Dani!!!! Omg congrats for your followers milestone, I'm so proud of you!!! It's delightful to see you get the recognition 👏you👏deserve👏
If i may, could you write something for Manorian or Elorcan with the prompt “i can’t hide the way i feel about you anymore.” ? Feel free to do whatever you want with it 😅 and it's fine if you don't vibe with it 🥰
Thank you so much, my love! I appreciate the kindness more than you know 🥺💕
I went with Manorian for this one, so I hope that's okay! I haven't fulfilled a prompt for them yet, and I liked this one for them! Hope you enjoy!!
[Slightly nsfw, strong language, matures themes.]
931 words.
—
It wasn't rare that Manon reached out for a nightcap with Dorian. Usually, she was already a little tipsy and eager to cash in on their current arrangement by the time she texted or called.
They had met in class a couple of semesters back, and after running into each other on a night out, they had decided to keep doing so. Casually. Urgently. Often.
There was no talk of exclusivity, but Dorian hadn't slept with anyone else since they started. It wasn't that the opportunity hadn't presented itself. That happened quite regularly, in fact. He had a suspicion that most of the women and men who shamelessly propositioned him did't have the same preference for his particular tastes.
Manon always met his rough edges with her own, and their chemistry had only grown the more they bared those edges to each other. The intensity he threw at her never made her timid. She rose to meet him where he was, even daring to push him a little further at times.
Being understood had his walls come down without his realization. Manon made him feel seen, understood, and the desire to seek out anyone else had been snuffed out for quite some time. There hadn't been a side of himself, an intensity he'd shown, that made Manon balk. The fact that their desires were wholly compatible made him feel like his chest was tightening any time he thought too long on it.
That was the problem. He wasn't supposed to feel anything at all.
He'd been having a drink with Chaol at a bar in downtown Rifthold when Manon's text flashed across his screen. He'd finished his off, paid for the both of them, and said his goodbyes to his friend before calling her. After only a couple of rings, she picked up.
"Hi, princeling."
Her voice was velvet, and it send goosebumps over his skin. That didn't stop him from rolling his eyes at the nickname.
"Since you texted me, I assume you're trying to get into trouble." He paused at a crosswalk, glancing at the walk signal while he listened to her low rumble of a laugh.
"Something like that. Or maybe trouble loves company."
His breath hitched, and he chastised his brain for searching for a hidden meaning. Was she telling him she'd grown to love his company? And if so, how drunk was she? More likely than that, it was shallow play on words unworthy of much analysis. Dorian rolled his shoulders at the disappointment.
"I guess that makes two of us, then," he purred, walking briskly across the street to his car. "I'm on my way."
—
They lay on their backs, panting after wreaking havoc on each surface in pursuit of Manon's bedroom. Dorian wondered what kind of feat it would be to locate all of their discarded clothing, but ultimately decided that was a problem for later. He rolled his head to the side to find Manon's amber eyes fixed on him already, a satisfied smile across her face.
Dorian slid his fingers down her arm until he gripped her hand and brought it to lay on his stomach. His thumb rubbed soft circles over the redness around her wrists, soothing the delicate skin.
"No need to fuss, princeling. I'm a big girl," she teased, her voice raspy.
Dorian rolled his eyes. "I'm being nice. Don't ruin it."
Manon chuckled again, raising her free arm over her head and closing her eyes. He shamelessly allowed his eyes to take in her form, to map the delicate curves of her body in a way that allowed for more thorough worship the next time. Dorian was a goal-oriented man; always aiming to improve.
"You're staring."
How she knew it with her eyes closed was lost on him, but he didn't deny it. "Are you complaining, witchling?"
To his surprise, she rolled toward him, laying her head on his chest and tossing a leg over his. Manon wasn't usually one to initiate cuddling, but since he wasn't stupid, he helped her get situated. Her contented sigh was a punch to the stomach.
Very rarely did they sleep over, and when they did, it was purely due to exhaustion. In those cases, they slipped out quietly before the other awoke the next day to keep things simple. They had to keep certain lines in the sand, thus the rules.
Dorian raised a shaky hand to cup her bicep and wrapped his other arm around her back. Manon's sleepy voice gave him pause, but she made no moves to create any distance. "If you tell anyone we cuddled, I'll gut you."
He laughed, squeezing her in apology in the event he jostled her too much. "I wouldn't dare. Your secret is safe with me. I have my own to keep, so I get it."
Manon huffed a laugh through her nose and pressed her cheek against him in thanks. "What's yours?" Her words were heavy and slurred, as if she was barely hanging on to consciousness.
Her body started to twitch, and Dorian knew sleep would claim her soon. He swallowed thickly. Manon didn't press him to hurry, but he felt the urgency anyway.
"I can't hide the way I feel about you anymore," he whispered. That admission hadn't been on his agenda tonight, or in this lifetime, but he hadn't anticipated that she would ever ask.
Her body twitched against him again, and he realized the evenness of her breathing.
"Manon?"
Nothing, only her soft breaths dancing across his chest. Dorian pressed a kiss to her hair.
