Interim: A Sleepless Night

                                    

                                          
(The song for this chapter is Boyfriend by Dove Cameron)
Alright y'all, I'm gonna be real with you, I wrote this section with the thought of seeing how far I could push things without tipping into mature territory. That means: If you are uncomfortable with suggestive and/or sexual themes and implications, skip this chapter entirely. I promise that you aren't going to miss out on anything plot related. This is just a fun borderline smutty chapter.  
Also, I cannot stress this enough. The events that take place are between two consenting adults. This is your final warning. 
There it was again. That intensity, that flame. Winter had asked Qibli to stop talking, and for the first time in his life he was happy to oblige. The unclasped chokers were tossed to the side as Qibli smashed his mouth into Winters. The feeling was wonderful, euphoric even. He never wanted to stop, and only paused when he had to breath. Qibli wasn't sure when, but at some point, he ended up on top of Winter. Chest to chest, radiating an intense heat that could have been easily mistaken for passion. Qibli drew away, looking Winter in the eyes. He spoke in a hushed, but flirtatious tone. 
"This may have started as a scheme, but I think it's succeeded far better than I could've asked for," he said, leaning into a short kiss. 
Winter rolled his eyes, his face flushed, "Can you not stroke your ego for five minutes?"
"Would you rather I stroke something else~?" Qibli responded, giving him a toothy smile. 
"Wha- Mhm, that's not funny," Winter replied, looking away. 
Qibli wrapped a claw around his back, "I don't know, I thought it was pretty funny. My prince."  
To get him to stop talking, Winter wrapped both claws around him and pulled him in. He felt a flash of surprise as a tongue pushes into his mouth. How disgusting, Winter thought, and yet... I allow it, once again. Moons above, what's happening to me? 
Time ticked on: seconds, minutes, hours, who could tell? Qibli almost chuckled a few times when reflecting on the situation. He would have never thought in a million years that this would have been a possibility. Yet, this is where he was. Wrapping his claws not around Moon, but Winter, and currently dragging his tongue across the inside of his mouth. All and all, not a terrible outcome. 
He could also tell that Winter was finally starting to relax. Before, when they kissed, Qibli could tell that there was a tenseness in Winter's chest. He was hesitant to move or do anything really, being more reactionary than anything. It was to be expected of course, Qibli was very much the same. He was just as inexperienced as Winter was, but it was that inexperience that caused him to be bolder. Almost as if Winter's anxiety made his go away. He felt as if he had to be an anchor for the both of them. Qibli found the thought very sweet and ruminated on it as they kissed deeper. That was until... as per usual with things like this. 
"Oh, hello there Winter," Qibli said, pulling away from Winter. 
"What? What are you-" Winter began, then immediately freezing. His entire face turning a shade of deep blue. "Oh moons, this isn't- I didn't mean to- this just isn't a good... good." 
Winter covered his face with his talons and felt ashamed. He wanted to shrink down until he couldn't be seen anymore. Qibli however, wasn't fazed. 
"What are you doing? It's fine," he chuckled. 
"Fine? You think that... that, is fine?" Winter protested, clearly upset. 
"Winter, it's natural. There's nothing wrong with it. By the moons you'd think it was the end of the world," Qibli replied, keeping his voice steady and calm. Even though his heart was still beating rapidly.
"Just, just forget it ever happened. I'll just go to sleep and try not to die in painful agony," Winter joked, turning his head away. 
Qibli thought to himself, and realized he had a choice. He could do just that, leave it here in awkward space and leave the issue for another day, or... another option. 
"Winter, close your eyes please," Qibli said, looking down at him. 
Winter glanced up in confusion, "What? I don't..."
"Winter, I'd like to help, if you would allow me," Qibli reassured, placing a claw on his chest. "Please. Close. Your. Eyes."
It took a moment for the prince to realize what he was saying. As soon as the realization hit, he felt his heartbeat skyrocket. His face was on fire as a blush covered it, and his mind was going a thousand miles a minute. He couldn't actually be serious, could he? Were they actually going to take the next step? Right here, right now?
Winter swallowed, thinking. It was not that he didn't want to go farther, but it was more in consideration if Qibli was doing this purely for his sake or if he too wanted to take things further. This thought was immediately thrown out when Winter scowled. He had a small internal argument. 
You do this every single time anything happens, it's not always about you, Winter reasoned with himself. Just look at him, listen to his words, he wouldn't lie.   
But what if you're wrong? What if you push him farther than he wants to go? Another thought reasoned.
He took a deep breath, No, Qibli is a grown dragon. He is my best friend, my boyfriend. He trusts me, the least I can do is offer the same courtesy. I trust him. 
"O-Okay, that's fine," Winter choked out, closing his eyes. He imagined himself sounding much more confident, but it came out like an insecure stumble.
"Hey," Qibli exclaimed, causing Winter to open his eyes. He saw two obsidian black jewels looking down at him, saying: "I love you."   
"I love you too," Winter responded, shutting his eyes. 
There was no loud yelling, exaggerated moans, or broken furniture. Just two individuals that loved each other and expressed that love physically. Another sleepless night. Though, neither of them was complaining by the time the sun hit their eyes in the morning.