♱ nevermore ♱

He had returned to find you waiting in the same spot, and the weight of his exhausting journey seemed to lift. You never set foot into the house until you saw the appearing form of your Arthur, running to him breathless with your skirts gathering the wind before he even made it past the fence. He dismounted his horse, and the sight of you, flushed with anticipation, had softened the sternness he carried with him. From his saddlebag, he always brought home something that reminded him of you. This time, it was a cluster of dainty wildflowers, and he took one to place behind your ear.

Stumbling footsteps and falling clothes, along with throaty chuckles, filled the room bereft of light. The firm bow of your corset was unraveled with practiced ease from his work-scarred fingers, the troublesome mechanics of its knot no longer an unfamiliar nuisance to him. A creak of the mattress sounded throughout the once quiet space, and the satin sheets creased as you lay upon them. Strands of hair splayed and stuck to the beads of forming sweat on your neck, and you watched as he fully discarded his shirt, revealing his brawny chest covered with a plentiful amount of faded scars. No matter how many times you had seen him undressed, it always stirred you beyond words and rendered you breathless.

With a slow tug pulling him forward, he planted the gentlest of kisses upon your lips and on your jawline, and he enveloped you in his warm touch. The sensation of his weight against you was almost far too much to bear and all that seeped into you was the addicting scent of his natural musk with a faint smokiness of gunpowder, leather, and pine. You pulled him closer, exploring the muscles of his back, tracing the lines of his form.

Arthur only pulled back to gaze into your irises behind half-mast lids to find any hint of reluctance or regret and even asked aloud, but there was nothing in them that spoke of such an idea, and your nod confirmed that. He dwelled dreamily at your parted lips, which awaited his kiss once more and, wishfully, forevermore. The edge of his calloused thumb brushed the side of your face lovingly and down to the seam where shuddering breaths escaped. 

He brushed your hair away from your ear, moving down to whisper, “I could spend the rest of my life looking at you.” It caused goosebumps to erupt on your skin from his low and vibrating tones. And before you deliver a quip, the words dissipate as he reconnects with you, and your mind goes vacant. 

Smooth, dreamlike moans elicited from your throat as he began moving down to your neck and your sternum. He trailed kisses along the curve of your waist, following the soft dips of your hips. Each kiss had sent ripples of anticipation through you, and you slightly dipped your head back at all of this, closing your eyes and softly smiling. His caresses on your skin left you boneless, while his mouth wandered senselessly, and he smiled to your song. 

Ribs flared to that of a bird's wings as your lower back arched, spine curving and bending to the will of want of its ever flourishing desire. His touch glided through your veins, reminding every single cell of this moment. Your fingertips nestled into his hair, and the placement of his kisses fell between slender legs. To the serpent’s apple. Arthur takes his time, savoring every moment and your taste, and he can’t help but shower you with praise.

“Arthur…” You breathed, pressing yourself into him instinctively. Your voice, once so gentle and sweet, was now needy and desperate. He moaned against you, gripping your thighs tighter, large fingers digging into your soft flesh. And you took in a deep breath, coming undone and loosening your grip on the sheets. He looked up for a moment and gazed at the way the moonlight had fallen over you through the gossamer curtains. 

And tonight remained similar to the many shared nights between you and Arthur, where he’d continue to show you his love in many ways, ways in which you couldn’t imagine possible, nor would you want it any other way or with anyone else. He’d leave you always in a state of pure bliss that you wished would remain forever, and you were soon wrapped in his arms beneath the sheets, the rise and fall of his chest lulling you into a peaceful sleep with soothing dreams of nothing but him.