Found

CONTENT WARNING: This story is a romance between two consenting adults, but a section near the end, while still between two consenting adults, becomes more adult in content and nature. For your convenience, the text of the very explicit portion of this story is in bold, so that those who do not wish to read it can easily identify it visually and skip past it to the end.

The stars glittered like a sophist’s crown, blanketing the horizon and the surrounding spires of Waterdeep but providing neither the warmth of bedclothes nor the proper illumination oft associated with countless pinpricks of light. He finished adjusting his placement of things and peered up, smiling to himself.

Well. Not that kind of illumination, anyway.

Finally satisfied with his arrangement, he set about lighting the various candles on their makeshift plinths, which were primarily chunks of stone that he’d filed down to make as smooth as possible before carefully securing the candles to them with drips of their own wax. As he worked, he sang quietly to himself. It was an old song, a half-remembered lullaby from his earliest recollections in Huzuz. He couldn’t even remember his mother’s face anymore, but her voice lingered in his mind, a lyrical purr of deepest devotion. 

Suddenly, his finely tuned ears picked up a scrabbling sound behind and below him. There were grunts of exertion. 

Someone was trying to come up.

Instantly a shadow, Noa Carrus drifted like fog in a heavy breeze to the ledge and looked down. Below him, a blonde head shone in the moonlight, and he smiled. He was on the point of calling out to Arveen when she lost her footing and began to tumble backwards. 

By the time his brain recognized what had happened, he’d already raised his arm instinctively. The warm, familiar purple energy enwreathed his hand as he closed his palm into a fist. His heart raced despite seeing Arveen’s descent stop suddenly, and even as she rose slowly through the air towards him, he dared not draw breath. Finally, as her feet touched down lightly on the rooftop, he released his telekinetic hold and wrapped his real arms around her, allowing himself a shaky smile.

“You must watch that first step, it’s a real nightmare.”

Arveen, visibly shaken and breathing hard, looked momentarily like she wanted to jerk herself away from him. Then he felt her shoulders slump as she leaned back into him and wrapped her shaking arms around him. They stood enjoying each other’s warmth for a moment before she gently pulled away and peered up into his molasses eyes. 

“What in the Hells are you doing up here?”

He laughed shakily, feeling the shadow of awkwardness lurking. He palmed the back of his neck and frowned at the roof tiles below their feet, unsure how to explain.

“Well, I uh…”

“I was afraid you were sneaking off to find Agner without us.”

This drew his gaze back to the endless emerald depths of her eyes. His breath caught in his throat at the majesty of the vista.

“N…no,” he choked. “I promised you, we’ll discuss that and make a decision together. Whatever else I am, I take my oaths seriously. I…well, come see.”

He gently grabbed her hand and led her around the dormant chimney of the Trollskull Tavern Inn, which they and their companions shared ownership of. It was unseasonably warm for the time of year, so few of the buildings across Waterdeep had their hearths lit this late at night. That was all for the better, from Noa’s perspective. Less smoke to interfere with the view. They moved slowly, owing to the treacherous footing on this part of the roof, so it gave him plenty of time to explain as he helped Arveen steady herself. She was much less accustomed to this kind of thing than he was.

“I spent so many years sleeping on a ship. Even the captain’s quarters are quite cramped, you see. And dank. They smell. All you ever see is wood, unless you’re lucky enough to have a porthole. Then, you see wood surrounding a violently roiling and rocking sea. Just a snatch of sky in the distance. It felt like a prison to me. See what I mean?”

Arveen, whose attention was split between his words and focusing on her steps so as not to lose her footing on the roof's steep pitch, simply nodded, her eyes darting fearfully from her feet up to his face briefly before returning to her gait.

“As you’ve probably guessed, life at sea was not exactly the life I always dreamed of for myself. When I was younger, before we won the Crimson Crow, Agner and I slept beneath the wide expanse of the heavens nearly every night. I’ve found myself missing that experience these last few weeks, now that I’m finally free of the myriad types of prisons I’ve spent most of the last decade inside.”

As they reached a flat spot on the roof, Arveen rediscovered her playful nature at roughly the same time she found stable footing. She arched an eyebrow at him with a half-smile.

“Prisons? Plural?”

Noa laughed.

“Well. Life on the ship felt like a prison, as I mentioned. Then, my mutinous first mate actually imprisoned me, which you rescued me from. And after that…”

Noa’s eyes hardened slightly as he stared out at the city sprawled before them.

“Well, after that, I discovered I’d been a prisoner of guilt far longer than I’d been in Agner’s shackles. And you rescued me from that, too.”

With that, he took Arveen’s hands in his and raised them to his lips, kissing her knuckles fervently. He’d scarcely removed her hands from his mouth before she’d replaced them with her lips pressed firmly against his own. There was a reckless passion; a hunger there that he’d not yet seen from her, and the shock of it flung his eyes open even as her arms wrapped around his neck to pull him closer to her. He slowly let his eyelids close and let his arms snake around her waist to find the small of her back, pulling her warm body back into his own as their passion crested like a wave. 

After moments - or hours, he found himself blissfully unsure - she gently broke the kiss, and her lips parted slightly. She gazed up at him with a look that seemed like a mixture of lust and surprise before adjusting her hips slightly. Her eyes flicked downward for a brief moment before locking back onto his, and in that moment, he understood that he was not the only person aware of the discomfort in his trousers at present.

“So,” he said awkwardly, pulling away slightly and briefly cupping her chin affectionately in a gesture he hoped wouldn’t be too off-putting. “This is why I’ve been squirreling away blankets and pillows and candles since we arrived here, and why I chose a room on the top floor.”

With that, he turned away from the breathtaking view at the roof's edge and gestured, drawing her attention to the roof behind them. A carefully arranged assortment of pillows and blankets was nestled against the quiet chimney and between the supporting stonework frame. He’d laid the pillows end to end and pushed them together to minimize gaps between them, and blankets wrapped the entire apparatus so that it resembled a shabby, squashy little nest of sorts. The carefully arranged candles surrounded it, and he’d slung a large canvas sheet between the chimney supports to secure the whole arrangement against the elements. It was remarkably clean, considering it was on a roof. However, Noa still self-consciously wiped some flecks of dust away before drawing the canvas back to reveal the sky above and flopping on his back upon the pallet, smiling lopsidedly up at Arveen. 

“Every time I come up here, it gets a little more comfortable,” he said, patting an empty spot next to himself as an invitation. 

She grinned slyly at him and put her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side in amusement.

“If I didn’t know better, mister, I’d say this was an elaborate ruse to get me into bed.”

Noa furrowed his brow and arched his eyebrows, pressing his hands to his chest. 

“Madam. You wound me. This is no bed.”

She laughed and sat down gracefully next to him, sweeping a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear as she did so. 

“Well, alright then. Since it’s not a bed.”

She leaned over and kissed him again. The aching hunger was still there, but it was more restrained now. Noa sensed trepidation and tremulously broke the kiss, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. She grabbed his hand, her eyes closed, and held it against her cheek. When her eyes opened again, he saw defiance there.

“Why do you keep pulling away? I’m not scared. I know what’s happening, and I’m leaning in. Do you not want what I want?”

Horror rose in his throat like bile, and he sat up abruptly.

How to explain?

“No, I…I want it so much it scares me. I…well, I’ve been alone for a long time. Always surrounded by others, but alone. Do you understand what I mean?”

She nodded. “I think so.”

Noa darkened. “It wasn’t always so. When I was younger, I was different. More carefree, I suppose. I lived and loved easily and with abandon. Even several years into being captain of the Crow, there was a new bed to fall into at every port. But…never with my crew. My chosen family. My most trusted compatriots. I…I suppose I know the man I am, and have always sought all measures to avoid inflicting myself in that way upon those I care for.”

The gentle warmth of her touch on his cheek surprised him, and he allowed her to steer his face until their eyes met again. He was floored to see moisture in hers.

“I know the man you are, too. And it’s why I fell in love with you.”

This time, his kiss led as their lips met. They slumped together back onto the pillows and blankets from dozens of shops all over Waterdeep, and the entire universe shrank in an instant. All that existed was the gentle, insistent tug of her fingers in his hair, the pleasant taste of cinnamon liqueur on her breath, the feel of her tongue and his, and the deep, insatiable need which passed between their bodies like lightning. 

Finally, he felt the need for breath and broke the kiss reluctantly. His damp eyes searched hers, and he knew what must be said but struggled to find the way to elucidate it properly. 

Like a distant bell tolling from far across the sea, another memory of his mother’s voice drifted into his mind. A stolen moment not meant for his young eyes, replaying in his head for the first time that he could recall. Tears fell as the words reached his consciousness, and he reached his trembling hand to Arveen’s cheek to caress it lovingly.

“Ya eayni,” he whispered, casting the psychic link between their minds so she could hear the words and their full meaning as he spoke them aloud in his native tongue.

My eyes.

He lowered his hand slowly, anxiously, until his fingertips rested ever so lightly on her breast. He could feel the thundering of her heart, the cascading life within her.

“Albi.”

My heart.

Finally, he lowered his hand to her palm, tracing light circles lovingly in her palm before entwining his fingers with hers. He let the tears fall freely, for they were beyond the bounds of stoicism now.

“Rohi.”

My soul.

They lay together, their tears mingling in silence for a long while as they simply held one another. Finally, she stifled a tearful giggle.

“You’re such a drama queen,” she teased.

He rolled onto his back, chuckling good-naturedly. “True enough, I suppose,” he murmured as she nestled herself into his side, her head on his shoulder, and her soft hand pressed to his chest. He kissed the top of her head lovingly.

“You’re right, though,” she continued. “The view from up here is incredible. It’s so peaceful. Like all the world's problems are far, far beneath us.”

He stared pensively up at the sky. 

“This is as close to the Gods as a man like me may ever ascend.”

Her mind lingered vaguely on Flint, and Noa felt torn between wishing to allow her the privacy of contemplation and curiosity to understand her thoughts better. He cleared his throat and prompted her neutrally.

“Perhaps it would be better if we went back inside and went to sleep?”

Arveen started, then shook her head with a slight chuckle. 

“I forgot about the mind thing, I’m sorry. I’m not…having second thoughts, or whatever, okay? I promise. It’s just…earlier, during the going-away party for Eryn, Flint pulled me outside to talk. He…”

Arveen paused, and Noa saw her eyes fill with tears. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer, rubbing her back softly. She sniffled and cleared her throat before continuing.

“Let’s just say, I think his behavior might be different going forward. He might even leave. He told me he loves and trusts me, needs to let me have my own life, and knows I have a new protector now. Apparently, Asura visited him last night, like me, and whatever she said to him finally convinced him.”

Noa felt like her words reached him through a buzzing sort of sound. Suddenly, he felt oddly light, and a glowing little ember of pride seemed to have ignited in his chest.

New protector.

“That…sounds like an incredible conversation,” he said slowly, measuring his words with all the care he could. “How does that make you feel?”

She was quiet for a moment, considering, before answering. “Free,” she said finally. “Not that I was ever a prisoner, just…you know how he’s been. It can’t have been easy for you, either.”

He chuckled in response but said nothing otherwise.

“Anyway,” she nuzzled into his neck, kissing it seductively, “I guess that’s my main feeling. Free.” 

She was very still for long enough that the thought entered his mind that she might have fallen asleep. Then, her hand stroked his chest, and he felt her head turn as her lips grazed his neck again.

“I don’t want to sleep yet,” she breathed as her lips and tongue teased him. He felt the last vestiges of his restraint waning and licked his dry lips to give his voice some hope of finding purchase in his throat.

“Do you not worry about what you might lose?”

She rose above him, an angelic vision, kissing him deeply as her shaking hands fumbled with the buttons on his tunic. Her breath was ragged and raw with desire as she pulled out of the kiss briefly to respond.

“I’m much more interested in what might be found.”

He could still hear her mind, the heights of passion and need etching their weight in every thought that crashed within her. He remembered she could listen to his as well, and when their eyes met this time, he knew his caution had ended.

With speed and grace, he pulled her to himself, kissing her deeply as he helped her succeed in undoing his buttons. He sat up, staring into the jeweled pools of her irises as he pulled his shirt off. Her hands slowly traced the ink on his skin as he watched her eyes rake his torso. 

As they kissed again, he heard in her mind what would happen next, a fraction of a moment before she reached for her simple, beautiful gown and swiftly pulled it up and over her head. As her face reappeared, she discarded the garment, her chest heaving with passion. He smiled as he brushed a flyaway strand of her now-disheveled hair back from her face, then allowed his gaze to drift downwards. 

Her chemise was simple but tantalizingly hugged her lithe form, and he didn’t trouble hiding the desire in his gaze or thoughts. Even in the darkness, he could see the flush rise on her cheeks and her chest. He kissed her gently, and then their eyes met. He heard her thoughts as clearly as if she’d spoken aloud.

I want this. Please continue.

Smiling at her, he ran his hands up her thighs, hooking his thumbs under the hem of the chemise as he lifted. He felt her body shiver slightly as she lifted her arms, and the slip slid over her head. For the first time, she seemed scared and unsure. He saw her fighting the urge to cover herself with her hands and smiled again. Without breaking eye contact, he took her hands in his and raised them to his face.

“Ya eayni,” he prompted her gently.

“Ya eayni,” she responded in a small voice.

He smiled, moving her hands to the skin above his pounding heart. He saw her swallow hard.

“Albi,” he said again, and she repeated it back to him. Her voice was stronger now. She wove her fingers into his of her own volition and spoke the final bit without his prompting.

“Rohi.”

“I love you, bright star,” he murmured, and their lips met again. In a flash, he rolled over atop her, and his lips found her neck. Her breath quickened to nearly a pant as she fumbled with his trousers. Once again, he helped her unbutton them, but his lips never left her skin. Just like that, there was naught but the night between them. 

He kissed and gently nibbled his way from her neck to her collarbone, making clear his intentions as he worked his way down. He sensed her exhilaration and lust mirroring his own, but could hear nagging doubts in her mind as well.

What if I’m not good?

What if he doesn’t like it with me?

I don’t know what I’m doing -

“My darling, you are perfection,” he whispered, pausing for emphasis to admire the curve of her breasts, heaving in the moonlight. As if to punctuate his passion, he gently ran his tongue across her nipple, and then in a circle around it, before taking it in his mouth and sucking gently. Her entire body shook as her breath stopped momentarily, her back arching and her hands flying to grab his hair. He slowly moved to the other nipple, repeating the process, and her moans were even clearer an affirmation than her thoughts were in that moment.

As he slowly worked his way down her torso, leaving behind a trail of kisses, he heard her breathing become even more insistent. She raised herself up on her elbows, looking down at him in the throes of both angst and lust, and he simply smiled back up at her as he continued the parade of kisses, allowing his mental voice to lap at the edges of her consciousness.

Don’t forget to breathe, my love. Trust me. Breathe.

She nodded mutely at him, her eyes ablaze with dozens of emotions and sensations she’d never known. As he arrived at his destination, he could smell her lust and need for him. It was intoxicating, and he required every drop of his restraint to ensure he maintained his patience. She deserved the best night of her life, and nothing else besides that goal mattered to him just now.

Noa turned his head to the side with a smile, and he kissed her inner thigh. Her lips parted with a gasp as he kissed her inner thigh again, a little closer. He slowly continued inching his way up her leg, and then she was stroking his cheek, and her hand found his hair again. His nose brushed against the neatly trimmed hair, and he looked up again just in time to see her head loll backwards with a whimper as he allowed his breath to linger there. Her thoughts screamed out in his mind.

Oh gods…

He smiled as he allowed his mouth to hang tantalizingly above her sex for the briefest moment…and then he turned his head to the left, beginning kissing his way up her other inner thigh and chuckling to himself as she bucked and moaned in frustration. He consoled her with his thoughts.

Patience, my heart. Feel your breath in your core. Give yourself to the feelings. 

Arveen’s breath quickened to a shuddering series of anticipatory gasps as he finally approached the moment they were both waiting for.  After the briefest pause to savor the moment, he finally ran his tongue along her labia, stopping to linger upon her clit with a deft expertise. 

Her shoulders hit the cushions with a muffled thump as she whimpered in ecstasy. Now both her hands were in his hair, pulling and twisting, and he relished it. He licked and sucked and gently nibbled, worshipping every part of her as her moans intensified. He could hear her thoughts and respond to the slightest hint of her preferences, things she’d never realized before that she liked. In that moment, their minds were truly one. As her body shook and writhed beneath him and her breath caught in her chest, he urged her silently once more.

Breathe, darling. Let it crash like a wave against the rocks. Let the tides become you. Hold nothing back.

And then her hands went from pulling and twisting his hair to firmly holding his head in place. Her back arched a final time as her body spasmed violently, and then a guttural, feral cry ripped itself from the depths of her soul as her orgasm crashed upon her. Her thoughts went a blissful white that Noa associated with blessed nothingness, and he rode the wave with her, teasing with his fingers as he worshipped at the altar of her womanhood. Her orgasm crested, but her hips kept bucking, and she kept moaning. Finally, it seemed she could stand no more and she insistently pulled his face back up to hers, kissing him passionately. 

After a moment, she pulled away to whisper huskily, “So that’s what it tastes like?”

He grinned and kissed her on the nose. “I promise it’s nowhere near as good secondhand,” he murmured. She moaned as she kissed him again, and he felt her warm hands grab his obsidian cock beneath him, guiding it down to her waiting pussy. 

He paused here for a moment, pulling away ever so slightly to look her in the eyes. He didn’t even give voice to the question within his mind, but she saw it in his eyes just the same. There was a moment of understanding, and when she smiled at him, it might well have been the sun itself shining in the sky. Her thought was a simple, single word.

Found.

With that, she guided him inside her. He pushed gently, watching her face intently. There was a moment when her eyes widened, and he sensed her pain. He stopped, and she gasped at him.

“Oh gods, please don’t stop.”

And so he eased his cock deeper into her, groaning softly as he did so. He’d never felt such exquisite pleasure in all his days. It was as if their bodies were made to fit together, two halves finding their whole. Her face twisted in ecstasy, and he knew his surely was as well. She closed her eyes, breathing shallowly, as his full length rested inside her. There he waited patiently until her eyes opened and the lustful fire blazed hotly there once more. Then, he withdrew slightly before easing his cock fully into her again. As he did, she shuddered and moaned, and he felt his own breath become ragged. 

With the discipline and patience only a lifetime of self-denial and training could foster, he gradually increased his tempo to match her whimpers. Their thoughts became less lucid as he moved with increasing fervor inside her, and Arveen’s brow furrowed as her lips made a perfect circle. Her frenetic breath matched his, he felt her nails digging into his back, and he realized they were both moaning to each other, exhorting the other to greater and greater heights. He felt his climax approaching, consciously thought to make himself stop, but no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he felt her legs wrap around his waist.

“Don’t you dare stop,” she hissed between groans, and they kissed deeply as stars exploded behind his eyes and a beast he’d never known rumbled in his chest. Even as he knew he was spent, he found himself incapable of stopping. Harder and deeper he went, and her eyes widened plaintively as her orgasm ripped through her body anew a few moments later. She held onto him as if clinging to a buoy for life in a storm-tossed sea as their lust ebbed.

When the blood rushed back to his head and thought returned, he slowly eased himself off of her to pant on the pallet beside her. She returned to her position nestled under his arm, their bodies shining with perspiration. And in the comfort of love’s embrace, they lay still, basking in each other’s magnificence.

Once he found his voice again, Noa croaked, “I was wrong before.”

Arveen nuzzled against him, practically purring, and said in a sultry whisper, “About what?”

“Now I know the closest I will ever get to seeing the Gods.”

She kissed him deeply and then lay her head back down on his chest. They murmured of their love for each other briefly and then drifted off to a sleep that was fathoms deep. And the stars glittered above them.