Sol’ek never thought he’d enjoy kisses this much.

He’d always found them… nice, endearing even, something to appreciate from his mate.

But really liking them?

That was new.

That was happening now.

He was sitting by the campfire in his hidden base, the firelight flickering over his blue skin, and you were perched on his lap.

His eyes were closed, tail swaying softly behind him, ears folding back every time your lips touched his face.

His arms were loosely wrapped around your waist, chin resting near your collar as he leaned into each kiss, from his nose to his cheek to his forehead.

Every press of your lips felt deliberate and gentle, and he let himself respond.

Right now, Sol’ek felt like a Viperwolf pup, leaning into the affection like it was the sweetest treat he’d ever known.

He would never act like this in front of anyone.

Eywa forbid Priya ever see him like this.

But with you, it was different.

He let his guard fall, the carefully built walls he had kept all his life quietly crumbling, leaving him vulnerable, soft, and entirely present in the moment.