Archive of Our Own ^beta

Emmrich knows that Lucanis isn't avoiding him, necessarily, but Emmrich definitely feels like he's trying to herd a cat every time he reaches out to attempt making plans with him. Six months now, they've been 'not dating' and 'definitely not lovers’ during which Emmrich has spent more time at Lucanis' new, palatial penthouse than his own apartment near his campus. Despite this, he feels as though he sees Lucanis six hours a week at most. However, knowing what kind of work Lucanis does, Emmrich doesn’t mind making the effort. Coming to him, offering him comfort. Or sometimes, simply existing within the space long enough to leave something behind that might see the trained assassin missing him. A warm meal, a bouquet of flowers, the occasional note. Lucanis had given him a key, so Emmrich saw fit to use it as needed, even if it didn’t guarantee he’d see the key’s owner all that often.

Bearing all that in mind, it's something of a surprise to come in just after midnight, with a headache from hell, ready to fall asleep on the nearest soft surface while waiting for Lucanis after a long day at the body farm, only to find Lucanis waiting for him.

Despite the surprise he feels, he doesn’t want to make it an 'oh, you're back' sort of moment, allowing such surprise to show. They've had plenty of those sorts of evenings over the past several months after Lucanis decided to extend his stay in Nevarra to something far less temporary. (The perks of modern technology and being able to work from anywhere…) This, of course, is because Lucanis is available about as often as he sleeps. It’s rare they have time to get coffee together or carry on a conversation that isn't carefully couched in lies to avoid discussing his work. Quality time is sparing at best, but Emmrich knew what he was signing up for. At least partially. What he didn’t know he quickly learned.

He’s spent enough nights here to be intimately familiar with both Lucanis’ workload and his sleep issues. Emmrich could set clocks by the patterns he’s observed. It’s ritual now, when they’re together, watching Lucanis 'open-in-new-tab' himself into oblivion over yet another cup of coffee, spending hours poking around various social medias from his phone, tracking targets and researching interests, filling his prescriptions that he doesn’t actually take, watching yet another video about lock-picking…

The insomnia is as much a part of Lucanis as his career. Sex usually abates it, but they haven't been having a lot of that lately. Which is unfortunate, but Emmrich is nothing if not understanding. He's no reason to be upset about it. They're both stressed. Incredibly stressed. Lucanis has only inherited more responsibilities at work now that he's been promoted from within his organization, whether he likes it or not. Emmrich himself has two jobs and is trying (with a not insignificant degree of success, he might add) to work on a research paper on the funerary ideology of the phoenecian-punic culture, and going through a round of grad student selection, which has become a special form of torture to endure this year. They are busy people.

And yet, there Lucanis is, hips leaned back against the couch, legs crossed at the ankles, waiting. He looks painfully tense.

"Good--evening," Emmrich greets with an unexpected yawn, dropping his keys in the dish beside the door as he toes out of his shoes. He slides his bag off his shoulder and sets it a little more gingerly on the floor than usual, afraid that any sudden loud noise might spook Lucanis into leaving. It's an unfounded fear, but Emmrich feels like he's been chasing Lucanis' shadow for the past week, so he's not about to take any chances. Lucanis extends one hand out, silent, rigid, and Emmrich has no idea what to expect so he simply goes, padding across the floor in his socks and slipping his hand into Lucanis' own.

The tug is gentle and Lucanis draws Emmrich in, wrapping him up in his arms and burying his face in his chest. He holds tightly and just breathes. Emmrich's not sure what to do. It's… Unfamiliar. Unexpected and peculiar. Lucanis is usually so guarded about affection, rarely initiating asking for it with words or with action, so Emmrich feels like something is wrong and his heart skips, chest growing tight with concern. He wraps his arms around Lucanis, cards his fingers through long dark hair, and down his spine.

"Is… everything alright?" Emmrich asks, afraid of what the answer might be. Given the circumstances, any number of horrors could have brought on this sudden crack in the carefully constructed walls the assassin usually resides behind. Lucanis' chest expands with his deep breath and then he exhales slowly, hot and humid against Emmrich's chest. Lucanis lifts his head and at this distance, Emmrich can better see just how bloodshot his eyes are, how dark the circles beneath them have grown. Lucanis cups a hand against Emmrich's face.

"Move in with me," Lucanis says so softly, voice wavering with a weary crack of vulnerability.

Emmrich takes a moment to internalize that request. If it really can even be called a request at all. Lucanis sounds more like he's telling Emmrich what to do but the pained pinch to his brows and the clemency of his touch makes it clear that it's not an order. Something’s happened, and Emmrich fears learning just what it is.

"I… Yes. Alright. I can do that," Emmrich doesn't really need to think about it. He's come to know Lucanis. Come to understand who and what he is, what he struggles with, and after a brief encounter where he wasn’t sure Lucanis would allow him to walk away from alive, Emmrich has never shied away. The last six months, strange as they've been, have been some of the best since Emmrich was a young man at university, traveling abroad and finding himself entangled in the wonders of the world. Those brief weeks of Lucanis’ recovery from his gunshot wound that allowed them to meet, during which Emmrich was asked to simply be there, making sure he was okay, had been eye opening. All the quiet moments of just sharing space had stuck with him, drawn him in.

Driving away after had been one of the most difficult things Emmrich had ever done. But coming back? Staying? Making something of a half-life in the time they’re given. It’s always been worthwhile. His answer was a given, mind made up before he even knew it was an option.

"Thank the Maker," Lucanis exhales, and he pulls Emmrich in to kiss him. His lips are chapped and slightly misaligned in his clear exhaustion. Emmrich does not care. He's more curious about what spurred this. This sudden ask for more closeness than Emmrich had ever expected from Lucanis. When they part, Lucanis tilts his face upward to press his forehead against Emmrich's own and closes his eyes. Emmrich dares to ask the question.

"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, darling, but… Why now?"

"Because I never get to see you and when I do, I'm too exhausted to do anything about it. The last thing I want to do when I have free time is commute anywhere or ask you to make the journey again and again. I just want to… Be able to lay in bed and not think about it. And if you're not with that peculiar colleague of yours, that's one less stressor for you."

As valid as his reasons are, what he says without saying strikes a nerve. Lucanis being quite a bit younger has always made this relationship feel like the sort that had an expiration date, yet at every turn, Lucanis seems more willing to commit than anyone Emmrich has ever known. Even if he’s cagey at times, he’s warm. He’s there. He wants to be there more.

"Lucanis– This is a serious commitment, you realize?" Emmrich rubs a hand between Lucanis’ shoulder blades, watching him shrug and grimace. “Even if we don’t consider your career… Which we should.”

"I don't care." His flippancy sounds more like the alter ego that always lurks beneath the surface. Prickly. Pushing away the unwanted complication that Emmrich presents. He takes a breath, trying to remain as calm and steady as he can.

"That may be so, but I do. Are… Are you sure you're okay with that? With me…? This is getting serious."

Lucanis tilts back, hands slipping away from Emmrich’s spine to press against his chest instead, creating space between them so that they might look one another in the eye properly. There’s so much resolve in the heat of his gaze.

"Of course I’m okay with it. With you. My feelings are serious enough that I've made a lot of hasty decisions in the past twenty-four hours about them."

"Hastier than waiting around until I get in at midnight, not even knowing if I would turn up, to ask me to move in with you out of the blue?"

Lucanis makes a noise, gruff and noncommittal as he slips out of Emmrich’s arms and starts walking toward the kitchen, with Emmrich close behind. It’s all too easy to fall into step with him and follow along, watching him pick up a mug from the counter that Emmrich’s sure has gone stone cold. Coffee. Lucanis gestures with the cup after a quick sip.

"Your break is coming up soon. Come with me on vacation. I already booked it, so just say yes."

"You already booked it?” Emmrich balks. It’s audacious. But sweet. “That is hasty. What if I had already made plans for the summer?"

Lucanis sets his cup aside and moves in, smoothing his hands up Emmrich’s chest, squeezing his shoulders, tilting his head to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw.

"The Antivan countryside, Emmrich.” One more kiss. “Come with me."

It’s all so sudden… He strokes his fingers through Lucanis’ hair once more, considering it. Trying to voice any of the number of valid excuses he has to say no, even if he doesn’t want to. It’s barely a fight at all.

"My Antivan is terrible."

Lucanis groans, exasperated, pulling back to look up at Emmrich with an annoyed furrow between his brows. Emmrich would hesitate to call it cute, but it certainly is.

"It does not matter. I just want to go somewhere else with you. Somewhere none of this matters to anyone but us. I need a moment to breathe. Space from this life. I need it so badly I think I'm actually having a psychotic break."

"You shouldn’t joke about a psychotic break, my dear.” Given Lucanis’ condition, that’s always a concern. A managed one but a concern just the same. Lucanis frowns at him and Emmrich brushes hair back from his face, tucking it behind his ear. “Though it is a bit mad. Suggesting what…? Lucanis and Emmrich’s Antivan Vacation?"

Lucanis rolls his eyes, casting his gaze elsewhere as he fights to keep his frown in place, mouth twitching against the urge to curl upward at the corners.

"I hate Chevy Chase."

"Well, that's… fair. But not the point. Lucanis, are you sure you’re alright?"

It’s not that Emmrich isn’t grateful or happy or that he doesn’t want it. But, is it really what Lucanis wants? Is he in the right frame of mind? It’s hard not to worry at least a little. Lucanis taps his foot, folding his arms across his chest as his nostrils flare around a nasal sigh. Silence. Eye contact avoided. It lasts an uncomfortable handful of seconds.

"No,” he says. “No, I'm not. I miss you. You're here with me and I miss you. Mierda, I miss me."

Lucanis shakes his head, shoulders slumped under the weight of so many stressors and such total defeat. It’s hard to see him like this. All the signs of sleepless nights and too much blood on his hands. Emmrich gives in easily to the sentiment. He’s been feeling it.

"I miss you, too."

Lucanis shifts, dropping his arms to his sides as he takes a moment for himself to look Emmrich over. Whenever he finds himself under Lucanis’ sharp examinations, it’s hard not to posture or straighten his spine. There is always something in that look that’s a little bit dangerous, but deeply compelling. Lucanis’ eyes finally find his after a slow, intimate rove. His tongue and teeth drag over his lower lip as he holds Emmrich’s focus. The pause as his eyes dart down for only a second, then up again makes the air in the kitchen suddenly feel charged. Crackling. Emmrich’s skin prickles with goosebumps.

"You know what we need to do, right?" Lucanis asks, his voice little more than a low rumble.

Emmrich is quite sure he knows what Lucanis is about to suggest, and he is not about to refuse. He doesn’t want to. Not even a little bit. All it takes is that single look, one more meeting of the eyes, and Lucanis is on him so quickly that Emmrich is barely able to react. There's an anxious energy to the way he rucks up Emmrich’s clothes, slides his hands up Emmrich's shirt once he untucks it, presses in to kiss his lips, his jaw, his neck, while his thumbs brush over Emmrich's nipples. A first spark, and Emmrich gasps against Lucanis’ open lips.

"Ah—perhaps the– Bedroom?"

"No."

No? Emmrich's confusion must read on his face because Lucanis launches into a very irritable, but simple explanation, all his frustration bleeding into his expression and tone. Urgency overrules everything else.

"If I lay down in that bed I'm going to pass out. Take me over the kitchen table," Lucanis rumbles, and he's clearly half out of his mind, his movements barely coordinated.

"Perhaps I should put you to bed," Emmrich observes with a soft laugh, taking hold of Lucanis' hands to slow his roving touch. "When's the last time you got more than four hours of sleep?"

"Last Wednesday," Lucanis says, very pointedly.

"Ah. So, the last time we had sex."

"Mhm. I have an 8AM meeting with Viago about a contract. So, if you have me now, I can get at least six hours in."

"Goodness. You drive such a hard bargain."

Lucanis gazes up at him from beneath a curtain of heavy lashes, maneuvering his hands out of Emmrich’s grasp to resume his greedy exploration, groping his chest, down his front, over his hips, gripping his backside, rutting forward. The slide of half-swollen sex against Emmrich’s hip is another spark. Another pleasant flicker of building flame.

"I'm guessing desperate isn't a good look for me?" Lucanis asks, emphasizing his own neediness with how helplessly he grinds his hips up against Emmrich’s own. A week suddenly feels like a year. It’s been too long.

"No. It's a wonderful look. You, pawing at me, begging for me? Truly the stuff of fantasy, my dear. It's your coordination I'm worried about."

Lucanis exhales a rasping laugh and chases Emmrich’s mouth for a kiss, biting it from his lips, leaving them tender and tingling for more.

"That's why you're going to take me. Not the other way around,” Lucanis hums each word right against Emmrich’s mouth, seeking, tasting, groaning softly in pure satisfaction. “See? Logic center isn't completely offline."

Emmrich’s own hands move to slide up the back of Lucanis’ shirt, rubbing into knots of tense muscle to elicit further noises of appreciation that sink into his skin, heat—so much heat building. The feel of faint scars beneath his fingertips and the taste of stale coffee and toothpaste. The scent of high-quality beard oil and the acrid bite of gunpowder. Emmrich nods, a little more eager.

"Mhm. Logical. Deeply compelling and attractive.” Emmrich is jostled by the way Lucanis fumbles, stumbling when Emmrich tries to take a single step back to see them closer to the kitchen table. He steadies a hand against Lucanis’ chest, righting his uncoordinated movements, making sure he doesn’t fall. “Alright, please don't give yourself a concussion. Take off your clothes, I'll be right back."

"You don't need to go get anything."

"What?"

Lucanis gestures to the table, and Emmrich’s gaze follows, landing on a condom and lubricant, right there, set out and waiting for them. Emmrich had been far too caught up in Lucanis to notice them. Another wave of unrelenting heat gushes down Emmrich’s front, dropping heavy into the seat of his pelvis.

"My, my. Look at you, planning ahead."

"Yes,” Lucanis rasps, quick to squirm out of his clothes, discarding them all over the kitchen floor without a second thought. “All the way ahead. I'm good to go."

Lucanis closes the distance between them once more, pressing his face up against Emmrich’s chest as he sinks to his knees and fumbles with Emmrich’s belt.

"Haa… I see. Have you been thinking about this all day?" Focus shrinks down to watch Lucanis there before him, fingers made clumsy by exhaustion but more tenacious by need prying his belt open and yanking it off with a quick jerk. It clatters uselessly to the floor behind them.

"All week, actually. I'm sorry I couldn't get lunch with you. Or coffee. Or go to that movie you wanted to see," Lucanis mumbles these things against Emmrich’s hip as his fingers drag down the waistband of Emmrich's boxers along with his expertly tailored slacks until he's exposed. He kicks them away as Lucanis takes him by the thighs, squeezes, and nuzzles into the neatly trimmed hair at the base of his cock like he's smitten for it.

Emmrich would hesitate to tell Lucanis aloud, but he looks gorgeous on his knees. He’s not sure if it would be taken as the compliment it is, or feel demeaning, given they’re still feeling one another out in certain areas. Even so, there's something truly intoxicating about the frenetic energy that rises under Lucanis' skin that only seems to come to the surface in moments like this one. Emmrich has watched Lucanis dodge other people, ignore flirtations and phone calls enough times that he’s begun to feel special. It was meant to be a fling, but he’s not so sure it is anymore. That Lucanis takes what little free time he has and tries to give it to Emmrich when he's not completely exhausted should have been more telling.

While Emmrich’s been turned down more often than not when he’s proposed actual outings, he understands it. As frustrating as it can be at times, Lucanis is not as free as Emmrich is, let alone as rested most days. He's not able to fly in the face of exhaustion all the time, and someone is always pulling him in a direction he’d rather not go. The one-time Emmrich had suggested he try and drink a cup of tea instead of yet another cup of coffee, it ended in him falling asleep during a quiet dinner in, right at the table. Emmrich will take what he can get. Because what he can get definitely outweighs all the things that he's missing out on.

Lucanis is also a quick learner and has become intimately familiar with just how to make Emmrich’s knees feel like jello. The way he takes his time to make Emmrich anticipate before he finally slips his lips down around his cock is just the right kind of teasing. It's borderline worshipful, the way Lucanis takes Emmrich in hand, rubs his cheek and lips up the shaft, tickling with his beard while he fondles Emmrich everywhere he can touch, licks across the sensitive, waxed skin of his sack and sucks kisses all the way up until he reaches the flushed head barely poking out of his foreskin. It makes Emmrich dewy, shaky, hungry for more. It’s all so certain. Every gesture chosen with intention. There's no self-consciousness in Lucanis' movements, no hesitation whatsoever. Emmrich is fairly sure he could rub himself all over Lucanis' face and the assassin would thank him for it. An intrusive little thought that’s best kept locked away.

Lucanis likes doing this and Emmrich can tell, which is one of the most arousing things he’s ever experienced.

Even half-out of it on lack of sleep and cognitively impaired, Lucanis’ instincts are still on point. He strokes his fingers down the length of Emmrich's shaft, exposing his glans to lap at it with a slow, wet glide of his tongue, up under the crown, pressing into the frenulum just enough to send a little electric jolt up Emmrich's cock and into is belly, turning his smoldering desire into an outright inferno.

"This is a very good apology," Emmrich groans as Lucanis works his mouth down the length of Emmrich's mostly hard cock, coaxing further blood flow into it until he's throbbing, nudging against Lucanis' tonsils with every bob of his head. Lucanis only lingers long enough to ensure Emmrich's aching, completely rigid while his knees start to shake, but it's an extremely blissful few minutes that nearly has Emmrich on the verge of spilling himself like he’s sixteen again. It’s nice, if a bit frightening, to feel briefly young again, inexperienced in the face of such determination. Lucanis is a man on a mission and it's doing all kinds of things to Emmrich's addled mind. He loves this. Feeling so wanted by Lucanis is the best kind of intoxicant a man could ask for.

"Good," Lucanis rasps, nudging Emmrich toward the small kitchen table. They've certainly had sex in stranger places, considering where their entire sexual relationship began. On the floor of a billiard room in a mansion with seven dead men one door down, hastily racing the arrival of backup.

Lucanis bends at the waist over the edge of the table and Emmrich does not need more encouragement than that. He steps up between his spread legs and slides his fingers up the cleft of Lucanis' backside, finding a small silicone ring sticky with lube. He was not exaggerating about preparation. Emmrich gives the ring a tug and Lucanis grunts, hissing a breath through his teeth.

"This feels more perverse than you’re usually asking for," Emmrich observes, tone dipping lower as he watches Lucanis’ body stretch around the toy holding him open while he awaited Emmrich, with no guarantee he’d even come. What a thought that is, that Lucanis had taken the time to do so, thinking of him, imagining this moment, setting himself up for an undetermined amount of time languishing with the feeling of something pressing up against him inside. Did he sit down? Did he squirm with hot coals of desire burning away in his belly, fighting off exhaustion in the hopes that Emmrich would come back soon?

Emmrich feels jittery with the sudden flood of imagery assaulting him.

"It does… A bit. Is that… A bad thing?" Lucanis is totally breathless, nerves edging in and—and there’s something more here. Something in the way Lucanis’ trembles and doesn’t look at him. Something about the timing of it all. Lucanis' desperation, his forethought to be prepared like this, and his sudden ask for Emmrich to move in. It suddenly occurs to Emmrich just what all this is. Maybe not to the exact day, but it's been a year since that first night they met.

"Is… Is this our anniversary?"

Lucanis doesn't reply, his back going rigid.

"It is. Lucanis--"

"Yes, yes. Mierda-- Hurry up, we can discuss sentiment later," Lucanis grumbles and the redness across the back of his neck is so very endearing. Emmrich slowly eases the silicone plug out of Lucanis and sets it on the table. He watches the way his hole flexes and slowly closes– shining, pink, waiting. Maker help him... Emmrich grabs the condom, tears it open with his teeth, and rolls it down his cock. He pours a generous amount of lube in his palm and fists his latex hugged erection, spreading it liberally.

"Deep breath," Emmrich says, pressing one hand into the small of Lucanis' back while aligning himself with the other. Lucanis inhales and Emmrich nudges against him, pressing in slowly as Lucanis exhales that breath with as much control as he can probably muster.

Being inside Lucanis is everything beautiful about sex that Emmrich didn't know he was missing out on until he got to have him like this for the first time. Lucanis' body doesn't have a lot of give, the planes of it are firm, trim, all sinew and sinfully attractive. Compact, agile, comprised of sharp angles and faint scars. One of which Emmrich had a hand in making. It’s impossible not to admire him, the entirety of his tense, taut, gorgeous body when it is so pliant and warm inside, in total contrast to the sturdy edges he displays. Lucanis carries three-piece suits like he was made to do so. Angular, a silhouette that is striking, imposing, so impressive. But the second Emmrich is buried to the hilt he just… gives. Everything is hazy and supple.

Every line of tension in Lucanis' body becomes loose, lax, eager, and he's so soft inside, hugging Emmrich tight, every inch of him drawn in again and again, like he was made to take it. Made to fit perfectly around Emmrich's cock. His perspective and feelings on the matter are definitely skewed, because he has an attachment to Lucanis. It's more than just lust he feels, more than attraction, it's more than bafflingly good sex.

"Ah- Em– hmn—ha—so… good. Maker’s breath… you’re so thick… heavy. Harder. Please, Emmrich."

That's another thing Emmrich loves about this. About driving into Lucanis, taking him like this. Lucanis makes the most uninhibited noises, says kind of libidinous things he’d never utter otherwise, like every bit of decorum he's ever had just falls to the wayside.

"I take it you’ve missed this, too," Emmrich observes, voice slow and sweet like molten sugar, drawing his hips back and snapping them forward again. His hard thrust punches a long groan from Lucanis' chest and Emmrich watches him reach with one hand, arm stretching across the table to grab the lip along the other side. And then with his other hand, he reaches back. Emmrich grasps it, sliding his fingers over the backs of Lucanis' knuckles and then fitting his fingers in between Lucanis' own. He pins that hand in his, to the table, bending over Lucanis' back and just savoring the feel of it. The way Lucanis' body spasms around him while he grinds his hips, jostling his insides, makes it so hard to control himself long enough to truly enjoy the moment.

"Is that a yes, my darling?" Emmrich asks, inching back and rocking forward slowly, so gently that there is no sting of skin meeting skin. He indulges in the feeling of every inch of Lucanis around him, sliding over him, the tight clench of his hole squeezing like he doesn't want Emmrich's cock to leave him at all.

"Yes. Yes. Fuck. Just… Move. Emmrich, move."

"Don't rush me. I intend to enjoy you," Emmrich mumbles, pressing kisses against Lucanis' bare shoulder. He gets better footing, spreading his legs a little wider to stabilize himself.

"Try not to fall asleep on me," Emmrich teases, and before Lucanis can even consider retorting, he does as he's been asked. He takes Lucanis over the kitchen table. For as worn out as they both are, they dig deep and find the energy to move together. Lucanis pushes back toward every forward slap of Emmrich's hips against him, the sound of their bodies meeting so familiar and such a relief to hear. It's not going to last, of course, given their mutual exhaustion and how long it’s been, but it's so damned good for what it is. A quick, impassioned encounter that is doing a number on the poor table, its feet scraping against the tile floor. It’s a wonder he can hear how vocal Lucanis is in his appreciation.

Sometimes Emmrich wonders how he ever manages to keep quiet when they sneak around during the rare occasions Lucanis finds him on campus or at the funeral home. It's just another thrilling thing that makes Emmrich feel special. No one else has the privilege of hearing Lucanis like this. Only Emmrich. The intense heat of his body enveloping Emmrich over and over again coupled with the way he sounds, the groans and moans he lets loose with every pass of Emmrich's cock over his tender insides, is something Emmrich treasures. This man he's cared for, come to adore, respects and knows intimately, allows Emmrich to have him like this. See him like this. It's sweet enough to make him feel the tightening of emotion in his throat and rising mist in his eyes.

"Marker-- you take me so well, darling. You feel incredible, Lucanis. You’re being such a good boy for me," Emmrich feels Lucanis' body shudder, his fingers tightening against Emmrich's. Lucanis' only reply is a feeble half moan, half gasp as Emmrich releases Lucanis' hand to slide around his front and take hold of his neglected arousal. Lucanis’ cock is heavy in Emmrich's grasp, dripping and half hard, but a few pumps of his fist has him swelling to full attention. The reedy noise of appreciative dishevelment that tears its way out of Lucanis' throat stabs at Emmrich's belly, a hot, sharp feeling as his core starts to tense and tighten.

"You make lasting long enough to make sure you orgasm so difficult, sounding like that," Emmrich groans. Lucanis bucks toward Emmrich's fist so eagerly that Emmrich barely has to do anything but grip him tight and keep hammering into him. It's so desperate and uncoordinated but the sloppiness of it is perfect ecstasy to Emmrich. He's not expecting it, much like everything else this evening, when Lucanis' whole body goes rigid. The strained, growling sound of satisfaction that rumbles through Lucanis' chest travels like an arc of electrical current from his body straight into Emmrich's, lighting up his nerves as he realizes Lucanis is on the edge. Ripe and ready to burst.

"Getting close so soon?” he croons. Lucanis groans in response, breathy as his body shudders, slackens, and then tenses again, hot fluid spilling out of him all over Emmrich's fingers and dripping onto the floor. The spasmodic clutch of him around Emmrich's cock intensifies with each wave of his orgasm and drags Emmrich closer and closer to the edge.

"Maker… That's it. Don't… Don't stop," Emmrich grits out through clenched teeth as Lucanis bears down on him and pushes back, like he's trying to get Emmrich deeper than he already is with every thrust. It doesn't take much more. Emmrich grabs Lucanis' hips and drags him back, pulling him flush as he tumbles over the peak and finishes in shuddering, jerky spurts, buried to the hilt in delicious, heavenly heat.

Separating is such sweet sorrow, or however the saying goes. In the post-orgasm haze Emmrich doesn't care. What he does care about is how much he simply wants to stay inside Lucanis all night long, but they haven’t the luxury to entertain such an indulgence. Especially at the kitchen table. So, he pulls back, sliding out to deal with his condom before he goes too soft, and it becomes uncomfortable to try and peel it away. He only leaves Lucanis there long enough to discard it in the kitchen trash but that's apparently more than enough time for Lucanis to wobble away from the table and sit down on the floor.

He looks ready to pass out right there, swaying slightly where he sits, and it probably shouldn't be as cute to witness as it is. Emmrich grabs his discarded boxers and wipes off his hand.

"Come here, darling. Let's get you to bed," Emmrich sighs, hauling Lucanis up to his feet. He wraps an arm around his waist as he guides him on shaking legs toward the bedroom where he swiftly deposits Lucanis onto the unmade bed. Lucanis goes easily, barely squirming under the covers, utterly boneless and sated. Emmrich takes the five minutes needed to save them a headache tomorrow to clean up what little mess there is on the floor before he strips off his shirt and joins Lucanis in bed.

Lucanis has already fallen asleep by the time Emmrich slides in with him. Of course. Good. Emmrich draws the covers more fully up and over them both and presses a kiss to his sweat damp temple.

It's impulsive, really, and he probably shouldn't, but Lucanis is asleep so it can't hurt. He lets a closely guarded secret slip out, a whispered confession to a man who can't hear him.

"I love you, Lucanis. Goodnight," he says so softly it's barely audible at all.

Emmrich isn't far behind Lucanis, falling asleep almost immediately after he closes his eyes.