It was not, in truth, a truly difficult thing to coax his lover from that heated sand and into the cooler water to attempt to wash those granules from his figure. For all Sebastian's love of that warmth and light the Monarch knew so assuredly that his Prince would simply be unable to let him wade about in those shallows unsupervised regardless of the lack of danger in that singular activity. That soft sigh that fell from his husbands lips before he lifted himself from the sand to wander down that beach and join him in the water so prompted that warm grin to Dorian's own lips. Sebastian's protectiveness was an endearing thing, even if, on occasion, the vampire surely became but a little overzealous in his efforts. Such worry so simply came from care. Dorian wholly assured Sebastian's attempts came with nothing but good intent and in that he could so hardly find any displeasure. To have someone love him so irrevocably as to worry for him was a simply.....exquisite thing. Dorian himself so hardly immune to those same near protective desires as Sebastian waded further into that deeper water. The Monarch so eyeing that ocean around him as if in search of any sort of oceanic creature that might bring him harm. Dorian's fear of stingrays, in particular, having seen him lecture the vampire thoroughly on their dangers and indeed the vulnerability of his new, mortal body in turn. Sebastian, he was sure, had only half listened to those words and yet Dorian could hardly help that overwhelming need to simply keep the man safe. Even from his own imagined fears of those aquatic creatures.

It was only once Dorian had thoroughly assured himself of the lack of stingrays in the immediate area that he turned his attention toward washing the sand from his own figure. The water was far cooler than the sand had been and yet even it held a degree of warmth quite unlike the ocean in their own home city or indeed, even those oceans around Italy itself. Dorian so inclined to find it an almost pleasant, refreshing coolness. His thoughts in that moment so inclined to that postcard they had received only a few days ago. One that pictured their own palace and had very likely been bought from that very gift shop. Even despite the relatively short time the Fae King had so spent within the company of Arlo he was so hardly surprised to find he had surely been the one behind such a card. Who else might send them a picture of their own house? That card having prompted much the same simper to his features as adorned it now in the retelling of that very story. Sebastian, in turn, hardly seeming surprised at Arlo's efforts in this. That snort of amusement that left his companion coaxing another chuckle from Dorian himself.

For all Arlo's absurdity however, Dorian so readily found himself liking the man- and Abigail in turn. They were an odd pair in perhaps more ways than one and yet their company that evening they had shared dinner had been by far one of the nicest, most enjoyable dinner's Dorian could ever recall himself having. He liked the other other couple and- more so- was inclined to find himself hoping they might work out even if he found the lack of more intimate activities in their relationship a surely baffling thing altogether. The purity of a woman, in his own time, had been a critical thing. Many an arranged marriage had occured upon the promise of a woman's virtue and yet even despite that very notion those couplings before marriage and with men not her betrothed were hardly uncommon. Rather, it was a well-known truth so many simply ignored. For men the ideals seemed nearly opposite. No man was ever truly expected to be a virgin on his wedding night as women were. Yet, in modern times, such ideals had changed all over again. Those relations before marriage were near expected. Indeed it seemed a virgin bride was, now, by far a rarity and as such the Monarch near found himself baffled by Abigail's own lack of experience in such an activity.

She was a decidedly pretty girl, her manner was equally as lovely and her personality seeming decidedly good natured and bright. That no man, until Arlo, had so seemingly taken any interest in her was simply a mystery to him. Dorian, perhaps, holding some worry for Arlo's skill in that area all the same- even if it was surely not his business to do so. The Monarch voicing those very concerns to Sebastian in turn as his husbands head softly shook. The vampire seeming to hold far more faith in his companion and his manner. Such a reassurance seeing that soft smile return to Dorian's own features. Sebastian knew Arlo decidedly better then himself and in this he was willing to trust his lover. His own head nodded then.

"He does care for her, in that I have every faith."

Just what Sebastian might so do to 'encourage' the couple however so readily seemed to grasp the Monarch's attention. Dorian's silver gaze lifted from the water then to eye his lover once more. He had long since suspected his husband held some affinity for....attraction perhaps. In the very least the Italian was near assured Sebastian had an ability to encourage people toward him in a sense. One that pressed further than even the man's natural charisma. Dorian never before having considered it might well be used to encourage two other people in any sense. Sebastian, in this, so choosing to remain near coy. How devilish! The man's shoulders shrugging before that very grin seemed to match his own. Sebastian affording him now more than an assurance he did indeed have 'some talent for it'. Dorian's own eyes rolling playfully then.

"You are a wretch sometimes. I shall find out one day."

Such words were little more then tease, Dorian chuckling softly once more all the same. The Fae so hardly finding himself concerned over that power or indeed for the manner it had surely been used upon himself on more then one occasion. Such things so hardly mattered now in any sense. The Monarch instead merely finding himself curious of that singular affinity he knew so little off and yet was determined to query the vampire further upon later. His thoughts, for now, turned back toward Arlo and Abigail as Sebastian so offered those very reasons Abigail had surely found herself untouched for so long. Dorian, perhaps, hardly having considered the simple remoteness of the place of her birth and how truly limiting that might well be. Sebastian seeming more assured such virginity was a result of circumstance rather than religious ideal. Dorian simply ndding once more.

"This does seem sensible, though she hardly knows what she is missing. It is by far one of my favoured activities. How old were you, Bastian? Your very first time?"

It was, perhaps, a curious question and yet it was little more than a simple, genuine curiosity that so prompted such a query all the same. Dorian so hardly concerned in any sense for any activity Sebastian had shared with a woman in his youth well over a century ago! The Monarch merely curious of those victorian-age practices and how they might differ from his own time. The last of that sand was washed from his own figure then, his gaze returned to his lover once more as the vampire so held out his arms with a clear intent that Dorian might inspect his figure for its lack of sand. The Fae King's arms folded readily over his own chest then. Dorian so hardly hurried in his examination of that fit, glorious physique that so might be his own for the taking here and now! Those singular wants already content to tug at him as his gazed roved unashamedly across his lovers figure. That near impish grin finding his lips all the same.

It was hardly a difficult thing to close that distance between them, his hand resting upon the back of Sebastian's neck, the vampire hardly needing any further coaxing to afford him that kiss he desired. How glorious the taste! Dorian so relishing in even this simple, sweet affection before his lips gently pulled away- only to press to his husbands jaw and neck before sweeping further downward across his chest and toward his abdomen. That taste of sun and salt a wholly new experience for the Monarch in turn. That soft sound he so pulled from his lover all the more rewarding as Sebastian's own hands gilded upward upon his skin in an equally tempting manner. Dorian so at last leaning away to brush his thumb across his lips in search of any sand, that singular granule, it seemed, deemed passable. That roll of Sebastian's eyes was hardly missed as he held out his own hand, taking the vampires own as he led the way from the water and back up the beach to that lodge they called their own in all its splendor.

Both men paused readily beside the door then, that sand wiped dutifully from their feet before Dorian pressed further into the room in search of that very birthday gift Sebastian had presented him- that box offered to the vampire a moment later to begin unpacking it as Dorian so selected that ideal place upon that warm, sun-bathed verandah. How terribly exciting it was not only to try something so terribly daring as this and yet too- to provide Sebastian with a veritable first in turn. The vampire, after all, had offered him so many firsts in turn. Dorian inclined to remember each one near perfectly, those very memories by far some of his most treasured. The Fae King, in turn, determined to assure Sebastian might have at least one such 'first' memory off his own with him. His silver gaze remained readily attentive upon his husband then as Sebastian saw to laying down that plastic sheet to shield that verandah from that paint, the soft canvas laid out over it a moment later as Dorian inquired after Sebastian's very readiness for that activity. The vampire glancing up toward him from that position on the floor only to announce he thought he might be ready. That simper finding his lips again as both eyes raised near teasingly.

"Oh you think do you? Perhaps I shall have to change your mind until you are quite sure."

That near impish grin had so readily found him once more. Sebastian so commenting upon his ability to be...intense, especially when his husbands form was so filled with that very life that so eagerly seemed to hum and dance to his very touch. The Monarch near distinctly pleased in that moment to so have a vampire comment upon his very intensity in this. After all, to tire out a vampire was no easy feat and one Dorian took perhaps some measure of pride in even if Sebastian's living form was perhaps cheating. Still- he could hardly fault his lovers suggestion in this. His singular affinity for life in this might very well see them find that end within a matter of mere minutes rather then the time so required to create a noteworthy work of art. That soft chuckle fell from his lips all the same. His head nodded in agreement to that restraint surely needed as he held his hand toward Sebastian then to help him to his feet.

"Let us see to this paint."

His hand released his lovers own once more only to reach for those coloured paints, Dorian eyeing that canvas a moment with a near critical look before so beginning to place that paint evenly across it, ensuring an even placement of those colours in turn. He had never before so attempted to craft any piece without any true knowledge of just what he was creating and yet such a style of art was something of a new experience altogether. The pairso having worked with paint only once before. Once those very paints were placed in a manner Dorian deemed acceptable and those tubes placed to the side the Monarch easily returned to Sebastian's side once more, his gaze cast out across the view a final time. That island was decidedly private and yet that handful of other guests still existed. Guests wholly capable of walking across the beach or down that path past their own lodge.

"This is terribly daring isn't it?"

The singular notion of 'outside' seeming to truly strike the Monarch for the first time. How bold such a thing was! At least, by his own standards. Dorian finding himself near nervous and yet- in a truly tempting way. The Fae unable to deny that excitement that came from such daring all at once. The warm touch of that sun, in turn, an entirely new element. His attention shifted with consideration to that canvas but once more, the Monarch assured it would be best to start to the side of it, at least until those swim shorts were removed from both their figures, before shifting onto that canvas. That silver-hued gaze lifted away from the canvas then and back to his husband. Dorians arms lifted easily to wrap around his waist, softly tugging the vampire against him then, his lips eagerly finding Sebastian's own once more. Dorian, this time, seeking that deeper, more passionate sort of kiss. The very kiss his loved best of all. The feel of Sebastian's skin so blissfully warm against his own was already decidedly tempting. Dorian's hands shifting just so as to flatten against his lovers back and slip beneath that thin, simple fabric. His hands smoothly cupping Sebastian's behind. How readily he could feel that sheer life beneath Sebastian's skin! Even without so calling to that affinity. That living flesh all too eager to respond and yet the Monarch so held back that affinity for now. His lips pulled gently from Sebastian's own then, his teeth softly grazing that lower lip in a fashion he knew so often prompted those wants within the vampire. Dorian so having learned, over all the time, how best to play Sebastian's body in just those ays he might adore bested he responded to potently too. His gaze meeting that striking blue of the man's own then.

"Did I ever tell you that you are by far the best kisser I have ever had?"

Dorian Aragona