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When Geralt had mentioned joining him at Kaer Morhen for the winter, you had experienced a moment of hesitation before saying yes. This would be your first time joining him there and though you had met Vesemir, Coen, Lambert, and Eskel before and liked them all, this would be your first time spending the entire winter in a secluded area with them. You had also hesitated out of surprise, which you hadn’t even attempted to conceal from Geralt, knowing that he would be able to read it easily. You loved Geralt and you knew that he loved you, but witchers’ strongholds and safe places weren’t something they revealed to just anyone.
As though he could read your mind, and who knew maybe he could?, Geralt chuckled before pressing a kiss into your hair. “You’re not just anyone, and I don’t want to be without you for the winter. Come with me.”
You didn’t put up even a token protest, curious to see Kaer Morhen and smiling to yourself as you imagined spending the winter there with Geralt. “Alright, I’ll pack.”
“Make sure you pack warm enough clothes, love. It’s colder in the mountains.”
You smiled to yourself, even as you made sure to grab your heaviest cloak. “I’ll have you to keep me warm.”
Geralt’s “Hmm” sounded so affectionate that it almost made you laugh. It would be a good winter.
You lay on your stomach, reading on Geralt’s comfortable and warm bed and watching the snow fall thick and fast through the open doors to the balcony. You knew that Geralt would scold you if he saw the doors open, but with the fire the room was warm enough and it was such a beautiful view. How could he blame you?
Geralt had been out training that morning with Vesemir, so you’d had the room to yourself and you couldn’t help but think that you’d never experienced a winter so peaceful or pleasurable. You hadn’t realized that Geralt never felt safe outside Kaer Morhen, not truly. He was always on guard, watchful. When you’d settled in for the winter, you’d watched some of the care and worry disappear from his eyes and face. He’d always be watchful, but here when you were safe in the company of other witchers he let his guard down and he took his time. You’d spent entire days in bed, somehow learning even more things about each other and what you enjoyed, and you’d been right. He did keep you warm.
You watched the snow swirl in the wind outside, feeling yourself begin to doze before you heard footsteps on the stairs. You shook your head in fondness, knowing that the only reason Geralt made noise coming into his room was so he didn’t scare you. You marked your page in your book before jumping off the bed to close the balcony doors. You had gotten one closed and were working on the other when you heard a throat clear behind you.
“How many times have I told you not to open those? You’re going to catch your death.” Geralt’s voice was dry as he watched you stop pulling at the other door. “Then, where would I be?”
You turned and looked at him, taking his expression in. He was joking, but he also wasn’t. He didn’t want to be without you, which worked out because you didn’t want to be without him either. If you had any doubts before this winter, then all of them had faded away. Geralt had let you in in ways he hadn’t before, and you had somehow fallen deeper in love with him.
You sighed, making eye contact with him. “I won’t do it again.”
Geralt stepped closer and clasped your hand, “I know you won’t. Not when I’m not here to keep you warm. Why don’t we have a bath, and we’ll open them again?”
You smiled at him before throwing your arms around his neck, “Really?”
“Yes, really.” He pulled you closer into his body as he buried his nose in your hair, “Let me get the water.”
Geralt had reclined into the tub, which you’d both moved to face the open balcony doors, and you had squeezed in alongside him. Your head rested on his chest as you traced his multitude of scars and watched the snow.
You felt his intake of breath and then heard his deep voice from above you, “You know, I see why you like this now.” Here he paused and moved his hand from the side of the tub to run it up and down your back, “It’s… peaceful.”
You hummed and listened to his heartbeat, luxuriating in the warmth of the water and his body. You liked listening to his heartbeat. It in one small way proved that he wasn’t what everyone said he was. He may be a witcher, but he was also a man. And especially to you, never a “mutant”. You lost yourself in watching the snow swirl through the air outside, feeling your eyes begin to close.
“I’m glad you’re here. With me.” His voice was hesitant as it always was when admitting some kind of emotion.
You smiled against his chest before pushing yourself up as much as you could to look into his yellow eyes, “I’m glad I’m here too, Geralt. I love you.” You knew that he might not say it back, he rarely did, but you knew he loved you in return because he showed you every day. And he called you love any chance he could in private.
He grasped your chin and tilted your head up, kissing you deeply and pouring all the feelings he couldn’t express in words into the kiss. You squirmed on his lap, trying to pull yourself closer in the limited space of the tub and feeling him beginning to react against you.
Geralt pulled away from the kiss and stared at you for a moment before speaking, “Come on, love. As much as I want to make you come here in this tub, the water is going to get cold and the snow is going to get in. And most of all, there’s a bed right there.”
Given Geralt spent most of his time on the Path, when he had access to a bed he liked to use it. You couldn’t help the sigh at him stopping you there, even with the promise of the bed. Then again as you watched him get out of the tub, that wasn’t a bad view either. It never was. He tended to the fire, stoking it and making sure it was large enough to heat the room before walking to close the balcony doors. He stood in front of them, looking out at the snow for a moment, before closing the doors and turning back to you.
“Now, where were we?”
You watched Geralt as you lay next to him by the fire, his arms around you, lazy in your satisfaction. His long white hair had dried in a few knots that hadn’t been helped by your fingers and his face was relaxed. You leaned in and kissed each of his cheekbones then his lips before leaving the warmth of the blankets.
His eyes blinked open, “Where are you going? Come back.”
“I’ll be right back. I’m just getting something.” You went over to the mirror and grabbed your brush before returning to the blankets and the warmth of Geralt. He pulled you in close and wrapped his arms around you, which you enjoyed for a moment before trying to separate yourself. “Geralt. Geralt.”
You knew he was ignoring you. “Geralt, love.”
“Hmm?”
“I want to brush your hair.”
“My hair?” His voice sounded sleepy, but also surprised. You’d never thought of doing this for him before, but now that you had it was all you wanted to do.
“Yes, your hair. I want to take care of you.”
He shifted to holding you in his arms and pushed himself off the floor, ignoring your flailing arms as you attempted to grab his shoulders out of surprise. You knew he wouldn’t drop you, but most men wouldn’t have been able to pick you up like that. Then again, even if it sometimes slipped your mind, Geralt wasn’t most men.
He sat you down on the bed and stood for a moment, watching you scoot further onto the bed before patting the edge in front of you. With some hesitation, he settled himself and held himself tense even as he felt you move closer to him. You watched the fire cast shadows onto his face, his expression unreadable.
“I’m sorry I never offered to do this for you before.” You began to brush his hair slowly, taking your time. You hoped that he’d find this as relaxing as you found it. You loved his hair.
The two of you sat in silence for a long time, broken only by your humming of a song your mother used to sing to you as a child, before Geralt spoke.
“I don’t know if anyone’s done this for me before. Taken care of me the way you have. You know that I love you?”
“I do, Geralt. I do. And we take care of each other.”
“We do, love. We do.” He turned his head, so you could see his smile before turning back to face the fire.
You continued brushing his hair, smiling to yourself. This had been the best winter you’d ever had with the best man you’d ever known, and it wasn’t even over yet.