pinprick | Fade Rift: Inbox

You know what to do.

Nathaniel smiles into the kiss, his heart melting at the picture Anders paints. But there's more.

"There's more," he adds softly. "I... This is a traditional engagement gift. To every bride who became Arlessa for the last six generations."

He holds his breath and watches Anders' face. He knows, believes he knows what Anders will think of it. But it's that moment of frozen uncertainty between the words being spoken and the answer being given, and for that wild, freefalling bit of time, anything can happen.

Engagement gift. For a moment he an only stare at Nate, fingers feeling a little numb as the weight of it sinks in. He's being asked for something permanent. Nate wants permanence, with him. They've been together for several months now, and Nate's seen him at his highs and his lows, and Nate still wants him.

Anders swallows and his grip tightens around the little locket. "I don't think there's a Chantry standing that would let me inside for anything formal, but I've always preferred the outdoors personally."

He swallows again, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. Nate loves him that much, and it's a feeling that Anders returns in full. Slowly he reaches up and brushes a lock of Nate's hair back. It's hard to be this serious. He's never been good at it, which is why he'd joked a second ago. But the look on Nate's face says Anders needs to be clear which means it's time to be very clear and very serious.

"I'm yours, love. I accept the gift and say yes to the question."

In that silence there, Nathaniel almost started talking again. Almost yammered about their lives together and stupid things and rubbish just to fill silence. Then Anders is answering. Yes. He said yes.

The words are barely out of Anders' mouth before Nathaniel has him flat on the bed, kissing him hard. Sheets are tangled between them, someone out there is probably ready to make a beeline for the door because these curtains partitioning off their little section are only curtains.

At that thought, he does break the kiss and pause.

"Anyone in the room," he says loudly, "now is your chance to get out. It's the last time I'm stopping for you."

There's palpable silence before at least three people start scurrying for the door.

He grunts at the sudden shove and kiss, but it's not a noise of protest in the least. Physical contact is the best way Anders knows how to show he cares which means he has an arm holding Nate close just as quickly and ankles behind Nate's as well. The kiss is delicious, celebratory and loving, and he's all too happy to return it.

The pause is a little welcome, though. It gives him a chance to scoot over and carefully place the locket back in the drawer. This way he can't drop it, Purrelden can't bat it somewhere, and Lady can't try to gnaw on it. It's pretty much their-little-family proof now. ...Their little family. They've been one, but this makes it a set thing. More solid, as solid as the press of Nate's body against his, more solid than the sound of people escaping.

With a laugh he actually, fully feels, Anders urges Nate's head back down to his and kisses hard, other hand smoothing over the archer's firm back and encouraging as much contact as possible. He imagines Nate can feel the pounding of his heart through his chest, just as he thinks he can feel Nate's.

Nathaniel eases down between Anders' legs, pressed with every inch possible against him, ravishing that devilish mouth in a manner both hungry and unhurried. This is a meal worth savoring. Heat builds between them, tufts of it wafting from their joined breaths, eddies of it curling in the spaces between them as their bodies move together and apart.

"I love you so much," he pants in between kisses. One knee gently slides between Anders' thighs, spreading him.

Ordinarily he'd be pushing a little, trying to speed up the pace simply because he always wants more of Nate, but this is special. They're entirely on the same page, and there can be no doubt left in Nate's mind about wanting to be with Anders now that he's asked. It lifts a weight off of Anders' shoulders even though he knows Nate hadn't been questioning it.

"I love you too," he whispers as he spreads his legs the way he's parted his lips for every dart of Nate's tongue. "My gorgeous," a kiss of Nate's jaw, "handsome," another to his cheek, "magnificent beloved."

So slowly he drifts his hand further down, tracing Nate's lower back as if memorizing the curve of it before it climbs just a little to Nate's ass. Anders can't resist an affectionate squeeze no matter how silly it is; he absolutely loves this man and never wants to let go.

"You're stuck with me now. Forever." And he has Nate forever in return. This is probably the best day of his life.

"Forever." Nathaniel gives a pleased grunt when his ass is squeezed. He redirects his kisses to Anders' ear, tongue caressing the incredibly soft skin just behind, nose buried in that silky, fragrant hair. "Do you want a wedding?" Kissing along his jaw, slowly. "Let's have a wedding."

"A wedding," he echoes, trying out the thought for the very first time. The race of his heart is mostly inspired by Nate's closeness and the warm, intimate kisses, but in part it's due to fears about what people would say, what they'd think, what they'd... except they can't do. They can't. And what they say and do doesn't matter anymore. Yesterday had helped it finally start sinking in, more than anyone else knows, and Bethany and Nate especially.

He has people he loves, and he is loved by them.

Anders pulls back slightly from the kisses to look into Nate's eyes. "Let's have a wedding, Nathaniel. I would be wed to you." And then he's leaning forward again, returning lips to lips and pressing as much against Nate as possible.

"A wedding." There's a faint, relieved chuckle in there, broken against Anders' lips. "I'm going to marry you."

His hands slide up Anders' chest and over his shoulders. Lightly, they begin to tease, caressing the soft skin of his throat, drawing circles over his shoulders, running lightly over his nipples one finger at a time. They come back down and around to feel his heartbeat with his hands before returning to toy gently with his nipples until they are stiff. He is going to take his time now, and treat Anders properly.

"I don't know Howe I got so lucky," he whispers as Nate's hands explore him. It's nice to take time and savor this. To savor Nate and the way his lover touches him. Anders' body responds quickly, about as fast as his heart is pounding, and he makes a quiet noise at the toying with his nipples.

He reaches down to trace the lines of Nate's stomach and hips, lightly grazing his cock deliberately, playfully, before he takes it in hand gently and gives it a slow stroke.

"...I might have to rethink all of the name jokes considering I don't have a family name to offer you." Which means he's winding up Anders Howe.

Nathaniel rolls his hips, thrusting into the circle of Anders' hand while one knee opens Anders' legs even further.

"You don't have to be a Howe," he says, voice deepening as his arousal heightens. "Name or no, you will have a sister and a nephew. You will be family. My husband."

One hand entwines with Anders' free hand lovingly before drawing it down to join the other, settling both between Anders' legs as he thrusts between them.

"I'll have you," he replies. A sister and a nephew are nice. He's wanted a family for so long. But Nate is what he wants the most, and Nate is who he has.

Nate's hand gets a quick squeeze before he's holding it there with the other, welcoming the eager thrusts of Nate's cock. That gets far more careful squeezes as Anders watches the thrusting with darkened eyes.

"I want to take your name because it's yours."

Nathaniel goes slowly, treating Anders' hands like he treats his ass, anticipation of the future. He is tender, loving, attentive with those beloved hands, his fingers gliding over the insides of Anders' thighs before one curls around Anders' cock.

"Anders Howe." He'd never thought about it, but now it fuels his desire, knowing how utterly Anders wishes them to be joined. "My husband, Anders Howe."

The look on Nate's face is parallel to how he's treating Anders' body, almost prayerful, and it and the words make a powerful mix. He can't imagine being loved this much by anyone else, just as he couldn't imagine ever being loved this much before now.

"Your husband," Anders echoes. "And you'll be mine, Nathaniel."

The hand on his cock gets a grunt and a short closing of Anders' eyes; it takes a lot of willpower to not push in and rush this, and Anders wants it slow this time. He matches the speed of his hands on Nate's cock with the new touch, keeping it steady and the same.

"My love, my Barchen, my husband."

Nathaniel uses his other hand to open the tin of salve nearby, using it to slick Anders' hands as the hardness of his length works between them. They move together, slowly, for some time, sharing exquisite touches and kisses. Nathaniel loves this, the motion of their bodies as they try to touch everywhere they can, exploring his lover--his betrothed--outside before working inward. He wants Anders to be keening for it before he enters him.

When he can feel Anders' heartbeat quickening, he removes his hand from his cock, and gently turns Anders on his face. His hands encourage, rather than manipulate, his legs to close most of the way, and he sinks back on top, guiding the head of his cock down the crack of his ass until it reaches the seam between his legs. He thrusts in between those legs, so close that Anders can feel him gliding over his perineum with each movement.

"Oh." He'd expected Nate to take his his ass until his legs are urged closed. This is different. Not new, but unusual in a good way. Getting a little worked up despite his best efforts, Anders rocks his hips back to get Nate's cock in contact with more of him. While he's enjoying the position, he also wants more. He always wants more when it comes to Nate even with the slick, heated cock already rubbing against such a good spot.

"I'm sure my thighs aren't all you want of me." His voice is confident... and a little pleading. "I know you want to fill me as much as I want you there." Nate likes to hear him asking, begging, and Anders likes to comply. "You can take me and have me completely."

"I know," Nathaniel pants against Anders' ear. "I know how we both want it. But I want to treat you right tonight. I want to take you when it will give you the greatest pleasure. I want to please you tonight, because it is my first time with my betrothed."

His hands grip Anders' hips and he gives two powerful thrusts, then withdraws at last. He spends at least a minute kissing down Anders' spine to his tailbone, each kiss a flash of heat to worship each vertebra. He slicks his fingers with salve and finally, finally, parts Anders with a gentle touch, circling his entrance with a slippery finger.

"You always please me." It's gasped with those two thrusts before he pauses in anticipation. The kisses coming first draw a shiver from him, followed by another. Nate's lips are delicious against his skin, even the areas that feel the press alone. Maybe especially against those areas. And then, the sound of something being slicked.

Anders makes a noise that he'd try denying was a whimper as he shifts how he's kneeling enough to give Nate room and then he's teased with the light touch, the very beginning of being prepared.

"I love when you take me. I love feeling whole with you. I belong with you."

Nathaniel's hand pulls away as he slicks both hands now, rubbing briskly to warm them both before returning, his left hand going underneath to wrap around Anders' cock. His right middle finger goes back to that pucker and presses against it without breaching.

"And I love feeling you from inside," he says with a slight growl to his voice, "being as much a part of you as I can be. As if I can touch your soul somewhere in there, and be truly part of you. Surrounded by you. I don't just take you, my darling. You take me, receive me, have me. I'm safe."

The finger presses against muscle, then eases, massaging, teasing, building, until it finally begins the slow, steady drive inward.

He groans at the further teasing even as his cock is taken in hand, slowly sliding forward into the grip before trying to get more of Nate's finger.

"And I'm safe with you. In every..." He breaks off as there's more teasing, a push and then Nate relenting, and Anders has to catch his breath for a moment. "In every way. Beside you, and when we're one, joined, and, and, yes."

Finally Nate's finger is slipping in. Anders scoots his knees slightly forward, lowering himself a little more toward the bed and improving the angle for Nate's entry. "You touch all of me, and make me feel so... right. So cherished, love."

Nathaniel's finger enters slowly, so slowly, while his other hand caresses Anders' length, keeping everything loving and pleasurable. Slow, slow, never moving out, no finger-fucking, just a gradual, gentle press deeper and deeper. This isn't a preview of pleasure to come, but its own experience, the slicking and preparation.

"Breathe, my love. Once I'm all the way in, I will ask you to do something. But for now, simply breathe and relax. I have you taken care of."

"Anything," he whispers before working to slowly steady his breathing. It's not that easy with his heart pounding in his chest or the slow glide of Nate's hand on his cock, and especially not as Nate's finger slides deeper.

"You always have me taken care of." Nate's planning something, has to be, with the slowness. Instead of pushing, Anders chooses to trust him. This feels good, Nate's touch, his attention, his intensity. "I'm ready for more, love, if that's what you want to know."

"I know you are ready for more. This isn't about you being ready for my pleasure. It's about your pleasure."

He places a kiss on the small of Anders' back. At long last, his finger is as deep as it will go. He does not move it from there.

"Now. Show me how tight you can be, as tight as you can manage for as long as you can manage."

"About my pleasure, he says, the morning after we have a threesome I'd asked for, after a party in my honor..." There's so much warmth in his voice as he complies with the request, tightening the muscles of his abdomen and sphincters as much as he can, holding it like that.

"Would you like to feel that around something else? Clenching down, holding you tight inside me? Because this should be our pleasure, love." He's spoiled by Nate. He loves every minute of it, but he doesn't want Nate to lose out because of the focus on Anders.

"I had a great deal of tight last night," Nathaniel purrs. "Opening you together with Zevran. You clenching around us both as we rubbed together inside you." It's arousing just remembering it. "This is different, my darling, and I think we will both love it."

When Anders' body can no longer continue clenching, Nathaniel slides his finger out and turns Anders on his back, taking one of his hands and pressing it to his own erection.

"Do you feel how much I desire you? Do you think I am neglecting myself?"