For Athelstan

[onceaviking]

His room is neat.
The laptop is switched on, the decanter in the low table has been refilled with wine, the bed is made.

He turns on the light as they enter and turns to look at Athelstan.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

He isn't sure what to make of the snarl, except just a predator responding, but he did ask for it and he's soon wholly involved in keeping up.

"Yes", he gasps out. "Not always like this, but... like this."

[onceaviking]

Eric turns his face back to him, to watch his face.
His own face is streaked with blood, but he has withdrawn his fangs.

He had to.

So he won't bite him.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan wouldn't even stop him, at least for a minute, but he only has so much blood to spare.

His face shows everything he feels, it always has, and this is as unguarded a moment as there is.

[onceaviking]

Eric leans in and whispers, "You can think of someone else. Just close your eyes."

[athelstanthescribe]

He looks, for a moment, as if he's going to deny wanting to... but then he does close his eyes, concentrating on what he can feel, not what he can see.

The name on his lips when he speaks next, barely aware he's saying it out loud, the one he's wanted on some level - though it's been forced far down under terror and grief, and under a clinging to his old life, and under self-preservation - since the day they met... is "Ragnar".

[onceaviking]

And perhaps the sensations will do. A battle-hardened body. Big hands.
And Eric has fed enough to b cool instead of cold.

He kisses Athelstan, enveloping him in his arms, filling him.

[athelstanthescribe]

It's not perfectly right, not quite like his guilty imaginings, but it's close. Close enough.

Athelstan yields to the kiss, pressing back against Eric's every thrust.

[onceaviking]

And they grow deeper and faster, the thrusts

[onceaviking]

And he takes everything that's offered, just as hungrily as he took his blood.

[athelstanthescribe]

It's what he wants, this time, at this stage in proceedings. What he needs, and his cries of ecstasy are muffled by Eric's mouth as he responds just as hungrily.

And if it still isn't Eric's name he's calling out, well, Eric gave him permission.

[onceaviking]

He won't hold it against him.

Eric understands not being able to get what you want.


He tightens his hold on him even more and buries himself in him.

[athelstanthescribe]

The grip is so tight as to hurt - but it's only superficial pain, nothing is breaking, and Athelstan ignores it. Maybe he doesn't even feel it, in among the flood of other sensations his brain is receiving.

He's very close to the edge now.

[onceaviking]

And Eric's fangs drop, hard.

And then he bites him again.

The lure of the blood he can hear rushing through Athelstan's veins is too big. And he wants to taste him as he comes.

[athelstanthescribe]

One more time, he thinks hazily, just a little more, Eric knows what he's doing.

The added stimulus of being fed on is enough to push him all the way over, and he shudders and cries out one more time as he comes.

[onceaviking]

Yes.

The taste changes when the blood stream is flooded with hormones and Eric moans as he feels Athelstan's orgasm around him and within him at the same time.

And then he bites down on his own tongue again and likes the wounds closed.
Almost gently. Eyes closed.

Still holding Athelstan, his arms around him.

He's still hard.

[athelstanthescribe]

Coming down from the high point, Athelstan slumps against Eric's body, drained in more ways than one. He can still feel Eric inside him, knows he's still aroused, and in a minute he'll start thinking about what to do about that.

[onceaviking]

Eric just - holds him.

Nuzzling his neck and shoulder. His cheek.

His fingers are moving on his skin. Slowly.
Soothingly.

[athelstanthescribe]

It's a pleasant feeling, gentle and reassuring, and Athelstan just lies there and enjoys it while it lasts.

[onceaviking]

And then Eric pulls out and moves away in one smooth movement.

He needs a little distance.

[athelstanthescribe]

He understands, though he still murmurs a wordless, mostly involuntary, protest and curls into the bedsheets as Eric moves away.

[onceaviking]

Eric settles down on the edge of the bed, running both hands through his hair.

Savoring the taste.

[athelstanthescribe]

After a while, Athelstan pulls together the energy to sit up and look at him.

"Eric?"

[onceaviking]

"Hmm?" Eric says, turning a little to look at him over his shoulder.

[athelstanthescribe]

"You're very quiet", he says by way of explanation, still in Old Norse. "Are you all right?"

[onceaviking]

The corners of his lips twitch a little.

"I was just - thinking," he replies.
"Remembering."