I couldn’t help but stare at Ivorix as he sleeps, thankful that Syrion and Nalik took Aryones out for his bottle before he could wake Ivorix up with his little whines and crying. Denlen had decided to set up a fire earlier in the morning and to go set up some traps around the surrounding forest in hopes of catching some smaller animals for us to use for meat. At some point I woke back up to hearing Denlen and Nalik talking to Syrion and telling them that they were both going to walk around to forage and check the traps. So, it was just Ivorix and I left in the yurt with no one to disturb us.

It was a little bittersweet to see how relaxed he was in the moment, not needing to worry over anything other than to rest. I knew he had been struggling to relax since he had been forced to watch me get the lash, but I hadn’t realized exactly how bad it was until this morning. Seeing that most relaxed expression on his face, I leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. I did my best not to wake him as I pull him closer to me but was unsuccessful if his little tired groan was any indication.

“Morning, Faelix. How late is it? Is Ary still asleep?” His groggy sleepy voice made a chuckle rumble low in my chest as I tuck a loose loc of hair behind his ear while he rubs and blinks the sleep from his eyes.

“I’m not sure how late it is, Nalik and Denlen had left to foredge and set up hunting traps when the sun was barely coming up. As for Ary, Syrion has him outside, took him to have his bottle a little before the other two left.” I lean forward to press a long and loving kiss to his slightly chapped yet somehow still soft, full lips, holding him closer and rolling onto my back despite the dull ache still there, feeling his weight on my chest was more than worth it.

He was quiet for a moment as we just lay there, enjoying each other’s warmth before he hums lowly, “So we have the tent to ourselves?”

I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me, “For the most part, yes. Though Syrion might be in and out with Aryones, unless they took the baby bag with them.” I lift my head a little to look around the tent, spotting the shadow of the of the bag being cast on the wall of the yurt from outside. Glancing over at where the basinet was meant to be, but was now gone, likely taken outside while we were sleeping. “Perhaps we will have the tent all to ourselves.”

My dear little human just hums in response, somehow relaxing more than he already was while atop my chest. Neither of us move or speak for a few long sweet moments, just enjoying each other’s warmth once again and I run my fingers though his hair as best I can while enjoying his weight on top of me. Just letting him listen to my heartbeat as I listen to him breathing and the sounds of Syrion quietly talking to Aryones and moving around outside.

Then he’s moving, planting his tiny hands on my chest and pushing himself up to straddle my waist as best he could. His thighs spread wide, causing his night gown to ride just enough to barely cover his apparently nude prick and has a pair of my hands gently grabbing his bare ass. His knees hover a few inches from the floor with the tops of his feet just barely touching the plush blankets I lay on. I couldn’t help but rake my eyes over those lovely thighs that were once so thin but have since thickened in an oh so lovely way thanks to him eating properly, my free pair of hands following my eyes to gently squeeze and run up and down those luscious thighs. My gaze moving up his still clothed torso, loving the way the loose nightgown falls over his soft curves and how the straps hang from those small shoulders, the collar hanging just low enough to tease me with glimpses of his chest as he leans over me ever so slightly. Finally, our eyes meet and there’s a hunger I rarely get to see clouding those beautiful blue eyes as his hands run down my chest then push under my shirt to lightly press into my stomach.

“I want you and your hands and mouth all over me.” His hands moved from my stomach to the hem of his nightgown, lifting it over his head and letting it pool into a heap next to us. “I need you. Please, please give me all of you.” He begs as my eyes immediately start to roam over his nude body, a hand absentmindedly moving from his thigh to his prick as I sit up and pull him closer.

“I’ll give you all of me, I promise. You don’t have to beg like that, my love.” I lean down to kiss at his neck before pulling away just enough to pull my shirt off and toss it off to the side. Ivorix kisses at my neck for a few moments before crawling off my lap to get into one of the bags, pulling out a bottle of oil while I take the moment to wriggle out of my sweatpants and underwear.

The moment he was back in my lap, I ran my hands all over his body, prepping him to take me properly. Laying him down to shower him with affection as he whimpers and moans in ecstasy, moans of my own mixing with his at the feeling of him around me, barely muffed by our lips pressed together in a heated kiss. I needed him just as much as he did me, my entire being thrumming with that need and desire that I hadn’t realized was so bottled up since I had brought back our sweet, grumpy baby. We hadn’t been able to have a moment alone since then, but now we finally got one and there was no way we were just going to let it pass by and go to waste.

I reveled in how his back arched and how his nails scraped at my shoulders and chest and back. The lovely sounds he made was beautiful music to my ears. The way his body molded against mine feeling perfect even despite our massive size difference. It felt like hours had passed as we explored each other’s body all over again, but I know it likely hadn’t been any longer than maybe an hour or a little less.

I run one set of fingers through his hair, admiring his closed eyes and reddened cheeks and soft lips. He really did look so much more relaxed and at peace than he had at the palace, even before Aryones came into our lives.

“I can feel you staring.” He hums, voice soft and a little raspy.

“I’m just admiring how perfectly at peace you are.” I hum back, the corner of my lips quirking up at the little smile that played on his face thanks to my admittance. Laying in silence after that for a little while longer, basking in each other’s warmth and passive attention and affection.

Syrion eventually popped in with a babbling Aryones, chuckling at the sight of our nude bodies still tangled together. “You two should really get dressed and eat some of the leftovers from last night. Denlen and Nalik are back with some wild berries and greens and a few rabbits for you two big strong warriors to wash and prep for dinner.” They tease lightly, though it’s more at me in this moment than at Ivorix.

“We were about to get up now any ways. I am getting a little hungry.” Ivorix hums, slowly pushing himself up to lean over me and press a long and gentle kiss to my lips. His smile was something so much more beautiful than anything else I had ever seen, soft yet bright in the same way the moon is soft yet beautifully bright.

I sit up with him when he leans back and crawls over to one of the bags with their clothes, letting myself stare at the pretty nude body I was just exploring and worshipping a short while ago. Watching him picking out a plain navy blue long-sleeve shirt, black fleece lined leggings, and a black knee length skirt for himself. Then to the littler one that has my clothes, pulling out a long-sleeve shirt for me and a pair of pants that seemed thick enough to him. Crawling back over to hand them to me before standing to pull his clothes on, letting myself watch him get dressed before following his actions and standing to pull the clothes he picked out for me on.

Walking over to where his coat was left, neatly folded near one of the still warm pots of charcoal, I suspect Denlen had added in new charcoal earlier when he and Nalik left to forage and hunt. I grab the slightly warmed coat and help him thread his arms through the sleeves and button it up, chuckling at how he snuggles into it, clearly enjoying the warmth that seeped into the thick fabric.

The two of us slipped out after he fussed and got me to put on my jacket, seeing Denlen in his and wandering if he was similarly fussed at to put it on. It was sweet that they wanted to make sure we wouldn’t freeze, despite the fact that we doubtfully would. The two of us have been through much harsher and colder weather with less layers on than we do now and even then, we only felt a slight bite from the cold. I was already feeling a bit uncomfortably warm in the jacket, undoing the zipper to the cool air in a little bit.

“Hey, you two. Did you enjoy your alone time in the tent?” Nalik’s tone was very intentionally teasing as he gave a little knowing smile at Ivorix, who’s cheeks had become a deep shade of red at the question.

“We did, very much so in fact.” He stuck his tongue out at his friend with a little knowing smile of his own playing on his face. “Did you enjoy your time out and about hunting and foraging?” The way he asked it had me looking between Denlen and Nalik to see Nalik’s cheeks going a similar shade of red to Ivorix’s while Denlen just gave me a slight shrug and a small self-satisfied smirk. I gave him a surprised nod of approval and quick thumbs up before either of our little partners could see it.

Nalik gave Ivorix a little huff, mockingly repeating Ivorix’s words, “We did, very much so in fact.” Then they burst into a fit of giggles and huddled together, whispering to one another as they take the greens and berries over to a pot of water, dumping them in and pushing them around in the water that was set up for them to rinse off the foraged goods.

Denlen chuckles as we watch the two of them, then soon four as Syrion comes back with a babbling little Aryones, “They all three look more at home here than they ever have before.” He notes in a gentle and quiet hum. “I think doing this was for the best for all of us. Even you look more at peace now than you did at the palace. I certainly feel like I do.”

I hum and give a nod in agreement, “It was more than a little stressful to be under my father’s thumb, it does feel better being so free from it now.” And it truly did. I don’t have to worry about appearances or going against my father’s wishes any longer and getting punished. All I have to worry about is keeping them all safe and getting them to call home.

“Now we just have to figure out where to go after fixing up the ship that’s hopefully still at the safehouse Ryliar told you about.”

I couldn’t help the slightly exasperated sigh, “That’s much easier said than done.” I roll my eyes at the chuckle that I received from Denlen.

“We’ll figure it out we have a bit of time before to do so.” He pats my shoulder, the both of us focusing on dealing with the rabbits they had caught while the smaller three of our group are focusing on cleaning off the greens and berries.