, but as Aelin gently placed the blade against his skin he felt not a flicker of concern.

Somehow, without him even realising, Aelin had become the person he trusted most.

"I hope I do not look like a boy," he teasingly murmured.

[kingcenred]

"No, do go on," the King muttered, challengingly. "I'd like to know how you can explain this."

[kingcenred]

Not entirely convinced by Mal's sure he could manage response, his lips did twist upwards at his evident faith in his lifeguarding abilities. "True, but I think being the hero once on your trip is enough for me," he grinned, as he quickly discarded the rest of his clothing - tossing it mindlessly onto one of the sun loungers. With the hot tub bubbling away merrily, it was just too difficult to wait for Mal to finish removing all his clothes and his jewellery - so he clambered into the water, a sigh of satisfaction escaping him as the jets massaged his back and shoulders.

"You wear far too much," he teased, his gaze watching Mal admiringly as he exposed more skin. He leaned back against the side of the hot tub, humming in consideration at his question. "Yeah, it's been a while. Maybe April? And that was just for a weekend. I'd live here permanently if I could, but alas it's too far to drive back to the capital each day and I've been told the environmental impact of me flying the helicopter would be too great," his nose wrinkled - he didn't like being told no, and although he knew the reasons behind the decision, it didn't stop him from being grumpy about it.

"We didn't even get to finish the tour," he pointed out, with faint amusement. The hot tub was an excellent distraction, particularly if it gave them another excuse to be naked. "I'll show you the rest, later."

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Mal teased. Though he wouldn’t exactly say he envied the other man for growing up around water and living what was practically a stones throw away from some of the most beautiful beaches he’d ever seen, he supposed it was a skill he ought to have made more of an effort to learn. Either way, it was sweet how concerned Cenred was for his safety. “I’m sure I could manage.” He assured, dismissing his worry with an easy smile that turned a touch more playful after a moments thought. “Besides, if you’re here I at least have someone to dive in to my rescue, hm?”

Settling on the edge of one of the sun loungers to unlace the high-top trainers he’d donned for the day, setting them aside and then beginning to remove all of his jewellery, just in case, Mal glanced up at the other man upon hearing his tender admission, his own playful grin softening at the edges. Though having someone to share it with did sound a touch sentimental, maybe even romantic, even Mal couldn’t deny how happy he was to be here in Essetir with him. He’d sensed a long time ago that Cenred was probably making more of an effort with him than he made with any other one night stands, and they were definitely a long ways past being called that, but the florist suspected they were both more comfortable not addressing what they were. Casual? Friends with benefits? It wasn’t worth stressing over, not when they had been having such a lovely time.

“Me too.” Mal hummed, unclasping the last necklace and then carefully setting it aside, then tugging his shirt off over his head, assuming from Cenred’s own eager undressing that they weren’t going to bother with any clothes at all as he continued to strip off. “When was the last time you got to come out here? I guess you’ve been too busy the past few months?”

[kingcenred]

Fourth Wing / The Empyrean Series Verse

v: the earth wielding king

Age: 28+ Occupation: King of Essetir, Dragon Rider Dragon: Red Scorpiontail female named Arynth Signet: Earth-wielding Loyalty: Allied with the rebellion The kingdom of Essetir is a small, island nation located far into the warm waters of the Arctile Ocean. They may be relatively few in number, but the population consists of fearsome warriors who's riders spend years developing and training their signet powers. Cenred is bonded to a fairly average-sized female Red Scorpiontail named Arynth, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in ferocity. Cenred's signet is earth-wielding; he can control and manipulate rocks, soil, sand, lava and other earth-based minerals. He has spent almost a decade carefully cultivating his signet abilities; consequently, he has excellent stamina and control.

Historically, before Cenred ascended the throne, Essetir were invaded by Navarre but their attackers failed to penetrate even the first line of Essetir's defense - not wishing to admit defeat, the Navarre king declared the invasion a great success, and that Essetir had been destroyed. Happy to live a quiet life, Essetir made no attempt to make their existence known. That was, up until their dragons warned them of the threat on their breeding grounds from the venin.

[kingcenred]

Generous and soft-hearted: his lips twitch in amusement at how vastly different his men would describe him. "Don't say that too loudly," he warns, a hint of playfulness returning to his tone. "It's taken me a good ten years to cultivate my terrifying image. I would so hate for it to be ruined," he teases. But his soft, loving smile as Aelin takes his wrist and the way his heart swells adoringly as she seeks to come even closer to him, does not help his argument. Her words reassure him that she will not run off in some self-sacrificing move, and just the hint of a chuckle rumbles through his chest as the teasing lilt returns to her tone. "Perhaps we can try it, once you're recovered. I'm very good at tying knots," he winks.

Once he has kissed her face to his fill, he lets their foreheads rest together - his hands still cradling her cheeks ever so gently. Finally, he feels his own breathing return to a steadier rate. There's certainly still anger there, bubbling under the surface, but his main priority in that moment is his wife: she is safe, and carefully bandaged. He is ever so careful not to jostle or disturb the wound, as lets his hands drop and entwines their fingers in her lap, instead. "Well, I am quite remarkable," he teasingly agrees, more than happy to move the conversation away from such emotive topics. The scar on his stomach tingles uncomfortably - she has shared such anguish with him, and yet it has only made him more reluctant to share his own experienced. How could he admit that one single blade to the stomach had impacted him so greatly, when Aelin had suffered so much more? Love. He remembers a similar endearment slipping from his lips just moments ago, and he is sure she is merely returning the sentiment to be kind. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean..." he responds, with faux outrage, at her quip about his patience.

__________△       HER       HEART       CRACKS       TO       HEAR       HOW       ADAMENT       HE       IS       TO       KEEP       HER       AT       HIS       SIDE.       she   wants   nothing   more   to   be   held   by   him,       but   knows   the   pain   in   her   wound   would   be   too   great.       instead,       her   good   hand   reaches   up   to   gently   take   his   wrist,       her   fingers   lightly   pressing   on   the   inside.     if    she    cannot    lay    her    head    on    his    chest    then    she    will    count    her    breaths    in    time    with    the    pulse    beneath.     ❛    you   would   not   find   me   kicking    &&    screaming    because    i   know   who   i   married,    ❜       she   murmurs,       drawing   as   close   as   she   can   without   aggravating   her   shoulder   as   if   she   can't   bear   any   separation   from   him,       whether   a   few   inches   or   hundreds   of   miles.     the    truth    is,       she    can't    even    if    she    wants    to    push    the    thought    deep    where    she    cannot    worry    about    it    now.     ❛    my   generous    &&    surprisingly   soft-hearted   husband.       even   when   the   whole   world   thinks   one   thing,     i    know    the    truth.    ❜     &&    that   is   enough.       it   always   would   be.     ❛    i   will   be   by   your   side   for   as   long   as   you   will   have   me.    ❜     it's   a   promise    &&    a   vow.       her   worry   begins   to   wane    &&    she   cocks   a   half-smile   at   him,       her   teasing   returning   to   her   tone.     ❛    although   that   is   an   intriguing   idea   of   yours       …    ❜

△__________       SHE       SIGHS       INTO       HIS       KISS,       TASTING       THE       SALT       OF       HER       TEARS       ON       HIS       LIPS.     he    accepts    her    so    wholeheartedly    &&    it    feels    as    if    she    can    breathe    once    more.       she   keeps   no   secrets   from   him   now.     he    has    seen    the    blackest    parts    of    her    soul,       she    has    given    him    a    chance    to    leave    her,       &&    yet    he    calls    her    perfect.     it    defies    all    logic.     ❛    somewhere   along   the   way,       i   must   have   done   something   good   to   earn   this   time   with   you.    ❜     she   will   try   to   keep   proving   she   is   worthy   of   it    &&    never   take   a   single   moment   for   granted.     she    could    have    lost    him    twice    today,       between    the    assassin's    blade    &&    her    own    confessions,       yet    she    still    has    the    privilege    to    call    him    hers.     ❛    you   would   still   require   patience,       love.     not    a    strongsuit    of    yours,       but   we   can   find   a   way   to   make   it   interesting,       i'm   sure.    ❜

[kingcenred]

With them completely wrapped up in each other, his previous jealousy towards one of their guests seemed entirely unfounded. Of course, she was his. No-one would ever touch her, apart from him. A lazy, sated smile tugs his lips upwards as Aelin leaves kisses along his throat and he hums his approval. "I could stay like this forever," he murmurs, making no move to withdraw from her. "I can never get enough of you," he playfully admits, as his arms wrap tightly around her. His fingertips brush gently against her back, and he joins their lips together for a soft, tender kiss.

__________△       HIS       ARMS       WRAP       AROUND       HER       &&       SHE    WILLINGLY       FOLLOWS       AS       HE       PULLS       HER       DOWN       AGAINST       HIM.       her   chest   meets   his,       her   hands   go   to   either   side   of   his   head   as   her   fingers   twist   into   his   hair.     her    breathing    heaves    to    be    called    his    &&    she    swallows    her    name    from    his    lips    as    she    disappears    into    that    kiss.       she   does   not   know   where   he   ends    &&    she   begins   when   he   reaches   his   own   climax,       her   hips   slowly   rolling   to   milk   the   last   of   his   pleasure   from   him.       sweat   kisses   her   brow,       her   heart   beat   is   erratic.     she    makes    no    move    to    separate    as    they    come    down    from    their    highs.       instead,       she   nuzzles   her   head   into   his   neck,       placing   gentle   kisses   where   her   lips   can   reach.     ❛    i'm    yours.    ❜       a   whisper    &&    a   promise.

[kingcenred]

"Don't hold back," he encourages, his fingers drawing firm circles over that swollen bundle of nerves as he continues to meet her rhythm, his hips bouncing up against hers. "Let go for me. I will not be far behind," his words end in a moan, as his free hand moves up to caress her breasts. Her moans are the sweetest of sounds, and he feels himself approaching his own release; there is something dangerously intoxicating about the way she uses him for her pleasure, and he knows - in that moment - she has entirely consumed him. There is nothing she could ask of him which he would not do, and willingly.

__________△       SHE       CAN'T       HELP       THE       WAY       SHE       BUCKS       HER       HIPS       WHEN       HIS       HAND       ONCE       AGAIN       STARTS       TO       TEASE       HER.       it   is   near   maddening,       as   each   thrust   fills   her   so   completely    &&    his   fingers   draw   out   something   wild   in   her.     she    had    already    been    skirting    the    edge    since    her    first    release    &&    now    he    builds    her    back    up    again.       her   breathing   turns   to   panting    &&    she   is   slowly   losing   the   steady   control   over   her   movements.     ❛    i   can't   hold   back   much   longer       …    ❜       a   warning    &&    a   promise   as   her   core   tightens   once   more    &&    she   has   given   herself   to   full   abandon   in   her   pace,       the   moans   freely   filling   the   space   between   them.

[kingcenred]

He groans as she begins to pick up the pace, and he eagerly meets each of her movements with deep thrusts of his own. At Aelin's words, a low curse escapes him and his rhythm stutters slightly as his dark, lust-filled gaze drops down to watch where their bodies join. "I wish you could see yourself like this," he murmurs, "it is a breath-taking sight. Particularly the face you make just as I push you over the edge," he hums. One of his hands moves down between their bodies and his fingers seek out that nub once again, eager to feel her spasm around him before he allowed himself to give into the pleasure coursing through him.

__________△       HE       NEEDS       HER.       the   thought   alone   is   enough   to   raise   goosebumps   along   her   skin.     the    fact    that    she    makes    him    come    undone    ??       a   groan   escapes   her   lips   at   it.     they've    learned    each    other    well    these    early    days.       her   hips   begin   to   pick   up   the   pace    &&    she   breathes   his   name   once   more.       where   she   moves,       he   meets   in   a   dance   they   have   practiced   often.     she    cannot    get    enough.       like    a    parched    man    to    water,       she    takes    her    fill.       a   hand   comes   to   cover   one   of   his   on   her   hip    &&    the   other   rests   against   his   chest,    where   a   racing   heart   beat   greets   her.       blonde   hair   spills   over   her   shoulder   as   she   leans   forward   slightly,       relying   on   his   hands   to   continue   to   give   her   leverage   as   she   rides   him   in   earnest.     ❛    i   don't   think       …       i'll   ever   get   used   to    this.     how    good    you    feel    inside    of    me.    ❜

[kingcenred]

When she had first traced a finger across the large scar on his abdomen, he'd grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away as though her touch had physically burned him. Now, he lays passively on the bed - his hand reaching down to gently entwine in her hair at the kisses to his damaged skin. But he cannot prevent his jaw from clenching as she dares to mention the one responsible for his scar: he still has not spoken of it fully to his wife, just the occasional heated comment when his anger has gotten the best of him.

Mercifully, all unhappy thoughts of Morgause vanished from his mind when her tongue swipes around him and he moans again, unabashed, as she begins to take him into her mouth. "Fuck, Aelin," he breathes, his hand resting lightly on the back of her head. "I need you," he's already aching, his thighs trembling with the effort to resist thrusting up into her mouth.

__________△       SATISFACTION       COURSES       THROUGH       HER       AT       HIS       REACTION       TO       HER       TOUCH.     she    reluctantly    relinquishes    her    careful    work    as    he    readjusts    himself    beside    her.       he   has   left   her   dress   in   tatters,       hanging   from   her   body    &&    leaving    very    little    to   imagination    (    it   is   a   quick   task   to   lose   the   rest   of   the   ruined   fabric       …       the   once   lavish   gift   now   lays   in   a   heap   on   the   floor   with   his   own   clothes    &&    she   shivers   under   the   weight   of   his   stare    &&    the   chill   of   the   air   in   the   room     )       she   kisses   the   hollow   of   his   throat,       lowering   herself   down   his   chest    &&    abdomen.     when    she    reaches    the    scar    etched    into    his    skin,       her    kiss    lingers.     ❛    she   never   deserved   you.    ❜     her   eyes   are   ablaze   at   her   declaration   now   that   she   knows   some   of   the   truth   behind   the   story.     she    promises    she    will    make    herself    the    only    name    he    can    remember    after    this.       with   each   touch,       she   draws   herself   lower,       until   her   tongue   swirls   along   his   head.     her    smile    in    response    is    wicked    as   she   slowly   takes   more   of   him in her mouth.     she    wonders    how    far    she    can    push    him    until    he    begs    to    fill    her    instead.