Experience Tumblr Like Never Before
It is a quiet and thick summer night. One of those when the air smells like spices and leaves warmed by daylight.
Astarion steps back into the lightened circle of your campfire, lowering himself on the bedroll. He was hunting in the forest - successful but uneventful routine.
His hunger is sated for now, yet his brows still grow tight together as he looks around, taking in the silence. You aren’t here.
He picks up a book, turning the pages by the flickering light of the fire, his mind far away. Until he hears the steps and the corners of his mouth curl into a small smile.
He doesn’t have to turn around to know who it is, and he doesn’t flinch when your arms wrap around him from behind, gentle and warm. He just raises his hand to place over your arm as you rest your head against his shoulder and let out a dramatic sigh.
“You were gone for too long,” you mumble with a playful pout, softly nuzzling the curve of his neck with your nose. “I got bored waiting. So I went for a walk too. But really, you could’ve just bitten me instead. At least then we’d have spent that time together.”
Astarion chuckles, slightly leaning his head closer to yours. “Darling, your blood is far too invaluable to be treated as a mere convenience. It’s better reserved for more special occasions.”
You chuckle, brushing your lips along the pulse line on his neck. Your teeth grazing his skin in a teasing imitation of a bite.
“Then I’ll make us even,” you growl quietly, struggling to hold back a wide grin. “It’s my turn now.”
Astarion doesn’t hold back an amused laugh, short but light and unguarded. The sound you love so much. He turns around to look at you with a familiar smirk. “Oh? Is that so?”
He pulls you on his lap and you readily settle there, your eyes softening from mischief to warmth. You tilt your head, studying his face.
“Hold still…” you ask gently and Astarion arches his eyebrow but obliges, watching you raise your hand.
Your thumb carefully brushes his cheek, stroking a small drop of dried blood on his skin.
“Missed a spot,” you smile softly, wiping it away with the corner of your sleeve.
“…Thank you.” Astarion closes his eyes and leans into your touch for a moment, his lips brushing against the fabric wrapped around your arm.
You nod, satisfied, and lean back, reaching into the pouch still hanging on your belt, and luring out something small and delicate - a white flower with pointed, like a star, petals.
“A present! I found this while I was walking,” you say with a bashful smile. “It looked just like a star. Reminded me of you.”
He hums, both touched and amused. “Because my imperishable beauty outshines even the stars above?”
“Because you always shine, even in the dark,” you reply simply and tuck the flower behind his ear.
Astarion blinks, caught off guard for a moment, before a real, tender smile blooms on his lips.
He leans in and softly places a kiss on your forehead, then draws you close to his chest.
“So do you, my sweet.”