Glimmer and glow

Low rumbles of delight emitted within Artorias' chest when he felt the silky fur of Briar's tail brush along his thigh in return, then entwine with his tail while they stood together on the beach, watching the last fading rays of sunlight bathe the world in the somber hour of twilight. Briar said she couldn't say how much she was looking forward to that, and Artorias echoed that sentiment. "You and me both, Briar," he said, his words trailing off into quiet murmurs as she graced the edge of his jaw with little affectionate kisses. He was quiet for a while after that, content to just bask in this moment with the wolf he loved with all his heart. The sky was a canvas of the rich and deep colors of evening, stars beginning to twinkle in the sky just as the sand did below their paws. The moon hung in the sky above them, replacing the warm rays of the sun with an ethereal silver veil cast over everything. Everything was serene and felt right... this magical moment of peace more than he could ever have asked for. But it was Briar at his side that made the moment all the more special.

Artorias turned his gaze to her again, the hues of sunset in his eyes shining and smoldering with the love he felt for her. He knew she would need to return home soon, get back to her family to make sure they made it through the winter all right. But a part of him wanted to ask her to stay. She was his, and he never wanted to let her go. He wanted her to stay in the Hallows with him, to be with him as he stepped into the role of Aegis, to make the castle her home and be a permanent fixture in his life. He knew it was only a matter of time for that to come to pass, but he was stubborn and impatient. When she was away, he didn't feel whole. He worried for her, hated being so far apart. He knew if he asked her to, she would remain with him, forsake her family and her pack to stay with him. And it was because of that dedication that he couldn't ask what he desired. He couldn't put her in that position when he knew she so willingly would. No, they would have to be patient, no matter how much it hurt.

It was only once Briar's kisses began to move from his jaw down his neck and throat did he realize that the relief they'd shared this morning hadn't been enough for Briar. The smile on his face slowly grew into a provocative grin as Briar ignited the heat deep in his belly once more, the warmth and tension spreading throughout his body. Her lips on his throat pulled low murrs and soft gasps from him while she expertly worked erogenous zones she knew by heart at this point. He had thought they'd both been satisfied from earlier, but it turned out that neither young wolf had fully sated their lusts just yet. He tipped his head to grant Briar easier access to his neck, a sign of his deep trust and a silent plea for her to keep going. The young fae didn't disappoint, kissing and nuzzling into his neck while she drank in his scent, allowing Artorias to nuzzle his snout across her crown and take in the familiarness of her natural feminine scent, perfumed with sweet vanilla florals.

Her smell coupled with her warm body leaning into his and all the wonderful things she was doing with her lips on his neck were making Artorias' pulse quicken, the tension in his belly growing, affecting other parts of him as well. Briar pulled back and Artorias met her salacious teal eyes and inviting grin with a heated look of his own, his breathing hitched and shallow. Her words made his ears stand and eyes widen with surprised delight. "It would be my pleasure, my queen," he remarked in that husky tone his voice took whenever passion and lust were at play.

Artorias separated from Briar just enough for him to step out of the edge of the waves and laid himself down on the sparkling sand, rolling over onto his back as she commanded to present himself to her. The sand that got stuck in his dark fur almost made it look like he was shimmering as well as he lay there, gazing up at her with burning love and lust in his flame-kissed eyes and his body on display for her appraisal. He gave her an inviting grin while he watched her, paws curling to his chest and tail giving a subtle wag, eagerly waiting to see what his future queen had in mind for him tonight.

"Artorias Carpathius"