Work Text:
Arthur let out a loud yawn. It had been a topsy-turvy week as he spent the bulk of it taking care of his sick husband, Merlin. Not that he was complaining. Honestly, he loved taking care of him.
It’s not just because he’s a doctor. He’s always had a protective streak, something that used to drive his fierce, independent sister Morgana crazy.
The streak went into overdrive when he met Merlin - the only person he’d ever loved or would ever love.
Unlike Morgana, Merlin appreciated this aspect of his personality. There was always this look of adoration on his face whenever Arthur fussed over him.
To Arthur, it didn’t matter that taking care of Merlin when he was sick was like taking care of a baby. He would get cranky, whiny, stubborn, and demanding; but did it all with an exaggerated, adorable pout that would melt Arthur’s initial annoyance in seconds.
Sometimes, he had to protect Merlin from himself. No matter how sick he was - or the few times Arthur got sick - Merlin craved physical affection, but Arthur always refused.
With kissing off the table, sex was a no-no as well.
The only physical affection he would provide was cuddling, though neither had to be sick to enjoy it. Whenever Arthur would put his arms around him, Merlin would let out a long sigh, this side of a purr that would turn his insides to jelly.
The last eight days, they’d been cuddling each other’s brains out.
But, now Merlin was feeling better, Arthur had prepared for a night of epic, all-night, mind-blowing sex. The longest they’d gone without sex before this was two days. Merlin had joked with him about buying a ball gag on the way home because he was prepared to scream loud enough to shake the walls to their foundations.
While they had never used a ball gag before, their sex life was filled with many naughty experiments with various kinks. As much as Merlin loved being coddled and taken care of, it was a different story in the bedroom. He craved being dominated. While it seemed to go against Arthur’s desire to cherish and care for him, he knew it was just another part of making Merlin happy.
It made Arthur happy as well. He enjoyed foreplay - and the aftercare - but nothing had him coming harder than being able to not hold back with Merlin. The sounds Merlin would make...It was like ecstasy personified. Just the thought of it made him start to stiffen.
A hitch came up in their sex plan when Arthur got called into work. Now, he’d been there for twelve hours. He’d almost lost two patients. While the adrenaline of saving them still coursed through him, it was still no match for the bone weariness of dealing with such chaos, on his feet, for twelve hours.
As much as he had previously thought he was cuddled out, all he wanted right now was to be wrapped up in his husband’s comforting embrace.