Archive of Our Own

Pink, red and orange hues were tainting the sky as the sun slowly declined, ready to disappear behind the horizon until tomorrow. The air felt a little cooler than earlier this afternoon, it was still a delectable spring day, but best not to stay outside for too long or one would risk to catch a cold.

So, not wishing for his Lady to get sick, knowing her level of fatigue due to her work weakened her a little already, Adelius left for the nearby woods to look after her.

Every day after work, Annis would disappear in the woods for a short while, needing alone time to unwind a little. Usually, she'd comeback on her own but sometimes Naia or Adelius would go and find her instead. In case she didn't wished to be found, Annis could find ways of staying hidden, or places where no one would think of looking for her. Well, at least she could fool Adelius, Naia knowing her sister's habits far too well could mostly find her regardless.

For now, the breeze was nice, but Adelius knew this wouldn't last long. He was residing full time on the nymph's domain for a little more than a year now and he got to discover that under the vast foliage of the trees covering their land, the temperature of the early evening could drop pretty quickly.

Adelius made a mental list of all the spots Annis enjoyed the most. The small river and its pebbly blanks, the old oak — well, at least by Adelius' standards, he was pretty sure most nymphs saw that tree back when it was only a sprout — with a gnarled trunk, maybe the lake near the waterfall. Or maybe she could've settled in one of those flower fields she liked? The possibilities were truthfully endless. Let's pray she didn't go too far. The knight thought, surveying the area. He was off duty for the day, so he barely had the chance to see Annis since this morning, needless to say he missed her quite a lot. He couldn't wait to rest in her arms, feel her heart beating through her chest and inhale the comforting scent of her skin. Adelius' heart fluttered just thinking of it. Being away from Annis for too long — even if "too long" only represented a few hours — was something he disliked. He'd start feeling empty and sad, as if every negative feelings and emotions his heart harbored suddenly resurfaced. Adelius couldn't deny it any longer, his depressive state was only ever manageable when he was with his Lady. And to be quite honest, he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. On one side, he felt like things would eventually turns out alright as long as Annis was near, as if a tiny glimpse of hope flickered in the distance, kindly encouraging him to approach. But at the same time, he didn't handle the time they were apart very well. The whiplash of her absence was all the more brutal.

Even during times when he was visiting his family, he couldn't entirely relax. While he was grateful and happy to be able to spend time with his family, he often felt like a huge part of him was left behind, at Annis' sides. He couldn't speak of his struggles to anyone else. To the world he had to be the ever so reliable Adelius, always there for anyone, always taking care of everything and everyone. Always smiling and being strong, even though he was not. While he didn't mind being present for his loved ones at all, it was exhausting. Adelius lived for others, never for himself. That's how things have always been, and it wasn't something he could ever change, but sometimes he loved how Annis would care for him, not expecting anything in return. He'd rather die than admit it, but these moments where Annis would make him feel special, make him feel loved and cared for, were all very dear to his heart. Without Annis, Adelius felt like a husk. There was barely any point for him to exist at all, he only kept going for the sake of his family. His father being sick and not being able to work anymore, he needed to earn money for them, his mother's earnings alone being nowhere near enough to sustain three people including an ill person. So that's where most of his expenses went. He didn't mind much, it's not like he was paying bills or anything. That money would find itself more useful spent on something other than himself. And when it came to his darling little sister, well first Adelius didn't wished to make her sad. And second, despite not being able to be present in her life as much as he wished he could, Adelius sincerely desired to see her grow up. He was curious to see what kind of person Alba would become over the years, and he truly wished to be apart of her future. So he kept on living, even though he found it pointless. It was nothing new, Adelius felt like this ever since he was thirteen. By now, he was used to cohabit with the darkness within his heart, no matter how painful or isolating it was.

If I get to spend my whole life by Lady Annis' side then I'll be happy. That is all he hoped for. Adelius wanted to fall asleep snuggled against her body and wake up next to her for the rest of his life. As long as he had Lady Annis with him, he was content. She who didn't have any particular expectations for him. She who loved him for who he was, without forcing onto him things he was not. She who always knew what to say to make him feel better. She who quite simply allowed him to exist besides her and accepted him wholly. Adelius only wished to serve her until his body turned to dust. He'd get her the moon if she even considered the idea for a brief instant. Ever since he met Annis, Adelius knew she was the one he wished to die for, but most importantly the one he wished to live for. She was his salvation. He was born to become Annis' knight, and nothing else. She was so perfect, so pristine, he often thought he didn't deserve to stay so close to her. He was merely human after all, and she was one of the most important people in Arcadia.

"My Lady…" these words slipped naturally from the knight's mouth, he was so used to call her this way he barely even noticed he spoke. His heart ached, he really wished to see her. Who knows, if this kept going maybe he'll start feeling like he's lacking air very soon. Adelius couldn't wait to dive in her embrace and never leave again.

"Looking for me?"

Adelius jolted. He turned to his right, from where the voice was coming from. There she was, waving and smiling so gently at him, her eyes sparkling with a thousand little stars. He could've cried. Annis was so beautiful. She looked like a fairy, or perhaps an angel. He struggled to take his gaze off her. Adelius was fully aware he was lucky enough to witness the priestess' beauty every day but he still couldn't get quite used to it. She was ethereal, completely out of this world. As much as he wished he could keep admiring her all day, the knight also wished to promptly glue himself to her. He missed her all day long after all. Refusing to waste a single more instant, Adelius closed the distance between them, hugging her tight, his face hidden in the crook of Annis' neck.

Annis smiled, and he could hear just how wide her smile was.

"I missed you too." she said in a quiet voice, caressing Adelius' hair with one of her hand while the other was holding him against her, with no intention of letting go. Good, because neither did Adelius. He was fine with staying there in the middle of nowhere all night as long as he could stay with Annis. The cold of the night be damned, if anything Adelius could use his body temperature to make sure Annis didn't get cold.

Annis' embrace was warm, it was like going back home after a long journey. Adelius felt at peace. There was no place in this world he felt like he belonged as much as he belonged to Annis' arms. Sometimes he wished they didn't have any kind of responsibilities so they could cuddle all day. Truly, this sounded like paradise.

"How was your day? Could you rest properly?" Annis asked, leaving a few kisses on his hair.

Adelius nodded.

"I worked out this morning and went for a walk. I read a bit too, but it would've been better if you were there." While finishing his sentence, Adelius pouted a little. He understood Annis was busy, but still. He wished he could've spent his day off with his beloved rather than all alone. "What about you?" He asked, looking for her gaze, his hand brushing her cheek. "Not too tired?"

Annis nuzzled in the palm of his hand, eyes shut, a sweet smile stretching her lips. He couldn't even begin to comprehend how she could be so effortlessly adorable.

"Don't worry about me, I'm alright. I just took a small nap."

Adelius wanted to say he was unable to stop worrying about her but whatever. He bit the inside of his cheeks and kept quiet. After taking a good look around, the knight leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. Annis let out a surprised sound. Far from being upset, she quickly kissed him back. With one hand, Adelius was gently caressing his Lady's face while the other was positioned on the small of her back, bringing her closer to him. Butterflies danced inside Adelius' tummy, spreading around like a wildfire. His heart was beating so hard and loudly he was convinced Annis could feel it. He loved her so, so much he felt as if he was about to turn into mush. The softness of her lips, the way she was holding the hand fondly stroking her cheek, or how the tips of her finger were roaming across his back. Everything felt almost overwhelming. Adelius wished he could fuse with Annis, becoming a part of her. He wished he could disappear inside her ribcage, closer to her heart.

Their kiss felt like it lasted for ages while also being way too short. All Adelius wanted was to dive in again, alas his short breath dissuaded him to try anything or his lungs would catch fire — not that he minded, sacrificing an organ or two was definitely worth tasting the sweet paradise Annis' lips were. But somehow, he doubted the priestess would agree much on this.

"My Lady…" his voice was weak, full of adoration as he was losing himself in the green of Annis' eyes, completely dazed. She smiled at him, with that kind warm smile she always harbored, a smile that spread up to her eyes. At that exact moment, Adelius' heart gave up entirely. It was too much for him to handle. He doubted it was even possible, but at that very moment he felt like he fell in love with her all over again. He probably fell for her a thousand times already, so one more or one less…

"Ada, my wonderful Ada. I love you so much." she murmured while cupping his face. Her gaze was so full of love and affection Adelius could've bursted into tears on the spot. Annis was so unfair sometimes, how could she turn him into such a pitiful creature so easily? Worst, she probably enjoyed it and felt quite proud of herself. His face must have been so flushed it was honestly embarrassing. Annis bursted into laughter.

"Oh angel, you're so cute. Want me to kiss you more, hmm?" Adelius reaction must have been immediate because she snorted, amused. "Alright then, do you trust me?" She had that mischievous look of her plastered all over her face, Adelius couldn't begin to imagine what was hidden behind those sparkly eyes. Knowing her, it could've been anything.

"More than anyone." he answered, kissing her palm, his gaze not leaving hers for even a single second.

Satisfied, Annis took a good look around, making sure once again they were all alone. She then locked her eyes with his, placing her hand on his sternum.

"My love, could you take a few steps back please ?" she asked sweetly. "There's nothing in your way, don't worry." she added, throwing a quick additional look behind him, just to make sure.

Adelius wasn't the type to question his Lady, so he obeyed. Annis covered him with an encouraging look, proud of how well her knight listen to her every word. As long as Adelius could make her happy, he would. Sometimes he felt like he was about to grow a tail and start frantically wagging it like a loyal puppy. With each step back Adelius took, Annis would accompany him, taking a step forward, never giving up her assured smile.

Soon, Adelius' back met the hard wooden surface of a tree trunk. He blinked, and Annis looked all the more pleased with herself. She brushed his face with the tips of her fingers, taking her sweet time as she was brushing past his lips. Adelius could feel his heart pounding like crazy, it resonated inside his body, so much so he could barely hear anything else at all. He gulped. He was way too excited about this, he even started shaking.

"My Lady…" he tried as Annis placed her hands on both sides of his body, trapping him between her and the tree. Annis was smaller than him, with shoes on their height difference must have surpassed ten centimeters. Seeing her looking up to him like that with that cheeky expression adorning her pretty face… She looked so, so cute and so attractive. The knight took a deep breath, trying to calm down knowing it was pointless. Annis had him wrapped around her finger and she never missed a chance to take it to her advantage. Not like Adelius minded at all.

Annis brought their lips closer together, making sure to keep eye contact. Just when she was about to kiss him though, she stopped. Their mouths were slightly open, the proximity caused them to share the same air. Annis was probably testing him, curious to see how long Adelius could last before closing the small gap between them. She knew him well, she knew he would very soon succumb to frustration. Adelius was hot, and his brain could barely function at all. His brows were frowned, letting out small unsatisfied sounds. The way Annis could turn him into a mess while doing hardly anything was perhaps slightly worrying, unfortunately Adelius didn't deem himself smart enough to dive deeper into this issue, and his already clouded mind didn't help his case. So he did what was expected of him and pressed his mouth against Annis', licking her lips and nibbling on them slightly. Annis let out a satisfied gasp, pressing her body all against her knight's. Adelius gripped her waist, refusing to be parted from her ever again. It was messy, a little desperate even as the world around faded. He couldn't feel the cool early evening breeze on his skin anymore, his body too overheating to even notice anything else. The chirping of the birds was gone too, his heart was too loud, if he focused maybe he could hear Annis' heartbeat too, but he was too far gone for this. All he knew was that it was racing, he could feel it thumping against his own chest. He could barely even discern which one of them was letting out which yelp, which soft moan. If anyone walked out on them, they were done for. Adelius believed none of them had the mind to even pay attention to their surroundings.

Adelius clinged at Annis' clothes when her tongue brushed his, letting out a muffled whimper. He opened his eyes slightly, but it was no use, his vision was completely blurred. He started to feel dizzy, probably from the lack of oxygen. Annis' name was plastered all over the still functioning part of his brain. All he knew was Annis and the bewitching taste of her lips. Annis and her burning stare. Annis and her oh so sweet voice.

As their lips parted, Adelius protested with a hum. He tried stretching in hope to reach Annis again. She laughed with what seemed to be the purest, most beautiful melody to Adelius' ears.

"You can barely breath anymore." she objected, tenderness in her green eyes.

Adelius buried his face in the space between her neck and her shoulder, whining.

"It doesn't matter." he grumbled, and only then did he notice how much his chest was aching and how out of breath he was. His face burned too, so flushed he could have been spotted kilometers away. Annis patted his head while they tried to calm down a little, or at least catch their breath. Adelius hugged Annis closer to him, settling more comfortably against her, eyes shut. Annis was intoxicating. He felt light headed, the scent of her skin was addictive. It was faint, but with his nose in her neck Adelius felt like drowning. Annis didn't wear any scented fragrance, so her scent was a mix of her almond milk body wash with a more flowery touch, letting the knight deduce she was indeed napping in a flower field. Mixed with the natural perfume of her skin… it was a true delight. Adelius left a trail of small kisses on Annis' neck, working up to her jaw. She gasped, finally stopping to stroke his hair to move her hand to his face, forcing Adelius to look at her. She bit her lips before she spoke, her gaze sliding from his lips to his eyes, as if unable to decide how to proceed next.

"Let's… go back, alright?" her voice was uncertain, and a certain plea lingered there. "I…" I doubt I could remain civil for very long. Was probably what she was about to say. Adelius felt some heat spread inside his lower body. Of course he figured, but hearing it like this, or rather being suggested so obviously… It made him feel things, and maybe get even more turned on than he already was.

Adelius pecked her lips softly, agreeing with a hum. He brushed her chin with his thumb, trying his best to erase all traces of wetness of her face. A shame, he thought. She looked cute when she was messy, cheeks red and lips swollen, her mouth and chin sticky due to their mixed saliva.

"You're so beautiful." he whispered while kissing her cheekbones. "I love you."

"I love you more" she smiled.

He approached his face to her ear, enough so not a single bird would catch the words he was about to murmur :

"My Lady, there's no way my love could ever be surpassed. Not today, not even in a thousand years."

Annis giggled, wrapping her arms around her lover's neck.

"I love you." she repeated, and Adelius added a few more kisses across her face.

Without thinking twice, Adelius placed an arm in her back, the other under her knees and lifted her bridal style. Probably because she wasn't expecting it, Annis gripped at the collar of his shirt, her ears slightly lowered.

"Is that… not okay?" there was a hint of concern in his voice.

"No, no it's fine don't worry. I just hope no one will see us."

"So now being seen is an issue?" Adelius remembered pretty vividly having her tongue stuffed into his mouth not so long ago.

"It was, even a few minutes ago!" Annis assured, flustered. Clearly, she didn't plan to get that carried away and now was trying to save face. "Besides, Vita would've warned me if anyone was approaching, r-right Vita?"

Adelius had no way to know if the spirit had answered her question, but Annis' pinched lips and rosy cheeks told him everything he had to know.

"It's okay, if anything we can say you were still feeling sleepy after your nap."

"Hmm, I guess so. How lucky am I to have such a benevolent knight such as yourself by my side." She snuggled more comfortably in his arms, eyes closed, taking her role of still very sleepy Annis quite seriously.

Adelius left one last kiss on the crown of her head before heading back.

Luckily, there was practically no one on the way back and the few people they crossed path with didn't question a thing, they simply had a concerned look for their priestess. Adelius was relieved very few questioned his proximity with Annis, probably because she also was very close with Naia and would spoil her constantly, so they assumed she had the same kind of affection for her knight. Still they couldn't be too obvious either, rumors spread quickly.

Adelius pushed open the door of Annis' room, glad he could finally be all alone with her without worrying about being caught. Taking off their shoes he then walked towards the bed where he eventually dropped Annis. Within seconds, Adelius sat on her hips, kissing her face tenderly, their fingers intertwined.

Annis brushed his cheeks before replacing a lock of hair behind his ear. She thanked him, looking ever so gentle, ever so sweet. Her smile was akin to the sun, it was warm and soft. It made the knight's heart flutter happily.

"There's no need to thank me, I'd carry you to the end of the world if you asked me to."

"Don't be silly." Annis chuckled.

"On the contrary, I'm being very serious."

Some concern appeared on Annis' face as she batted her eyelashes. Nothing was too much for her, if tomorrow she decided she didn't wish to walk anymore, then he'd carry her everywhere. If she decided she didn't wish to talk anymore, then Adelius would come up with something she'd be able to use to communicate with others without using her voice. If she deemed the place she lived in not fitting anymore, Adelius would find the best architects in Arcadia to make sure Annis got to live in her dream place. As her knight, it was the least he could do.

"Adelius, you…" she looked deep into his eyes, trying to perhaps find an ounce of playfulness in them, yet she found nothing. Nothing but an unwavering dedication. If Annis didn't fit into the world anymore, then Adelius would have no choice but to make the world fit her instead. Annis deserved the best, she deserved to be coddled and adored at all time, she deserved to lead a happy life, away from all form of worry. Adelius desired to be the one to offer her such a tranquil existence. He knew he wouldn’t be there forever, so more than anything he wanted to make it count while it was still time. He wanted to make an idyll out of Annis' life while he was still alive. If he succeed, then he would die happy. If only he wasn't born human, he then could have swore to stay by her side until the end of times. The fact that some day he'll inevitably have to leave Annis was by far his biggest regret.

Adelius kissed her again, and again, and again. At least for now he was still there to love and cherish her. He remember he had another regret. He regretted they could never marry each other. He regretted he could never call Annis his wife — at least officially. He regretted he could never be her husband. Adelius already was, heart and soul, but he wished the outside world could recognize it, too. He wanted people to see him and immediately acknowledge him as Annis' property. Maybe some already did, because he was her knight, so at least he could find some comfort in that.

Adelius let his fingers wander her body. Her face, shoulders and collarbones, her ribs, stomach and hips. He felt like he was dissolving entirely, getting lost in her beautiful eyes. Adelius loved her so much his heart was hurting. It felt like it was getting ripped apart, but he didn't mind. He would happily give up on his heart to gift it to Annis.

"Lady Annis I love you so much. I love you so, so, so much." Adelius nuzzled her face, voice akin to a plea.

Annis smiled, hugging him tightly.

"I love you too. My sweet angel, my beloved knight. My Adelius, mine and mine only."

Adelius smiled softly, feeling all warm inside. Being with Annis was so comfortable, everything felt so easy, so natural. For a while, they stayed like this, entangled silently, enjoying each other's embrace. There was nowhere else in the world Adelius wished to be. He belonged there, he belonged to Annis' arms.

"My Lady?"

"Hmm, what is it?"

Adelius straighten his head so he could see her face. His fingers flowed beneath her eyes and on her cheeks, passing lazily on her lips. Annis licked his digits, effectively turning Adelius' face bright red in an instant.

"Maybe we could resume where we stopped?" He bit the inside of his cheeks, feeling tense.

Annis pushed herself up, aiding herself with her forearms. She seized his collar between her fingers, bringing him closer to her. In doing so, she took Adelius' breath away. Poor thing couldn't even put two cohesive thoughts together. His heart was beating loudly, trying its best to escape. A pitiful moan escaped his parted lips. Shame would probably have gained him if his brain wasn't completely out of commission.

"Gladly."

Adelius thought he was about to die. He dived on Annis' lips, wishing to recreate the same mess that adorned his girlfriend's face earlier. His hand lost itself in her red curls while she was busy undoing his shirt. Without a doubt, Annis couldn't wait to unwrap the binding around his chest. She was always so concerned he'd end up hurting himself wearing those all day. As soon as it was only them, she'd encourage him to unbind to let his body rest properly. There was that, plus the fact Annis really loved his chest and using it as a pillow was one of her favorite activities. Adelius' breasts were too sizable to his liking, but he was still happy Annis enjoyed them so much. Maybe it made Adelius despise them a little less.

Sure enough, as soon as she was done with his shirt and corset, Annis tugged on the bandage forming his binder, letting it go lose. Proud of herself, she smiled brightly before sinking her face in his chest, all giddy. Adelius couldn't help laughing, his hand resting on top of her head.

"My Lady, you're scandalous."

"If my only scandal is loving my perfect boyfriend's chest too much then so be it. I'll be the most scandalous priestess Arcadia ever housed." Annis pouted, without even facing up.

Amused, Adelius huffed while he kissed her hair. His fingers traced a trail on Annis' spine until they reached her corset. Annis shivered under the touch, letting out a muffled sound. Her back had always been sensitive, Adelius was glad to see she reacted even through the fabric of her dress. He proceeded to detach her corset, putting it away nicely on the night table.

Annis laughed, cupping his cheeks.

"Ada you're so cute."

"What, why?" he blushed, confused.

"The cutest in the world" she added while kissing his nose, yet not expending on her words.

Adelius grimaced a little.

"You're just making fun of me, aren't you?"

Annis acted hurt, eyes wide.

"I would never. My baby simply, truly, is the cutest in the world." And she kissed him again, lips curved into a smile.

Annis spent her days praising Adelius, repeating how cute she found him. Luckily for him, she always talked about his behavior, never his appearance. At first it made him a little uncomfortable. He didn't enjoy being called cute because he didn't want people to think or tell him he looked cute. However after talking about it with Annis, she quickly apologized for making him feel uncomfortable, and assuring she solely found his attitude endearing, that if she were to refer to his looks, she'd call him handsome, charming or attractive, not cute. She added she could drop it entirely if he still wasn't pleased with the appellation. After thinking about it for a while, Adelius thought that being called "cute" for the way he acted was okay, especially because Annis made it clear it was never about his physique. And especially because it was Lady Annis calling him cute. He doubted he'd enjoy anyone else using that word on him, even if it was merely to define his conduct. And if for whatever reason Annis stopped, Adelius thought he'd end up somewhat missing it. He loved when Annis praised him, he loved when Annis gave him cute pet names, he loved when Annis teased him. Maybe Adelius simply enjoyed being the center of her attention. Was it selfish to say he liked when Annis looked at him, and only him? He hoped he could remain special to her forever. For Adelius, Annis was without a doubt the love of his life, but he knew his whole life would be but a grain of sand in hers. She already lived for over two thousands years, more than he could ever imagine. Even if it was selfish, and even if he likely would end up regretting these thoughts, Adelius wished to be the love of her life too.

Adelius pressed his lips against the exposed skin of her neck, his hand still busy slowly stroking her back. He whispered sweet nothings between two kisses. How much he loved her, how perfect and beautiful she was, how lucky he was for his feelings for her to be mutual.

"I'm the lucky one. I get to spend my day with the kindest, most gentle and wonderful soul in the world."

"Are you perhaps talking about yourself?" he snorted, sticking his forehead against hers.

"As if I'd ever praise myself so boldly." Annis sulked.

Gosh, she was so cute. The cutest in the world. Adelius was about to combust. He wanted to squish her face and eat her whole. Annis couldn't keep going being so adorable like this without consequences. He pushed her gently onto the mattress. He'd start by covering every parcel of her face in kisses. He wished he could leave bites and hickeys on her neck, but Adelius knew that was out of the question. Their relationship had to remain a secret, he couldn't possibly leave marks on such an obvious place. In comparison, his body was covered in bites, scratches and hickeys. Annis was quite… passionate when it came to marking her territory and claiming Adelius as hers. She said once that Adelius was her only time being selfish, as priestess she had to think about the well-being of everyone, she always made sacrifices and barely thought about herself at all. She had no attachment to mortal possession and didn't need anything in particular (and in case she actually needed something, she could get her hands on it pretty effortlessly). She'd never treat herself for anything. The only times she allowed herself to be selfish and possessive was with Adelius. The only one that belonged to her, and her only. The only one she didn't have to share with the whole world. The only one she could have all for herself. Adelius thought it was hot and was over the moon knowing of all things he was the only one belonging to Annis.

"Your hair is tickling me." Annis laughed as Adelius kissed her next to the eyelid.

"How awful, should I cut it?" he asked without stopping smooching her.

Two hands were placed on his cheeks, forcing Adelius to face her.

"Look at me."

Sure he wanted to keep kissing her everywhere but Adelius couldn't disobey his beloved. And looking at her was a blessing in itself.

"My Lady, I'm always looking at you. You and no one else." he swore, earnest, brown eyes locked in greens.

"I'm well aware of that." Annis smiled before bringing his face closer, kissing his lips. Adelius instantly melted into the kiss. It was slow, tender, and he couldn't help keeping his eyes half open. Annis did ask him to look at her after all. She had a faint blush adorning her cheeks and her face twitched slightly whenever their tongue brushed against each other. Maybe Adelius died long ago and was already in paradise. His heart pounded just thinking about how this absolutely gorgeous woman beneath him was kissing him, enjoying every second of it just as much as he did. The heat inside his stomach woke up again. Adelius felt feverish just by hearing their kissing sounds. He caressed her body, carefully studying her reactions before he reached for the hem of her dress. As much as he loved it, right now it felt a bit too much and unnecessary. They had to momentarily stop kissing just so Annis' dress could pass above her head and be taken off. The blouse she wore underneath was see-through, making Adelius sigh at the sight. Annis seemed quite happy with Adelius' mesmerized look. It was as if each time he saw her body was the first.

"You're so…" he started while slipping his hand under the fabric, stroking her soft tummy with the tip of his fingers, then slowly going up to her ribs, then between her small breasts. There was something so incredibly hot about seeing his hand brushing her skin through her clothes, about how Annis' breath would shortened whenever he passed by one of her more sensitive spot. About how she couldn't take her eyes of his face, biting her lip. Adelius felt light headed already, rendered speechless.

He cupped one of her breast in his hand. He loved how cute they were, how perfectly they fitted in his hand. Annis gasped as Adelius' thumb passed across her hardened nipple. Craving to hear more sweet sounds coming from her mouth, Adelius rolled it between his finger, eyes fixated on his girlfriend's reddened face. She quivered, trying her best not to break eye contact. Adelius exhaled through his nose, pecking her lips.

"You're so adorable."

Annis kissed him back, answering with a "mmh". She let her hand wander across Adelius' upper body. On his shoulders, while paying especially attention to the scar barring one of them. It dated a few years back so it wasn't that sensitive anymore, but it still gave him goosebumps. She traced circles over his arms, taking her sweet time when it came to his biceps. Adelius bit back a moan as the memories of Annis saying how much she wanted to get crushed by his arms resurfaced. He never did anything of sorts, too afraid to hurt her, but the mental image left him feeling like he was gasping for air in the depths of the Northern Sea. Adelius plunged his face in Annis' neck, covering it with wet kisses and licks, cursing more than ever the fact he couldn't use his teeth. Annis extended her neck to give him access to more surface, crying out his name. This caused Adelius to unconsciously buckle his hips, sobbing at the sudden friction. His face was on fire and his mind was completely clouded. He struggled for far too long trying to take off Annis' arm cuffs to finally be able to take her remaining clothes off. He was pretty sure Annis was laughing at his struggle. The sense of victory he felt when he finally succeeded was indescribable. There was tears in his eyes when he finally laid his gaze on her bare torso.

"My Lady, you're so beautiful, so alluring, so…" Adelius stuttered, adding each and every synonym of the word he knew while he left trails of kisses everywhere. Her collarbones, breast, tummy, he made sure to show the same amount of adoration to all parts of her. He probably sounded like a frantic but who cared? Annis made him rightfully lose his mind. She looked at him with unfocused eyes, her hand gently patting his hair.

"So needy my love, aren't you?" she smiled sweetly.

Adelius was needy and there was no denying that, but could he really be blamed when his girlfriend was this perfect living and breathing deity? Adelius' will was definitely not strong enough for him to resist to her, nor her teasing. His head was spinning, still unable to comprehend how he ended up gaining Annis' affection. His luck was truly unbelievable.

As priestess, Annis was the worshiper. She was the one dedicating her life to the spirits, even though her faith stayed with their god, despite dying long before she was even born. There was no more god in Arcadia, no one to worship anymore. Their creator passed silently long ago, without anyone knowing what even happened and Arcadians would likely stay in ignorance until the end of times. If no one was left to worship, then they were free to devote themselves to whoever they wished. Ever since the day of their meeting, Adelius had decided to dedicate his life to adore Annis. Sometimes he felt guilty. If he insisted so much with Her Majesty to be assigned to Lady Annis' side whenever she'd come to the Court, it was so he'd make sure none of his filthy colleagues would even dare of having misplaced thought or actions towards her. Because after working with them for years, he knew most of them couldn't be trusted. And now here he was, practically drooling all over her, his undergarments wet. Such behavior was so improper for a knight, he must have been ashamed. Unfortunately, he didn't regret anything, not a single moment spent with Annis, not an ounce of his love and affection. He adored her. He adored how kind and thoughtful she was, he adored her intellect, her curiosity. He adored how gentle she was with every living thing. He adored how small her voice would get when she was tired, how pouty her face was when Naia asked her to please focus on paperwork instead of procrastinating. He adored her laugh, her pretty sparkly eyes whenever she had a new idea in mind. He adored the scent of her skin and how soft her hair was. He adored how soft her voice would get whenever he felt down and needed comforting. He adored how she never judged him, how she always treated him with nothing but kindness and comprehension. He adored how she never seemed to get annoyed by how emotional he could get. Adelius adored Annis like she was the goddess of his world, and he was her most devoted follower. He'd never forget how she saved him from the Court and his former colleagues awful treatment. For that, he'll be eternally grateful to her. His life was much more peaceful now. He got to spend his days with Annis, and every nymph he met was nothing but good to him. There wasn't much to worry about, and Annis let him take rest days whenever he wanted, so he could go back home. She started paying him more too, so he could send the same amount of money to his family while also have some left for himself. She was always accommodating to him, always making sure he had everything he needed. So Adelius could only repay her. He could only take care of her, love her, cherish her. He could only make sure her life was as pleasant and easy as possible. He could only worship her heart and soul, body and mind. He could only offer her his whole life.

Adelius ran his fingers over her pink laced panties. A few red hair peeked through the fabric. Cute, he thought as her whole body shook. She inhaled sharply, her hand gripping harder over his hair. It stung a little but Adelius found he quite liked the feeling.

He pressed his lips against her hips, then the inside of her thighs. Adelius even bit her a little, licking over the new mark he left. It was the only part of her body he was allowed to mark, as it'd pass completely unnoticed no matter the situation. Annis had the habit to bath in lakes when the weather was nice enough, and anyone could walk on her at any time. Adding to that, Naia would sometimes help her get dressed for various ceremonies whenever her outfit was too complicated to deal with, and making Naia uncomfortable by exposing her to marks left all over her body was the last thing Annis wanted. So, they agreed the only marks Adelius would leave on her body would be on her inner thighs. Ever since, Adelius made sure that whenever one would fade, he'd replace it with a new one. He sucked on her skin, looking straight at her. Annis was biting on her finger, panting, her eyes feverish. Adelius was melting under the temperature of her gaze. He moaned a little, feeling statics all over his body. He kissed her more, licked her stretch marks he found so pretty. Adelius was getting drunk on her scent, on the sweet taste of her skin.

"Adelius." she huffed. "Be a good boy and do something. Please."

Adelius almost bit his tongue off trying to swallow back an outrageous wail. Annis' fault for calling him a good boy honestly, but he loved it, and Annis knew it full well. Wishing to be her goodest boy and hear more praises, he got to work. Adelius kissed the wet spot on her underwear, licking his lips as he could almost taste her through the fabric. Annis squirmed with a shaky breath. Silently encouraging him to keep going. Adelius was relieved his trousers were black because he was dripping wet.

He kissed her clothed pussy again, right above her clit this time. Annis twitched, biting harder on her finger, struggling to keep her eyes open.

"Ada..." she murmured with a weak voice, hungry for more.

Adelius hummed, stroking her stomach before carefully lowering his hands, slipping a finger underneath her panties. Annis threw her head back, letting out the sweetest of sounds as Adelius' finger was diving through her folds. He teased her entrance first, he passed over it, inserted nothing but the tip of his finger, gathered some slick. It sure wasn't lacking so Adelius hungrily shoved his finger inside his mouth, licking it clean. A real delight for his taste buds, Adelius was certain no luxurious dish could ever pretend to compare to the sweet, enticing taste of Annis' wetness. The noise he made let Annis know just how heavenly she tasted. Annis herself was close to losing it: first because of the sudden lack of contact after Adelius withdrew his finger, and second because what he just did made a thousand of fireworks explode inside her body, drowning her like a rushing wave. She was rolling her hips in the air, desperate for friction. For a brief second, she stopped and seemingly remembered her hand was still stroking Adelius' hair. So she gripped on it again, shoving his head between her legs. Adelius keened shakily, dizzy. He tried his best taking off her underwear, Annis apparently too busy to hump his face to help. Adelius wasn't about to complain, he was in heaven right now. Still, if he wanted to succeed he still had to get back a little.

"My Lady, please." he protested as Annis whined in frustration.

"Be quick." she mouthed, letting go of his hair. Adelius shook his head, letting her frustration grow being the last thing he wanted. He quickly removed the too cumbersome piece of clothing, throwing it away. Without losing anymore time, he spread her lips and slowly passed his tongue over her sensitive clit, circling around it. Annis' body tensed as she breathed heavily. She placed back her hand on Adelius' hair, caressing it gently. Her eyes were shut, Adelius really wished she'd look at him. He wished she could see how good he was being, so she'd praise him again. Adelius let out content sounds, the vibrations it produced adding more sensations for Annis to savor. Her nail digged into his skull, making him whimper even more. Tears started to roll down his face. Between the lack of oxygen caused by how he diligently lapped and sucked on her throbbing clitoris as if there was no tomorrow, the intoxicating scent of her vulva, and how divine Annis looked, he felt almost overwhelmed. Annis' face was covered in red blooms, her mouth gaped as quiet moans flooded the room. Her blush spread to her ears, which were slightly bent down. Typically, her ears would stay straight, but they happened to bent whenever she was feeling anxious or sad, or even embarrassed and aroused.

"My Lady." he murmured, not even sure whatever he was saying made any sense at all. "You look so good, so perfect. Lady Annis, I love you so much."

He kissed her thigh, then inserted two fingers inside her before flicking her sweet spot with his tongue, providing her with double stimulation. Only then did Annis open her eyes to look at him — barely. Still, Adelius was overjoyed, he focused on his task even more.

"Ada, my beloved, my love, please keep going." she repeated under her breath.

Adelius eyes sparkled and she added :

"You're doing so well, such a good boy, my goodest boy, mine all mine, aren't you?"

"Please don't take your eyes of me. Please." he whimpered, almost desperate.

Adelius ached to be touched, but it didn't matter at the moment. He focused all his attention on Annis. It's not like he could undo his pants like this anyway. At least, having Annis' eyes on him would provide him with something. He could feel his own pussy throbbing. He really needed to feel something, but the little contact his pants provided him grew more and more uncomfortable by the minute. He put that aside for now, by the way Annis was clenching around his fingers, Adelius could tell she was close. He maintained the pace, devouring her with his gaze. Adelius extended his free hand to caress her face. It was burning. Annis instantly snuggled into his hand, whispered things Adelius couldn't understand, though he was almost certain he could discern his name at some point. Her body tensed one last time, letting out a silent plea. Her warm walls squeezing him. It made Adelius' head spin, he was way too aware about everything right now. He kissed her thighs, kissed her tummy, making sure to stroke her cheek too. He accompanied her in her high a little longer before taking out his fingers, not wanting her to feel too overwhelmed.

Adelius laid next to her, taking her in his arms. Out of breath, Annis hugged him back hastily, as if too afraid he'd disappear in an instant. He pressed a kissed on her head, brushing her back lovingly.

"It's okay, I'm right here." he reassured.

"I love you." she answered, trying her best to gain back composure.

"I love you so much more." Adelius said, knowing Annis didn't have the strength to argue right now.

And he was right, because she mumbled something he couldn't understand. Adelius snorted, amused. She'd double down on the arguing next time.

"Do you want me to finish you off?" Annis asked, her face still buried in his chest.

"Are you sure?" he was hesitant, he'd rather let her rest first.

She nodded, finally facing him. Her eyes were a bit tired, her chin covered in saliva and her hair messy. Adelius couldn't help kissing her cheek.

"Of course, you deserve a little treat, don't you think? For being such a good boy. We can rest together once you're satisfied too."

Adelius tried to ignore the speed at which blood rushed to his ears.

"Alright then." he agreed. "I'm… probably almost done regardless."

He could feel his face burn as he admitted out loud almost coming completely untouched.

Annis smiled, peppering his face with a handful of kisses. Her hand reached for his stomach, tracing his abs with her shortened nail. Adelius grimaced. It made him feel dizzy already. Annis' face was so close, and she looked at him so tenderly, he would definitely not last long under her touch. Annis enjoyed teasing him. She lowered her face to take one of his boob in her mouth. Adelius gasped as her tongue swirled around his sensitive nipple. He gripped at her waist, trying to steady himself despite lying comfortably in Annis' bed.

Annis let her hand explore further, stroking his happy trail for a while before diving straight inside his underwear. Adelius let out a broken cry, encouraging Annis to dive deeper by grinding his hips.

"Lady Annis." he stuttered. "I. need you…" His voice was akin to a plea, desperate for release. Annis kissed his chest, then his collarbones (more specifically, where his mole was located.). She then sucked the skin of his neck into her mouth, leaving a fresh purple mark. Eyes watery again, Adelius groaned. If she kept teasing him like this, Adelius would soon pass. Annis smiled at him again — well, she probably never stopped, too happy with herself — she kissed him slowly, delighted with how so compliant, so well disciplined he was.

"Do you want me to touch you, hmm?"

Annis would be the death of him someday.

"Please, yes. My Lady, please…" he was honestly this close of bursting into tears. "Please touch me and let me come."

She grinned, kissing his lips.

"You learn so fast!" she praised. "I'm so proud of you."

And finally, she started slowly rubbing his clit in circle. Adelius placed one leg on Annis' waist. He felt shock waves taking over his body as he sank more deeply in Annis' arms, nuzzling his face against hers. He felt like he was turning into a puddle, too hot, too mushy. His mind was shutting down, the world around slowly fading. He forgot everything besides Annis' hand between his legs, and how the other one was softly caressing his back. Adelius could hear her voice speaking to him so tenderly, so lovingly, but he couldn't comprehend a word. Even the sound he made seemed silent. He closed his eyes, not knowing if he was merely repeating "Lady Annis" in thoughts or if he was actually speaking. He could feel kisses being pressed all over his face before a blissful wave took him away, the heat pooled in his low abdomen finally exploding like fireworks. The world around him stopped spinning, and he couldn't help clutching over Annis' body, as if too afraid he'd start falling into the void. His breath was heavy, and his heart beating louder than ever. Annis hugged Adelius tight, caressing his back while praising him. Adelius snuggled against her, holding for dear life, trying not to suddenly succumb to exhaustion. They still needed to clean up. Even barely conscious, Adelius could feel how sticky their mixed sweat was. Annis was stroking his hair. She kissed his cheek repeatedly, asking if he was alright. Adelius shook his head, doubting the words he'd pronounce would sound anything but mushy. He closed his eyes for a brief instant, enjoying the warmth of Annis' body against his, how peaceful it made him feel. He was floating, the mattress beneath them suddenly turned into a comfortable cloud. Adelius kissed Annis, his oh so perfect goddess, his oh so perfect wife. Adelius was so glad he met her, so glad he insisted to become her knight. Each moment he spent with her was worth more than a thousand jewels.

"My Lady, there's nowhere in this world as comfortable as your arms." he murmured. "Nowhere where I'd rather be. I adore you."

With gentle kisses pressed on his forehead, Adelius closed his eyes again.

"I feel the same way. I love you, Adelius. Thank you for always being by my side."

He hummed to say "It's nothing, thanks to you." Time slowed down. He wasn't sure for how long he lied there. Was it seconds? Or minutes? Adelius didn't know. Still, Annis and him were still entangled with each other, silent.

"We should go take a bath." he proposed, even though he had no wish to move. "I'll wash your hair, it's messy."

"Hmm, I don't wanna leave." Annis protested, burying her face in his neck. Adelius sighed loudly. It costed him all his will to sit down, Annis still in his arms.

"I'll carry you there then."

"Hmm, yeah. I don't wanna walk anymore. You swore you'd carry me everywhere, even to the other side of Arcadia."

Adelius smiled, caressing the hair hiding her neck.

"And I will. Even though I'm very tired, I will."

Annis chuckled, rubbing her feet together.

"Carry me then. Only to the bathroom this time, we'll see for the other side of Arcadia later."

Adelius agreed with a hum and lifted her. He almost lost his balance but thankfully, nothing dramatic happened. Eyes closed, Annis wrapped her arms around his neck. Adelius tried to ignore how his heart fluttered, weak before Annis' cuteness. He loved her so much he could die. But more importantly, Adelius promised he loved her so much he would live. And no matter what, he wanted to stay true to his promise. He wanted to live and love Annis forever, until the day his body would cease to function. Until that day, he'd remain Annis' knight.