He’s never understood before why so many parents cried in the delivery room. And… he’s never imagined that he would be there. Crying. Smiling. Thanking his wife. “You’ve done well,” he says as he industriously cleans her, healing her discreetly with his magic. He’s been helping. Here and there. And it’s the least he can do for her. 

She’ll be feeling just fine in a matter of days, perhaps sooner. Her exhaustion… he might be able to heal if he’s willing to exhaust himself.

Charlie looks up as he helps reposition her legs, which are shaking from the exertion. She really… had his baby. She had his baby. This little, crying creature is him and her. Married together into… into…

“I’ll take care of the rest,” his mother says quietly. She smiles knowingly at him. He nods, removing the gloves he wore for the birth and setting them aside.

It’s become so real.

He’s a… parent. Now.

Charlie sits next to Thandi and leans over her, watching as she latches onto Thandi’s breast to take her first drink. He’s never seen anything that makes him want to cry more. And as Thandi looks up at him, face positively aglow with her exertion?

He could kiss her.

There’s a pang of deep regret in him, over his daughter’s conception… a child was just an idea, a means to an end, but now…

He feels a hand on his head. “Thank you,” Thandi says breathlessly. 

“Thank you,” he says. Thandi scratches at him and… he lays his head on her shoulder and watches their baby. He’s never felt this way before and honestly… he feels the fierce… love. In him. Waiting to pour out over his child and wife. 

He looks at M’bali. “So. Are you… going to kill me, or follow her?”

“I’m going to help you get out from under that cunt’s thumb. What has she got on you? I’ll get worse on her.” M’bali still has her arms crossed and actually looks menacing for once. Based on the stories he’s heard from Niko, this woman isn’t one to be trifled with. “There’s no way you’re going to that festival with her. You won’t make a fool out of my sister. She’s lived her whole life with things just being ‘good enough’. She deserves better. No matter what happened between you two.”

He feels that rather sharply, and Charlie takes a deep breath. There’s no point in picking a fight.

Maybe it would be fine to get help for once.

“Thandi… she had a ring, at some point. I’m sure of it. And I found it, with the ravens digging through for the past while.” Charlie rubs his neck, sighing. It probably isn’t as big a deal as he’s making it. But. That ring seems important to her, and he can’t stop thinking about it. “And Rose fucking stole it from my room and decided to trounce up and claim to be my fucking attendant so that she could make Dean— Sir Allemand— jealous. She’s hidden it somewhere, and while I’ve got the whole bird population of Roseview poking about for it, I can’t find it.”

M’bali looks… well. Her face is angry. That’s for certain. But at whom? Rose? Him? She’s keeping it restrained, at least and takes a deep breath. “You… So. You found the ring? And then instead of… Ugh. Gods.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I suppose you don’t want to hurt her so that’s out of the question. And your birds couldn’t find it anywhere?” She sighs and massages her temples. “Where is she staying at the moment? And can you get her back here? She may actually have it on her… or in her.” M’bali grimaces at that, clearly having experienced finding something inside of someone before.

Charlie pales at the very idea. He shakes his head, dismissing the image from his mind. “I swear, if it is, I’m going to toss her in the cellar.” He pushes his hair back, sighing. “She’s got family in town, so she lives with them. The ravens can only do so much, unfortunately. Wherever she’s hidden it, it isn’t in a very raven-friendly container. And she keeps bringing men back with her so trying to get into her rooms when she goes home is a trial.” He crosses his arms, beginning to feel ill. Gods, what the hell is wrong with that woman? Gaming for Dean and yet bringing people home. And she’s tried with him. Repeatedly. It makes his stomach turn. 

“Well maybe instead of sneaking and snooping, we just take it back. Grab her up and go back to her place. I have a spell that’ll tell me where it is if it’s anywhere in there. But first.” She presses her fingers together and breathes deeply as she closes her eyes. There’s a tinge of magic swirling around her and he feels it spread out, flowing over him and every surface in his room like a wave.

When she opens her eyes, she smirks. “She’s on her way. And she has it.”

That bitch. She had it on her this whole time!? She was taking advantage of his hatred of touch by keeping it on her person. Charlie clenches his fists, teeth creaking as he grits them. “I’m going to turn her inside out. I’m going to dangle her from the fucking eaves and beat her like a fucking rug. I’m—”

No kill rule. Rev, outside, sitting on the roof. The damn bird. You not hit.

“I’m going to turn her out of Roseview and make it so she can’t step foot back here ever again.”

Better.

M’bali’s brows rise. “Now that is something I can get behind. Though, turning her inside out might be good.” She strokes her chin and just as she opens her mouth to speak again, the door bursts open. Rose is red in the face and sweating, disheveled from…?

“You put me out with the fucking dogs?!” The woman shouts.

“Yeah? And?” M’bali shrugs. “Figured you could learn some manners from them.”

“You bitch! Well. It doesn’t matter. Your wife knows the truth now. You know she actually came to ask me how to fuck you? Hah! You should’ve seen her face!”

This was why Thandi was in such a good mood. The catharsis. The stupidity of this creature. He laughs at her. And with a small gesture, she’s frozen in place. “That explains why she was thrilled to see me after arriving. There’s just something about knowing that I can’t even stomach your fucking presence that makes her smile. Should I keep you around and put you in a little clown suit? Make you dance for her?” Oh, gods. He does forget how nice it is to spit venom once in a while, and the fury on Rose’s face certainly makes this good. “You’re a fucking liar. You have the fucking ring.”

“I! Do not! It’s hidden! You’ll never get it! Not until Dean begs me to marry him.”

M’bali shakes her head. “I don’t get it. I mean, he’s cute but he’s not exactly boyfriend material. Much less, husband material. Thandi told me about Autumnvale and that guy gets around. What are you so obsessed for?”

Rose scoffs. “You wouldn’t get it. Let me go, you rat!”

M’bali pulls out a dagger and takes a step closer. “Listen, we don’t wanna have to see what you got going on under there. So I suggest you tell me where it is, take it out, and give it back. Or else I’ll have to do the search myself. And no, the Duke won’t be looking.”

Rose pales immediately. Her eyes shift to Charlie. “Y… You can’t be serious. You wouldn’t! What would your wife think?!”

“That you suck, probably.”

“Y-You can’t!”

M’bali raises her dagger higher.

“I think M’bali’s right. You piss her off as much as you piss me off. And the only reason I’ve not just rid myself of you is because of that ring. Because you have two options here and neither are going to end well for you. I’m not stopping her from anything she deems necessary. I may not be like other Istrian nobles, but it doesn’t make me an exceptionally kind Duke.”

“Y… You’re both mad. And! I bet your wife is just as bad. You’re made for each other! Disgusting! Filthy! And–! And–!”

M’bali flicks her finger and Rose’s voice grows quiet even as she mouths words. His new sister rubs her ears and sighs. “Oh. That’s much better. Sorry, there was just this dog going yap yap yap yaaaaap. Anyway. Here we are.” M’bali digs a hand into the pocket of her apron and plucks out the gold band. She looks back at him and shakes her head. “Couldn’t even check her pockets? It’s a good thing you don’t adventure or you’d be screwed.” M’bali drops it into his hand and steps back to let him finish with Rose.

He paces round the now silent woman. “Her pockets and my hands? Touching her?? It was bad enough she would cling. Do you think perhaps it would add insult to injury if I had Dean escort her out of town and dump her there?” He’s already thinking of a million things he could be doing that would be much less kind. 

Murder, though. Might be overkill. 

Or is it…

Do no murder! Do no murder!!

“Hm. I’m thinking we do. Send a guard with them so he doesn’t get fondled. He’s going to be pissed. And you never see him angry.” He hopes that Dean spits on her. That would be good.

Rose is struggling to move against the magical hold he has on her and she’s opening her mouth to scream but nothing escapes her.

M’bali shakes her head. “Calm down, your voice’ll come back. Yknow. Once you’re out of here. And by here, I mean town. I’ll let you have your last goodbyes with Dean.”

Rose’s face is red again as the anger rises in her. But once he calls the guards, they escort her away. And he never has to see her again.

“Great. Now that that’s handled, get that to my sister, okay?” She raises a brow at him, pursing her lips. She’s had enough of this. “Uh… get it cleaned first. See ya.” And with that, she’s gone in a blink.

Charlie stares at the ring in his palm. Finally. Finally. Everything… everything is coming together.

He can’t wait to surprise Thandi with it in the morning.

As Thandi approaches the door to Charlie’s room, she can hear the bed… squeaking, if she leans close to the door. It’s hard to hear exactly what is going on… but…

“Th… Thandi…” He’s calling for her?

“Charlie? Are you alright?!” She knocks on the door urgently, her heart pounding. Her dear student! He sounds so distressed! What if he’s wandered upon a dangerous magical plant and didn’t know of the effects! “Charlie! I’m coming in!” She bursts through the door and gasps at the sight. 

Charlie is clutching at his blankets, yanked up in a rush of activity, but it’s all wrong! He’s sitting on it and so he’s pulled the blanket up from the bottom. “AH! Uh! T-T-Thandi!? Aah. What’s! Up!? Haha!!” His face is flushed, sweat beading on his brow as he tries to smile at her.

“Oh! Oh, Charlie, what’s happened?!” She hurries to him and presses her hands to his red cheeks. He must be ill! In pain! “Are you feeling sick, Darling? What can I do? Ah! I know. Th-The medic! Don’t try to change my mind. Even doctors get sick! And who cares for them?! Can you stand? No! I’ll go get them!”

He had started to relax when her hands met his cheeks but Charlie’s eyes widen with sheer panic. He grabs her wrists with both hands, the blanket falling to his waist. His vest is unbuttoned… and his shirt. She can see him breathing hard as he leans forward. “No! Nonono. I’m not sick. I’m not. Don’t get anyone else. I’m okay. I promise. I am. Fine.”

She looks at his hands on her wrists and… he’s not wearing his gloves either. He always wears them. Has he ever touched her without them? Her eyes return to his and she nods once. “Alright… I won’t call for a doctor. But… if you let me close the door? Will you… tell me what’s wrong? I’ve never heard you like that before.”

“Ah.” It’s a high squeak, and his eyes flick behind her before he hurriedly yanks his shirt closed. “You can. Close. The door. But… Um. I. You might be. Aah… it… um. The. Haha. Uh. You might be… un. Comfortable. Uncomfortable. With. The. Situation. I mean, it’s, ah, you’re. An. Unmarried woman. In here. With. Me…”

Thandi waves it off as she pulls away from him to go shut the door. “We aren’t in Istres, Charlie. We don’t need a chaperone. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” She turns back to him and winks. “It’ll be our little secret!” She approaches him again and brushes his bangs back. They’re growing longer every day that he’s here! “Now. Tell me what’s wrong. Please. I want to help.”

His hands relax slightly as she touches him, and he lets out a shaky breath. “Um. Thandi. I. So. You know… I used to be. Um. A… asexual. I thought. I was. But. I’m, haha. I’m. Not. Do you. Do you understand what I’m getting at? I’m a… a-a-attracted. To you. So. I… Need… Relief. Sometimes?” He stares at her, brows wrinkling slightly with worry. He’s clutching the blankets in his lap, even, and… is he… scared?

“Relief? Oh, my darling. I had no idea that… well. I. I didn’t know you felt that way and then… to learn it causes you such distress! Oh, what can I do? There must be something! Wh-How do you find relief? Is it— ahh… some sort of exercise? Breathing? Ahh… hmm…” She rubs her chin as she thinks. Whenever she thinks of relieving oneself it’s to use the toilet and… this is certainly not the loo.

Charlie’s worry only grows. He’s growing frantic. “I. You don’t need to. Truly. It’s. It’s just. Me. Um. I. I just. I just… I. Um. Gods, how do I explain…” He rubs his neck, massaging it as his eyes drift away. He mumbles low as he thinks, his shirt falling open again. There’s… movement. Under the blanket. But he doesn’t notice. “It’s… a. Natural… human… urge… sort of… like… sort of… I mean… you know. Just. Making. Um…”

The thing moves again and she raises a brow. “Rev! Are you hiding?” She leans down to giggle at the lump under the covers. “Come on out, silly. It’s just me! Were you helping Charlie feel better?” And then she reaches out and pets the edge of his beak. Charlie groans and she gasps, sitting up again to look at him as she holds a little tighter to his familiar. Where is his body? His beak seems longer and thicker than usual. And Charlie is only growing more upset! His head falls back and he calls her name in… in that same labored voice from before! It sends a thrill through her for some reason. She continues petting Rev nervously. “Charlie? Are you alright?!”

He lets out a long, shaky breath, reaching to grab her wrist and still her hand. “Rev can’t help me with this. He’s out. Giving me privacy. Thandi. Please. If. If you keep stroking me like that. I. I’m going to… I’m going to cum. You. You’re rubbing my… ah. My. My… my c… fucksake. My. P… that’s my dick.” 

Thandi blinks at him and then down to what she had assumed was Rev’s beak and head and neck and… gods. He’s large! Her hand flies away. “I am so sorry! I! I didn’t mean to—! Have—! Have I made it worse?!” But… he said something about… cum? From what she knows about reproduction and… sex… that’s a good thing, isn’t it? It means… he feels good? He’s so red as he averts his eyes. Did he… like it? She stares down at the lump under the blanket and she gulps. “Or was it… helping?”

“It… depends…” Charlie’s eyes flick to hers and away, and he tugs the blanket a touch to try to cover up again. His blush has spread down to his bare chest, and she could almost swear he’s grown warmer. “I. I mean. You’re… All I think about. Of. Of course… it helps. It’s. The. The best. But. It’s. You know. You’ve. You don’t want that. So. I. I try to keep… all of this. Away from you. I can’t… I can’t do it unless I’m thinking about you. So. I. Um. I… this makes me. Want. More. And I can’t put you through that.”

“But why not? Charlie…” Her hand brushes against his cock again, through the blankets. “I’m supposed to take care of you. And… you’re the only one I would take care of this way.” She runs two fingers up and down his length, watching his eyelids droop as pleasure starts to build in him. At least… that’s what it looks like. “I want to make you feel good, Charlie. I don’t know anything about this so you’ll have to teach me but… I hope you’ll trust me. And… tell me what you imagine…?”

“O-oh, fuck, Thandi. I. You… Mmn…!” He’s leaning back, breathing hard. “I… You… thank you. It. It means more to me… than anything. That… You would… engage. With. Me… sexually. Exclusively…” He lets out another heavy breath, and now she knows for sure that what she’s doing is exciting for him. He’s twitching under her hand! So lively… 

Charlie opens his shirt, letting her see his scarred chest, the still-red wounds from past fights. He grasps her other hand, pausing to make sure she’s okay with it before pressing her hand to the center of his chest. She can feel his heart racing beneath her palm, and he stares into her eyes with… a half-lidded, wanting expression. Like he’s trying to keep still. 

“I. Imagine us together. You… on top. So… I…”

Thandi nods carefully and continues gently touching his chest with one hand and stroking his cock with the other. “So you…?” Her hand on his chest lowers to his stomach and the hand on his cock… she wraps it around him! The blanket is still between them but once she figures out a good grip, she reaches for the hem of the blanket. “So you can… look… up? At me?” She tilts her head before her eyes wander down and follow the blanket. 

He hardly springs up much from the sheer weight of his cock. Thandi’s jaw drops at the sight of him. Of a real, fully erect cock. The shape… the color… gods, even the scent! And when her hand resumes that grip? She gasps at the sweet, soft texture. She adores this. Adores him!

“Thandi…!” His hips buck. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, gasping with… pleasure! “P… please excuse me.” He reaches out, hand resting on the back of her neck to gently pull her closer to him as he leans forward.

The kiss they share is sweet. Small. Charlie kisses her a dozen times all at once, eyes fluttering shut as he keeps on. Breathing deep. Quivering with excitement under her hands. He doesn’t stop kissing her for what feels like an eternity of different small, affectionate kisses, pecks, and presses. His lips are so soft, and yet so… firm. It feels good.

“I. I love you. I need you to know that. That’s. Why I want… to be able to see you. Hold you. M… make. Love. To you.”

“You… You mean it? Truly?” She stares at him a moment before tears come to her eyes. “Oh. Oh, Charlie…” She kisses him deeply, gripping him a touch tighter and he makes that lovely little sound. When she pulls back a hair, it’s to whisper, “Me, too. I love you. I’ve never felt anything like this before. And. I’m so glad to have met you.” She kisses him more insistently this time, hoping that he can feel it. Not just from how she holds him. But from how… she just wants to make him feel more loved than ever. When they separate, she whispers, “Lie back, Darling. I want to make your dreams come true.”

Charlie’s eyes widen, and he bites his lip as he nods. He reaches out to touch her cheek before shifting to lay back as she asked. She can feel his pulse through his cock, the throb of his arousal as he watches her with curious excitement. “You don’t need to go so far, I— hmnng…!“

The shift of Thandi’s fingers on his cock has made his hips rise monumentally. Charlie grasps at the sheets as she strokes him again. “I!! I’m fairly! Sensitive!! So— aah…!” Every movement of her hand makes him excited! Makes him feel good! All of it, all of this… is because he loves her so dearly. He wants her so much.

She watches his face as she experiments with different holds, different strokes, dozens of ways to touch and caress him and make his voice come out more and more. Heat builds within her as she plays, a sort of… clench begins within her and she bites her lip now as a small whine escapes her. “Charlie… Is this helping? You’re… You’re growing more distressed and red by the minute.” She looks down at his cock and it throbs as a bead of a white liquid forms at the tip. “Oh! This! I! I know this!” She runs her thumb over it and her brows jump at the heat of it against her skin. “My… It’s… sticky.” She giggles and runs her thumb down his length, streaking his pre down his cock. “I think that means that I’m doing well, right?”

“It does.” Charlie’s voice is breathless, and his hips jerk as her hand returns to his tip. “T-Thandi. Gods. Come. Come here. A touch. Closer. I… I want to touch you as well.”

As Thandi shifts closer, Charlie reaches out to place his hand on her thigh. He’s stroking her now, trailing shy lines across them before his hand lingers on her inner thigh. His hand is warm, extremely so, and it creeps under her dress as he palms her cunt.

His eyes meet hers as he rubs her up and down, experimenting. A finger…! She feels a finger dip into her sweet slick, looking for some way to pleasure her….! Her breath catches as her eyes flutter closed and… he finds a sweet… wonderful spot just at the cleft of her cunt. She gasps as his finger gently strokes her and he takes the opportunity to kiss her again, sweet and lovingly. Her heart is overflowing with joy as he continues. He’s so careful. So gently. So… perfect. “How…” she whispers before her breath catches again. “How did you…? That… Ch… Charlie…”

Her hand on his cock is slowing and soon just rests against him. She can’t think of anything but this. It’s… It’s entrancing. Hypnotic. And she can feel herself growing wetter with every simple touch.

“Straddle me, please,” Charlie murmurs. “And lean down so I might be able to kiss you better.” His hand leaves her, focusing on helping her move now. He isn’t looking anything like what she must. He’s beautiful, and she… “Gods… my Thandi. I love you. You’re gorgeous.” He’s whispering as she wriggles over him. Charlie’s hands rest on her thighs again as he pushes her dress up higher and higher, until it’s bunched at her waist and every touch is a line of fire.

She grips the hem of her dress and bites her lip nervously before finally pulling it up and off, tossing it onto the floor and baring herself for him. She takes a shaky breath and sets her hands on his chest, below the still healing line. She marvels at the hair that still grows… undisturbed. “You… You, too.” Her cheeks are burning nearly as much as her cunt as she follows the line of hair down to his groin. She gulps and takes another shuddering breath. “You’re… You’re… incredible. And… ah…” She can feel her brain sizzling as she squeaks out, “You’ve gotten stronger. Y-Your… I… Ah. I can… Y… Your chest! It’s… ahhh…” She looks away, embarrassed. If she told him that she had noticed his chest during the obstacle course? He’d… He’d hate her!

“I… hadn’t realized that you were looking, dearest.” Charlie reaches up to bring her closer, kissing her softly. Thandi can feel his cock twitch against her backside, a reminder of what he wants so desperately. “I have. I want to be able to lift you. Carry you. Such things… reserved for the partner…” He gently guides her until his cock presses to her entrance. It makes them both gasp, and Charlie’s grip on her tightens as she feels a pulse against her.

It’s exciting! She’s doing this. He said he could only do it with her. And he is so close to penetrating her…! His cock is pressed significantly to her, one roll of the hips away from being one. “Darling,” she murmurs, “I’ve… I’ve always been… ah. C-Curious. About the act. About the act with… you is still… new. About as new as your curiosity with it perhaps but… ah. P… Please be gentle with me? I’ve… I’ve never done anything like this and… I’m… ah. I’m nervous. I don’t… I don’t really enjoy pain.” She winces and shakes her head. “I mean! I! I want you to feel good. Relieved! But! Ahh… I… May… You may not want to see… me… ah. H… Hurting? Unless. You… like that?” She’s blushing profusely and quickly shuts herself up by kissing him. She shouldn’t have mentioned it. He’s not as lively as he was a moment ago! Bring it back! Bring it back! 

She read once about… kissing and… tongues…? So she tentatively licks his lips, squeaking at the lovely sensation. They’re soft and they taste so good! What else does he taste like? Now… it’s all she can think about! His hands drift from her hips to her cheeks, stilling her. 

“Of course I don’t want you to hurt. We’re taking this slow. Even if I don’t end up inside you, this is more than I ever hoped for. If you hurt, we go back a step.” He’s sounding so firm for once. Resolute. He lets his hands drift now to her chest, fondling her breasts as he smirks at her. “Besides. We can play other ways. No need to simply… make do. Come here. I’m going to kiss you again.”

And with that… it’s him licking her. When they open their mouths and let one another in, the pleasure is entirely unexpected. Smooth. Heavy. One taste and Charlie can’t seem to get enough as they lick and suck and press… he’s moaning into her mouth, hands making her rock slightly against him, so his tip runs up and down her cunt. And her hands aren’t idle. They wander up and along his sides, to his chest again, carefully passing over his sewn shut wound, until she’s running her fingers through his hair.

He’s so… soft. Gods. She can’t stop! Each strand is like silk and she just wants to hold him forever! She doesn’t even realize until he groans against her that… she’s rocking against him herself. His hands grip her rear and he squeezes, making her squeak again as she pulls back to look in his face. “Charlie… You… You taste good. Is this… what you would picture when…? I mean! H-How often have you… done this? Exactly?”

“…y… ah… mmmn…” He laughs awkwardly, looking away. Her bracelet, a quiet observer that has been blooming and dropping petals as they romanced one another, squeezes. “A lot. I. Didn’t keep count. It’s. Been. Maybe. At least… once… a… d… day. Just about.” He lets out a shaky laugh, smiling up at her. “Sorry. Ever… ever since we brought up… children, I just. I couldn’t stop. Picturing. Making them. With you. I want… with you. To… have. Children.”

Her brows rise and the very idea of… a family. A family that loves her. A husband that adores her. Children that want to learn and play and read with them both? It’s… It’s like a fantasy given life. “You… do?” She bites her lip and… she knows that she can’t right now. Her potion, while taking care of her nightmares also works to protect her from any… accidents. “I… I want. Children. I mean. S-Someday. Right now… we’re… in the middle of a sort of… c… crisis. But.” She presses her palm to his cheek. “I want that, too, Charlie.” She leans down and presses her forehead to his. “When all of this is over… I’m going to beg Vitani to let me stay. To hell with magic training and… everything else. This.” She pulls back and adjusts her hips to press her cunt back and to him. “This is what I want.” She slowly pushes back and his cock begins spreading her open, separating her lips and… it’s a tad funny. It’s like… when they kissed? His tongue slipping into her mouth and now… gods. This is… much better. She shudders as his tip dips into her and slows herself to catch her breath, preparing for him.

It makes him press his head back into the pillow, grasping her tightly as his back arches slightly. “Gods. Fuck, Thandi. You’re. Hmmn. Hot. Warm? Just. Perfect. I’m not even… really in yet…” He, too, takes a deep breath to try and steady himself. “I’m… I’m glad. I’ll be there with you. To fight. And. I’ll be there… always. Just. Mmn…” Charlie catches her lips again, hips rising slightly to try to feel more of her. 

He stutters in his breathing as she pushes back a touch more. His cock glides a touch further, and she feels so incredibly full already. How do others fit these in them? Is this how it’s going to feel every time? Charlie’s cock twitches, shifting inside of  her and it feels! Good!

“Thandi. You’re. Ahh… You’re doing. So good. Take it. Slooh…”

She’s trying but gods, she wants more. “Charlie,” she breathes, “You–! You’re so–!” She bites her lip and grips the sheets on either side of him, not wanting to hurt him. He’s still tender. She gasps as he fills her a little more. “You’re big, Charlie! I! What if… What if I can’t…! Fit…! All of you?!” Her back arches as he hits a spot just inside her cunt and she rocks back, still somehow taking more of him. “Feels! So good!” And her cunt tightens around him, clinging tightly to his cock as he presses even deeper, taking his time. It’s like a beautiful, slow torture. The loveliest she’s ever felt! And yet there’s this tension building within her. She needs… “I. I understand now… why you… do this so… often? I’m… I need–! Something! I! I can feel it–! It’s like… a snake! Coiled so tightly inside of me! Am… Is that… right? Or?! Charlie!”

“Mmn! I. I don’t know what it feels like. For you.” His hips begin rocking slightly, his hands helping her to rock with him. He drifts in and out of her, filling and leaving her wanting. It makes his breath catch, and with every slow roll back onto his cock, he slips further and further in until she’s fully seated on him. Charlie’s fingers grip her tightly. “You. Feel. Good. I. Fuck. I. Thandi. Before it happens. I… mmn.” He wriggles slightly as she shifts back to see where they’re joined, and it feels so heavenly. He’s kissing something deep inside and every shift makes him throb. “Before I end up. Coming inside you. I need. To know. If you even want me to. Because at this rate. I will. More than. Once.”

Thandi nods. “Yes. Yes! It’s! It’s alright. My. My potion will keep me from. From–!” He’s rocking his hips already, bucking up and into her, holding her tightly as he really, truly just… fucks her! She’s crying out, moaning and squeaking at every instance and while she wants to fall forward, that spot that he’s hitting… if she were to… She eases her hips back as he continues and rests her hands on his thighs while he fucks up into her. This angle! It’s! “Ch-Charlie! Charlie! I’m–!”

Her heart is racing, her body is tightening and focusing solely on this moment. This feeling! This beautiful, incredible sensation of him. She gasps as all the tension in her body snaps and her head falls back as the most intense pleasure of her life shoots through her. It surprises her, making her squeal with delight and it’s soon followed by an intense heat filling her. Her lover is groaning as he pushes his hips up to try and fill her as much as he can! She shudders as his hips settle back on the bed and she falls over him, resting her head on his chest. 

“Charlie… That… That was… incredible. Is that… Is that how you feel after…?”

His arms wrap around her as he catches his breath. “This feels. Much. Better.” He rocks his hips experimentally, slipping in and out again. The feeling! Afterwards?! It’s so much…! More… “I’m not done.”

What?

Charlie shifts again, both in her and under her, rolling them both over so he’s on top. His cock doesn’t leave her, no, but rather…! He’s grinding hard into her, letting out shuddering breaths as she feels his cock pulse again. Charlie leans closer, resting his weight on his forearms as he kisses her. Those chestnut strands tickle her face as he rocks his hips again. “Thandi. I. Mmmn. Hold onto me. Under my shirt… there’s a good girl.” She can feel how hot he is, can feel… unusual lines under her fingertips. 

The thoughts are chased away by a thrust that shakes her whole body. She gasps and clings tighter to him, biting her lip as he fucks harder than he had over her. She whines and squeaks and squeals like some sort of animal as he pounds into her. “Charlie… Charlie…! More! Don’t–! Don’t stop!” Her back arches as he kisses that lovely spot inside of her over and over! What is that? How does he know what to do?! Oh. Right. Doctor. He knows all about the body. And he’s made good use of his education.

Thandi pulls him into a kiss again as she strokes along the uneven lines on his back. She can barely think straight with the intense rhythm he’s set. He buries his face into the crook of her neck, breathing hard as he clings to her. “Thandi,” he moans, right in her ear. This sounds far more distressed than the way he called her into his room. And he keeps murmuring her name as he presses to her, hips moving at a pace that she hadn’t thought possible inside of her. It feels so good…

His lips meet her neck, kissing her as he thrusts away. And then there’s a sharpness. He’s biting her, as if he himself is an animal! And he moans around the spot he’s latched onto, fast thrusts becoming  firm, strong ones. Begging her body for the pleasure she had earlier. The tension snaps once more, and Thandi can’t help but dig her nails in as her legs close around his hips. Charlie is moaning and groaning and gasping as he tries to thrust with every spasm. She’s so hot inside, it feels like she’s gotten overfilled, like she’s spilling over onto his bed and making a beautiful mess of them both!

“Thandi. Thandi. Fuck. Aaah… yes, yes, yes, I love you… you’re mine. Mine.”

There’s a different sort of heat that spreads through her now. A warm satisfaction that she’s never known before. She breathes deeply and strokes his back, trying to soothe the lines she’d carved with her nails as she whispers, “Yours… I’m yours, Charlie. Only… ever… yours…”

And in that moment, she meant it. She knew it was true. She knew that beyond anything in her life, no matter what would ever get in her way, that she would have him. And he would have her. And they would make it through it all. They kiss once more, sealing their promise. Their fate. Their family.

So. He doesn’t know when Covenant Day truly is. But he tries to time it with the turn of the year. 

His last Covenant Day with Thandi… he didn’t even get to speak his vow to her. He didn’t even get to give her the token he had planned to. 

The paper that he wrote his first vow on now sits rolled up in a small keepsake box, his family ring slide onto the roll. I will never let you be lonely. I will be the home you can come back to. I love you and I always will. 

A vow unmade is still unbroken. And yet the guilt eats at him for it. Covenant Day is the anniversary of the event. The anniversary of Thandi’s disappearance. The anniversary of upheaval in Alleria, since Ascendance decided to pull their little stunt. 

But. Despite the despair. He tries to think positively. Thandi is alive. Cilantro, for all his faults, doesn’t lie about serious things. Rather, the creature relishes delivering news to Charlie when it suits him best.

Rev sleeps in his lap, fat on Covenant peanuts. Charlie’s hand rests on the bird and the box. He still ended up with things he wanted to give Thandi as tokens. And he still put his vows in this little wooden box.

Earrings, small gold studs enchanted with danger detection. She always wore those larger ones, but she isn’t so much a jewelry woman. Still, they look nice on her. 

I will protect you to the best of my abilities. I will find you and make up for a lost year. I will free you from your obligations.

A comb made with soft bristles, the body lacquered finally and painted with a gorgeous peony. Not enchanted, but useful. After all, his clothes had still not worn out, and his accessories were entirely tokens from her. Her ring on his left hand, her pins in his hair, and… the exception, the ring that still hangs round his neck that matches the one on his left hand.

I will find you no matter how long it takes. I will grow strong for you. I will hone my skills so that when we meet again, you can be proud of who I am.

His cravat pin, which she picked out all those years ago, snapped. It was well worn and well-loved, and though he hesitated at first to combine two tokens into one, he commissioned a skilled thaumaturgic jeweler into attaching the tiny emerald to the earrings from the first anniversary. It would dangle from one ear prettily, and he relished the idea of her pushing some loose hair back and revealing the beautiful work.

I love you, and I will continue to love you. Our love may grow and change like the gifts I have procured for you, but it won’t change the fact that I dedicate my entire being to you. I will cherish you, my dearest Thandi.

His silken handkerchief, long worn out by many nights of tears, becomes part of a silk scarf for her hair. The embroidered CV sits at one end, accompanied by a second embroidered TV above it. The latest in the collection.

Thandi, my greatest love, I will not die until long after we have achieved our goals. I will follow you wherever you dare to tread. I will always be by your side once we are reunited. I love you.

It goes into the box.

How many more tokens? How many more vows? How many more years? His patience has grown but it does not make him ache any less. All he’s done in Faerûn is study her world. Study bits of the life she mentioned. Study the pieces of the incomplete puzzle his dear wife is.