It's Hard to See The Stars Here

Aresenn turned swiftly at the voice behind him, a sharp retort already on the tip of his tongue. His scowl softened into a smirk upon seeing the familiar lavender coat and playful grin. Denying her would be as futile as denying the winter's snow, he thought with a roll of his eyes. But of course, he couldn’t if he wanted to. "Is that so?" Aresenn grumbled in response, a hint of amusement mingling with his usual gruffness- the same humor sparkling in his amber gaze as he watched her circle him, their coats brushing ever so slightly in passing. He couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and pinch her with his teeth as she set off to walk away from him. “You’re excused.”

Following her lead, he allowed himself to be led into one of the private spaces, his eyes never straying from the swaying curve of her tail. The sudden shift in Andromeda's demeanor caught him off guard as she pulled him into the secluded cave. Before he could formulate a suitable snarky comment, she closed the distance between them, and her lips found his. Aresenn couldn't help but return the fervor, pulling her closer against him and deepening the kiss. Time seemed to stretch and warp around them as they dove into their shared passion, the world outside the cave slowly dissolving into insignificance. Aresenn’s senses were flooded with Andromeda, her intoxicating scent swirling around him, her soft form pressed against his. For the first time in a while, he allowed his defenses to slip, allowing himself to get lost in the enveloping warmth of their embrace.

When they finally need to catch their breath, the intoxication receded to a mild buzz. As he opened his eyes, he met Andromeda’s curious gaze. There was an unspoken question in her blue eyes that made him blink, scrambling to find his footing on the slippery ice of intimacy again. “The new warlord has made it clear he’d prefer I keep my distance for the moment. He said I’m allowed in the marketplace, but that is it.” Aresenn murmured, searching her expression for any recognition.

"Aresenn"