Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Astarion was nervous.

It annoyed him enormously that he was nervous. There was nothing to be nervous about, after all. This tryst with Brynn and Halsin was going to be a simple matter; he was just going to watch them having their way with each other like the randy animals that they were, and it was going to be a delightful show. He didn’t need to do anything, and he didn’t even need to be naked. All he had to do was make himself comfortable on that nice chaise-lounge with the perfect view of the bed, and watch to his heart’s content while Halsin had his beastly way with their darling little sorceress-bard.

It was simple. It was sure to be an enjoyable time for everyone involved, including Astarion — especially Astarion, even, since he could savour the decadent situation without having to actually do anything. But if it was so simple, then why in the hells was he so damned nervous?

All right, fine, he knew why he was nervous. The experience of actually feeling lust was still novel to him, he was still growing accustomed to the tenderness of Brynn’s hands on his body and of wanting her hands on his body, blah blah blah and so on. But still, the point remained that he didn’t want to be nervous about this. He had asked for this, after all. This debaucherous little ménage-à-trois situation was happening because Astarion had told Brynn he wanted it, and he meant it. So if he wanted this, if he wanted to watch her getting railed within an inch of her life by her enormous druid of a lover, then why couldn’t he just want it without being nervous?

Brynn gently took his hand.

He tensed by instinct, then smiled at her and squeezed her hand. “Excited, darling?”

Her eyes widened innocently. “Who, me? No, I’m deadly bored. I’m just following you so I can take a nap.”

Halsin chuckled. “Perhaps Astarion and I can devise a way to wake you up.”

Brynn shot him a brilliant smile, and Astarion smirked as he opened the door to the private suite where he and Brynn had spent last night together. He stood back and gestured at the room with a flourish. “Ladies first.”

She batted her eyelashes playfully as she sidled past him. “Thank you, my fine sir.”

He gave her a mockingly-polite half-bow, then turned to Halsin. “Cave bears last,” he said, and he followed Brynn inside.

“Fair enough,” Halsin said affably. He closed the door behind them, then seated himself on the canopy bed.

Brynn, on the other hand, went straight to the little balcony. “It’s a bit stuffy in here, don’t you think? I’ll just let in some fresh air.” She opened the balcony doors, then shot Halsin a rueful smile. “Not that city air is the world’s best example of ‘fresh air’, I know, but it’s better than nothing. Better than a hole in the head, at the very least!”

Halsin’s eyebrows rose. “A hole in the head…?”

“Have you never heard that expression?” she said brightly. “Ha, maybe it’s a regional thing. Or a recent thing. Not to say that you’re not up-and-up on recent slang or anything!” she added hurriedly. “Oh gods, now I’ve gone and made you sound like you’re ancient.”

Astarion grinned. “He is ancient, Brynn. Very tactful of you to point it out.”

Halsin smirked, and Brynn’s eyebrows rose with dismay. “No, no, I didn’t mean to — I mean, I know how old you are, obviously. But I didn’t mean to make it sound like you’re old, even though you are old… Oh my gods.” She covered her face with her hands.

Astarion cackled at her adorable discomfiture. It was somehow reassuring to be reminded that he wasn’t the only nervous one here.

Halsin was chuckling now, too. “Come, my love. Come here to me.” He patted his thigh.

She sheepishly padded over to him and sat on his lap, and he ran his palm along her back. “Astarion isn’t wrong. I am ancient, by the standards of many races.”

She groaned and patted her darkening cheeks. “I know, but I didn’t mean to make a thing about your age. I — it doesn’t matter how old you are. Or how old you are, mister eternally-young,” she added pointedly to Astarion. “I’m just — ugh. I’m being a fool.”

“Yes, you are,” Astarion said fondly. “It’s very sweet.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “It’s not my fault! You two are making my brain melt.”

He scoffed in amusement. “If you’re already being this flustery, we’re going to have to use that chaise-lounge as a fainting couch. Or sedate you with a glass or wine or two so you’ll stop being so nervy.”

Brynn laughed brightly. “Gods, maybe you’re right. I should grab a glass of wine. A little tipple to mellow me right out.”

Astarion chuckled, but Halsin shook his head. “In all seriousness, I would request that you don’t. It is important to me that we all be fully present in this moment. Only then can we truly savour the full bounty that all of us are bringing to this room.”

Astarion couldn’t help but laugh. “Gods, Halsin. That’s incredibly saccharine of you.”

“In a good way, or a bad one?” he asked.

Astarion gave him a knowing look. “In a ‘don’t pretend you haven’t ever had sex while off your face’ way.”

“I have made love while enjoying the enhancing effects of various herbs and elixirs, yes,” Halsin said seriously. “But I would counsel against such influences this first time that we three are together. It is only with full clarity of mind that we can be certain that we are all in agreement about anything and everything that happens here tonight.”

Brynn shrugged. “Makes sense to me. Are you okay with that, kitten?”

“Please,” Astarion scoffed. “As though I was going to drink wine or any other living-people slop anyway.” Truth be told, though, he was feeling a little weird now — a little bit as though he was being put on the spot, somehow, and he didn’t like it. Especially since the point of this whole tryst was for Astarion to be comfortably out of the spotlight while Brynn and Halsin had their fun. And he was feeling a little bit… odd about Halsin’s insistence that they all be sober for this. He’d largely been joking about Brynn having a couple of drinks, but now that Halsin had made that remark about ‘clarity of mind’, Astarion was reminded of how alcohol was one of his go-to tools when seducing Cazador’s victims. Not that be needed to ply his victims with booze — he was plenty capable of luring them in with his charm and his body alone — but the booze had certainly made the process easier and faster. There was a sweet spot of drunkenness that Astarion always aimed for with his marks: get them drunk enough to be easily convinced into coming home with him, but not so drunk that it made the sex take longer to get over and done with.

In the past, the alcohol was a tool: a way to simplify the task of seducing Cazador’s victims into his trap. But he hadn’t meant it that way with Brynn, not really. He really had just meant it as a joke, but… But now, with Halsin’s words about being fully present, and in full agreement with tonight’s activities…

Gods be damned, he was nervous. He folded his arms and idly inspected his nails, then gave Halsin and Brynn a sly smile. “So? When are the pair of you going to start stripping?”

Halsin’s expression softened in that annoying tummy-flipping way, and Brynn smiled. “Maybe when you get comfortable. Or are you just going to stand there in the middle of the room?”

Astarion tsked, then sauntered over to the chaise-lounge and flopped down on it. “All right. Now get naked,” he said, and he waved imperiously at them both.

Brynn chuckled, then rose from Halsin’s lap and padded over to the chaise-lounge, and Astarion smiled at her despite the tight-nervous-twisting in his gut. “Oh, right. I did say I was going to start you off, didn’t I?” He shifted over a little so she could sit on the chaise-lounge with him.

To his surprise, though, she didn’t join him; she sat on the floor next to the chaise-lounge and stroked his forearm. We don’t have to do this, Astarion, she said through their tadpoles. I don’t want to do anything you’re uncertain about.

It’s not— He broke off and frowned out at the balcony for a moment, then met her eye once more. I’m not uncertain. I want this, Brynn. I’m just… Ugh. He gave her a dirty look. This is your fault, you know.

Her eyebrows rose. Me?

Yes, you, he said resentfully. Being all nice and asking how I’m feeling, and — ugh. This would be much easier if you hadn’t made me think about it last night.

She smiled: a smile that was both humorous and soft. Well, I’m not going to apologize for that. I made myself think about it too, after all. She tapped his forearm. Don’t forget, I’m nervous too.

He smirked. As though I could forget. You’re dithering like a delicious little virgin maiden.

She grinned and smacked his leg. Shut the fuck up, you.

He snickered. Then Halsin spoke from the bed in his deep, calm voice. “Forgive me if I’m interrupting. But I want to assure you both that there is no obligation to make love tonight. We can draw succor from each other’s company, even if tonight’s company remains chaste.”

Of course Halsin would say the same kind of sickly-sweet-considerate thing that Brynn was saying. Astarion shot him a wry look. “So what would you propose we do tonight instead, if things stay boring and chaste? We just sit here in this room gawping at each other?” He playfully tapped his chin. “I suppose that would still be a treat for the two of you, since I’m here. And staring at my perfect self might be all the titillation that Brynn needs to get off, anyway.”

She burst out a laugh and poked his abs.

He flinched. “How dare you poke me!” He tugged one of her braids.

She yelped. “You—! Did you seriously just pull my hair? What are you, twelve years old?”

He grinned and reached for her braid again. She scoffed and swatted his hand away, and Halsin chuckled. “I think I shall find my entertainment for the night easily enough by supervising the pair of you.”

“Supervising? Excuse you,” Astarion protested. “We’re not children.”

“Of course not,” Halsin said mildly. “But your shared sense of mischief is endearingly childlike.”

“Nice try, my lovely bear,” Brynn said sweetly. “You enjoy a little mischief, too. You just don’t get the chance to let it out as often.”

Astarion gave Halsin a knowing look. “What she’s saying is that you’re too busy being wise and reasonable to have any fun.”

Brynn smacked his knee again. “That is not what I said! He knows perfectly well how to have fun.”

“How? Aside from having his way with you,” he said slyly. “And playing with the dog and the owlbear doesn’t count, either.”

She arched a brow. “Says the man who always plays fetch with Scratch every time he makes sad eyes at you, even though you say you’re not going to.”

“The damned dog won’t leave me alone unless I do!” he said defensively. “And then the owlbear gets involved, and the pair of them start kicking up a ruckus? Ugh, it’s extremely disruptive.”

“Uh-huh. Disruptive,” she drawled. “And that’s why you keep indulging them.”

“I’m not indulging them. I’m just making them be quiet. The only person I indulge is myself, as you know perfectly well.” He elegantly flicked back a lock of hair from his forehead.

She smirked at Halsin. “Somebody’s in denial about how much they love Scratch and Crunch.”

“That’s what I’m hearing, as well,” Halsin said warmly.

“Well then, you must be quite deaf,” Astarion said primly. “And besides, we weren’t talking about me. We were talking about you, and the fact that you don’t know how to have fun. But don’t worry,” he added. “We’ll bring you around.”

“I see,” Halsin said drolly. “Would you care to explain how you plan to bring me around, so to speak?”

“We’ll come up with a prank or a dare that you have to say yes to.”

Brynn gasped and clapped her hands. “Oh my gods. That’s actually a really fun idea.”

Astarion tsked. “‘Actually’, you say. As though I’ve never had a brilliant idea in my life.”

She tilted her head in a mocking way. “Well—”

He pinched her arm.

She burst out a little laugh and slapped his hand. “Don’t pinch, you brat!”

He giggled. Halsin, meanwhile, was rubbing his chin in thought. “Pranks or dares… Hm. I don’t believe I have an appetite for pranks, since the joke is always at someone’s expense. A dare, however? That is something I could do.”

Astarion smiled. “Careful, Halsin. You don’t even know what the dare is yet.”

Halsin quirked a brow: a mischievous expression that put a squiggle of heat into Astarion’s belly. “Whatever the dare, I am sure I can rise to the challenge.”

“Listen to you,” he said delightedly. “A man of such certainty. You’re sure you can meet my challenge, are you?”

“I am supremely certain, yes.”

“Interesting.” Astarion gave him an appraising look.

He tilted his head, and another funny wriggly-bloom of heat spread through Astarion’s abdomen. The cant of Halsin’s head, the look on his face: his whole demeanour exuded confidence and self-assuredness, and it was… weird. It was weird seeing Halsin looking this way. Halsin usually had an aura of benign harmlessness about him, and frankly, it could be rather boring at times. But that aura wasn’t what Astarion was seeing now.

Now, Halsin looked… not dangerous, but edgy, somehow. Not as though he was on edge, but just… not his usual cuddly self. The lifted angle of his chin, the smirk touching the corners of his lips, even the way his eyebrows were quirked: there was something about him, something about his posture and his face, that felt so not like the Halsin that Astarion knew. He looked confident — not just confident, actually, but cocky.

Ha, yes, that’s what this was: Halsin looked cocky. He seemed certain of himself in a way that would almost be intimidating if it wasn’t so… well, attractive.

Another flush of heat swam through his limbs. Halsin was looking really quite sexy, actually. And that could be very interesting in the context of a potential dare or challenge.

Astarion glanced at Brynn — gods, now look at her. Her cheeks were darkened with a flush, and her wide eyes were darting keenly from Astarion to Halsin, and her posture… Something about her posture brought his simmering excitement to a boiling point. She was on her knees, sitting on her heels with her hands innocently folded in her lap, but her spine was enticingly arched, and the way she was breathing shallowly through her lips…

Gods, she looked ready. And as Astarion studied Brynn’s eager posture and Halsin’s languorously confident one, he realized something wonderful: he was ready for a little fun, too.

Finally, he thought. Feeling supremely smug now, he propped his cheek on his fist. “All right, druid. I have a challenge for you, and you can’t say no, seeing as you’re so damned confident.”

“Let us hear it,” Halsin said.

Astarion treated him to a slow, sly, wicked smile. “I challenge you to keep that big thick cock of yours away from our sweet little sorceress-bard until I say so.”

Brynn pulled in a sharp breath, and Halsin’s eyes sparked with a flare of golden light before returning to their normal colour. “Fascinating,” he said, in an enviably calm voice. “I accept.”

Astarion grinned, and Brynn looked at them both in alarm. “Wait a minute! What about me? Don’t I get a say in this?”

“Of course,” Astarion said. “You could refuse to go along with our lovely challenge, and we could stick with Halsin’s idea of staring at each other all night instead.”

Halsin chuckled: a warm and knowing sound that seemed to pulse between Astarion’s legs. “That was your idea, if I recall.”

He smirked, and Brynn pouted. “Well, I don’t want that.”

“Good,” Astarion said smugly. “You’ll go along with our challenge, then?”

She shot him a resentful look, though her spine was still tellingly arched. “It doesn’t look like I have a— wait. Oh my gods.” Her face lit up with excitement, and she grabbed Astarion’s hand. “I have the best idea. Can I try and make Halsin fail the challenge?”

“Pardon me?” said Halsin.

Astarion burst out a laugh and patted her hand. “You know what, that’s a brilliant idea. I would adore if you tried to make him fail the challenge.”

Halsin scoffed and folded his arms. “I didn’t agree to that.”

“Oh dear,” Astarion mocked. “Staring at each other all night it is, then.”

Brynn turned to Halsin. “Please, Halsin? Can I try?”

He immediately softened, and Astarion cackled. “Oh, my dear bear-man. You’re dead in the water already.”

Halsin shot him a wry look, then sighed and turned his gaze back to Brynn. “Of course, my autumn heart. But don’t be disappointed when you fail to break my resolve.”

Her jaw dropped in delight, and she started laughing. “Halsin! You’re so cocky!”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Astarion exclaimed. “Let’s take him down a peg, darling. What do you say?”

“Oh, absolutely. Teamwork makes the dream work.” She held out her hand to shake.

He took her hand and gallantly kissed her knuckles, and Halsin harrumphed and unfolded his arms. “As you both wish, then. Before we get started, I would like to specify the terms of this challenge. Must I keep my trousers on?”

“Oh, by all means, remove them,” Astarion said with relish. He was certain that it would be even harder for Halsin to tolerate this challenge if his trousers were off, which suited Astarion perfectly well.

Halsin grunted in satisfaction. “And when you say to keep my cock away from Brynn, does that mean all of her body? Hands, lips, every inch of her skin?”

She pulled in a little breath and nibbled her lip, and Astarion smiled smugly. “Every precious, perfect inch. You’re not allowed to touch any part of her with your majestic staff. And you,” he added to Brynn, “you can’t touch his cock, either.”

“Can I go for his balls?” she said bluntly.

Halsin growled and shifted on the bed, and Astarion grinned. “Oh, I think you have to. Look at how randy he’s getting already.”

Halsin grunted again. “Your wickedness knows no bounds, Astarion.”

He tutted fondly. “Aw, that’s sweet of you to say. All right, Brynn, let’s get started. No time to waste.” He sat up straight on the chaise-lounge and crooked his finger at her. “Come closer.”

Her eyes widened with excitement, and she shifted closer to him until she was kneeling between his parted legs.

He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and smiled faintly at her. “Still nervous?” he said quietly.

She shook her head. “You?”

“Not in the slightest,” he said — and he meant it. He wasn’t at all nervous anymore, and he was bloody thrilled that he wasn’t. Whether it was the horniness that was driving his confidence or the comforting humour of their banter, Astarion couldn’t say, but this whole scenario was so tantalizing that all he felt now was excitement: a smug, warm sort of excitement that was thrumming through his whole body, including his swiftly-hardening cock.

A smile lit her face: a brilliant, excited smile that made something warm thump hard in his chest. “I love that. That’s — Astarion, I love that. But remember, if you change your mind—”

He tipped her chin up. “I’ll say ‘salad’. I know,” he murmured. “Now shut that lovely mouth of yours and kiss me.”

Her smile widened. “Do you want me to shut my mouth, or to kiss—”

He kissed her firmly to shut her up, sealing his lips over hers and dipping his tongue smoothly into her mouth.

She whimpered against his lips and tried to chase his tongue with hers, but he leaned slightly away from her to lure her closer, forcing her to arch toward him as she sought his lips. She was panting for breath already, little trembly gasps of breath that he captured on his lips with the softest little kisses to tease her. She gasped and whimpered ever-so-softly with every delicate brush of his lips to hers, and Astarion relished in the unabashed desire that infused her every move. She was leaning toward him as though she couldn’t get enough, spreading her knees wider with every little kiss as though the swelling of her eagerness was forcing her legs apart, and when Astarion cradled her neck in both hands, she actually shuddered and mewled against his parted lips. “Please…”

He kissed her one last time, then released her and stretched out comfortably on the chaise-lounge once more. “Stand up, Eilaena,” he said silkily. “And get undressed.”

“Agreed,” Halsin growled.

Brynn pulled in a deep breath, then rose to her feet and stepped into the middle of the room. She wet her lips and glanced at each of them, then let out a breathless little laugh and tugged her earrings. “Is it only me getting undressed now, or…?”

“Oh, I think so,” Astarion said. “Let’s make Halsin keep his on for a little longer.”

Halsin grunted. “You are wicked.”

Astarion grinned, and Brynn shot him a smile, but she was still tugging her earrings. “Okay. Well, here I go.” She blew out a breath, then reached for the hem of her sleeveless top and pulled it off in one smooth motion. She dropped the top and toed off her sandals, then started unbuckling her belt.

Astarion studied her with rising anticipation. Soon she would be naked, and then the real show would start, especially if Halsin felt as eager as he did — and Astarion suspected that he did, based on the intensity of his gaze as he watched Brynn undoing her belt and opening her breeches with trembling hands… wait, trembling hands? Why were her hands trembling?

He frowned, but before he could say anything, Halsin spoke. “Eilaena, come to me.”

She looked up in surprise, then padded over to Halsin, and he smoothed his palm from her shoulder down to her wrist. “Remember what I said, my heart. You are safe with Astarion and I.”

“I know,” she said, and she shot a glance at Astarion before turning back to Halsin. “I — I know, honestly. I’m just… Ha.” She tugged her earring again. “I’m… Both of you looking at me, it’s… it’s a lot.”

Astarion gave her a funny look. “I thought you wanted us to look at you.”

“I do!” she said. “I — honestly, I do. I just — I don’t know. It’s like I’m so excited that I’m scared of fucking something up, you know?”

Astarion wilted a little. “Brynn, you’re not going to fuck this up. It’s not possible.”

“But I’ve never done this before! What if I — I don’t know.” She started spinning her bangle around her wrist. “Maybe I’m just being stupid. I don’t know. But I…” She took a deep breath, then looked at them both. “I love you boys. I really — I fucking love the both of you. I just… I don’t want one of you to think I’m, like, neglecting you if I’m paying attention to the other one or something…?”

A squeezing feeling seized Astarion’s chest. This was what she was worried about? She was in the position to have one of her horniest dreams come true, and she was worrying that he or Halsin would think she was neglecting them?

He couldn’t help it. He snorted a laugh.

A smile broke across her face. “Seriously? You’re laughing at me right now?”

“You can’t blame me,” he snickered. “You’re just so damned saccharine. Can you stop worrying already and just get naked so Halsin can get his hands on you? I’m sure that once he gets that lovely wise tongue of his in all your sweetest places, you’ll stop being trapped inside your own foolish head.”

Brynn grinned at him, but Halsin spoke up before she could reply. “I agree with Astarion, though not in quite those words,” he said wryly. He gently brushed a lock of her hair back from her shoulder. “You make your love known every day, with every word and touch. You needn’t worry that your love for us isn’t felt. Put aside your concerns and root yourself here in this moment, with us.” He quirked a brow. “With your permission, perhaps I can think of a way to help root you here.”

“Gods yes, my permission’s all yours,” she said eagerly. “Anything you can do to get me out of my head would be fantastic, actually.”

He nodded and gently pulled her closer with one hand on her hip, then began unlacing the front of her bra.

“Finally,” Astarion said. “Someone here has the right idea.”

Halsin shot him a smile as he unfastened Brynn’s bra. When the laces were undone, he reached up and gently chucked her chin. “Turn to face Astarion, now. Take that garment off for him.”

He felt a hot, tight pulse between his legs. Halsin’s voice was gentle and low, but there was a subtle edge to it now, like a very slight roughness, and Astarion liked it.

Brynn clearly felt the same way; she straightened her spine at Halsin’s words, and when she turned to face Astarion, her cheeks were flushed dark once more.

He smiled faintly at her, and a cheeky smile lit her face in return. While keeping her eyes on his face, she shuffled off the straps of her bra and dropped it on the floor.

He swallowed hard. Her midnight-dark nipples were like little pearls, and Astarion watched, she drifted one hand down over her breast and brushed her thumb over her nipple.

He forced his gaze to her face — gods, the heat in her blood-red eyes. “Go on then, pet,” he purred. “Off with the rest.”

Another smile lit her face. She nibbled her lower lip and coyly dropped his gaze, then glanced at Halsin. “Can you help me take off the rest of my clothes?” she said.

“A request I shall never refuse,” Halsin said softly, and he unbuttoned her breeches.

Astarion smirked, but he didn’t bother to make a quippy remark; he was too busy enjoying the sight of Halsin’s large hands working the buttons of Brynn’s breeches. When the buttons were undone, Halsin rested his hands on her hips and looked her in the eye. “I’m going to push these down now,” he said to her. “And when I do, I want you to bend over for Astarion. Show yourself to him. Show him what I’m going to be possessing tonight.”

A hot thrill shot through his body. Halsin wasn’t even looking at him, but his words were clearly for Astarion’s benefit as well as Brynn’s — not that Brynn wasn’t enjoying his words, because she clearly was: she was nodding eagerly and gripping Halsin’s hands on her hips. “Okay,” she panted. “Push them off now.”

He chuckled softly. “Patience, lover. Remember, a little patience goes a long way.”

Astarion mustered his wits. “A fan of edging, are you?”

Halsin shot him a quick grin, but Brynn whimpered and pushed at his hands. “Halsin, please…”

“Easy now, Eilaena,” he crooned. “Breathe easy for me.” He slowly eased Brynn’s breeches and panties down over her hips.

She shoved them down the rest of the way and kicked them off — gods, yes, she was gloriously naked! — and Halsin huffed and smoothed his palm over her waist. “My impatient heart. Now show yourself to Astarion.”

She nodded and widened her stance a little, then shot Astarion a coquettish look over her shoulder. Then, slowly, she bent over.

He dragged in a sharp breath. Her spine was arched and her ass was on display, rounded and bare, and between her parted legs, a teasing glimpse of her cunt… Gods, look at her showing herself off, showing herself to him because Halsin had told her to! How exposed and beautifully bare she was… Fuck, his cock was throbbing. He was throbbing, he was throbbing for her, and the hot-urgent pulsing of this lust was… It wasn’t foreign to him, not anymore, not after the small but sensual steps he and Brynn were taking with each night they spent together. Even so, the sight of Brynn presenting herself to him in this explicitly come-hither way, like she was expecting something from him—

He forced himself to shut that thought down. Brynn wasn’t expecting a damned thing from him, and he knew it. He didn’t have to do anything he wasn’t ready for. He didn’t even have to take off a single scrap of clothing. All he had to do was lounge here on this chaise and look at her — gods, how beautiful she was, with her slate-dark skin and the curves of her ass and the tender backs of her thighs that he’d simply love to bite… Shit, his mouth was watering.

Halsin smoothed his palm over her hair. “Good,” he said, in that same low-and-slightly-rough voice that had Astarion’s blood thrumming. “Now come and sit here.” He shifted back on the bed, then patted the space between his legs.

She eagerly seated herself on the bed between his legs, and Astarion tsked. “Don’t you cheat now, Halsin. You’re not to rub against her while she’s sitting there.”

“I’m well aware,” Halsin grumbled. He lifted his hands and gently squeezed Brynn’s shoulders, then glided one hand over her shoulder to trace her collarbone.

She drew a sharp breath that Astarion felt as an echo between his legs. Halsin’s hand was on the move, his fingertips drifting along her collarbone and moving ever-closer to her throat… Yes, her throat, take hold of her throat. That was what he wanted, it was clearly what Brynn wanted too from the sharp in-and-out of her breathing—

Halsin curled his big hand around her throat, and she gasped and spread her legs — fuck, by the sweet hells, she was wet.

Astarion stared at her sex. The dusky-darkness of her folds were glistening already with lust, glistening with her readiness for Halsin’s fingers and tongue and cock, but she wouldn’t be getting Halsin’s cock until Astarion said so. And for some reason, some unfathomable but delicious reason, it excited him even more to know that this tryst was, for all intents and purposes, under his control. Well, not every part of it — he had no governance over what Halsin and Brynn did until Astarion permitted Halsin to give her his cock — but still, it thrilled him in a funny way for this one particular and precious sexual act to be under his control.

Halsin growled and buried his face in Brynn’s hair. “Eilaena, your scent…” He drew a deep breath, then pressed his lips to her ear. “You are more intoxicating than any food or drink,” he murmured, then pressed his lips to her neck in an open-mouthed kiss.

She mewled softly and wriggled her hips, spreading her legs even more as she did, and Halsin grunted and wrapped his other arm around her waist from behind. “Be still, my heart,” he panted. “Be still, I beg of you… Mm.” He trailed off with a growly little moan and resumed his hungry kissing of Brynn’s neck and shoulder, and his free hand began to roam over her skin.

Astarion watched them with his heart in his throat. He was transfixed by the sight of Halsin’s hands on Brynn’s body — those big vein-laced hands, tawny-brown and beautiful against Brynn’s slate-dark skin, and the size of his hands was even more emphasized by how small Brynn was against his brawn. His one hand encircled her throat in way that made her neck look even more vulnerable than usual, and his other hand was drifting over her body now in a slow caress, stroking the planes of her belly before gliding up to cradle the roundness of her petite breast, making her whine and grind her hips in a way that enhanced the pulsing in Astarion’s groin even more.

Halsin made a gorgeous growly-exhale sound and nipped Brynn’s neck, and Astarion managed to find his tongue. “Don’t you dare draw blood. That’s my trick.”

Halsin shot him a heated look — holy hells, his irises were glowing gold again. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Though I may leave another mark for you to target with your fangs.”

Brynn burst out a little moan and nodded her head, and Astarion chuckled. “Oh-ho, look at her. You’d better leave a mark, or I daresay our little Eilaena will be upset.”

Halsin hummed in amusement, then dropped his mouth to her neck and again and started suckling her skin, and she grabbed his wrist and wriggled her hips more insistently. “Mm, Halsin, please…”

He broke from her neck and pressed his lips to her ear. “Are you purposely taunting me?” he growled — gods, that voice, imagine how that would sound right in his ear!

“Taunting—?” Brynn stammered. “N-no, I—”

Astarion cut her off. “Of course she is. She’s trying to tempt you into failing our lovely challenge. Teamwork makes the dream work, remember.”

Her gaze snapped to him, and a shit-eating smile lit her face. “Yeah, that’s right, like Astarion said,” she said breathlessly, and she rolled her hips back in a very erotic circle.

Halsin dragged in a gasp, then let out the most deliciously ferocious growl and buried his mouth against her neck again, and she burst out a moan and started rocking her hips. “Halsin, please, please—”

He lifted his hand from her neck and clamped his hand over her mouth, then grabbed her thigh and spread her wide to keep her still, and a hard rush of excitement stopped Astarion’s breath. Halsin was suckling her neck with a hunger that felt very familiar, and he was manhandling her with his big hands, muffling her voice and holding her leg obscenely wide so she couldn’t move, and she obviously loved it. She was moaning into the confines of his hand and trying to rock her hips despite the enforced stillness of his grip on her thigh, and she was scraping her nails along her own thigh and pulling fruitlessly on Halsin’s wrist, and Astarion just sat there gaping at them, enthralled by the sight of them, of her, of Brynn — of Eilaena, their beautiful Eilaena, framed so perfectly by Halsin’s big body and his big hands holding her in place while she wriggled and moaned like a desperate little wanton.

Halsin lifted his mouth from her neck and pressed his lips to her ear. “What do you want, Eilaena?” he growled.

“Fuck me!” she burst out. “Fuck me, please!”

“No,” he said roughly. “I refuse to fail this challenge. Ask for something else.”

She burst out a pleading little whine and arched her spine, and Astarion waited breathlessly to hear her requests. What would she ask for, he wondered? Halsin’s fingers, maybe? Would she demand that he delve those thick fingers into the slickness of her pretty cunt? Or his tongue, perhaps, to devour the honey between her legs? What was she going to ask for, what delectable treat was he going to see next—?

She shoved Halsin’s hands away and stood up, then spun to face him. “Take your clothes off,” she panted. “I want you naked.”

Yes. Yes, that was perfect, that was — ha, it was obvious, and Astarion would have demanded it himself if he had any presence of mind.

Halsin smiled faintly, then rose to his feet and began stripping. His movements were confident and calm, as though he was stripping for nothing more exciting than a bath, but when his leather trousers went down — gods, his cock. The size of it, the jaunty way it sprung free of his trousers, hard and thick and framed by a curly thatch of cinnamon-auburn hair…

A hard swooping feeling squeezed deep within his body, like a weird combination of vertigo and pleasure, and an odd surreal feeling stole over him. The sight of Halsin’s cock, the excitement it spurred in him: it was different than the urge he got from looking at Brynn, like the ghost of a memory of something deep and good that Astarion hadn’t enjoyed in ages — oh, sweet bloody hells, Brynn was on her knees, she was kneeling in front of Halsin like a supplicant at a temple.

She glided her palms up his thighs, and Astarion straightened eagerly. Was she going to—? No, no, she couldn’t cheat the challenge, she wouldn’t dare. But gods, the thought of her taking Halsin into her sweet little bard’s mouth—

Halsin grabbed her hands and stepped back. “No, my love,” he said sharply. “I will not fail this challenge.”

“Sit down,” she said breathlessly, and she shuffled closer to him on her knees.

He sat heavily on the edge of the bed, and Brynn pushed his thighs apart and rubbed her face against his inner thigh.

He pulled in a sharp breath and rested his hand on her hair. “Mm, Eilaena…”

She sat forward a little on her heels as she nuzzled his thigh, and Astarion hungrily studied her naked back. The enticing dip at the base of her spine, the roundness of her ass: gods, she was perfect. And then there was the hard rise of Halsin’s cock and the tense longing in his face as he stroked her silvery hair…

She dragged her tongue along his inner thigh, and he hissed in a breath through his teeth and tightened his fingers in the hair at her nape. “Eilaena, I must insist—”

She stood up and pushed his chest. “Move back.”

He obediently shuffled back on the bed, and Brynn crawled onto the bed to join him — ooh, she was straddling his thigh. She was clutching his shoulders and settling herself over one of his mighty bare thighs… Ha, bear thighs, more like. Was she going to—?

She clasped Halsin’s neck in her palms and pressed her forehead to his, then started grinding on his thigh.

Astarion swallowed hard. Gods, the way she was moving, the fluid rocking motion of her hips as she rubbed herself against Halsin’s thigh… The very sight of her was making his cock throb with want.

She moaned as she rubbed against him, and Halsin sighed and smoothed his palm from her back down to her hip. “I am yours, Eilaena. Take what you need from me.”

She rolled her hips over his thigh. “What if I need your cock?” she whimpered.

He let out a rough little laugh. “Anything but that, beloved.” He curled his palm over her butt and tilted her hips to pull her more firmly against his thigh.

She mewled with pleasure, and Halsin sealed his lips over hers in a kiss. She gripped his neck and arched her spine, then started rubbing herself more urgently against his thigh, and they were kissing all the while, kissing with an urgency that made something yawn open within the depths of Astarion’s chest: something wide and wanting, something that wanted to rise from this chaise-lounge and crawl onto the bed with them, even as another part of his mind kept him frozen in place. He stared at them, breathless and paralyzed by the urgent pulse between his legs and the wide-open-empty-waiting feeling that Halsin and Brynn’s kiss was planting in his chest, his eyes fixed helplessly on the pair of them as she undulated against Halsin’s thigh and gripped his neck and took his tongue into her mouth…

She suddenly broke from his lips and looked at Astarion — directly at him, her bright-hot crimson eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made his heart stutter. “What do you want to see, Astarion?” she gasped.

He gaped stupidly at her for a second, thrown off by her attention. “E-er—?”

Her expression softened a little. “Is there anything you want me to do? Want us to do, I mean? Or should we just, um, keep going?”

He—? Want? He — what he wanted them to do? He just wanted to sit here and let it all wash over him like a perfectly hot bath. “Keep…” He swallowed hard. “Keep going, Brynn. Whatever you want.”

“Okay,” she panted. “I love you, okay?”

That warm-wide-yawning feeling swelled in his chest. “Of course you do, darling. Look at me.” He playfully flicked back a lock of hair.

She shot him a grin, that gamine grin he adored, then rolled her hips in an erotic circle on Halsin’s thigh and nuzzled his nose. “I love you too, my bear,” she breathed.

“I know, Brynn,” he murmured. “I love you, also.” He cradled her neck in his big palm and kissed her again.

She leaned into him and rested one palm on his abs as she rubbed herself against his thigh, their tongues gliding together hypnotically before Halsin sealed his lips over hers once more, and Astarion watched them hungrily. But there was a weird warm-achy-wistful feeling in his chest now. He liked the sight of Brynn grinding on Halsin’s thigh — gods, did he ever like it. But as he watched them kissing and panting and stroking each other’s skin, he found himself wondering more and more what it would be like a part of that, even as his idiot brain recoiled at the idea of that much overwhelming touch. But why did he have to balk at all? Why was it taking him so long to be ready for everything Brynn had to offer? Her unstinting love, her delicious lust, her saccharine words and her wanting — everything he was seeing tonight, everything that she offered to Astarion every day and everything that Halsin gave back to her so freely and easily: Astarion fucking wanted it, all of it, even as his balking body warned him to shy away.

He swallowed the lump that was swelling in his throat. He wanted what Halsin had, and it wasn’t fair. He wanted that same ease of being, the ability to just take what Brynn was giving and to give it back without any qualms, and he felt the envy swelling in his chest and his limbs, swelling and rising as hotly as the desire that their bare bodies invoked…

His mouth opened before he could think twice. “Halsin, lick her.”

Halsin broke from her kiss and looked at him. “Pardon?”

“Lick her,” he commanded. “Finger her. I want to see her sobbing with ecstasy. And don’t even think about using your cock yet.”

Brynn whimpered and nuzzled Halsin’s neck, and he smirked at Astarion. “Is this part of the challenge? Following your commands?”

“Yes, it is,” Astarion said, a little belligerently. “And why shouldn’t it be? You get to have your way with her, so I get to call the shots. It’s only fair.”

Brynn lifted her head and looked at him sharply. Are you okay? she tadpole-asked.

Damn, it was like she had a sixth sense for when he was feeling off. I’m perfectly fine, darling. I’m in a bossy mood, that’s all.

Her brow creased with worry, and he gave her a chiding look. “Don’t make that face at me,” he said out loud. “We talked about this. You knew I wanted to see him devouring you like a beehive.”

Halsin huffed in amusement, but Brynn still looked concerned. Astarion sighed and spoke to her through the tadpole again. I want this, Brynn. I want… He hesitated, then forced out the difficult words. I want to see him doing the things I… that I can’t do yet. Give me that. Please.

Her frown finally softened. Then Halsin spoke in a gentle voice. “If we must pause and take a moment, that is not a problem.”

Astarion gave Brynn an arch look. Well? Do we need to stop, or will you do what I want?

Finally, she nodded and turned back to Halsin. “We’re okay. No pause needed.”

“Actually,” Astarion cut in, “‘paws’ are needed. The big huge ursine kind, that is, and they’d better be all over Brynn’s body within the next five seconds.”

Her serious face finally broke into a grin. “Oh my gods. You did not just make a pun.”

He curled his lip. “Ugh, I know. I regret it already. Don’t tell Gale.”

“I’m absolutely going to tell Gale!” she crowed. “When he finds out that you made a pun of your own free will? He’s going to throw a party!”

“Don’t you dare tell him,” Astarion threatened.

“Or what? What’ll you do?” she teased.

“I’ll rescind my generous command for Halsin to go down on you,” he said swiftly. “And for good measure, I’ll make him tie you to the bed without any satisfaction.”

Her eyes widened with excitement — ooh, now that was intriguing. Halsin, meanwhile, was chuckling. “Cruel and unusual punishment, considering that you are the one who offended us first with the use of a pun.”

Brynn burst out laughing, and Astarion forced himself not to laugh as well and gave the pair of them an imperious look. “All right, that’s enough nonsense. Halsin, bring her over here.” He pointed at the floor between the bed and the chaise-lounge.

“Where, to the floor?” Brynn said.

“That’s right,” Astarion said. “I want to enjoy the show from a closer vantage point. It’s no fun watching things from afar.” This was true; he did want to get a more close-up view of the action, so to speak. But he also had a feeling that having Brynn and Halsin physically closer would make him feel less… removed from the closeness that they shared.

She was eyeing the slightly-faded carpet. “How clean do you think that is?”

He tutted. “Put down the duvet from the bed if that comforts you. Gods, you’re fussy.” He kicked off his shoes and tucked his feet up cozily on the chaise-lounge.

“Ha!” she exclaimed. “As if you should talk, mister magical-hair-serum complains-if-you-can’t-take-a-bath-every-day.”

He shrugged unrepentantly, and Halsin chuckled and smoothed his palm along Brynn’s back. “I have no qualms about the floor if you don’t.”

“Don’t be coy, Halsin,” Astarion teased. “We both know you prefer it on the floor like nature intended.”

“True,” he agreed. “If that floor consists of a tender bed of moss or grass.”

“Use your imagination and pretend the duvet is made of grass or moss, then. Now come on, you two, get on with it.” He snapped his fingers at them.

Halsin smirked at Brynn, then kissed her softly and patted her bum. “On your feet, my love.”

She slid off of his thigh. Halsin stood up as well, then pulled the duvet off of the bed and spread it on the floor.

He kneeled on the duvet and held his hand out to Brynn. “Come here to me.”

She sat on the duvet, and Astarion smiled to himself. This was much nicer: they were much closer now.

She leaned back on her palms and coyly pressed her knees together. “Okay, I’m here. Now what?”

Her tone was innocent, but her smile was cheeky, and Astarion scoffed and rested his cheek on his fist. “All right, Halsin, you’re up. Get that smug look off of her beautiful face.”

“As you say,” Halsin said. He rested his palms on Brynn’s knees, then carefully pushed her legs apart — holy hells, a thread of lust was stringing between her inner thighs.

Halsin’s smile fell into a look of blank-faced awe, almost like he’d been struck in the face, and Astarion would have laughed if he wasn’t feeling quite the same way. Brynn’s sex was so slick, her inner thighs glistening from rubbing herself against Halsin’s mighty thigh—

Halsin abruptly pushed her shoulders.

Astarion pulled in a breath of surprise at his sudden roughness. He was forcing Brynn onto her back and shifting closer so her thighs were splayed wide on either side of his knees, and she was gasping now, her hands scrabbling at his forearms as he pushed her down — ooh, he was grabbing her hands, he was holding her down on the duvet by her wrists, and his cock was — oh my good gods, his cock was dripping with desire.

A gut-deep clench of want stole Astarion’s breath. Halsin’s cock, that drop of salt escaping the tip, how fucking wet Brynn was, and the way she was mewling now and lifting her hips — no, not just lifting her hips, but thrusting toward Halsin as though he was already fucking her.

“Please,” she burst out. “Halsin, please, please!”

He growled — an actual, bearlike growl — then ducked his head down and dragged his tongue over her breast, and she burst out another cry and arched her back. “Please! More, please, I want more—”

He nuzzled her breast, then took her nipple into his mouth, and she strained against his grip and clenched her fists like she was trying to wrest her arms from his grip. Totally futile, obviously, since Halsin was gods-damned enormous, but it made for an enticing sight, especially with the way Brynn’s face was twisted with desperation. This whole scene was incredibly enticing, actually: Brynn writhing and thrusting her hips, Halsin suckling at her nipple as though he was a starving man, his lovely thick staff with that sweet little drop of pre-cum decorating the tip, the flexing of his muscular ass as he pumped his hips in Brynn’s direction… Hang on, pumping his hips? He shouldn’t be doing that, his cock was almost touching her!

Astarion peeled his tongue away from the roof of his mouth. “Watch yourself, druid. Keep that cock away from her—”

He lifted his head. “I’m aware,” he snarled. “I will not lose.”

His eyes were lambent like a bonfire, and Astarion gaped stupidly at him. The feral curl of his lip, the sheer power blazing in his eyes — gods, how had he not realized before just how sexy Halsin was?

Brynn suddenly pulled her wrist from his grip and reached for his face. “Halsin, please,” she begged. “Please touch me, I—”

He grabbed her hand and kissed her hard, cutting off her pleading words. Then she was flat on her back again, Halsin’s fingers interlaced with hers as he kissed her and thrust his hips while keeping his cock carefully away from her, and Astarion found his gaze drawn to that big lovely cock… Fuck, the vein that ran the length of it, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

He wet his lips. “Eilaena, do something for me,” he rasped. “Lick Halsin’s cock. Just one lick.”

Halsin lifted his head and looked at Astarion. “Lick—? But the challenge—”

“Just one lick,” Astarion said. He arched a brow. “You’re dripping, bear-man. Or didn’t you notice?”

He looked down at his cock, and Brynn clenched her fingers and twisted her hips. “Halsin, can I? I want to lick your cock, I want to — let me up! Can you let me up? Please—”

He released her hands. A split-second later, she was on her knees and pushing his shoulders. “Let me,” she panted. “Let me, I — I want to…” She dropped to her elbows and reached for his cock.

“Don’t touch him,” Astarion snapped. “Just a lick. Just one. So you’d better make it a good one.”

Halsin shuddered and rubbed the back of his neck, then gave Brynn an oddly pleading look. “Brynn, I… I may lose the run of myself. If I—”

“I’ll help you back,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll talk you back to your elf-shape. Become your bear if you need to. I’ll talk you back.” She looked at Astarion. “That’s okay, right? If he has to turn into a bear for a second?”

“Of course,” Astarion said absently. That beautiful thread of pre-cum was trickling its way down Halsin’s length now, and he wondered what it tasted like. Sweet, probably, since the druid had a sweet tooth, and maybe a little raw like the musk of his sweat…? Wait. Was he really speculating about what Halsin tasted like? He hadn’t cared about the taste of another man’s come in ages. This really was a night for firsts, it seemed.

Brynn stroked Halsin’s face. “It’s all right, my bear,” she panted. “You’re all right.” She kissed him, then kissed his neck and his collarbone and his chest, frantic little kisses as though she was trying to get her lips on every part of his body at once, and when he spread his knees, she dropped to her elbows and knees in front of him once more.

He exhaled slowly and stroked her hair. “Slowly, lover,” he said huskily. “Take your time.”

“But I’m starving,” she said plaintively, and she dragged her tongue over the head of his cock.

He gasped, and Astarion’s cock jerked as though he was the one she was licking. Then Halsin was gripping the nape of her neck, his other hand was on her jaw and forcing her upright so she was kneeling again, and he was kissing her ravenously, he was pulling her hair to force her head back and growling as he suckled her throat, she was mewling and scratching his arms and his abs, and Astarion couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe, but he didn’t need to breathe and he didn’t need to blink if it meant he’d miss seeing a single moment of Halsin losing his damned mind while licking and kissing Brynn’s skin, her neck, her sternum, his mouth on her breast—

He suddenly grabbed her and swept her knees out from under her, and she yelped in surprise. Then she was flat on her back again, and he was growling and rubbing his face against her breast and dragging his tongue over her belly, growling like a literal fucking bear, and Astarion felt like something equally wild was roiling and rearing its head in his chest. He watched with a feral sort of excitement as Halsin licked and nipped her skin and held her flat on her back with one hand in the middle of her chest — no, not the middle of her chest, but her belly now as he shuffled down between her splayed-open legs…

He rubbed his cheek on her belly, then let out a snarling sigh and nuzzled her pubic hair, spurring her to gasp and flex her hips, and then he was kissing her sex — yes, fuck yes, Halsin was kissing her sex, he was going to make her come, that was what Astarion really wanted to see!

Halsin shuddered and snarled, then exploded into his bear shape.

Astarion flinched in shock, then burst out a laugh. Hells, that really did just happen, didn’t it? How droll!

Brynn sat upright and reached for Halsin. “Hey,” she crooned, and she rubbed his furry ear. “Halsin, look at me—”

He made a lowing sound and butted her hand away with his head, then dipped his muzzle down and started laving her cunt with his ursine tongue.

“Fuck! Fu— mm!” She gasped with pleasure and spread her legs, then reached down and rested her hand on his enormous furry head. “W-wait, wait. Not like this, not this time, okay?”

Halsin growled and buried his muzzle in her sex, then lifted his head and made a more insistent lowing sound, and Brynn shook her head and scratched his jowls. “Next time, maybe, if Astarion says it’s okay,” she said shakily. “Or next time it’s just you and me. You can lick me as a bear whenever you want when we’re alone, okay? I promise.”

Halsin growled, then bowed his head. His fur rippled as though a sudden breeze had filled the room, and a moment later, he was an elf once more.

Astarion burst into applause. “Nicely done. Now if you wouldn’t mind getting back to licking her…?”

“Yes,” Halsin snarled. He shifted down between Brynn’s legs, then roughly shoved her thighs apart and started licking her inner thighs.

She moaned and gripped the duvet. “Halsin, please, don’t tease me…”

He lifted his head. “Patience, beloved,” he said roughly. “Do not force me to rush this feast.” He trailed his tongue along her inner thighs, carefully lapping up the slickness there as though it was the freshest honey.

Brynn twisted her hips toward him and reached down to pet his knuckles. “H-Halsin—”

He growled and tightened his grip on her thighs. Then he drew his tongue in a long, firm lick along the length of her cleft and sealed his lips over her clit.

She shuddered and arched her spine. “Yes! Fuck — mm, yes!” She gasped and twisted her fist in the duvet, and Astarion stared at her in awe. She was thrusting her hips slowly as though to make love to Halsin’s mouth, her belly rising and falling in an undulating wave thanks to the slow bump-and-grind of her hips, and it was incredible to watch. How wanton she was, how uninhibited she was in her enjoyment of Halsin’s mouth and tongue… And speaking of that mouth and tongue, Halsin was clearly doing wonders with them. He was caressing Brynn’s folds with his lips, kissing her cunt slowly and carefully before tracing his tongue around the swollen bud of her clit, tailoring the pressure and movements of his mouth to the way Brynn was rocking toward him, and when her thighs started trembling a mere minute later, Astarion wasn’t even surprised. Halsin was clearly a master at the art of ‘southern dining’, so to speak, and as Astarion watched him kissing Brynn’s cunt, he found himself wondering how Halsin’s technique compared when he was feasting on a cock instead… Ooh, he was using his fingers now too, petting Brynn’s plump folds with his fingers before spreading her wide to gently suckle her clit — ha, she liked that. She was gasping for breath and clawing at her own chest now, her other hand tightly fisted in the duvet, and when she stopped breathing altogether, Astarion smiled wickedly.

“There she is,” he purred. “Come for us now, there’s a good girl.”

Halsin growled and suckled her clit, and her face twisted with desperation. “Fu— mm — y-yes!” She burst out a cry and shuddered, and then she was mewling and fucking Halsin’s mouth — well, she was trying to fuck his mouth, but his big hands were gripping her thighs and pressing her down on the duvet, and she was writhing and clawing her own belly and moaning in a gorgeously musical way as she peaked under Halsin’s mouth… Fuck, what must it be like to feel her writhing against his mouth in that way, smearing her lust all over his lips and chin in her eagerness, making his own eagerness rise higher and harder like it was right now, making his cock feel almost uncomfortably hard and full… What must that feel like? Would Astarion know someday how it felt to have Brynn coming apart like that under his mouth — someday soon, maybe, if his mind and body could just bloody well get in line with each other?

Halsin lifted his mouth from her sex and wiped his face carefully on her belly, then stretched out over her and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Sweeter than any honey I have ever tasted,” he murmured, and he kissed her on the lips.

She clasped his face in her hands and rubbed her calves against his hips. Then she was rolling her hips in an obvious mimicry of sex, rubbing her feet on Halsin’s calves and trying to hook her legs around his waist, and he broke from her kiss and exhaled hard. “I can’t,” he breathed. “I can’t, Eilaena. Not until Astarion permits us.” He looked askance at Astarion.

Astarion blinked stupidly at him. Oh shit, he had to answer, didn’t he? He scrambled to find his wits. “Nice try, bear-man, but no. I told you that I want her sobbing with pleasure. Do you see any tears?”

Halsin’s expression became wry, and Brynn whimpered and gave him a pleading look. “Astarion, please…”

He tsked. “Now now, my sweet, I’m not the one you should be begging. You’re supposed to be making him lose his resolve, remember? You need to try harder. Lure the druid into fucking you. We’re supposed to be a team here.”

Her pleading expression curled into a mischievous smile, and Halsin grunted. “The pair of you are truly wicked.”

“You love it,” Astarion said smugly. “Go on, Eilaena, coax him into losing himself.”

She sat up and shifted onto her knees, then shifted close to Halsin and cradled his face in her hands. “You’re okay with this, right?”

His eyebrows rose. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I — nothing, I suppose,” she said breathlessly. “I just, um, wanted to make sure that we’re not reminding you of Menzoberranzan. Of that matron bitch and her husband, I mean. With us, like, teaming up against you…?”

Oh. Astarion hadn’t even thought of that. “Gods, Brynn, that’s not what we’re doing at all,” he protested. “It’s not like he’s in chains. He could leave the room whenever he wants. Though I’d bet a tidy sum of coin that he wouldn’t dare,” he added slyly.

Halsin smirked at him, then turned back to a worried-looking Brynn and stroked her arms. “I am not reminded of Menzoberranzan, Eilaena. I promise.”

She exhaled and nodded. “Okay, good. Well, in that case…” Her expression became coy. She shifted away from him a little, then spread her knees wide and leaned forward a little so her hands were flat on her duvet — a pose that pressed her breasts together in a very nice way.

Astarion smirked and rested his cheek on his fist again. “Oh, this will be good. I can feel it.”

She shot him a grin, then tilted her head and gave Halsin a sultry glance. “Are you sure you don’t want to fuck me?” she said.

Astarion’s cock pulsed. Her posture and her wide-eyed expression were sensual and guileless at the same time, like she was veiling her wanton nature with a thin veneer of innocence, and something about her sweet-but-sexual manner was making him really want to bite her.

Halsin seemed to agree; his eyes were starting to glow again, and the angle of his shoulders was shifting in a subtle way that distinctly reminded Astarion of a bear. “I am certain,” he said.

She pouted prettily and trailed her fingers over the swell of her breast, then turned around so her back was facing them — holy gods-damned hells, her lust was stringing between her thighs again.

Halsin growled — he had clearly seen her dripping desire too — and Brynn shot him a wide-eyed ‘innocent’ look over her shoulder. “You’re sure you don’t want to fuck?” she said, and she arched her spine and wiggled her hips.

Halsin’s eyes flared with light. “You test my patience, Eilaena,” he said in a low-growly voice. “But the answer is no.”

“Please, Halsin?” she said — and she leaned forward and pressed her cheek to the duvet, lifting her ass in the air in the process.

Halsin pulled in a sharp breath, and Astarion shifted restlessly on the chaise-lounge. That beautiful rounded ass, the plump midnight-dark folds of her cunt and the crystalline thread of lust stringing between her thighs… Gods, fuck, it was trickling down the inside of her thigh.

Halsin growled and leaned forward so he was on his hands and knees, and Brynn slowly rolled her hips back toward them. “Are you really sure you don’t want to fuck me?” she breathed, and she moved her hand — oh, her hand was moving down, down between her legs, hells yes...

She petted herself with two fingers, then let out a little sigh-moan and started flexing her hips against her own fingers. “This could be you, my lovely bear,” she panted. “It could be your cock pressing against my pussy right now.”

Astarion let out a shaky breath. Gods be damned, his trousers were tight. Imagine shedding them and setting himself free, settling himself behind Brynn and taking that sweet pussy for himself… Please, he wanted it, he wanted her, he wanted to want her without the shaky little hint of reluctance pulling at his belly like a loose thread—

Halsin bloomed into his bear shape again and crawled over her.

She gasped and nodded. “Yes! Yes, yes, fuck me, fuck me—”

“Not as a bear,” Astarion blurted. “If you’re going to fail, do it as an elf. Don’t blame your beast for this.”

Halsin bristled and growled, then nipped Brynn’s shoulder and licked her, and she mewled and reached over her shoulder to sink her fingers into his fur. “Next time,” she whimpered. “Next time, I promise. You can hunt me down and bearfuck me next time, I promise.”

He grumbled and laved her back with his tongue, then shifted back into an elf and sat back on his heels with a gasp. “Forgive me,” he snarled. He ran a shaking hand over his hair, then turned to Astarion. “When the blood runs this hot, I… Forgive me, please.”

His eyes were bright gold and blazing like the sun, and Astarion could swear that his heart was fluttering at the sight. “Nothing to forgive, my friend,” he said. “Now back off and keep that cock of yours away from her unless you want to fail.”

Halsin’s face hardened with ferocity, but he shifted away from Brynn — gods, the man really was a paragon of discipline to an insane degree.

Brynn whimpered and rolled her hips. “Halsin, come back! Come back, come here, fuck me, please…”

They both looked at her — oh gods, she was stroking herself with her fingers, and her slickness was starting to drip onto the duvet.

Astarion gaped stupidly at her, but Halsin growled and rested one hand on her ass, and she jolted and cried out. “Please! Please touch me, please touch — fuck me, I want you, I want you!”

“I know, my autumn heart,” he said. “I know you do.” He swept his fingers up along her inner thigh.

She trembled and moaned, and Astarion waited breathlessly for Halsin to start petting her cunt, but the druid surprised him: instead of petting her, he brought his hand to his mouth and sucked her slickness from his fingers.

Astarion gaped at him. Halsin’s lips closing around his fingers, suckling them slowly but firmly — holy fucking hells, Halsin’s glowing eyes were fixed on his face.

Astarion couldn’t breathe. His heart was hammering between his legs, and his breath was trapped in his throat, and Halsin was staring at him, staring at him with those powerful golden eyes while he sucked his own fingers in a slow and extremely suggestive way…

Halsin slowly pulled his fingers from between his lips, and Astarion forced himself to take a breath. “Well,” he said jauntily. “That’s, um…” Fuck, he couldn’t think. Halsin was smiling faintly, a smile that was both tender and knowing at the same time, and that smile reminded him of Brynn and how she looked at him when they were twined together in bed, and he couldn’t… He couldn’t think. He couldn’t fucking think. He felt raw, somehow, as though he’d been stripped bare by the sensuality of Halsin’s fingers in his mouth, and he couldn’t fucking think.

He gulped in a breath, then looked helplessly at Brynn, and his heart jammed itself into his throat. She was watching them over her shoulder with a look of stunned delight, and when he met her eye, a brilliant smile lit her face.

Suddenly, inexplicably, he wanted her close. He wanted her close, he wanted the comfort of her closeness and her sorceress’s hands, and he wanted it now. “Come here,” he begged, and he sat up and reached for her.

Her expression softened in a way that stung his eyes, and she crawled over to the chaise-lounge. “Are you okay?”

He took her hand and placed it on his face, and she immediately stroked his cheek and ran her fingers through his hair — yes, her hands in his hair, both of them, her familiar and comforting fingers scratching lightly at his scalp, this was what he needed.

He exhaled shakily, and she rose up on her knees and pressed her forehead to his as she petted his hair. Hey, hey. Are you okay? What’s wrong?

Nothing, he said. Nothing’s wrong. It’s… He trailed off. Nothing was wrong — he truly meant it when he said nothing was wrong — but he was just… discombobulated. Halsin’s face, the way Halsin looked at him sometimes in that tender Brynn-like way, the way he sucked his own fingers in a way that made Astarion shiver with desire…

Oh gods, oh shit: he was lusting for Halsin.

He swallowed hard. He somehow hadn’t expected this, which was probably an abysmally stupid failure of imagination on his part, but he hadn’t expected to want Halsin as part of this whole ménage-à-trois adventure. Gods, how stupid was he? Here he was, traipsing into this tryst thinking that all he wanted was to see Brynn getting her rocks off with a good-looking man. And instead, he was… Fuck, he was aching, aching with a desire that made him feel both hollow and overwhelmingly full at the same time — a desire that was focused not only on Brynn, but on the damned goody-two-shoes druid, as well.

She stroked his cheek and his hair. What is it, Astarion? Do you want to stop?

“No,” he blurted — shit, he’d said that out loud.

Halsin shifted closer to the chaise-lounge. “Is everything all right?”

He gulped in another breath, then lifted his head and gently pulled Brynn’s hands away from his hair. “Everything’s perfect,” he said cheerfully. “Don’t you go losing that erection of yours, now.” He dropped his gaze to Halsin’s cock, which was still rock-hard.

Halsin huffed. “There’s no need to concern yourself about that.”

He smirked, then turned back to Brynn, who was watching him with a serious look on her face. I’m fine, I swear, he told her via the tadpoles. We’ll talk about it later. But I want to continue with this.

She inspected his face for another second, then nodded. Okay. If you’re sure—

He tipped her chin up, and she broke off with a little catch of breath. “Oh, hello—”

He dipped his head down and grazed her neck with his teeth: the same side of her neck that Halsin had been suckling earlier.

She gasped and clasped the back of his neck to pull him closer, and he pressed the tips of his fangs into her skin — argh, no, he shouldn’t. He couldn’t, not if he didn’t have the time to stop the bleeding after he took a sip.

He hungrily licked her neck, then forced himself to lift his head, and she whimpered and shook her head. “No, don’t — it’s okay, you can bite me—”

He gripped her chin and looked her in the eye. “I’ll have my thirsty way with you when Halsin is finished,” he purred. “How does that sound?”

She gulped and nodded eagerly, and he admired her bright crimson eyes for a moment before releasing her. “Good girl. Now let’s make this bear go feral already. Halsin, lie back.”

Halsin arched a brow, but he did as he was told and stretched out on his back, and Brynn looked at Astarion in unabashed excitement. “Do I get to ride him now?”

Halsin grunted in approval, but Astarion gave her a chiding look. “No, you lovely fool — well, yes, in a manner of speaking. You’re going to ride his face.”

She beamed at him, and Halsin grumbled and reached for her. “Yes, good. Come, Eilaena, let me devour you.”

She swiftly crawled over to him and started straddling his head, but Astarion held up a hand. “Ah-ah,” he said. “Face the other way. Face me, I should say.”

Halsin let out a delightfully growly breath. “Yes, face Astarion,” he urged. “Let me see you from behind.”

“Okay,” she said shakily. “Okay, let me…” She shifted around on the duvet so she was straddling Halsin’s face with her hands braced on his chest, then looked at Astarion. “Is this—”

Halsin wrapped his arms over her thighs and pulled her to his mouth.

She burst out a cry and clenched her nails on his chest. “Yes! Oh my gods—”

He lifted his hips, and Astarion’s gaze dropped to Halsin’s cock — hells, the man was dripping again? How perfectly obscene. He admired the instinctive flexing of Halsin’s hips for a moment, then turned his eager gaze to Brynn — oh, sweet and beautiful Brynn, she was already whimpering and rubbing herself on Halsin’s tongue.

“Good girl,” Astarion breathed. “Get your pleasure from the bear-man. He’s yours, remember? He told you so himself.”

Halsin growled in agreement and ran one palm along her back before gripping her thigh again, and she nodded and mewled ecstatically as she rode his face. “Halsin, I’m really… Fuck, I really want to fuck you when I come!”

Halsin made a moaning-growling noise and lifted his hips, and Astarion smiled, even as he continued to stare at the fluid wavelike motion of her body as she fucked Halsin’s tongue. “That’s a shame, Eilaena. Halsin’s just too proud to give you what you need.”

Halsin lowered his head to the duvet. “Perhaps I can goad her into getting me what I need,” he growled.

Astarion grinned. “What does that mean?”

Instead of replying, Halsin spanked Brynn’s ass.

She jerked and gasped, then let out a mewling cry and twisted her hips, and Astarion burst out a little laugh. “Oh, you dirty minx. Of course you like being spanked—”

Halsin spanked her again, and she cried out and scraped her nails along his abs. “Please! Please, Halsin, lick me, please—”

He spanked her again, then smoothed his palm over her bottom before dipping his fingers inside of her, and her face twisted with desperation. “Please! Please, please — Halsin, please!”

“Not yet, my heart,” he breathed. “You aren’t ready yet.”

“I am ready!” she cried. “I’m ready, I’m ready — I fucking want you, I’m empty without you, please!”

“I am sorry, Eilaena,” Halsin said, “but that isn’t in my power to fix. It’s Astarion’s fault.”

Astarion forced his gaze from Brynn’s desperate face to Halsin’s smug one. “Oh. Oh-ho,” he said, and he started to laugh. “You clever bastard. I see what you’re trying to do.”

Halsin chuckled, and Brynn moaned and bucked her hips back. “Stop laughing! Both of you, stop laughing, it’s not funny—”

Halsin spanked her again. “Be still, my love. I’ll lick you when you’re ready.”

“No!” she whined. “I want it now, I want you now, right now—”

He spanked her again, a harder strike that made Astarion’s gut jump with excitement, and Brynn burst out a sob. “Please!” she cried. She dropped her chest to Halsin’s belly and rubbed her cheek on his abs. “Please, please, fuck me, lick me, I need—”

He hooked his arms over her thighs again and dragged her back to his mouth, and she gasped and started thrusting her ass back toward his tongue. “Yes! Yes, y-yes, you — gods, your fucking tongue…!”

He grumbled into her sex, but a few seconds later, he lowered his head to the floor again and smoothed his palm over her butt.

She sobbed and shook her head. “No!” she whined. “It’s not fair, it’s not f-fair…” A tear ran down her cheek.

Astarion tsked and folded his arms. “Gods be damned.”

“Is she crying?” Halsin said breathlessly.

Astarion rolled his eyes. “Yes. And you haven’t even made her come yet.”

“Shut up!” Brynn blurted. “Shut up, shut up — Halsin, please, please, I can’t live like this, I—” She broke off with a hiccup and scratched his thigh.

He hissed in a breath through his teeth. “Don’t scratch, beloved,” he said, and he spanked her.

“Please!” she cried, and she scratched his thigh again — his inner thigh this time, closer to balls.

Halsin snarled, and Astarion let out a breathless laugh. “Oh dear, she’s playing dirty now.”

Halsin spanked her again in retaliation, and she burst out another sob and arched her spine like a cat in heat. “Please!” she cried, and she rubbed her face on his abs. More tears were trickling over the bridge of her nose to drip onto his skin, and Astarion found himself oddly mesmerized by her tears. He’d only seen Brynn crying one other time, right before they got to the city when the stress of the Emperor reveal got to her, and that time was obviously very different from now. Her tears now, the way she was mewling and whimpering with total witless abandon while nuzzling Halsin’s abs and scraping her nails on his body out of sheer desperation: there was something breathtaking about how desperate she was, something exquisite about the single-minded intensity of her desire, and he found himself simply gaping at her in awe as she moaned and writhed in the grip of Halsin’s tree-trunk arms banded around her thighs.

“Astarion,” Halsin said.

He tore his gaze from Brynn’s face to Halsin’s — oh gods, his eyes were bright gold again. “Ye— what?”

“After Brynn comes, you are going to give me permission to possess her,” he said roughly. “I will fuck her until she cannot move, and you are going to allow it.”

Brynn sobbed again and gazed pleadingly at Astarion, and something in his chest quailed. Look at her, the poor desperate little thing, making such sad baby-owlbear eyes at him. He couldn’t deny her when she looked like such a hedonistic mess.

“All right, fine,” he said. “But she’d better be sobbing by the time you—”

Halsin pulled her back to his mouth, and she gasped and shivered. “Yes,” she whimpered. “Please, please…” She lifted her head and braced her palms on Halsin’s chest against so she could roll her hips back to his mouth, and then she was fucking his mouth again, flexing and thrusting her hips to rub herself against his tongue, and Astarion found his gaze fixed on the meeting point of her body with Halsin’s mouth. He could only really see Halsin's chin and lower lip as Brynn rode his face, but he could see the slick of Brynn’s lust painting his chin as she glided her cunt across his tongue… Hm, if her lust was all over Halsin’s face, and if he kissed her when she was done, then if she kissed Astarion at the end of all this, then he might get a taste of her secret fragrance—

She gasped in a breath and clenched her nails on Halslin’s chest. “Fuck! Fuck—” She broke off and pressed her lips together hard, then pulled in another sharp breath and stopped breathing.

Astarion sat up straight. Here it was, the climax she’d been begging Halsin to give her, it was almost upon her, just a few more seconds of grinding herself against his oh-so-willing tongue…

She gasped and scratched her own chest. “Yes! Halsin — fuck ye-es!” She cried out, and then she was sobbing with pleasure, shuddering and rolling her hips down onto Halsin’s mouth, and Astarion felt something deep in his chest shuddering along with her, something deep and warm and hollow that he wanted so fucking badly to fill.

Not yet. But soon, he thought, and he shamelessly enjoyed the sight of his darling little Eilaena shuddering and mewling and sobbing with pleasure.

As soon as her shuddering started to settle, Halsin spanked her again: a very light little spank this time. “Lift your leg,” he said.

She lifted her knee, and Halsin sidled out from beneath her and shifted onto his knees. Then he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her down so her chest was flush to the floor.

She gasped and gripped the duvet, and Astarion’s belly flipped at his roughness. It was nice to see him like this, like an untamed beast — more relatable, actually, and he watched with a freshly-rising hunger as Halsin nudged her knees apart and positioned himself behind her.

Halsin reached forward and gathered her hair in his hands, then slowly pulled her hair, and she craned her head back with a kittenish mewl. “Fuck me, please…”

He turned her head so she was facing the chaise-lounge. “Put your head down, Eilaena,” he growled. “Cheek on the duvet, just like that, good girl. Keep your eyes on Astarion, now.”

Her half-lidded gaze rose to Astarion’s face, and the heat in his veins rushed even higher. She looked almost drugged with pleasure, her lips parted and panting for breath as she stared at him, and he… gods, he didn’t have anything to say at all, not when the sight before him was so thoroughly preoccupying.

Halsin smoothed his palms along the length of her back until he was holding her hips. “Astarion, do I have your permission to fuck her?”

“Do it,” he breathed.

Halsin nodded, then grasped the root of his cock and filled her up with a hard stroke.

She jerked and cried out, a loud wild cry, and Halsin groaned — fuck, that sound, the growly animalistic need in it, it was lifting all the fine hairs on Astarion’s arms and neck.

Halsin pressed his hips hard against Brynn’s ass, then drew back slowly and thrust into her again, and she burst out a sob and gripped the duvet. “Please!”

He slowly withdrew again until just the head of his cock was inside of her, then ran his palm over her ass. “Come back to me, beloved,” he said, in a rough-breathless voice. “Back yourself onto me. Take me as deep as you want.”

She nodded, then pressed her hips back, and Astarion stared fixedly at Halsin’s cock as it disappeared into the depths of Brynn’s body. She was rocking back to meet him in a steady rhythm, doing all the work now as Halsin remained still with his guiding hand on her ass, and the sight of Brynn eagerly backing herself onto his cock was… Gods, it was doing all sorts of mad things to Astarion’s body, making a pulse pound between his legs and in his throat, making the heat rise in his veins and his chest and even in his cheeks, and he couldn’t help but imagine that it was himself that Brynn was backing onto, his own body positioned behind her, his hard cock that she was taking inside of her precious body one inch at a time…

A shiver of nerves trembled in his gut, a shiver of trepidation that was nearly as old as he’d been undead, and he wanted to scream at how frustrating it was. But he didn’t scream — no, he didn’t really want to, because he wanted to keep watching Brynn as she took Halsin deep, as she whimpered and gasped and backed herself onto his cock with a gradually increasing speed—

“She’s a true feast for the eyes, isn’t she?” Halsin said huskily.

Astarion spared him a glance, and his heart stalled for a second: Halsin’s expression was both heated and soft, and his eyes were glowing with that warm golden light.

Astarion nodded wordlessly. Shit, he really didn’t have anything to say.

Halsin didn’t seem to mind, thankfully, since he kept on talking. “She feels as wonderful as she looks. I can feel her heartbeat from within, the pulse of life and pleasure as she — mm, as she takes me deep inside…” He groaned and ran his palm along Brynn’s spine. “Astarion is right. You truly are a good girl.”

A proud, hungry feeling preened within Astarion’s chest. Brynn moaned and nodded and backed onto Halsin’s cock, then rolled her hips back to grind against him. “I want to come again,” she moaned. “I want — I could come again, I need you to fuck me slow…”

“Mm,” Halsin grumbled. “I would be more than happy to oblige. There is nothing quite like the feeling of you finding your pleasure while I’m inside of you.” He took her hips in his hands and pulled out of her, then carefully adjusted the angle of her hips before slowly pressing in deep.

She gasped fitfully, then burst out a moan and gripped the duvet. “More! Gods, fuck, I don’t know what you’re — ah, what you’re doing different, but it feels so fucking good…”

“Control and patience, lover,” Halsin said. “That’s the difference.”

Brynn burst out a little sob-laugh. Halsin chuckled softly before driving into her hard and slow, and another strained moan escaped her lips. “Please, please, just like that, don’t stop…”

“Never,” Halsin murmured, and he stroked her hair. “Not ever, Eilaena. I will never let you be empty.” He drove into her again.

She mewled and nodded and arched her spine, and Halsin filled her up again and again in a slow and steady rhythm, and Astarion watched with a rising of anticipation as her face grew deliciously tense. She was obviously getting close, and Halsin’s breathing was getting ragged and rough as though he could feel her climax climbing higher from within, and — ha, yes, Brynn was holding her breath, she was close, Astarion was sure she was going to come any second now…

Halsin shuddered and snarled, then gasped in a breath and thrust into her, and his eyes flared with golden light. “Mm, I — Brynn, I c-can’t…” He burst into his bear shape and mounted her, then thrust into her.

“Yes!” she screamed, and she burst into tears and pounded the floor. “Yes, yes, fuck, f-fuck—!”

Halsin shifted back into an elf and stroked her hair with a trembling hand. “I am so sorry,” he groaned. “I’m — Brynn, Astarion, I am sorry, the bear—”

“Halsin, fuck me!” Brynn wailed.

“Don’t stop, Halsin,” Astarion urged. “She’s right in the throes of it. Don’t you dare stop.”

“Of course,” he panted. “Of course, I…” He gripped her hips and slammed into her. Then he was gritting his teeth and snarling and slamming into her so hard that Astarion could hear the sharp smack of skin-on-skin. She was sobbing with ecstasy and shuddering with total wanton abandon, and Halsin’s jaw was tight with strain as he gripped her hips and slammed into her with a gorgeous feral roughness that made Astarion feel lightheaded with desire, with all of this fucking desire that he didn’t know what to do about…

He gasped and flexed into his own hand — wait, when had he started rubbing himself through his trousers? Oh, who cared, who fucking cared, he could do whatever he wanted—! Fuck, the friction of his hand through his trousers, the beautiful twisted ecstasy in Brynn’s face, the incandescent lust-light in Halsin’s eyes… Gods, they were beautiful, just as beautiful as he’d imagined they would be, more beautiful than any other moving bodies he’d ever seen in his entire life. Halsin was looming over Brynn now, his big body curled over hers like a rutting bear as he gasped and licked her back and flexed against her ass in a hard rhythm that would surely have made the bed groan and shake if they’d stayed upon it, and Astarion clenched his jaw as he rubbed himself through the velvet of his trousers. Halsin was pounding into her as though nothing else in the world existed, and she was clutching the duvet like a lifeline as she moaned and gasped and took every inch of Halsin’s huge cock, and Astarion was — gods, he was close. He was so close, he was rubbing himself frantically as he watched them, he was circling his palm over the head of his cock and palming the shaft, fuck…

He shuddered. He was going to come. He was going to… fuck, fu-uck, he was coming, he, gods he…! A-ah, thank fuck that he was undead and that he wouldn’t make a mess!

He shoved his other fist to his mouth to stifle himself, not wanting to draw Brynn or Halsin’s attention as he flexed into his own frantically-rubbing palm — shit, she was watching him, her eyes fixed on his face even as Halsin continued to pound into her, and the look of total adoration on her face made his heart rise into his throat.

I love you so much, she said breathlessly through the tadpole.

His heart swelled in his throat and between his legs, spurring one last shudder of ecstasy. He moaned into his hand, then lifted his hand from his still-throbbing cock and let out a hard exhale.

Halsin groaned loudly and shuddered. “Eilaena, my love,” he begged, and he pressed his forehead to her back. “Mm, my autumn heart…”

“I’m yours, Halsin,” she gasped. “Give me everything. Give me every drop of your come. Spill it on me if I’m too small to take it all.”

He gasped and slammed into her and bit her shoulder, and she yelped and clawed at the duvet. “Please! I want your come, I want it all over, I want — I’m yours, I’m your little prey, I — you can mark me, put your mark on me, please—”

He shuddered and slammed himself inside of her twice more, then pulled out of her and stroked his cock, and his come splattered on her ass and the small of her back.

“Yes,” she begged, and she wriggled her hips. “More, give me more!”

He groaned and shuddered and stroked himself again, spilling his seed on her bottom and the backs of her thighs. By the time he was finished, gasping for breath and sitting back on his heels, she was liberally splattered with creamy-white drops and streaks of his come.

She shakily pushed herself upright, then turned around to face him, and he brushed a sweaty strand of hair back from her forehead. “My heart—”

She clasped his neck in her palms and kissed him deeply, then pressed her forehead to his. “I love you, my bear,” she whispered. “I fucking love you.”

He smiled, then looped his arm around her waist and kissed her. She petted his chest, then peeled away from him and turned to Astarion.

She crawled toward the chaise-lounge, and Astarion smiled languidly at her. “So? Was this all that you dreamed?”

She cradled his neck in her palms and pressed her face to his. “I love you, Astarion,” she said shakily. “So much.”

She sounded close to tears, and the tremulous quality of her voice hit him like a punch to the gut. I love you, she said — familiar words now, words she said to him every day, but today, right now, these favoured words felt… more than usual. More weighty than usual, somehow, even though he knew she always meant them whenever she said them. And for some unfathomable reason, he couldn’t reply. His usual repertoire of responses was right at the tip of his tongue — I know, darling. Of course you do. How could you not, when I’m so perfect? — but for some reason, he couldn’t say them. Brynn was breathing shallowly against his lips, her fingers warm on his neck, and as he breathed shakily along with her, he realized that none of his usual quippy replies were sufficient anymore.

He swallowed hard. Gods damn it, his heart felt like it was trying to choke him. “Thank you, Eilaena,” he whispered. “For… all of it. All of… this.”

She nodded and pressed her trembling lips together, then hugged him and buried her face against his neck, and he hugged her back — oh, eugh, that was Halsin’s come on her back.

He hastily lifted his arm and smirked at Halsin, who was stretched out on the duvet and watching them with a broad smile, and Halsin chuckled softly. “Apologies, my friend.”

Astarion huffed a laugh, and Brynn released him and quickly wiped her eyes. “What’s — why is Halsin apologizing?”

“Because his mess got on my arm,” Astarion said dryly, and he showed her the smudge of semen on his forearm.

Her eyes widened. “Oops, sorry!” She quickly licked the semen off of his arm.

Astarion flinched. “Gods! That’s one way to deal with that. A handkerchief would’ve been another.”

She snickered, then crawled back onto the duvet and settled on her belly next to Halsin, and he hummed happily and trailed his knuckles over her shoulder blade. “Let me see what I can do about this…” He leaned over her and kissed her shoulder blade, then began licking his own come off of her back.

Astarion burst out laughing. “Gods, Halsin. You really are a beast.”

“Thank you,” Halsin said, and he kept on licking his come off of Brynn’s body.

Brynn smiled and rested her cheek on her folded arms, and Astarion sighed in mock-exasperation. “Clearly this is a depraved little routine of yours.”

“Maybe,” she said sweetly. “Do you want to join us?”

He wrinkled his nose. “Join you how? In cleaning up Halsin’s mess? The answer is a resounding ‘no’.”

Halsin scoffed, and Brynn laughed. “No, you gorgeous fool, with the cuddling!” She patted the duvet. “There’s a spot right here with your name on it.”

He arched a brow. “Sorry, pet, but the only way that duvet has my name on it is if it’s back on that nice squishy bed.”

Brynn looked at Halsin, and he nodded. “The duvet must return to the bed, then. Let’s see it done.”

A minute later, the duvet was neatly spread on the bed once more. Halsin settled on the right side of the bed with his back against the padded headboard, and Brynn hopped onto the bed and patted the left side. “Okay, handsome, get on up here.”

“All right, since you insist.” Astarion padded over to the bed, then hesitated for a second. Were the three of them going to cuddle together, then? Was Brynn going to split her attention between the two of them? What exactly was going to happen here? Halsin wasn’t going to touch him, was he?

A wriggle of heat-excitement-nerves wormed its way into his belly. Then Brynn tilted her head. “You okay, kitten?”

“Of course.” He shuffled onto the bed beside her and propped himself against the headboard like Halsin, then folded his hands over his lap.

She settled against his side, then took Halsin’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “Come closer, my lovely bear.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Halsin said. He shifted closer to her and smoothed his hand over her bare hip, then arched a brow at Astarion. “At risk of sounding arrogant, I would like to point out that I won your challenge, despite considerable attempts on Brynn’s part to crumble my resolve.”

She pouted playfully, and Astarion clicked his tongue. “I suppose. We’ll have to come up with something more difficult next time. This one was barely a challenge.”

“Bear-ly a challenge, hm?” Halsin said drolly.

Brynn’s face lit up, and Astarion quirked a brow. “Wha…? Oh, gods, that wasn’t a pun.”

“Yes it was!” Brynn said. “You just made a bear pun!”

“I did not!” he said defensively. “I wouldn’t embarrass myself by making two puns in a single day.”

Brynn sat up on her elbow. “You wouldn’t em-bear-ass yourself?”

Halsin smirked and rubbed his chin, and Astarion forced himself not to smile. “This is stupid. You’re being stupid,” he said imperiously. “If you make one more pun, you’re going to be sorry.”

She dramatically pressed a hand to her forehead. “Gods forbid, a threat? I can’t bear it!”

“That’s it,” Astarion said briskly. “I’ve had it. Halsin, hold her down.”

Her eyes went huge. “Hang on a second, hold—?”

“As you wish,” Halsin said, and he took hold of Brynn’s wrists.

“Hang on a minute!” she exclaimed. “What are you—”

Astarion pinched her waist, and she squeaked. “No! No no, don’t pinch, don’t pinch—”

He pinched her again, higher on her waist and closer to her ribs, and she burst out a laugh and kicked her feet. “No, stop, don’t pinch, don’t — that tickles!”

“I told you you’d be sorry,” Astarion said, and he crept his fingers higher up toward her armpits.

“No!” she squealed. “Stop, stop — Halsin, help — Astarion, stop!” She dissolved into helpless laughter.

Halsin laughed and released her, and Astarion smirked and settled back on the pillows again. “Serves you right, you little wretch.”

She hiccuped with mirth. “You’re both horrible. We’re never doing this again if that’s how you’re going to treat me.”

“Is that a challenge?” Halsin said.

Astarion cackled. Brynn was laughing still, and now Halsin was chuckling too, and an odd feeling of surreality stole over him. This moment, this situation, the whole lounging-in-bed-with-more-than-one-lover thing he was doing right now: this wasn’t something he’d done out of his own free will in bloody ages. This wasn’t something he’d wanted to do in so fucking long… Gods, had he ever even wanted this before, back in the days when his flesh was warm and his eyes weren’t bloody-red?

He couldn’t remember. He didn’t know. But now, in this moment, with a still-giggling Brynn snuggling against his side while Halsin smirked and ran his palm along her bare hip, Astarion was… honestly, he was exactly where he wanted to be.

Here on this cozy bed, snuggled up with the comfort of Brynn and Halsin’s company, Astarion was exactly where he wanted to be.

Chapter Text

It was past midnight. The faint sounds of revelry were drifting up from the patio of the Elfsong: laughter and chatting and the cheery fiddling from some street-corner musician, carried up through the open balcony window by a gentle nighttime breeze. A mere few months ago, those sounds would have set the scene for Astarion’s nightly trek home with whatever victim — or victims — had fallen prey to his charms.

Now, however, no such ignominious walk awaited him. Now, he had nowhere else to be except right here on this big cushy bed, lounging back on the plethora of pillows with a naked Brynn fast asleep between him and an equally-naked Halsin.

Brynn sighed in her sleep and snuggled her head under Astarion’s armpit. He smirked, and Halsin chuckled softly and traced his knuckles over her bare hip. “A nighttime habit of hers?”

“Yes, unfortunately for me. It would be annoying if it wasn’t deeply adorable.” He arched a brow at Halsin. “She doesn’t do this with you?”

He shook his head. “Our sleeping arrangement differs depending on whether I am an elf or a bear. But in neither situation is her head typically tucked under my arm.”

“I can imagine not. Your smell would probably shock her awake if she did.”

Halsin scoffed. “If you are hoping for me to apologize for my natural scent, you’ll be waiting for a very long time.”

Astarion grinned. “Look at you, assuming the worst of me. I simply meant that putting her face into your armpit would send her into heat instead of putting her to sleep. She can’t get enough of your ursine musk.”

Halsin huffed in amusement. “I still sense that this compliment is a thin veil for your mockery.”

“Fishing for compliments, are you?” Astarion tutted. “Oh, Halsin. I thought you were better than that, with all your Oakfather-y wisdom.”

Halsin smiled and languidly closed his eyes, and Astarion gazed idly at the canopy of the bed. Speaking of natural scents, he could smell Halsin’s scent right now as he breathed slowly and easily into the peaceful quiet of the room: musky but not harsh, edged with a tang of salt and the raw sweetness of Brynn’s sex, and finished off by that fresh herbal fragrance that always somehow seemed to linger around the big druid.

He pulled in a deep, leisurely breath of Halsin-and-Brynn-scented air, then let it out a loud sigh.

Halsin opened his eyes. “Is something the matter?”

Astarion eyed him resentfully for a moment, then clicked his tongue and tucked his other arm under his head. “Your musk isn’t so terrible, all right? As far as bodily odours go, it’s less of a pong and more of a smell. Now, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a scent — that would be far too generous — but that’s probably what Brynn would say if she wasn’t utterly dead to the world right now. Anyway, my point is that you — look, it would be a baldfaced lie to say you don’t smell. But you don’t stink, which is something.”

A small smile curled the corners of Halsin’s lips. “So this is a compliment after all? That’s kind of you.”

Astarion scoffed. “Keep it in your trousers, druid. Or — well, you know what I mean.” He darted a quick look at Halsin’s naked torso.

“I do,” Halsin said gently. “Would you be more comfortable if I put my trousers back on? Forgive me, I should have asked earlier.”

“Why bother? I’ve already seen it all. In great, great detail.” He shot him a salacious smile that he hoped would hide his faint-but-genuine jitter of nerves.

Halsin chuckled. “Fair enough. But let me know if you should change your mind.” He rolled carefully onto his side so he was facing Brynn’s back, then traced his knuckles delicately from her shoulder blade down along the dip of her waist.

She sighed again and nestled her forehead against Astarion’s armpit, and he felt a squiggle of warmth at the contented little sound. Then she shivered. “Halsin,” she murmured.

“Yes?” he said.

“I’m cold,” she mumbled. “Can you hug me?” She tucked her head against Astarion’s chest and reached vaguely for Halsin’s hand.

His expression became tender. “Of course, my autumn heart.” He shifted closer so he was curled behind her in a big-spoon shape, then encircled her waist with his muscular arm.

She shivered again and pressed her spine to his chest. Within seconds, her breathing was once more the slow-and-easy in-and-out of a reverie.

Astarion fondly eyed her sleeping face from the corner of his eye. Then Halsin spoke again in a quiet voice. “It is good to see her at peace. Her dreams have been disturbed as of late.”

She’s not the only one, Astarion thought ruefully, but he obviously didn’t say this out loud. “They certainly have. Though I think she’s bringing the restless reveries on herself.”

“How so?”

“This nonsense about Wyll,” Astarion said dismissively. “Worrying that she did the wrong thing by coaxing him into saving himself. He obviously needed to break his pact with the devil, and he’d never have made that choice on his own, so it’s foolish of her to fuss. Besides, if Wyll’s father does happen to bite the dust during our rescue efforts, it’s not so great a loss.”

Halsin’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you listening when Wyll told us about his banishment? What happened the day that his father booted him out of Baldur’s Gate?”

“Yes,” Halsin said somberly. “A harrowing experience for Wyll to have suffered. To expel one’s own offspring from the nest without support…” He shook his head slightly. “I cannot imagine doing such a thing to a child of my own.”

“Yes, quite. Not exactly the sort of company I would want around if I was Wyll,” Astarion said sweetly. “So if the courageous Ulder Ravengard dies…” He shrugged. “Oh dear, what a shame. On the other hand, his hypothetical death will leave a nice power lacune in Baldur’s Gate for Wyll to sweep in and fill up, which is something I personally would like to see. The Devilish Duke of Baldur’s Gate,” he said with relish. “I can see it already.”

Halsin’s face remained serious and sad. “Wyll’s forgiveness of his father certainly speaks of his integrity moreso than his father’s. But family bonds can be incredibly complicated. Beyond logic, at times.”

Astarion harrumphed. “I’ll take your word for it, seeing as my only family is a handful of wretched ragtag spawn I’ve been forced together with over the past two centuries.”

“Do you have no living family from before you were turned?” Halsin said gently.

He shrugged and gazed up at the velvet canopy. “I might. Who knows?”

Halsin was quiet in that annoying-wise-listening way, and Astarion frowned at the canopy for a moment longer before speaking. “There was a sister at some point, but she died before I was born. And my parents…” He shrugged casually. “Who could say? They were older even than you when they had me. They’re probably long dead by now.” He opted not to tell Halsin that he couldn’t even remember their faces anymore, or anything much of them beyond a vague sense of scrutiny and high standards.

“I am deeply sorry, Astarion,” Halsin said softly. “My questions were… overly personal, perhaps. I apologize if I opened any old wounds.”

He shrugged and abruptly changed the subject. “Brynn worries too much. Worrying about Wyll, worrying about Gale, worrying about Karlach — well, Karlach’s burning-engine thing might be worth worrying about, but Brynn will find a way to sort it. But the rest of it?” He clicked his tongue. “She should just focus on keeping that damned Emperor out of her thoughts and let the rest of the cards fall where they may.”

Halsin’s face tensed. “Do you believe the Emperor is a grave danger to her?”

“Not right now,” Astarion said. “Not while she’s its favourite little patsy. But we’ll give it a good stabbing if it tries to sneak any more insidious ideas about evolving into her head.”

Halsin grunted. “I dearly hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“So do I,” Astarion drawled. “We have well enough to deal with, without adding a treacherous mindflayer to the mix.” He untucked his arm from under his head and idly brushed a lock of Brynn’s silvery-white hair back from her shoulder. “Poor little bleeding-heart bard, always making everything so complicated for herself.”

Halsin smiled in a faintly melancholy way. “With a tender heart like hers, it can be nearly impossible to divorce herself from carrying the burdens of those she loves.”

“Exactly,” Astarion said. “It’s a terrible problem. She should be more like yours truly and just focus on what’s best for her.”

“I can’t imagine that you truly mean that.”

Astarion gave him a mock-affronted look. “Excuse me, is that a veiled suggestion that she shouldn’t be like me? How dare you.”

Halsin chuckled softly. “I mean only to point out that you’ve said yourself that she is perfect as she is. I cannot imagine you would truly want her to change.”

“I suppose,” he admitted. “I am fairly fond of how saccharine she is. And it’s been a novel experience to be forced into all these sickening heroic deeds. Like rescuing that wretched Rolan from his master’s clutches. Honestly, if I was in Brynn’s shoes, I might have at least gloated a little that he’d been taken down a peg or two.”

Halsin’s smile faded a little. “You would gloat at Rolan for suffering Lorroakan’s cruelty?”

Astarion tutted impatiently. “No, Halsin, I’d gloat at him for getting suckered by that two-bit charlatan of a wizard after all that smugness about his damned apprenticeship. Seeing him and Aylin ripping Lorroakan apart was a delightful treat. Although I have to say, I expected Aylin to be overjoyed after killing that ‘fire-haired fool’, in her colourful words. Instead, she just seemed… tired.”

“An understandable response,” Halsin said. “I often find that when the heat of battle-rage leaves me, it takes any pleasure in vengeance along with it.”

Astarion wrinkled his nose. “What? No, that can’t be right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Aylin had to have gotten some satisfaction from giving Lorroakan such a spectacular death,” Astarion said. “She probably just needed some time to let it sink in. I’m sure she’s elated about it now, ha ha.”

Halsin’s expression softened in that tummy-flipping way that reminded him of Brynn. “When you have delivered justice for Cazador’s cruelty, you might find yourself feeling as Aylin did.”

His stomach flipped at the mention of Cazador. “Wha—! Don’t be ridiculous,” he scoffed. “It’s going to be the greatest moment of my life! The blood, the screaming? Just thinking about it makes me smile.” Even as he said this, though, he found himself remembering something Brynn had told him a while ago, about the revenge she took out on her parents’ killer, and how she’d felt afterwards: how angry and hard she was, how she didn’t like the angry person she had become, how her useless boyfriend at the time had dumped her over how she’d changed.

His guts twisted a little. Now that he was thinking about this again, especially with Cazador’s death being so much closer at hand, he was a little unnerved. What if Halsin was right? What if he killed Cazador, and he had the same lackluster reaction as Aylin did? What then?

It won’t matter, he reminded himself. You won’t have time to mope around like Aylin did, since you’ll be busy doing the Rite. Yes, that’s right: he’d be too busy usurping Cazador’s place in the Rite of Profane Ascension to even think twice about Cazador’s useless dead body.

He stared up at the velvet canopy and tried to ignore the thrum of disquiet in his chest. He waited for Halsin to say something more, but when a long, silent minute went by with no further words from the druid, Astarion glanced at him.

His face was content and relaxed, his eyes half-lidded as he brushed his thumb over Brynn’s bare belly. When Astarion met his gaze, the druid’s eyes crinkled at the corners in a way that made his stomach feel fluttery.

He frowned, then returned his gaze to the canopy and clicked his tongue. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

Looking at me like Brynn does, Astarion thought. I can’t think. “Stop mooning at me like a romance novel heroine. It’s making me ill.”

Halsin smiled faintly. “At risk of nauseating you further, might I say something?”

“Something about what?” Astarion said suspiciously.

“Something I have observed about you. It is nothing unflattering, I assure you.”

Astarion wrinkled his nose, then shrugged. “Fine. But it had better be a real top-grade compliment that leaves your lips, or I’ll be very unhappy.”

Halsin’s smile widened a little more. “You bear no great concern for what is good or right in the world, and you can be unkind at times. But at other times, such as this night we’ve shared, you show a compelling degree of sincerity. And for Brynn, a compelling degree of warmth. You are not as unfeeling as you would make yourself out to be.”

For a second, he was stunned into silence by Halsin’s words. He didn’t know what he’d expected Halsin to say, but it wasn’t that. Sincerity? Warmth? Him? That was… It was ridiculous. Halsin was being ridiculous. If Astarion didn’t know how damned earnest he was, he would have suspected him of taking the piss.

He swallowed hard and mustered a smirk. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted by all of that.”

“Neither, perhaps,” Halsin said. “It was a simple statement of truth.”

He tsked and fixed his gaze on the canopy. But as much as he’d like to dismiss Halsin’s words, he couldn’t stop turning them over in his mind. A compelling degree of sincerity… A compelling degree of warmth. It was nonsense, of course; Astarion had neither of those things. He prided himself on being a smoothly practiced dissembler, and he was literally cold-blooded. But hearing Halsin say this — hearing him say such… such positive things, things that nobody other than Brynn had ever said about him, not in longer than Astarion could remember…

A compelling degree of sincerity. His mouth opened of its own accord. “Listen, there’s—” He clamped his lips shut by instinct.

Halsin gave him an enquiring look, and he fought with himself for a long second before pulling in a bracing breath. “There’s something you should — well, not that you should know, since it’s technically none of your damned business. But maybe you might know already, or, er, suspect already, I suppose, so… so maybe it doesn’t matter if you, er, know.”

“Whatever it is, you are under no obligation to tell me,” Halsin said gently.

“I know that,” Astarion said sharply. “I don’t have to do anything. I can do whatever I want.”

Halsin didn’t reply, and Astarion was quiet too as he tried to calm the jangly-nervous-jitter in his gut. If he told Halsin what he was thinking, if he… If he confirmed what he was fairly sure Halsin already suspected, it would mean telling Halsin something that only Brynn knew — something that he’d only ever trusted Brynn enough to tell. If he told Halsin this, did that mean… Did he trust Halsin?

Not like Brynn, he immediately thought. No one is like her. Still, the fact that he was thinking about this, that he was considering the act of sharing this extremely-secret side of himself with Halsin, with the whole obnoxious gentle-wise-druid thing he always had going on…

He swallowed hard, then kept his gaze fixed on the canopy as he spoke. “Brynn and I… aren’t actually having sex right now. I…” He faltered, then scowled. Just say it, he thought. You’re already halfway bloody there. “It was a chore for me for so long. The seductions, I mean, with Cazador’s victims. I didn’t… I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want…” Ugh, why was his throat getting so dry? He swallowed hard before going on. “I didn’t want to… do this anymore unless I actually wanted it — wanted it for sure. So we’re… holding off for now.”

“I understand. Truly, I do,” Halsin murmured. “And… yes, I did suspect this.”

His heart sank a little, though he wasn’t really surprised. “Well, now you know. And if you tell a single other soul, I will rip out your heart and drain it dry.”

“Duly noted,” Halsin said drolly. “For what it is worth, I think you are exceptionally brave.”

Astarion shot him a funny look. “Brave? For what?”

“For sharing this with me, for one,” he said. “You are right when you said it is none of my business, but rest assured that I do not take your trust for granted. More importantly, you are brave for telling Brynn you wanted to abstain for a time. As ironic as it may seem, the most difficult people to say ‘no’ to are often the ones we love and trust the most.”

“That’s not always true,” Astarion said dryly. “Especially not when you’re a vampire spawn.”

“Fair enough,” Halsin said softly. “And forgive me if that was insensitive. Still, I imagine it took a great deal of courage to tell Brynn you wanted to refrain from sex.”

He was right about that. Telling Brynn he wanted to hold off on having sex was literally the most nerve-wracking thing he’d done since waking up with a mindflayer tadpole in his brain. “It certainly did. I had to brave the risks of her melting into a despondently-horny little puddle on the floor,” he joked.

Halsin huffed softly. “A significant risk indeed.” He lowered his lips to Brynn’s shoulder.

She smacked her lips but didn’t stir. Halsin brushed his nose delicately along her shoulder blade, and Astarion gazed wistfully at her sleeping face: her soft smoky skin smattered with midnight freckles, the sweeping curves of her eyelashes and the delicate bow of her upper lip, that upper lip that stretched so beautifully into her signature gamine grin…

“I want to be ready for her,” he said — oh shit, shit, that was a lot to admit. Ugh, gods, but it was too late now. In for a copper, in for a gold.

“You will be ready, in time,” Halsin replied.

“Yes, but how much time?” Astarion said peevishly. “Why were you ready for sex right after escaping Menzoberranzan, but I’m floundering here in limbo after weeks and weeks?”

Halsin’s expression grew tender. “That, I cannot answer. But all seedlings find their season, Astarion. With our support, I have no doubt that you will bloom into your desires in time.”

He swallowed hard, then gave Halsin a salacious look. “Our support, hm? Admit it: it made you extra-randy to have me here spectating your carnal romping.”

Halsin’s lips curved into a smirk that made his spine tingle. “Your presence was very welcome, and very stimulating. And if such trysts will continue to support your readiness, I am more than happy to keep offering them.”

Astarion chuckled throatily. “Altruistic of you. I may just take you up on that, assuming our darling Brynn approves.” He glanced at her.

His heart seized. She was awake, and she was looking at him. Brynn was looking directly at him with her heart in her blood-red eyes, and the undiluted affection in her face made his lungs stop for a second.

He gulped in a breath, then smiled. “Hello, darling. Refreshed from your little nap?”

She lifted her hand and trailed her fingers along his cheek. “I love you,” she whispered.

Shit, his eyes were stinging. He swallowed hard to clear the lump in his throat, then reached down and brushed her chin with his thumb. “Come here,” he breathed. “Come closer.”

Halsin released her from his embrace, and she stroked his hand before shifting higher up on the pillows. When they were face-to-face, Astarion curved his fingers around her neck. “Come here,” he whispered, and he kissed her.

She pressed herself against his side and curled her fingers into the open collar of his shirt. Her knee was brushing against his thigh, and he smoothed his palm over her hip as he delved his tongue into her mouth, then gently pulled her hip.

She broke from his lips with a tiny catch of breath, and he brushed his nose to hers. “Come closer, Eilaena,” he whispered, and he tugged the back of her thigh.

She nodded, then kissed him firmly and shifted on top of him. A moment later, she was straddling his hips and cradling his neck in her palms and licking his tongue.

He blissfully glided his hands over her skin… Ah, the glorious canvas of her skin, bare from head to toe: her shoulder blades, the curve of her spine and the roundness of her bottom filling his hands, the smooth warmth of her thighs as he encircled them with his fingers. She was shifting her hips a little now, too, enough that he could feel the shifting tension in her inner thighs, and the delicate rocking movement of her hips was calling to his blood, infusing his veins with that precious and long-forgotten element of heat that he’d been lacking for two hundred fucking years.

She gripped the collar of his shirt and nipped his lower lip, and his groin surged with a rush of heat. He kissed her hungrily and squeezed her waist, then broke from her lips and looked her in the eye. How much did you hear? he asked through the tadpoles.

She clasped his neck in her palms and pressed her forehead to his. I don’t care how long it takes for you to be ready, she told him. I honestly don’t care, Astarion. I’ll wait as long as it takes. You get that, right?

His throat swelled, and his eyes grew hot. He curved his palm around the nape of her neck and pulled her into another kiss.

She parted her lips and pressed her chest toward him. Her breasts brushed his chest, their softness and warmth tangible thanks to the gaping front of his shirt, and then she was undulating her hips again in a sensual ebb-and-flow of movement that roiled in his belly like a wave of lust. She was slightly raised over his lap so she wasn’t quite rubbing against his groin, and the tiny gap of space between their bodies was both a comfort and a curse. She was obviously trying not to rub against his cock, to maintain a little distance for his peace of mind, and he both appreciated it and rued it at the same time. The space between them, this damnable distance: he didn’t want to need it, he didn’t want to need this space: he just wanted to be gods-damned ready.

All seedlings bloom in time, or whatever Halsin said, he reminded himself. He slid one palm down to her butt so he could feel the fluid rolling of her hips — mm, she was gasping against his lips now, her ass was flexing under his palm in an incredibly erotic way, and he could smell her: he could smell her scent, the raw sweetness of her arousal, and her fragrance spurred a hard pulse of desire at the crux of his thighs.

He brushed his lips to hers. “You’re going to make a damned mess of my trousers if you drip on me, you know.”

She burst out a soft laugh, then whimpered and arched her spine as he smoothed his palm over her ass. “Sorry, I’m sorry for the m-mess…”

“Don’t be,” he purred. “It’s very flattering. And you can help me do the laundry later.”

She grinned against his lips, then hungrily sealed her lips over his in a deep kiss. Then Halsin shifted beside them on the bed.

Astarion broke from Brynn’s lips to glance at him — oh, holy bleeding hells, his cock was hard.

Astarion gaped at him for a second, and Halsin tilted his head. “Would you prefer to be alone with Eilaena for now? I could — mm. Well, I cannot leave in case Orin’s agents appear. But I could go to the chaise-lounge to afford you a modicum of privacy.”

Astarion hesitated. He always liked being alone with Brynn, but… right now, in this moment, faced with Halsin’s soft-eyed gaze and his ramrod-hard cock, he honestly didn’t mind having Halsin around, not in the least. In fact…

“Stay,” he said. “She’s going to need your help soon, anyway.”

“Huh?” Brynn said breathlessly.

Astarion chucked her chin. “Remember how we talked about you bouncing on that staff of his?”

Her eyes went huge, and Halsin exhaled hard. “Be careful in making such suggestions, Astarion.”

“Oh, I know perfectly well what I’m doing by making this suggestion,” he said silkily. “So, Eilaena? What do you say?”

She nodded eagerly, then rested her palms on his chest. “As long as you’re okay with it. Are you—”

He cut her off. “My dear, I’m the one suggesting it. But I have a request first.”

“Okay,” she panted. “What can I do?”

“I want you to touch yourself now, like this, with me,” he said, and he squeezed her hip. “As soon as you come, the second your ecstasy hits, I want you to mount the bear-man and ride him hard.”

Halsin groaned, then shifted onto his back and wrapped his hand around his cock.

Astarion’s cock jerked with excitement, and he burst out a laugh. “Gods, Halsin, how badly are you gagging for it?”

“You have only yourself to blame,” he grunted. “The words you speak… mm.” He flexed his hips up into his own hand.

Astarion lost his breath. The muscular flexing of Halsin’s ass, the sight of his thick hard rock rising through the grip of his very-large fist—

Brynn roughly turned Astarion’s face to hers and kissed him hard.

He nipped her tongue by instinct, and she gasped but she didn’t pull away — oh gods, gods, there was a little blood on her tongue, he could taste her exquisite blood.

He gripped the back of her neck and flexed his hips — fuck, ah, the pressure of her groin pressing to his! It — she — the pressure, the heat, her tongue, her sanguine taste, all of it, everything, so much, it was so much, just a bit too much—?

He forced himself to stop suckling her tongue, then pulled her close and pressed his lips to her ear. “Touch yourself,” he rasped. “Look at Halsin while you do it.”

She nodded and reached between her legs — ah, that breathy little gasp, the even-more breathless whimper, and the way she was rocking her hips now, a smooth-back-and-forth motion as she rubbed herself against her fingers…

“Halsin,” she whimpered. “I want to fuck you hard.”

He made a gorgeous breathy-growly-bear sound. “Yes, my heart,” he groaned. “As hard as you need me. I will fill every inch of you.”

His voice was low and rough, and it thrilled beneath Astarion’s skin. He breathed shallowly against Brynn’s ear… Mm, she smelled so good.

He tightened his fingers in her hair and pulled her head back to breathe in the fragrance of her neck — gods, gods be damned, her skin smelled so damned delicious. It was like her scent was filling his entire chest, filling him up and heating his blood with every deep breath he took, and the sounds she was making were stoking the fires even more: she was breathing raggedly, panting for breath and whimpering and moaning as she rocked herself against her fingers. On the bed beside them, Halsin was panting too, deep animalistic breaths punctuated by low growly groans as he pumped his cock into his hand, and Astarion lay there on the pillows listening to them both, breathing hard against Brynn’s hot and fragrant neck as the scent of her sex and her skin suffused his entire body from head to toe—

He sealed his lips over her neck… Argh, no, he shouldn’t drink her, he’d already had a sip from her earlier tonight.

“Astarion, do it,” she whimpered. “Bite me.”

Do it. Bite her. You know you want to. He forced himself to breathe in through his mouth. “But I drank from you already. If you get faint—”

She interrupted him. “I’ll be fine, I swear. Or Halsin can heal me if I faint.”

Halsin laughed roughly, then groaned and lifted his hips off the bed to press into his own hand, and Brynn mewled and writhed her hips before pulling on Astarion’s collar. “Please! Please, Astarion, I’m asking you to, I want it—”

He bit her abruptly, sinking his teeth into the juncture of her shoulder and neck so as not to bite her in the same place twice in one night, and she jerked and cried out. “Yes! Yes, fuck—” She broke off with a gasp, then started petting her cunt more urgently.

Halsin groaned, then rolled toward them and smoothed his palm along Brynn’s back. “Easy, lover. There’s no need to race toward your pleasure.”

“Yes there — ah, Astarion, gods!” She moaned and stroked her fingers firmly through his hair, sending a ripple of pleasure from his scalp straight down to his groin. Then she was clutching his shoulder, her fingertips digging into his flesh as she gasped and writhed against her fingers, and he ravenously suckled her neck, his blood and body sparking with pleasure with every mouthful of her blood that passed his lips and bathed his tongue… Damn it, he should slow down, he’d had more than enough.

He forced himself to stop drinking. “Halsin, put your hand over the wound,” he gasped.

Halsin draped his hand across her throat and pressed his fingers against the sluggishly-bleeding wound, and Brynn gasped sharply. “Yes! Fuck, gods…” She was trembling-tense now, her hips still and splayed wide across Astarion’s lap as she swirled her fingers frantically between her legs, and Astarion stared at her sex as she caressed herself. She was slick, her clit and folds swollen-plump as she held her breath and petted herself, and Astarion’s mouth was watering as he watched her. He still had the tang of her blood on the back of his tongue, but imagine if he had the tang of her pussy, too? Imagine the mellow-raw sweetness of her, that secret flavour painting itself across his tongue as he fed on her cunt after feeding on her blood… Oh, now that was a fantasy. Imagine if he fed on the tender flesh of Brynn’s inner thigh before going down on her—?

She gasped sharply, then burst out a little hiccup-sob and shuddered, and then she was thrusting against her own fingers in a tellingly frantic way. “Yes! Yes, fuck, please—”

“Halsin, on your back,” Astarion commanded — ha, the man was already on his back, he was bloody eager. “Eilaena, get on top of him.”

She sobbed with pleasure, then shakily dismounted from Astarion’s lap — gods, she was leaving a trail of arousal on the crotch of his pants.

“Sorry,” she whimpered. “I’ll help you with the wash—”

He gave her bare butt a little spank, and she jolted and arched her spine. “Please!”

“Stop talking and mount the druid,” Astarion said roughly.

“Come, Eilaena,” Halsin panted. “Come here to me.” He took her hands and guided her onto his body, then reverently wrapped his hands around her hips.

She grabbed his wrists for support, then came down onto his cock in a hard stroke.

Halsin burst out a deep feral sound, and Brynn’s face went slack with ecstasy. “Yes! Ye— fuck, god, you’re so…” She let out a high-pitched moan and lifted herself up along the length of his cock, then came down with another hard thrust.

Halsin groaned with pleasure and lifted his hips toward her — gods, the sight of Halsin arching his back was doing things to Astarion’s body.

Brynn shuddered and dug her nails into his wrists. “Halsin, fuck!”

“Fuck him, Brynn,” Astarion urged. “I want to see you riding him hard.”

“I want to,” she whimpered. “It’s just — I have to, um, position — he’s really big…”

Astarion laughed breathlessly, and Halsin exhaled on a little laugh as well. “I can’t apologize for my size, but I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she panted. “Not inconvenient. I love your size. Let me just…” She wriggled her hips as she settled on Halsin’s lap, then pulled in a deep sharp breath and shuddered. “Holy fuck. Gods, holy f-fuck…”

Her face was twisting with such ecstasy that Astarion’s cock was thumping at the sight. “How is it?” he breathed. “What does he feel like?”

“So good,” she moaned. “So fucking good… H-Halsin, I— I’m sorry, I’m going so slow—”

“Never apologize,” Halsin crooned. “Do not ever apologize for this. Go slowly now, Eilaena, as slowly as you need. Take what you need from me. There is no rush, no matter what Astarion says.”

Astarion smiled vaguely, but he couldn’t stop staring at Brynn. Her fingers were digging into Halsin’s chest as she rolled her hips slowly over his cock, and the way her face was twisted was just… fucking exquisite. She was exquisite, everything about her was exquisite, from her face to her perfectly pearl-hard nipples to her lust-soaked pubic hair and her widely-splayed thighs, and all he could do was stare at her with his cock thumping hard in his pants while she slowly and sinuously rolled her hips over Halsin’s thick cock.

Halsin folded one arm under his head, and Brynn burst out a pretty little laugh. “You look so smug.”

“Not smug. Grateful,” he said. “It is the height of nature’s gifts to find oneself at the center of such carnal attentions.”

Astarion forced his gaze from Brynn’s perfect body to Halsin’s faintly-smiling face. “That’s a roundabout way of saying you’re thrilled have such a beautiful woman bouncing on your lap.”

Brynn laughed softly. “Aw, sweet talkers, the pair of you.”

Halsin’s smirk widened, and he placed his free hand on her belly.

She shuddered, then mewled as his palm glided from her belly up toward her breast. “Halsin, please…”

He swept his thumb over her nipple, then began carefully rolling the hardened little bud between his fingers… Gods be damned, Astarion’s mouth was watering again. Brynn’s perfect nipples, the tender swell of her breasts, the memory of that one time when she asked him to bite her breast while they were having sex—

Halsin’s deep, calm voice broke through his frenzied memories. “Brynn’s carnal attentions were not the only ones I was thinking of. You flatter me with your attention, also.”

His expression was sly, and Astarion laughed, even as a bloom of heat-excitement-nerves jumped in his belly. “Now now, druid, keep your focus on our poor little sorceress-bard, lest it takes her until dawn to come on your cock.”

She burst out another little moan-laugh. “Shut up, you. I’m t-trying…” She trailed off with a little whimper and wriggled her hips.

“Easy, lover. Don’t try,” Halsin crooned. “Just feel. Feel the connection between you and I, and the connection that Astarion brings us by bearing witness. Come.” He propped himself up on one elbow, then tilted her hips forward a little.

She gasped sharply and dug her nails into his chest. “F-fuck yes—!”

“How is that?” Halsin said. “A kinder angle?”

“Yes!” she gasped. “Yes, that’s—” She bucked her hips back onto his cock and burst out a strained cry. “Fuck! Fuck, gods, Halsin, I—”

“Whatever you need,” he said soothingly. “Take what you need from me. I am yours.”

She burst out a little sob and nodded her head. Her eyes were squeezed tight shut now as she pistoned her hips back to take Halsin’s cock at this new angle, and Astarion sat forward so he could see — oh, gods, the sight of Halsin’s lust-slicked cock disappearing into the depths of Brynn’s sweet little cunt…

He greedily watched the mesmerizing meeting of their bodies for a while, then lounged back on the pillows again so he could admire Brynn’s lovely face as she impaled herself on Halsin’s cock. She was breathing hard as she bucked back to meet him, and as Astarion settled back on the pillows, Halsin propped himself up on one elbow and stroked her arm. “How do you feel, Eilaena? I can only pray to the Oakfather that you feel as exquisite as you look.”

His voice was rough and guttural and gorgeous, and Astarion couldn’t blame Brynn for moaning and bucking back in a more frantic rhythm in response. He smiled at Halsin. “I would say she’s feeling quite good. But I have an idea for making her feel even better.”

“What idea is that?” Halsin said.

“Put your hand around her throat again.”

Halsin smirked, and Brynn gasped and nodded. “Yes, please—”

“Like so?” Halsin said, and he took her throat in a sudden grip.

She gasped more sharply and grabbed his wrist. “Yes! Fuck, fuck—”

Halsin cut her off. “Fuck me harder, Eilaena. Give me everything you’ve got.”

Astarion’s hot-thumping lust roared even higher. The rough-feral quality of Halsin’s voice, the veins popping on his big hand around Brynn’s throat, the desperation in her face and her gasping breaths and her frantically-writhing body…

Astarion sat forward and ran his palm over her hair. “Give him everything you’ve got, Eilaena. There’s a good girl,” he purred, and he spanked her.

She jolted and cried out. “Oh my gods, please—”

He spanked her again, and Halsin growled. “Again, Astarion. I can feel her—”

He spanked her once more. She yelped and shuddered, then started fucking Halsin even more frantically, and Halsin groaned. “Ah. Don’t stop, beloved, don’t stop…”

She let out a wild cry, then burst out a sob. “Please! Please, please, Halsin, fuck me—”

He grabbed her hips and thrust into her, and another sharp-strained cry burst from her throat. Halsin was fucking her roughly now, gripping her hips and pumping up into her while she mewled and clawed at his chest and sobbed with total wanton abandon, and Astarion sat there gaping gormlessly at both of them, enraptured by their pleasure-twisted faces as they came together with a force and ferocity that was certainly going to leave Brynn feeling sore in the morning.

Halsin growled in a way that lifted all the hairs on Astarion’s neck, then groaned and flexed up into Brynn’s body. “Eilaena, I’m close…”

“Kiss me,” she urged. “Halsin, sit up, I want you to kiss me when you come—”

He shoved himself upright, then gripped the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss — gods, he was licking her tongue and nipping her lower lip like a ravenous beast, sealing his lips over hers and groaning with abandon into her mouth. She was gripping his shoulders now and fucking him in a frenzied up-and-down rhythm, and Astarion smiled to himself as he shamelessly watched them. As erotic as this was, there was something endearing and almost funny about seeing Brynn literally bouncing on Halsin’s cock, as though her little body couldn’t contain all the excitement she got from riding Halsin’s far bigger one.

Halsin shuddered again, his muscles going lax as the tension of his climax ebbed away, then peeled his lips away from Brynn’s and pressed his forehead to hers. “Magnificent,” he panted. “You are… magnificent. There truly is no better word.” He kissed her forehead, then collapsed back on the pillows.

Brynn chuckled and wiped her sweaty forehead. “You always say that when you did all the work.”

Astarion laughed brightly. “Brynn, you must be kidding. You did a solid fifty percent of the work, bucking back like a cat in heat to meet him. You must be exhausted.”

“Agreed,” Halsin said. “If your thighs are in need of a massage tomorrow, you need only say the word.”

She laughed. “Well, that sounds like total bliss. I might take you up on that even if I’m not feeling sore tomorrow.”

“Oh, you’ll be sore,” Astarion said knowingly. “I’m sure of it.”

Halsin chuckled, and Brynn wrinkled her nose playfully at them both. Then she stroked Astarion’s forearm. “Was that okay for you?”

“It was gorgeous, my dear,” he assured her. “An excellent show. I’d absolutely attend an encore.”

She flashed him a grin, then tugged his hand. “Can you kiss me?”

“While you’re still mounted on another man? You dirty minx,” he teased, and he leaned in and kissed her.

Her lips parted softly under his, and her fingers glided into his hair. She gently traced his tongue while stroking her fingers through his hair, and when she slowly pulled away, his heart felt like it was trying to fill his throat.

She smiled at him: a heart-meltingly soft-eyed smile. I love you, kitten, she said through the tadpoles, and she pressed one last soft kiss to his lips before lifting herself off of Halsin’s cock.

His come immediately started spilling onto his groin and pubic hair, and she made a face. “Oops. Mess incoming.”

Astarion cackled and stretched out on the bed. “Gods, Brynn. You couldn’t even do him the courtesy of dripping that on the bed instead?”

Brynn pulled an apologetic face. “Sorry, Halsin…”

He chuckled. “Don’t apologize, my autumn heart. I don’t mind in the least. Come lie with me,” he said, and he stroked her arm.

She shifted so she was straddling one of his thighs, then stretched out on his chest and nestled her cheek on his chest with a happy sigh. “Gods, you’re so warm.”

“Too warm, considering our activities?” Halsin said.

“Never,” she said. “I love getting sweaty with you. Although… Astarion, can you put your hand on my neck?”

He chuckled. “You’re so greedy. You just finished, and you want my hand on your neck again?”

“Not for sex reasons, you dope!” she chuckled. “Because your hands are cool. Can you cool me off?”

Astarion scoffed. “Gods, what a request. All right, fine.” He rolled onto his side so he was facing them, then brushed her hair back from her neck and laid his knuckles along the side of her neck.

“Oh, that’s perfect. Nice and cold.” She let out another happy sigh and closed her eyes.

“Perfect, of course,” Astarion said sarcastically. “It was always my ambition to be someone’s personal icebox.”

She smiled without opening her eyes. “Only for tonight. You can go back to being the most gorgeous spawn in Faerûn tomorrow morning.”

He scoffed. She giggled, then sighed and nestled her cheek on Halsin’s chest. “Gods alive, I’m already drifting. Goodnight, boys — I love you.”

“Goodnight, darling,” Astarion said warmly. “Sweet dreams.”

“Oakfather kindly guide your reveries,” Halsin murmured, and he ran his palm along her back. “I love you, as well.”

Her smile widened a little, then started to soften as the dreaming took her. Within less than a minute, she was gone.

Astarion huffed. “For someone who worries far too much, she certainly knocked out early tonight. Twice, actually.”

“Mm,” Halsin said. “Common wisdom holds that vigorous physical activity promotes a good night’s rest.”

His eyes were closed, too, but he was smirking. Astarion grinned at him, then laughed quietly. “You really are a cocky one. How did I not see this before?”

“Not cocky,” Halsin said. “Simply confident.”

“Oh, of course,” Astarion drawled. “Forgive my mistake.”

Halsin’s little smile widened. Then he turned his head to look Astarion in the eye. “Humour aside, I am glad that you are enjoying this.”

Astarion’s belly flipped. Halsin’s soft-serious-Brynnlike look was back.

He let out a light little laugh. “Of course I’m enjoying it. Watching a beautiful half-drow being perfectly railed by a druid the size of a bear? What’s not to like?”

Halsin smiled faintly, but his eyes remained unnervingly soft. “I hope this is not presumptuous of me, or premature, given what we just discussed. But if — or when — your desires should lead you along a path of wanting more, know that you are more than welcome to participate more actively with us, in whatever capacity you wish.”

For a second, Astarion was tongue-tied. Damn Halsin for being so bloody nice.

He swallowed hard and forcibly tamped down the impulse to crack a snarky joke. “Thank you,” he said carefully. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Halsin nodded, then turned his head to face the canopy once more and closed his eyes. “We should follow Brynn’s example and try to find our reveries. A long day of city adventuring awaits.”

Astarion smirked, but he opted not to tease Halsin tonight about his distaste for the city. “True. Sweet dreams, then.”

“To you as well. Silvanus guide your dreams.”

Not likely, Astarion thought wryly, but he closed his eyes anyway, even though he wasn’t tired.

A small hand slid over his wrist.

He flinched in surprise and opened his eyes. Brynn’s eyes were open, and she was smiling faintly at him.

He brushed his thumb over her cheek. Can’t sleep?

I’m okay, she said, and she started stroking his forearm.

A tingle of warmth spanned his skin, following the path of her fingers as they trailed from his wrist to his elbow. He gazed into her eyes for a moment — her beautiful blood-red eyes, the kindest and loveliest eyes he’d ever seen — then let out a long sigh and finally closed his eyes.

Her fingers smoothed along the inside of his arm in a slow and soothing caress: so slow, so soothing… He sighed again. This felt so very nice.

Goodnight, kitten, she whispered in his mind.

He smiled sleepily. Goodnight, my love, he said, and he drifted into a peaceful reverie.

Chapter Text

He was flying over Reithwin Town, his thunderbird’s wings spread wide as he graced the verdant lands with a nourishing shower of rain. Thaniel and Oliver were below, laughing uproariously as they splashed in the puddles that Halsin left behind, and he felt his heart swelling with a fierce sort of joy as he soared through the cloud-darkened sky.

Then he felt her: her warmth, the smallness of her body against his front, her bottom pressing back to meet him, spurring a fish-leap of excitement in the depths of his gut.

He landed barefoot beside Thaniel and Oliver in the puddle, then crouched down so he could be at eye-level with them. “Until tomorrow night, my friends.”

Oliver waved with both hands. “Tell your friends we said hello!”

Thaniel rested a hand on the crown of Halsin’s head. “Go be happy, Halsin. Go.”

He woke with a sharp inhale. “My heart?” he mumbled.

Brynn gripped his wrist and arched her spine, and his breath left him for a split second. The curves of her bottom were pressing against his groin, veiled teasingly by the fabric of Astarion’s shirt…

He exhaled on a low growl, then pulled the shirt away from her shoulder and buried his nose against the back of her neck. She gasped softly and arched her spine again, rolling her hips back to rub against him… Mm, Eilaena: even veiled with the damnable barrier of clothing, the friction of her bottom rubbing against his already-hard cock was exquisite.

He licked the juncture of her neck and shoulder, then pressed his teeth into the tender spot, and she jolted and pressed her hips back even harder. “Please,” she mewled.

He pressed his lips to her ear. “Do you want this, Eilaena?” he panted. “Can we make love to you?” He lifted his gaze to Astarion.

His heart skipped a beat. Astarion was awake and watching them. His lips were slightly parted and his crimson eyes were wide with excitement, and the guileless look on his face made Halsin’s heart thump hard.

Astarion swallowed visibly. Then he brushed his thumb over Brynn’s chin. “Well, darling? Do you want to make love?” He trailed his knuckles along the side of her throat.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Yes, I want to—”

Halsin flexed his hips against her ass and pressed his teeth into her shoulder.

She let out a little cry and bucked her hips back to meet him. He pumped his cock against the cleft of her bottom a few more times, ruing the fabric of Astarion’s shirt more with every thrust — argh, he couldn’t stand it, he’d had enough of this shirt being between them.

He grabbed the hem of the shirt and roughly pulled it up so it was ruched above her breasts, and she let out a breathless moan and grabbed his hand. “Touch me,” she whimpered, and she pulled Halsin’s hand to her breast. “I want your hands on me—”

He cupped her breast and bit her shoulder and rubbed his cock against her bottom — hm, the warm sanded-leather softness of her bare skin was heavenly. He swiftly reached down and positioned his cock so this length was sandwiched between her thighs, then pumped his hips… Argh, the slippery slide of her folds gliding along his length as his cock slid between her thighs: this was the sweetest kind of self-torture.

He groaned into her shoulder and flexed his hips a few more times, savouring her needy mewling sounds, then lifted his mouth and looked Astarion in the eye. “What shall we do with her first?” he growled.

Astarion’s awestruck expression instantly became wicked, and Brynn spoke in a strained voice. “Do with me? Wh-what do you mean—”

Astarion cut her off. “Roll her onto her back. Keep those big hands of yours on her breasts.”

“As you wish,” Halsin said.

“Hey, wait!” Brynn said. “What about—”

He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him, then shifted back on the bed so he was propped up on the pillows with Brynn between his legs. When they were settled, he looked at Astarion once more. “Shall I have her spread wide and welcoming for you?” he said, and he glided his palms up to cradle her breasts. Damn this shirt, he wished she wasn’t wearing it.

She moaned and rolled her hips — hm, the vixen, her round curves rubbing against his cock. “Why does it feel like you two are plotting against me?” she said breathlessly.

“Because we are,” Astarion said smugly. “And yes, bear-man, spread her legs for me. Allow me to devour this delightful treat of ours.” He gave Brynn a roguish grin as he kneeled on the bed in front of her.

Brynn burst out a little laugh. “You brat. You’re a brat, too,” she added in Halsin’s direction.

“In this context, I think I shall take that as a compliment,” he said. He placed his hands on her knees, then slowly eased them apart.

She drew a deep breath, and when Halsin glided his palms from her knees down to her inner thighs, she made a beautiful mewling sound and flexed her hips. “G-gods…”

“‘Gods’ is right,” Astarion breathed. His eyes were fixed on her sex, and he studied her intently as he settled on his belly. “You really do look good enough to eat, Eilaena.”

“Enjoy,” Halsin growled. “But leave some of her honey for me. I would taste her myself when you are finished.”

Astarion grinned. “You greedy man.”

Halsin smiled back, and Brynn whimpered, her thighs trembling now under his palms. “Please,” she whined, and she undulated her hips in a way that made his cock pulse against her spine. “Please, don’t leave me like this!”

“Like this in what way, darling?” Astarion said. “Painfully, drippingly horny?” He smoothed two fingers along the length of her folds.

She gasped and jerked, her head falling back to rest against Halsin’s collarbone, and he pressed his lips to her temple. “Feel him, my heart,” he murmured to her. “Feel his fingers gliding over your flesh. Show us how much you enjoy it. Let your wanton nature be free.” He lifted one hand and cradled her breast.

She arched into his hand, but Astarion lifted his head. “Wait. Put your hand back on her thigh. They make a lovely frame for the exquisite work I’m about to do.”

Halsin smirked. “As you wish,” he said, and he placed both hands on her inner thighs once more.

“Astarion, are you sure about this?” Brynn said breathlessly. “You don’t — I don’t want you to feel like you have to—”

“I do want to,” he said seriously. “This is what I want, Eilaena. Me and Halsin. Let us pleasure you until you’re a puddle.”

Halsin hummed his agreement and nuzzled the angle of her jaw, and she pulled in a sharp breath. “Okay. As long as you’re sure. If you change your mind—”

“Trust me, I won’t,” Astarion said, and he lowered his head and kissed her sex.

She gasped and let out a high-pitched moan. She was rocking her hips subtly, just enough that it was setting up the sweetest friction against Halsin’s cock, and he found his breath growing ragged as the base of her spine rubbed against his stone-hard length.

He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Your eagerness is always a thrill,” he breathed. “I cannot wait to taste that eagerness for myself.”

She moaned and nodded, her hips still moving in a subtle-but-maddening rhythm as Astarion’s mouth moved between her legs, and Halsin enjoyed the tension of her thighs under his palms as he murmured in her ear. “How does it feel, my heart? To know that you are so treasured, so desired, that we must force ourselves to take turns at feasting on your cunt?”

Astarion moaned softly — a breathless, desirous sound that made Halsin’s cock pulse more strongly still — and Brynn made a sweet mewling sound. “You’re spoiling me,” she whimpered.

“No,” Halsin said earnestly. “We could never spoil you. This is the least that you deserve. Isn’t that right, Astarion?”

He nodded, then lifted his mouth and pushed at Halsin’s right hand. “Put your hand on her throat,” he panted. “Show her what a good girl she is.”

“Yes!” Brynn gasped, and she jerked her hips. “Please—”

Astarion drew his tongue up along her cleft, then slanted his mouth over her sex again in a ravenous kiss, and Halsin glided his palm from her thigh up to her breast and brushed her pearl-hard nipple with his thumb.

She moaned and shuddered, then widened her thighs and started flexing her hips again — still in that subtle way, subtle enough not to throw off Astarion’s rhythm, but enough that her back and bottom were riding against Halsin’s cock in persistent way that made his bear want to burst free.

Not now, he coached himself. He pinched her nipple and nipped her neck until she was mewling with need, then encircled her delicate throat with his hand.

“Please!” she burst out.

He flexed his hips against her back and pressed his mouth to her ear. “I cannot wait to hear you come,” he growled. “Beautiful though your voice is when you sing, the symphony of sounds you make when you find your pleasure is nothing short of heavenly.”

Astarion moaned again, a muffled sound of pleasure against Brynn’s sex, and the sound incensed his lust even further. He gripped her throat a little tighter, and she gasped sharply and shuddered again. “F-fuck! Mm, please, please…”

He nipped her earlobe. “Are you close, beloved? Is the peak dawning on you?”

“Mhm,” she whimpered. “Mm, Astarion, d-don’t stop…”

Astarion shook his head slightly. His crimson eyes were fixed on Brynn’s face, and as Halsin watched him, his gaze shifted to meet Halsin’s eyes instead.

Astarion’s eyes widened with excitement. Halsin smirked at him, and without breaking from Astarion’s wide-eyed gaze, he pressed his mouth to Brynn’s ear again. “I am watching him right now,” he purred in her ear. “I promise you, my heart, there is nothing he would rather be doing right now than devouring your exquisite cunt.”

Astarion’s eyes fluttered shut, and Brynn gasped sharply. “Yes! Gods, oh gods—” She broke off suddenly and pressed her lips together hard.

“There you are, my love, on the cusp,” Halsin crooned. He glided his palm over her breast and thumbed her nipple, then brought his hand back up to grip her throat. “Let us hear you.”

She was silent and trembling for another few pounding heartbeats. Then she gasped and arched her spine. “Fuck! F-fuck — a-ah!” She rested her hand on Astarion’s head and began rocking her hips wildly toward his mouth.

Halsin breathed hard behind her, his cock throbbing with need and his shoulders and back prickling with the feral urge to embrace his bear, but he forced himself to keep the urge in check. Becoming bear-shaped on the bed right now would ruin the mood entirely. He forced himself to breathe slowly — argh, the scent of her cunt, how he wanted to taste it for himself!

He lifted his left hand from Brynn’s thigh and brushed his knuckles over Astarion’s cheek. “Lift your head, my friend.”

Astarion lifted his mouth — argh, his chin and lips were glistening with Brynn’s slick. “Gods, you’re impatient,” he complained. “I wasn’t quite done. Did you know you can feel her clit beating like a tiny little heart when she—”

Halsin wiped Astarion’s chin and lower lip with his thumb, then brought his hand to his mouth and sucked her juices from his thumb.

“Holy fuck,” Brynn gasped.

Astarion didn’t reply. His face was slack with surprise, and the tips of his ears were turning pink — wait, was he blushing? Halsin had no idea that vampire spawn were capable of blushing!

He smiled helplessly at Astarion, charmed by how sweet and guileless he was. An adorably goofy smile lifted Astarion’s lips, and he scoffed and sat back on his heels. “Honestly. If you’re that desperate to feast on her, all you had to do was ask.”

Brynn burst out a breathless little sob-laugh, and Halsin chuckled too. “Fair enough,” he said warmly. “Eilaena, would you honour me by letting me devour you?”

“Mhm,” she whimpered, and she rolled her hips. “I — p-please—”

He turned her cheek toward him and kissed her, delving his tongue into the sweetness of her mouth and savouring the muffled sound of her moans around his tongue, then broke from her kiss to look Astarion in the eye once more. “How shall I do this? Where do you want me?”

“U-um…” He swallowed hard. “How about, er, l-let’s switch places. But this time — Eilaena, darling, get on your hands and knees. Oh, and take off that damned shirt already.”

She whimpered and panted for breath as she obeyed him, and Halsin shifted down to the bottom of the bed to kneel behind her — argh, she was dripping, the nectar of her sex was dripping on the bed!

The bear roared within his chest. He clenched his jaw and squeezed the root of his cock hard to keep himself in check. Then he felt a cool hand on his face. “Look at me,” Astarion said quietly.

Halsin looked at him, and his heart skipped a beat. Astarion’s face was serious now, serious and tender in a way that Halsin had only seen when the younger man was looking at Brynn…

“Your eyes are like the sun,” Astarion said softly.

Halsin stared at him, arrested by his words. He… didn’t know what to say. Astarion’s words sounded like the highest of praise, especially delivered in that soft and earnest tone, and he… Silvanus’s mercy, he was tongue-tied.

Astarion smiled faintly, then lowered his hand. “Go on, then. Have your way with her.” He sat back against the pillows and stretched out his legs, then stroked Brynn’s hair. “Come here, darling. Rest your head on my lap while the bear-man enjoys his fresh honey.”

Brynn crawled to Astarion and cradled his neck in her palms, then pressed her forehead to his. “I love you,” she said shakily.

He huffed a laugh and stroked her wrist. “I love you, too. Now settle down and prepare yourself.” He quirked a brow at Halsin. “Ready, druid?”

Halsin smiled, amused by the return of Astarion’s usual humour. “I am always ready for this,” he said, and he ran his palm up along the back of Brynn’s thigh.

She shuddered and arched her back, and he smoothed his palm along her spine. “Lay your head down on Astarion’s lap, lover,” he cajoled. “Make yourself comfortable.”

She did as she was told, resting her chest and head on Astarion’s lap, and Astarion ran his fingers through her hair. “Good girl,” he crooned.

“A very good lass,” Halsin breathed. He lowered himself to his elbows behind her — Silvanus’s glory, she was slick-wet like morning dew, and so fragrant that she made his mouth water.

He angled his head and hungrily lapped her juices from her inner thighs, and she mewled and wiggled her hips — gods, the sight of her rounded rump swaying right in front of his face, this was the most exquisite torture!

“Halsin,” she moaned.

“Calm down, darling,” Astarion said soothingly. “He’ll give you your satisfaction. Just be patient.”

Halsin chuckled; he couldn’t help it. “You ask the impossible, Astarion. When it comes to carnal pursuits, she doesn’t know the meaning of patience. Her eagerness knows no bounds.” He drew his tongue through her slick-plump folds — hm, the plumpness of her flesh, the raw-salt-sweetness of her juices… Astarion was right when he called her a treat. Her cunt was the finest thing he’d had the pleasure of tasting since the day they had met.

She whimpered and rubbed her face against Astarion’s lap, and he pulled in a sharp breath. “Mm, Eilaena…”

“Sorry,” she whimpered. “Do you want me not to—?”

“No,” Astarion blurted. “It’s — don’t stop. Just, a-ah, focus on what Halsin is doing…”

Halsin growled and greedily kissed her sex, then began lapping at her clit, and she shuddered and arched her spine. “Fuck! Oh gods, f-fuck…” She spread her knees a little wider.

Astarion let out a breathless laugh. “Oh, Eilaena. You really are like a rabbit, aren’t you?”

Halsin chuckled as he slid his tongue over her swollen clit, and she burst out a moan-laugh. “Shut up, shut up!”

“No, thank you,” Astarion sing-songed. “I’m perfectly happy to keep talking all I want. Halsin, how’s the weather down there? Positively dripping still, I assume?”

“Shut up!” Brynn moaned.

Halsin briefly lifted his mouth. “Dripping in the most breathtaking way,” he panted, and he glided his tongue through her folds again to stroke her clit… Argh, she was so wet that her juices were dripping down his chin, and he loved it. He loved the plump softness of her folds cradling his tongue as he licked her, the tip of his tongue questing for the swollen bud of her clit, caressing it with just enough pressure to make her gasp and moan. He loved hearing her sounds, feeling her body rocking back to meet him as though she wanted to fuck his mouth — mm, her taste, her tender cunt, the perfect pearl of her clit as he played it gently yet relentlessly with his tongue… Ah, she wasn’t breathing anymore. She was holding her breath, the back of her thigh was trembling-tense under his palm, and he could hear Astarion breathing hard instead, desperate and ragged breaths of desire — hm, those were good sounds to hear…

“Yes!” Brynn cried. “Yes, yes, Halsin — mm ah!” She shuddered fiercely and arched her spine, then started grinding her cunt against his tongue.

“Good girl,” Astarion gasped, and he stroked her hair. “You’re so — hm, such a good girl…”

He sounded so pleasured, which was wonderful but curious. What was Brynn doing to make him sound so ecstatic? Halsin greedily licked her pulsing clit for a few seconds more, then sat back on his heels — ah, of course: Brynn was rubbing her cheek against the straining bulge in Astarion’s trousers.

Halsin smoothed his palm along her spine. “You truly are a good girl,” he told her, and he spanked her ass.

“Yes!” she cried. “Mm, Halsin, please—”

He smoothed his palm over her buttock to soothe her, then pressed two fingers inside of her.

She burst out a sob. “Please! Please, please…” She sobbed again and nuzzled Astarion’s cock through his trousers.

Astarion moaned and stroked her hair, and Halsin forced himself to quell the roaring need that was pounding in his cock. “Astarion, would you care for the honour of fucking her first?”

Astarion’s desire-dazed eyes darted to his face. “M-me?”

He nodded, and Astarion’s expression became guarded. “I… would like to,” he said carefully. “But I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. Not… while you’re here. I-I’m sorry—”

“Don’t be,” Halsin said, gently but firmly. “Never apologize for this, not ever.”

“He’s right, kitten,” Brynn panted. “It’s good that you said so. I’m — I love you, okay? And I love that you said ‘no’.”

Astarion nodded, then coquettishly tilted his head. “Well, you know what this means. Halsin will be having his way with you now, and he’s been gagging for it from the second he woke up. Isn’t that right, bear-man?”

“Correct,” Halsin said. He shuffled closer to Brynn on his knees, then gripped her hip and slid his cock between her folds. Not inside of her, not yet, but slipping through her plump-soft folds to coat himself with her slickness… ah, this feeling alone was utter bliss.

She gasped, then moaned and rubbed her face against Astarion’s groin, and he flexed his hips with a shuddery gasp. “How does that feel, Eilaena?” he said breathlessly. “Do you like having his big thick cock between your legs?”

“Mhm,” she moaned. “I love it. I fucking love it — Halsin, I love this, I love you!”

“I know, my heart,” he breathed. “I love you, also. Now show me how much you love this.” He gripped the root of his cock and buried himself inside of her in one hard stroke.

“Yes!” she cried, and she burst into tears. “Yes, yes…” She trailed off with a wild moan and gripped the bedsheets beside Astarion’s hip.

“Oh, yes,” Astarion said with relish. “Now that’s a sweet girl. Halsin, do that again.”

He couldn’t reply. His entire body was thrilling from the feel of her, thrilling with the heat and tightness of her body taking him deep, and it was taking every scrap of self-control he had to not turn into a bear right now.

Astarion laughed: a husky and knowing laugh. “Oh, go ahead already, will you? Go bear-shaped if you must. She’ll love it.”

“I can’t,” Halsin gritted. “I do not trust this bed to take my weight.”

“Fuck me!” Brynn wailed.

Ah, the command and the plea in her words, the raw desperation, the need… “My autumn heart,” Halsin gasped, and he pulled his hips back and drove into her again.

“Fuck!” she cried. “Fuck, ah—!” She sealed her lips over Astarion’s groin with a moan, and Halsin’s lust ratcheted even higher at the sight. Brynn was obviously desperate to take Astarion in her mouth, and Astarion was clearly enjoying what he was getting, even if he wasn’t yet ready for more. His face was a picture of uninhibited desire and awe, a sort of awe that spoke of a man who was relearning his own sexual nature, and the sight of him writhing under Brynn’s moaning mouth was driving Halsin’s feral need higher and higher, even higher still… Argh, he needed to make her come again, he needed to see her sobbing and moaning until she was drooling on Astarion’s groin.

He angled Brynn’s hips in a way he knew she especially liked, then pressed his length inside of her with a slow hard thrust. And just as he hoped, she gasped and started to tremble. “Fuck! Oh gods — Halsin, don’t stop—”

“Never,” he snarled. “Not until you come on my cock, my love. You won’t be going anywhere until you come.” He pulled his hips back, then slid inside of her again with a deep, slow thrust of his hips.

She mewled wantonly and rubbed her face on Astarion’s groin. Then he tightened his fingers in her hair. “Eilaena, I — I want your mouth,” he said shakily. “I want you to… P-please, can you—”

“Of course,” she gasped. “Of course I will, whatever you want!” She undid his buttons with an admirable speed, and Halsin watched avidly as Astarion lifted his hips and pushed down his trousers just a little, just enough to show off the sharp angles of his hipbones — ha, he was clean-shaven, and somehow Halsin wasn’t surprised—

Brynn pulled his cock out and took it into her mouth, and Astarion shuddered and moaned. “Gods, Eilaena, gods…”

Halsin growled and pressed himself deep inside of her again.

She moaned around Astarion’s cock, and he moaned and flexed his hips toward her. “Gods, please…” He stroked her hair, and Halsin watched with a near-desperate fascination as Eilaena’s plump lips slid up and down Astarion’s length.

Then Astarion met his gaze once more. “Don’t stop, druid,” he gasped. “You have a job to do.”

Ha, he was correct. “A sacred duty, one might even say,” Halsin replied, and he pressed his length deep inside of Brynn once more.

She shuddered fitfully, and Halsin exhaled. She was close; he could feel it in the tremors of her body, both outside and in. He drew his hips back and drove into her again, then spoke to Astarion: “Fill her throat until she cannot breathe. It makes her wild.”

Eilaena whimpered around his cock, then started suckling him frantically, and Astarion shivered and let out a little moan-laugh. “A little breath play, is it? How am I not surprised?” He stroked her hair, then cradled the back of her head and met Halsin’s eye.

Halsin nodded, then pressed deep into Eilaena again — argh, he could feel her bearing down around him, she was getting so close! “Astarion—”

“Yes,” he gasped, and he pressed the back of Brynn’s head to keep his cock deep in her throat. “Don’t move a muscle, darling. Not until you come. Or if you need to tap out, of course.”

Halsin huffed in amusement, then pressed into her again — ah, ah, she was so close that it was bringing him to the cusp: her tightness, he could feel her bearing down—!

He thrust into her again, and a whole-body shudder wracked her — argh, yes, she was coming, he could feel her climax pulsing around him!

“Eilaena,” he moaned, and he began fucking her hard and fast.

“Good girl,” Astarion gasped, and he released her head.

She lifted her head and dragged in a breath. “Yes!” she wailed. “Yes, fu—” She took Astarion’s cock into her mouth again, but Halsin couldn’t let her find a rhythm with her mouth. He was too caught up in this, too enraptured by the intensity of her body pulsing hot and tight around him as he pounded into her, too overwhelmed by the unfamiliar-yet-dear sound of Astarion gasping and groaning with pleasure as Eilaena’s lips slid erratically up and down his length — mm, ah, argh, he was coming to the peak, he was right there on the verge of it, he was going over—!

He shuddered fitfully and slammed into her a few more times, then groaned and draped himself over her sweat-dappled back. He was quaking still, the pleasure rolling through his body in waves of pressure-pulse-relief, and he ravenously licked her back as the ecstasy took him, wanting and loving the taste of her sex-sweat on his tongue.

Then Astarion spoke in a strained voice. “Eilaena, please,” he begged. “Please, I — I n-need…”

She made a muffled whimpering sound, then began suckling Astarion in earnest, her lips sliding up and down his length in a fast and steady rhythm. Then, with some difficulty, she reached into his trousers and fondled his balls.

Astarion jerked and grabbed her shoulder. “Gods! Oh gods, gods—” His eyelids fluttered, his beautiful face contorting with pleasure, and he slammed his head back in the pillows with a strained cry. “Ah, gods!”

Halsin watched him with a languid sort of enjoyment, admiring the quaking of his body and the tendons straining in his neck as his orgasm took him. When he finally settled down, breathing hard but loose-limbed on the pillows, Halsin lifted his head from Brynn’s back, then carefully pulled out of her.

His seed dripped out of her, trickling along her thigh and onto the bed, but she didn’t seem to care; she flopped onto her side with a moan and closed her eyes. “Gods, I am totally spent,” she breathed. “You two have killed me. Death by orgasm. I’m absolutely done. Goodnight.”

Halsin smirked at Astarion, who was rebuttoning his pants. “I think we met our goal,” he said slyly.

An equally-sly grin lit Astarion’s face. “Oh, I should think so.”

Brynn opened one eye. “What goal?”

Astarion rolled toward her and propped his cheek on his fist. “We wanted to turn you into a puddle, like you’re always threatening to do. And I think we succeeded.”

“As do I,” Halsin said. “She is certainly wet enough to be a puddle.” He dipped his head down and nuzzled her inner thigh, which was glazed with his come.

She burst out a laugh and sank her fingers into his hair. “Halsin!”

Astarion cackled. “Gods, Halsin, after all that? You really are an insatiable beast!”

He grumbled in amusement and lapped some of his seed from her inner thigh, then settled behind Brynn and skimmed his palm along her side. “Fine. I will give mercy, for now.”

“For now,” Brynn giggled. Then she sighed and settled her head on her folded arm. “Seriously though, this was… fucking incredible. Even if you two were doing it to tease me,” she added with a grin. “I loved it. Consider me puddle-ified.”

“The pleasure was ours, darling,” Astarion said warmly. “Now back to reverie with you.” He kissed her on the lips.

She cradled his neck in her palm as she kissed him, then brushed her nose to his. “I love you, kitten.” She rolled over to face Halsin and cupped his cheek in her palm. “Goodnight, my lovely bear. I love you,” she said, and she kissed him too.

He enjoyed the soft press of her lips, then kissed her forehead. “I love you, also,” he murmured.

She smiled at him, then snuggled her head against his chest and curled her fists under her chin. “Astarion, can you spoon me? I need to cool off.”

He tutted softly. “Always the demands. But I suppose I can indulge you.” He sidled close to her and draped his arm over her waist.

“Thanks, handsome,” she whispered. She closed her eyes, and Halsin watched her with a full and swollen heart as her smile softened with slumber.

He ran his fingers along the blade of her ear, then lifted his gaze to Astarion, and his heart skipped a beat; Astarion was gazing down at her too, with his cheek still propped on his fist, and the tenderness in his expression felt like looking into a mirror.

Then Astarion met his eye. “She’ll be all right,” he said, very quietly. “Everything is going to be fine.”

His words weren’t a question, but Halsin answered anyway. “She will. We will make sure of it.”

Astarion nodded, then settled his head on his folded arm. “Tell me a druid story.”

Halsin smiled. “A druid story?”

“Yes. Some goody-two-shoes tale about taking care of all the little animals and making vines grow. Something to put me to sleep.”

Halsin scoffed softly. “That is hardly a flattering request.”

Astarion smirked and closed his eyes. “I’m just teasing, of course. Sweet dreams, bear-man.”

Halsin studied him affectionately for a moment. Then, quietly, he spoke. “When I was very young, younger even than Wyll, I was walking the forests near my home when I found a baby bird at the base of a tree.”

Astarion’s lips curled at the corners, but he didn’t speak, so Halsin went on. “It was a newborn still wet from the shell. Not a single feather to speak of, and so small that I nearly didn’t spot it. But when I did, I realized that it had been pushed out of its nest by a cuckoo. I was faced with a choice — one that is difficult for many druids: allow nature to take its course, to return that baby bird to the soil, or to honour my own nature and care for the not-yet-fledgling with my own hands…”

He spoke quietly to Astarion about the baby bird, how he fed and cared for the tiny creature until it grew into the most splendid red-breasted robin Halsin had ever known. When that story was done, he told another little story about how he and Thaniel had discovered a natural deposit of red clay that permanently stained every piece of clothing he wore. By the time that story was done, Astarion was asleep.

Halsin fondly studied his peaceful face. He truly is a kitten, he thought, and he reached over Brynn to tuck a lock of hair behind Astarion’s ear. “Dream peacefully, Astarion,” he murmured.

“I love you,” Brynn whispered.

He looked at her in surprise. “Forgive me,” he whispered back. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”

She didn’t reply. Instead, she pulled him into a kiss.

His heart lifted, rising with joy as though it was carried on a thunderbird’s wings. He kissed her back, revelling in the sweetness of her mouth and the warmth of her tongue twining with his, revelling in everything good that this journey had given him: Brynn’s love, a tight-knit group of friends who saw him as one of their own, and perhaps most unexpectedly of all, the sensual companionship of a vampire spawn who had a core of goodness deep down.

I will protect them all, he thought. No harm will come to them. I swear it on the Oakfather’s boughs. With that stalwart thought, he gave himself over to Eilaena’s love for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

Four months after the Netherbrain’s defeat…

It was late evening in Reithwin. The sky was a luscious blue canvas just waiting to be painted with the twinkling of stars, and the air was redolent with night-blooming phlox and gardenia. As Halsin ambled along the northwestern border of the community, he savoured the springiness of moss under his paw-pads and the symphony of crickets chirring their alluring tune. Truly, there was nothing quite like the wonders of nature’s bounty to make the nighttime patrol even more pleasant.

Overhead, a raven banked in a graceful arc before landing on his furry shoulder. “All quiet so far to the east and south.”

“Thank you, Yvaine,” he replied. “I am glad to hear it.”

Yvaine bobbed her head, then launched herself back into the air to continue her aerial patrol, and Halsin ambled along his now-familiar route toward the western border: the border that funneled toward the road that he and Brynn and the others had taken to Baldur’s Gate, some five-odd months ago.

As always, he felt a twist of longing in his chest at the thought of Brynn. It had been four long months now since their parting, but her face remained at the forefront of his mind every night when he laid his head down to rest, and the memory of her laughter was so clear and bright in his mind that he would swear sometimes that he heard it on the breeze. He still wore her sandalwood bangle on the leather cord around his neck, just as he’d promised her he would, and when he brought the bangle to his lips every night to wish her a silent goodnight, he couldn’t tell anymore whether the faint fragrance of almond oil was really still infused in the wood, or whether it was just his imagination conjuring her beloved scent.

She will visit someday, he reminded himself. As soon as nature allows, she will visit. He made his way past the grand magnolia tree in the central square, remembering fondly how Thaniel and Oliver had made it bloom for the first time in a hundred years, then continued on his well-known path toward the high road.

Then he heard it, like the faintest chiming of a bell on the evening breeze: a lilting laugh, husky and bright, almost musical in its sound.

He froze in his tracks. Was that…? No, it must be his imagination again; all he was hearing was the susurrus of the breeze ruffling the leaves. He took a deep breath to relax—

His heart skipped. A whiff of scent had reached his ursine nose: a sweet and heartwrenchingly familiar scent.

Almond oil, he thought excitedly. He couldn’t be imagining that; he didn’t have her bangle around his neck in his bear form. That unique scent, that trace of laughter he could swear he’d heard—

There! Again, he heard the laughter, so faint that it was nearly masked by the crickets and fluttering leaves, but… wait, that was another voice he was hearing as well! A man’s voice, too indistinct to hear his words, but the timbre of that voice was bright with humour and wit. Could it be? After four months of heart-aching separation, could it finally be…?

He set off at a run in the direction of the voices. They were coming from the high road, which made his racing heart thump even faster; it would make sense if they were coming from that direction, since he knew they had travelled to Neverwinter in the far north… It must be them, it had to be!

As quickly as his paws could carry him, he barrelled through the trees that encircled the settlement, following her scent and her sound… It was her, it had to be her, he was certain of it. He burst through the trees and whipped around to face the high road—

“Sweet hells,” Astarion exclaimed. “Well, that’s not unnerving in the least.”

A hot rush of euphoria flooded his veins. At the mouth of the high road, a mere thirty paces away, were Brynn and Astarion.

“Halsin!” Brynn cried, and she bolted toward him.

He shifted into his elf shape and opened his arms, and she slammed into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

My autumn heart. He hugged her hard and buried his face against her neck, and her scent struck him with the force of a deer’s kick to the chest. The almond oil of her hair, the sleepy warmth of her charcoal skin, that ineffable lightning-snap of electricity that was so uniquely her, as though the heat and magic in her blood couldn’t be contained… Silvanus have mercy, he was on the verge of tears from her scent alone.

He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed her lips to his ear. “I love you,” she whispered, and she kissed his cheek. “I love you so much, Halsin. I missed you so fucking much.”

Ah, he was crying, he couldn’t help himself. He exhaled shakily and pressed his face to her neck, nuzzling her throat and kissing the angle of her jaw, then finally lifted his head to look her in the eye. “Seeing you is like a balm for the soul,” he said thickly. “You cannot fathom the nights I have spent imagining this — imagining you. I almost fear to let you go in case this is merely a dream.”

She burst out a laugh, and a tear ran down her face. “Holy hells. Just kill me with the perfect words as soon as I lay eyes on you, why don’t you?”

He laughed softly. And then, for the first time in four long months, he kissed her.

Her lips parted for him, soft and velvet-smooth like the petals of a moonflower unfurling under the light of the stars. As her tongue glided along his own, he almost felt as though he was unfurling as well, as though something tightly-coiled in his chest was warming and blooming wide as she cradled his neck in her palms and slanted her lips over his.

She was here. Brynn was here! After four months of being apart, four endless months of comforting himself with memories of her and the letters she’d sent him during her travels with Astarion, she was finally here, and Halsin felt as though his heart was blossoming to match the vitality of the lands around them.

Astarion cleared his throat. “Hello. As sweet as this is, I’d rather have a chair to sit in if I’m going to be watching the show.”

Brynn broke from Halsin’s lips with a laugh, and he smiled at Astarion. “Apologies, my friend. I’ve been terribly remiss in my greetings.” He gently set Brynn on her feet, then turned to Astarion. “I hope it is not too bold to say I would dearly like to embrace you.”

He scoffed. “Well, of course you would, saccharine as you are. And… I suppose that would be all right.”

Halsin chuckled, then pulled Astarion into a tight hug. “Welcome back to Reithwin,” he said softly. “It is wonderful to see you.”

Astarion awkwardly returned his embrace and patted his back. “It’s nice to see you, too. You’re looking robust. And you smell surprisingly well-bathed, considering that you’re the father of a hundred brats.”

Brynn laughed. “Astarion!”

Halsin chuckled and released him. “Well-bathed I am. You will be happy to hear that it’s a nightly ritual to herd our beloved flock to the river for bathtime.” He turned back to Brynn, and his heart lifted once more to look at her. She was even more lovely than he remembered, with her broad and beautiful smile and the obvious affection shining in her crimson eyes. But there was a significant change to her appearance, too.

He cradled her face in his hands. “You’ve reclaimed your natural hair colour,” he said. Sure enough, her hair was a rich dark red: precisely the same shade of a specific variety of maple at the peak of its ripening in the fall.

“She has indeed,” Astarion said proudly. “Finally made the plunge back into being a ginger two months ago. Isn’t she utterly fetching?”

“She is,” Halsin said softly, and he tucked her hair behind her ear. “‘Fetching’ does not begin to capture how lovely you are.”

“Aw, you flatterers,” she giggled. “I could’ve mentioned it in my letters, I know, but I wanted to surprise you. What do you think?” She playfully flicked back her hair.

“You are my autumn heart in appearance now, as well as in spirit,” he said. “And you have never been more beautiful.”

She ducked her head in that charmingly coy way and tugged her earrings: earrings that he noted were gold now rather than silver. “You boys! You’re going to make my face go up in flames with this blushing.”

“Oh good,” Astarion said cheerfully. “Making you blush is one of our favourite shared pastimes.”

“It certainly is,” Halsin said slyly. “One that I have dearly missed, and which we shall endeavour to make happen repeatedly tonight.”

Brynn grinned, but Astarion held up a hand. “Er, maybe next time. I just came along to drop Eilaena off and say hello.”

Halsin looked at him in surprise. “You’re not planning to stay?”

“Not this time. I figured I’d let you two have a chance to ravage each other for a couple of days before I return.”

Halsin was confused. “But — come back from where? Where will you go at this time of night?”

“To Gale’s tower,” Astarion said. He held up his right hand and wiggled his fingers, one of which bore a silver ring with an amber-coloured stone. “He and Tara made this tidy little bauble so we can teleport to and from their tower whenever we like. With a magical guiding push from one of you spellcasting types, of course.”

“Gale is really proud of that ring,” Brynn added. “It’s his first big magical creation since Mystra removed the orb from his chest. He calls it the Ring of Rejuvenating Return, since his tower is a nice place for a little rest-and-relaxation.”

“A very apt name for such a useful ring,” Halsin said. “But you need not rush to use it tonight, Astarion. It is a pleasure to see you after so long. I would be more than happy if you stayed.”

Brynn nudged Astarion with her elbow. “See? I told you he’d be happy to see you.”

“Yes, but he’s happier to see you,” Astarion said, and he gave Halsin a frank look. “Admit it, druid. You want some time alone with our redheaded little treat.”

“To be alone with Eilaena will be a wonderful boon,” he agreed. “But that can wait. Do not discount your place in my affections; I have missed you, also. I would be thrilled to host you both tonight. I am eager for the three of us to reacquaint ourselves after these lengthy months apart.”

Astarion huffed and rubbed the back of his neck, and Brynn hugged his arm. “Come on, kitten, stay the night. Stay with me and Halsin and cuddle-pile with us!”

He gave her an exasperated look. “I’m trying to be ‘considerate’ and ‘thoughtful’ by giving you some time with the bear-man alone, and you’re spoiling it.”

Halsin huffed in amusement, and she giggled. “Well, your kind-and-considerate-ness has been noted. Now put it aside for tonight and stay.”

Astarion rolled his eyes, though he was smiling now. “Fine, twist my arm, I’ll stay. Are you happy now?”

“Yes!” she chirped, and she kissed his cheek. “I’ve totally missed this gorgeous-man sandwich.”

“As have I,” Halsin said warmly, and he draped his arms around them both. “Now come. There is much to show you. Quietly, though, since the children are settled in for the night.”

“Thank the gods for small mercies,” Astarion said as they made their way toward the trees that ringed the settlement. “I’m only in the mood for company of the grown-up persuasion tonight.”

Brynn chuckled, and Halsin smiled at him. “It is ideal that you arrived at this time, then. We have the entire night to savour one another’s company. Ah, but I should ask for someone to take over my patrol.” He brought his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud whistle.

Astarion winced. “What was that for?”

“I’m calling for a friend to — ah, that was quick,” he said with a smile as Yvaine fluttered down to land on his outstretched arm. “Yvaine, this is Astarion and Brynn—”

“Eilaena,” she said. “I’m going by Eilaena now.”

Astarion smiled at her, and Halsin’s heart lifted. She had finally done it, then: after years of wearing the mask of Brynn Bladetongue, she finally felt comfortable enough with her own past to reclaim her true name! So much growth and change had happened in their four months apart, and he was eager to hear all about it.

He proudly squeezed her hand before turning back to Yvaine. “These are my beloved friends, Astarion and Eilaena,” he said. “They will be staying with us for at least one night, hopefully more. Can you ask Jord to take over my patrol for the night?”

“Will do. Nice to meet you,” she said to Astarion and Eilaena.

“You too!” Eilaena said.

Yvaine bobbed her head, then launched into flight, and Eilaena clasped her hands together. “Gods, it’s so great to see a bird here. And listen to all those crickets!”

“Yes, they’re putting up quite a racket,” Astarion said playfully. “Thaniel and Oliver have really gone wild with the place, haven’t they?”

“Indeed,” Halsin said. “They have turned what was once a shadowy wasteland into a true home for all. In another six months, I would wager the scars of the past will be entirely invisible, even to those who remember them. And wait until you see the settlement itself,” he said eagerly. “It is nearly unrecognizable. The old masonry of Moonrise Towers and Reithwin have been repurposed into new homes, and the land is rich with harvests and bountiful trees.” He gestured at the thriving copse of trees that they were walking through. “Nature and civilization are in harmony, stronger together. Though I have learned over these few months that such harmony is a more complex, evolving beast than I could ever have anticipated. True balance is no simple, fixed thing,” he said earnestly. “I see that now. We welcome folk from all walks of life, anyone who wishes for a new start, and it is only natural that friction arises when such a variety of people come together to make a life for themselves. It can be chaos at times, but it is a thrilling sort of chaos. It thrives in ways I could never have dreamed. And in truth, I think I am better able to help them navigate it than I ever was as archdruid of the Grove. I am wiser now, perhaps, but more importantly, I am happier.”

“You really are, aren’t you?” Eilaena said softly. “You look so much happier. Seriously, Halsin, you’re practically vibrating with it.”

“It’s true,” Astarion said. “You seem very perky. A bit of a surprise, given the many, many children.”

Halsin chuckled. “They are my great purpose, and greatest reward. They’ve been through more than fate had any right to cast at them, and yet they go on, as resilient as anything in nature. I impart what knowledge I can to them, yet in truth, they teach me far more. Raising them tuckers me out more than anything I have ever known, but it is a good kind of fatigue — the kind that leads to the most restful reveries at night, hence the perkiness. Hardships feel rare and diminished when you are where you truly want to be.”

“That’s so great to hear,” Eilaena gushed. “So great. That’s — oh, Halsin!” She hugged his arm. “I’m so fucking happy that you’re happy here. I just want to hug you all the way back to town!”

Astarion snorted. “If you slow down to hug him again, we’ll never make it there.”

“I have a simple solution, I think,” Halsin said, and he swept her into his arms.

She burst out a laugh and draped her arms around his neck. “Are you serious? You’ll carry me back to town?”

“I shall be happy to, as long as you embrace me along the way.”

She giggled and kissed his cheek, and Astarion tsked at her, though he was smirking. “It’s a wonder you didn’t demand to be carried around like this during our tadpole days. Something tells me the druid would have said yes.”

“I would have,” Halsin agreed. “Whatever the intrepid adventure needed, I would have been glad to provide.”

Astarion scoffed. “Well, that’s a double-entendre if ever I heard one.”

“Ooh, I should hope so,” Eilaena said suggestively, and she kissed Halsin’s cheek and his ear.

He smiled helplessly, his eyes stinging with joy as he carried her through the trees. He could never forget the comfort of her easy affections, but it was one thing to lie on his pallet at night remembering the feeling of her uninhibited embrace, and another thing entirely to be in her arms once more. “You must forgive me for rambling on,” he said to them. “Blame it on the excitement of seeing you both. As much as I have wished and hoped to see you, I still find myself stunned by the fact that you are actually here.”

“Oh dear,” Astarion said. “Sounds to me like someone has been deprived of adult company.”

Eilaena laughed. “Astarion! Cut him a break about the kiddos!”

He snickered, and Halsin chuckled. “It is a fair concern, truly. We did have a dearth of adults among our numbers when first we left the city. But as time goes on, we have been joined by more and more refugees from across the Sword Coast, many of whom did not have children, but who have embraced our lifestyle wholeheartedly. So to answer your question,” he said drolly to Astarion, “I have had adult company. But it is not the same as what we and our travelling companions shared — you and I, Karlach and Wyll and the rest. Our bonds were forged in a crucible that can never be stoked again, Oakfather willing. It is a bond that can weather any distance, any passage of time. I know it can, for I feel the longing for old friends in my heart each day.”

Her expression softened, and she kissed his cheek again. He smiled at her, then turned to Astarion. “In any case, I shall cease my rambling for now. I am eager to hear all you have been doing. And please, spare no details. The children’s appetite for bedtime tales is greater than I could ever have anticipated. ‘Another story, Daddy Halsin, another!’ is the chorus that greets me each nightfall.”

Eilaena laughed, and he smiled as he went on. “They have all but exhausted my repertoire in a few short months. No mean feat, given the lifetime I have lived.”

Astarion gave him a mock-affronted look. “Hang on. Are you telling us that you’re going to shamelessly peddle our adventures as your own?”

“Not in the slightest,” Halsin said warmly. “All due credit shall be given to the tale’s originator. But if you should wish to retell of your exploits in person? Well, I shall not object to a night off.”

Astarion wrinkled his nose. “Who, me? Tell bedtime tales to children?”

“Yes. Whyever not?”

“Hm, let me think,” he said sarcastically. “Oh, I remember why. Because all of my best tales involve ample amounts of blood and guts. I assume that tales of death and dismemberment are not exactly the kind of bedtime stories you want rolled out to your precious tots.”

Eilaena laughed, and Halsin chuckled. “Fair enough. But if you can think of any appropriately-themed tales, the offer still stands. Perhaps you and Eilaena would be willing to join forces and tell a tale together.”

“Aw, I would love that!” she said. “What do you think, kitten? Should we do a double act for the kids while we’re here? Gods only know we’ve done enough double-act antics while travelling our way up to Neverwinter incognito.”

“Have you?” Halsin said eagerly. “Please, tell me of your double-act adventures. I enjoyed the telling of your travels in your letters, of course,” he said to Eilaena, “but I would cherish hearing the exploits told in your beloved voices.”

“Well, we can’t say no to a request like that,” Astarion said. “What do you think, darling? What shall we tell the bear-man first?”

She snapped her fingers. “I know! I’ve been giving Astarion some bard training.”

Halsin looked at Astarion in surprise. “You are training to become a bard?”

She laughed, and Astarion gave her a chiding look. “Now, let’s not exaggerate. She’s not training me to be a bard; she’s just putting some magical tricks in my already-extensive arsenal of talents.” He tsked. “Imagine me learning to sing like some glorified pied piper? No thank you. No, I’m quite happy to leave that performative nonsense to Eilaena.”

“Performative nonsense!” she exclaimed. “As though you don’t ask for me to sing you to sleep half the time.”

“Well, of course. You have a beautiful singing voice. But let’s not pretend you aren’t the clown between the two of us.”

“Guilty as charged,” she said proudly. “Though I still think I’m more in the caliber of court-jester than clown.”

Astarion smirked. “Anyway, yes: the bard training, so to speak, is more along the lines of little bardic magic tricks. I can cast a mage hand now, for instance. And I’ve become quite the expert at vicious mockery, if I do say so myself.”

“Were you not always an expert at vicious mockery?” Halsin said.

Eilaena laughed, and Astarion grinned at him. “Listen to you. You really are a silver-tongued flatterer.”

“The simple and unadorned truth, my friend,” he said warmly. “What other spells are you learning?”

“I’m working on casting minor illusions. Gale gave me some helpful advice for that, actually. And, er, I’m thinking of learning that speak-to-animals nonsense, since, well.” He gestured vaguely at Halsin.

Eilaena piped in. “He thought it would be nice to learn speak-to-animals so he could talk to you when you’re in your bear shape.”

Halsin looked at Astarion in delight, and he cleared his throat. “Yes, well. It’ll be useful for making friends with animals when we’re running cons, too. Getting cats to sneak into tight spaces for us, maybe talking a horse or two into bucking off its owner, that sort of thing.”

Eilaena nuzzled Halsin’s ear. “He’s missed you, too,” she said quietly. “He’s a little too shy to say it, though.”

“I heard that,” Astarion drawled. “And I am not shy. Don’t make me out to be some wilting flower. I’m just being practical, that’s all. Anyway, how much farther is it until we get to your precious town? We were already walking for two hours without pause before we got this far. Why does it seem as though this place has gotten bigger since we were last here?”

The tips of his ears were turning pink. Halsin gazed fondly at him as he replied. “We are nearly there. When we follow this road around these trees, you’ll see the settlement laid out before you.” He gently set Eilaena down on her feet, then caressed the back of Astarion’s neck. “You can rest to your heart’s content as soon as we arrive.”

“R-right, ha ha.” Astarion cleared his throat again and took Eilaena’s hand. “So. This settlement, then. Is it — do you have your own house? Or are you all sleeping together in some big cave like hibernating bears?”

Eilaena shot Halsin a secretive little smile, and he forced himself not to laugh as he replied. “We don’t all sleep together, no. But the orphaned children bonded so much during the journey here that they did not wish to be separated at night once we arrived. We have converted the old tollhouse into a communal nest of sorts. A ‘dormitory’, as I suppose city folk might call it.”

“Hm,” said Astarion. “How long will that last, do you suppose? They’ll start wanting privacy eventually.”

“Perhaps,” Halsin said. “And if they do, we have land enough to accommodate those wishes. There is space here to suit the needs of all who join us. See for yourself.” He led them around the final bend in the road, to the place where the trees opened into the settlement proper.

Astarion stalled in his tracks, and Eilaena’s jaw dropped. “Oh my gods. Oh, Halsin!” She stared open-mouthed at the verdant sprawl of former Reithwin, with its abundant gardens and its houses with their moss-and-greenery-covered roofs — all of it arrayed around the cerulean lake that Halsin, Thaniel, and Oliver had made in the middle of the town, where the Sharran sanctuary used to be.

Halsin affectionately studied her awe-filled face as she took it all in. Then she looked up at him with shining eyes. “Halsin, this place is fucking incredible. It’s like a paradise!”

He stroked her hair. “I’m thrilled that you like it,” he said softly, and he turned to Astarion, who was looking rather stunned. “Thoughts? Will you be able to find adequate rest here, do you think? It is a far cry from the city, I know…”

Astarion closed his mouth and looked up at him, and his serious expression made Halsin’s heart skip a beat. “This really is something,” he said quietly. “It’s… well.” He turned his gaze back to the settlement. “Imagine if Cazador’s seven-thousand spawn had a place like this to start over. Impossible, obviously, with the sunlight and all, but still.”

Halsin felt a pang for him. “How are the spawn? Have you seen them since you set them free?”

“Who, me? No no,” he said jovially, and he took Eilaena’s hand. “We’ve been too busy enjoying our lives and travelling the world, haven’t we, my sweet?”

“We sure have,” she said. “But we thought we might visit Dalyria and the others in the Underdark someday.”

“Someday, perhaps,” Astarion said casually. “Anyway, my feet are sore, and I want to lie down. Halsin, be a good host now and show me where I can put up my feet.”

“Your pretty pampered feet,” Eilaena teased, and she kissed his cheek.

He smirked, and Halsin nodded. “I shall show you to my abode, if that isn’t too presumptuous.”

“Not at all, bear-man. Lead on.”

He squeezed Astarion’s shoulder and exchanged a smile with Eilaena, then gently ushered them toward the settlement. Eilaena peppered him with questions about the druidic wards along the settlement’s borders and the rooftop gardens and how the lake had come to be, and he happily answered her questions as he led them toward his home, at the mouth of the pathway that once led to Moonrise Towers.

As they made their way along the path, Eilaena’s jaw dropped yet again. “Wha—! Moonrise is gone?”

“It is,” Halsin said. “The masonry—”

She interrupted excitedly. “That’s what you used to make new houses and rebuild some of the old ones in the main town!”

“That’s right.”

“Hang on,” Astarion said. “What is—? Oh gods. Halsin, don’t tell me that’s your house.”

He was pointing at Halsin’s abode: a spacious single-roomed dome made of bricks and daub, big enough to accommodate a dozen bedrolls on the floor if needed, with a broad arching doorway wide enough to accommodate him in his bear shape.

“That is my home, yes,” he said.

Eilaena gasped. “Oh my gods. It’s like a huge cave.” She laughed and hugged his arm. “You made yourself a bear cave?”

He smiled at her. “That was exactly the idea, yes. A compromise, you see, since I did not want to settle in a real cave far away from the children.” He nodded his chin at the erstwhile tollhouse, which was only a hundred or so paces away to the east.

“This place has no door,” Astarion complained.

“It doesn’t,” Halsin agreed. “Caves do not have doors, either. And this way, anyone who has need of me can feel free to enter at will.”

“By the hells.” Astarion gave Eilaena a pleading look. “Darling, can we just abduct him back to Gale and Tara’s tower for the night? At least their spare bedrooms have doors with locks. And if Halsin breaks the bed, Tara can simply fix it with a flick of her tail.”

“Sure, after scorching Halsin’s bum for making a mess of her tower,” she said with a grin. “No way, I want to stay in Halsin’s bear cave! Can I go in?”

Halsin gestured at the dome. “Please, make yourself at home.”

She darted inside, and Astarion gave him a long-suffering look. “You could have mentioned this before you brought us here.”

“It honestly did not occur to me that the lack of door would be a problem,” Halsin said. “But perhaps this will make it better.” He ushered Astarion into the cave, then reached up to the top of the cave mouth and unfurled the bamboo-and-waxcloth screen that he used to repel the rain during thunderstorms.

He fixed the bottom of the screen in place with bamboo stakes, and Astarion’s face cleared a little. “Well, that’s something, I suppose. Though it’s hardly soundproof.”

Eilaena shot him a sly smile from her seat by the merrily-crackling firepit in the middle of the floor. “What do you need it to be soundproof for?”

He arched a brow at her as he wandered into the dome. “Don’t kid yourself, darling. You’re the one I’m thinking of when it comes to soundproofing.”

She snickered and held out her hands to warm them by the fire. “I love this firepit you have going on here, Halsin. It reminds me of our travelling days.” She looked up at the circular hole in the dome’s roof. “You can even cook in here with that vent for smoke, hey?”

“That’s right,” he said as he sat beside her. “Though I would never presume to say my cooking is anywhere near as delectable as Gale’s. Next time you visit him, I would ask you to let him know I sorely miss his cooking.”

“I definitely will! He’s been brushing up on his baking skills since he got back to Waterdeep, you know. He made the best chocolate cream pie I’ve ever had in my life when we were last there.”

“That sounds wonderful,” he said. He shuffled closer to her, then gathered her in his lap.

She sighed and snuggled against his chest, tucking her head under his chin like how she used to do when they travelled together, and his eyes prickled with joy once more. Having her small body curled up in his lap so trustingly, with the fragrance of her hair scenting his every breath… Truly, this was bliss that put his memories to shame. It was surreal to have her here in his arms after those four long months apart, and as he sat here cuddling her close, he couldn’t help but feel as though the Oakfather was blessing him with the gift of her company and her embrace.

Astarion, meanwhile, was prowling around the cave like a cat growing accustomed to its surroundings. He eyed the herb hangers and druid-lights and the children’s drawings on the walls, then ran his fingers idly over Halsin’s admittedly-cluttered alchemy desk. “It’s more civilized in here than I would have expected. I’m surprised that you have actual furniture.” He eyed the jar- and knickknack-laden shelves and the handmade rocking chair in the corner, where Halsin would sit to soothe the children when they came to him with nightmares.

“Furniture has its uses,” Halsin said. “Though I’m afraid I don’t have a proper bed, as you can see.”

“Hm. But that, er, nest over there looks surprisingly plush.” Astarion wandered over to Halsin’s sleeping corner. “This mattress is enormous. Where did you get such a thing?”

“We made it here.”

Astarion looked at him in surprise. “You made this?”

“Our community did,” Halsin said. “All of our mattresses are made by our own hands. They are filled with wool donated by our sheep companions, and cotton grown in our fields.”

Eilaena lifted her head. “I’m surprised you even have a mattress! I thought you preferred to just sleep in the grass or moss.”

“Nature’s bedding will always be my preference, yes. But I was anticipating visitors who were raised in cities. Beloved visitors,” he said fondly, “who are more accustomed to the softness of a mattress at night.”

She beamed at him, and he kissed her forehead before turning to Astarion. “You wanted a place to lay down and put up your feet? Please, avail yourself of my mattress. I insist.”

Astarion tutted. “He insists. Well, don’t mind if I do.” He kicked off his shoes and started unbuttoning his doublet, then paused and wrinkled his nose. “Are you two just going to sit there?”

Eilaena giggled. “Well, that’s one way to ask if we’ll join you on the bed.” She kissed Halsin’s cheek, then popped up from his lap and bounced over to the mattress.

Halsin smiled helplessly at them as they shed their shoes and jackets. It was such a genuine pleasure to see the pair of them preparing to settle into his nest for the night. He rose to his feet and went to the storage chest in the corner to fetch pillows and blankets, and when he brought them over to the nest, his heart lifted even more to see them settled comfortably on the mattress: Eilaena sitting cross-legged, and Astarion fully stretched out on his back with his arms folded behind his head.

He held out a pillow to Astarion. “Here, for your comfort. And for you as well, my autumn heart.”

“Thanks!” She took the pillow and hugged it, then smiled up at him. “Ooh, it smells nice. Like cedar!”

“Exactly right,” he said as he placed the blankets at the foot of the mattress. “That is what the storage chest is made of. Are you hungry or thirsty, my heart? I have been remiss in my hospitality. Can I offer you any sustenance, something to drink? Apple or berry juice, tea, wine?”

“Just some water would be great.”

“Of course.” He went to pour her a mug of water.

“Excuse me,” said Astarion. “Where’s my offer of refreshment?”

Eilaena giggled and poked his arm. “You had yours earlier tonight!”

Halsin chuckled. “Forgive me for having nothing to offer you at the moment, my friend.” He kneeled on the mattress beside Eilaena and offered her the mug.

She took it with a smile, and Halsin watched her adoringly as she drank. When she was done, she lowered the mug and met his eye, then let out a little laugh and tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’re staring.”

“Yes,” he admitted. “I have a request to make.”

“Of course, ask away!”

“I dearly wish to feast my eyes on the wonders of your bare skin.”

Her face lit up, and Astarion cackled. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

“I will not apologize for expressing what I want,” Halsin said earnestly. “And what I want now, more than anything, is to see my autumn heart bare after all these months apart.”

Her expression grew tender in a way that made his heart flutter like aspen leaves. She put the mug aside, then shifted closer to him on her knees and cradled his face in her hands. “Of course I’ll strip for you. But I want you to do the same. I miss seeing you naked, too.”

He gently lifted her chin and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “It would be my pleasure,” he murmured. Then he turned to Astarion. “When last we were together, you were not yet ready to bare yourself fully. With no pressure whatsoever, if you were of a mind to join us in your natural state, I would be both honoured and thrilled to bear witness.”

“Bear witness, huh?” Eilaena said.

Astarion pinched her waist. “Don’t you start with the puns. As for you,” he said to Halsin, “of course you want to see me naked, perfect as I am.”

He smiled, and Astarion returned his smile before dropping his gaze. “Being serious, though, I… appreciate it. And I’ll consider it. But for now, I’ll just enjoy the show.”

Halsin nodded. “A wonderful plan.”

“I agree,” Eilaena said, and she shifted closer to Astarion and kissed his cheek.

He smirked, then tipped her chin up and traced his thumb over her lower lip.

Her lips parted slightly on a hitch of breath, and Astarion placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Get bare for Halsin now, pet,” he murmured. “And don’t you dare make another ursine pun, or I’ll bite you.”

“I love it when you threaten me with a good time,” she said breathlessly. She shucked off her vest and untucked her shirt, then stood up and started unbuttoning her fitted trousers.

Halsin’s heart kicked with anticipation. He and Astarion exchanged a smile, and he settled back on the mattress to watch as she shed her clothes.

Her shirt came off, and her trousers quickly followed. She unlaced the front of her bra and peeled it off, and Halsin exhaled in contentment. Her skin, the lines and curves of her body as the restrictive fabric of her clothing fell away: this was a truly blessed sight, and one he’d been fantasizing about for months.

His pulse rose with every piece of clothing she doffed, joy and heat coursing through his blood like the spring swell of a river. The moment she was bare, he reached for her and pulled her close with a hand on her hip.

She laughed softly and rested her hands on his shoulders. “Hey, hey, now what about you—”

He brushed his lips over the precious slate-dark expanse of her belly, then nuzzled a line from her navel down to her pubic hair: a lovely thatch of hair that used to be moon-white, but which was a rich dark shade of red now.

She pulled in a shivery little breath and threaded her fingers into his hair, and Astarion laughed softly. “Not wasting any time, are you, druid?”

“Never,” he murmured. “I cannot imagine a better use of time than this.” He kissed her hipbone and trailed his tongue along the crease of her thigh to her pubic hair, then nuzzled his way through the fragrant curls until he found her clit.

She was already slick with musk. He lapped delicately at the little bud, and the mere hint of her nectar on his tongue sent a rush of hunger flooding through his body.

He squeezed her bottom and delved his tongue through her folds to lap at her clit, and she dug her nails into his shoulders. “Mm! Halsin, what — wh-what about you?”

“Oh, I think he’s very happy doing just this right now, my sweet,” Astarion said silkily. “Just relax and enjoy it.”

She let out a shaky little moan-laugh. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’s standing while— hm, fuck…” She flexed her hips, then parted her legs a little bit, giving Halsin better access to her cunt.

“Good girl,” Astarion purred.

Halsin grumbled in agreement. She was thrusting her hips a little bit now, as though she couldn’t help but rub herself against his willing tongue, and he gripped her bottom more firmly so he could feel the flexing of her muscles as she rubbed herself against him. He lovingly traced her clit with his tongue, then slipped one hand between her legs to pet her folds — hmm, she was so wonderfully wet.

She shivered and moaned, then cradled the back of his neck and rolled her hips. “Gods, Halsin…”

Astarion spoke. “How does it feel, Eilaena? Is his tongue as talented as you remember?”

His voice was husky and a little strained, and the hint of desire in his voice made Halsin’s cock pulse even harder. To hear Astarion getting excited, the reassurance that he was enjoying this too: it really was wonderful to hear.

“Mhm,” Eilaena whimpered, and she ran her trembling fingers through Halsin’s hair. “I love this so much, my hungry bear…”

He growled in approval and caressed her slick-swollen folds with his fingers, then lifted her foot and placed it on his knee so he could spread her wider. He parted her pubic hair with his fingers and lovingly kissed her clit, then began suckling the tiny bud.

“Yes!” she gasped, and she tightened her fingers in the hair at his nape. “Ah, don’t stop, don’t stop…”

Never, he thought, and he soothingly petted her folds while suckling the swollen bud of her clit. Astarion, meanwhile, was sitting upright now, and Halsin could see from the corner of his eye that he was watching them avidly, his eyes wide with rapt attention as Halsin’s tongue and lips and fingers did their beloved work between Eilaena’s legs.

Thrilled and encouraged by Astarion’s attention, he angled his wrist and slowly pressed one finger inside of her, and she cried out — ah, Silvanus have mercy, he could feel her spasming around his finger already.

“Please!” she begged. “Halsin, please, please don’t stop…”

“Don’t you dare stop, druid,” Astarion said slyly. “She’s nearly there. Her calves are even trembling, the poor thing.”

“Don’t make fun of me!” she whined. “Don’t — mm, please—”

“Shh, don’t fret,” Astarion said, and he reached up to fondle her breast.

She gasped and shuddered, her nails biting even harder into Halsin’s shoulder, and Astarion chuckled as he rolled her nipple between his fingers. “Relax, Eilaena. Let the bear-man enjoy his treat like the sweet, obedient girl that you are.”

She burst out a whimpery little laugh, then pulled in a breath and held it. He could feel the quaking in her body as he squeezed her bottom, and he could hear Astarion’s breath growing uneven too as he coaxed Eilaena’s climax ever closer with his fingers and his tongue…

“Yes,” she whimpered. “Yes, yes, f-fuck… A-ah!” She cried out and shuddered, then started thrusting fiercely against his mouth — mm, yes, her nectar coating his lips and chin from the ferocity of her rolling hips, he had missed this dearly.

He pressed his finger firmly inside of her and curled it, and she cried out again. “Fuck! Please, please…”

He curled his finger again and laved her clit with his tongue, loving the way her inner muscles squeezed and trembled around him—

Her knees buckled. “Ah—!”

He quickly caught her as she dropped to the mattress. “Easy, my love. Gently now,” he crooned, and he kissed her.

She thrust her tongue into his mouth. She was kneeling in front of him now, and her hands were on the move, gliding frantically from his neck to his chest and back up to cup his face as she licked his tongue with the same hunger that was reaching a boiling point in the depths of his gut. He pulled her closer until she was straddling his knee — ah, she was dripping on his thigh.

A hot prickle of feral lust spanned the back of his neck and shoulders… Argh, not yet, not so early in the night, he couldn’t let his bear take control. He broke from her lips and pressed his forehead to hers. “Oakfather grant me patience,” he said roughly.

“Oh, what for?” Astarion said. “Ravage her already. I can’t wait to watch.”

She burst out a whimpery little sob-laugh and petted Halsin’s face. “This isn’t fair. I want you to be naked too,” she complained.

“Of course,” he said breathlessly. “Forgive me for not baring myself sooner.” He kissed her firmly, then stood up and began stripping.

Astarion didn’t make any cheeky remarks, which was something of a surprise. When Halsin kicked away his underpants and kneeled on the mattress once more, it was to find Astarion watching him with wide eyes.

Astarion smiled and dropped his gaze. “Ha. So, what’s next—”

Halsin reached out and gently lifted Astarion’s chin. “There is no need to avert your eyes,” he said gently. “Everything that happens tonight is for you as much as for us.”

Astarion swallowed hard and nodded, his eyes still wide and guileless in a way that Halsin found heartwrenching. He skimmed his knuckles along Astarion’s cheek, then turned to Eilaena, who was studying them both with such affection in her eyes that it brought a lump to his throat.

He ran his palm along her arm. “Come close, my autumn heart. I want to feel your skin against mine.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” She straddled his thigh again and trailed her fingers along his collarbones.

He smiled at her, then wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into a kiss. She stroked his face and his neck as they kissed, then his collarbones and pecs… Mm, good, she was tilting her hips down to rub her slickness against his bare thigh, that was very good.

He lapped at her tongue and gently nipped her lower lip — just a tiny nip to elicit a little whimper-gasp from her perfect lips — then he dipped his head down to drag his tongue over her breast. She gasped and arched her spine, pressing her chest toward his mouth, and Astarion made a sound: a soft, guttural sound somewhere between a sigh and a groan.

Halsin nuzzled Eilaena’s breast and ever-so-lightly nipped her hardened little nipple, then turned to look at Astarion. “How do you feel? Would you care to partake with us?”

Astarion didn’t reply. He was avidly studying them both, his crimson eyes wide as they travelled from Halsin’s hard cock to Eilaena’s groin rubbing against his thigh, to Halsin’s pecs and over to Eilaena’s hardened and saliva-slick nipple. When he met her eyes, his expression cracked a little. “I… Eilaena—”

“Hey, it’s okay,” she said. She swiftly dismounted Halsin’s thigh and shuffled over to Astarion, clasping his face in her palms and pressing her forehead to his. “It’s okay, kitten. I’m right here, all right? Whatever you want to do, anything you want, I — we’re right here. I’m right here. I love you, okay? I’m right here, so you can do whatever you want.”

He nodded and exhaled slowly. His eyes fluttered shut as he breathed slowly through his lips, and Halsin gazed at them with a swelling of affection. Seeing the pair of them curled together like this, Eilaena bare-naked and Astarion still clothed as they shared this moment of tenderness and trust: there was something about this moment, about them, that almost felt sacred, as though the bond between them was touched by the gods.

A heart-pounding moment later, Astarion took a deep breath, then shifted away from her and pulled his shirt over his head.

Halsin’s cock thumped. He had seen Astarion without his shirt before, but the sight of his lean and muscle-ripped chest was a rare one, and all the more precious for its rarity.

Astarion stood up and began unbuckling his belt. His cock was a hard and visible ridge through his trousers, and the sight of it made Halsin’s heart skip with excitement. Breathless now with anticipation, he reached for Eilaena. “Come, my heart,” he said.

She shifted close to him again and draped her arms around his neck as she straddled his thigh, and they watched together as Astarion opened his belt. He unbuttoned his trousers and hooked his thumbs into the waistband — and then he hesitated.

Halsin forced his gaze from the straining bulge in Astarion’s trousers and looked him in the eye. “You’re under no obligation. Whatever comforts and excites you—”

“I know,” Astarion interrupted. “I want this.” He swiftly pushed his trousers and underpants down.

His cock sprang free, and Halsin’s hardness pulsed in response to the tempting sight. Astarion kicked aside his clothes, then folded his arms and smiled at them: a charming smile that made Halsin’s heart ache just a little. “So. Now what, my dears?”

Eilaena stroked his hip. “Come down here and join us, you handsome fool.”

“Yes, please do,” Halsin said warmly. “Join us.”

Astarion kneeled on the mattress. “Eilaena, as I remember it, you were very busy grinding up a storm on Halsin’s mighty thigh. You should get back to it.”

She smiled, then reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. “Is that what you want me to do? I’ll do whatever you want.”

“That’s what I want. Let’s see you riding the bear-man’s thigh like a high-ranking githyanki dragon-warrior.”

She burst out a laugh. “Well, when you put it that way…” She rested one palm on Halsin’s abs and started rolling her body in a slow and erotic wave against his thigh.

Mm, the gentle weight of her body on his thigh, the fragrant nectar she was spreading on his skin, the way her smile melted into a lovely tense look of want… He kissed her, savouring her panting breaths against his tongue, then turned to Astarion. “Would you care to come closer?”

“Closer how?”

Halsin patted his other thigh.

A salacious grin lit Astarion’s face. “One on each thigh, is it? I suppose that’s why the Oak Daddy granted you two legs.”

Eilaena laughed breathlessly, still while grinding on Halsin’s thigh, and he chuckled as well. “Perhaps it is so. Would you be comfortable indulging me?”

Astarion wet his lips, then shrugged. “Oh, why not?” He shifted closer on his knees, hesitating for a second as his knees spread wider to part over Halsin’s thigh, then shuffled closer and gingerly rested his hand on Halsin’s shoulder.

Halsin took hold of his upper arm to support him. “Feel free to settle your weight on my thigh. Make yourself comfortable.”

“Right.” Astarion swallowed visibly, then slowly settled down so he was properly straddling Halsin’s thigh.

Halsin drew a slow breath to calm the pounding of his cock, then glided his palm down along Astarion’s back. “You are beautiful, Astarion.”

He playfully flicked back a lock of hair, then met Halsin’s eye. “You’re quite beautiful, too. In a big, burly, break-you-in-half sort of way.”

Eilaena laughed huskily and reached out to stroke his cheek. Halsin smiled, then slowly smoothed his palm back up along Astarion’s back, being especially careful to watch and listen for any signs that Astarion didn’t want him touching the raised scars on his back. But the younger man’s face betrayed no discomfort or pain as Halsin’s hand glided up over his shoulder blade.

He slowly caressed Astarion’s ivory skin, smoothing his hand down to his hip and grazing the swell of his buttock with his fingers, and Astarion’s eyelids fluttered. He shifted his hips a little, and Halsin’s gaze dropped to his cock: a smooth, hard rise of alabaster, paler in tone than any member Halsin had ever seen before, but no less appealing.

He smoothed his palm up to Astarion’s mid-back, then down again to his hip before curling his fingers around his thigh, and Astarion drew a sharp little breath. “Mm, ha. That’s, ah…”

Halsin stilled his hand. “Too much? Shall I stop?”

“No,” Astarion said hastily. “Don’t, er, stop. In fact…” He met Eilaena’s eye.

She nodded encouragingly, which warmed Halsin’s heart. Clearly they had been discussing this, discussing him during their seemingly-endless time apart, and it thrilled him to think he hadn’t been far from their thoughts.

Astarion shifted his gaze back to Halsin. “I want you to touch me.”

“Touch you, as in…?” He dropped his gaze to Astarion’s cock.

“Y-yes. If you’re willing, of course,” he added. “I’ll confess, I’m quite curious to have those big bear paws on me. Especially since Eilaena gushes about them so.”

“A bear of many talents,” Eilaena said breathlessly, and she rolled her hips down against Halsin’s thigh.

He exhaled slowly and squeezed her waist. Her undulations and the fragrance of her cunt were making him as hard as blackwood. He drew a steadying breath — Oakfather grant me patience — then looked Astarion in the eye again. “With your blessings, I would be honoured to lay hands on you.”

“My blessings are all yours. Go ahead and lay hands.”

He smiled and ran a reassuring palm up to Astarion’s shoulder blade. Then he unlooped his other arm from around Eilaena and placed his hand on Astarion’s thigh.

Astarion’s skin jumped under his palm, and Halsin gently squeezed his thigh. “Easy,” he murmured. “I will go as slow as you need. If you should change your mind—”

“I’ll tell you,” Astarion interrupted. “Don’t keep checking in every three seconds. I’ll tell you if I want you to stop.”

“Understood.” Halsin slowly glided his palm along Astarion’s thigh, moving slowly from his knee to his hip and marvelling at the coolness of his skin, then gliding his hand down to his knee once more.

Astarion exhaled shakily and shifted his hips in a subtle thrust. He reached for Halsin’s chest, then pulled his hand back.

“Please, feel free,” Halsin assured him. “Your hands are welcome to roam where they will.”

Astarion darted another look at Eilaena, then nodded. “Well, all right then. Don’t mind if I do.” His eyes flicked over Halsin’s body, from his throat to his pecs and abs and down to his rock-hard cock. Then, gingerly, he rested a palm on Halsin’s chest.

A wave of pleasant goosebumps lifted on his skin. Astarion’s hand was cool, and as his pale fingers traced down from Halsin’s pec toward his abs, he revelled breathlessly in the novelty of his cool-and-delicate touch.

He stroked the length of Astarion’s thigh again, drawing his thumb in close to the juncture of his thighs, and Astarion pulled in a sharp little breath and gripped his shoulder. “Ah…”

“Calm, Astarion,” Halsin murmured, and he looped his arm around his waist. “Breathe easy, like the breeze through the Oakfather’s boughs.”

Astarion huffed a breathless laugh. “Don’t go bringing the gods into this, now. There are already enough people in this room.”

Eilaena laughed softly. Then her fingertips traced along the length of Halsin’s cock.

A hot bolt of want shot through him. He grunted, his cock jerking by instinct at her touch — ah, yes, her little hand was curling around him, she was stroking him!

He shuddered, and Astarion spoke in a breathless voice. “Gods, Halsin. You’re already dripping.”

He didn’t need to look to know Astarion was right; he could tell by the heady vibration of lust in his gut that his desire was already escaping him. “Blame it on the excitement of having both of you here,” he said, and he gave Eilaena a pleading look. “Go easy on me, my love. I wish to focus on Astarion’s pleasure.”

“Yes, Eilaena, let him focus on me,” Astarion said cheekily.

She shot him a grin. “Bossy boys,” she said, and she slowed the rhythm of her hand on Halsin’s cock… Mm, it was still wonderful to have her hand on his length, even moving with such a hypnotically-slow caress.

He exhaled evenly through his lips, then brushed his knuckles down over Astarion’s abs, and his impish smile fell into a look of sheer want. “Ah…”

Halsin tightened his arm around him. “Easy now,” he whispered. And slowly, with the utmost care, he wrapped his fingers around Astarion’s length.

Astarion shivered and grabbed his shoulders, and Halsin marvelled at the look on his face — how genuine he looked, the genuine tension of desire in his unfocused eyes and his parted lips. Slowly, while watching his face all the while, Halsin tightened his grip on Astarion’s cock, then stroked him.

Astarion dragged in a breath, then let it out in a shaky moan-sigh. “Eilaen— mm…”

“I’m here, kitten,” she said soothingly. “I’m right here.”

He nodded tightly, his arm sliding around Halsin’s neck, and Halsin’s heart squeezed with a tender kind of ache. He could feel the trembling tension in Astarion’s body, but he was already flexing his hips as though he was eager to feel Halsin’s hand.

Halsin stroked him again and ran his thumb over the tip, and Astarion shuddered and closed his eyes. “Sweet hells, druid…”

He smirked, then turned to Eilaena. “Can you bring your almond oil, my love?”

Her eyes lit up with comprehension. “Of course!” she said, and she popped to her feet and hurried over to her pack.

Astarion moaned softly and flexed his hips again. “Don’t even try to tell me you don’t have any oils of your own, Halsin.”

“I do, of course,” Halsin said. “No almond oil, though, I’m afraid. But the scent of Eilaena’s oil is what we need.”

Astarion nodded and exhaled shakily, his hips still moving with a gentle thrust that Halsin found incredibly endearing. Then Eilaena came back to the mattress with a small bottle in hand. “Can I do the honours?”

“Please.” Halsin held out his palm.

She opened the bottle and poured a little bit into his hand. He greedily inhaled the sweet-and-mild fragrance, then smoothed his oiled palm over the head of Astarion’s cock.

He gasped fitfully and gripped the back of Halsin’s neck, and Halsin smiled as he massaged the tip of his cock. “Easy, Astarion,” he murmured. “Just feel. Feel my hands on you, stroking you, treasuring you.”

He nodded, his eyes squeezed tightly shut and his fingers digging into Halsin’s shoulder and neck. Then Eilaena shifted closer to Astarion and stroked his hair. “It’s good, right?” she said softly. “His hands are so big and warm.”

“Hot, actually,” he said in a strained tone. He opened his eyes to give her a chiding look. “You never said his hands are hot.”

Halsin paused. That was a little worrying. “Too hot for your comfort?”

“No, no,” he said. “Just warmer than a normal person. It feels like you have a fever.”

Eilaena laughed. “That’s what I said!”

Halsin relaxed. “So I’ve been told. My mother thought it was my ursine nature at play, giving me a higher body temperature.”

“Oh gods, don’t mention your mother now,” Astarion panted, and he flexed his hips. “Focus, druid. You were doing something important.”

Halsin smirked, then gripped his cock and stroked him firmly.

“Ah!” Astarion jolted, his eyes squeezing shut once more as he flexed into Halsin’s grip.

Halsin brushed his lips over Astarion’s throat. “Feel me, Astarion,” he grumbled. “Let me lend you my warmth.”

Eilaena gave him an adoring look, then ran her fingers through Astarion’s hair. “I love his big hands, don’t you?” she purred. “I love seeing his hands on you, kitten. He looks so good stroking your pretty cock.”

Astarion moaned and arched his spine, then started rolling his hips in an erotic thrust-and-grind that made Halsin’s cock thump with desire. He growled and nuzzled Astarion’s throat, tightening his grip a little more as he tugged his oil-slicked length—

A shiver of pleasure jolted through him: Eilaena’s hand was caressing his cock again. He looked at her, and his heart stuttered. She was shifting on the mattress, stretching out on her belly in front of him, and as he watched, she nuzzled his cock, then took him into her mouth.

A guttural groan burst from his lips, and Astarion let out a breathless laugh. “Eilaena, you bloody m-minx.”

She made a muffled little sound that was undeniably smug, and Halsin growled. “A vixen of the highest order. But her appetite will not distract me from my own.” He lifted his chin to look Astarion in the eye once more. “I need you, Astarion. I need to feel your pleasure spilling into my hand.”

Eilaena whimpered around his cock — mm, she was so wanton, he couldn’t let her distract him! — and Astarion let out another breathless little moan-laugh. “I should tell you, there’s no, er, mess when I finish. Vampire things, you know, so I — you won’t, er, there’s nothing to spill…”

“Understood,” Halsin said gently. “Then I will glory in the trembling of your body against mine. Come now, let me feel you.” He caressed Astarion’s back and rolled his palm over the head of his cock, then resumed the smooth tugging of his pale and pretty cock.

Astarion moaned: a rich, sensual sound that thrummed through Halsin’s blood to thump between his legs. He was thrusting his hips again, gripping Halsin’s shoulder and neck and pumping his cock through his palm in a fast and nearly-frantic rhythm, and Halsin indulged himself by licking Astarion’s collarbones and his neck, breathing in the brandy-and-bergamot scent of his skin — mm, Eilaena: she was suckling him firmly, her mouth was so hot and sleek as she took him into her throat, he had to resist the rising pleasure of his own body, he had to resist…

Astarion whimpered and shivered. His cock pulsed, growing stiffer in Halsin’s palm with every stroke, and Halsin kissed the angle of his jaw. “Does this please you?” he murmured.

“Mm,” Astarion moaned. “Mhm, y-yes…”

“I am glad,” Halsin murmured. “You are trembling already, as though the ecstasy is coming upon you. Does it feel close?”

Astarion nodded. He was breathing hard now, his face twisted tense with the distinct look of a man about to come, and Halsin greedily watched his face as he stroked his beautiful cock. “Whenever you are ready, lover. I am here to catch you, and Eilaena too.”

She nodded with Halsin’s cock in her mouth, then reached out to caress Astarion’s thigh, and he shivered again and thrust his hips. “Mm, gods, don’t stop…”

“Never,” Halsin said soothingly. “I shall touch you until the sun rises, if that is your wish.” He trailed his lips from Astarion’s jaw up to his ear. “Focus on how it feels. Nothing matters more than that, than how you feel.”

Astarion clutched the back of his neck. He was trembling fiercely now, his whole body wracked with tremors as he panted for breath and flexed his hips with tight little thrusts, pressing his stone-hard cock through Halsin’s oil-slicked palm in a frantic rhythm. Then he burst out a groan and pressed his forehead to Halsin’s. “Mm, please,” he moaned. “Fu— ah, please…”

“Easy, lover,” Halsin coaxed. “Easy now.” He stroked him firmly and rolled his palm over the head of his cock.

Astarion cried out and flexed his hips hard, his spine arching under Halsin’s palm, and Halsin’s heart swelled at the distinct signs of his climax. Perhaps he had nothing to spill, but the pulsing of his cock in Halsin’s fist was more than enough.

He pressed his lips to Astarion’s neck and his jaw. “You honour me, Astarion,” he murmured. “Your ecstasy is a rare treasure, and you are honouring me with it.”

Astarion dragged in a tremulous breath, then clasped Halsin’s face in his hands and kissed him.

Surprised and thrilled, he parted his lips, and Astarion’s tongue plunged into his mouth. He licked Halsin’s tongue, his hips still rolling slowly toward his grip, and Halsin tightened his arm around his waist to pull him closer as he gloried in Astarion’s refreshingly-cool tongue.

Astarion was trembling still, and Halsin savoured the sweet tremor of his body and the cool caress of his tongue in his mouth as he came down from his climax. When Astarion was relaxed and settled once more, he pressed his forehead to Halsin’s. “Thank you,” he whispered. “This was…” His voice wavered. “Thank you.”

“There is no need for thanks,” Halsin said softly. “Consider this the very surface of a yet-unplumbed depth of pleasures that we can enjoy together.”

Astarion chuckled and lifted his head. “Gods, I can only imagine. Speaking of enjoying things together…” He held out a hand for Eilaena. “Come here, my love.”

She was sitting on her heels and watching them with wide eyes, and as Halsin and Astarion looked at her, her face lit up into a cheeky smile. “I don’t know, kitten. I think I’m happy to keep watching this gorgeous show.”

Halsin scoffed a laugh, and Astarion tsked and slid off of Halsin’s thigh. “Don’t even try to lie, you dirty little vixen. Now come here already.” He cradled the back of her neck in his palm and pulled her into a kiss.

She stroked his chest and angled her head to deepen the kiss. He cupped her breast and brushed his thumb over her nipple, and she gasped against his lips. “Mm, Astarion—”

He cut her off with a kiss, then broke the kiss and curled his fingers around her throat.

She made a lovely mewling sound and gripped his wrist, and he tilted his head. “Why did you stop?”

“Stop what?” she whimpered.

“You stopped tending to the druid’s mighty staff. That’s not what a good girl would do.”

She whimpered and twisted her hips, and Halsin’s still-hard cock thumped with anticipation. “Astarion has a point, my heart,” he said teasingly. “I find myself still yearning for your mouth.”

Astarion tutted. “Yearning? Eilaena, Eilaena, how could you do that to him?” He reached down and smoothed his fingers between her legs, then suddenly spanked her sex.

She yelped and flexed her hips toward his hand, and Halsin growled — ah, he hadn’t meant to do that. But the sight of Astarion’s hands on her body, the glorious sight of her arching spine and her lovely lust-tense face…

She looked at him, and the ardency in her eyes made his cock pulse even harder. “Can I suck you?” she whimpered. “Please, Halsin, I want to…”

“You had better want to,” Astarion said bossily. “Get on your hands and knees now and give the druid what he deserves. He’s been so patient already. He deserves the treat of your warm little mouth. Don’t you agree, Halsin?”

“I do,” Halsin said eagerly, and he sat back on the mattress and spread his legs wide. “Taste me, my heart, I beg you.”

“He begs you?” Astarion exclaimed. “Oh, then you must say yes.” He delivered another light spank to her sex.

She mewled again, then fell to her elbows and knees in front of Halsin and took his cock all the way into her throat.

He gaped at her, breathless with the sudden rush of pressure-heat-tightness from her mouth, unable to even make a sound as the pleasure swelled through his blood. He thrust his hips toward her — damn, she was gagging on his length, he was being too rough!

He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry,” he groaned. “Forgive me, my heart, I—”

She pushed his hand away and took him so deep that he could feel the head of his cock pressing the back of her throat, then swallowed around him.

He groaned helplessly at the tight-rush of pleasure. She swallowed again, spurring another surge of ecstasy, then began bobbing her head in a way that drove his mind blank.

“What a sweet obliging girl,” Astarion mused. He sidled behind her on his knees and ran his palm along the length of her spine. “I think she deserves a little something for being so obliging, don’t you, Halsin?”

“Yes,” Halsin groaned. “Yes, give her… Mm, I want to hear her pleasure again.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Astarion said. “What do you think, my sweet? Would you like to come again with Halsin’s cock in your throat?” He spanked her bottom.

She jolted and moaned around Halsin’s length, nodding her head slightly before resuming the hungry up-and-down of her mouth around his cock, and Astarion smiled slyly. “That sounded like a yes to me.”

“It was a yes,” Halsin groaned, and he reached down to stroke her hair. By Silvanus, the sight of his saliva-slick cock sliding in and out of those perfect lips…

“Good girl,” Astarion said. “Don’t you stop unless Halsin tells you to.” He smoothed his palms over her hips, then lowered one hand between her legs.

She gasped and moaned, then took Halsin’s cock so deep that she stifled herself, and he shuddered fitfully. Whatever Astarion was doing with his hand, however he was touching her, it was clearly pushing her into a frenzy; she was arching her spine and rolling her hips already, and even with Halsin’s cock in her mouth, he could see that her face was twisting with that beautiful look of longing that heralded bliss.

“How are you touching her?” he gasped. “I want to envision it.”

“Jealous, are you?” Astarion said smugly. “I’m petting her sweet little pleasure-pearl. But I think I’ll change things up for a moment, and…” His smile widened with mischief.

Eilaena let out a wild cry, then took Halsin deep once more and started bucking back wildly toward Astarion’s hand.

He laughed, and Halsin smiled at him, despite his own rising bliss. “Your fingers inside of her, I assume?”

“You assume just right,” Astarion said. “But I’m back to petting her clit now. I want her to come for you.” He reached up and ran his other hand along the length of her deeply-arched spine. “You want to come with Halsin’s cock in that pretty little mouth of yours, don’t you, pet?”

She whimpered and nodded slightly, then started bobbing her head again, and Halsin shuddered as his pleasure ratcheted higher. The tightness of her lips, the heat and slickness of her mouth and throat… Mm, and the way she was rocking back to meet Astarion’s hand: she was so wanton, so uninhibited in her enjoyment of this tryst, and the gift of her beloved passion brought a lump of joy to his throat.

She moaned around him, a sweet and muffled sound that broke off abruptly as she filled her own throat once more with his girth, and Astarion exhaled shakily. “Gods, Eilaena, you’re dripping too. The pair of you are an utter mess.”

Ah, the thought of Eilaena’s honey-slick cunt… A dizzying rush of pleasure pulsed through his cock, and he groaned and flexed up into her mouth. “I’m — ah, I’m close…”

“Ladies first, druid,” Astarion teased. “Come now, darling, don’t keep the bear-man waiting.”

She shuddered and cried out: no doubt the work of Astarion’s fingers filling her up once more. Then she started rolling her hips back again as though to rub her clit against his hand, and Halsin held his breath to try and stave off his inexorably rising climax. She was close, he could tell from the erratic movement of her mouth on his cock and the trembling of her body, and he wanted to hold off until she came first. Mm, yes, he could hold off, he could resist the feral urge of the bear trying to burst free and take her, he had the patience of the Oakfather to see him through…

Another shudder rocked her body, and she lifted her head and cried out. “Fuck! Oh fuck, fuck—”

“Suck him, Eilaena,” Astarion ordered. “Don’t you dare stop.”

She grabbed Halsin’s cock and took him into her mouth again. She was moaning still, breathing hard through her nose as she tried to suck him, but her rhythm erratic as she shuddered and rolled her hips back toward Astarion’s hand. Even so, his climax was rising, encouraged by the sight of her unrestrained ecstasy.

She sobbed around him, then began suckling him so fiercely that he could feel his cock striking the back of her throat with every thrust — argh, how incredible she felt! “Ah,” he moaned. “Mm, m-my love, I am close…”

She nodded slightly and kept suckling him hard and fast, and Astarion stroked her back. “Halsin,” he panted, “I’m going to fuck her when you come.”

She whimpered and nodded again, still while suckling Halsin’s cock, and he nodded too. “I want that,” he panted. “I want to see you treasuring each other. But I will have her when you are done, Astarion.”

She sobbed again, and Astarion smiled: a slow, sly, heated smile that made Halsin’s rising climax leap even higher. “Let’s hope she’s not an exhausted wreck by then,” he teased. “What do you think, my dear? Can you handle us both?”

She whimpered and nodded. Mm, her mouth, the way she sucked him so firmly with every rise of her head and took him so deep with every fall… He shuddered and gripped the sheets — yes, y-yes, he was… Oh, she was perfect, she was bringing him right to the breathless precipice and carrying him over, yes!

He groaned helplessly, his hips rising toward her by pure instinct — ah, he couldn’t help himself, he was fucking her mouth. He was flexing up into her mouth, she was digging her nails into his thighs and sucking him still — ah damn, she was gagging, and his come was dripping from her lips.

She lifted her head and wiped her chin, and he reached for her. “Forgive me,” he gasped. “Eilaena, I am sorry—”

“Don’t be sorry,” she interrupted. “I want you to fuck my mouth. I want all of your come.” She dipped her head down and took him into her mouth again.

He gasped and groaned, his thighs and calves spasming as his pleasure spurted into her willing mouth, moaning as he flexed up into her throat the way she’d asked him to do. And she was gagging again, but she kept on suckling him, and her sheer determination to keep sucking him despite his eager girth made his heart feel swollen and hot.

When she finally lifted her head, he had to swallow the lump in his throat before speaking. “You are exquisite,” he panted, and he reached down to wipe the coating of his seed from her chin. “The day I tire of seeing you like this is the day I tire of life.”

She beamed at him: a broad and flush-cheeked smile that made his heart soar like a thunderbird on high. Then Astarion stroked her back. “Eilaena, I — darling, can I—?”

“Yes,” she blurted. “Fuck me, Astarion! I’m ready, I want—”

He slammed into her hard.

She cried out and pressed her cheek to Halsin’s thigh, and he lovingly stroked her hair before lifting his gaze to Astarion’s face… Ah, his face, the sheer uninhibited pleasure in his handsome face, it was a marvel to behold — and it wasn’t just his face that was worthy of such admiration. He was gripping Eilaena’s hips and pistoning into her in a smooth rhythm that highlighted every ridge of muscle in his abs, and Halsin felt himself spoiled by the scene playing out in front of him. Truly, the pair of them were exquisite: the sweet jiggle of of Eilaena’s ass as Astarion met her with his hips, the deep arch of her spine as she moaned and mewled, Astarion’s lean-ripped body flexing and the veins popping on his forearms as he dug his fingers into her hips…

Halsin sighed shakily. He was growing hard again already, even though he’d only just come. Eilaena moaned and nuzzled his pubic hair, and the spark of want flared more brightly in his gut. “How do you feel, beloved?” he said tenderly. “It is my great hope that you feel as spectacular as you look.”

“Mm, mhm,” she whimpered. “Feels so, mm, fuck…” She trailed off, her breathing sharp and erratic, then dug her nails into Halsin’s other thigh. “Astarion, don’t stop, I’m going to come!”

“Good,” he gasped. “That’s good, my love. That’s… a-ah, hells, how are you so damned tight?”

“An excellent question,” Halsin said as he stroked her arm. “I find myself constantly wondering how every tryst between us can feel even more blissful than the last. But such is the magic of Eilaena Valderol, perhaps.”

She burst out a mewling little laugh, and Astarion laughed too: a breathless laugh that held a groan of pleasure. “That’s like something I would say. Don’t go r-ripping me off, now — mm, Eilaena, gods…”

“Don’t mention them,” she moaned. “There’s already more than enough people here.”

“Shut up,” Astarion gasped, and he spanked her.

She jerked and cried out, and Halsin trailed his knuckles over her cheek. “Hush, my love. No more jokes, no more words; just feel. Feel the way Astarion is stoking your ecstasy from within.”

She nodded tightly, her face twisting with pleasure as she pressed her cheek into his thigh, and he delicately tucked her hair behind her ear. “Focus on that feeling, my heart. Focus on the driving force of his cock inside of you. The fullness of his cock filling you up, as though nature made your bodies to join together in just this way. Just like how I will be filling you up, as soon as the storm of your pleasure has broken.”

“Don’t stop,” Astarion groaned. “Keep talking.”

Halsin met his eye, and his heart skipped at the pleading look on Astarion’s face. He nodded, then kept speaking to Eilaena in the same low and soothing tone. “Focus on Astarion’s body, my heart. Focus on the pleasure he gives you — the pleasure you two are sharing, together. The pleasure you are sharing with me, also. It is a rare and wonderful brand of bliss to watch the two of you taking refuge in the infinite bounty of love that binds you.”

“Us,” Eilaena blurted. “All of us. I love you, too.”

Halsin smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. “As I love you, my heart. But do not lose your focus. Let Astarion bring you there.”

“Come for me, darling,” Astarion said in a rough-guttural voice. “I know you’re almost there. I kn-know… Mm, you’re so damned tight…” He shuddered, then adjusted the angle of her hips and slammed into her again.

She gasped, and her nails bit into Halsin’s thigh. Astarion slammed into her again, and her face twisted as he flexed into her again and again — yes, she was crying out, a wild and feral cry that called to Halsin’s barely-restrained bear…

Astarion groaned and pumped into her. “Fuck, gods — ah, Eilaena, g-gods…” He shuddered and flexed into her thrice more, a fourth time, a fifth, his face contorting in the most beautiful expression of rapture, then shuddered to a stop and slumped over her back to gasp for breath.

Eilaena was gasping for breath, too, a sobbing-shaky sort of gasping, and Halsin could feel her tears of ecstasy dampening his skin. He tenderly stroked her hair. “How do you feel, my heart? Are you in need of rest?”

She sobbed another breath and weakly shook her head, then pushed herself upright. “I need you,” she said hoarsely. “I need this.” She gripped his cock and stroked him.

A rush of red-hot need streaked through his body. He groaned and flexed into her hand, and Astarion pulled out of her and sat back on his heels. “Such a greedy girl. Go on then, druid, make her utterly boneless.”

“I’m already boneless,” she said.

Astarion laughed smugly as he stretched out on his side, and she let out an endearingly sheepish laugh. “I have a feeling my thighs are going to give out. But I — Halsin, I really want us to make love.”

“We shall,” he assured her. “Allow me to take control.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and flipped her onto her back.

She gasped in surprise, then gasped again as he hooked her legs over his arms. “Yes! Yes, please, I want—”

He kissed her deeply, then pressed his forehead to hers. “I cannot express how much I have longed for this,” he rasped. “To merge with you again, like two branches of a river finding one another once more.”

Her lips trembled, and she clasped his face in her hands. “I need this,” she said shakily. “I’ve missed you so much. I — all this time—”

“I know, my heart,” he whispered. “I know.” He pressed his lips to hers, and with the utmost care, he flexed his hips and filled her up.

She cried out into his mouth, and he gasped around her pleasured cry. Her slickness, the tightness of her cunt embracing him, the desperate tightening of her fingers in his hair and at the back of his neck… By Silvanus, he had missed this, he had missed her. As he lifted his hips and flexed into her again, the pain of their separation seemed to merge and bleed into the pleasure of this reunion, making every thrust and kiss and breath even more tender and treasured than the last.

He ardently licked her tongue, then released her legs so he could twine his fingers with hers. “I love you, Eilaena,” he breathed, and he flexed into her — ah, her heat, the way she curled her pelvis as though to take him deeper! “I love you dearly, my autumn heart.”

A tear tracked its way down along her temple. “I love you too,” she whimpered. “Fuck me hard, okay? Make me yours.”

He nodded and brushed his nose to hers, then began driving into her in a hard and steady flex-and-thrust.

She arched her neck and cried out, and he buried his nose against her fragrant throat. Mm, her skin, her warmth, the smell of sex and sweat, of almond oil and Astarion’s cologne, she was making his mouth water.

He kissed her throat, then began licking the sweat from her neck as he fucked her, and she mewled and craned her neck to the side. “Don’t stop, please…”

Never, he thought deliriously. Truly, he never wanted to stop; he wanted to keep doing this forever, to remain here in the coziness of his home with her and Astarion, making love to the woman they both adored, drunk on the taste of her skin and the heady scent of the love that they were making with every desperate thrust… Desperate, yes, he was desperate for this, for her: how could he not be, when she was arching beneath him and mewling with delight as he drove into her tight and heated depths? Argh, Astarion was right: she really was so tight, and he was getting so close, and — please, he didn’t want this to end, he didn’t want his climax to find him just yet, but the siren call of her body was too potent to deny…

He shuddered, then roughly slanted his mouth over hers and pistoned into her with wild abandon, yes, yes — ah, his whole body was alight and sparking, as though the lightning-magic of her blood was sparking through his own. And for the second time tonight, he gave himself to her completely, releasing every drop of his love inside of her while he moaned his ecstasy into her mouth.

She ravenously suckled his tongue, then broke from his lips with a little sob. “I love you so much,” she panted. “I — Halsin, I—”

“I know,” he said breathlessly. “I love you, also.” He released her hands, then cradled her face in his palms. “Being with you again is like a sip of springwater to parched lips.”

She beamed at him, her eyes shimmering with love, and Halsin treated himself to one more sweet kiss before pulling out of her. Then Astarion spoke from his stretched-out position on the mattress. “Thank you for not biting her neck. That’s my thing.”

Eilaena let out a breathless little laugh, and Halsin smiled at him as he sat back on his heels. “I wouldn’t dare to sully the sacredness of her neck. Aside from the occasional love-bite, that is.”

Astarion tsked playfully. “You and your damned love-bites.”

Halsin chuckled, then crawled over to Astarion, and his cheeky expression softened with surprise. “Er, hello.”

Halsin placed a kiss on his bare shoulder and his temple, then smoothed his palm over Astarion’s hip. “I truly am glad that you stayed. This reacquaintance was all the sweeter for your presence.”

Astarion huffed, and his ears turned faintly pink. “All the spicier, you mean. I think we can all agree I’m more spice than sweetness.”

“Wrong,” Eilaena said. “You’re the sweetest. My sweet adorable vampire-spawn kitten.” She shuffled over to him and dropped a noisy kiss on his cheek.

He tsked and batted at her. “You bite your tongue. I am not some adorable kitten. I’m a fierce and sleek hunter, like—”

“Like a cat,” said Eilaena.

Halsin chuckled, and Astarion pinched her waist. “No, you brat! Like a wild panther. Or like one of those, er. You know, the what’s-it-called? That damned panther-like creature with the many tails?”

Eilaena grinned. “A displacer beast?”

He snapped his fingers. “That’s the one. I’m like a displacer beast. Fierce, sleek, and so clever that you think I’m in several places at once before I spring out of hiding to slit your throat.”

“I can see the parallels,” Halsin said.

Eilaena poked his thigh. “You’re just sucking up to him!”

“Not at all,” Halsin said. “If I was attempting to suck up to him, I would do this.” He shifted into his cat shape, then bunted Astarion’s chin before flopping down against his bare chest.

Eilaena laughed brightly, and Astarion tutted. “Oh, this is — don’t be ridiculous.” He poked Halsin’s furry side. “I’m not a simpleton. You can’t soften me up by turning into a cuddly little wretch.”

“He can soften me up this way!” Eilaena said, and she began stroking his long tabby fur. “Aw, kitty Halsin, all snuggled up with my kitty vampire.”

“Gods,” Astarion complained. “If I hadn’t already come twice, your baby-talk nonsense would give me the anti-horn.” He scratched behind Halsin’s ear.

Halsin purred and stretched. Eilaena laughed, and Astarion rolled his eyes. “All right, enough. Turn back into your big burly elf-shape already.”

Halsin shifted back into his elf-shape and stretched out contentedly between them. As soon as he was settled, Eilaena shifted close to lounge on top of his chest.

His heart swelled at her closeness. Truly, if anyone was like a cat, it was her, with the way she was lounging so comfortably on top of him.

He smoothed his palm along her back, and Astarion propped his cheek on his fist. “So. We have the whole entire night stretching ahead of us. What shall we do now?”

Eilaena wiggled her eyebrows, and Astarion cackled. “You insatiable little monster. We just finished!”

She laughed. “I know, I know, I’m just kidding! Well, sort of.”

Astarion snickered and pinched her waist, and Halsin chuckled and stroked her hair. “I would welcome another round, after a bit of time to recover. While we wait, I would be delighted to hear more of your adventures together.”

Astarion tsked. “Trying to leech our story material for your brats, are you?”

Eilaena giggled and poked him, and Halsin smiled at him. “Not at all. I am interested for my own entirely selfish reasons, first and foremost being the pleasure of hearing your voices as you talk. As melodic as nature is with all of its many sounds, there is nothing quite as harmonious as the voices of those that you love.”

“Aw, Halsin!” Eilaena shifted up to kiss him on the lips.

Astarion scoffed. “Gods, you and your silver tongue. But I suppose we can rustle up a little story. Where should we start, my dear?”

“Ooh, I know! We should tell him about the haunted castle at Trollclaw Ford.”

Halsin blinked. “Haunted castle?”

“Ha!” Astarion barked. “Are you sure you want him to hear about that one? You nearly wet yourself with terror.”

She burst out laughing. “I did not! I — look, I screamed once. One single time when that banshee came drifting out of the painting!”

“Yes, a scream that put that very banshee to shame,” Astarion said with a grin. “I do wish Shadowheart had been there. She would never have let you live it down.”

“As though you’re going to let me live it down!” She reached across Halsin and poked Astarion’s abs.

He grabbed her hand. “Oh, I’ll consider letting it go in five hundred years or so,” he said, and he pretended to bite her wrist.

She squeaked with laughter and batted his nose. “Five hundred years? But I’ll be all dry and creaky like Withers by then!”

“Oh gods, Withers,” Astarion exclaimed. “Where do you suppose he even went after the Netherbrain bit the dust?”

“Why? Do you miss him?” she teased.

“Of course I do. He was better than a pack horse. What I wouldn’t give to be able to not carry my own pack anymore.”

Eilaena laughed, that beautiful lilting laugh that lingered in Halsin’s dreams, and he lay there blissfully listening to his lovers chatting and teasing each other. He knew that this visit would be a finite one, and that Eilaena and Astarion would eventually take their leave once more. But in this moment now, with all the pleasure and love that was shared among them, Halsin felt no melancholy about their eventual departure; he felt only hope.

Nature had seen fit to bring Eilaena Valderol back to him, just as it had blessed him with her acquaintance all those many months ago. And for as long as he lived, he would continue to watch the horizon for her and Astarion to return.

Chapter Text

It was the middle of the afternoon on a bright and blustery autumn day in Waterdeep. Gale and Tara were at the university, leaving Eilaena and Astarion to their own devices in the tower, and they were using the time to pack their things for a visit to Halsin in Reithwin.

Well, technically speaking, Eilaena was packing their things while Astarion lounged on the bed with an illustrated edition of the Quarta Sune that he’d nicked from Gale’s extensive library. (Oh fine, he hadn’t nicked it, really; he was simply ‘borrowing’ the book. He would return it eventually.)

Eilaena was humming to herself as she folded and rolled their clothes into their packs, and Astarion watched her with half an eye as he flipped through his book — ooh, now that was a good illustration. And coloured too, with gold leaf embellishments! This edition really was a valuable one… Too bad that Tara would miss it even if Gale somehow didn’t.

He lifted his gaze from the book to Eilaena, then straightened on the bed. “Stop, stop! What are you doing?”

She looked up. “What do you mean? What’s wrong?”

He pointed accusingly at the shirt she was holding. “You can’t roll that up! Are you mad? It’s linen! It’ll wrinkle.”

She looked at the shirt, then at him. “How are we supposed to travel with it if you don’t want me to roll it into our packs?”

“You fold it into tissue paper, of course. Or carry it in a garment bag.”

She smiled at him: one of her mischievous smiles. “So you’re telling me you’re going to carry a garment bag all the way to Reithwin just for the sake of not wrinkling this shirt?”

“Of course not,” he said scornfully. “Not unless you’re offering to carry it. No, just leave that shirt here.” He settled back down on the bed and turned the page.

“Yes, my liege,” she said teasingly. “Can I bleed myself into a crystal goblet for you while I’m at it? Maybe massage your pretty feet?”

He smiled slyly. “Now that you mention it, my feet have been feeling a tad on the sore side—”

She threw a pair of panties at him. “Boo! Get off the stage.”

He tossed the panties back. “Don’t you dare throw those at me again unless it’s in a fit of burning lust.”

She snickered and tucked the panties into her pack. He smirked and stretched leisurely, then flipped a few more pages until he came across another full-page coloured illustration.

His belly flipped, and he paused on the page. This illustration was the one that had clinched his decision to borrow the book in the first place: a drawing of two men making love in the a tergo position.

He studied the illustration with a fluttery feeling in his belly. The position itself was nothing fancy, really; in fact, it was Eilaena’s favourite position to be fucked in, and Astarion had a great fondness for giving it to her from behind, too. Being on the receiving end of this position, however? Now that was something he hadn’t done in… gods, almost a whole year now, ever since he and the others had been tadpoled. The last time Astarion had had sex from behind was when he was stuck doing Cazador’s dirty work, and he’d coped with it the same way he did with every other incident of unwanted-but-necessary sex: he’d willed his mind elsewhere, leaving his body to take the indignity and the discomfort while he pictured himself being anywhere else.

But that was all in the past. Astarion had a new life now, and one that he’d been thoroughly enjoying with his beloved Eilaena at his side. After the centuries he’d spent simply surviving from day to day, he was taking full advantage of the freedom to enjoy his life now, and as he studied the a tergo illustration in the stolen (er, borrowed) book, he found himself thinking about… well, about this. About this position, this kind of sex — a kind of sex he hadn’t enjoyed in ages, since anal play wasn’t something he and Eilaena did. If he was being perfectly honest, though, the reason this illustration caught his eye wasn’t just the position, or the type of sex. It was the people depicted in the illustration: the fact that it was two men.

This, really, was the reason Astarion was getting fluttery-nervous as he studied the erotic drawing in the Quarta Sune. He was thinking about himself in the bottom position not with Eilaena, but with another man. A… specific other man, really.

A specific big, burly bear of a man that he and Eilaena were setting out to visit this very night.

This wasn’t to say it was the first time he’d thought about full-sex with Halsin. With every visit Astarion and Eilaena made to Reithwin, Astarion had been joining in more actively when the three of them settled in for a tryst, so of course the possibilities had crossed his mind. But despite his increasing confidence during their ménages-à-trois, he hadn’t yet made the jump to suggesting or initiating any kind of ‘backdoor activities’ with Halsin, so to speak. He’d been thinking about it, sure, and even fantasized about it a few times here and there, but there was something about the… the closeness of it, the intimacy of being touched there, in that very-sensitive place, that made Astarion feel strangely shy.

Now, though? Now, it seemed that this meticulously-illustrated copy of the Quarta Sune had triggered something in him. Broken down a barrier of some kind, almost, or broken through the shy-nervous feelings he’d been getting at the thought of Halsin moving inside of him in ways that he hasn’t felt in months, and hadn’t actually wanted in literal centuries.

Now, thanks to this illustrated copy of the Quarta Sune, the idea of Halsin moving inside was overwhelming the fluttery nerves in his gut. It was fostering his occasional fantasies into something vivid and persistent and tempting, tempting enough that he was thinking now about the very real possibility of turning these fantasies into something tangible and real—

Eilaena flopped onto the bed beside him. “What are you—”

He startled and snapped the book shut. Then he immediately felt stupid for doing so, particularly when her eyebrows shot up. “Woah. You all right?”

“Fine,” he blurted. “I — it’s nothing. I’m fine.”

She arched a brow. “Well, that was convincing. Seriously, are you okay?”

Idiot, he scolded himself. You’re being an idiot. Why in the hells was he being cagey? It was just Eilaena, for the gods’ sakes. If there was anyone he could tell about his Halsin-related fantasies, it was her. Honestly, she’d probably want to throw a party when he told her about this.

“Nothing’s wrong, I swear,” he said. “I was just reading, er, this.” He pushed the Quarta Sune toward her.

She took one look at the cover, and her face lit up with a wicked smile. “Oh-ho. A classic!” she said as she opened it. “I have to admit, I’ve only flipped through this in bookshops, I’ve never actually fully read — oh my gods!” She brushed her fingers over one of the lushly-coloured illustrations. “Look at this! This is the loveliest wanking material I’ve ever seen in my life!”

He barked out a laugh and pinched her waist. “I’ll have you know this is a rare second edition. It’s not wanking material; it’s a literary classic.”

“And worth a pretty penny, I’ll bet.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

He grinned, already feeling more at ease. “I had just the same thought. You really are a woman after my own heart.”

She snickered, then continued to flip through the book. “Wow. Seriously though, what a lovely tome. But why did you close it when I came over? Were you looking at something especially scandalous? And if you were, can I see it too?”

He scoffed. Leave it to his darling Eilaena to give him the perfect opening to exactly what he was thinking about. “It wasn’t scandalous, no. But, er, well…” He faltered, for no good reason, really. He was sure she’d be pleased when he told her what he’d been thinking about. Honestly, he was sure she would. Still, there was a little part of him that felt… funny about telling her that he wanted this, especially since he wanted it from someone who wasn’t her.

Her cheeky smile softened, and she brushed a lock of hair back from his forehead. “What is it, kitten?”

Show her. She’ll understand. It’ll be fine, he coached himself. “I was looking at this,” he said, and he flipped to the illustration of the two men a tergo.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Ooh, very nice! Two fine men in the throes, I can’t complain. I can see why—” She broke off and met his eye, and her mouth dropped into a comical little ‘o’.

He snorted a laugh. He couldn’t help it. “Darling, you look like the dictionary definition of ‘the other shoe dropping’.”

She smiled at him, but her eyes were still wide with surprise. “Is this—? Are you thinking about this? Doing this, I mean? With Halsin?”

“Ye-es, I… The thought crossed my mind,” he said carefully. “Has been crossing my mind, I should say. But only in passing, really. I hadn’t really… thought about it in, er, practicality. But I’m thinking about it now. And I’m thinking that, um, I might ask him if he’d, er, top me while we’re in Reithwin. If that’s all right with you,” he added hastily.

“All right with—? Are you kidding?” she exclaimed. “Of course it’s okay with me! If you want, I could even give you and Halsin some time alone to—”

“No,” he blurted. “I don’t want that.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You don’t?”

I don’t? he thought. Even he was a little surprised by his own instinctive gut-reaction of no to the idea of Eilaena leaving him and Halsin alone. But it was the truth: he didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to have sex with Halsin, but he wanted Eilaena to be there when it happened.

Not because Halsin scared him or anything, gods forbid; it wasn’t that at all. In fact, there were many reasons that Astarion wanted this from Halsin specifically, and the bear-man’s utterly non-threatening manner was one of them. But even so, there was nobody who made him feel as comfortable as Eilaena. There was no one else in the world who was safe like her. And if Astarion was going to do this, if he was going to open himself up like this for the first time in centuries to someone who wasn’t her, then he wanted the reassuring safety of her presence by his side.

“I don’t want you to go,” he said finally. “When I — if we do this, me and him, I’d like you to stay.”

“Like to watch, you mean?”

“Not — well, that too, you dirty minx,” he said with a perfunctory smile. “But not just that. I…” Ugh, how did he explain this without sounding like an utter sap? Oh, what the hells, he might as well go ahead and be sappy. “I think it would be… a comfort if you stayed. If you were there with us, I mean. With, er, me.” Feeling awkward now, he shrugged and dropped his gaze to the book. “It’s a big deal, you know, having a man go balls-deep into your ass. Ha, and with Halsin, the ‘big deal’ is even bigger than usual.”

She shuffled closer to him and ran her fingers through his hair. “Of course I’ll stay. If you want me there while you do this, then I’ll be there. Whatever you want, okay? If my scintillating presence will make you feel comfortable having Halsin rail you within an inch of your life—”

He coughed out a laugh. “Excuse me? You crass little wretch!”

She laughed brightly. “Seriously though! I’ll do whatever you need, okay? I’m happy to be there and cheer you on.”

He tsked and looked away. “Cheer me on? I don’t need that. Although…” He gave her an appraising look.

“What?” she said. “Are you rethinking the cheering-on? Ooh, I know!” She snapped her fingers. “Should I write a bolstering little ditty to sing to you while you’re getting the business?”

He pinched her. “No, you brat! I was thinking that you shouldn’t just be a gooseberry in the corner while this is happening. That’ll be damned awkward.”

“Oh, I wasn’t planning to gooseberry,” she said. “I figured we’d just add this to the usual sex repertoire, right?” She gave him a funny look. “Wait, did you think that I thought I’d just sit in the corner knitting a sweater or something while you two do the deed? Because I was thinking that I’d be enjoying the show. Like, enjoying it, you know? Maybe seeing if Halsin can multitask even while he’s going to town on you?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

Her face and tone were so comical and so comfortingly casual that he couldn’t help it: he burst out laughing.

Her lips curled into a grin. “What? Too dirty? Should I fling myself into the bath in penance?”

He pushed himself upright on the bed. “Come here, you idiot,” he said, and he crawled toward her and pushed her onto her back.

She giggled as he settled between her legs. “You know that this is just rewarding me for bad behaviour, right? You’re just making me more likely to be extra-crass in the future—”

He kissed her to shut her up, then brushed his nose to hers. “I love you,” he murmured. “Just so you know.”

She beamed at him and ran her fingers through his hair. “I don’t know, Astarion. I think I might need a little reminding.”

“Is that so? Hmph. Well, let’s see what we can do here.” He treated her to another slow, deep kiss, then slipped his fingers up under the hem of her cropped little top and traced the underside of her breast with his thumb.

She broke from his lips with a little gasp, then gasped again when he shifted his knee to spread her thighs wider. “Mm, Astarion?”

“Yes, my sweet?” He grazed her neck with his fangs, then brushed a line of kisses along the front of her throat.

She arched her neck and rubbed his earlobe with her fingers. “Better be careful that you move that book. It’s a rare second edition, you know, it’s not wanking material.”

He lifted his head to look at her. Of course she was grinning, the cheeky imp.

He forced himself not to laugh. “Shut up, you alluring fool,” he said haughtily, and he pushed her top up and dragged his tongue over her bare breast.

She gasped and burst out a breathless laugh, and he smirked before taking her nipple into his mouth. In a matter of days, he and Eilaena would be in Halsin’s realm once more, and Astarion would be face-to-face with the nervous reality of asking Halsin to bed him — the nervous reality of even wanting this from Halsin in the first place.

But facing those excited-fluttery-nerves would come later. For now, he would relish in the comfort of this passionate moment with Eilaena alone.

****************

Two weeks later, in Reithwin…

“Halsin?” Eilaena called. “We’re here!”

Halsin stepped out of his dome-house, bare-footed and bare-chested with a smile on his face, and he opened his arms wide. “Come here to me, my heart.”

Eilaena squealed in delight and dropped her pack, then bolted toward him and threw herself into his arms. “My gorgeous bear!”

He swept her up and swung her around in a hug. “It’s wonderful to see you,” he said, and he kissed her deeply before setting her on her feet and smiling at Astarion. “You look well, both of you.”

“So do you,” Astarion said, and he gave Halsin a salacious once-over. “This trousers-only look is a nice greeting.”

Halsin chuckled. “You caught me in the midst of an engaging physical task, I’ll admit.” He cradled Astarion’s neck in his palm and kissed him tenderly on the lips, then took both his and Eilaena’s packs from his hands. “Your travels went smoothly as usual, I trust?”

“Not even a hitch!” Eilaena said as they followed him to the dome. “Which is a little boring, if I’m being honest.”

Halsin gave her a wry look. “Don’t tell me you’ve been missing being accosted by bandits or cultists.”

“I am,” Astarion said. “Villains make for such delicious snacks. Nothing against your blood, my dear,” he added to Eilaena, “but—”

“Variety is the spice of life, I know,” she giggled, and she looked up at Halsin. “But honestly, we’re getting a little hankering for excitement. We’re thinking about hopping on a ship to the Moonshae Isles after our visit with you, in fact!”

“Are you?” he said approvingly. “What a wonderful idea. The Moonshae Isles are a beautiful place. The stars are especially striking there, thanks to the lack of artificial light. I spent many a serene night gazing up at the sky and admiring the gifts of nature’s illumination.”

“Hm,” Astarion said. “Sounds peaceful. Too peaceful. Eilaena, maybe we should go to Luskan instead.”

She laughed. “Luskan’s not even in the same direction as the Moonshae Isles!”

“Who said it had to be? That’s the beauty of our collective elven blood. We have all the time in the world to do and see it all.”

“A good point,” Halsin said to Eilaena. “Especially for one so young as you, my love.”

She tsked playfully. “Now now, let’s not be making the bard feel like a baby.”

Halsin smiled and smoothed his palm over her maple-red hair, then set their packs down on the floor and closed the privacy fence-thing across the dome’s entrance. “Are you craving food or drink, Eilaena? I have fresh apple-pumpkin cider if you desire.”

“Ooh, that sounds amazing! I’d love some.” She plopped down next to Astarion, who had already shed his jacket and boots and was settled on a cushion by the firepit.

As Halsin bustled around fetching Eilaena’s beverage, Astarion found his gaze drawn to an item at the foot of Halsin’s nest-bed on the floor: a rather large item that was covered with a dropcloth.

Halsin handed Eilaena a wooden stein and sat behind her so she was snuggled between his legs, and Astarion gave him a quizzical look. “Halsin, what is that?” He pointed at the mysteriously-shaped dropcloth-veiled item.

Halsin chuckled: a rather suggestive little chuckle. “That is what I was touching up when you arrived. It is a gift for you, in fact,” he said to Eilaena. “I was polishing it.”

Her eyebrows rose. “A present for me?

He nodded. “I will admit that the gift is selfish, also, as I fully anticipate that Astarion and I will enjoy seeing you use it.”

“You’ll enjoy—?” She broke off with a gasp and grabbed his wrist. “Halsin. Is it…?”

“See for yourself,” he said, and he gestured at the dropclothed item.

She jumped to her feet and darted over to the kneel beside the gift, and Astarion gave Halsin a sly look. “Hang on. Is that what I think it is?”

Halsin smirked and rubbed his chin, but before he could reply, Eilaena exclaimed in delight. “Oh my gods! Astarion, look at this!”

She was running her palms over a sybian: a rather beautiful sybian that Halsin had clearly carved and shaped from the log of a tree.

He broke out laughing. “Gods, Halsin. That thing looks positively rustic.”

“It is safe, I assure you,” he said earnestly. “It is made of blackwood: one of the strongest and least porous varieties of wood in the world. And the padding on the riding surface is made of cotton — a simple matter to wash and dry.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s safe and clean,” Astarion said. “I’ve just never seen one that looks so much like a bisected tree.”

“I see no reason to hide the true nature of the toy with paint or other artificial trappings,” Halsin said. Then he arched a brow. “Besides, I cannot imagine that the sybian itself is what you will be looking at once Eilaena has mounted it.”

“Fair enough,” Astarion said slyly, and he looked over at her. “Darling, what do you say…?” He trailed off in amusement. She was smoothing her palm over the carved member of the sybian, and her cheeks were dark with a telling flush.

He laughed softly, and she looked up. “Hm? What did you say?”

“I was going to ask whether you’re going to try out your new toy tonight and give us a show,” he said. “But I see that I needn’t ask.”

“Mm,” Halsin agreed.

Her cheeks flushed even darker, and she laughed. “Okay, fine, I’m a horny little monster and I can’t wait to try out my new toy.” She bounced over to Halsin and hugged him around the neck. “I love the sybian, Halsin. It’s beautiful.”

Halsin heartily returned her hug, and Astarion tutted playfully. “Now now, let’s not be premature. How can you say you love it if you haven’t even tried it yet?”

She flicked the tip of his ear. “It’s Halsin, you handsome fool. I think he knows what he’s doing when it comes to carving and to sex things. But also…” She climbed off of Halsin’s lap and leaned in close to Astarion’s ear. “Am I going to be the only one trying something new tonight?” she said, very quietly. “Or did you want to ask Halsin about you-know-what?”

A pang of nerves jolted his belly. “Right. That’s, er, a good point.”

“No pressure. Only if you want to,” she murmured, and she settled herself in Halsin’s lap again and tucked her head under his chin.

His belly was fluttering now as though he’d swallowed a hummingbird. He did want this, really he did. During the journey to Reithwin, he and Eilaena had talked about it more, and he’d been growing more and more accustomed to the idea — and excited by it — as they made their way here. And now, finally, it was the time to actually tell Halsin what he wanted.

Fuck, he was nervous.

It’s fine to be nervous, he coached himself, just as he had done the night he’d told Eilaena he was ready to be with her. Nervous is normal. And Eilaena will be right there. It’s going to be fine. He took a deep breath to bolster himself, then turned to face Halsin, who was caressing Eilaena’s back and watching him with a very druid-y calm-but-curious expression. “So,” he said jovially. “I was thinking about these trysts of ours — the three of us, I mean. And I was thinking, that, er, if you want — if you desire, I should say,” he added, with a flirty little smile, “that it would be… good, if you and I, er, had sex.”

“You and I have been having sex,” Halsin said gently. “I would consider all the intimacy we’ve shared to be sex.”

“Yes, of course, but you know what I mean,” Astarion said impatiently. “I mean that you and I haven’t done, you know, the full beast-with-two-backs.”

Halsin smiled. “I suppose we haven’t, no.”

His voice was warm with humour, but his smile was gentle and understanding in a way that reminded Astarion uncannily of Eilaena. Feeling especially nervous now, he glanced at her for reassurance.

She nodded. Keep going, she mouthed.

He took another deep breath — keep going, you can do this, he told himself — and he looked Halsin in the eye once more. “I… If it’s not too bold, I have a request,” he said. “I, um…” Gods, just say it, just get it out already. “I want you to… m-make love to me from behind. A tergo, that is.”

Halsin’s expression became even softer: enough that it made Astarion’s throat feel thick. Then he held out a hand. “Come, Astarion. Join us.”

He shifted closer to them. Halsin ran his palm along the back of Astarion’s neck, then leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

A sudden sting of tears pricked his eyes. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes, and he felt Eilaena taking his hand and stroking his forearm in a comforting caress.

He took a deep breath to calm himself. How ridiculous was this, to be feeling so emotional all of a sudden?

Then Halsin brushed his lips over the tip of his ear.

A shiver of warmth ran down his spine, and Halsin spoke softly in his ear. “It shall be my honour, and my pleasure. But more importantly, it will be yours.”

Astarion gulped in a breath and nodded, and Halsin stroked the back of his neck as he spoke. “I have a suggestion for the three of us, if Eilaena is agreeable.”

Astarion gave him a wry look. “Whatever your suggestion is, I’m sure Eilaena will be agreeable.”

She shot him a grin, and Halsin smiled faintly as he went on. “Perhaps she could start by testing out the sybian. You made a good point, Astarion; we can only know she truly loves it if she has had a chance to try it.”

“Ooh, yes,” Astarion said with relish. “And you know our little sorceress-bard can’t resist a performance.”

“I certainly can’t!” she said, and she popped to her feet and swept into a bow. “Eilaena Valderol, at your service.”

Astarion chuckled, and Halsin smiled at her before turning to Astarion once more. “I suspect that watching our lovely Eilaena will get us both in the mood. And if the mood is right, then…” He lifted a hand and brushed his thumb over Astarion’s chin. “Ask me again for what you desire, and I will be more than happy to give it to you.”

A hot tingle of excitement raced down his spine and settled between his cheeks, almost as though the anticipation was preparing him for what was to come. “That sounds like a very fair deal to me. But first…” He shot Eilaena a sly look before turning back to Halsin. “If our little treat is going to be putting on a show for us, I think we need to get her ready, don’t you?”

“Mm, I do,” Halsin said — ooh, that was a nice grumble in his voice. “What would you suggest?”

Astarion smirked, then rose to his feet and sauntered over to Halsin’s nest-bed. “Eilaena, my sweet?”

“Yeah?”

“Get naked for us, won’t you?” He plopped down on Halsin’s bed and stretched out on his side.

Her face lit up. “Don’t mind if I do,” she said, and she started shucking off her clothes.

Halsin made a lovely sound somewhere between a groan and a growl, and Astarion snickered. “Get over here already, druid. You want to be ready to devour her once she’s ‘bare as nature intended’, don’t you?”

“I do,” Halsin said eagerly, and he stood up to join Astarion. “In fact, I should make sure this is in a comfortable place…” He picked up the sybian and moved it onto the mattress, then came over and sat beside Astarion.

“Hang on, hang on,” Astarion said. “Why are you still wearing trousers?”

Halsin blinked, then smiled. “You wish for me to be naked, also?”

“Obviously. Let me have a good look at what I’ll be getting later.”

Halsin chuckled softly. “As you wish.” He rose and began unlacing his trousers. “I suppose it would be too soon to ask for you to strip, as well?”

“Too soon indeed,” Astarion said, and he coquettishly propped his cheek on his fist. “You two need to earn my nakedness by impressing me with this lovely show.”

“Hm,” Halsin grumbled, though he was still smiling. “I wasn’t aware that I would be part of the performance as well.” He kicked his trousers and underpants aside — ooh, delicious, he was hard as stone already.

“Of course you’re a part of the show,” Astarion said. “You’re the one getting Eilaena ready for the sybian.” He looked at Eilaena, who was naked now and shifting restlessly from foot to foot as she ogled Halsin’s nude body. “Eilaena, my love?”

“Mm? Yeah?” She looked him in the eye — gods, her eyes were bright with want. Her whole body was a picture of want, in fact, from her taut-budded nipples and the arch of her spine, to the glimmer of nectar that was already glazing her inner thighs.

He crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

She dropped to her hands and knees and crawled over to him, and he brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “Good girl,” he crooned. “Give me a kiss.”

She kissed him hungrily, her fingers gliding through his hair and scratching lightly at his scalp, and the warm simmer of excitement in his belly bloomed even hotter. He nipped her tongue gently to make her gasp, then leaned away from her and gripped her chin. “Halsin’s going to drink up all that lovely honey between your legs,” he told her. “How do you want him to do it? Not while standing, I gather.”

She burst out a whimpery little laugh. “Not while standing, no. I always worry my legs will give out and I’ll fall onto his face.”

Halsin huffed in amusement, and Astarion laughed too. “Something tells me he wouldn’t mind that one bit. But fine then: get into whatever position you like, and Halsin will lap you up. Won’t you, Halsin?”

“I will,” he said eagerly, and he lowered himself to his knees. “I shall. Show yourself to me, my heart. Let me taste you.”

“A girl can’t say no to an offer like that,” she said breathlessly. “And I have the best idea. Halsin, can I ride your face?”

“Of course,” he said, and he stretched out on his back.

Astarion cackled. “I know exactly what you’re up to, you minx. You’re warming up for the main event!”

She shot him a grin as she straddled Halsin’s shoulders. “How did you guess—”

Halsin wrapped his arms over her thighs and pulled her down to his mouth, and she burst out a breathless cry. “Fuck! Fu— mm, yes!” She braced one palm on the mattress and rolled her hips over his lips, and Astarion stared avidly at them. They were positioned so Eilaena was facing him, so he could see Halsin kissing her cunt and probing his tongue through her folds to lap at her clit, and the sight of her lovely bare body undulating over Halsin’s mouth was just… gods, it was divine. She was riding him exactly as she’d said, her hips rolling over his mouth in a slow and fluid grind as she rubbed herself against his tongue. He was squeezing and caressing her thighs and her hips as he devoured her, and Astarion was transfixed by the sight of them: her lovely face tense with longing as she rolled and arched over Halsin’s mouth, his big strong hands holding her thighs wide, the lovely contrast between Halsin’s tawny skin and Eilaena’s charcoal-dark complexion… Gods, they really made a striking sight, and Astarion’s cock was pulsing eagerly in his trousers as he watched her whimpering and moaning and rubbing herself against Halsin’s tongue with an increasingly frantic speed.

Ha, she was already at the stage where she was fucking Halsin’s tongue. She really must have been gagging to have the druid’s mouth between her legs. “Are you getting close, my sweet?” he crooned.

“Mhm,” she whimpered. “I — mm, I want to come, I’m going to c-come…”

“Good to know,” he said. “Now dismount the bear-man’s face.”

She looked at him. “Wh-what?”

“You heard me. Climb off of Halsin’s face, now.”

Halsin growled, and Eilaena moaned and shivered. “But… but—”

Astarion pushed himself upright and wrapped his fingers around her throat, and she gasped and arched her spine. “Fuck! Fuck, please—”

“I said to climb off of the druid, Eilaena,” he said silkily. “Are you going to be a good girl for me, or are we going to have to punish you with a time-out?”

Halsin groaned into Eilaena’s cunt and flexed his hips, and Astarion couldn’t help but glance down at his cock — oh gods, that mighty cock: that cock was going to be inside of him tonight!

A hot-tingle of excitement pulsed in the depths of his abdomen, and Eilaena moaned. “No time out, please! But… Astarion, I’m close, I just w-want to come…”

“You can hold off,” he said crisply. “I have total faith in your ability to be patient.”

Halsin actually laughed, which was what Astarion had been hoping for, and Eilaena burst out a sweet little sobbing-laughing sound. “You’re both so fucking mean!”

Astarion smirked, then gently tightened his grip on her throat.

She gasped and gripped his wrist — oh, she was rubbing herself against Halsin’s tongue again, the brat! “Please, please—”

“Get off of the druid’s face,” Astarion said in a harder tone. “Right now.”

She sobbed, then finally lifted her knee so Halsin could slide out from under her leg.

Astarion smiled. “Good girl,” he said, and he spanked her sex.

She yelped and jolted. Then Halsin wrapped his arms around her from behind and buried his face against her neck with a growl.

She moaned and bucked her hips back toward him, and Astarion watched greedily as Halsin palmed her breasts and caressed her belly — ah ah, the druid was sliding his fingers between her legs, he was petting her clit!

She moaned and began thrusting toward his hand, and Astarion slapped his hand. “Halsin! How dare you?”

Halsin lifted his hand. “Forgive me,” he said breathlessly. “I was merely feeling if she was ready for the sybian.”

“Halsin, touch me!” she mewled.

Astarion ignored her. “And? What’s the verdict?”

“She’s ready,” Halsin said. “She’s… mm, she is more than ready.”

“Good,” Astarion said. “Now, you bratty little minx, you’re to get on that sybian right now, and you’re not to touch yourself unless Halsin or I give you permission.”

She sobbed and tugged the collar of his shirt. “Astarion, please…”

He pried her hands away from his shirt. “You heard me. Now be a good girl and get on that lovely rustic toy Halsin made for you.” He spanked her cunt again.

She burst out a little gasp-sob, but she finally nodded and crawled over to the sybian — oh bloody hells, her juices were dripping onto the mattress.

Halsin sighed. “I envy the sybian already, I will admit.”

“I know,” Astarion said ruefully. “Almost seems like all that is going to waste on an inanimate object.”

Halsin grunted in agreement. “There will be plenty of time to enjoy that sweetness for ourselves in the days to come. But for now, we, ah…” He trailed off, and Astarion couldn’t blame him for losing his train of thought: Eilaena was straddling the sybian now, and she was pumping her fist slowly along the length of the carved wooden cock.

Astarion’s own cock pulsed at the sight. Beside him, Halsin growled low in his throat. “You are teasing us?”

“Think of it as payback,” she panted. “The least I can do for you two not letting me come.”

Astarion floundered to find his wits. “We’ll let you come eventually,” he said. “But only if you put on a good enough show.”

She pouted. “You’re mean. But at least I have this lovely wooden cock to keep me happy.” She stroked the carved member one more time, then lifted herself higher on her knees and positioned herself over it. Then, very slowly, she began lowering herself onto the sybian’s cock.

A hot flare of want rolled through Astarion’s body. Gods, seeing her sinking oh-so-slowly onto that cock, imagining that it was his own body she was sliding down onto — ooh, or if he was the one lowering himself down onto that immaculately-carved cock…?

His balls tightened at the thought. Gods, he wanted that. He wanted to be fucked, he wanted the breathtaking feeling of being filled up, and Halsin was going to give it to him tonight.

Eilaena moaned and wriggled her hips, then paused halfway-down on the length of the wooden cock. “Fuck, it’s b-big…”

Halsin crawled over to her and stroked her hair. “Is it uncomfortable? I can shrink it by magic if need be—”

“No!” she gasped. “No, it’s perf— mm, it’s perfect as it is, it’s…” She burst out a breathless little moan-laugh. “Is it modeled on your cock?”

“It is,” Halsin said bashfully. “I hope that is all right.”

“It’s good!” she gasped. “It’s good, it’s so good, it’s s-so…” She broke off, her breathing short and sharp as she ever-so-slowly lowered herself down onto the sybian, and Astarion found himself panting along with her. The way she looked, the rapture twisting her face, the sight of the dark polished Halsin-sized wood disappearing into the depths of her body…

She settled herself flush to the sybian with a strained mewl of pleasure. “Please—“

Halsin cut her off with a kiss.

She gripped his neck and circled her hips over the sybian, and Astarion exhaled and rubbed his cock through his trousers. “Gods, Eilaena…”

She broke from Halsin’s kiss and looked him in the eye, and the feverish desperation in her face made his cock throb. “I love you,” she whimpered.

“I love you too,” he said breathlessly. “Now ride that toy for us.”

“Yes, please do,” Halsin said, and he shifted back to kneel beside Astarion once more.

She lifted herself on her knees, then slowly sank down onto the sybian-cock again, and Astarion groaned longingly. Gods, she really did look marvelous, the way she was fucking herself with that thick Halsin-shaped cock—

Halsin ran a palm over his hair.

Astarion moaned and pressed his head into Halsin’s touch — oh gods, he hadn’t meant to do that. But it was too late now; Halsin was chuckling softly and shifting closer to him. “Is it too soon now to request that you join us in shedding your clothing?”

Gods, his belly felt like it was full of butterflies. “I suppose Eilaena’s put on a decent enough show,” he teased, and he untucked his shirt and pulled it off.

“Bravo!” Eilaena said breathlessly.

He grinned at her, then wrestled his face back into the most forbidding frown he could manage. “Don’t you try to pawn us off without a full performance. Keep riding that thing,” he said, and he started unbuckling his belt.

“Tough crowd,” she said cheekily, and she rolled her hips in an erotic circle… hells, she really was beautiful when her face was all taut with pleasure like that. He watched her hungrily as he removed the rest of his clothes, and by the time he was kneeling naked on the mattress, her face was blazing-hot with lust.

He tilted his head flirtatiously and palmed his own cock. “See something that appeals to you, darling?”

“Fuck yeah, I do,” she whimpered, and she came down on the sybian once more.

“Agreed,” said Halsin.

Astarion glanced up at him in surprise. Damn, he hadn’t even noticed that Halsin had stood up. “What are you up to?”

“I was fetching this,” he said. He lowered himself to his knees and held out his hand.

A bottle of almond oil was in his palm: a gift from Eilaena during one of their earlier visits to Reithwin, and the preferred lubricating oil that Halsin and Astarion both favoured during their trysts, since it smelled like her hair.

His gut jumped: a fish-leap feeling of excitement-anxiety-fluttery-nerves. “Well well,” he said suggestively. “What are you planning to do with that?”

“Only what you are comfortable with,” Halsin said, with a heart-pounding gentleness. “But to start…” He poured a small measure of almond oil into his palm, then tilted his head at Astarion’s cock. “May I?”

He swallowed hard. “Ye— of course. Be my guest.”

Halsin sidled behind him on his knees, and the fine hairs stood up at the back of Astarion’s neck. He could feel the heat rolling off of Halsin’s skin as he shifted closer to his back, that hotter-than-normal warmth that seemed to be a side-effect of Halsin’s ursine nature, and when Halsin’s hand glided over his waist, he shivered at the heat of his palm.

Halsin kissed his temple and glided his palm over his belly. “Are you all right?”

He nodded tightly. “Fine, fine. Do your worst, druid. By which I mean your very best.”

“Mm,” Halsin grumbled. Astarion could hear the smile in the sound, and he smirked too as he savoured the feeling of Halsin’s big palm gliding down over his hip and along his inner thigh… Ah, yes, the bear-man was cradling his balls.

He sighed and leaned back into Halsin’s lovely warm chest. “That’s nice. Now get on with it already, if you please.”

Halsin chuckled: a low and dirty little sound that Astarion really liked. “Perhaps Eilaena isn’t the only one in need of a lesson or two about patience.”

“Hey,” she said breathlessly. “I’m sitting right here. At least look at me if you’re going to poke fun at me.”

Astarion smiled lazily at her — ooh, look at her indeed: she was sweating now as she rolled her hips over the sybian’s cock.

He greedily eyed the damp trail of sweat that highlighted the tendon in her neck. “You’re exquisite, darling. I’ll bet your neck tastes like absolute heaven right now.”

“As opposed to how I usually taste?” she whimpered.

He laughed. “Listen to you, fishing for compli—”

Halsin smoothed his oiled palm over the head of Astarion’s cock.

He jerked helplessly toward Halsin’s hand — ah, Halsin was stroking him! His big hand was wrapped around the length, the way he was gripping him with just the right amount of squeeze, mm, the sweet caress of his thumb over the tip…

A shiver of delight ran down his spine, and he pumped instinctively into Halsin’s grip. Then Halsin’s mouth was at his ear. “Look at her,” he said, his voice pitched low but loud enough for Eilaena to hear. “Look at our beautiful bard. The way her body moves like the ocean. Like nature itself, crashing against the shores of her own passion.”

Dazed with pleasure, Astarion watched as she undulated on the sybian in an incredibly fluid way. “Mhm,” he moaned. “I’m — I’m w-watching…” Hells, please, Halsin was working him so gods-damned well.

He flexed his hips to press his cock through Halsin’s oiled hand, and the bear-man’s deep-and-butter-smooth voice drifted over his ear again. “Her desire is as full and bright as a harvest moon. But I should like to hear the symphony of your desire before we sate her. Would you agree?”

“Mm, agree, yes,” Astarion gasped. Honestly, at this point he was inclined to agree with anything Halsin said.

Eilaena mewled and lowered herself onto the sybian again, and Astarion’s cock pulsed as though it was his cock she was sliding down on. Then Halsin petted his nipple with his thumb.

Astarion gasped and jerked. Halsin was pinching his nipple now as he stroked his cock with a tight and steady rhythm, and Astarion’s eyes fluttered shut with bliss. The warmth of Halsin’s hand, the tightness and the sweet up-and-down stroke… Gods, just the warmth of his skin, his chest, his hips, his — mm, the thick rod of his cock pressing gently into the small of Astarion’s back…

His balls tightened with anticipation. Halsin truly had a handsome cock, like velvet-coated steel threaded with a rather gorgeous vein from the root to the crown, and that handsome cock was rubbing ever-so-gently against Astarion’s back now, just above the swell of his butt — just above the cleft of his ass, where Astarion wanted him.

His belly jumped again: a hop of pure excitement now, his nervousness literally stroked away by the confident movements of Halsin’s hands on his body. Yes, those confident hands, the smooth tugging of his oiled palm, the gentle pinch-and-roll of his fingers playing over Astarion’s nipple… Mm, and if that wasn’t enough, Eilaena was there in front of them, deliciously sweat-laced and gasping as she fucked herself with the sybian and watched them with a look of utter desperation on her face.

Then she met his eye, and his heart flipped. She was gazing into Astarion’s eyes, both of them gasping with need as she rode Halsin’s sybian while Astarion pumped into the bear-man’s fist, and when she suddenly smiled at him, it felt like a bubble bursting within his chest.

He gripped Halsin’s wrist. “I’m ready,” he blurted. “Halsin, I’m ready for — for this. For you. I want this.”

Halsin exhaled slowly and pressed a kiss to the nape of Astarion’s neck, then rolled his palm over the tip of Astarion’s cock, and Astarion burst out a moan. The intensity of his palm, the — ah, ah, the way he was caressing and massaging the sensitive head as he nuzzled his way along the back of Astarion’s neck, please, please…!

By the time Halsin’s mouth found the tip of his ear again, Astarion was whimpering like a hungry dog, and he was too riled up to even care what he sounded like. “H-Halsin, gods be damned…”

“Bend over, lover,” Halsin crooned. “Present yourself to me.”

“Astarion, come closer,” Eilaena gasped. “I want to stroke your hair.”

Astarion nodded and crawled over to her — gods, yes, the fragrance of her cunt, the raw scent of her musk soaking into the sybian’s padding! He hungrily licked her thigh and lowered himself to his elbows and knees in front of her, then glanced over his shoulder, and his heart thudded hard: Halsin was kneeling behind him, his broad shoulders looming in a way that made him look especially hungry and bear-like, and he was smoothing his shiny-oiled palm along the length of his magnificent cock.

Fuck, please, Astarion wanted this. He wanted this, he wanted that gorgeous length stretching inside of him, he wanted it so badly that he could practically feel his insides already tingling at the thought. He spread his knees a little more to ‘present himself’, as the druid had said. “Go slow to start,” he said breathlessly. “It’s been a while.”

“Of course,” Halsin said, his voice rough-yet-gentle at the same time. “I would never dare to rush something so precious. To that end…” He poured some more oil into his palms, then glided his palms up the backs of Astarion’s thighs and over his buttocks.

Astarion pulled in a shaky breath and rested his cheek against Eilaena’s thigh, and she ran her fingers through his hair. “My kitten,” she said huskily. “I love when Halsin touches me like that. It’s nice, isn’t it?”

Astarion simply moaned in response. Halsin was massaging his buttocks slowly but thoroughly, and his thumbs were gliding ever closer to the cleft of his ass, spreading him a little more with every smooth caress. He was being gentle on purpose, Astarion knew, but the way Halsin was handling him felt like a tease, too, with his fingers gliding deeper into the cleft, closer to the sensitive rim without actually making contact. And the more Halsin touched him without touching him, the more frustrated he started to feel.

He groaned and arched his spine. “Gods’ blood, Halsin, will you just touch me already?”

Halsin chuckled. “Impatient indeed. You and Eilaena truly are a matched pair,” he said, and he pressed the pad of one finger against his hole.

Astarion gasped and tensed — fuck, damn it, it had been so long! — and Halsin caressed his hip with his other hand. “Easy, lover. Relax.”

“It’s okay,” Eilaena said softly, and she tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. “It’s okay, Astarion. I’m right here, okay?”

He nodded tightly and blew out a shaky breath… Ah, fuck, Halsin was circling the pad of his finger around the rim. His slippery finger was playing him so carefully, coaxing all of those nerves to life, making him bloom and loosen with excitement — fuck, gods, his cock was throbbing hard, he was so hard, he wanted this so gods-damned badly!

“Halsin, put it in,” he begged. “Put it in, give it to me!”

“Easy, Astarion,” Halsin panted. “Gently now.” He carefully spread Astarion’s ass with one hand, then — ah, ah ah, the pressure, the smooth-firm pressure of his thick cock pressing against the hole, pressing more firmly, pressing through, yes yes—!

“Gods!” The word burst from his throat, a guttural moan-cry that felt like it was being forced out of his lungs by the pressure of Halsin pushing in.

Halsin paused and smoothed his palm over the small of his back. “How are you feeling?”

Astarion moaned helplessly in response. He felt… tight, he felt fucking tight, the pressure and goodness of Halsin’s cock tinted by just a hint of burn. But with every gasping breath, the burn was giving way to that good sweet fullness — but not enough fullness, since Halsin couldn’t be more than two inches inside, and Astarion needed more.

He wiggled and pushed his hips back — ah, fuck yes, yes! “Halsin, I need m-more…”

“Of course,” Halsin crooned. “Easy now, slowly…” He reached forward and gripped Astarion’s shoulder, then pumped his hips slowly, slowly, pressing deeper into Astarion’s empty body, filling him up and stretching him and probing deep as though he was reaching for something, for that insane magical spot within—

There. There, there, Halsin was striking him just right, pressing deep against that perfect spot… “Gods,” he mewled, and he clawed mindlessly at the mattress. “Oh gods, oh gods…”

“Don’t call for them,” Eilaena said. “Call for Halsin. He’s the one making you see stars.”

Astarion burst out a sob-laugh. “Shut it, you minx — a-ah!” Halsin was pulling out now, and the friction of his cock sliding out was just — oh fuck, fucking hells, he was pressing deep again and grinding in—!

Halsin made a guttural bearlike sound. “Mm, Astarion, you feel exquisite…”

Astarion couldn’t reply. He couldn’t… Gods, he couldn’t even think. He was trembling, his mouth agape without breath or words, his eyes shut tight from the intensity of Halsin’s thick cock stretching and filling him and throbbing against that magical gods-damned spot in the depths of his body — oh gods, it was incredible. The incredible in-and-out as Halsin pumped into him, the unbearable tension and tightness in his balls and his stone-hard cock and the deepest inner reaches of his core, the sounds Halsin was making as he fucked him… Y-yes, Halsin was bent over his back now and gripping his shoulder hard as he pumped into him and rolled his hips in just that way to strike that fucking magical spot—

He came suddenly, hard, and it was like blacking out and seeing heaven at the same time. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t move, he was shaking as though he was feverish, and he could vaguely hear both Halsin and Eilaena’s voices, both of them sounding strained and ecstatic, but he couldn’t see and he couldn’t think and he couldn’t make out a damned word they were saying, if they were even saying words at all. He was in a faraway world of rapture, one where he could only feel the intensity of his body being wracked with the tremors of ecstasy as Halsin flexed into his ass, and by the time he came back to himself and pried open his eyes, he was so utterly worn out by bliss that he felt (ironically) as though he’d been deboned.

Lazily, stuporously, he opened his eyes. And only then did he realize that Eilaena had climbed off of the sybian, and that his head was resting on her lap.

He laughed tiredly — gods, his throat was sore as though he’d been howling — and Eilaena laughed too and stroked his hair. “Are you okay? I’ve never seen you like this before. I’m feeling a little inadequate now, honestly. Halsin, you did too good a job.”

Astarion scoffed. “Inadequate? You? What a stupid—”

Halsin groaned and flexed into Astarion’s ass, and Astarion gasped fitfully. Fuck, fuck, he was going to come again if Halsin kept this up! “Eilaena, open your legs,” he groaned.

“Open—?”

Halsin thrust into him again, and he burst out a moan. “Shut up and open your legs,” he begged. “Open them, darling, let me — ah, Halsin, you brute!”

“Too much? Too hard?” Halsin gasped.

“Don’t you fucking stop!” Astarion yelped, and he mindlessly sank his fangs into Eilaena’s inner thigh.

“Fuck!” she gasped, and she spread her knees. “Astarion, please—”

He lifted his fangs from her thigh and buried his mouth between her legs, and she mewled. “Fuck, oh gods! Hang on, h-hang on…” She stroked his hair with a shaking hand and shifted onto her bum, then spread her legs wide — argh, the scent of her sex, she smelled damned sweet.

He dragged his tongue through her folds — ah, oh gods oh gods, Halsin was really fucking him hard now! He moaned into Eilaena’s cunt, then began suckling her swollen clit, and she was moaning and scratching his scalp in the way he loved, and Halsin was pumping into him and striking that spot and making him feel like he was going to go mad. It was too much, it was just right and too much and he was going to go mad: the tension the pressure the fullness the perfume of Eilaena’s blood leaking down her thigh oh fuck, oh the hunger, the pleasure, the sweetness of it all, he was going to go fucking mad—

The ecstasy crashed through him again, blinding him with white lights bursting behind his eyelids as he slurped up the blood leaking from Eilaena’s inner thigh — ah, please, he could feel Halsin spurting inside of him, filling him up with the pulsing hotness of his seed, and he moaned into Eilaena’s thigh as her blood spread across his tongue. So much goodness, how fucking good he felt, like the pleasure was spanning through his entire body from the follicles of his hair to the soles of his feet: so many forms of hedonistic pleasure filling him up all at once, coating his insides and washing over his tongue, how gods-damned incredible to think that his body could feel so good!

Halsin carefully pulled out of him, then began caressing his shoulders and his back, and Astarion shivered with bliss: the bear-man’s big hot hands were smoothing all over his body, stroking his hair and his shoulders and the back of his neck in a way that made his heart feel like it was swelling in his chest.

Halsin bent over him and kissed his shoulder and the back of his neck. “Come, Astarion,” he murmured, his voice soft but edged with a deliciously-dangerous growl. “Sit back, now. I wish to finish her.”

Astarion lifted his head from Eilaena’s thigh — oh shit, how long had he been drinking from her? Had he drunk too much? “Sorry,” he rasped, and he shifted aside. “I-I’m sorry, darling. Are you all right?”

“I’m okay, I’m fine,” she whimpered, and she lay back on the mattress and spread her legs. “Halsin, please…”

Halsin ran his palm along Astarion’s back, then dipped his head down and began lavishing wet sloppy kisses on Eilaena’s cunt. She moaned and reached down to stroke his hair, and Astarion contentedly flopped onto his side to watch the show.

It didn’t last long; Eilaena was clearly close to the edge already, and Astarion had long known her to be weak for Halsin’s talented mouth. Within the space of a minute, she was shivering and crying out in that pretty kittenish way as she bucked her hips toward Halsin’s face. When she finally settled down from her climax, limp and replete and breathing hard, Astarion playfully tweaked her beringed ear. “Brava, darling. I think we need an encore.”

Halsin lifted his head with a smile, and Eilaena let out a breathless laugh. “What an insatiable audience! Give me a minute or five at least.” She reached down to stroke Halsin’s hair. “Come up here, my lovely bear. Come snuggle with us.”

Halsin pushed himself upright and crawled over to lie on Astarion’s other side, to his surprise. “How do you feel?” he said, and he ran his palm along Astarion’s arm in a soothing caress. “Any soreness? Would you care for any healing?”

Eilaena shifted closer to him and brushed his hair back from his forehead, and his tummy flipped. The tender attention from both of them was… a lot. It was making him feel funny. Not bad-funny, not bad at all, but just… oddly shy and fluttery.

He smiled vaguely and shifted onto his back so he could gaze up at the brick-and-daub ceiling of Halsin’s dome. “No healing needed. I feel… fantastic, actually.”

“I am thrilled to hear it,” Halsin said softly. “That was a wonderful experience for me, also.”

“Me too,” Eilaena said.

Feeling even more shy now, Astarion shot her a smirk. “Should Halsin and I feel threatened by the sybian?”

She laughed softly. “Gods, no. I mean, the sybian was fucking amazing — Halsin, I love it,” she said emphatically. “Really, I do. But it’ll never replace either of you, obviously.” She snorted. “It sounds stupid to even say it out loud. Imagine a wooden cock taking the place of the real thing!”

“Well, the same goes to you,” Astarion said.

Her eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?”

“That silly thing you said when the bear-man and I were in the throes. About feeling inadequate.”

“Oh! No, I—” She laughed, but her eyes darted away for a second. “No, I was just kidding. I don’t really think that.” She snuggled against his side and tucked her head under his arm.

His heart twisted. “Eilaena, I’m serious. You’re not inadequate.”

“I know, I know,” she said lightly. “I was just kidding, honestly.”

Astarion frowned. She wasn’t kidding, not completely. He could tell by how lighthearted and dismissive she was being.

He glanced at Halsin for help. The druid was studying her with a tender expression, and when he met Astarion’s eye, he shifted closer so he could reach across and stroke her cheek. “Tell us what concerns you, my heart. Let us untangle these brambles together.”

She gave him and Astarion a pleading look. “There’s no brambles, honestly. I just… ha. I don’t know.” She smiled crookedly at Astarion. “I hope I can make you come like that someday.”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Are you quite serious?”

Her smile widened. “You obviously have no idea how gorgeous you look when you’re coming like gangbusters, or you wouldn’t be asking me that.”

He tsked and rolled onto his side to face her. “Eilaena, you dolt. Why are you comparing yourself to Halsin?”

She chuckled and dropped his gaze. “I know, I know, it’s stupid to compare to Halsin. Everyone in the world would come up short—”

“No, you idiot,” he interrupted. “It’s stupid because it’s you. Having sex with you is always going to be special because it’s you. Even if I don’t come so hard that it feels like I’m going blind.”

She broke into laughter. “Holy hells! Is that really what it was like?”

Halsin chuckled, and Astarion couldn’t help but smile as he replied. “Even if that is what it was like, it’s — there’s nothing in the world that could replace what you and I have. That’s the damned point. It’s like you said to me ages ago about this one.” He jerked his thumb at Halsin. “He can’t replace me for you, and vice versa. Same thing here. No one’s replacing anyone, all right? So you can stop feeling mopey now.” He rolled onto his back once more and tucked his arms behind his head.

Halsin huffed. “Well spoken, Astarion. If perhaps a little harshly.”

He tsked. “A little tough love is necessary sometimes, especially when the love of your life is a sorceress-bard with a particularly thick skull.”

Eilaena didn’t reply. When Astarion glanced over at her, it was to find her beaming at him.

He arched a brow. “What?”

She straddled his hips and patted his abs. “When did you get so fucking wise?”

He scoffed and pinched her thigh. “Excuse you. I’ve always been wise. You’re just too dense to notice.”

She laughed, then bent over him and kissed him tenderly on the lips. “I love you,” she whispered.

His heart swelled. “I love you too, you adorable fool.”

She giggled and kissed him once more, then climbed off of him and snuggled into the narrow space between him and Halsin. “I love you too, my gorgeous bear.”

“As I love you, my autumn heart.” He curled up against her back and draped his arm over her waist.

She snuggled back against his front, then ran her palm over Astarion’s chest, and he gazed contentedly up at the dome’s ceiling as she traced his pecs and his abs with her fingertips and her nails. Eventually, though, the movement of her hand slowed until her palm was simply resting on his chest.

He glanced at her: her eyes were closed, and her face was soft and peaceful.

He smiled faintly, then lifted his gaze to Halsin’s face, and his belly flip-flopped: Halsin was watching him, and the tenderness in his eyes was enough to put a lump in his throat.

Astarion swallowed hard. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For… this. For tonight. And for… including me.”

Halsin shook his head slightly. “There is no reason to thank me. You belong here with me just as much as she does.”

Ugh, what a perfect thing to say. How was it that Halsin always knew exactly the right thing to say? Tongue-tied, he gazed silently into Halsin’s green-and-golden eyes. Halsin gazed back at him with that calm and heart-wrenchingly soft look on his face, and as the moments ticked by in that breathless-swollen silence, Astarion could swear that he felt a pulse beating in the depths of his chest.

Halsin smiled, then: a faint smile, both secretive and understanding at the same time. “We should try and rest while we can,” he said softly. “I imagine that Eilaena will be putting us through our paces when she awakes.”

Astarion chuckled, more with relief at the broken tension than anything else. “I daresay you’re right.”

Halsin smiled faintly. Then he lifted his hand and brushed his knuckles over Astarion’s cheekbone. “May the Oakfather grant you a sweet reverie, beloved.”

Beloved. The endearment settled in his chest, like something warm and new wrapping around his heart. Gods, this damned druid and his silver tongue. “You too, darling,” he whispered, and on impulse, he took Halsin’s hand and kissed his palm.

Halsin brushed his thumb across Astarion’s lips, then wrapped his arm around Eilaena’s waist and closed his eyes, and Astarion rolled onto his side and shuffled closer to them before closing his eyes as well. He had no idea if he would actually be able to settle into a reverie after everything that had happened tonight, but Halsin was right about trying to get some rest while Eilaena was out cold.

She tucked her foot between his shins and trailed her fingers down his chest.

He opened his eyes. She was awake, and she was smiling at him in that adoring way that never failed to make his undead heart feel alive.

He took her hand and twined his fingers with hers, then closed his eyes once more. And as he lay there, floating along in a lazy ebb-and-flow of contented thoughts, he marvelled at the goodness of it all. Lying here on this big nest-bed, cozy and warm with his loved ones by his side, his skin warm from their caresses and slightly sticky from their sweat and slickness and seed: this was good, it was all so gods-damned good, and he felt like the luckiest man in the world to enjoy it all.

He let out a long and happy sigh. Gods, life is good, he thought, and he drifted into a contented reverie.