(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric leads Athelstan back to their room, stopping at the bar to have a quiet word with the bar before they go. When they arrive in their rooms, the bed has been spread with a large, warm bear-fur and draped with silk. There are candles on the table, at bedside, on the windowsill, bathing the room in soft, warm light.

Sinric smiles and leads Athelstan towards the bed. "This night is for you, beloved Athelstan. We'll go only as far as you're ready for."

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

There's nothing in Sinric's deep brown eyes but love. He smiles softly and strokes back Athelstan's hair, letting Athelstan choose where they go from here.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's not in much of a state to decide, being caught in a spinning mess of love and desire - and fear and pain.

"Would you... I don't know if I can bring you to..."

[thewidewideworld]

"You don't have to." Sinric whispers, still soothing his fingers through Ahtelstan's hair. "I would be very, very glad to pleasure you tonight. But you don't have to trouble yourself with me. It is enough for me to give you any joy that will lighten your heart."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then if we can... take our time..."

It feels like a very long time since he felt pleasure for more than fleeting moments.

[thewidewideworld]

"We can do anything and everything you want." Sinric promises, leaning in to kiss the slope of Athelstan's neck. "Just let me know what you need and how as we go."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I may not know that until we reach it", he says as a warning. "But I do want to try."

He kisses Sinric's throat.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric purrs warmly and cups Athelstan's shoulders, baring his neck. "Then we will cross each bridge as we get to it." He promises, nuzzling the joint of Athelstan's neck and shoulder.

[athelstanthescribe]

He swallows and nods, then starts to caress Sinric's skin where it's bared around his shift.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sighs, almost a moan. He makes no move to slide out of the shift until Athelstan wants him out of it. Besides, he's always found being touches around clothing pleasurable.

He returns the caress, staying on Athelstan's upper body, curving a gentle hand over the sweep of Athelstan's ribcage.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Tell me what you want", Athelstan murmurs, and it's a request to ease the way for him, with his shaken confidence. "Tell me how to touch you."

[thewidewideworld]

"Your hands on me." Sinric whispers softly, nuzzling Athelstan's throat, kissing up to the curve of his ear. "On my breast. My thighs."

[athelstanthescribe]

He murmurs assent against the skin of Sinric's throat and brings one hand down, sliding it under his shift to caress his thigh. The other stays where it is, but also slips under the linen.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric whimpers richly, moving gracefully against Athelstan. "Will you let me do the same for you?" He asks breathlessly. "Please?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", Athelstan says hoarsely. The gentle touches, he hopes, continuing into the future, may be able to replace the memories of the beating. "Yes - but - "

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric watches Athelstan's expression, waiting for Athelstan to express the but so he knows what Athelstan needs.

He curves his hand over Athelstan's thigh, his fingers light and soft, keeping everything gentle.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Slowly." Which Sinric probably already knew. "And if we should have to - stop and begin again - "

[thewidewideworld]

"Then that's what we'll do." Sinric promises, drawing Athelstan into a slow kiss. "Or stop completely if you need to. I'll understand."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I want - " he says, speech jerky with hesitance. "I don't want the last time I was touched to be - the beating any more. Or the doctor. Depending where."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods, running his gently hands over Athelstan's skin. "Then I hope you'll let me touch you all over? Let me cover your skin with my kisses. I want to wash away their shadows with my touch."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", Athelstan whispers. "Every inch touched with love."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and kisses him very softly before moving down to Athelstan's chest. He caresses Athelstan's chest, chasing lines of kisses over the firm muscles and soft skin. He's very, very thorough, leaving no inch of Athelstan's chest untouched or kissed.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan lies back carefully, his fingers tracing repetitive patterns on Sinric's skin, and gives all his attention to Sinric's mouth and hands on him.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric works his way lower, exploring the planes and curves of Athelstan's stomach, tracing the shape of his abs with his lips.

[athelstanthescribe]

He makes a sound of pleasure, almost a whimper, and his fingers tighten on Sinric's thigh.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric takes Athelstan's hands, guiding them up to his hair as he kisses his way down to Athelstan's hips. He stays away from Athelstan's groin for now. Instead he nuzzles the curve of his upper thighs, making sure Athelstan's okay with this.