Jing He’s eyelashes fluttered. He didn’t think of the Mark of Wisdom or about having been a fallen god at this time. All his thoughts were with his husband. “Qiu Ling …” He took a shaky breath, feeling somewhat out of balance as if he could only cling to the man in front of him to stay in place and not lose his grip. What it was that he might not be able to grasp any longer, he couldn’t tell. Maybe it was indeed just his current position or maybe it was reality itself. As absurd as the latter sounded, it seemed possible at this moment.

“I’m with you, my love.”

The breath seemed to caress Jing He’s face the same way those soft lips had before and he shuddered faintly, holding onto Qiu Ling’s shoulders even more tightly.

Qiu Ling felt him tremble and gently rubbed his cheek against Jing He’s slowing down even further. “Don’t be afraid. I’m with you and I would never hurt you. You know that, don’t you?”

Jing He quickly nodded. He wasn’t worried about that. In fact, he wasn’t sure if he was worried at all. He only knew that something was very different from usual. Something he had no idea how to deal with.

Qiu Ling’s kisses rained on his other cheek, bringing with them a comfortable warmth but also more of that confusing feeling that was spreading through his body. Jing He could only curl his fingers into the fabric of the wedding robe, his eyes falling shut again. If he still looked at his husband now, he couldn’t say what kind of expression he would make. It seemed … it seemed like it might be unseemly but he didn’t have the mind to focus on that either and try to change.

Qiu Ling hummed faintly as those slender fingers grasped onto him more tightly. Things were going well. Not just well but even great. The earlier fear of hurting Jing He or all of this being too much for him had completely subsided. At this moment, no doubt remained in his mind.

He stroked Jing He’s waist again, his fingers trailing along the edge of his belt while he kissed him on the lips again. He really … really wanted to start taking this off. The only problem was that the table seemed to be the wrong place for that. Ah, he should have pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed earlier. It would have been much easier to go further now.

Qiu Ling pushed the thought away and his hands remained in the same area, slowly moving around so Jing He could get used to this feeling as well. As for the issue of this not being the bed where they were supposed to end up … that didn’t seem like much of an issue as long as he was quick and conscientious enough not to interrupt what was currently happening. Obviously, he could deal with that.

The hand that had been cradling Jing He’s chin, aiding in those kisses, left his face and moved down to his thigh instead. For a moment, he was tried to just keep it there and continue with what they were already doing but … well, it would still be more comfortable later if they changed locations.

He moved his other arm up, encircling Jing He’s shoulders, while the other quickly snaked beneath his legs. Then, in a swift motion, he lifted his beloved into the air as he stood up.

“Ah!” Jing He hadn’t expected the sudden movement. His body which felt as if it wouldn’t quite listen to what he wanted it to do seemed to float for a moment before he realized that Qiu Ling was still holding him securely. His own fingers were still curled into his husband’s robe as well, helping him to hold on, not that it seemed to matter.

Qiu Ling kissed his lips again before his breath brushed over them, making Jing He shudder. “Don’t be afraid. I’m just going to carry you over.”

Jing He nodded in a daze, his thoughts not quite catching up with Qiu Ling’s meaning. Why they had to leave this spot and where they were going … he had no energy to think about that. All his thoughts were on those lips that had once again caught his own.

Qiu Ling didn’t dare to rush. Holding Jing He in his arms, every step he took was carefully measured, ensuring that he would neither drop him nor bump into anything. He didn’t have the mind to look around to check but he was very familiar with this room and he used a smidgen of spiritual energy to ensure that there were no unexpected surprises either.

Well, in fact, there was one but he only noticed when he reached the bed and gently lowered Jing He onto the edge, following him to sit down next to him. He hadn’t checked that thoroughly with his spiritual energy but as soon as they reached this place, a faint floral fragrance hit him. He blinked his eyes and glanced past Jing He at the bed and his eyelids twitched.

He wasn’t sure who had come up with this idea and when they had executed it but there were flower petals strewn across the carefully folded blanket and an even stronger scent came from the headboard as if someone had hidden a satchel of flowers there.

Well, he didn’t hate it either. The scent was composed of those flowers he and Jing He had chosen for the bath in the morning: peach, lotus, and chrysanthemum. It was like a reminder of the ritual supposed to connect and bless them and maybe the familiar scent could help Jing He calm down further. If that was the case, then he should thank whoever the person behind this was. Although right now, he didn’t want to ponder that question. No, right now, everything was about the two of them and nobody else.