Respite For The Weary [Liltotto, Dorian]

"That's just as well, then, because I think I'd rather you be the only one who heard me say it. After all, it's not meant for anyone but the two of us."

He went along with her lead, certainly not awake enough to properly take charge of the situation, but at least enough to keep pace and maintain his cool. As Liltotto held herself closer, Dorian effortlessly returned her embrace, arms wrapped around her in a manner that wasn't just affectionate, but carried with it an undeniable air of protectiveness. Was he remotely strong enough to protect someone like her? No, he wasn't. But he could certainly work on that, and it didn't change that he'd worried for her even knowing she wasn't in the city when the attack had occurred.

"But knowing you like it, now I feel like just 'beautiful' was too simple. Generic, even. I can do better than that, can't I?"

The warm water running over them certainly added to the atmosphere of the moment, and Dorian could say with absolute certainty that he'd never felt any moment of intimacy that compared with this. He'd always been rather closed off, after all. Liltotto was, really, the first person to pierce through that shell he'd put up decades ago.

"Mm... 'Captivating,' maybe. That at least includes more than just your features, not that any sane man could undersell those. I think it captures that way you carry yourself, so forward, gruff even at times. The little changes in your expression when you're annoyed, or pleased with yourself. How sweet you are when no one else is around."

Yeah, that about summed it all up. At least, as much as Dorian could think to put together with how tired he was. As it turned out, when you finally stopped working and took a moment to enjoy a relaxing moment with your lovely girlfriend, exhaustion really began to creep up on you. His smile grew a little more coy again as he spoke again, finishing this whole rambling train of thought. Ah, he really hoped she shut him up soon.

"Or would you prefer 'darling?' I think it has a good ring to it."

Ah, that was good, she had shut him up. Dorian hadn't entirely expected this to be the manner in which she did it, but he would be the last man to argue with her methods. After all, they were entirely to his benefit right about now, and his hand moved gently to the small of her back (and not an inch lower) as he held her all the closer.

Was he particularly good at kissing? No, not really. Dorian had never had time for relationships, after all, and even this one had snuck up on him all at once. He would have worried about that in most cases, and found it even a bit embarrassing. But this was a situation that made it rather hard to be embarrassed.

So he simply kissed her back, for as long as she was willing. It wasn't overly forward, and admittedly, there was perhaps even a little bit of hesitation. How could there not be? He hardly knew what he was doing, and the last thing he wished was to make a mistake in something so delicate as this.

While Liltotto may have been doing her best to keep from laughing, Dorian certainly had no such reservaions, and be let out an earnest, heartfelt laugh at the whole situation. The two of them were quite similar in these respects, weren't they?

"Think nothing of it, darling. I, for one, think that was quite perfect."

Of course, he knew that it hadn't been in any practical sense. They were both amateurish at best in the field of romance, awkwardly fumbling through it after a lifetime without it. But that was thoroughly inconsequential when they genuinely enjoyed one another. Whether she was good or bad at it hardly mattered, so long as it was her.

"Then you'll just have to see if I give the same appraisal after I've slept, won't you?"

He didn't particularly mind the clothes she was offering, but Dorian was hardly the sort to care about what he looked like behind closed doors. After all, his appearance wasn't something he kept up simply for the sake of it, and right now, he was squarely in favor of being comfortable.

Admittedly, changing took a bit longer than he might have liked, but that was simply because he was exhausted. He finally walked out to the couch, and his steps were certainly growing heavy now. As he collapsed onto it, he could feel his eyes begging to close, but Dorian wasn't going to sleep yet.

After all, he'd said he intended to cuddle with Liltotto, hadn't he?

This was, really, nothing short of heavenly. If he were more awake, he might have thought more intently on just how ideal a position this was to be in, nestled against her in such a manner, but he was only just clinging to consciousness at this point. The exhaustion he'd simply opted to ignore in all his muscles was firmly settling in, and he simply smiled faintly as he spoke in a quiet voice.

"I could hardly think of any place more comfortable."

Really, he knew he probably ought to eat, too, but he didn't quite have the energy for that. He just closed his eyes, and just as quickly, he was out cold.