Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.
Series Warnings: Interpersonal Conflict, Lack of Communication, Tension, Violence, Orm Injury, Reader Injury, Dangerous Situations, Slow-ish Burn, Fight Scene, Mature/Explicit Themes - 18+ Only
plot: orm and fem!reader talk lovingly in bed, some anxiety, observe changes, etc.
notes/warnings: apart of the ‘Loyalty Series’ but can be read standalone, kind of OOC my bad, orm-consent-king vibes, no Y/N, very short drabble, just straight up fluff
masterlist
“Do you suppose they know” He asked
“Know what, Orm?”
It was moments like these that his name still felt foreign on my tongue. My fingertips ached for the graze of his hands, the texture of his jaw. The softness of his collarbones underneath my rough palms. I held all these moments so intimately yet his name was still so alien. He said mine so fluently, like he didn’t ever have to think about it, like it was always there.
A smile tinged his lips, “That you’re here, lying in my bed linen. Letting my hands where you please”
My cheeks burned with such a fire that I would have swore it rivaled the volcanoes of the Brine. I pushed my face into the pillows, hiding the grin I couldn’t hold in. His laugh rumbled my skin as he turned further into him, his chest grazing my own as he wrapped his arm around me. Orm’s laugh. That sweet, deep laugh. It almost felt unreal. How easy he laughed in my presence. I don’t think all the years since his father died I heard him laugh.
“I love that sound” floating up and on top of him, I rested my chin on his chest.
Orm’s hands fell to my hips, holding me close towards him, “What sound, darling?”
“Laughter”
The water stilled, the thump of Orm’s heart skipping a beat. Orm’s hands tightened on my hips. My muscles tensed and my eyes diverted away from his. I could see it coming, the angry octopus pushed too far. I waited for it, my heart beating faster and faster for every second his outburst didn’t arrive.
“Thank you”
Immediately, I looked up. No scowl upon his godly face, or the smile he does when a plan goes well. But a sincere, heart-warming smile that I had never seen before recent. My body instantly relaxed, a sigh coming from my lips. Behind closed doors, away from the politics, Orm really was a changed man. A little softer around the edges but still, whole-heartedly him. Maybe just more him before he came King.
Orm’s thumb drifted along my jawline, hooking his hand gently around the side of my head. Drawing me in, I grasped my hands in his hair. Just like the first time, this kiss was just as explosive. His lips were soft, pressing against my own lightly. He drew away, tucking a floating strand of hair behind my ear. There was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite decipher.
Orm sighed, “You’re everything”
Like the waves against the shore, I was pulled back into him.
Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.
Warnings: Discussion of Reader's Injuries and Recovery, Near Miss Fall From A Ladder, Orm Is Still A Man of Few Words, Mature/Explicit Themes [nipple play - f receiving, manual stimulation - f receiving, oral - m/f receiving, multiple orgasms, unprotected sex, vaginal penetration] - 18+ only.
Word Count: 3218
Amnesty Bay, Maine – Fall/Winter 2019
You were beginning to wonder if time passed differently beneath the waves of the ocean. The first time Arthur had left you, back in August, he had said it would not take long. It had been nearly a month before he had reappeared. And again, when he had left with Orm in September, he had said it would not take long.
Watching the snowflakes meander their way to the rapidly whitening ground outside your office window, you sighed softly. It was now early December and there had been no word from them.
Tom had been so very kind, taking excellent care of you as you used up every last hour of sick leave from your job to convalesce at his lighthouse. Wayne Enterprises had delivered your car and belongings to the lighthouse in Maine, and you found yourself frequently glancing at the neatly packed duffle bag holding Orm’s scant surface possessions as your thoughts drifted to his whereabouts and welfare.
There was no human on the face of the earth who understood you better than Tom. He recognized the way you watched the ocean out the window. The way you walked to the end of the dock with him as Atlanna had also been called upon to assist Arthur with quelling the rebellion. He knew what it meant to be left behind. To be rooted to the spot where your Atlantean had parted from you, loathe to leave it on the chance of their return.
And so, when you had run out of sick time, and then the very last of your vacation days, it had been Tom’s suggestion that you request a remote working arrangement. After the tsunami incident last year, he had purchased some property up the road and was gradually fixing it up with the intention of renting it out for some additional income. He insisted you move in there, given that the lighthouse did not have space for a home office, and flatly refused to accept any form of payment.
Much to your surprise, your company had agreed and sent your computer and some other equipment via courier. Your best friend had also been kind enough to collect and send some more seasonally appropriate clothing as the weather grew cold.
Using the subterfuge of companionship, you had in fact found a way to repay Tom by eating several meals with him each week – and celebrating any thin excuse for a holiday together. You always made the shopping run and cooked the food; refused repayment, just as he did for the cottage’s rent. It seemed to infuriate him to no end, which was only fair considering the stubborn old goat refused your rent money.
Your email chimed with the notification of a new message, and you opened it up, accepting the meeting for Monday before glancing at the clock, letting out a pleased sigh that the workday, and work week, had come to an end. You logged off and shut the door to the office behind you, turning your attention to the box of holiday lights you had purchased on your last trip to the larger neighbouring town where the best shopping was.
After a quick snack, you slid on a few more layers before taking the box outside into the gathering dark of early evening, stopping by the shed to grab a ladder. Tom had already come by to help you secure the clips onto the gutters, all you had to do was snap the lights into place now that you had bought them, and you were eager any additional source of light to fight off the gloom of early winter. Planting your ladder firmly into the skiff of snow on the frozen ground, you manipulated it slightly to be sure it was stable before carefully climbing up.
You began by plugging the string into the outlet flush against the soffit, immediately smiling at the warm glow of the soft white lights, before unravelling the length and clipping into along the front of the house. Once the next clip was beyond your reach, you climbed down and moved the ladder before resuming the task of stringing the lights. You continued at a steady pace, making your way around the perimeter of the cottage as the darkness of the evening set in.
Nearly finished, you climbed the ladder for what you hoped was the last time when you heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow. You turned your head towards the sound, fully expecting to see Tom making his way over from the lighthouse, but when your eyes fell upon a blonde figure in black armor you did not fully trust your vision in the low-light. Something you had wished to see so fervently, he could easily be a figment of your imagination.
You turned your body fully, leaning forward into the dark to try and get a better look. The ladder groaned in protest before lurching to the side, wrenching a shriek from your throat as you felt yourself falling. While your landing was not as forceful as you expected, the surface which you landed on was as hard as steel. Opening your eyes, which had reflexively clenched shut, you saw that Orm had somehow closed the distance between you, catching you in his armor-clad arms.
“I see you are just as reckless as when I left you.” His voice rumbled through you, making your heart skitter against your ribs as it lost its natural rhythm.
You looked to his face quickly, swallowing tightly to see his cerulean eyes glowing in the low light. He was so close that you could see the still-falling snow flakes collecting in his eyelashes. Yet for his physical closeness, he may as well have been an ocean away. He felt like a stranger to you, after the way you had parted, after three months absence with no word. With how he held you away from his body, setting you down and taking a step back.
“Thank you.” You straightened your coat self-consciously, picking up the ladder before it became a tripping hazard. “You seem alright…I’m glad.” You glanced back at the house before looking at him. “Would you like to come inside?”
He nodded silently and you led him into the cottage, kicking off your snowy shoes. Once he stepped inside, you closed the door behind him, turning to ask if you could get him anything. He had just set something down onto the entry table, though you did not have time to process what the object was as he was suddenly pulling you close, burying his face in your hair.
“I’ve missed you more than words can express. More than I could bear.” He inhaled your scent deeply, his words bringing a blur of tears to your vision as your heart throbbed.
It had been real.
“Orm…” You whispered tremulously, helpless to form words more coherent than that, trying to wrap your arms around him in return but the bulk of his armor made it nearly impossible.
He pulled back, cupping your face gently, looking you over intensely, inquisitively.
“You are well?” He rasped and you nodded quickly, tears briefly clinging to your lower lashes before trailing down your cheeks as you gave him a watery smile.
Rising onto your tiptoes, you leaned in to kiss him, gasping in delight as he closed the distance quickly, pressing his warm lips to yours. You slid your arms around his neck, lest your legs give out as they were threatening to do, holding tightly as the heat of him seemed to liquefy your bones. Feeling you waiver in his arms, he slid his hands down to grip the backs of your thighs, lifting you up against him as he walked further into the house.
You grunted a little, shifting as you tried to find a comfortable position against the steel plate he wore, wanting to be closer but it honestly hurt. He turned and gently set you down on the edge of the kitchen counter.
“Apologies…” He murmured, stepping back to begin stripping the interfering articles, laying them carefully onto the nearby rug, not wanting to dent your floor.
Gnawing on your lip, you sat on your perch watching him with wide eyes as the hard shell was removed to reveal the sort of advanced wet suit he had been wearing when you had first met. You were pleased to note that this one was fully in tact, giving you hope that he had not arrived with injuries this time. As he began to peel that last layer away to reveal his flawless skin, pulled taut over well-defined muscles, you squirmed against the stone of the countertop, pulse quickening.
He glanced at you knowingly before shedding the last of his clothing, hanging the suit up by the door, walking around your home in his naked glory without a second thought. You licked your lips, rooted to the spot by the sight, until he returned at last, pulling you flush against him as his mouth sealed against yours hungrily.
You sighed deeply, wrapping your arms around his bare shoulders, clinging to him. On each inhale you could smell the sea water that still dampened his hair, begging your fingers to run through it. Stretching a hand up, you carded your fingers through his golden locks, earning a throaty moan as his tongue licked into your mouth, commanding entrance to taste you.
You whimpered in return as his slick, wet muscle stroked yours, lifting your legs to wrap around his hips and pull him tighter to you. He growled a little and pulled back to nibble at your lower lip.
“You are entirely overdressed for the occasion.” He complained before his fingers slid up under your clothing to trace along the skin of your back.
You jumped at the searing heat of his touch, obediently lifting your hands over your head as he pushed the layers up and off your body, huffing as he was then confronted with your bra. His mouth scorched a wet trail down your neck that had you greedily lolling your head to the side, offering your skin in sacrifice, as he worked the offending garment off before he was at last able to cup the bare flesh of your breasts in his expansive hands.
You groaned needily, fingers tugging at his hair as your hips rutted against his unconsciously. You could feel his rapidly hardening cock growing against the fabric of your pants and your cunt began to weep at the memory of what it felt like to have him inside you. As his fingers gently rolled and tugged at your nipples, your back arched, pressing your breasts into his hands and he chuckled smugly before lapping and sucking at each of the hardened peaks in turn.
“Please, Orm…” You whimpered needily, hips pressing your core against him, huffing in frustration at the barrier of your remaining clothing.
He hummed in agreement, lips crashing into yours heatedly as his fingers made quick work of your pants and underwear, stripping your lower half. His long fingers massaged into your thighs teasingly, drawing ever closer to your dripping folds until at last he cupped your core with his fiery palm. You whimpered into his mouth, hips bucking to his touch as he collected your arousal with his fingertips to circle and stroke your clit. Your lips fell back from his as you gasped for breath, chest heaving as you gulped for air, each exhale a whimper or exclamation of pleasure.
He pressed his forehead against yours, your fluttering eyelashes allowing you only snippets of the hungry look in his near-black eyes, his glowing blue irises pushed to the very edge by his blown pupils. The way he watched you had you clenching around nothing, swallowing audibly, nails ghosting along his scalp. It was overwhelming and yet it was not nearly enough. As his forefinger sank into your desperate cunt, your head fell back with a ragged moan, hips wantonly pushing closer to his hand, drawing his finger inside you as far as he could reach.
His harsh breaths echoed yours, resounding in tandem in the dark of the cottage as his finger thrust into your body, making you tremble unsteadily on the cool stone of the countertop. His free hand slid to press against your spine, fingers splayed to cover as much skin of your back as he could reach, holding you upright as he added as second finger. All the while, his eyes never left your face, hungrily watching your reactions, listening to your whimpers and cries. He curled his fingers forward, toward the front of your body, stroking along the spongey spot deep inside you. The pleasure of it makes your hips rocket from their place on the counter and your torso would have crashed into the unforgiving surface of it if he had not been holding you up.
With his target located, his motions were merciless and driven, utterly determined to push you over the edge. He did not have to wait long before your release shattered over you in a thousand prismatic shards, an aurora of colours flowing one into the next behind your eyelids as your walls clamped down viciously on his fingers. You slumped forward against his chest, pressing lazy, open-mouthed kisses across his collarbones in reverence before whining as he starting to sink out of reach, onto his knees.
You planted your hands on either side of your hips, locking your elbows as you tried not to fall over, watching him settle between your thighs. He licked his lips before sealing his mouth over your folds to lap at your release like a starving man. Your thigh clamped down on either side of his head, still trembling from your first orgasm as he was lay the foundation for your second.
“Please…Please Orm…” Pleas were falling from your lips onto his deaf ears as he growled against you, lapping and nipping and suckling at your overly sensitive clit and folds, teasing your entrance with his tongue.
Your chin fell to your chest as you moaned incoherently, fingertips digging into the unyielding surface you sat upon, trying to anchor yourself lest you be swept away.
“Fuck!” You swore harshly as he pointed his tongue and thrust it deep inside you, rubbing at your bundle of nerves with the tip of his nose.
Of their own volition, your hips rutted against his face, moving in time with the rhythm he set, speed increasing with that of his movements as every muscle of your body went rigid until that tension snapped. You arched back with an anguish wail, hips levitating as your body gushed with release before you slumped onto your back weakly. Covered in a sheen of sweat, you watched him rise to his feet with a look of tremendous satisfaction on his glistening face. He wiped it clean as your chest heaved, gasping for breath as your body still suffered from the aftershocks of your climax.
Gathering you into his arms, he cradled you against his chest before murmuring into your ear.
“Where is your bed?”
You lifted an arm that felt many times heavier than normal to point down the hall and he followed your silent direction, finding it easily. As he moved, you became more and more aware of the feel of his hard, throbbing cock pressed against your hip. Of the damp smear of precum it left against your skin. Feeling somewhat more coherent as he lay you on the bed, you sat up to bring yourself face to face with his length, reaching out to lick at broad stripe from root to tip with your tongue.
The rich groan that greeted your ears made you shiver in delight and you wrapped your fingers around the base of him, repeating the motion before taking the crown of his length between your lips. He grunted in pleasure; fingers moving to cup your jaw and gently force your head back. You looked to him, somewhat confused, but he leaned down to kiss you deeply.
“I want to be inside you.” He said in a rare moment of verbal communication during intimacy, hand moving to cup between your thighs, making you gasp and squirm.
“I need you…” You replied in an open display of shameless vulnerability.
He froze a moment, staring at you without moving. Without breathing. Until he lunged forward to kiss you fiercely and climb over you as he pulled you beneath him. He smoothly pressing the head of his cock to your cunt, sliding into your well-slicked heat until he was fully seated inside you. Orm pressed his face into the side of your neck, taking deep, slow breaths, causing an eruption of goosebumps along your skin. You clung to him, doing some deep breathing of your own as you tried to adjust to the feeling of fullness that came with having him inside you.
As his breathing evened out, he pulled his hips back, making your eyes roll into the back of your head at the feel of him dragging against the sensitive flesh inside you, only to slide back in with an eager groan.
“Oh god, yes! Orm, please! More…” You babbled freely, letting every thought flow from your lips, too far gone to try and make sense.
His cock twitched inside you, your walls clenching in silent reply, making him bite off a curse before he set an demanding pace. Demanding your body to surrender one last climax so that he might join you in release. Snaking your legs around his hips, you clung to him for dear life, each clash of his hips against your stimulating your clit and driving the air from your lungs. You could hear him panting, lips moving against the skin of your neck to form words, but your overstimulated brain was slow to process until at last you realized he was repeating your name. There was a tone of reverence, giving it a prayer-like quality, and the way your heart spasmed in your chest you were certain you had taken your last breath.
The orgasm that erupted through your body could have happily been your last experience upon this earth – it erased all sight and sound, bathing you in a white-hot light as every nerve-ending vibrated in ecstasy. You went slack on the bed, eyelids heavy but somehow obeying your desperate command to remain open and focus upon his face as he thrust erratically against you, through your rhythmically clenching walls to chase his own release. You watched his jaw mouth fall open in a choked-off cry as his eyebrows knit together, hips slamming into yours as his climax began to fill you, rocking against you to wring every drop of release from his body, shuddering head to toe.
Orm pressed a few notably tender kisses to your brow and cheeks before sliding from your trembling cunt, making you whine at the loss, before stretching out of the bed beside you and pulling you close. You leaned up to press gentle kisses of your own his nose and chin before kissing him softly.
“Thank you for coming back…” You whispered tremulously.
He nodded softly, pressing his lips to your temple.
Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.
Warnings: Language, Discussion of Injuries, Discussion of Events of Aquaman Movie, Reader Has No Dietary Restrictions, Orm Is A Picky Eater, Arthur Is A Drinker, Alcohol
You leaned back on the lounge chair, looking out over the diamonds on the water of the lake where you had spent your summers since the year you were born. It has been in the family since the 1920s. The footprint of the cottage had changed over the years, as had the neighbours, but never the peaceful scenery. The granite rocks, the crooked jack pines; they had been there for centuries and would remain long after you were gone.
As the world became less and less familiar, the consistency of this place was a comfort to you. It was why you had decided to spend the month of August here for summer holidays. You glanced over at your phone as it chimed with a message on Facebook Messenger. Probably a reply from Tom. You unlocked the screen and looked over the panorama of the coast he’d sent in reply to your panorama of the lake. You really needed to get back to Maine one of these days…
A well-earned respite from the daily grind! It’s a beautiful day down here, too. Enjoy your vacation!
You replied with a GIF of Eddie Murphy in a lounge chair enjoying a glass of champagne with the caption ‘vacation mode’ and chuckled at his reply of laughing emojis. Sure, Facebook and it’s Messenger companion weren’t for the cool kids anymore, but out here with only WIFI, they were the most reliable way to stay in touch with others.
You set the phone down and took a sip of your own cool beverage before burying yourself in the book you’d been saving for this exact purpose. You passed the day reading, swimming a few times, enjoying some snacks, but never really leaving the dock. The lapping of the water on the rocks, and the creak of the floating dock attached to the solid one upon which you sat were your soundtrack. It was heaven.
It was just about time to head up to the cottage, to think about dinner, when two figures suddenly burst out of the water and landed on the end of the floating dock. The water you had been drinking missed your mouth entirely and poured down the front of your bathing suit, the cold shock against your warm skin propelling you to your feet with a gasp.
“Jesus fucking Christ” You exclaimed. “Arthur?!” You squinted at the dark haired, towering man who you had not seen in person in nearly a decade. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you even…” You trailed off as your manners caught up to your shock. There was someone else with him.
Arthur smirked a little as he strolled across the wooden boards towards you. “Easy Brokedown Girl, can’t I visit an old friend?”
You nodded dumbly, but your eyes were resting on the figure beside him…His blonde hair shone in the long light of the afternoon, his eyes were a pale blue. He didn’t stand as tall as Arthur but was just a broad and perhaps even more imposing due to the stoic look upon his face.
“Orm, this is Brokedown Girl. Brokedown Girl, my brother Orm.” Arthur’s introduction pierced through your thoughts, and you cleared your throat.
“It’s been seven years, Arthur. Will you ever let me live it down?” You smiled to them both and introduced yourself properly to Orm. He nodded in return and that is when you noticed the rips in his black suit…it looked akin to a wetsuit but definitely seemed more advanced. Arthur wore something similar, though with more structure and gauntlets. Most noticeable, however, were the wounds on his brother’s exposed skin. “Why don’t you come inside and tell me why you’re really here…”
You grabbed your things and led them up to the modestly-sized cottage, holding the door open for them as they filed in, finding themselves in the kitchen.
You headed further into the building, through the open dining and living room and down to the hall to grab a couple of towels and the first aid kit from the bathroom, before returned to guide them to sit on the wooden chairs at the dining table. They would take the damp better than the soft furniture of the living room.
A screened in veranda with a pair of day beds and a few chairs was attached to the front of the cottage, facing the lake, accessible from the dining room, while access to the back deck lay opposite, facing miles of uninhabited forest.
You came up to Orm, admittedly intimidated by his handsome appearance and cold demeanor, but set the first aid kit in on the table in front of him.
“I’m trained in first aid; can I help you?” You asked while trying to assess the extent of his wounds.
He shook his head.
“No need. I will see to it myself, where may I get cleaned up?”
You nodded and led him to the bathroom, leaving him with the first aid kit and more towels before coming back to Arthur who had stripped to the waist and was towelling himself off at the table. Well at least he didn’t seem injured. You grabbed him a cold beer from the fridge and offered it to him, hoping it would help him explain what was going on.
He took a grateful, and deep, swallow before looking to you and sighing. “He was supposed to be safe. Our mother had been visiting him, things had been going so well…”
You held your breath at the mention of his mother, holding back your shock, and nodded as though you knew the full story. You were honestly just relieved he’d started talking. Your nod was enough to prompt him into a fuller explanation. Of the attack on the surface, the ring of fire, the trident, finding his mother…that part brought a smile to his face…the battle, and finally the defeat and imprisonment of his brother. By the time he finished his story, Orm had joined you at the table, bandages visible through the tears in his suit, his hair combed back neatly.
“I am going to find out who did this…I am going to bring peace to Atlantis and then all seven of the kingdoms…but I need to keep you safe, little brother. You’ll stay here with Brokedown Girl.” Orm opened his mouth, most likely to protest, but Arthur shook his head and continued.
“No one but my father knows who she is or that she even exists. You know how hard it was for us to get here, it is the safest place for you to be until I fix this.”
You swallowed tightly, processing the extensive information he had just provided to you, and now the fact that you were going to be sheltering his brother.
“Are you certain, Arthur? You know I’m not…”
“You are the safest place in the entire world. There is no one I would trust more with my little brother.” He interrupted you firmly.
You nodded in reply, lost for words at the heartfelt nature of his statement.
“Well,” You cleared your throat “You’ll be needing something food before you head back, right? Steak and potatoes?” You stood and grabbed the ingredients from the refrigerator, seasoning the steaks and washing the potatoes before wrapping them in foil. You could hear them talking to each other quietly as you worked, and you consciously ignored them. It was obviously not a conversation for your ears.
You cooked everything on the barbecue on the back deck, burning any remnants of food off the grill while the steaks rested to prevent any temptation to the local bear population. You made a salad just before you sat down together to eat. Arthur was ravenous, obviously having used a lot of energy to get his brother to you, so far inland. Orm was somewhat more reticent. He tried bites of the steak and potatoes, mostly seeming to gravitate toward the salad, but hunger eventually won out and he cleared his plate as well.
You were already planning on going into town to get him some clothes. You’d make sure to buy some food more to his liking as well. The sun was beginning to set when Arthur announced he would get going. The two of you followed him down to the dock as he pulled his suit back onto his torso while walking.
“I will come back once it’s safe.” He grabbed Orm’s forearm and pulled him in for a hug. Orm seemed somewhat stiff in the face of the affection but nodded as Arthur pulled back.
“Just remember you can’t text me out here, ok?” You reminded him, giving him a hug. “Be careful…” You said firmly but offered a smile.
“Don’t you worry about me, Brokedown Girl. Just make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble.” He patted your head, and you shot him a look of annoyance. Orm did not look overly impressed with his comment either. Neither of you had the opportunity to reply, however, as he promptly leapt backwards into the lake, leaving a ripple of wake in his trail as he shot off through the water.
You turned to Orm, the light of sunset playing off the water onto his striking features and swallowed.
“Well…I’ll, uh, show you your room.”
He turned to you and nodded. You were close enough to see the stunning blue of his eyes. A shade reminiscent of some tropical waters off in the Pacific somewhere. You managed to turn away before he saw you swallow visibly, or at least you hoped that was the case. You led him back up into the cabin and down the hall past the bathroom and towards the bedrooms. You stepped into the one beside yours, looking out over the water.
“Will you be comfortable in here?” You asked.
He nodded quietly. “It will do, yes.”
You smiled a little, relieved. “I’m just next door, please let me know if you need anything. I’ll be up for a while yet reading, but I understand in you’ve had a long day?”
He nodded again. “I will retire for the night.”
“Good night then.” You smiled again and stepped out, leaving him to his privacy.
You cleaned up the kitchen and sat on the veranda as the night closed in, cooling off from the heat of the day. You tried to pick up your book again but found your thoughts drifting…drifting back to Arthur’s words, back to his brother just down the hall. You sighed as you looked out over the water and couldn’t help but feel like your life had just become very, very complicated.
Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.
Warnings: Interpersonal Conflict, Orm Is Self-Righteous, Reader Is Tired
Word Count: 2174
When you woke the next morning, the sun filtered through the gaps in your curtains. You stretched slowly, everything peaceful until your brain filled with the events of yesterday. You sat up fully…right…your gaze went over to the door thinking about your unexpected guest. You shoved the covers off your body and slid out of bed, grabbing a pair of shorts and a top. You dressed and managed your hair before opening the curtains.
You winced and blinked furiously into the bright of day before your eyes adjusted and focused on the figure standing at the end of the dock. You couldn’t tell what he was looking at, could only imagine what was going through his mind. Surely, he must be feeling utterly displaced so far from the ocean. With a sigh, you turned and headed toward the kitchen to start thinking about breakfast.
Meat did not seem to suit his palate…maybe some eggs instead? You really needed to make a point of finding out what food he would eat. You looked up as the door opened and he stepped back in. He must have heard you up and about.
“Good morning” You smiled warmly, trying to keep your tone understated in respect of what he’d recently been through. “Are you interested in some breakfast?”
His reply was a nod as he assumed the same chair he sat in the previous evening.
“May I ask what kind of food you like?” You leaned your back against the counter as you faced him.
“I do not know much of human food.” He commented. “But in Atlantis we eat a lot of fish, shellfish, kelp, and things of that nature.”
“Of course, that makes a lot of sense. I’ll make a trip into town to get some more food today, I really only packed for one, and I’m sure you’ll be wanting some clothes and things. Would you be open to trying some eggs for breakfast?”
He nodded again and you wondered if he was usually this quiet or if pain and circumstance had taken his voice.
“Ok, breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes. I’ll make what I normally would, and don’t worry about offending me if you don’t like any of it.” You shrugged, it would be better once you’d shopped but at this moment you were stuck with what was at hand…and your mutual unfamiliarity with each other’s culture.
You scrambled the eggs; that seemed safest as yolks could be a controversial texture and made toast. You washed some strawberries and took out the hulls, the prevent any confusion, and sliced an apple. He watched as you boiled a kettle of water and poured it into a tea pot with tea bags. His eyes followed your every move, in fact, as you laid out plates and cutlery, milk and sugar for the tea, and at last the food. You filled two mugs with the steeped tea and brought them to the table, sitting at last.
As you served some of each item onto his plate, you explained what it was and then talked him through the ketchup you put on your eggs, the spread you put on your toast, and the milk and sugar you put in your tea. Then you respectfully left him to make his own decisions and started eating.
He took a sip of the tea without anything in it and made a slight face. He considered both the milk and the sugar before adding a sprinkling of the sugar and sipped again. He gave a single nod and moved onto the next thing. The eggs. His approach was so methodical…almost scientific. You bit your cheek to remind yourself not to let on how adorable it was. He ended up eating the eggs plain, demolished most of the fruit, and had peanut butter on his toast.
He looked to you as he finished his plate. “That was quite tolerable.”
You blinked a little, not exactly sure how to take it but decided it was all-in-all fairly positive.
“I am glad to hear it.” You collected the plates to the counter before returning to the table with a pad of paper and a pen. “So, we definitely need more fruits, vegetables, eggs…and I will get some clothes for you as well. I doubt anyone here knows where your outfit originated but it is obviously a more advanced technology than we have for swim wear.” You wrote out the list as you spoke before looking to him. “Have I missed anything?”
He shook his head silently.
You bit you lip in thought, adding a few things to the list before you felt like everything was covered. “I will leave you here, it’s a bit of a trek. I’ll show you what you might like to eat if you get hungry while I’m gone?”
He stood to follow you, leaning in as you opened the fridge. You pointed out some cold cuts, left over chicken from your first night at the cabin, and showed him where the fruits and veggies were.
“I’ll just do these dishes and be on my way. Any other questions?”
He shook his head again and sat back at the table.
“You’re welcome to sit wherever you wish, please make yourself at home.” You smiled hopefully before quickly doing the dishes. You grabbed your purse and a cooler bag before turning to him.
“I should be back in about four hours or so. If you need anything...” You trailed off not exactly sure what to say. Asking the neighbours was not a good idea, telling him to give you a call would be utterly unfamiliar to him…
“I will be fine, and here when you return” His voice cut through your inner musings, and you nodded with a smile.
“Great, see you shortly.” You replied.
Heading down to the dock, you grabbed a lifejacket out of the boat house, before hopping into the motorboat tied up alongside the dock. It was a simple sixteen-foot aluminum boat with outboard motor, but out here it was a crucial piece of transport. You checked the gas levels and started the engine, leaving it in neutral while you untied the bow and stern, stowing the ropes inside the boat. You looked up at the cabin to see him watching you from the veranda. You gave a wave. He did not wave back. You pushed off from the dock before easing into reverse. Once you’d cleared the dock, you pointed the bow to the west and took off towards the parking lot where your car waited for you.
The boat ride took about ten minutes, and it was easy to find a spot to tie up for the day while you ran your errands in town. You climbed into your car, chuckling to yourself as you had not expected to be back in it so soon, and headed off down the gravel road. It turned into highway after thirty minutes and within another fifteen you were in town.
You headed to a big box store to pick up as much as possible in one place. You started by stocking up on the produce he so obviously enjoyed, along with what seemed to be the nicest fish they had on offer. You also found some kelp and wakame, a Japanese seaweed apparently. You paused at the meat alternative section and shrugged before grabbing some tofu…maybe that would be to his liking…and rounded out the groceries with more eggs as they were ‘tolerable’.
You then headed to the pharmacy section and pondered over the kinds of things men used…you ended up buying a toothbrush, a good quality razor (though who knew if he needed to shave? Arthur did so there was a good chance…), shaving cream, body soap, and deodorant – all with the least offensive scent you could find. You also bought more first aid supplies to replace those he had used.
The last stop on your shopping tour was the clothing section. You guessed his size and picked up two pairs of shorts, a pair of pants, several tops with short and long sleeves, sleep shorts and shirts, a rain jacket, a bathing suit, sandals, runners, socks, and then you came to the underwear. Based on the way the suit fit Orm’s body, you guessed he would be a briefs man…Great you were blushing now. In the middle of a big box store. Staring at men’s underwear. You grabbed two of the three-packs quickly and vacated the aisle before anyone could witness your shame.
The bill was not small, but you had no hesitation when the ‘tap to pay’ popped up on the payment system screen. This was all the help Arthur and his brother. You tapped your credit card, relieved to hear the payment accepted chirp, and carried your bags out to the car. As you finished loading the trunk, you took a pause to take your phone off airplane mode and ensure you hadn’t missed anything important. There was a message from an unknown number, time stamped to the day before.
I need your help. I will be there soon.
Arthur…the man was constantly jumping into the ocean, destroying his cellphones so often that you never had his latest number saved. You shook your head a little as that was clearly meant to have arrived before he and Orm leapt onto the end of your dock yesterday.
It was well past lunch when you were headed back, so you grabbed a meal from the drive thru and polished it off happily as you drove back to the main dock.
By the time you parked and hauled everything to the boat, the energy you’d been expending over the last twenty-four hours caught up with you. You were tired. Just a little bit more effort and you’d be back at the cottage. You crossed the lake easily and pulled up to the dock. He was not there to greet you, but you had managed a solo docking many times. You easily tied up the boat and collected the bags, hauling them up to the cottage. He was not waiting at the door either. You juggled the bags and managed to get the door open.
You stepped in to find him sitting at the table again and may have let an exasperated sigh slip. Setting the bags on the table, you looked to him.
“Can you please look these things over and let me know what you think?”
All you wanted was to get a glass of water and take a break. This was supposed to be your vacation, after all. You filled a glass of water and went to sit across from him, taking a grateful sip. He had a pile of food unpacked on the table to his left, and was examining the fish closely, reading the packaging.
“This is all from commercial fishing.” He said coldly.
You blinked and looked to him. “I only bought wild caught, I promise.”
He raised his gaze to yours and for the first time you actually saw an emotion there. It was anger. You tried not to bristle. You’d just gone above and beyond to get this for him.
“Any fish caught by commercial fishing is unacceptable. I will not eat it.” He tossed it to his right, carelessly.
You set down your glass with a bit more of a thud than you would have liked.
“I am very sorry to hear that as that is all I am able to purchase for you out here…” Your left hand was clenched into a ball against your thigh under the table. Stay. Calm.
“You will just have to do better. Your kind is so oblivious to the suffering your convenience causes throughout the oceans. As long as it’s fast and cheap, the cost paid by the inhabitants of the sea is not your problem. Out of sight, out of mind. You’re all the same.” He scoffed coldly in the haughtiest tone you had ever had the misfortune to hear.
You clenched your teeth, lips pressed into a thin line. Not only had he never once expressed gratitude for what you had been doing for him since he set foot on your dock…now he was generalizing with his prejudice against the surface. You took a deep breath and stood.
“I will not engage with you when you speak like that. You are displaced and angry – justifiably so. But I will not tolerate being spoken to in that manner, especially as I am doing everything I can to help you after you were delivered to me unannounced. I am going for a walk. I will be back when I am able to have an actual conversation with you about this.” Your words were short, but you were quite proud to have kept your tone even…and to have contained the waiver in your voice.
Stepping into your shoes, you headed out the door, pulling it closed firmly behind you. You did not chance a look back at his stunned face.
Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.
Warnings: Orm is Somewhat Naive to the Surface, Protective Orm, Orm in Pain, Description of Orm's Injuries, Reader and Orm Make Peace
Word Count: 2378
Your eyes were stinging with tears, threatening to fall at any moment, as you took long strides towards the woods behind the cottage. Away from the water. Away from him.
Exhaustion, frustration, pride, embarrassment, and Orm’s mix of contempt for your species and apathy towards you, fueled your tears. You hoped you were far enough out of earshot as you inhaled shakily, your breath catching on the lump in your throat. You let the tears fall as the trees of the woods closed in around you, letting go of the vice grip you had on your swirl of emotions.
Unconsciously, your feet led you to the path running parallel to the railway tracks that circled the perimeter of the lake on their way to cities in the West and East. Trains were so common you didn’t even register the hiss of the rails, the thrum of the engine as it drew nearer. The train was practically alongside you when the world turned upside down.
A surprising number of feelings passed through you in those short seconds…annoyance that you were no longer moving forward, confusion as you flew through the air, shock as your eyes focused on Orm’s face. He had swept you up in a flying leap, securing you in the cage of his arms as he crashed onto the ground on his back, taking the brunt of the landing as you were cushioned by his chest. In a bewildering yet fluid movement, you were rolled onto your back, and he was above you, shielding you with his own body as the train roared past.
His eyes were intense, shifting between you and the train and back again. His body was rigid, ready to spring into action as soon as the moment required. It took nearly a minute for you to recognize that he had never been near a train…that he considered you in danger. You set your hand on his forearm and squeezed reassuringly, nodding with a shaky smile as he looked to you quickly. You tried not to think of the sight you presented with fresh tears on your cheeks.
“It’s alright.” You tried to shout over the screech of the metal on metal as the train turned the nearby corner.
Whether he heard you or not, you could not tell, but he did not move an inch until the train was well passed your position.
“It’s alright.” You repeated gently once the sounds of the woods came back, the ground no longer vibrating.
He looked to you again before pushing up to sit back on his heels. The tiny, almost imperceptible wince was like a revelation to you.
“You’re in pain.” You breathed. Not an excuse by any means, but an explanation perhaps.
He frowned slightly but took a breath and nodded once. Sitting up, you were much less graceful, but had renewed purpose. You wiped your cheeks and carefully got to your feet, offering him your hand to help him stand.
His eyes lingered on your outstretched palm for a time, most likely considering his options, before he placed his hand in yours. You nodded to him before bending your knees and leaning back as you helped pull him to his feet. The wince this time was more pronounced. Whether he was no longer hiding the pain or was in more pain; either way you were focused on getting him back to the cottage to rest.
You respectfully released his hand and started back to the cottage, glancing over your shoulder to ensure he is following you. Leading him down the hall to his bedroom, you paused to grab the first aid kit again before stepping into his room and gesturing for him to sit on the bed.
“May I help you this time?” You asked patiently.
Nodding, he slipped out of the top of his suit and unwrapped the bandages. You pressed your lips together at the rainbow of bruising and the partially healed wounds across his skin. His healing was definitely further along than a human’s, but the injuries were by no means gone. You inspected each of the cuts and scrapes, making sure they were clean before gently applying antibacterial ointment to them. To the bruises, you carefully applied a pain-relieving cream. You finished by carefully bandaging everything, securing the gauze to his skin with gently applied tape.
“Let me grab your clothes, I’ll be right back.” You went back to the dining room, eyes landing on the hotly contested fish. You tossed it in the fridge to be dealt with later and took the bag of clothing to his room. You pulled out one of the sleep shirts and used your teeth to snap the plastic price tag fastener.
“Will you lift your arms for me, please?” You smile as he complied and carefully pull the shirt down over the top of his body. You removed the tag for the sleep shorts in the same way. “These are the bottoms. When you put them on, you’ll be wearing pajamas, or the clothes we sleep in. Are you hungry at all or just wanting rest?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment before looking to you. “I will rest.”
“Perfect, I will be just down the hall if you need anything. I’ll see you when you wake.”
You stepped out and gently closed the door behind you, leaving him to his rest.
Once you’d finished putting all the groceries away, you took a shower before settling into the day bed on the veranda to read your book again. Your eyelids were heavy and after reading the same sentence several times, you lay the book on your chest and gave in. When you woke, the sun was just sinking behind the tops of the trees. You slid up to a sitting position and jumped slightly as you saw Orm sitting in one of the chairs to your right. Exhaling slowly, you turned to him. He had changed into a pair of shorts and long-sleeved top from the bag of clothes you’d left in his room.
“How are you feeling?”
“Improved.” He replied with a nod and pierced a piece of what looked like chicken with his fork from a now empty plate on the table. “I enjoy this…” He looked to you for the name.
“I think that’s chicken from what I can see. I’m glad to hear that.” You smiled and swung your legs to the floor, sitting up properly. “I also need to eat dinner, are you still hungry?”
“I am, yes.” He set down his fork and looked thoughtful before speaking again. “I would appreciate some more chicken, if available.”
You blinked at the suddenly courteous tone and choice of words but smiled. “Absolutely, my pleasure.”
Waiting in the fridge was chicken pieces marinating in a blend of Greek spices, olive oil, and lemon juice. You pulled the container out of the fridge to bring them to room temperature while you prepped a Greek salad.
He came up to the counter beside you, looking to the pile of stems and other inedible parts of the vegetables.
“Why do you set these aside?” He asked curiously.
“I am going to compost them in here.” You tap the countertop compost machine the family had invested in. Hauling garbage had driven the decision to compost as much as possible. Bears had driven the decision to use an indoor system. You looked to him to see if that had answered his question, but he was still eyeing the scraps and the composter.
“I’ll show you once I’m done.” You smiled and put the vegetables into the salad bowl. “Will you try this, please, and tell me what you think?” You cut off a small piece of feta cheese and offered it to him.
He took the piece of cheese from your fingers and place it on his tongue before closing his mouth to chew it thoughtfully.
“I think it tastes fine, yes.”
You smiled and added that to the bowl before setting the salad aside to be dressed closer to serving.
“So organic matter breaks down in nature and eventually returns to what we call dirt. I would guess that is also true in the ocean?”
“It is.” He nods.
“So, to create the least amount of garbage possible, we use this machine here to break down organic waste and use it in the garden out back. I try not to open it too often, though, as the smell can be…powerful….” You chose the word carefully before opening the lid and adding the scraps from your salad to the mix.
He peered in curiously before nodding. The smell had also reached your nose, so you were happy to close it. You turned to the meat, draining off the marinade and patting it dry with paper towel before beginning to thread it onto skewers. He watched you do one before seeing there was still more to do. He picked up a skewer and perfectly filled it with cubes of chicken. The two of you each loaded two skewers before you washed your hands carefully.
“I’m going to cook these on the barbeque…” You looked to him wondering if he was also curious about that?
He picked up the platter, somewhat tentatively, looking to you.
“Thank you. Follow me.” You grabbed the lighter and took him to the back deck, turning on the propane and lighting the grill with a faint woosh. “We have developed other ways of cooking with heat, like the stove inside where I cooked breakfast…but we still love the taste of food cooked with fire.” You closed the lid to let the barbeque warm up, taking the platter from him and setting it on the sideboard. You turned to look out over the yard toward the forest.
His gaze followed yours before he suddenly asked, “What was it?”
It takes you a moment before you realize he was asking about the train. “That was a freight train. They run on rails all across the continent carrying food, goods, and fuel. The wheels of the train have…well I guess it’s a slot, in the middle so they hug the rails and stay on course. Of course, accidents happen, but we have been fortunate to never have had an issue around here.” You looked to him. “They are very, very loud though.” You conceded.
He nodded, still looking back in the direction of the railway tracks. You left him to his thoughts, not wanting to cause him any embarrassment. You checked the thermometer on the outside of the barbecue and see that it is at temperature before opening the lid. The rush of heat from inside causes him to turn and come to stand at your side, watching again. You take the tongs and carefully lay the skewers out on the side of the grill opposite the active flame.
“Chicken burns easily but takes longer to cook. It can make humans quite sick if we eat it raw, so that’s why I put it over here.” You closed the lid and pulled out your phone to set a timer. “And now, we wait.” You took a seat in one of the deck chairs with a contented sigh, watching him sit as well. “So…how do you feel about freshwater fish?” You tilted your head.
“I have never tasted it before…. but I would be willing to try?”
You nodded. “Of course, that makes sense. Well, there are several kinds of fish that live here in the lake that we can catch for you?”
“We will do that, then.” He nodded decisively.
You smiled and just enjoyed the bird song as the evening began to set in, standing to turn the meat as the timer went off. When the chicken was cooked, you led him back inside and dressed the salad. Laying it out on the table, you also added pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
“It’s yogurt, lemon juice, cucumbers and garlic.” You clarified for him.
Looking over the various items, he waited until you started eating. You pushed the chicken off the skewer with your fork and took a pita, spreading some tzatziki on it before setting chicken on top and rolling it up. He took some of the sauce and tried it before following your lead and ate his entire portion, while you still had a skewer left over for another meal. You watched him warmly, relaxing as he at least seemed to be more comfortable and enjoying the food.
The leftovers were packed up and put in the fridge before you started on the dishes, noticing he was standing next to you.
“I am confident I can manage this task.” He murmured.
“Are you sure? I know you’re still healing…” You trailed off, realizing that might not have been a helpful thing to say.
“I am fine.” He stuck his hands straight into the steaming water without gloves and you winced. “It’s fine, I feel no pain from the hot water.”
You nodded slowly and grabbed a tea towel to dry as he washed and rinsed the dishes.
“Thank you very much.” You said as you put the last dish away. “I really appreciate your help.”
He looked to you for a moment, and you wondered if ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ were words he heard often.
“Assisting you is the least I can do in return for your safe haven.”
“Well, I am still grateful.” You hung the tea towel to dry and looked to him. “I usually read in the evenings; would you mind?”
He shook his head. “I will retire for the night; do as you like.” He took a few steps down the hall before turning back to you. “Have a pleasant evening.” He added, before disappearing into his room.
Sitting back on the daybed, you pondered his sudden change. Perhaps your tears had spoken in a way that you had been hesitant to…the application of pain-relievers surely helped too. It wasn’t that he was suddenly gallant either, there something about his kindness that seemed as though he were unfamiliar with it….as though he was practicing a new skill. Whatever the cause or format, it was a welcome change and would surely help your time together pass more smoothly.
Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.
Warnings: Reading From a Romance Novel, Mature/Explicit Themes [manual stimulation - m receiving] - 18+ only.
Word Count: 1748
Author's Note: The extractions from Julia Quinn's The Duke and I are entirely property of HarperCollins and included in tribute to her fantastic talents. This story is for entertainment purposes only and not for monetary gain.
The heat broke at last with a string of thunderstorms, keeping the weekenders away and the two of you inside. You had settled on the veranda to read after cleaning up following lunch, you on the daybed looking out over the lake, him in the rocking chair beside you. He had only a few pages left in a biography of Winston Churchill, and you heard him set the book down on the table.
“Did you need a new book?” You asked, looking up to him.
“I will find one, don’t worry.” He kissed your temple as he passed you on his way to the bookshelf, returning with one of the smutty romance novels he had watched you read. You looked up as he sat at the end of the daybed and gently parted your legs, smiling as he settled his back against your chest, his head resting against your shoulder. You wrapped an arm around his waist warmly. You had found he enjoyed being held – with the stories he had told you it was no surprise. In fact, it was your pleasure to shower him with affection and comfort.
As he lifted the book, a laugh burst forth from your lips as the title of Julia Quinn’s ‘The Duke and I’ came into view.
“Are you aware that is an entirely different genre than what you have been reading?”
He nodded, undeterred.
“Your heartbeat was quite rapid at times when you were reading this last week. I am intrigued.”
You flushed and bit your lip, turning back to your own novel; a more serious one this time, in your defense.
The next two hours passed peacefully until he shifted slightly, over halfway through the book, and looked up to you.
“This book is quite erotic.” He commented and you cleared your throat.
“True.” You replied quietly, slightly embarrassed to have been caught, even after the fact. Focusing on your book intently, you missed the wicked smirk that cross his features.
“Daphne’s breath fled as she watched him slide the silk slowly from side to side, the sweet friction causing her nipples to pucker and harden.” Your body went rigid as he started to read aloud from the novel, the words positively sinful when delivered by his voice.
The grin that unfurled on his features as he felt your reaction was positively devious. He continued from further down the page.
“With deft and knowing fingers, Simon slid the rest of her clothes from her body; until she was nude in his arms….”
He continued to read the steaming words from the page, and you noted his voice was taking on a husky quality. You set down your book and bit you lip as you wondered if you could best him at his own game. Your hands began to slide down again his sides and you noticed the shudder in his breath, but he continued to read aloud the wedding night of the two characters. As your hands reached his hips, they traversed across his lower abdomen to meet over the fly of his shorts. A thrill of triumph raced through you as you could feel his growing erection beneath the fabric.
You massaged his groin encouragingly and his words stuttered before he went silent. You leaned down to nibble lightly on the tip of his ear.
“Well, don’t stop now…” You own voice betrayed your arousal as you fairly purred the statement.
He shuddered with a groan but after a deep breath, he continued reading as requested. Your tongue traced the shell of his ear as you worked his shorts and underwear down his thighs, just enough to grasp his rapidly hardening cock.
“Simon felt her thighs slide apart as he settled his body against hers, his manhood hot against her belly…”
You licked your lips and stroked his flesh, shifting down to nip and suck the column of his throat as your other hand cupped his testicles softly. He had been such a generous lover; it gave you great satisfaction to focus your attention solely on him. You felt the moisture of a bead of precum slide down his cock and you cupped it in your fist, tightening your grasp around him.
You cast your eyes about for the bottle of lotion you knew was out there on the veranda and continued to stroke him as you pumped a few squirts into your palm, wrapping your second hand around his length and ensured he was well lubricated before your hands moved in tandem along his skin. The sentence he had been reading broke off into a moan emanating from somewhere deep inside him. It reverberated through your chest, egging you on. You slid your thumb to begin teasingly the tip of his cock, circling the head, gathering more beads of precum from the slit.
“He began to move within her…” he continued shakily, his exhales heavily laden with pleasure.
You slid your right hand down to the base of his cock, following it with your left, repeating the downward sliding motion slowly as the coupling in the book grew in intensity.
“He moved ever faster, his teeth gritted as he fought to maintain his control…” he rasped, his hips rutting up into your hands.
As your right hand started at the tip of his cock again, you wrapped only your thumb and forefinger around his girth and began to rapidly stroke it up and down his weeping length. The fingers of his free hand dug into your left thigh and his head arched back, eyes screwed shut as he panted and groaned eagerly. You latched your lips onto the tender flesh behind his ear and you suckled at his skin. In preparation for his release, your free hand splayed across his lower abdomen, sliding upwards, his shirt catching at your wrist and exposing the fluttering muscles of his stomach.
“Ahn!” He cried out, very close. He was panting your name and fully bucking his hips in time with your strokes. You added your middle finger to your motions, positioning it so it traced along the sensitive connection between the head and shaft of his cock. Curses of Atlantean origin fell from his lips and he let the book fall to the floor to allow for his other hand to grasp your right thigh. He thrust his hips harshly, thick white ropes of cum painting his stomach as his release exploded from him. You wrapped your hand around him fully once again, stroking slowly and gently to prolong his pleasure.
He shuddered from head to toe as the waves of pleasure receded, and you felt his weight press fully against your chest as he went lax. You kissed his cheek softly, grabbing some tissues from the side table and wiping his stomach clean before gently redressing him. His hands were sliding up and down your thighs in gentle affection, but he didn’t quite seem capable of speech at the point.
“It is quite an enjoyable read, is it not?” You asked cheekily and he managed a nod. You kissed his temple and shifted back against the pillows, stroking his hair and eyebrows until his breaths deepened and slowed as sleep took him. You grinned to yourself in triumph before resuming your read.
As he was waking about an hour later, the sky was also beginning to clear, a refreshing wind from the North bringing a clear twilight sky and cooler temperatures. While you were grateful for the more comfortable weather, it reminded you that summer was coming to a close, that you only had one week left out here.
You felt Orm rise and turn in your arms before he kissed you slowly – lovingly even. You blushed at the affection radiating from his actions and licked your lips as he pulled back.
“What troubles you?” He murmured; voice still thick with sleep.
“The passage of time.” You replied ambiguously before adding, “I’m going home in a week, and we still haven’t heard a thing from Arthur.”
He nodded thoughtfully, shifting to sit beside you. His fingers twined with yours and you smiled a little.
“The lack of news is troubling. I am certain he did not intend to be dealing with this for the length of time it has taken.”
You nodded firmly. “Exactly…we should start thinking about what to do if we’ve had no news by Friday…I have to leave Saturday to get home and ready for…well real life the following week.”
It was a sobering thought, for both of you. The last three weeks had been so isolated, in your own world centered on the pair of you, that the ‘before’ felt foreign now. Your life without him. You felt a flutter of anxiety in the pit of your stomach. How on earth could Orm fit into your normal life outside of this cottage in the woods…
His fingers squeezed yours softly, seeming to have sensed your inner turmoil. You turned to look at him.
“We will find a solution.” He said solemnly and lifted your hand, kissing your knuckles. Your features relaxed a little and you nodded, kissing his cheek.
“Thank you.” You smiled a little and he pressed his lips to your reassuringly.
He took a shower while you made dinner. As you were standing in the kitchen your lower back began to ache a little and you tried some stretches to relieve the discomfort. You had been so focused on bringing him pleasure, who knew what position you had contorted yourself into.
He came into the kitchen, finding you in a forward fold as the rice cooked on the stove.
“I am not sure what you are doing…” He commented as his feet came into view first.
“Oh, my back is just bothering me…another human talent…random, unexplainable pain.” You laughed and carefully straightened to stand.
“Let me clean up tonight, then. The dishes will dry in the rack on the counter.” He insisted.
You didn’t argue with his offer and once you’d finished eating, you retired to the couch, finding a comfortable position. You watched quietly as he dealt with leftovers, compost, and washed all the dishes – he looked surprisingly domestic and quite at home in the kitchen – so much had changed in the past three weeks.
He coaxed you to bed early that evening, simply holding you once you had found a comfortable position. Somehow, it felt like the most intimate thing you had ever done, merely falling asleep in his warm embrace.
