[ BENEATH ] :    sender moves a hand beneath an item of receiver’s clothing to touch their skin.

[ TILT ] :     sender tilts receiver’s head to the side to kiss their neck.

            a soft sigh left millie’s lips as his hands moved against her, almost shivering against the cold of him slipping a few fingers underneath the thin line in between her blouse and skirt. she had grown used to how cold his skin always felt and she could at least manage to stay still without squirming now, a smile rising. her eyes fluttered close, instead choosing to imagine the expression on his face and just what kind of smug look he was giving her now.

            it had been more than apparent that he needed a little more training in fighting in more close combat situations and despite her working closely with him, she still won almost every fight with little contest, though she did try to use a light touch. she wasn’t particularly trying very hard, more trying to banter and tease, which left her completely surprised when he’d been able to knock her down with a light thud and her practice sword clattering out of her hand.

          ‘ i am well aware, darling, but our friends are downstairs enjoying the festivities, and they would like to know you’re still alive and haven’t trapped yourself under a fallen bookshelf. ‘ it was rare that they ever got the chance to enjoy such celebrations, the kinds that had dance or music, as wardens and this once it was free of all the pretense orlesian balls had. and yet he still remained in the library, pointedly avoiding all of it.

          when they had first begun sharing a bed, this was the kind of cuddling he seemed to like the most, when there was still a little room between them for him to be able to breathe and have his space if necessary. how things had changed since they had a bed to themselves and all the finest blankets and quilts she had made fergus send her from home. she hadn’t even thought she was hogging them either, but she was quick to remedy that. she turned over from her position facing the bedside table to meet his front, burrowing herself under his arms and popping out underneath his chin.

         ‘ i understand, i do, but darling, you... i mean this in the kindest way possible, but you don’t look... well. ‘ she hadn’t been away for too long this time, merely across the sea, but when he didn’t come to see her return, she suspected he may have been cooped up in his study. whatever was ailing him now was far more than a lack of sunlight. which she planned on fixing as she moved to crack open the window, yanking the curtains apart so she could get him some fresh air.

              ‘ you’re an awful liar. ‘ she whispered with a concerned frown, having run over to his side the minute the ogre had picked him up and tossed him straight into a fence. thankfully, she imagined the loud snapping was that of the wood posts and not his bones ( but maybe it was both ) but the ogre was already lumbering over to finish the job. quickly, she pushed back his hair and pressed a kiss to his forehead before she shoved her shield into his hands. even if he wasn’t strong enough now to lift it, it would at least protect him from here.