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"Whose brilliant idea was this, anyway?" Astarion complained, shivering in the cold.
Gale gave him a look, pulling his blanket tighter around him. "Yours."
"Well, I was just trying to cheer you up!" Astarion sighed. "I should really know better than to plan things."
It had been a lovely thought, at least, Gale mused. His perpetually-single best friend, bringing him to the secluded cabin they'd often camped at back in their college days, in an attempt to get Gale's newly-single mind off Valentine's Day.
Well, next month would mark a year since Mystra left, so he wasn't exactly newly single anymore. But it was Gale's first Valentine's Day alone in a very long time, and Astarion knew as well as he did that he'd have just spent the weekend home alone wallowing.
So, Astarion had rented the old cabin they used to retreat to whenever they'd wanted to get away from the stress of college life, and Gale had been touched. Astarion was a very loyal friend, but big gestures weren't really his thing. Thinking of something like this, let alone planning it and following through, was not something Gale had ever expected from him.
And they'd been having so much fun so far…drinking and playing cards like the good old days, bullshitting about nothing and everything like they always did. Gale had laughed more tonight than he had in months.
Until the snowstorm hit.
And the power went out.
Now, they were huddled next to the small fireplace in the living room for the little bit of warmth and light it provided, wrapped up in the blankets from their beds. Gale was slowly starting to thaw out under the heavy blanket, but Astarion was still shivering as he glanced out the window at the swirling snowflakes.
"We should have left before it got this bad," he grumbled. "We'll never get out of here now."
"We're just going to have to make the best of it." Gale shifted a little closer to the fireplace, warming his hands.
"Easy for you to say. I'm going to freeze to death."
Such dramatics. "You're not going to freeze to death," Gale replied, hiding his smile.
"You don't know that! I can't feel my toes," Astarion bemoaned, pulling his blanket tighter around him until all that showed were his eyes.
Gale chortled, then untangled himself from his blanket. "Come here," he said, holding his arm out.
Astarion simply looked at him.
"If you get under here with me, you'll be closer to the fire, and you'll have two blankets on you instead of one."
"Sold." Still wrapped in his own blanket, Astarion dove under Gale's blanket with him.
It was like being in there with an ice block.
"Gods, Astarion, you are cold," Gale frowned.
"I told you! My elven blood is not thick enough for this weather," Astarion sniffed.
Gale tugged on Astarion's blanket until it was no longer wrapped around him, then pulled him closer before covering them up with both blankets. Astarion immediately let out a contented sigh and burrowed even closer.
"You're actually warm," he said, his voice muffled as he buried his face in Gale's shoulder.
"Here, why don't we move a little…" Gale rearranged himself until he was seated behind Astarion, both blankets draped over his arms, then he hugged Astarion to his chest, wrapping the blankets around the two of them. The slimmer man melted against him entirely, and Gale smiled.
"Better?"
"Gods, yes. I might live to see tomorrow."
Gale chuckled, and Astarion leaned his head back until it was resting against Gale's shoulder. "Thanks," he mumbled, and Gale gave him a gentle squeeze.
"Of course." Gale paused. "Just so you know, this is still better than what I'd be doing if I was home tonight."
Astarion laughed, a silvery thing. "What, crying into poor Tara's fur?"
"Probably." Or she'd have been giving him that judgy look that only cats have mastered.
Astarion tipped his head until it rested in the crook of Gale's neck. "I'm glad you're not," he said quietly.
"Me, too." Gale rested his head against Astarion's, breathing in his cologne as they sat in comfortable silence.
Bergamot and rosemary, a scent he'd always associated with Astarion. Familiar. Safe.
But now that he was this close, Gale realized there was another layer underneath the bright notes of citrus and herb. Something darker, something golden and smoky. Decadent.
Arousing.
Wait, what? Where did that come from?
He and Astarion were just friends. They always had been, practically from the moment they met during their first year of college. Already so wrapped up in Mystra by then, Gale would never have allowed himself to look at Astarion any other way.
But having Astarion in his arms now…Gale liked the way it felt. Liked the way Astarion's form had molded to his, his soft curls tickling the bottom of his chin. Gale even liked feeling Astarion's cold pointed ear pressed against the tender flesh of his neck.
What was happening?! This was entirely inappropriate—
Astarion shifted in his arms, turning his head until he could bury his face in Gale's neck, surely just to cover up his cold nose. Gale still had to clear his throat to hide the little hitch in his breathing.
"Maybe we should just go to sleep," he said, working hard to keep his voice even.
Astarion sat up a little. "I suppose. Hand me one of those throw pillows, would you?" he asked, pointing at the couch just out of his reach.
"...Why?"
"You don't expect me to sleep on the floor without a pillow, do you?"
"Oh," Gale swallowed. "You want to stay out here."
"This is where the fire is, and this is the warmest I've been since the power went out, so yes, I'd like to stay out here." Astarion looked back at Gale. "As long as that's all right with you."
Of course it was. Why wouldn't it be? No reason, that's why.
"Sure," was all Gale managed to say, relinquishing his hold on Astarion to grab two throw pillows from the couch. There was a thick, plush carpet under them, so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable to sleep on the floor. But he'd suggested going to sleep because he wanted a little space from Astarion to mull things over, not to be lying down next to him sharing a floor-bed.
Thankfully, once they got settled together under the blankets with their pillows, even as Astarion nestled right against Gale's side like he belonged there, they easily picked back up the conversation they'd been having before the power went out. Gale relaxed as they talked and laughed, his unexpected attraction forgotten.
Eventually, after several yawns from both of them, they decided to go to sleep. Astarion rolled over so his back was to Gale, but stayed pressed against his side. Being so close really was keeping the chill at bay, and the warmth made Gale sleepy. It wasn't long before he drifted off.
~❄️~
Gale couldn't remember the dream he'd just been having, not specifically. It must have been good, though, because he'd woken up hard and aching, slowly rocking into the pillow he kept between his legs for support.
But, wait.
He wasn't at home, in his bed, with his mountain of pillows.
He was on the floor of the cabin, in front of the fire, with Astarion. And he was currently right up against Astarion's back, rocking his hips against him, pressing his hard cock directly into the cleft of his ass.
He froze, terror and embarrassment warring for control of his brain. Gods, he hoped Astarion wasn't awake.
That hope shattered instantly when Astarion grabbed his wrist.
"Astarion, I'm so sorry! I—"
"Don't stop," Astarion interrupted, his voice a husky rasp.
"What?" Gale choked out, utterly shocked.
"I said—" Astarion pressed back against Gale, hard, "—don't stop." He guided Gale's hand to his waist, leaving it there.
"But…" Gale's hand trembled on Astarion's waist. "I don't…you realize that…" He blew out a shaky sigh. "If we go any farther, Astarion…everything changes."
Astarion rolled over to face Gale. Slightly mussed silver-white curls glinted yellow and gold in the firelight, a touch of pink dusting sharp cheekbones and the tips of pointed ears. Only a sliver of moss-green iris showed around his widened pupils. He searched Gale's face, bringing a hand up to gently tuck a lock of hair behind his ear.
"Good," Astarion murmured, tracing his hand from Gale's ear to the side of his face, running a thumb along his cheekbone. Those darkened eyes dropped to Gale's lips and the next thing he knew, Astarion was kissing him. Soft. Slow. Gentle. Giving him ample space and opportunity to move away.
But Gale didn't want to move away. He wanted to stay right here, hypnotized by the press of Astarion's lips to his, the way his fingers stroked his cheek, how his hand rested firmly against Gale's chest like Astarion was claiming him. Like Gale was someone worthy of being claimed.
Astarion grazed his teeth against Gale's lip, just the slightest hint of a playful nip. Gale's breath caught in his chest, and he instinctively opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Astarion answered in kind, and the moment their tongues touched, heat bloomed between them like a match set to kindling.
Astarion's hand on his chest instantly fisted in his shirt, his other hand sliding away from Gale's cheek to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. Gale's hand tightened on Astarion's slender waist, pale skin warming under his palm. He used the grip to pull Astarion closer, desperate in a way he couldn't ever remember being before.
A little whimper left Astarion's lips, one that Gale eagerly swallowed as he moved even closer and angled their hips together. The first brush of Astarion's cock against his own was an exquisite torture that caused both of them to moan. Astarion rutted forward, shifting until he could grind against Gale's thigh and let Gale grind against his in return.
"Fuck, Gale," Astarion groaned, already sounding wrecked. "I need…I need…"
"Yes? Tell me. What do you need?" Gale encouraged as he leaned forward to trail kisses along the column of Astarion's throat.
"Hnng," was Astarion's first reply. He swallowed hard and tried again. "I need…" He tugged at Gale's shirt. "Clothes. Off."
It may have been freezing outside, and not much warmer inside, but under these blankets in front of the fire, it was suddenly blazing hot. They kept kissing hungrily while they stripped off each other's shirts, tossing them in a haphazard pile. The moment Astarion's bare chest touched his, Gale shuddered in delight. Gods, Astarion felt so good.
Astarion hovered above him, all kiss-bruised lips and wild, lust-dark eyes. "Can I—" he breathed, resting a hand on Gale's waistband.
"Yes, please," Gale moaned, leaning up to capture Astarion's mouth again as he unzipped Gale's pants, only breaking away so he could wriggle out of them and his underwear completely. Astarion's eyes traced over his body, his hunger obvious.
"You're gorgeous," he breathed, falling forward to feather kisses down Gale's neck to his chest. "Gods, you're gorgeous."
With anyone else, Gale would likely have scoffed. But seeing how destroyed Astarion was just from some making out, he was more inclined to believe that he meant it.
Astarion trailed kisses lower, taking Gale's nipple into his mouth just as his hand grasped his shaft. Gale's hips bucked involuntarily, and Astarion pumped him slowly as he sucked and licked at the hardened nub, his thumb swiping Gale's cockhead and gathering the wetness there. He sat up and licked his thumb, eyes closing as he cleaned it off. "So good," he whined, eyes snapping open again. "Can I taste more?"
"Please," Gale whimpered out, hips bucking again.
Astarion began dropping kisses in a line from Gale's chest to his stomach. "If I thought there was anything in this place we could use," he murmured on his way down, "then I'd want you inside me. Waking up like that, feeling this against me…" He shivered as he hovered over Gale's twitching cock, watching as it leaked more and more with every throb. Astarion licked his lips, mesmerized.
"I guess I'll have to settle for you fucking my throat," he purred, then he bent his head and swallowed Gale down to the root.
It took all of Gale's willpower not to come right then. The feel of Astarion's warm, wet mouth and the way his throat moved around him…it was all so much, and it felt so fucking good. He cried out, burying his hands in Astarion's curls as his hips thrust forward of their own accord.
Astarion hummed in approval, and Gale nearly came again from the vibrations rattling through him. Astarion popped off his cock for a moment, looking up at him through dark lashes. "You can pull my hair a little, if you like," he said before swallowing Gale down again.
Gale tentatively tugged on Astarion's curls as he thrust his hips. When Astarion outright moaned around his cock, Gale couldn't take it anymore. He fucked up into Astarion's throat again and again, loving the lewd sounds Astarion made. It had been so long since he'd done anything like this with anyone, and Astarion was so damn good at it that Gale's brain simply turned off and let him get utterly lost in the pleasure.
His climax fast approaching, Gale tried to warn Astarion by muttering…something. But Astarion merely dug his fingers into Gale's hips and doubled his efforts. When Gale tipped over the edge, Astarion pulled back enough so that he could drink Gale down, whimpering as he did, which was so goddamn hot it made Gale shudder and shake even harder as he came.
Astarion swallowed every drop, pulling off Gale's cock when he was spent and savoring the last of it with an obscene gulp that sent another shiver through Gale's whole body. Gale tried to collect himself, distantly aware that Astarion was pressing little kisses to his thigh and mumbling about how delicious he was.
He looked down into those beautiful green eyes, lost for a moment, until Astarion smiled up at him. Then, Gale realized he still had a hand buried in Astarion's hair.
Smiling back, Gale gave those perfect white curls a little tug, guiding Astarion to his mouth. Astarion went with a small, desperate whine that Gale immediately devoured with his kiss. "That was amazing," he said against Astarion's lips. "You're amazing."
"It's about time you noticed, darling," Astarion said with a soft smirk, punctuating it with a giggle.
Gale huffed a fond laugh, kissing Astarion again, sliding his hands down his chest to his waist. "Why are you still wearing pants?" he tutted as his hands reached the waistband of Astarion's jeans.
"I don't—oh!" Astarion's snarky response ended with a squeak as Gale flipped their positions, now hovering over Astarion as he began to divest him of the offending garment. Astarion helped, eagerly wiggling his hips. Gale threw the clothes in the general direction of the floor as he took in Astarion's naked form.
He was perfection personified, his porcelain skin shining in the firelight, a flush creeping down his chest. Gale followed it with his eyes and then his hands, running them over taut muscle, fingers teasing at pebbled nipples and drawing out a sharp gasp from Astarion. Gale kept going, mapping every dip and groove with his fingers, delighting in the way Astarion writhed under his touch. He stopped the descent of his hands at Astarion's hips, sliding down to nestle between his legs, pressing his face into the crease of his thigh. His pale cock, wonderfully pink at the tip, twitched as Astarion let out a shuddered gasp.
Gale traced his lips along Astarion's thigh, occasionally dragging his teeth against his smooth elven skin. Astarion thrashed under him, whimpering as Gale slowly moved closer and closer to his prize. He dusted a kiss on Astarion's shaft, then traced his tongue along it, licking up every bit of precum before he parted his lips to take Astarion fully into his mouth.
Gale hadn't been with another man since high school, but he always had been a fast learner. Maybe he couldn't deep-throat Astarion just yet, but he could wring pleasure from him all the same.
Astarion was panting now, squirming under Gale's ministrations but still letting him control the pace. Gale glanced up to see Astarion watching him, his face open and vulnerable and absolutely beautiful.
"Gale," Astarion breathed as he ran a hand tenderly through Gale's hair. Gale waited for him to grab and pull, but Astarion just threaded his fingers through the strands like a tether. Like he knew, somehow, that Gale didn't really like having his hair pulled.
"Fuck—so good. You're so good for me," he praised instead, and Gale's whole body shivered. One particular swirl of Gale's tongue sent Astarion babbling. "Gods, yes. You're so good. That feels so fucking—oh, yes." He whimpered pitifully. "Gale, I…I'm not going to last."
Gale let Astarion's cock fall out of his mouth, replacing it with his hand while he looked up at wide green eyes. "Then come for me," he growled before replacing his hand with his mouth.
Almost as if he was waiting for that permission, every muscle in Astarion's body tensed. He tossed his head back and came shouting Gale's name, shooting warm, thick ropes of cum into Gale's mouth. Gale swallowed eagerly, loving the way Astarion tasted, how the hands in his hair didn't tighten even at his peak, how he called his name over and over and over until he sank back against the floor in bliss.
Gale pulled off and Astarion held out his arms, so he collapsed into them as they both tried to catch their breath. Astarion nudged Gale's head up with his shoulder until he could plant a soft kiss on his mouth, then fell back on the pillows.
Neither of them spoke as they lay there, hearts gradually slowing in tandem, breaths evening out to match each other. Astarion was absently petting Gale's hair, and Gale was loving it, when his hand stilled.
"Everything changes now," Astarion murmured, somewhere between a statement and a question.
Gale moved in closer, snuggling deep into Astarion's side. He kissed Astarion's chest. "Good," he replied.
He felt the exact moment when Astarion relaxed, tension leeching from his body. Gale smiled, truly content for the first time in a long time, and fell asleep almost immediately.
~❄️~
Gale woke to the morning sun spreading over his face, indicating that the storm had passed. Slightly disoriented, he didn't notice that Astarion was propped up on an elbow watching him until the elf brushed some hair out of his eyes.
Last night hadn't been a dream, then.
Good.
"So…" Astarion said, raising an eyebrow as his eyes searched Gale's.
"So," Gale returned. He reached for one of Astarion's hands and took it in his own, lacing their fingers together.
Astarion looked at their joined hands, then back up at Gale, and the smile that spread over his face warmed Gale's heart so much, he felt like it might burst into flames in his chest.
"Happy Valentine's Day, love," Astarion said softly as he leaned over to give Gale a kiss.