He's fought so long and hard for freedom, and somehow, being called Nate's is just as freeing. The man's pendant is around his neck and ring is on his finger, and Anders feels free.
"Yours," he echoes, grinding into that hand and shuddering. The fact that he's getting close likely shows in his breathing and the way liquid is welling up at the tip of his cock. "Forever yours, my husband." And Nate was his, this gorgeous, caring, compassionate man who had already seen Anders at absolute worst and stayed with him. He would never be alone again.
Another rock of his hips and then he's bending forward, muscles clenching throughout his body as he releases.
They have been together enough that Nathaniel knows when Anders is getting close. He sees it and begins to move his hips, move inside with deep, strong thrusts, and he comes almost simultaneously with Anders. Before he is completely spent, he sits up and throws his arms around his husband, carrying him as he falls back because he wants Anders in his arms the moment he has his metahorical feet on the ground. And he does.
It's some time before he catches his breath, coming down slowly and rubbing Anders' back as he does so. Anders was right. It was special.
"Maker, you're incredible," he groans when he can.
He burrows close, hand between them so he can feel their heartbeats together. He doesn't move away or shift as he's held. Why would he? He's comfortable and loved and happy. Sure, they need to clean up, but they have time. They have so much time.
Nate's words get a chuckle and a kiss to the side of his neck.
"Mm. I am, aren't I." That's one thing he's never doubted about himself, his abilities in bed. "But so are you, love." A second kiss follows the second, this one in the hollow of Nate's throat. "I'll never tire of how you start fucking me harder when I'm nearly there, just to join me, or the way you hold me, or kiss me, or so many other things." He can be very happy just sleeping with this man for the rest of his life.
"I'm fairly certain you've got that backwards. You're stuck with me forever. Consummation has nothing to do with it, aside from being a happy bonus. You made a vow, and you're the most honorable man I know." He pulls away just enough to beam at Nate. "The most honorable, humbling, awe-inspiring person I know. You'll never be rid of me."
There's a beat, and then his beam turns into a grin. "You can mark me, you know. Everyone knows I'm yours, but then they can see it all of tomorrow and perhaps longer."
"Is that right?" A smile against Anders' hair, and then he sits them both up, Anders still on his lap, arms circling Anders' waist. "We can't have anyone forgetting, can we?"
He chooses a spot on that pale neck to capture with his teeth before he begins to suck and worry at it. He loves to mark Anders. It's part of his jealous nature, perhaps, if a happier way of expressing it than actually getting jealous.
He makes a hoarse, hungry noise as Nate finds a spot, shivering while Nate works at it. He loves being marked. There's something about someone finding him that desirable that they want it known he's with them, he's been with him, along with the freedom he has to be in a relationship.
"Yes," he whispers, hands going up to tangle in Nate's hair and hold him close, encourage him to keep going. "Maker, yes. I'll never want to forget, no one else should either."
A chuckle, then. "Not like we give them much opportunity to. But I'm not about to change that, love. I'm happy."
A rough nip on that patch of his neck before he speaks as well, muffled against his own work. "Maker, I know what you mean. He reflexively rolls his hips, though he is still soft inside Anders. "I love you so much."
He goes back to the love bite he is tattooing onto golden skin with his mouth. How did he ever get so lucky as to have this man on his lap fall in love with him, this kind and loving and gorgeous golden creature? How had he been so foolish as to let him get away once?
His breath catches audibly at the bite, but it's the words that do the most for him. Here he has belonging and love in the arms of a man who he makes happy. It's fulfilling in a way he's never felt before.
"You complete me." He kisses the top of Nate's head, one hand smoothing down the side of Nate's neck. "You make me feel whole and treasured, and I've never felt that before. I am absolutely yours." Emphasized by Nate biting and being inside him, causing his cock to twitch between them.
"I love you enough I might even let you drop me again." Right now, he can almost believe in miracles and the Maker's love.
I suppose the first ones I noticed were that I now find I need to eat and sleep. These were always things I indulged in when I was in Japan but were not things my body required to recover energy. In fact, it seems I do not seem to require obtaining mana in my usual ways either.
A chuckle is muffled against Anders' beautiful skin. Nails rake gently up and down as Nathaniel makes that mark as bright as he can. Whole and treasured? Anders is the whole of his treasure. Love is Anders' eyes, his voice, his touch. He feels Anders' cock stir, and knows they'll be going a second round before Nathaniel even pulls out. Excellent.
While he makes the mark, he attempts to ruin Anders with touches, teases, caresses. He will show his love with his body, playing upon his husband's. Soon enough, Nathaniel begins to stiffen from inside Anders, though he is taking his time. He moves to leave another mark, this time on a shoulder, as he stokes the flames between them again.
And ruined he is. How could he ever go back to sex alone when he can have this? Nate adores him, and Anders can feel it in every touch. He can only hope he's doing the same back with his feather-light touches and kisses and words.
As Nate starts to harden inside him, a sensation that has him shivering, Anders smiles against Nate's temple. "I love you enough to trust you utterly," he whispers. For him, that's an even stronger revelation than him loving someone. Trust is hard, possibly the most difficult thing for him. But here he's safe. With Nate, he's safe.
"Do you have a plan now, love? Beyond turning me back on, that is."
The mage I would be bound to would be able to provide some rather slowly through contract. However, the fastest ways usually involve blood or sexual fluids.
I can, yes. It's uh—in the mountains on the coast. Not far from Amaranthine, actually, just hard to reach. I don't remember exactly how we got there. We had a guide. But I can get you close. Maybe the griffons will make it easier.
But he has a way of slipping in, sometimes, when Anders is on shift. There’s always work to be done, and much of it he knows how to manage: preparing bandages, chopping herbs, exchanging murmured verses of the Chant that — if off from the typical translations, perhaps misremembered — at least do a little to reassure the devout.
And in the free moments, then, he watches. Studies. Begins at his own small workings.
It’s been a bit longer than usual since he’s been in. A week, perhaps more. This time he’s a solemn presence; speaks little, moves quietly from task to task devoid of his usual questions.
Finally there’s a gap in the hours, a small lull of silent breathing room, and he’s pushing a cup of tea in front of Anders’ hands, warm and bitter. Alan settles against a crate. At last, "You’re angry with the people here."
A small, neutral comment. It’s not that Anders is angry right this moment, it’s that, well — he might just be the angriest person that Alan knows.
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