[Dimitri was a fussy mate to start with, and their prolonged separation and Claude's current condition has only made it worse. He doesn't begrudge him that, though-- Dimitri tries not to be overbearing and Claude tries to get over the discomfort of letting someone help him with things he could do himself. They're making it work.
It's sort of cute, too, to hear his office door open and look back at it to find Dimitri, just checking in on him. To know that any time his mate leaves the castle in Fhirdiad, the moment he returns he rushes through the halls with no thought to decorum just to be by his side again as quickly as possible. It's impossible not to feel wanted knowing that, and that feeling has always been especially potent for him, rare as it's been in his life.
He perks up hearing that familiar voice outside his office door, a just as familiar knock coming a bare moment before the door opens.] Dima! How were things out in the village? [He turns in his chair as much as he can manage to face the alpha, his smile brightening as he shakes out his writing-sore wrist.]
( Dimitri is certain he isn't an easy mate to have. After having so many of his loved ones torn from him throughout his lifetime, his freedom and humanity stolen from him during captivity... Claude is an anchor to his sanity and humanity. The thought of losing him cuts deep into his soul, and despite the constant awareness he has of the other man, nothing soothes him the way seeing Claude does, feeling the warmth of him. Hearing his voice. And now, feeling the steady thrum of a heartbeat from the child growing in his middle.
Hearing Claude's greeting pulls a sigh of relief from him, and the sight of the man in his chair makes a small smile curve his lips. ) Busy. Their crops and animals have recovered well following the battles they endured. ( Even now after the fighting had ended, he knows it's going to be difficult for some places to recover from fights against the Empire. But they are doing well. Claude has been a great asset in that regard.
The door closes behind him, and he crosses the distance quickly to Claude. As he does, he tugs his gloves off, setting them on the edge of Claude's desk in favor of reaching out to stroke one hand fondly over the dark hair. He leans in once he's close enough, pressing his lips and nose into the dark hair, one hand settled on the back of his mate's neck. The other moves to settle gently on the rounded belly. )
How are you feeling?
( He presses his lips to Claude's temple, thumb lightly stroking the curve of his swollen middle fondly. )
The good kind of busy, then. Good to hear. [Claude's smile warms as Dimitri rushes over to him, removing his gloves to get his bare hands on him as quick as he can. He sighs pleasantly as Dimitri strokes his hair, leaning into every touch. The hand at the back of his neck is calming, soothing his learned paranoia with the instinct that his mate is there, that he's protected.]
A little sore. [That he even admits that much is proof of how he's come to trust and rely on Dimitri- there's a part of him that still is uncomfortable admitting weakness, but it's one he can ignore. He tips his head up to try and catch Dimitri's lips with his own for a brief kiss.] The kid definitely seems like they're taking after you in size.
Yes, the good kind of busy. ( Dimitri echoes with a small smile.
Claude is always so responsive to his attention, and Dimitri gives it eagerly. It's taken some time to get to this point, certainly, but it had been worth it in the end.
The mention of Claude being sore makes his brows crease, but he meets the other man's lips with his own. And then he leaves another against his mate's forehead as he rubs softly at Claude's stomach. ) We can rest for the remainder of the evening, if you would like. ( Anything to help Claude relax and be comfortable. The last thing he wants is the other man to overwork himself and cause himself or their child any undue stress or discomfort.
Still, the mention of their child and their size makes his expression smooth out from its worry just slightly. )
[Dimitri's earnest words still bring heat to his face, making him shake his head a little on a breathy laugh.] A you-sized me? Sounds like trouble... I hope they take after the best parts of both of us.
[Claude's gaze shifts back to his desk for a moment. He'd only intended to take a stretch break before getting back to it, but there's nothing urgent...] I suppose I could be persuaded to take the rest of the night off... maybe if I were to be tempted with the promise of a backrub?
[He looks at Dimitri again out of the corner of his eye, grinning. He knows full well all he has to do is ask and Dimitri will move heaven and earth for him, but it's more fun this way.]
( A soft huff of a sound that might be a laugh leaves Dimitri at the thought of someone like Claude with Dimitri's own size and strength... ) Perhaps a bit, yes. ( He agrees, unable to stop himself from the way he trails his nose along the line of his mate's jaw, breathing in the scent of him. ) They will be perfect, I am certain.
( As much as he knows he should give the other space, allow him to work further if he decides to do so, he can't stop himself from the way he continues to touch Claude. Those strong hands are soft and slow, stroking Claude's side, his stomach, his hips. Any part of him he can reach with the way he's leaning over the other man. )
I will rub any part of you you would like, beloved.
( His lips curve into a small and brief smirk as he steps back, taking Claude's hand into his own to urge him to stand. )
[It's always a delight when Dimitri makes any kind of innuendo, almost as much of one as Dimitri's hands on him, rubbing out his tension and aches. He pouts a little to lose those large, strong hands but lets Dimitri pull him to his feet.]
That's a presumptuous command after so little. [His eyes shine with mirth at the double entendre, but he follows Dimitri's lead, keeping hold of his hand as they walk back to their chambers.]
( Despite the time they've spent together, Dimitri always seems to be caught off guard to hear such things from Claude. It's enough that a dust of color spreads across his cheeks, and he reaches out, catching Claude to pull him close. He draws Claude in for a hug, winding his arms loosely around him. His hands drops slowly, stroking down the length of the other's back and down to his hips.
Something flashes in the blue eye - want, intent, need - as he looks down at his mate, and he leans down, softly nudging his nose against his temple. He kisses his temple softly, affectionate. But the softness doesn't match the low words he offers. )
[That scandalized look Dimitri gets always makes him laugh with delight to have provoked it, even after all their time together. One hand comes up to brush his knuckles against that gentle pink hue as Dimitri pulls him in closer. He always holds him so gently these days, so aware of the fragile life he's carrying. It's sweet, but there's no small part of him that misses Dimitri clutching him tightly, roughly pinning him to whatever surface happens to be nearby.
That's not to say that Dimitri's libido has eased any-- in fact, it's nearly the opposite. He can hardly keep his hands off Claude any time they're together.
Claude hums contentedly at the soft affection, green eyes narrowed as he smiles up at Dimitri.] Well, you did already promise me a backrub. [He teases, feigning cluelessness as to his husband's intentions.]
( It is a difficult things to keep his hands to himself knowing Claude is carrying their child. It makes Dimitri long to be close to him always, to touch and feel the other in whatever way he can to prove his devotion. But it is all maddening in its own way. He misses the days when he could so easily hold the man down against whatever happens to be nearby, to grab him and maneuver him without a worry of injuring him. Those days will come again, he knows, but for now it does nothing to quench that constant need he has for the other man.
He hums softly in return, head turning to brush his lips against those knuckles. One brow goes up at he takes in that smile and those words. ) I promise there will be plenty more to follow it. ( He offers the smallest hint of a smirk before leaning in, pressing their lips together in a slow, intent kiss. )
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It's sort of cute, too, to hear his office door open and look back at it to find Dimitri, just checking in on him. To know that any time his mate leaves the castle in Fhirdiad, the moment he returns he rushes through the halls with no thought to decorum just to be by his side again as quickly as possible. It's impossible not to feel wanted knowing that, and that feeling has always been especially potent for him, rare as it's been in his life.
He perks up hearing that familiar voice outside his office door, a just as familiar knock coming a bare moment before the door opens.] Dima! How were things out in the village? [He turns in his chair as much as he can manage to face the alpha, his smile brightening as he shakes out his writing-sore wrist.]
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Hearing Claude's greeting pulls a sigh of relief from him, and the sight of the man in his chair makes a small smile curve his lips. ) Busy. Their crops and animals have recovered well following the battles they endured. ( Even now after the fighting had ended, he knows it's going to be difficult for some places to recover from fights against the Empire. But they are doing well. Claude has been a great asset in that regard.
The door closes behind him, and he crosses the distance quickly to Claude. As he does, he tugs his gloves off, setting them on the edge of Claude's desk in favor of reaching out to stroke one hand fondly over the dark hair. He leans in once he's close enough, pressing his lips and nose into the dark hair, one hand settled on the back of his mate's neck. The other moves to settle gently on the rounded belly. )
How are you feeling?
( He presses his lips to Claude's temple, thumb lightly stroking the curve of his swollen middle fondly. )
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A little sore. [That he even admits that much is proof of how he's come to trust and rely on Dimitri- there's a part of him that still is uncomfortable admitting weakness, but it's one he can ignore. He tips his head up to try and catch Dimitri's lips with his own for a brief kiss.] The kid definitely seems like they're taking after you in size.
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Claude is always so responsive to his attention, and Dimitri gives it eagerly. It's taken some time to get to this point, certainly, but it had been worth it in the end.
The mention of Claude being sore makes his brows crease, but he meets the other man's lips with his own. And then he leaves another against his mate's forehead as he rubs softly at Claude's stomach. ) We can rest for the remainder of the evening, if you would like. ( Anything to help Claude relax and be comfortable. The last thing he wants is the other man to overwork himself and cause himself or their child any undue stress or discomfort.
Still, the mention of their child and their size makes his expression smooth out from its worry just slightly. )
I hope they take after you in every other regard.
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[Claude's gaze shifts back to his desk for a moment. He'd only intended to take a stretch break before getting back to it, but there's nothing urgent...] I suppose I could be persuaded to take the rest of the night off... maybe if I were to be tempted with the promise of a backrub?
[He looks at Dimitri again out of the corner of his eye, grinning. He knows full well all he has to do is ask and Dimitri will move heaven and earth for him, but it's more fun this way.]
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( As much as he knows he should give the other space, allow him to work further if he decides to do so, he can't stop himself from the way he continues to touch Claude. Those strong hands are soft and slow, stroking Claude's side, his stomach, his hips. Any part of him he can reach with the way he's leaning over the other man. )
I will rub any part of you you would like, beloved.
( His lips curve into a small and brief smirk as he steps back, taking Claude's hand into his own to urge him to stand. )
Come.
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That's a presumptuous command after so little. [His eyes shine with mirth at the double entendre, but he follows Dimitri's lead, keeping hold of his hand as they walk back to their chambers.]
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Something flashes in the blue eye - want, intent, need - as he looks down at his mate, and he leans down, softly nudging his nose against his temple. He kisses his temple softly, affectionate. But the softness doesn't match the low words he offers. )
Are you asking for more, beloved?
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That's not to say that Dimitri's libido has eased any-- in fact, it's nearly the opposite. He can hardly keep his hands off Claude any time they're together.
Claude hums contentedly at the soft affection, green eyes narrowed as he smiles up at Dimitri.] Well, you did already promise me a backrub. [He teases, feigning cluelessness as to his husband's intentions.]
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He hums softly in return, head turning to brush his lips against those knuckles. One brow goes up at he takes in that smile and those words. ) I promise there will be plenty more to follow it. ( He offers the smallest hint of a smirk before leaning in, pressing their lips together in a slow, intent kiss. )