Obrecht brought along Raguk to the surface with an intent of using him as an offering (punching bag) to cushion Videre's anger. However...
Obrecht watched the Raguk steal glances at Videre. He frowned when he offered to lend his katana. And he sulked when the same person kept approaching and talking more and more to his man—
Keyword—his!
He previously thought that it'd be fine since Raguk didn't seem to like Videre. Unfortunately, he clearly underestimated the beauty and charm of his wife! Yes! It's the heaven's fault that his wife was born stunning but clueless! He felt the growing need to guard Videre on all four sides! No, eight! There could be enemies approaching his fortress on the southeast, the southwest, northeast, and northwest! He must be impenetrable and not let others come near!
He was silently frustrated at being unable to keep Videre to himself, even if his contenders were clearly his lover's family. But he couldn't say it, because he promised to merge their families! He felt as if he lifted a boulder only to have it fall on his foot!
Obrecht had been quiet the whole time in Faerie Valley, contemplating on how to barricade Videre from others without the person in question noticing.
Should he just lock him up in a dark room with no one else but him? But his lover is part Wraith, wouldn't he easily slip past? He just couldn't think of a perfect way to tie Videre to himself permanently. Should he trick Videre's shadow vine into trapping their owner?
Hmm, that could work, Obrecht thought. As far as he was concerned, those lovely vines are just as obsessed with him as he is with the owner. Even now, some are still clinging inside his shirt, on his arms and upper torso. He had lectured them not to pinch anywhere lower than the waist for fear that they may pinch something that shouldn't be pinched, or else he won't let them cling. It'd seem to be effective. Videre's shadow vines have been extremely obedient to him, much more than with Videre.
At this point, it really is debatable who owns them. Obrecht smiled at the thought. At least not Raguk, nor anyone of Videre's family were the favorite of Videre's vines. Not any of them, but him!
Thinking this way, the quiet bad mood Obrecht had recently been in, thoroughly broke; especially when Videre took the lead in displaying their relationship in front of Raguk and Laris.
Ah, how Obrecht would love to display this level of affection in front of that dog named Krael. Don't think he forgot the dog food he made him eat along the way to the Lady's forest! He'd return that tenfold! They could have stayed a few more days at Barred Forest, or joined them to Faerie Valley. Unfortunately, Krael had ran back to Lumea, dragging Vera with him despite Vera's unwillingness; hence the early departure that was almost in time with theirs.
But first things first, let's practice making dog food, Obrecht vowed inwardly. He'd been studying that yellow book diligently every chance he got.
Obrecht followed Videre in inspecting one of the two rooms they'll be occupying. He watched as his person walk in, his silhouette casted from the wide circular window—slim waist, black silky hair, and radiantly white skin. He loved Videre's white hair, but he never admitted loving the black version of it, for fear of accidentally admitting his thoughts. When they'd have their children, would they look like this—taking after Videre's features, with his black hair and hazel eyes in the mix? Whenever he thought of children, his thoughts always went astray.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar burning thirst rose inside of him. A spark lit up a blazing flame that spread everywhere, making it hard to extinguish. He could smell Videre's familiar scent. He could feel his warmth radiating as their bodies were close, and the silence of two people in one room added fuel.
Want to hug. Want to lick. Want to bite. Want to tease. Want to...devour.
"W—What are you doing?"
The big naughty hands got pinched upon entering the insides of Videre's coat. Ever since Lady Amani's house on that game night, they've never been alone in a room again, as situations like this made the well-maintained discipline in Obrecht's bone evaporate into nothingness.
"Practicing." Obrecht's hot breath sprayed on his lover's neck, gliding down inside the collar. He could feel Videre barely suppressing the shivers.
Videre only had one layer of clothing beneath his coat, and having the coat sneakily removed, the cold air slightly made his skin tingle. He tried to trick himself into believing that it's because of the cold air that he's faintly trembling, and surely, not because of the person clinging to him?
With half a mind due to the unceasing rubbing on his waist, Videre distractedly asked "...Practicing?"
Obrecht marveled at this newfound weak point that made his lover's knees buckle a bit. His hands had a very good grip to begin with, and applying just the right strength on a pressure point on his waist, his lover's back felt electrified and numbed. Videre almost slumped forward, if not for Obrecht's hold.
Obrecht hugged Videre from behind, rubbing his face on his shoulder. He was evidently trying to distract himself from his desire to bite Videre on the shoulder and neck—a feeling he never knew he'd feel when aroused. The shadow vines inside his shirt have doubled by now, not wanting to be seen by Videre, but not wanting to leave the object of their affection. Clearly, the vines were more honest.
Half curious, half trying to divert his attention, Videre wanted to keep throwing questions out while he tried to escape Obrecht's tight grip. Unfortunately, he could only repeat the same question with his fragmented mind, "...What, practicing?"
Instead of getting distracted, Obrecht's eyes grew darker at the slightly dazed reaction.
"Hm", Obrecht hummed lowly. He leaned backwards, bowed his head and scooped up his lover by the back of his knees. The quick change of altitude made Videre hug Obrecht's neck. The latter smiled, knowing fully well that being frightened like this was when the true self was likely to be revealed. Videre hugging him was like an unconscious act of trust that the person didn't even realize.
The eyes that stared at Videre softened as he laid him down on the bed in one breath's time.
"Let's test the bed while we practice, yeah?" Obrecht whispered on his lover's reddened ear, towering over him with a childish joy expressed on his face. The purity seemed to be mismatched with the actions being done.
The bed was diagonally opposite the wide circular window. With Obrecht leaning down on him, his shadow covered Videre. The light outside made a halo over the person, as if he was radiating sunshine himself. Videre couldn't help but look wide-eyed like an innocent horned rabbit.
"...Ah", Videre gasped in surprise when grubby paws slid down on the back of his thigh, raising his knee to touch the hot skin on Obrecht's waist. Vaguely, he wondered how Obrecht was like a heater in winter. Was it because he was really radiating sunshine? Is he the sun?
Videre was so confused. He couldn't even distinguish what was happening at real time; his brain was lagging. It's a surprise it hasn't fried yet!
The skin on Videre's neck was a beautiful pale white, making the black runes lining down his ear to his shoulders and arms look outstanding. The beautiful contrast tickled Obrecht's fancy. He licked and kissed each rune on the exposed patch of skin on his neck, even greedily pulling the collar to kiss more. Unfortunately, Videre wore skin-tight soul clothes.
Though this type of clothes were mostly worn by the Lycan-kind, they were not the only ones able to create them. In fact, the Sorcerer-kind had already created a magic tool wherein they can harvest soul essence to make it. They were good clothes that didn't need laundry after all. Sadly, they couldn't be removed unless the person wearing wanted them off.
Thus, Obrecht faced this predicament, but would such clothes even stop someone like him? No, on the contrary, he even enjoyed the novelty of exploring and kissing his lover over a layer of cloth. It felt a bit...kinky.
He bit at where Videre's collar bone would be under the black cloth. Videre groaned, his neck recoiling.
"You!" Videre grabbed Obrecht's head, finally woken up from his trance. Their eyes met, and Videre was startled by the hunger and greed, and the pleasure of having his partner feel good, reflected in Obrecht's eyes. He accidentally tapped in Obrecht's emotions.
A surging storm of desire and lust flooded Videre in that instant. The desire to monopolize, to explore, to brand as his own—all such emotions were so strong, Videre felt like he'd drowned.
Obrecht took the opportunity to grab his wrists and pin him on the bed. He kissed Videre deeply, plunging and licking the insides of his mouth, only to commit to memory each nook and cranny.
"Mm", Videre moaned, his legs squirming to indicate his lack of oxygen. When Obrecht let go of his lips, he gulped in air, panting.
"Take them off", Obrecht hoarsely said, rubbing the fabric on Videre's chest with his face. He caught the black material with his teeth and pulled slightly as he kept staring straight at Videre's eyes. "Off", he demanded.
Videre's cheeks tinged a shade of crimson. The strong desire to take of his own clothes reverberated in his whole being. As he did, he wasn't sure if this wall Obrecht's emotions or if there was a small part of his own. At this point, Videre was so angry and shy that he got a vine to flip them over.
Obrecht rolled off the bed and crashed on the floor, misty black fog timely cushioning his fall. Videre sat on top of him, shirtless. His hair, at some point, had lost color and his eyes were a bright stunning gold that showed only the reflection of one person. Obrecht loved that.
Only me. Look only at me.
Obrecht let his hand travel upwards from his navel to Videre's chest, igniting Videre through his touch.
"Beautiful", Obrecht muttered as their gazes devoured the look in each other's faces. He sat up, caressing the Videre's jaw and pushing the disheveled strands of hair to one side. He licked his ear and bit his earlobe, earning nail marks on his shoulders due to Videre's tight grip.
Videre kept staring at Obrecht's lips. Obrecht's kisses felt good. He wanted to be kissed and Obrecht could tell, but Obrecht didn't move. He waited patiently for Videre to initiate the kiss. Though small, progress is still progress. If Obrecht could make Videre kiss him on his own accord, the other stages would be no problem.
Biting his lower lip, Videre stared at the unmoving Obrecht. For a long moment, he kept glancing at the other's lips until he finally, slowly, tilted his head and leaned forward, hesitatingly.