Not normally. Well, at least not for quite some time.
[And usually not to a bedroom. Clive hasn’t taken a spontaneous partner in a little over 5 years. There wasn’t time, there wasn’t space, there wasn’t privacy. But most of all, he hadn’t needed to. It was different back home. He had things that needed attention, people that needed help, a Hideaway to help run, a world to help save. Here, he had little to none of that. Just time to wait for the next thing he was told could earn them points towards saving their own world.
It had been some time since he had felt so acutely alone. It didn’t make any sense. He had Joshua, Cid was alive, he was working on making friends, but there was still something that he couldn’t shake. It had been a long time since he felt like this and he hated it. So when he saw that spark in Vander’s eyes, that hunger that called to his, he let it answer.
Clive was more than happy to assist in the lift. Without a moment’s hesitation, he wrapped his legs around Vander’s waist and slung his arms over his shoulders. It was a reflex to put the energy into also holding himself up. He loosened some of the hold and let Vander do a bit more of the lifting, though not all of it.
Something in him fluttered at the feeling of their foreheads touching together so lightly. Another part of him shoved it aside. Clive kissed his way to Vander’s neck and teased the skin there with languid kisses.]
Mmm. You may have. You’ll have to take responsibility and see me safely home, I think.
So this must be exciting since it's out of character for your normal habits.
[There were multiple reasons why this could have happened: a bet, a dare, a want, or a higher level plot. If it was the first two, they probably would have simply engaged in the forest, and he was convinced that Clive was too sincere to lead someone on without stating the reason. The last two were interesting, but this was neither the time or place where he felt inclined to dig into the base need.
After all, he was certain he knew why they were doing this, what they had seen in each other. A mutual hunger that looked and felt the same between them, thus creating an understanding. Also he felt a mutual want, to scratch the itch in a more productive way than what he really needed to satisfy.
As Clive provided an assist for the other man being elevated in his arms, he began to walk again, proving he could carry the younger man regardless of the armour he had donned. His world view narrowed down to just Clive in front of him, his periphery vision allowing him to track the direction they were traveling. His hands inched up from the back of Clive's thighs to cup the younger man's ass, massaging with his fingers even as he supported Clive's weight.
His chin tipped at the feel of Clive's lips on his neck, rumbling a growling moan in response. It was distraction in the best possible way.]
A responsibility that I promise to take extremely serious. I'll make certain you're tucked into your bed too because I'm a gentleman.
[He used the opportunity to turn his head and allow his lips to finally make contact with the scar on Clive's cheek, tasting the smoothness of that skin. He wanted to ask, but he was saving the question for when they were alone and he had no doubt returned curiosity of his own scars might be reciprocated.]
Mmmm. Very exciting. That's part of the allure, I think.
[To be honest? It was the smallest part of the allure. A little dash of spice to the already very flavorful meal. It was the want, pure and simple, that made this so enthralling. The ability to experience, to feel, to indulge in a way where no one could get hurt. Well, unless they wanted to, but that was neither here nor there. Yet.
A thrill danced through him at Vander's sheer strength. What could he truly do with that, if allowed the time and space? Clive internally kicked it out of the way. Now was not the time for that kind of rush. Maybe later. Right now, he was going to enjoy every second of what he had in front of him.
The feeling of Vander's hands wandering sent a shiver down his spine. Clive hummed in satisfaction at the feeling of those glorious hands on his ass. He nestled in closer, Vander's moan eliciting a quieter one in response. Oh fuck, his voice was glorious. Clive continued his slow exploration of the skin he could reach, periodically nipping, showing Vander the smallest glimpse of what he really wanted to do with his mouth here.]
How kind.
[Clive tilted his head so his lips are against Vander's ear.]
As long as you are in my bed with me, I can agree to that.
[The feeling of Vander's mouth on his scar sent a flaming bolt straight down to Clive's abdomen. Well, that was new. He shifted so Vander could have better access to it, intrigued by the sensation.]
That's what you can expect finding an attractive stranger to traverse part of the world with looking for a safe and comfortable sex spot.
[He was teasing, of course. They had options in the woods, but it was clear that both of them were looking for something extremely similar: time. Time to explore, time to taste, time to enjoy, time to simply be with one another. It was clear from the way they had teasing closer and closer together until the heat was too much and they had had to abandon the scene. Now it was slow and languid, touching, holding and kissing each other.
He felt Clive's cape tangle around an ankle as he walked, a little stumble as he kicked it off as they approached the final bridge. His thick arms were like a cage around the younger man's sides, and even if he were to trip, they would tumble together. It wouldn't be bad in his opinion, the jarring rush of falling then rolling together, tucked closed and possibly even laughing at the unfortunate circumstance.
The sounds Clive made sent a shiver down his spine, pooling embers of heat in his guts. Anticipation was building the closer they came to this monastery that was also a very impressive castle.]
Of course. Do you feet hang off the end of the bed?
[Always a problem for tall people where he was from. Perhaps something they could commiserate about as his lips sealed on that scar, noting the reaction from Clive instantly. His mouth kissed over the length of it then made a point of finding the edge where scar tissue met normal flesh. Was there sensation on the scar? Was it enhanced as his tongue tip played over the edge? He breathed a hot breath on purpose over the wetness his lips left behind.
He wanted to ask. So badly, he wanted the story to this scar, plain as day on Clive's handsome features. It accentuated the beauty of this man rather than detracted. Down his lips went to that strong jawline at the same time his fingers tightened on Clive's asscheeks.]
[Although if the monastery had been any farther away Clive may have caved and found a private, quiet spot to lay down his cape and spread himself out below Vander. Thankfully, that didn't need to happen. Briefly, Clive hoped that the bed in his room could handle what was not likely to be gentle sex. There was also the desk, too. The window seat, anywhere else on the entire campus.
Okay, maybe not the cathedral. He wouldn't do that to Yuri. But anywhere else, yes.
Clive chuckled a little against Vander's skin at his cape getting in the way. Should have thought about that before practically jumping into Vander's arms. He thought about grabbing it and pulling it up, but then he would have to take at least one hand off of the older man and, frankly, that was out of the question.
Clive traced gloved fingers along the exposed nodes of Vander's spine just below his hairline. Not being able to feel this skin was driving him crazy. If he had a better place to put them and didn't need to remove some armor to take them off, they would have already been gone.]
Unfortunately. So I'm afraid you're doomed. We could always steal a couple of mattresses from the other room and make a big bed on the floor.
[Clive let his eyes flutter closed as Vander explored the expansive scar that ran almost from Clive's eye over halfway down his neck. When his lips reached where the scar and his unblemished skin met, a fresh shiver pulled through him and Clive gasped. Sensation on the scar itself was was muted, but the juxtaposition of the sensitivity of his skin and the muted nature of the scar was far more enticing than he thought.]
[And what an adventure they were on. Each step was closer to the assigned destination, and he focused on that as much as he was focusing on the steady weight of Clive in his arms and wrapped around his waist. They were making progress in that they were on the other side of the bridge with his long strides eating up the distance. It helped that his previous erection had waned enough to make walking easier, though that fact was becoming difficult to claim with Clive moving and sliding against him.
The cape tangled around his legs again, creating a stumble in his gait yet he caught himself before they went down and kept walking shortly after shifting Clive in his arms to be higher on his chest. There was a shudder to his breath that had nothing to do with the stumble but instead the feel of fingers tracing his spine.
He issued a low long-suffering groan, though this was also a fact of life that he had long ago come to accept. He was tall. Beds were not made for his size all that often.]
No need. I'm used to airing out my feet and ankles in the night, so I suppose I'll simply have to spoon you more aggressively at night.
[His lips moved up the scar to where it was nestled beneath Clive's eye and then back down again, taking his time to allow them to enjoy the affection. This time he moved over the solid curve of Clive's jaw so he could kiss and lick the scar cutting its way down the younger man's neck. This, unfortunately, meant he wasn't actually looking where he was walking anymore, so when the cape inevitably tangled his legs again, he lost his balance.
Unable to recover this time, Vander twisted them in a protective gesture so that he landed on the ground and Clive could land on top of him instead. They did helpfully land in soft grass and now were fully tangled together. He offered a chagrined smile before leaning in to capture Clive's lips in a hungry kiss to stave off commentary. Let his tongue and lips provide the apology for clumsiness.]
Well... about six and a half feet closer then we were when standing?
[The urge to climb down, haul Vander over his shoulders, and use the Phoenix's flames to move them faster in the direction of finally getting their fucking clothes off was rising. That urge and the desire to stay pressed as closely to Vander as possible before they absolutely needed to disconnect warred inside of him. Clive was normally a very patient man. He could tolerate quite a bit. Apparently, this was trying the edge of that patience.
At the second stumble, Clive thought more about lifting his cape but then getting hefted higher stole that thought. Yet another casual display of strength had Clive gasping near Vander's ear. His mind was pushing to supply him with images of what other things that strength could and possibly would be doing to him tonight.
Surprisingly, Vander was still giving attention to his scar. This time, when Vander showered the mark with gentle affection, Clive let the fluttering feeling in his chest stay. He sighed into the contact, feeling something in his body that he hadn't realized was tense relax.
And then, in a surprising tumble, they were on the ground. It took Clive a second to realize what happened, eyes wide and blinking down at Vander. He opened his mouth to say something but Vander's mouth was on his before he could really formulate a thought. Clive melted into him, one hand resting on the side of Vander's neck and the other sliding into his hair. Clive opened himself, gladly accepting the delicious apology of lips and tongue.
When the kiss broke, Clive was panting and aching, but the words startled a full laugh out of Clive. He smiled down at Vander, a radiant thing that lit up his whole face. He touched Vander's cheek and shook his head just a bit.]
Ah, but it does cause the problem of us being down here when we want to be - [He pointed towards the keep in the direction where he knows his bedroom to be, never looking away from Vander.] - up there.
[His impatience on their travel had actually dimmed to a low roar at the back of his mind. He was enjoying the walk, the company and the conversation. The hurried flurry that had taken them to the forest and then beyond to the bridges and open grasslands where they now lay was part of the journey to being able to unwrap Clive. He was using the opportunity to study the younger man, how he moved, what he liked in terms of affection and even the way his voice changed here and there.
So their little tumble? It didn't bother him as much as it would have when they had first left the hilltop. Now his hands took the opportunity with the kiss to stroke his palms down Clive's front, feeling muscle and once again sneaking his finger under the lower hem of the shirt. A teasing gesture until he was picking at the front string to loosen it as Clive laughed at his quip.
He liked that, the sound of that voice in mirth. He leaned his face in so their foreheads once again rested together so he could enjoy how that smile transformed Clive's entire face, noting how the scar twisted and pulled in the expression. He leaned into the touch to his face before trying to peck Clive on the lips.
The lacing at the front of Clive's shirt was loosened. He slipped a big hand underneath, wiggling it to make it fit because that outfit was still tight no matter what.] Well, maybe we should take a breather since we're down here anyway. Unless you're that impatient to remove my clothes? If that's the case, I suppose I can throw you over my shoulder and rush it.
[Despite Clive's eagerness to get home, to be able to finally touch bare skin, kiss it, taste it, bite, their little tumble to the grass was nice. It was comfortable in a way that Clive didn't realize he needed and the idea of staying here for a couple of minutes, just kissing and touching made his heart beat faster.
Then there were those fingers again, teasing at the bottom of his shirt, touching little windows of skin. Clive was learning that he very much enjoyed teasing. It was difficult to curb old habits of being quick and rough. That wasn't what he wanted. It was okay sometimes, but he wanted something different. Something more than that. Sleipnir's words of having someone take care of him rang true and have stuck with him ever since.
When their foreheads touched, Clive's lids fluttered closed, long, dark lashes lightly brushing against Vander's skin. He leaned forward a bit so Vander didn't have to push as far and smiled into the little kiss.
And now, there was a man underneath him willing to give him that. Clive lifted his chest a bit to let Vander get easier access to the lacing at the front of his shirt. When he loosened it just enough to slide that beautiful hand underneath and pressed it to his skin, Clive's breath caught in his throat.]
I wouldn't mind a breather.
[Clive whispers it, lips hovering so close to Vander's, leaning into the touch under his shirt. Clive could feel that fire in him reigniting. It hadn't gone out, just died down, but now it was starting to burn again. Clive slid his hand down to Vander's chest, caressing the space there briefly before dragging his hand over and tracing it down Vander's side to rest on his hip. Once he got to the hem of Vander's shirt, he also let his hand slip under just slightly, slipping the very edge of his thumb, brushing his thumb slowly up and down.]
[It wasn't his fault that he was touching as much as he was, not with how nice Clive was to look at. The younger man was probably one of the most beautiful men he had ever laid eyes on, and the armour and clothing left very little to the imagination except for how to remove it. It was those blue eyes that drew him in the most of course, and with their foreheads pressed together as they were again, he could peer beyond the sweep of Clive's hair into those eyes.
He wanted to see that hunger again, the feel validated in experiencing something similar. The need for restrain being a constant daily or even hourly battle. Someone to understand what it was to experience without having to verbalize the grating discomfort that came with it.
Yet he was denied this time with Clive's eyes closing, and the blissful expression more than made up for the lost opportunity. Instead, his lips caressed against Clive's, the tip of his tongue tracing the the plumpness of the lower lip before tracing that line between them. Then he sealed their mouths briefly together again as his fingers slid over firm muscle and smooth skin hidden by the material of Clive's shirt.
For his part, he pressed his chest to Clive's clothed hands, amused by the armour even if he understood why it was there. They had just come from a battle after all. He moved to roll them on their sides so they could partake in touching each other and so he wasn't having bottles of booze dig into his back as much. He sighed as warm leather touched his skin, his eyes half closing in response; his body had changed since his arrival in Etraya and a return to old form when he was twenty years younger.
He glanced down at the gloves and snorted in amusement.]
Don't you think it would be faster to get to the monastery than take those off? They look complicated.
[Yet, no one would deny that he wasn't willing to put in the effort. He withdrew his hand from under Clive's shirt and stroked over the bracers, feeling for a seam or buckle so he could work it open, expecting that to be the easier way. He leaned in, kissing Clive's scar again, sliding his lips over the smooth skin as he made slow progress on the bracers to - hopefully - free up at least one of Clive's hands from that glove.]
[Back at the battle, Vander's voice had pulled him in. Husky and with an accent Clive had never really heard before. It was intriguing and, frankly, wonderful to listen to. He was tall and handsome, the grey in his beard charming, but what really did Clive in were his eyes. Grey eyes the color of an oncoming storm, searching and knowing. He knew he was doomed the second Vander leaned down to stare into his eyes. That spark there, that reflection of something he knew so well, the thing he had to constantly push against. He knew it in his bones that he would have this man one way or another and, well, he had been correct.
The feeling of Vander's lips, soft and warm, pulled forth another contented sigh. An irrational part of his brain wonders if they could kiss forever. He would be fine dying from asphyxiation as long as it was because he had these lips on his. When Vander's tongue traced along the seam of his lips, they parted just a fraction, enough to feel Vander's tongue almost against the tip of his own. And then they were kissing in earnest and Clive slid his tongue against Vander's moving to explore the wet warmth of the other man's mouth.]
I can't wait that long. I have been wanting to touch your skin since you first touched mine.
[Clive kisses Vander again, slow but short. He lifts the hand facing the sky and turns it so Vander can see the inner side where the buckles were. He slung his currently free hand over Vander's shoulder and shifted so the other man could have easier access to the scar.
Something tightens in his chest at that. This part of his face had never been beautiful, worthy of being kissed and lavished with the affection it has been tonight. First a sign of being subhuman, then a lasting reminder of that. But this scar had also been his power, his proof that he overcame hardship. But it had never, never, been beautiful. But it felt beautiful now.
The second one hand was freed from the contraption that was Clive's armor, he brought his warm bare hand to Vander's cheek and pulled him into a kiss. He tried to pour what he was feeling into it. Longing, but also gratitude, a budding affection he hadn't expected. A sense of relief. He slid the hand from Vander's cheek into his hair, cradling the back of Vander's head so he couldn't pull away from this kiss. Not yet. He needed Vander to know.]
[It was a teasing dig at the pair of them. Normally they were patient men, and here they were laying around in the grass kissing and touching each other like the world beyond this spot had no bearing on them at all. He supposed the virtue of their making it this far in the first place was admirable and a fact they should both be proud of, especially when considering how they had scampered to the trees to avoid detection in case they couldn't wait.
They could also probably be observed from the walls of the monastery, especially if anyone had a spyglass in hand. They were making no secret of their infatuation with one another, and if anything, the taste of Clive on his tongue, the scent of the man invading his brain and the feel of that lithe muscled body against his own was a draw he could not deny. He was acting like a twenty-year-old again, and there was no shame in that invigorating feeling.
Their kisses were slow and methodical, like a deconstruction of their patience. It paired well with his first teasing accusation as he worked off Clive's bracer and with it - eventually - the glove that had apparently been such a hinderance for the younger man. Clive's skin tasted different than his mouth, yet it was warm and tantalizing, the scar smooth and faintly worshipped.
He leaned his face into that bare hand, still feeling hot from the layer of leather from before. He expected the newest kiss to be like the others, but it wasn't. He sensed the difference immediately and he was helpless not to have a hand shoot up to curl his fingers into the silky hair at the back of Clive's head in return, twisting the locks between his fingers at the intensity of their lips.
Suddenly that ember in his belly reignited as it had been on the hilltop, and he drank in the emotion, let it nest between his ribs and stay there as his heart rate rose in response. He pushed forward, bodily forcing his way in so he could roll Clive back down in the grass, never refusing the hand holding his head close for the continued heat of their mouths against each other. A low growling sound of affection crawled from his throat and the hand not in Clive's hair dove back under the side of that tight shirt so he could lightly stroke skin then dig blunt nails in as he was so close to nibbling on Clive's lips, an acknowledgement he felt it and replied in kind.
By Janna's tits, who the hell was this man to awaken this hot wanton desire in him?]
For you? [Clive whispers out against Vander's lips.] Very.
[Right now, nothing could stop him from kissing this man. Clive tried to remember a time where he wanted someone this viscerally, this deeply, and couldn't pull up anything that matched. Something that was close, yes. But that thought was washed away. The only thing his mind and body wanted to focus on right now was the man underneath him. The man who lit a fire in him so hot that he couldn't keep his hands to himself, couldn't wait to have his mouth on him or have that done for him in return.
Feeling the hard plains of Vander's body, those muscles so recently flexed, defined under the touch of a gloved hand. He could wait for the second glove. He knew he would get to touch Vander's skin with all of him, every last inch of his body. For now, the one hand and these addicting lips would suit very nicely. Vander's hands on him, in his hair, over his body, oh it was so much, but in the most wonderful way.
Clive gladly allowed himself to be shifted, to be covered by this monolith of a man. He shuddered bodily against Vander, the sound of his growl shooting straight through him and receiving an airy moan in response.
Fuck. Fuck, he wanted this man so badly it was difficult to understand. His mind was in a fog of the most beautiful kind. Slowly, languidly, Clive rolled his hips up against Vander's, showing him his renewed vigor. The friction ripped a low moan out of Clive, louder than he thought it would be. Both desperately and reluctantly, Clive paused their kiss. He did not, however, pull away.]
Vander... [He punctuated the man's name by rolling his hips again.]
Careful, you're walking down the lane of making me feel like I have special powers with you...
[Reasonably, they should be just lazing around in the grass with little pecks and touches, not this inferno of desperation to taste and touch each other. He remembered well this kind of fumbling in his early days of discovery, the snorting laughs and stubborn buckles. It was now transformed with a maturity of experience, yet the sensation still ran scorching along his veins. Was this about the whole fire elemental thing that Clive had mastery over?
No, it was something deeper. It was confirmed to him each time their lips found each other, the pillaging of one another's mouths as they gripped each other mutually. Liquid hunger crawled up his spine as their hips knocked together, clearly a purposeful gesture by Clive who was squirming and moving like a man on a mission but also not sure what to objective to satisfy first.
The sound his name falling out of those kiss swollen lips brought a confident and charming smile to his lips, feeling that tongue tease. He was the first to draw his face back, dropping it so he could kiss his way down Clive's neck, tasting that scar yet this time not stopping. He moved further down the V of that shirt - or vest or whatever it was called - until he was kissing and licking skin between those muscular pectoral muscles. Were those freckles he saw too?]
I'm not taking you out here, Clive, as much fun as that would be. [His reasonable tone belayed the his own rising impatience as his nerves were fraying. He stared up the length of Clive's body, his gray eyes darkened with lust.] The closest I'll do for you is pressed against the monastery wall... You game?
[It was probably best to ravage each other in the monastery, but he actually wasn't confident either of them would make it that far.]
[Which made absolutely no sense. But a lot of things didn't make sense right now. His heart thumping in his chest, his breaths coming out faster than he expected them to for just laying in the grass and kissing. He ran his fingers up to the hair tie holding Vander's hair in his bun and gently pulls it out, watching as the hair cascaded down to frame the older man's face. Clive runs his fingers through the newly freed length, marveling at the smooth and soft texture, occasionally broken up by the firmer flow of areas that had started greying.
That smile made Clive's heart stutter. He moved forward to kiss the corner of it, relish in the feel of it, skin and confidence. He let his head drop back down to the grass and turned his head, giving Vander full access to his neck and clear invitation to kiss more, lick more. He moaned quietly at Vander's ministrations, hand continuing to stroke through Vander's hair.]
Hmm. [Clive is quiet for a moment, mind flashing through every time he was taken or took someone against a wall or a rock or an alleyway. No. No, he didn't want that. He was tired of that being what he got.]
[It was nonsense. Vander had no power over Clive and vice versa, yet he did not deny that their reactions to each other was far more extreme than he would normally experience. He felt like a tinder box about to explode if those blue eyes stared into his much longer or if he felt those lips seeking out his own. It did not appear that he was the only one affected this way either, and yet, their journey to the monastery was painfully far away.
He nodded his head, licking a line up Clive'e chest to the hollow of the younger man's throat. Then he purposefully blew cooler air from his mouth over the wet skin to test the boundaries of Clive's restraint even as he was once again having to disentangle himself from the younger man at the same time Clive propped up.
He rose to his feet, hair caressing his shoulders now that it was free of the bun and he shoved it back from falling into his face. His trousers were back to tenting, which forced him to make a show of adjusting himself so that he actually retained the ability to walk the rest of the way to their final destination.
Vander offered Clive a hand up so that they could actually start walking again.]
Your room, it is. You're carrying your bracer otherwise you might become too handsy and we won't make it to the destination. Come on. [He did move to slide an arm around Clive's waist.]
[Clive took a couple of slow, deep breaths. They were almost there. They could make it to his bedroom and then start the annoying process of getting all of his armor off, but at least that they could play around with. Clive wouldn't have to worry about not being able to control himself. He could just let go and not worry about if they were going to make it somewhere private or if someone was going to find them.
Clive groaned at the feeling of Vander's tongue dragging up his skin, but when the cold air washed over him Clive gasped and his back arched just a little, chasing the feeling. He fell back down, a blush spreading from the tips of his ears across his face. What was... what was that? Clive sat up. That was something to be examined for later. But right now, Clive watched Vander adjust himself with hooded eyes, lips parting just a little to expose Clive's tongue slowly licking along his upper teeth. Soon, he promised himself. Soon.
He took Vander's hand. They needed to get back to the room.]
Fair enough.
[Clive glanced up at Vander and slid his hand into the older man's and started pulling again. He made a beeline to the outer wall, pushing open a person sized door next to the gate and going in. Clive navigated the grounds expertly, taking every little shortcut he knew of before he got to his room. Vander could get a tour later if he wanted but right now they needed to both be naked. Clive opened the door and yanked them both inside.]
[Vander smirked at the reaction from Clive, making a mental note that the younger man had clearly not experienced a wide variety of stimulation types all at once. This was providing to be an exciting prospect for him who knew many tricks and techniques learned over the years, and that reaction had his mind spinning with the possibilities.
It was probably one of the few reasons he managed the rest of the walk to the massive castle that was apparently a monastery. He was tantalized by the swing of Clive's natural gait, and he expected that cape was both to hide and accentuate that walk. Somehow - Janna only knew how - they did make it without another incident.
He followed Clive in through the maze of doors and hallways and stair cases, trying to recall the direction that they had come from, but he found himself distracted with anticipation. His fingers laced briefly in Clive's in a urgent gesture for them to find a place or else his patience may just snap at any single moment and they would make use of wherever he could shove the younger man into. He had supplies, so anywhere would do.
There was an audible sigh of relief once he was pulled into a room, kicking the door shut behind him. He shouldered off his pack and let it drop to the floor in the same motion that he reached out to grab Clive about the waist and slam the younger man back against the door so he could crowd in with his larger body and kiss like Clive was the sole source of air that he could breathe.
First things first: laces. His fingers moved to open that top before rising to work the buckle holding on the pauldrons. The way that Clive had said that he needed Vander desperately rang in his head like a bell toll.]
[Two things helped Clive make it to his room and not just drag Vander into one of the many unused rooms between the entrance and his bedroom. But none of those rooms really had anything comfortable in them and they were either covered in dust cloths or stuffy. The second thing that kept him there was the feeling of Vander's hand in his. The promise of those hands taking him apart somewhere they couldn't be interrupted. When Vander twined their fingers, Clive gave them a squeeze.]
Almost there.
[He voice was tense in anticipation, just as impatient as Vander. The sigh that Vander let out when they finally reached Clive's room made him smile. It was oddly cute. It was also very reassuring to know for certain that he wasn't the only one still feeling this way. He tossed the piece of armor and glove he had been carrying unceremoniously onto his desk. He made a note to clean everything perfectly as an apology to the memory of his father, but he needed all of this off and out of the way ASAP.
Clive had barely finished tossing the glove when Vander was grabbing him and slamming him against the door. Clive immediately arched up against him, opening himself up to drown in that kiss. His heart thumped in his chest, the excitement of being completely enveloped by someone else, the desperation in the way that their lips slotted together, the way their tongues explored each other. Clive wrapped an arm over Vander's shoulder, leaving the other one down so he could continue to unbuckle and remove.
The cool air that touched his skin once his vest was entirely unlaced made him shiver. He couldn't take it. Using the door as source of resistance and the arm over Vander's shoulder as a lever, he pulled himself up and wrapped his legs around Vander's waist and pressed into him, moaning into the kiss. Loudly.]
[Vander knew they were supposed to be taking their time, supposed to be exploring all the little spaces and gaining greater knowledge of their likes and dislikes. But were they? No. Much like the hilltop then in the trees before the game trail then lounging the grass and now here in this room he had barely even allowed a cursory look around for. This wasn't like him, not at all. He was the one in control, but like that itch to partake in Shimmer, to feel powerful and vindicated, that hunger was aimed at this younger man he had pinned to the door.
The buckle was free and he slid that cape off of shoulders and pauldrons, letting it fall to the floor and pool against the door he was pressing Clive to. There were more straps to contend with now that the cape was off, his fingers searching by feel for them so that he didn't have to break their heated kiss. More buckles were opened and whatever happened to fall off was no longer his problem.
He growled out a groan when Clive decided to be a monkey and clamber onto his waist, which was very distracting from his mission of stripping. At least his clothing was straight forward. He took a break from the daunting other glove with its bracer and whatever that other piece of armor was on the upper arm so he could smooth his hands over Clive's abs and sides through the now open vest.
He slammed Clive back against the door, and if anyone was on the other side, they likely would have a good idea what was occurring inside. His hands finally dropped for an easy target: sword belt. That was simple and easy to fling off.]
Why is your clothing so complicated? [He groused more in frustration between their kisses. Maybe he should slow down and take a breath. He would not.]
[Vander's desperation was feeding Clive's own. He needed Vander's skin on his, those beautiful hands working him open, his mouth somewhere, anywhere, didn't matter where. Clive needed to taste him, to feel him both inside and out. Maybe taking time was off the table this time, but Clive made the decision right there, definitively, that this would not be the only time he had this man. Based on how Vander worked at his clothes, how he was kissing him like if he stopped he would drown, he didn't think the other man would object.
It was a bit amusing feeling Vander fuss with his armor, trying to get it all off. Clive probably could have helped make it a little easier, but he was going to bask in the desperation Vander was showing for a bit longer. A heat, proud and strong, filled him. Clive slid his eyes open just a touch to watch Vander's face as they kissed, as the other man contended with buckle after belt after clasp.
And then Vander's hands were on him again. The callouses of rough skin dragging against the soft skin of his sides and abdomen. He shivered under the touch, relishing the delicious pull. He answered in a kind of his own, rolling his hips down to press himself against Vander's hardening cock. If how it felt was any indication, Vander was huge. Clive felt his own cock twitch in interest and moaned.
And then he was being slammed back against the door. Clive let his head fall back, panting. Okay. It was time to have mercy on both of them. Clive got to work on his other bracer, making quick work of it. Then he pulled himself up farther on Vander, reaching down to undo buckles on the armor on his legs, also letting it all fall to the ground without much care of where it landed. He had reached about all he could from his vantage point, upper body free, half of his leg armor off.
So back into Vander's hair Clive's hands went. What he wanted to do about the rest of his leg armor, Clive would let Vander decide. Right now he needed to taste the other man's skin. Clive leaned down pressing wet and sloppy kisses down the column of Vander's neck. Making his way back up, he paused as that little patch of skin behind Vander's ear that just kept teasing him before licking it, slotting his mouth over it, and sucking.]
[It took Clive long enough to have some pity on him when it came to how this armour and clothing was attached to the younger man's body. He was working at the upper half, though his efforts did actually increase in productivity when their mouths weren't locked together like they were battling to hurt each other's tonsils.
He bowed his head, forcing himself to breath so that he could concentrate and removed more of Clive's armor, so he was unpackaging the younger man. Odds and bobs of armour he wouldn't even know the name off fell away and his hands stroked and explored, shoving Clive's vest further open and running his thumbs over dusty nipples and dragging his blunt nails down the rise and fall of abs. His hands were working hands, callouses from mining, smuggling and brawling all layered in harder skin, and the rasp of those callouses over Clive's smooth abdomen thrilled him.
Yet, he turned his head as hands pushed into his shoulder-length hair, examining what was left of Clive's leg armour. He moved to feel for connection points, opening the armour and letting them fall to join the rather impressive pile at their feet. And they were only now only seeming to be able to make work on actual clothing.
He shivered at the feel of Clive's wet eager mouth on his neck, rumbling a pleasured growl in response and his eyes fluttering closed momentarily. His hands moved to pull at the laces of Clive's tight trousers, pulling and loosening them before he stilled as he felt the younger man's mouth seal over his skin and began to mark him.
He should tell him no, should dislodge that greedy little mouth, distract Clive to something else. Instead, he let it happen, even encouraging by sliding his hands over the swell of Clive's hips and then down to grip the younger man's ass as he pressed Clive against the door again.]
...a little early to be making a claim, don't you think? Maybe I'm a dead fish in bed. [His voice was deeper, wrecked with anticipation and kissing.] Put your legs down. It's time to lose the vest and pants, handsome.
[Clive made a mental note to not wear his armor the next time he saw Vander. Or the next time they planned to meet up. Something easier to remove would be best. But then again, all of these buckles had forced them to slow down a little bit. Clive's hunger wasn't any less burning, ravenous, but he felt a little less like he would climb out of his own skin if Vander wasn't all over him all at once.
The further Vander shoved open his vest, the more skin on skin contact he got, the harsher the breaths tearing themselves from Clive got. It shouldn't feel this good, just being touched. They were barely doing anything, just wrapped around each other, kissing, grinding a bit, but this was the best Clive had felt with another person in, well, probably ever. Behind the haze of his lust and desire, part of his mind, the insidious little voice that he tamped down so frequently, whispered to him how little he deserved this.
But then Vander's thumbs were brushing over his nipples and arousal shot through him like an arrow. He arched into the contact, moaning. Fuck. Had his nipples ever been this sensitive before? Had any part of his body?
Feeling Vander's hands slide down to his hips as Clive left his reminder, a little piece of his desire, for Vander to touch, to see, later, only made Clive want to suck more marks into the other man's skin. And then his ass was in Vander's hands again, and his back was slammed back against the door and Clive's hips reflexively rutted forward and-
handsome.
Clive's breath caught in his chest. He let his legs slide down to the floor and looked up at Vander. He could feel his own heartbeat in his throat. Clive leaned up and pressed his lips to Vander's again, one arm coming down from over his shoulder to slide under the hem of Vander's shirt, fingers tracing along Vander's hip.
handsome.
Clive slid his hand along Vander's pantline to find the closures there and start popping them open deftly with one hand. His kiss to Vander this time was slower but no less passionate. Each slot of their lips brought another pressing touch, a finger sliding under his pant line, his hand moving to lay flat against his abdomen, sliding up to his chest, tracing the line of his pec before brushing a ghost of a touch over a nipple.
handsome.
He realized he should respond and broke off his kiss.]
You could be a dead fish and that mark would still be worth the trip here.
[The roughness of Clive's voice matched Vander's the want just as deep. Clive let his hands slide away and leaned back against the door. Clive felt his skin prickle as the air touched what bare skin it could find, at what he saw when he looked Vander in those captivating eyes.]
[Under normal circumstances, Vander would appreciate the challenge of unpacking a lover, discovering how the clothing and armour worked and removing it little by little. Every detail studied, tasted, and enjoyed, and while that should be true, it was not. The armour was a hinderance and a bother, trapping Clive away from him. Even once most of it was removed, his fingers picked and pushed at the remaining pieces until there was none left, only cloth and those boots.
Despite the disappearance of armour, Clive's reactions to touch and mouth were enough to tantalize him, churn the fire running their course along his nerves. His breath caught in his throat at the arching of Clive's back, his fingers playing again over those nipples until they were hardened beneath the pad of his fingers.
Those long legs slipped from around his waist to settle back on the floor, but there was so much more than that. The look in those blue eyes, the microexpressions seemed to flit across Clive's face, and it took him those spare moments to narrow down the reason for there existence. After all, he knew that look even marred in pleasure, like the mask shifting slightly off kilter for just a fraction of a second. Once, twice and a third time.
He stepped into Clive's wandering hand, leaning in so his breath played over the younger man's lips. His hands pulled away long enough to unclasp the multiple locking mechanisms on his thick belt, allowing it to fall away to the floor to join all of Clive's gear. Their kiss remained intense and wanton, heated and unadultered with concerns beyond these walls.
His hips pressed forward to those questing hands, the buttons giving away with Clive's insistence. It was perhaps made easier with the bulge in his pants already straining the material and their clasps. He leaned his face in, lips finding the scar on Clive's cheek as his nose caressed the unblemished skin as those hands explored up his shirt.
For his part, his hands slid up Clive's front until he could work them over the younger man's shoulders, easing the material off and down those muscled arms. His hands followed, caressing down from biceps to elbows to forearms to wrists, the material having fallen free long before his fingers curled around the back of Clive's hands.
Their gazes met and the hunger from before was different, transformed and sharply focused. Fixated on Clive in front of him as his lips caressed that scar like a defiance to any opinion of it than his own.]
A lofty statement, handsome. [He tasted the word, let it roll of his tongue like a roughened compliment. Testing if that was the cause.] I expect you to participate and enjoy yourself as much as I plan to. Show me that hunger which escapes the restraint.
[One day, he may enjoy being unwrapped slowly by Vander. As a matter of fact, he fully intended to experience it and enjoy it, but any patience that he had developed throughout his lifetime seemed to mean nothing right now, under the gaze and touch of this man.
He watched and a smirk quirked at the corner of his mouth for less than a second at how Vander's throat clenched around the sound that Clive made. And then that was chased away by more ministrations, a shiver running through Clive's whole body at the feeling of Vander's continued attention to his nipples.
Nothing else mattered right now. Nothing other than the man in front of him, the feeling of his hands on his skin, his lips, his taste, his voice. Clive's eyes fluttered closed, lashes tracing butterfly kisses across Vander's skin as he continued to show affection to a place Clive hadn't realized he needed.
He slid his hands under Vander's shirt and traced the lightest of touches along what was now a slipping pant line, paying special attention to the rise of his hipbones until Vander's hands were at his elbows, flowing down his forearms. Clive lowered his hands, relishing in the feeling of Vander's hands cradling his own. Hands he could feel were made for powerful, dangerous things, holding on so carefully.]
Vander...
[The other man's name was a whispered almost-plea to the night. How that one word seemed to be able to undo him, Clive would never understand, but his heart raced just as quickly as the first time that word fell from those devilishly perfect lips.
He should have used words to respond, been a debauched but halfway civilized person, but the growl that ripped out of him had very different plans. A flash of that electric blue danced through his irises and Clive was pushing into Vander's space again. He put his hand behind Vander's neck, pulling him forward none too gently as the other hand found the hem of his shirt, pulling it viciously and efficiently up and over to be discarded amongst everything else that littered his floor.
Vander would barely have had time to respond before Clive released his neck and surged forward, lips and tongue and teeth finding collarbone and skin and biting.
And if his teeth were a little sharper than before, nails a little longer, Clive didn't notice.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 04:06 am (UTC)Not normally. Well, at least not for quite some time.
[And usually not to a bedroom. Clive hasn’t taken a spontaneous partner in a little over 5 years. There wasn’t time, there wasn’t space, there wasn’t privacy. But most of all, he hadn’t needed to. It was different back home. He had things that needed attention, people that needed help, a Hideaway to help run, a world to help save. Here, he had little to none of that. Just time to wait for the next thing he was told could earn them points towards saving their own world.
It had been some time since he had felt so acutely alone. It didn’t make any sense. He had Joshua, Cid was alive, he was working on making friends, but there was still something that he couldn’t shake. It had been a long time since he felt like this and he hated it. So when he saw that spark in Vander’s eyes, that hunger that called to his, he let it answer.
Clive was more than happy to assist in the lift. Without a moment’s hesitation, he wrapped his legs around Vander’s waist and slung his arms over his shoulders. It was a reflex to put the energy into also holding himself up. He loosened some of the hold and let Vander do a bit more of the lifting, though not all of it.
Something in him fluttered at the feeling of their foreheads touching together so lightly. Another part of him shoved it aside. Clive kissed his way to Vander’s neck and teased the skin there with languid kisses.]
Mmm. You may have. You’ll have to take responsibility and see me safely home, I think.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 02:26 pm (UTC)[There were multiple reasons why this could have happened: a bet, a dare, a want, or a higher level plot. If it was the first two, they probably would have simply engaged in the forest, and he was convinced that Clive was too sincere to lead someone on without stating the reason. The last two were interesting, but this was neither the time or place where he felt inclined to dig into the base need.
After all, he was certain he knew why they were doing this, what they had seen in each other. A mutual hunger that looked and felt the same between them, thus creating an understanding. Also he felt a mutual want, to scratch the itch in a more productive way than what he really needed to satisfy.
As Clive provided an assist for the other man being elevated in his arms, he began to walk again, proving he could carry the younger man regardless of the armour he had donned. His world view narrowed down to just Clive in front of him, his periphery vision allowing him to track the direction they were traveling. His hands inched up from the back of Clive's thighs to cup the younger man's ass, massaging with his fingers even as he supported Clive's weight.
His chin tipped at the feel of Clive's lips on his neck, rumbling a growling moan in response. It was distraction in the best possible way.]
A responsibility that I promise to take extremely serious. I'll make certain you're tucked into your bed too because I'm a gentleman.
[He used the opportunity to turn his head and allow his lips to finally make contact with the scar on Clive's cheek, tasting the smoothness of that skin. He wanted to ask, but he was saving the question for when they were alone and he had no doubt returned curiosity of his own scars might be reciprocated.]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 02:53 pm (UTC)[To be honest? It was the smallest part of the allure. A little dash of spice to the already very flavorful meal. It was the want, pure and simple, that made this so enthralling. The ability to experience, to feel, to indulge in a way where no one could get hurt. Well, unless they wanted to, but that was neither here nor there. Yet.
A thrill danced through him at Vander's sheer strength. What could he truly do with that, if allowed the time and space? Clive internally kicked it out of the way. Now was not the time for that kind of rush. Maybe later. Right now, he was going to enjoy every second of what he had in front of him.
The feeling of Vander's hands wandering sent a shiver down his spine. Clive hummed in satisfaction at the feeling of those glorious hands on his ass. He nestled in closer, Vander's moan eliciting a quieter one in response. Oh fuck, his voice was glorious. Clive continued his slow exploration of the skin he could reach, periodically nipping, showing Vander the smallest glimpse of what he really wanted to do with his mouth here.]
How kind.
[Clive tilted his head so his lips are against Vander's ear.]
As long as you are in my bed with me, I can agree to that.
[The feeling of Vander's mouth on his scar sent a flaming bolt straight down to Clive's abdomen. Well, that was new. He shifted so Vander could have better access to it, intrigued by the sensation.]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 03:09 pm (UTC)[He was teasing, of course. They had options in the woods, but it was clear that both of them were looking for something extremely similar: time. Time to explore, time to taste, time to enjoy, time to simply be with one another. It was clear from the way they had teasing closer and closer together until the heat was too much and they had had to abandon the scene. Now it was slow and languid, touching, holding and kissing each other.
He felt Clive's cape tangle around an ankle as he walked, a little stumble as he kicked it off as they approached the final bridge. His thick arms were like a cage around the younger man's sides, and even if he were to trip, they would tumble together. It wouldn't be bad in his opinion, the jarring rush of falling then rolling together, tucked closed and possibly even laughing at the unfortunate circumstance.
The sounds Clive made sent a shiver down his spine, pooling embers of heat in his guts. Anticipation was building the closer they came to this monastery that was also a very impressive castle.]
Of course. Do you feet hang off the end of the bed?
[Always a problem for tall people where he was from. Perhaps something they could commiserate about as his lips sealed on that scar, noting the reaction from Clive instantly. His mouth kissed over the length of it then made a point of finding the edge where scar tissue met normal flesh. Was there sensation on the scar? Was it enhanced as his tongue tip played over the edge? He breathed a hot breath on purpose over the wetness his lips left behind.
He wanted to ask. So badly, he wanted the story to this scar, plain as day on Clive's handsome features. It accentuated the beauty of this man rather than detracted. Down his lips went to that strong jawline at the same time his fingers tightened on Clive's asscheeks.]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 03:24 pm (UTC)[Although if the monastery had been any farther away Clive may have caved and found a private, quiet spot to lay down his cape and spread himself out below Vander. Thankfully, that didn't need to happen. Briefly, Clive hoped that the bed in his room could handle what was not likely to be gentle sex. There was also the desk, too. The window seat, anywhere else on the entire campus.
Okay, maybe not the cathedral. He wouldn't do that to Yuri. But anywhere else, yes.
Clive chuckled a little against Vander's skin at his cape getting in the way. Should have thought about that before practically jumping into Vander's arms. He thought about grabbing it and pulling it up, but then he would have to take at least one hand off of the older man and, frankly, that was out of the question.
Clive traced gloved fingers along the exposed nodes of Vander's spine just below his hairline. Not being able to feel this skin was driving him crazy. If he had a better place to put them and didn't need to remove some armor to take them off, they would have already been gone.]
Unfortunately. So I'm afraid you're doomed. We could always steal a couple of mattresses from the other room and make a big bed on the floor.
[Clive let his eyes flutter closed as Vander explored the expansive scar that ran almost from Clive's eye over halfway down his neck. When his lips reached where the scar and his unblemished skin met, a fresh shiver pulled through him and Clive gasped. Sensation on the scar itself was was muted, but the juxtaposition of the sensitivity of his skin and the muted nature of the scar was far more enticing than he thought.]
How close are we?
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 04:09 pm (UTC)The cape tangled around his legs again, creating a stumble in his gait yet he caught himself before they went down and kept walking shortly after shifting Clive in his arms to be higher on his chest. There was a shudder to his breath that had nothing to do with the stumble but instead the feel of fingers tracing his spine.
He issued a low long-suffering groan, though this was also a fact of life that he had long ago come to accept. He was tall. Beds were not made for his size all that often.]
No need. I'm used to airing out my feet and ankles in the night, so I suppose I'll simply have to spoon you more aggressively at night.
[His lips moved up the scar to where it was nestled beneath Clive's eye and then back down again, taking his time to allow them to enjoy the affection. This time he moved over the solid curve of Clive's jaw so he could kiss and lick the scar cutting its way down the younger man's neck. This, unfortunately, meant he wasn't actually looking where he was walking anymore, so when the cape inevitably tangled his legs again, he lost his balance.
Unable to recover this time, Vander twisted them in a protective gesture so that he landed on the ground and Clive could land on top of him instead. They did helpfully land in soft grass and now were fully tangled together. He offered a chagrined smile before leaning in to capture Clive's lips in a hungry kiss to stave off commentary. Let his tongue and lips provide the apology for clumsiness.]
Well... about six and a half feet closer then we were when standing?
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 04:43 pm (UTC)At the second stumble, Clive thought more about lifting his cape but then getting hefted higher stole that thought. Yet another casual display of strength had Clive gasping near Vander's ear. His mind was pushing to supply him with images of what other things that strength could and possibly would be doing to him tonight.
Surprisingly, Vander was still giving attention to his scar. This time, when Vander showered the mark with gentle affection, Clive let the fluttering feeling in his chest stay. He sighed into the contact, feeling something in his body that he hadn't realized was tense relax.
And then, in a surprising tumble, they were on the ground. It took Clive a second to realize what happened, eyes wide and blinking down at Vander. He opened his mouth to say something but Vander's mouth was on his before he could really formulate a thought. Clive melted into him, one hand resting on the side of Vander's neck and the other sliding into his hair. Clive opened himself, gladly accepting the delicious apology of lips and tongue.
When the kiss broke, Clive was panting and aching, but the words startled a full laugh out of Clive. He smiled down at Vander, a radiant thing that lit up his whole face. He touched Vander's cheek and shook his head just a bit.]
Ah, but it does cause the problem of us being down here when we want to be - [He pointed towards the keep in the direction where he knows his bedroom to be, never looking away from Vander.] - up there.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 05:11 pm (UTC)So their little tumble? It didn't bother him as much as it would have when they had first left the hilltop. Now his hands took the opportunity with the kiss to stroke his palms down Clive's front, feeling muscle and once again sneaking his finger under the lower hem of the shirt. A teasing gesture until he was picking at the front string to loosen it as Clive laughed at his quip.
He liked that, the sound of that voice in mirth. He leaned his face in so their foreheads once again rested together so he could enjoy how that smile transformed Clive's entire face, noting how the scar twisted and pulled in the expression. He leaned into the touch to his face before trying to peck Clive on the lips.
The lacing at the front of Clive's shirt was loosened. He slipped a big hand underneath, wiggling it to make it fit because that outfit was still tight no matter what.] Well, maybe we should take a breather since we're down here anyway. Unless you're that impatient to remove my clothes? If that's the case, I suppose I can throw you over my shoulder and rush it.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 05:51 pm (UTC)Then there were those fingers again, teasing at the bottom of his shirt, touching little windows of skin. Clive was learning that he very much enjoyed teasing. It was difficult to curb old habits of being quick and rough. That wasn't what he wanted. It was okay sometimes, but he wanted something different. Something more than that. Sleipnir's words of having someone take care of him rang true and have stuck with him ever since.
When their foreheads touched, Clive's lids fluttered closed, long, dark lashes lightly brushing against Vander's skin. He leaned forward a bit so Vander didn't have to push as far and smiled into the little kiss.
And now, there was a man underneath him willing to give him that. Clive lifted his chest a bit to let Vander get easier access to the lacing at the front of his shirt. When he loosened it just enough to slide that beautiful hand underneath and pressed it to his skin, Clive's breath caught in his throat.]
I wouldn't mind a breather.
[Clive whispers it, lips hovering so close to Vander's, leaning into the touch under his shirt. Clive could feel that fire in him reigniting. It hadn't gone out, just died down, but now it was starting to burn again. Clive slid his hand down to Vander's chest, caressing the space there briefly before dragging his hand over and tracing it down Vander's side to rest on his hip. Once he got to the hem of Vander's shirt, he also let his hand slip under just slightly, slipping the very edge of his thumb, brushing his thumb slowly up and down.]
Help me take off my gloves? I want to feel you.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 06:23 pm (UTC)He wanted to see that hunger again, the feel validated in experiencing something similar. The need for restrain being a constant daily or even hourly battle. Someone to understand what it was to experience without having to verbalize the grating discomfort that came with it.
Yet he was denied this time with Clive's eyes closing, and the blissful expression more than made up for the lost opportunity. Instead, his lips caressed against Clive's, the tip of his tongue tracing the the plumpness of the lower lip before tracing that line between them. Then he sealed their mouths briefly together again as his fingers slid over firm muscle and smooth skin hidden by the material of Clive's shirt.
For his part, he pressed his chest to Clive's clothed hands, amused by the armour even if he understood why it was there. They had just come from a battle after all. He moved to roll them on their sides so they could partake in touching each other and so he wasn't having bottles of booze dig into his back as much. He sighed as warm leather touched his skin, his eyes half closing in response; his body had changed since his arrival in Etraya and a return to old form when he was twenty years younger.
He glanced down at the gloves and snorted in amusement.]
Don't you think it would be faster to get to the monastery than take those off? They look complicated.
[Yet, no one would deny that he wasn't willing to put in the effort. He withdrew his hand from under Clive's shirt and stroked over the bracers, feeling for a seam or buckle so he could work it open, expecting that to be the easier way. He leaned in, kissing Clive's scar again, sliding his lips over the smooth skin as he made slow progress on the bracers to - hopefully - free up at least one of Clive's hands from that glove.]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 06:51 pm (UTC)The feeling of Vander's lips, soft and warm, pulled forth another contented sigh. An irrational part of his brain wonders if they could kiss forever. He would be fine dying from asphyxiation as long as it was because he had these lips on his. When Vander's tongue traced along the seam of his lips, they parted just a fraction, enough to feel Vander's tongue almost against the tip of his own. And then they were kissing in earnest and Clive slid his tongue against Vander's moving to explore the wet warmth of the other man's mouth.]
I can't wait that long. I have been wanting to touch your skin since you first touched mine.
[Clive kisses Vander again, slow but short. He lifts the hand facing the sky and turns it so Vander can see the inner side where the buckles were. He slung his currently free hand over Vander's shoulder and shifted so the other man could have easier access to the scar.
Something tightens in his chest at that. This part of his face had never been beautiful, worthy of being kissed and lavished with the affection it has been tonight. First a sign of being subhuman, then a lasting reminder of that. But this scar had also been his power, his proof that he overcame hardship. But it had never, never, been beautiful. But it felt beautiful now.
The second one hand was freed from the contraption that was Clive's armor, he brought his warm bare hand to Vander's cheek and pulled him into a kiss. He tried to pour what he was feeling into it. Longing, but also gratitude, a budding affection he hadn't expected. A sense of relief. He slid the hand from Vander's cheek into his hair, cradling the back of Vander's head so he couldn't pull away from this kiss. Not yet. He needed Vander to know.]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 07:15 pm (UTC)[It was a teasing dig at the pair of them. Normally they were patient men, and here they were laying around in the grass kissing and touching each other like the world beyond this spot had no bearing on them at all. He supposed the virtue of their making it this far in the first place was admirable and a fact they should both be proud of, especially when considering how they had scampered to the trees to avoid detection in case they couldn't wait.
They could also probably be observed from the walls of the monastery, especially if anyone had a spyglass in hand. They were making no secret of their infatuation with one another, and if anything, the taste of Clive on his tongue, the scent of the man invading his brain and the feel of that lithe muscled body against his own was a draw he could not deny. He was acting like a twenty-year-old again, and there was no shame in that invigorating feeling.
Their kisses were slow and methodical, like a deconstruction of their patience. It paired well with his first teasing accusation as he worked off Clive's bracer and with it - eventually - the glove that had apparently been such a hinderance for the younger man. Clive's skin tasted different than his mouth, yet it was warm and tantalizing, the scar smooth and faintly worshipped.
He leaned his face into that bare hand, still feeling hot from the layer of leather from before. He expected the newest kiss to be like the others, but it wasn't. He sensed the difference immediately and he was helpless not to have a hand shoot up to curl his fingers into the silky hair at the back of Clive's head in return, twisting the locks between his fingers at the intensity of their lips.
Suddenly that ember in his belly reignited as it had been on the hilltop, and he drank in the emotion, let it nest between his ribs and stay there as his heart rate rose in response. He pushed forward, bodily forcing his way in so he could roll Clive back down in the grass, never refusing the hand holding his head close for the continued heat of their mouths against each other. A low growling sound of affection crawled from his throat and the hand not in Clive's hair dove back under the side of that tight shirt so he could lightly stroke skin then dig blunt nails in as he was so close to nibbling on Clive's lips, an acknowledgement he felt it and replied in kind.
By Janna's tits, who the hell was this man to awaken this hot wanton desire in him?]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-13 07:56 pm (UTC)[Right now, nothing could stop him from kissing this man. Clive tried to remember a time where he wanted someone this viscerally, this deeply, and couldn't pull up anything that matched. Something that was close, yes. But that thought was washed away. The only thing his mind and body wanted to focus on right now was the man underneath him. The man who lit a fire in him so hot that he couldn't keep his hands to himself, couldn't wait to have his mouth on him or have that done for him in return.
Feeling the hard plains of Vander's body, those muscles so recently flexed, defined under the touch of a gloved hand. He could wait for the second glove. He knew he would get to touch Vander's skin with all of him, every last inch of his body. For now, the one hand and these addicting lips would suit very nicely. Vander's hands on him, in his hair, over his body, oh it was so much, but in the most wonderful way.
Clive gladly allowed himself to be shifted, to be covered by this monolith of a man. He shuddered bodily against Vander, the sound of his growl shooting straight through him and receiving an airy moan in response.
Fuck. Fuck, he wanted this man so badly it was difficult to understand. His mind was in a fog of the most beautiful kind. Slowly, languidly, Clive rolled his hips up against Vander's, showing him his renewed vigor. The friction ripped a low moan out of Clive, louder than he thought it would be. Both desperately and reluctantly, Clive paused their kiss. He did not, however, pull away.]
Vander... [He punctuated the man's name by rolling his hips again.]
I want you. [A gentle lick against his lips.]
Desperately.
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Date: 2025-07-13 08:18 pm (UTC)[Reasonably, they should be just lazing around in the grass with little pecks and touches, not this inferno of desperation to taste and touch each other. He remembered well this kind of fumbling in his early days of discovery, the snorting laughs and stubborn buckles. It was now transformed with a maturity of experience, yet the sensation still ran scorching along his veins. Was this about the whole fire elemental thing that Clive had mastery over?
No, it was something deeper. It was confirmed to him each time their lips found each other, the pillaging of one another's mouths as they gripped each other mutually. Liquid hunger crawled up his spine as their hips knocked together, clearly a purposeful gesture by Clive who was squirming and moving like a man on a mission but also not sure what to objective to satisfy first.
The sound his name falling out of those kiss swollen lips brought a confident and charming smile to his lips, feeling that tongue tease. He was the first to draw his face back, dropping it so he could kiss his way down Clive's neck, tasting that scar yet this time not stopping. He moved further down the V of that shirt - or vest or whatever it was called - until he was kissing and licking skin between those muscular pectoral muscles. Were those freckles he saw too?]
I'm not taking you out here, Clive, as much fun as that would be. [His reasonable tone belayed the his own rising impatience as his nerves were fraying. He stared up the length of Clive's body, his gray eyes darkened with lust.] The closest I'll do for you is pressed against the monastery wall... You game?
[It was probably best to ravage each other in the monastery, but he actually wasn't confident either of them would make it that far.]
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Date: 2025-07-13 08:37 pm (UTC)[Which made absolutely no sense. But a lot of things didn't make sense right now. His heart thumping in his chest, his breaths coming out faster than he expected them to for just laying in the grass and kissing. He ran his fingers up to the hair tie holding Vander's hair in his bun and gently pulls it out, watching as the hair cascaded down to frame the older man's face. Clive runs his fingers through the newly freed length, marveling at the smooth and soft texture, occasionally broken up by the firmer flow of areas that had started greying.
That smile made Clive's heart stutter. He moved forward to kiss the corner of it, relish in the feel of it, skin and confidence. He let his head drop back down to the grass and turned his head, giving Vander full access to his neck and clear invitation to kiss more, lick more. He moaned quietly at Vander's ministrations, hand continuing to stroke through Vander's hair.]
Hmm. [Clive is quiet for a moment, mind flashing through every time he was taken or took someone against a wall or a rock or an alleyway. No. No, he didn't want that. He was tired of that being what he got.]
No.
[Clive propped himself up on his elbows.]
My room. I want us to make it to my room.
[I need us to make it to my room.]
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Date: 2025-07-13 09:02 pm (UTC)He nodded his head, licking a line up Clive'e chest to the hollow of the younger man's throat. Then he purposefully blew cooler air from his mouth over the wet skin to test the boundaries of Clive's restraint even as he was once again having to disentangle himself from the younger man at the same time Clive propped up.
He rose to his feet, hair caressing his shoulders now that it was free of the bun and he shoved it back from falling into his face. His trousers were back to tenting, which forced him to make a show of adjusting himself so that he actually retained the ability to walk the rest of the way to their final destination.
Vander offered Clive a hand up so that they could actually start walking again.]
Your room, it is. You're carrying your bracer otherwise you might become too handsy and we won't make it to the destination. Come on. [He did move to slide an arm around Clive's waist.]
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Date: 2025-07-13 09:19 pm (UTC)Clive groaned at the feeling of Vander's tongue dragging up his skin, but when the cold air washed over him Clive gasped and his back arched just a little, chasing the feeling. He fell back down, a blush spreading from the tips of his ears across his face. What was... what was that? Clive sat up. That was something to be examined for later. But right now, Clive watched Vander adjust himself with hooded eyes, lips parting just a little to expose Clive's tongue slowly licking along his upper teeth. Soon, he promised himself. Soon.
He took Vander's hand. They needed to get back to the room.]
Fair enough.
[Clive glanced up at Vander and slid his hand into the older man's and started pulling again. He made a beeline to the outer wall, pushing open a person sized door next to the gate and going in. Clive navigated the grounds expertly, taking every little shortcut he knew of before he got to his room. Vander could get a tour later if he wanted but right now they needed to both be naked. Clive opened the door and yanked them both inside.]
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Date: 2025-07-13 11:50 pm (UTC)It was probably one of the few reasons he managed the rest of the walk to the massive castle that was apparently a monastery. He was tantalized by the swing of Clive's natural gait, and he expected that cape was both to hide and accentuate that walk. Somehow - Janna only knew how - they did make it without another incident.
He followed Clive in through the maze of doors and hallways and stair cases, trying to recall the direction that they had come from, but he found himself distracted with anticipation. His fingers laced briefly in Clive's in a urgent gesture for them to find a place or else his patience may just snap at any single moment and they would make use of wherever he could shove the younger man into. He had supplies, so anywhere would do.
There was an audible sigh of relief once he was pulled into a room, kicking the door shut behind him. He shouldered off his pack and let it drop to the floor in the same motion that he reached out to grab Clive about the waist and slam the younger man back against the door so he could crowd in with his larger body and kiss like Clive was the sole source of air that he could breathe.
First things first: laces. His fingers moved to open that top before rising to work the buckle holding on the pauldrons. The way that Clive had said that he needed Vander desperately rang in his head like a bell toll.]
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Date: 2025-07-14 12:09 am (UTC)Almost there.
[He voice was tense in anticipation, just as impatient as Vander. The sigh that Vander let out when they finally reached Clive's room made him smile. It was oddly cute. It was also very reassuring to know for certain that he wasn't the only one still feeling this way. He tossed the piece of armor and glove he had been carrying unceremoniously onto his desk. He made a note to clean everything perfectly as an apology to the memory of his father, but he needed all of this off and out of the way ASAP.
Clive had barely finished tossing the glove when Vander was grabbing him and slamming him against the door. Clive immediately arched up against him, opening himself up to drown in that kiss. His heart thumped in his chest, the excitement of being completely enveloped by someone else, the desperation in the way that their lips slotted together, the way their tongues explored each other. Clive wrapped an arm over Vander's shoulder, leaving the other one down so he could continue to unbuckle and remove.
The cool air that touched his skin once his vest was entirely unlaced made him shiver. He couldn't take it. Using the door as source of resistance and the arm over Vander's shoulder as a lever, he pulled himself up and wrapped his legs around Vander's waist and pressed into him, moaning into the kiss. Loudly.]
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Date: 2025-07-14 01:09 am (UTC)The buckle was free and he slid that cape off of shoulders and pauldrons, letting it fall to the floor and pool against the door he was pressing Clive to. There were more straps to contend with now that the cape was off, his fingers searching by feel for them so that he didn't have to break their heated kiss. More buckles were opened and whatever happened to fall off was no longer his problem.
He growled out a groan when Clive decided to be a monkey and clamber onto his waist, which was very distracting from his mission of stripping. At least his clothing was straight forward. He took a break from the daunting other glove with its bracer and whatever that other piece of armor was on the upper arm so he could smooth his hands over Clive's abs and sides through the now open vest.
He slammed Clive back against the door, and if anyone was on the other side, they likely would have a good idea what was occurring inside. His hands finally dropped for an easy target: sword belt. That was simple and easy to fling off.]
Why is your clothing so complicated? [He groused more in frustration between their kisses. Maybe he should slow down and take a breath. He would not.]
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Date: 2025-07-14 01:44 am (UTC)It was a bit amusing feeling Vander fuss with his armor, trying to get it all off. Clive probably could have helped make it a little easier, but he was going to bask in the desperation Vander was showing for a bit longer. A heat, proud and strong, filled him. Clive slid his eyes open just a touch to watch Vander's face as they kissed, as the other man contended with buckle after belt after clasp.
And then Vander's hands were on him again. The callouses of rough skin dragging against the soft skin of his sides and abdomen. He shivered under the touch, relishing the delicious pull. He answered in a kind of his own, rolling his hips down to press himself against Vander's hardening cock. If how it felt was any indication, Vander was huge. Clive felt his own cock twitch in interest and moaned.
And then he was being slammed back against the door. Clive let his head fall back, panting. Okay. It was time to have mercy on both of them. Clive got to work on his other bracer, making quick work of it. Then he pulled himself up farther on Vander, reaching down to undo buckles on the armor on his legs, also letting it all fall to the ground without much care of where it landed. He had reached about all he could from his vantage point, upper body free, half of his leg armor off.
So back into Vander's hair Clive's hands went. What he wanted to do about the rest of his leg armor, Clive would let Vander decide. Right now he needed to taste the other man's skin. Clive leaned down pressing wet and sloppy kisses down the column of Vander's neck. Making his way back up, he paused as that little patch of skin behind Vander's ear that just kept teasing him before licking it, slotting his mouth over it, and sucking.]
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Date: 2025-07-14 02:19 am (UTC)He bowed his head, forcing himself to breath so that he could concentrate and removed more of Clive's armor, so he was unpackaging the younger man. Odds and bobs of armour he wouldn't even know the name off fell away and his hands stroked and explored, shoving Clive's vest further open and running his thumbs over dusty nipples and dragging his blunt nails down the rise and fall of abs. His hands were working hands, callouses from mining, smuggling and brawling all layered in harder skin, and the rasp of those callouses over Clive's smooth abdomen thrilled him.
Yet, he turned his head as hands pushed into his shoulder-length hair, examining what was left of Clive's leg armour. He moved to feel for connection points, opening the armour and letting them fall to join the rather impressive pile at their feet. And they were only now only seeming to be able to make work on actual clothing.
He shivered at the feel of Clive's wet eager mouth on his neck, rumbling a pleasured growl in response and his eyes fluttering closed momentarily. His hands moved to pull at the laces of Clive's tight trousers, pulling and loosening them before he stilled as he felt the younger man's mouth seal over his skin and began to mark him.
He should tell him no, should dislodge that greedy little mouth, distract Clive to something else. Instead, he let it happen, even encouraging by sliding his hands over the swell of Clive's hips and then down to grip the younger man's ass as he pressed Clive against the door again.]
...a little early to be making a claim, don't you think? Maybe I'm a dead fish in bed. [His voice was deeper, wrecked with anticipation and kissing.] Put your legs down. It's time to lose the vest and pants, handsome.
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Date: 2025-07-14 03:01 am (UTC)The further Vander shoved open his vest, the more skin on skin contact he got, the harsher the breaths tearing themselves from Clive got. It shouldn't feel this good, just being touched. They were barely doing anything, just wrapped around each other, kissing, grinding a bit, but this was the best Clive had felt with another person in, well, probably ever. Behind the haze of his lust and desire, part of his mind, the insidious little voice that he tamped down so frequently, whispered to him how little he deserved this.
But then Vander's thumbs were brushing over his nipples and arousal shot through him like an arrow. He arched into the contact, moaning. Fuck. Had his nipples ever been this sensitive before? Had any part of his body?
Feeling Vander's hands slide down to his hips as Clive left his reminder, a little piece of his desire, for Vander to touch, to see, later, only made Clive want to suck more marks into the other man's skin. And then his ass was in Vander's hands again, and his back was slammed back against the door and Clive's hips reflexively rutted forward and-
handsome.
Clive's breath caught in his chest. He let his legs slide down to the floor and looked up at Vander. He could feel his own heartbeat in his throat. Clive leaned up and pressed his lips to Vander's again, one arm coming down from over his shoulder to slide under the hem of Vander's shirt, fingers tracing along Vander's hip.
handsome.
Clive slid his hand along Vander's pantline to find the closures there and start popping them open deftly with one hand. His kiss to Vander this time was slower but no less passionate. Each slot of their lips brought another pressing touch, a finger sliding under his pant line, his hand moving to lay flat against his abdomen, sliding up to his chest, tracing the line of his pec before brushing a ghost of a touch over a nipple.
handsome.
He realized he should respond and broke off his kiss.]
You could be a dead fish and that mark would still be worth the trip here.
[The roughness of Clive's voice matched Vander's the want just as deep. Clive let his hands slide away and leaned back against the door. Clive felt his skin prickle as the air touched what bare skin it could find, at what he saw when he looked Vander in those captivating eyes.]
I'm all yours.
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Date: 2025-07-14 04:52 am (UTC)Despite the disappearance of armour, Clive's reactions to touch and mouth were enough to tantalize him, churn the fire running their course along his nerves. His breath caught in his throat at the arching of Clive's back, his fingers playing again over those nipples until they were hardened beneath the pad of his fingers.
Those long legs slipped from around his waist to settle back on the floor, but there was so much more than that. The look in those blue eyes, the microexpressions seemed to flit across Clive's face, and it took him those spare moments to narrow down the reason for there existence. After all, he knew that look even marred in pleasure, like the mask shifting slightly off kilter for just a fraction of a second. Once, twice and a third time.
He stepped into Clive's wandering hand, leaning in so his breath played over the younger man's lips. His hands pulled away long enough to unclasp the multiple locking mechanisms on his thick belt, allowing it to fall away to the floor to join all of Clive's gear. Their kiss remained intense and wanton, heated and unadultered with concerns beyond these walls.
His hips pressed forward to those questing hands, the buttons giving away with Clive's insistence. It was perhaps made easier with the bulge in his pants already straining the material and their clasps. He leaned his face in, lips finding the scar on Clive's cheek as his nose caressed the unblemished skin as those hands explored up his shirt.
For his part, his hands slid up Clive's front until he could work them over the younger man's shoulders, easing the material off and down those muscled arms. His hands followed, caressing down from biceps to elbows to forearms to wrists, the material having fallen free long before his fingers curled around the back of Clive's hands.
Their gazes met and the hunger from before was different, transformed and sharply focused. Fixated on Clive in front of him as his lips caressed that scar like a defiance to any opinion of it than his own.]
A lofty statement, handsome. [He tasted the word, let it roll of his tongue like a roughened compliment. Testing if that was the cause.] I expect you to participate and enjoy yourself as much as I plan to. Show me that hunger which escapes the restraint.
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Date: 2025-07-14 12:14 pm (UTC)He watched and a smirk quirked at the corner of his mouth for less than a second at how Vander's throat clenched around the sound that Clive made. And then that was chased away by more ministrations, a shiver running through Clive's whole body at the feeling of Vander's continued attention to his nipples.
Nothing else mattered right now. Nothing other than the man in front of him, the feeling of his hands on his skin, his lips, his taste, his voice. Clive's eyes fluttered closed, lashes tracing butterfly kisses across Vander's skin as he continued to show affection to a place Clive hadn't realized he needed.
He slid his hands under Vander's shirt and traced the lightest of touches along what was now a slipping pant line, paying special attention to the rise of his hipbones until Vander's hands were at his elbows, flowing down his forearms. Clive lowered his hands, relishing in the feeling of Vander's hands cradling his own. Hands he could feel were made for powerful, dangerous things, holding on so carefully.]
Vander...
[The other man's name was a whispered almost-plea to the night. How that one word seemed to be able to undo him, Clive would never understand, but his heart raced just as quickly as the first time that word fell from those devilishly perfect lips.
He should have used words to respond, been a debauched but halfway civilized person, but the growl that ripped out of him had very different plans. A flash of that electric blue danced through his irises and Clive was pushing into Vander's space again. He put his hand behind Vander's neck, pulling him forward none too gently as the other hand found the hem of his shirt, pulling it viciously and efficiently up and over to be discarded amongst everything else that littered his floor.
Vander would barely have had time to respond before Clive released his neck and surged forward, lips and tongue and teeth finding collarbone and skin and biting.
And if his teeth were a little sharper than before, nails a little longer, Clive didn't notice.]
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From:Sorry for the novel
From:I read your novel & provided one in return
From:Legitimately I wonder what the word count is for this whole thread.
From:An actual half novel I expect
From:If it wouldn't be so much dang work I'd check it.
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From:I got about 1/5th of the way through the thread and we were already at 12,000 words.
From:Yeah, yeah it's actually a novel that we've written in here!
From:This is the longest thread I have ever done.
From: