(it's cock warming today but I didn't wanna put that in bold letters in the header. also yes I was kinda rushed today)
Rain pelted the ground outside, weighing down leaves and flowering things as it hurtled unceremoniously to the earth. Animals huddled into their burrows, safe from the angry clouds that tantrumed over them. Eskel and Y/n were like minded. The pair sequestered in the small cottage as the autumn storm rained coldly outside. Y/n was sat on the floor in front of an easel, brush gliding over canvas. She was painting the view from the window that afternoon. The leaves, bright and beautiful, were falling so gracefully that she had to capture the scene.
Eskel was sat in an armchair by the fire, caring for his sword. His eyes occasionally flickering to Y/n, she had been there all afternoon. Unwavering in her attention as she mixed pigments and looked at her canvas from all different angles to make sure she was capturing everything accurately. It had grown dark now and Eskel would be lying if he said he wasn’t feeling a tad jealous. It felt silly being jealous over a piece of stretched canvas, but he was. Y/n hadn’t even gotten up to eat, just shrugging him off when he suggested lunch that afternoon.
Eskel set his sword down, waking over to his enraptured lover and sitting down beside her. His head leaned against her shoulder.
“You need to eat love” he rubbed his cheek against the soft cotton of her dress.
“I will when I’m finished” She replied, not looking up from her work. Eskel huffed.
“And how long will that be exactly?” he questioned, turning his head so she could see his face in her peripheral.
“Not long now” She muttered, tongue jettisoning out of her mouth as she concentrated. And oh how that tongue caught Eskel’s attention. Sitting innocently over her sinful lips. Eskel knew the things that tongue would say. It was only she who could turn him into a mess simply by her words. But not just her words, that tongue was capable of much, much more.
Eskel moved to sit behind her, hands rubbing her arms as he mouthed at her neck. He targeted the spots that made her weak. Slowly migrating his hands from her arms to worm their way down the front of her top.
“Take a break” he muttered into her skin.
“I can’t, I need to blend this while it’s still wet.” she said, eyes losing focus at the edges of her vision, from exhaustion or the haze of pleasure she wasn’t sure. Most likely both.
“Eskel” she said now more sternly. “Do what you want to me, I’m not cracking.”
“Is that a challenge?” He asked, eyebrows raising in internest.
“Only if you want it to be” she said with a smile on her face. This would be easy.
It was not easy.
Y/n had forgotten just how skilled Eskel could be with his hands. He had played her like a fiddle over her clothing. Then when he had tired of that he ripped open the back of her dress, sliding the sleeves down as much as he could without disrupting her hands. He then set to work lavashing her back with love bites.
Her sleeves being so low irritated her greatly. That combined with the fact that she didn’t want to repair all of what she was wearing tonight made her stand to strip. Standing in her front room nude. She then moved to sit back down and continue. Just as she was about off balance while sitting Eskel struck, pulling her down onto his lap.
She let out a huff as she landed, perturbed but not about to give in. She simply adjusted her self and started up once more. It was in adjust however that she felt the very familiar weight of a cock at the apex of her thighs. Eskel must have stripped himself when she had, probably thinking she had given up.
Not that easily she wouldn’t.
As she painted, Eskel gave small jolts to rock himself between her lips. His cock hitting her clit each time. Y/n bit her lip, trying to keep the growing wetness below her to a minimum. When she leaned forward to use her fingers on the canvas, Eskel’s hands lead her back, readjusting her seating ever so slightly so that on the next rock Eskel gave the head of his cock slipped in.
Y/n expected this to go much like the initial teasing had. Him moving slowly so she wouldn’t notice as much. But after he had sheathed himself he just stopped.
Just sat there and waited.
At first Y/n was fine with this, she was making much faster progress now that he was no longer moving her. However Eskel was big. He filled her completely, which meant that with every little movement she made he was pressing against her sweet spots in the most delicious of ways.
She found herself biting her lip, impatiently twitching the muscles in her thigh as she worked. This wasn’t fair, he was supposed to be touching her, pleasuring her, trying to get her to crack. Instead he was still, arms behind him as he leaned on his elbows, a smirk blatant on his face.
It was at least fifteen minutes of this torture before Y/n concided and decided the painting was good enough.
“I’m finished” she said, relief in her voice as she felt his hands at her side once more, guiding her up and then off. Eskel shuffled behind her, peeking his head over his shoulder.
“It looks good babe, but you’re sure your done?” he questioned, leaving kisses once more in the skin of her shoulder.
“Yes absolutely. Finished as could be” she said, looking over the canvas. It was impressive for sure but not nearly as refined as her normal work.
“Great, than you can go eat now.” Eskel said cheerfully. It took a moment to register what he was saying, swfitly turning her head as she saw him leave her to go to the kitchen.
Bitter, Evil Hearts [Eskel]- Chapter 5: His Favorite Part
“I have nothing against witchers. Let them hunt vampires. As long as they pay taxes.”
—Radovid lll the bold, King of Redania
The sky grew dark rather quick after Esmeray and Eskel had returned to their privately rented room within the tavern. Esmeray stood clothed in nothing but a see-through black robe overlooking the large windows. From where she currently stood, she could see the Tower of Aretuza set in the ocean miles away.
It looks awfully menacing with the black clouds and dark angry wasters around it.
They had about 3 hours to waste before they needed to attend the banquet.
Esmeray turned to the face of the snoring witcher and chuckled softly at the sight of him all curled up and tuckered out after the festivities together. Eskel was always a bit of a cuddler, this fact was doubled after sex- it was a miracle Esmeray even managed to crawl out of the bed without him locking her in an iron grip.
A small shiver of excitement ran along the sorceress's spine as she recounted him just an hour before; gripping and squeezing her ass as he drove himself into her- and oh gods how he felt inside of her! The witcher could make her cum for hours on end, the mere memory just makes her wanna bind his wrists to the bedframe and ride him all night.
Before meeting Eskel, sex had mattered very little to the sorceress. She had had her fun and even been involved in a couple of scandalous relationships- mainly one being the one she had with Philippa Eilheart- but sex was never a priority for the woman. It still wasn’t, but Eskel always managed to ignite a primal flare within her that she just couldn’t help but dance to.
Eskel wasn’t a particularly kinky person, per se, he mostly enjoyed positions in which he could see her face. But it was the endurance of the act of sex that Esmeray most enjoyed when doing it with Eskel.
From the moment the two began fucking, he never once treated her as something replaceable.
Esmeray was startled when one of the witcher’s yellow cat-like eye’s popped open to stare at her. She jumped at the sight of- just how long had she been staring at him?
Eskel’s scared lips curved up into a smile as he let out a breathy laugh- half-muffled by the pillow his face was buried into.
‘Are you just going to keep watching me or are you going to come over here and join me?’
Esmeray shot her lover a cheeky look before silently making her way towards the bed all the while allowing her thin robe to slide off of her slender body. Eskel let out a sigh at the sight of her pale freckled chest and rolled over so that he was watching her on his back. In doing so the blanket slipped down to just above his groin.
‘Do you witchers ever truly tire from sex?’ Esmeray said as she eyed the growing tent Eskel’s cock was creating with the sheets.
‘With you, darling, never.’ Eskel shot her a wink as his smile widened.
‘We’ll see about that,’ Esmeray muttered before laying her naked body halfway across his own- positioning her upper body to meet with his middle before pulling down the blanket and giving his cock access to spring fully to life.
Esmeray’s delicate lips made contact with Eskel’s ball’s in a nipping kiss, causing the Witcher’s hips to twitch up, but once the woman rapped her fingers around his length- Eskel couldn’t help but throw his head back onto the pillows.
Typically, Eskel much preferred being on the giving end rather than the receiving one- but over the years of being with Esmeray, despite their long break-up, he had learned very quickly that it was better to let her have her way with him first before she allowed him to have his.
So, confined to the fate he had agreed upon, the witcher allowed himself to lean back and watch his partner do some dirty work- only taking control of the situation once he got fed up with her constant teasing… Which wasn’t long after.
Not in any sort of forceful way, Eskel gripped the back of Esmeray’s head by wrapping his fist up with the tail of her long braid and guiding her movement down on his perked cock. Esmeray didn’t fight the change in power and allowed the witcher to sheath himself in her mouth before pulling her back up slightly by her hair before the process recycled once more.
Oral wasn’t Esmeray’s strong suit, she was willing to admit- her gag reflex was all too sensitive, but she managed to cope by gripping Eskel’s slightly hairy thighs as he stretched her throat- and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t at least a little aroused by the pull of her hair.
The moment only lasted for so long, however, as Eskel pulled her up and completely off his cock and pushed her down onto the bed before guiding his length to her awaiting core. Now, this was his favorite part.
hey! could i make a request for an eskel x short!reader? preferably the same witch reader you always have, just eskel making fun of their height difference and teasing them? (established relationship) ty, i love ur writing! :)
Five times he teased you about your height, the one time you get to tease him about his
Pairing: Eskel x reader
Word count: 2949
TW: slightly NSFW? alluding to it. Also, blood, canon level though.
A/N: Okay so this got a little out of hand. It is much longer than I meant it to be. I really hope you like it!!
Also... unbeta'd completely, if there are mistakes... so be it. Oops.
Silence washes over the forest as the last of the creature falls at your feet- your sword settled snugly into its chest. Eyeing it cautiously, you watch for any movement, nearly jumping when its clawed foot twitches, the last of life melting from its body. Huffing, you wipe your hands at your pants, nose scrunching in disgust at how its blood paints your skin, the stench turning your stomach as you turn away from it, not even bothering to retrieve your sword yet.
“Esk?” you call gently, whisper swallowed by the shaking of the leaves, a sudden gust of wind cooling the splatter across your arms and face, making you shiver, absently wiping at the crimson liquid.
“You…” There is a soft gasp, and a lull in his words as he hauls himself up slowly, using a tree as support before you rush over to him, hands shooting out to steady him. Golden eyes meet yours, a weak smile crossing his scarred face teasingly. “Red really brings out your eyes,” he chuckles before grunting in pain, staring irritably down at his arm, slashed by the creature's claws.
Rolling your eyes, you lift his arm slightly, mumbling about keeping it elevated while you help him to the horses where all of your supplies are nicely packed away. Wrapping his arm around your shoulder, you take on as much of his weight as you can, grumbling about headstrong witchers biting off more than they can chew. He just chuckles, shifting his arm to rest on top of your head, his smile stretching into an all out cheshire grin, eyes dancing with mirth.
“What? You told me to keep it elevated.” you fight the urge to just drop him, eyebrow quirking up at him, unamused.
“Hysterical.”
“I thought so.”
__
Huffing in pain, you limp towards camp, pausing to lean against a tree to take pressure off of your ankle for just a moment. Looking down, you cringe at the sight of red bleeding through your tunic.
“Fuck,” you whine, pressing your hand on your stomach for pressure. “This was new.”
Hearing your voice, Eskel pokes his head out through the trees, a smile at the ready but sobers quickly. In a moment, he is at your side, kneeling. You ignore the fact that he also has to hunch over while kneeling to get a proper look at you. Straightening some, he just about comes eye to eye with you, worry swimming in his. Taking a deep breath, you force a smile, hoping it is convincing.
You know it isn't.
“If you think this is bad, you should have seen the other guy,” you try to joke, wincing when he lifts your hand from your stomach, gently prodding at the stab wound. He huffs at you, lips tugging into a line, unimpressed.
“Why didn't you call for me?” his voice is strained, you can hear the anger there. Anger that you know isn't aimed towards you- you know what he'd do to protect you. You shrug.
“I tried,” you mumble, knowing he can hear you. “They gagged me.” he straightens more, already standing before you can stop him, a growl tearing from his chest.
“Where are they?” you stop him, lifting your arms to cradle his jaw, ignoring the pain as you stretch. The muscles there work with his restraint, eyes boring down on you. You soften, tugging him closer.
“Dead,” you promise. He stops, blinking down at you before softening significantly, sighing as he leans down, pressing his forehead to your shoulder.
“What am i going to do with you?” he wonders out loud, arm wrapping around your middle slowly to tug you closer. Humming contently, you allow yourself to fumble into his chest, resting your forehead next to his heart, tension melting from your shoulders once you're able to feel it thundering under your palm.
“Patch me up?” you suggest after a moment, earning a snort from him and a curt nod.
“Yeah,” he sighs as he straightens up again, standing at his full height, looking down at you. “Can you walk?”
Nodding you move to push yourself off the tree, yelping softly when you suddenly put your full weight on your ankle, Eskel’s hands shooting out to catch you when you stumble.
“That's a no, Kit.” he states softly, hands moving from your hips to right under your armpits as he lifts you, your arms being forced straight, taut with the pressure. Your face squishes with your shoulders begin forced up, face scrunching up in distaste as you kick your feet a bit. He dangles you in front of him like a misbehaving cat, amusement painting his features as your feet sway a good foot and a half off of the ground.
“Say nothing,” you grouch. His silent laughter shakes his frame, and in turn, your entire body.
“Or what?” he muses, laughter subsiding. “You'll scratch me?”
Narrowing your eyes at him, you grumble, kicking out at him, barely hitting his thigh.
“No, I feel like you'd like that too much.”
__
Soft brown wood, smooth under your fingertips, carved- and collapsable. Grinning, you thank the shopkeeper, pressing her payment into her hand as you skip out. She just laughs, nodding after you.
Have a pleasant day, she calls after you.
Hugging it to your chest, you march up the steps of the Inn with confidence. That same confidence melts away as you reach the door to your room, peeking in to assure yourself that Eskel is still gone- away on his contract. Heaving a sigh of relief, you slide in, closing the door softly behind you as you plop on the bed to look it over again, nodding in satisfaction.
Looking around, you smile at the room. It had been more expensive, but it was bigger than you were used to- including a tub for private baths, instead of having to go to the communal baths, again. There is a dresser, topped with a mirror, and in the corner is a small kitchenette, just big enough to make your own meals, if you so choose, two cabinets hanging on the wall behind it.
Looking out the window, you hum. The sun is starting to go down, vibrant colors painting over the soft blues.
He should be back soon, and he will be hungry. Of that you are sure.
Hopping down from the bed, you move to the kitchenette, beaming as you get to use your new stool. Setting it out, you flatten the top, stepping on it slowly to test it before putting your full weight on it. When it holds, you look up, laughing in delight as the cupboards are right in your line of sight, immediately starting to pull things down to cook.
As you are finishing up rummaging around in the space, Eskel steps in. The door shuts quickly behind him before he looks up at you, his sweet smile stretching further, watching you.
“What is that?” amusement is plain in his voice as he strides to your side, hands settling on your hips to steady you as his sudden presence startled you enough to knock you off balance. Swallowing, you glance up at him through your eye lashes. Even with the stool, he is still taller than you by a head.
“A… stool?” you grumble, hands resting over his. Giving your hips a soft squeeze, he looks down, staring at it, eyebrow arching at you.
“Why?” sighing, you cross your arms, preparing for his teasing.
“To save my knees,” you mumble. His eyebrows shoot up, a shit eating grin stretching across his face as his hands come to rest behind you on the counter, caging you in, a sparkle in his eyes in spite of his exhaustion. “I keep hitting them when I have to climb things.” you clarify, flicking him in the forehead.
His laugh startles you, pulling a smile from you as well as he playfully rubs at his forehead where you flicked him.
“Sure, Kit,” he hums. “Whatever you say.”
__
Eskel’s hand comes back towards you out of habit, a silent invitation, as hoards of villagers swarm around you, bumping and pushing without even so much as looking up or apologizing. Immediately, you take it, watching the scarred side of his mouth tick up, feeling the size difference in your hands. Silently, he looks behind him, eyes glowing like sunlight, enthralling you- beckoning you like a sunflower to their rays.
“Stay close,” he hums, tugging you closer. Nodding, you rest your cheek on his arm, other hand coming to cradle the back of his arm. He smiles at the sensation, leading you through the crowds, ignoring the sneers and quiet jeers of those who notice who he is.
You are just about to turn to give that last guy a piece of your mind when Eskel tugs you back to him with his hand firm around yours, giving you a soft smile.
“How about some fruit?” He offers, voice gentler than usual. A distraction, because while he appreciates that you'd go to bat for him, he would rather you didn't. Too many out there willing to hurt you to get to him. Sighing, you nod slightly.
“Yeah, sounds nice.”
Silently, he leads you to the stall at the edge of the village, an elderly woman standing there with crates of different fruits and vegetables that are in season. She eyes Eskel closely, so he stands back as you go looking to find what you'd like. She doesn't say anything to this, only seems to relax some, helping you inspect each piece. Two peaches and a bunch of grapes.
He only steps forward to pay, and to her credit, she sends up the slightest of smiles, nodding to him. He nods gently, handing her the coins before turning back to you, smiling now.
“Onward!” you cry playfully, making him laugh, nodding. You motion to a group of trees lining the edge of the village, overlooking the lake nearby. You just about melt when he places his hand on the small of your back, smiling up at him. He relaxes the more you head out of town until you're right on the banks of the lake.
“What would you like?” you hum, holding up the fruit. He looks over them for a moment before grinning, swiping both of the peaches making you gasp at him.
“These,” he states as a matter of factly, eyes shining like melting gold in the sunlight.
“But I wanted one of those,” you whine, reaching for them. Giving you your favorite crooked grin, he lifts them well above his head, knowing you can't reach them.
“Then grab them.” he challenges, tilting his head slightly. Huffing, you look him over slowly, debating on how you want to go about this. The trees aren't close enough for you to use as leverage… there are no rocks, and you'd rather not actually hurt him to get the fruit- besides… he's wearing a cup.
Sighing, your head swings low for a moment, rolling your shoulders.
“Fine,” you hum, meeting his curious eyes as you step back before taking quick steps back towards him, bouncing on the ball of your foot and jumping. Your hands lift to meet his shoulders, hauling you up higher, your legs coming to wrap around his waist, the motion catching him off guard. Instinctively, his hands move to catch you, one hand wrapping under your legs, the one holding the fruit lowering slightly, forgetting what he was doing for a moment, breath catching in his throat.
Grinning to yourself, you slide one of your hands to his neck, scratching up the back of his head gently, toying with the hair there watching his mouth fall slack a bit. Taking advantage of his attention now being on you instead of the fruit, you lean up, stretching your neck some to meet his other hand- winding your free hand around his wrist, tugging it down to you slightly, allowing you to take a bite of one of the peaches. Humming happily, you lick at your lips, lapping up what juice that started to run down your chin, looking back down at him.
He is stone, eyes wide- pupils blown. You swear that he isn't breathing, until you lean down, brushing your lips over the scars on his lip.
“They’re sweet this year,” you purr, teasingly, nose nuzzling into his cheek. “Want to taste?”
This brings him back to life- earning a breathy groan, “Fuck.”
Immediately, he drops the fruit, his hand wrapping around you roughly, pulling you closer. Looking up at him again, you meet his eyes, dark pupils blown to where you can hardly see the gorgeous darkened bronze. You smile, fingers splaying over his shoulder as his lips meet yours.
__
“Eskel?” you call, trees weaving past you, looking around frantically. Your voice echoes painfully through the open space, fading to a whisper when your voice finds its way back to you, as if beckoning him. Wincing, you stifle your whimper, pausing only to catch your breath, leaning your back against a tree.
“Eskel, please,” you choke out, fighting the trembling in your limbs as you push yourself back up, stumbling back to your feet, moving towards where you heard the screaming earlier. “Just answer me, something. Anything.” you beg, pushing through the undergrowth, ignoring how it cuts through your clothes and pulls at your skin.
If he was anywhere near, he would hear you.
Soon, you stumble into a clearing, blinking rapidly to adjust to the brightness of the light compared to the dim shadows of the trees. Rubbing at your eyes, you squint.
“Oh i'm going to be sick,” you rasp, looking at the scene before you warily, stepping further in slowly. Two creatures and a body- a woman. She is laying face down, but you recognize the clothing. She was the witch that was after Eskel, her blackened hair swirling around her, thickened with blood. Looking around frantically, you find Eskel’s sword lying just a few feet from her- both of them- splattered with blood, the brilliant blades searing in the sunlight.
“...Esk?” you call softly, swallowing. “Love, please… please come out- if you’re hurt i can heal you. Its just me, i swear.”
Nothing.
Blinking back tears, you slide forward stooping to collect his swords. He will need them when you find him.
Not more than a few feet away from his swords, half hidden in the grass, is a small body. Tiny enough to be a doll- maybe 6 inches tall. Frowning, you shuffle closer to him, leaning down to poke at it.
It isn't unusual for witches to use dolls to control people, but it isn't a practice you've seen done recently. And this doesn't look like any doll you've ever seen. The details are too… detailed. They're normally very vague- a piece of the Victim sewn in for the spell to work. It isn't necessary for the doll to look like the target themselves.
Shuffling forward, you lean over it, gently moving to turn it over, the limbs flopping with the movement, moving more like lead then cloth- and is much too solid. Lifting it slowly, you cradle it in your hands, its head resting snugly in one palm as you look it over, watching with wide eyes as the chest rises and falls.
There is no doubt who it is- his scars almost non-existent, but his tousled hair and bright red gibson.
“Esk?” you ask slowly, your voice must be much louder now that you're so close. His tiny body jerks, reaching for his swords out of muscle memory, looking around in a daze, his eyes slowly lifting to meet yours- his brilliant yellow eyes unmistakeable.
“Kit?” His voice is smaller, closer to that of a child, holding none of the baritone or chill it usually does. The squeak makes your lips twitch, as you look at him with care, nearly melting into the ground in relief.
“Oh, thank the gods- you're alive.” he winces, rubbing gingerly at his ear with one hand.
“What happened?” you shake your head, shrugging, careful not to jostle him too much in your hands now that he is sitting up.
“I don't know, you didn't come back last night, and then I heard these awful screams- they sounded like you. I…” you pause, blinking away the tears, shaking off your terror. There is the lightest tap on your palm where he is patting your hand, giving you a slow smile.
“Okay, Kit… It's okay… Im okay.” he states the last bit with slight uncertainty. He doesn't know what happened. Or why he is this size. You nod, accidentally shaking him in your hand.
“We uh… do you think Triss or Yennefer would be able to help you?” you ask softly, gently moving to stroke his head, softening. He is cute this way. He huffs at the fact that he finds himself leaning into your mistrations, rubbing his cheek against the pad of your finger.
“They might,” he hums, the higher pitch making you giggle, pouting when he bites at the pad- the feeling closer to what would normally be a nip. “Hey!” you watch in amusement as his face scrunches up in distaste.
“Can we just go?” he grumbles, your lips twitching a bit, trying not to laugh at him.
“Sure, love,” you hum. “Would you like to travel on my shoulder or my pocket?” if looks could kill, you'd probably be dead, an eyebrow quirking at you, unamused.
“Hysterical.” you have to fight your grin, snickering as you place him on your shoulder.
“I thought so.”
__
Tag list: @errruvande @thesleepy1 @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @queenxxxsupreme @screechingdreamercollectorsblog @open--till--midnight @one-eyed-captain-kinky
You had been with Eskel for sometime now but it was finally time to meet his family. You were nervous as you approached the keep. You took a breath and remembered all the stories Eskel had told you about them.
“Ready Y/n?” Eskel glances at you and gives a small smile.
“As ready as I’ll ever be!” You gave a small laugh.
Eskel pushes open the heavy door and you’re greeted with a roar of voices. Eskel starts hugging the men left and right and begins to introduce you to his family.
Eskel; haha first writing thing i need to rant about this stupid old man
Currently thinking of an old Eskel who has settled down. After Vesemir he decided to venture out on the path one more time before taking his leftover coin and belongings back to Kaer Morhen. As expected there was no one there.
Eskel finds himself roaming the halls for days on end barely getting sleep. He would stare out at the moon or stay in the library that was creaking every moment of the day. The keep would collapse over the next summer. He knew it. So when the sun warmed his face again Eskel left without looking back at the broken down building that he and hundreds of others used to call home.
He vowed he would never go back. What could he return to? Silence? He would never hear the laughing of his brothers or the quiet chuckling of the only father figure he had. Those days were over.
It only worked out that as he was heading South that year he learned a certain Vineyard was owned by a brother he so dearly missed. Winter didn’t have to have snow he supposed.
A little bit of Jaskel for my dear @firefly-party 🥰
A follow-up to the fic May I? Also on AO3.
——-
“Wait, stop,” Eskel whispered breathlessly.
Jaskier froze and scanned the woodline. “What is it, Eskel? Do you hear something?”
Eskel shook his head. “No. It’s not that. I feel…”
Eskel wasn’t sure what he felt. He closed his eyes, and turned his attention inward. I feel a strange sort of energy, he thought. Where is it coming from?
“I feel…” he tried again.
“Oh! Do you feel rushed, darling?” Jaskier asked, misinterpreting Eskel’s hesitation. “We can slow down,” he offered, and took a step backwards.
Eskel hastily pulled Jaskier against his chest. “No,” he said firmly. “Just… be still a moment, please.”
He closed his eyes again. It was still there, but fainter. A sort of buzzing at the periphery of his consciousness. “Do you feel that?”
“Feel what, my love?” asked Jaskier.
“Close your eyes,” Eskel directed. “What do you feel?” He needed to be sure Jaskier wasn’t afflicted by whatever strange energy he was sensing.
“Ok, well, I feel a lot of things,” began Jaskier. “I feel your body heat where we’re pressed together and where your arms are around my back. I feel the tickle of your chest hair against my skin. I feel a lovely round bum beneath my fingers that I’d like to get better acquainted with, and the beginnings of your excitement against my hip. I feel my heart beating quickly with anticipation, and my own excitement stirring low in my belly and filling my cock. I feel a cool breeze on my shoulders, and the heat from the fire against the back of my legs. But, I don’t feel the grass under my feet because a lovely person gave me some cozy socks.” Jaskier punctuated that last thought with a peck on Eskel’s cheek. “There. How’d I do?”
Eskel smiled warmly at Jaskier, feeling somewhat reassured. “Nothing… nothing out of the ordinary, then?”
He received an amused look in return. “Actually, I feel quite extraordinary,” said Jaskier, nuzzling Eskel’s jaw. “But, what are you feeling? Or is it gone now?”
“It’s mostly gone,” Eskel acknowledged. He leaned forward and whispered, “and my lovely round bum would be pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Cheeky!” laughed Jaskier.
Jaskier pulled him close, anchoring him in place with a hand on the small of his back. Then Eskel felt feather-light fingertips caressing his backside. He closed his eyes and didn’t breathe, transfixed by Jaskier’s touch.
Jaskier asked softly, “How does that feel?”
“Tickles,” Eskel managed to say.
“Is that pleasant for you?” asked Jaskier. “Or do you prefer a firmer touch?”
Eskel felt Jaskier slowly squeeze and release a handful, and then draw the flat of his hand up and down.
Eskel struggled to find his voice. “I, uh,” he swallowed, and cleared his throat. “It all feels good. I…” He became distracted as Jaskier’s second hand joined in. “I find it very pleasant that you’re touching me,” he finished.
Jaskier pulled away slightly to look into Eskel’s eyes. “You are very pleasant to touch,” he assured. He brushed a lock of hair away from Eskel’s eyes.
Eskel leaned into the touch, and marveled at the look of open affection on Jaskier’s face. It made him feel warm and almost like he was vibrating with joy. He leaned forward and kissed Jaskier sweetly.
And the vibrating grew stronger.
Eskel gripped Jaskier’s arms and pulled him away abruptly. “Stop,” he said.
He quickly glanced over Jaskier’s shoulder and his own for any signs of danger. He closed his eyes to pay better attention to the sounds of the forest around them. There was nothing.
He looked back at Jaskier. “You feel it again,” Jaskier said simply.
“Yes,” agreed Eskel.
“But you don’t sense anything dangerous nearby?” Jaskier asked.
“What is it like, this feeling that you’re having?” asked Jaskier, reaching out to take Eskel’s hand. Eskel kissed the offered hand and held it gladly.
“It’s like something is vibrating nearby,” he said. “I don’t feel it directly. It’s in the air around me, like if a bumblebee was buzzing near my skin.” Eskel wasn’t sure his explanation made sense, but Jaskier’s eyes lit up.
“Oh! Like when you pluck a lute string and can feel the air around it hum?” Jaskier offered.
“Maybe, Jaskier. I haven’t been that close to a lute before but your description sounds right,” confirmed Eskel.
“Could it be… arousal?” Jaskier asked.
Eskel watched intently as Jaskier held his gaze and kissed the tip of each finger from smallest to largest. Jaskier drew the last digit into his mouth and licked and flicked it with his tongue. Eskel’s cock jumped in reaction. He was amused to see a smug look on Jaskier’s face, and chuckled.
“I don’t think so, Jaskier. Arousal has never felt that way to me before,” Eskel replied. “But, I’m enjoying this little experiment if you wish to continue.”
“Hmm,” Jaskier said, considering. “If not arousal, perhaps... touch?” Jaskier placed Eskel’s hand on his chest and covered it with his own hands. “Anything?” he asked.
“No,” shrugged Eskel.
Jaskier reached out to brush his fingers against Eskel’s abdomen. “How about here?” asked Jaskier.
“I felt my skin flutter at your touch,” Eskel admitted shyly.
Jaskier smiled softly, and whispered, “You have the same effect on me, Eskel dear.”
Eskel raised his eyebrows. He drew his fingers down the trail of hair from Jaskier’s chest to his navel and, sure enough, he felt the skin twitch under his fingers. Eskel looked up at Jaskier, who winked at him.
“No vibrating?” asked Jaskier.
Eskel smiled and shook his head. He rested his wandering hand on Jaskier’s hip and thought for a moment.
“The first time I felt it was after you first pulled me close. When I felt your skin all along my own, I… well.” Eskel tried to find the right words. “Touch… that kind of touch… it’s something I long for, but seldom experience. It overwhelmed me. And you understood. And you held me close, and kissed me. And then the air was vibrating.”
“Eskel, love, I want to hold you again like that. Would that be okay?” asked Jaskier.
Instead of answering, Eskel closed the distance. He and Jaskier stood cheek to cheek with their arms wrapped around one another, and Jaskier adjusted his stance to slot their legs more closely together.
Eskel closed his eyes, savoring the closeness. The vibrating sensation returned, but this time he kept still and let himself experience it. It wasn’t unlike the feeling he got before casting a sign, like there was a little magic in the air. But, there was a tenderness about it, somehow. Like it was cradling him. He embraced Jaskier a little more snugly.
“It’s back,” Jaskier knew.
Eskel nodded.
“Can you tell me what else you’re feeling?” whispered Jaskier.
Eskel took a deep breath to center himself.
“I feel… held,” he began. “Not only because your arms around me feel sure, but because… I don’t feel alone, Jaskier.” He pulled away enough to look at Jaskier’s face. “You’re here. You’re choosing this moment, here with me. It makes my heart feel tight in my chest.” Eskel felt a tear run down his cheek. “I feel loved.”
