Time slowly passed as the painting took shape. The shadows outside and inside grew longer and Jing He got up to add a few lights around the study so they could see better.
Qiu Ling’s attention switched from the painting to his beloved. He couldn’t help it. There was just something magical about Jing He in the faint glow of the candles. He quietly got to his feet and followed behind him, unable to keep his eyes off him.
When Jing He had turned on the last light and went to sit back down again, Qiu Ling leaned down and pulled him into his arms. He could feel Jing He’s heartbeat pick up as his beloved leaned back into his arms and covered the hands around his waist with his own. There was a fatal attraction in those sensations and he finally couldn’t hold back and kissed his cheek.
“It’s only one more day.” He slowly moved his hands, wanting to imprint every inch of Jing He’s body into his memory and keeping this warmth in mind as long as he could. The time of the trial seemed too long to bear, especially so with their wedding ceremony still remaining to be held.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.” Jing He indeed felt reluctant but he couldn’t pay the feeling much mind. Maybe it was because of the last few hours they had spent together but he simply felt comfortable all over. Leaning in Qiu Ling’s arms, he couldn’t stop the smile on his lips even if he wanted to.
“Ngh, don’t be. As long as you come back to me.” Qiu Ling hugged him tighter but holding him from behind like this felt lacking since he couldn’t see into his face. He pondered for a moment and finally lifted Jing He from the chair. Sitting down himself, he pulled him onto his lap.
Looking at him, he felt better but he wasn’t reconciled when it came to the upcoming trial and the long separation that would entail. Well, of course, he wanted to accompany him so it should be alright. At the very least, he tried to tell himself as such. He shouldn’t make a fuss about this.
“It’s just … about two months. I’ll be able to take that.” He spoke the words out loud, hoping it would somehow make them seem more credible. It didn’t seem like it. Instead, all he could think about was how they’d be apart. Even if he accompanied him during the trial, it wouldn’t be the same after all.
Qiu Ling suppressed a sigh and felt that he should also add those thoughts so his beloved would know he would not be forgotten. “Although … I’ll miss you terribly. There won’t be even one day that I don’t spend thinking about you.”
Jing He gazed at him, feeling touched. He raised a hand and brought it up to Qiu Ling’s chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. It seemed to have picked up as if to express the feelings contained inside. He obviously … loved him very much as well. It wasn’t just his one-sided pining which would hopefully stay the same even when he returned.
Qiu Ling savored the light touch and the gaze he was looked at with and finally couldn’t help himself. He reached out and cupped Jing He’s cheek. Craning his neck, kissing him on the lips.
Jing He felt surprised but then, thinking of how they had already kissed on the bridge the day they got engaged, it also didn’t seem that inappropriate anymore. Not to mention that his hair hung down, shielding them from gazes like a curtain. Realizing this, he felt a little more daring. He moved his hand up until he hugged Qiu Ling’s neck, feeling much closer to him.
Qiu Ling tightened his arms around him in response. He had never received such an … enthusiastic response from Jing He if he could call it that. Naturally, he couldn’t waste the chance. He gently stroked his back, his hand moving higher with every stroke until he finally reached his neck. His fingers found the hem of the fabric and he tugged lightly, exposing the bare skin beneath.
Jing He felt as if he was scalded and gasped in response. He had thought it was alright to do more since he had promised himself to him but … was this not going too far? His hands trembled due to his guilty conscience but Qiu Ling didn’t seem to notice.
He held Jing He tightly, deepening their kiss as if to leave a mark on him. Even though, he felt that this was not enough. Jing He would leave for so long. Even if he accompanied his soul in the mortal realm, he hated to leave things here unfinished.
Maybe … maybe they could do more now and if Jing He liked it, they could already have the ceremony according to what his people would expect. Then at least in this way, they would count as a married couple. Anyway, there should be enough time for it.
Thinking of this, Qiu Ling opened his lips, his tongue flicking out to deepen the kiss even further and gain entry into his beloved’s body.
Jing He’s eyes flew open in response. He pulled back his hands and instead pushed Qiu Ling’s chest, trying to make him back off.
Qiu Ling wasn’t sure which part had gone wrong. Their breathing was already heavy. Clearly, they were both feeling passionate and Jing He hadn’t seemed to mind until just now. Maybe it had been too fast. He should go slower to make sure Jing He could adapt.
He carefully tugged at Jing He’s waist and pulled him back, kissing his cheek instead of his lips. “Forgive me. I lost myself in you for a while.” He kissed his cheek once again, just a little further to the side, the touch as light as a feather. “Don’t worry. I’ll be gentler now.”
Qiu Ling gently placed another kiss further to his cheekbone and watched as Jing He closed his eyes and turned his head. It seemed he had been right. Jing He didn’t mind. He had simply been overwhelmed for a moment. He shouldn’t be too abrupt but instead, guide him slowly and reassure him more on the way to the full ceremony. As his soon-to-be husband, this should have been a matter of course. It really was his oversight.
“I’ll be careful. Don’t worry. Don’t worry.” Qiu Ling whispered those words over and over again like a spell, watching as Jing He relaxed under his hands, seemingly getting comfortable again.
Jing He indeed let go of the tension he had felt before. The onslaught had been so sudden that it scared him but now, the constant gentleness made him fall back into his lover’s arms. His hands unwittingly brushed over Qiu Ling’s chest, taking in the warmth his body emanated. He also couldn’t help but notice the tight muscles below that moved as his lover showered him with his affection.
Qiu Ling felt happy with Jing He’s acquiescence. He continued to kiss him in quick succession, trailing down a path toward his jaw and continuing to his neck as Jing He raised his head in reflex. At this point, it seemed a foregone conclusion that their first wedding ceremony should be completed tonight. Of course, they couldn’t really continue here in the study.
Qiu Ling stopped his caresses and raised his head to Jing He’s ear. “Let me stay here for tonight.” His raspy voice filled the study and he couldn’t help but glance at his beloved’s face to wait for his reaction with bated breath.
Jing He’s eyes had long since fallen shut and he only opened them a crack, his long lashes painting shadows on his cheeks. The dim lights he had added before shone on a layer of mist that had accumulated in the last few minutes. He didn’t speak but just this look alone seemed answer enough.
Qiu Ling inhaled sharply: Without another word, he stood with Jing He in his arms. He carried him to the bedroom, carefully setting Jing He down on the edge of the bed to take the next step there.
