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“Where do you think you’re going?”
Henry turns his head to look down at him, a sleepy little smile on his face. “Good morning, darling,” he murmurs. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, and the place where he’d been lying is growing colder by the second.
Alex reaches a hand out, shaking his head. “Come back,” he says, voice gruff with sleep. He squints beneath the halo of light coming in from their bedroom window that lights Henry up as if he were an angel. “I’m cold.” He drags the word out, opening and closing his hand where it’s laying on the bed between them. “You’ve got husbandly duties.”
“Have I?” Henry asks softly.
Alex nods, burying his face in his pillow and bringing up his other arm to hold it out for him. “You’re supposed to be keeping me warm,” He whines into the pillow, but the words come out muffled and ineligible.
Henry chuckles, twisting around and hooking a knee over the side of the bed. His hand comes out and carts through Alex’s hair pleasantly. “How about we try that again, hm?”
Alex forces himself to lift his head, just enough that he can turn it to look at his husband. “Too early,” he says, pouting. “Cuddles.”
Henry’s face lights up with a beautiful smile, the fingers in Alex’s hair scratching at his scalp. “Darling, it’s half past one.”
Alex nods, closing his eyes and leaning into his touch. “Like I said,” he breathes. “It’s too fucking early.”
“If we’re to leave for our honeymoon tonight, we do have to get up at some point and finish packing,” Henry says, but he’s shifting, climbing back into bed. He withdraws his hand from Alex’s hair to Alex’s disappointment, settles it on his hip, and lays down close enough that if Alex tips his chin up he can press a kiss to his lips. “I’ll make coffee,” Henry says, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “We can shower. Then before you know it, we’ll be off on our next grand adventure.”
Alex nuzzles into him, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him closer. “This is our next grand adventure,” He says.
He feels Henry smile. “We’ve spent a lot of money on this trip, love. It’ll be such a waste to miss it.”
“I’d rather just stay here in bed with my husband for the foreseeable future.”
Henry’s breath hitches. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that word,” he admits quietly, his thumb stroking Alex’s hip.
“Want me to say it again?” Alex asks.
Henry swallows. “If you like.”
Alex grins. “Husband,” he says, kissing his jaw. “You’re my husband.” He holds his lips to the hinge of Henry’s jaw, smiling as memories of their wedding and the reception zip through his mind. “Day one of forever,” he murmurs into his skin. “How do you feel?”
Henry pulls in a long, gentle breath. “I’m not quite sure there’s a word for it.”
“No?”
Henry hums thoughtfully, dipping his head back so it presses into the pillow as his eyebrows rise with thought. “Euphoria comes close,” He says eventually, glancing down at Alex from beneath his lashes. “It doesn’t quite encapsulate how immensely grateful I am to have you beside me, though.”
Alex bites down on his lower lip as he smiles. “Grateful, huh?” He laughs. “Someones trying to get laid.”
“After last night?” Henry makes a noise at the back of his throat. “I’ll be needing several more hours before I can go again, I’m afraid.”
Alex smirks. “I doubt that.”
Henry lets that lie. He leans back in and presses a kiss to the tip of Alex’s nose, “Darling,” he says. “We really do need to get out of bed.”
Alex leans into him, groaning. “A good husband would just lay here and cuddle with me for the rest of the day and ignore all other responsibilities.”
“Are you implying,” Henry asks, his hands ghosting up and down Alex’s sides. “That I am not a good husband?” There's a threat in his voice, and Alex likes to play with fire, so he shrugs a shoulder. Henry’s jaw drops open, “I see,” he murmurs. His fingers cast featherlight over Alex’s ribs, and Alex reflexively shies away from it, but Henry’s fingers follow in relentless pursuit.
“You—” Alex laughs, rolling onto his back and unraveling himself from around Henry in order to push at his hands. “Are not—” Laughter knocks the words from his throat, “T—Tickling—!”
Henry climbs on top of him, bracketing his knees over Alex’s thighs and continuing the onslaught. He uses one hand to reach out and pin Alex’s hands over his head, the other skating over his ribs. Alex begs for mercy, grin on his face, eyes scrunched, laughter filling the room. Henry offers no mercy, continuing his attack.
“You’re—” Alex laughs harder as Henry tickles right below his pectorals, “You b—ah—ha—astard!”
Suddenly, Henry stops, breathing fast, an enormous grin stretching his lips. He’s sure he looks like a madman, leaning over his husband, pinning his arms down with one hand, while the other lays flat against his ribcage. Alex blinks up at him, eyes clearing, but nonetheless bright and shining. The smile softens—something sweeter.
Henry swallows, blinking down at him. The moments shifts; like this is a memory carving itself into his heart. Weighed with importance is Alex’s smile and bright eyes, like a moment he’ll remember long into old age. He’ll hold it like a snow globe, shake it when he’s feeling wistful. Instead of snow, he’ll hear Alex’s laughter.
Henry smiles down at him, leaning back to let go of his wrists, and Alex’s hands immediately come up, skating over Henry’s exposed skin. Fingers dip into his collarbone, trace the outline of it before following the fine line of Henry’s throat. Henry lets himself be explored, revels in the whispers of touch.
“You’re a wonderful husband,” Alex whispers, his voice crackling with emotion. “You’re so fucking beautiful. I don’t know how the fuck I got so lucky.” His fingers trip over Henry’s jaw, trace the shape of his lips before cupping Henry’s cheek.
Henry dips his head to press a kiss to the very edge of his palm, smiling down at him from beneath his lashes. “I’d venture to argue,” Henry murmurs, “That I’m the lucky one, dear.”
Alex rolls his eyes, sweeping his thumb over Henry’s cheekbone and tilting his head. “Do you have to argue about everything? ”
“You like when I argue,” Henry points out. He lets his hand slip down to the curve of Alex’s waist, tracing the ridges in his hips. “We wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”
“I do like ‘em feisty,” Alex agrees solemnly.
Henry laughs, a horrid sound that’s nothing but elation. “Feisty?” He asks.
Alex’s grin sharpens. “You’re feisty when you feel like it.”
Henry hums, dipping his gaze down to watch the movement of his hand on Alex’s hip. He slides it up, over the ridges of his abdomen, tracing the hills and valleys there. He doesn’t miss the intake of breath Alex takes; he’s so sensitive, so reactive to Henry’s every touch. Even like this. When they’re just, learning each other; when the touches aren’t intentional; less leading more inquiring. Not that they don’t know every inch of one another already. It’s different now, though. This is his husband lying beneath him. His husband holding him.
“My husband,” Henry breathes.
Alex nods, his hand falling back down to Henry’s clavicle before slowly sinking down over his pectoral, his abs, landing softly on his thigh and squeezing. “Yours,” he agrees.
Henry slides his own hand up, dipping back into that place he likes in the middle of Alex’s ribs. Leans down to kiss him gently; a soft, barely there press of lips. “You may have persuaded me,” Henry murmurs against him, “I’m not entirely certain I want to get out of bed anymore.”
Alex blinks at him, his long lashes fanning against his cheeks lazily. “Yeah?” He exhales, bringing his other hand up to Henry’s other thigh and holding him against himself. “Are we talking innocent cuddles or—” He stops, wiggling his eyebrows.
Henry rolls his eyes at him, kisses the corner of his mouth. “You’re a menace,” He says fondly.
Alex beams. “Your menace,” he agrees.
Henry rolls onto his side, dropping onto the bed, one of his legs draped over Alex’s lap. “Hold me,” he says as Alex’s hands come up to wrap around him. “We’ll finish packing later.”
Alex presses a kiss to his temple, shuffles in closer to him. “Anything you want, baby.”
“He says as if he didn’t get exactly what he wanted.”
Henry feels Alex’s lips curl into a smirk. “I’m just giving you what you want,” he says. “Can’t help if it aligns with what I want.”
Henry hums, “I’m sure, darling.”
They’re both silent for a moment as they get comfortable. As Henry’s eyes slip shut, Alex whispers, “H?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Henry’s heart feels so fucking full that he thinks it might implode. He smiles, lets the feeling of fullness sweep over him. “I love you too, darling.”
Alex sighs; a happy little breath that does little more than ruffle Henry’s hair.
Content, Henry allows himself to drift back to sleep as Alex gently rakes his fingers through his hair.