"That tickles," Kaitlin complained, her face crinkling as the deer fur bristles of Thad's paint brush traced over her forehead, leaving a trail of black ink in its wake. 

"Oh I'm WELL aware..." the stallion smirked, ignoring her protests as she rested her arms on his foreleg, intent on tracing the letters in his crisp neat lines, "now hold still, or you'll mess me up..." he huffed, trying to ignore the ticklish sensation that he could feel just as much as she, if not more so. Drawing back, he dipped the brush back into the small bowl of paint in his other hand.

Together they lounged in the pile of furs and hides that served as their shared bed, Thaddeus laid over on his flank, curling around himself as Kaitlin stretched her full length out to reach the stallion's forelegs, arms folded under her chin and lounging on his equine shoulder. All across her pale skin, swirls of artistic paint adorned her skin, dotted here and there with single words. Gracious on one forearm, Elegant on the other, Pure, Caring, Courageous, Beautiful... All across her Thaddeus had painted various descriptors of affirmation, wreathed in garlands of ivy, and leafy scrollwork.

"Well what's this one say?" The girl asked, dark eyes crossing, making a playful attempt to look at the letters half painted across her brow. The stallion grinned, his green and hazel eyes twinkling merrily at his mate, bringing the brush back towards her face and carefully finishing the ornate lettering, just above her brow. 

"There we go," he huffed, the brick colored hide twitching as though bothered by a fly, and the brush on her face almost felt just so, Kaitlin swallowing down a mouthful of pre, the salt tang filling her mouth, a familiar flavor, and a common occurrence... especially in these tender moments together. Setting the bowl aside off the edge of their bedding, Thaddeus leaned in close, cupping her cheeks in his, the flesh warm in his hands, smooth, and slightly damp with the near perpetual humidity she dealt with within her sheath. 

Leaning into the kiss, Kaitlin's own hands rose to his face, nails scratching gently into the side burns of his short ginger beard. Her eyes drifting shut, she breathed in his scent. Not just the thick spicy musk of his groin, the earthy tones resting heavily in her lungs, but now the lighter scents of... him. The saw dust scent of his lumber work, the bready aroma of beer on his breath, her own tasting of the sweet honey wine he made from his beehives, and together, they reveled in the warmth of each other, the touch, the intimacy...

"Fuck..." she breathed as they finally broke, swallowing hard again as a thicker, heavier glob of fluid welled up in her gullet, washed quickly down by another quaff of the mead. "We better do this big reveal before we ruin it all beyond recognition like last time!" She laughed loudly, musically, brushing the dark locks of her hair back from her face as Thaddeus chuckled with her.

"I suppose that might be a good idea..." he agreed with a thick rumble in his chest, voice breathy and husky, and Kaitlin could feel him working to contain himself, abdominal muscles tense, quivering, their balls heaving and rolling on his one thigh as he reached for the polished silver mirror, finally holding it for Kaitlin to inspect herself. After the first time she'd ever seen herself fully, how she'd changed, what she'd become, she'd cried, long and mournful, and the stallion had been unable to console her until he'd begun list all the things he'd loved about her... still loved about her. 

Strong Brave Gorgeous Kind Worthy... and other affirmations... and the next time she'd asked to see, he'd painted them on her first before letting her look, and her heart had trilled in delight. Of all the stallion's to be joined to... she was thankful it had been Thad. Looking in the mirror, she could see the ones she'd already read on her limbs, her bosom, her belly. But then also her back and saving the best for last... her forehead. 

Beloved. 

Tears welled in the corners of her eyes again, but this time, she sniffled with joy, love for her mate building in her chest, and overflowing. Reaching for him again, the stallion reached down, bending as best he could to fold into their awkward embrace, strong arms enveloping her as she pressed her lips to his cheek in a firm kiss, her hot breath humid in his ear. "Thank you... I love you..." she breathed quietly barely loud enough for him to hear. 

"I love you too," his deep voice murmured back as they broke, Kaitlin's eyes still wet with tears as she sniffled, struggling to wipe her eyes clear and... hicc! She hiccuped loudly, slick clear fluid bubbling past her lips to drool down her chin, the both of them shuddering as she wiped her face again. 

"You've earned this one, big boy~" she gurgled through her sniffles and the gathering mouthful of his salty precum, smearing the liquid onto her palms, and beginning to work out over herself as she laid down into the furs against Thad's belly. Quivering as the muscles that rooted her shook and shuddered, her ears perked up at the deep groan that emanated from above, Thaddeus himself laying back into the furs, forearm draping over his face, giving in to the carnal pleasure as Kaitlin slowly worked herself little by little... maybe life wasn't what they'd planned... but maybe it wasn't so bad either...