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The gentle sensations on her back had grown to such an extent that Catelyn lightly stirred from her slumber, a deeper exhale slipping past her lips. “My love, what are you doing?” She murmured drowsily, her eyes still closed as her face nestled back against the pillow, clearly having no intention of waking herself fully. “I didn’t mean to wake you, I’m sorry Cat.” Ned whispered back to her, the motions of his hand slowing but still gently dragging his fingertip across her skin. “That’s not an answer, Ned.” She added softly, her tone of voice sweet and if he could’ve seen her face, Eddard knew there would be a smile resting on her lips. “Here, guess.” His finger then started moving as if it were a pen, writing something out.
“Guess?” Catelyn questioned, though her husband gave no response. The sensation across her skin made it slightly harder to concentrate on exactly what he was doing, it was clearly choreographed and wasn’t just ordinary caresses or even circles for that matter. “May I have a clue?” She then inquired, her eyes opening now and adjusting to the darkness that swallowed their room. “Words.” Ned whispered and it finally clicked inside Catelyn’s mind, nodding her head and concentrating once more, waiting for the repeat of what he was writing. “Y.. o… u.. r.” She began reciting the letters aloud in a hushed tone, never pausing between the letters which made it unnecessarily elongated. She had a harder time deciphering the next word however, only then did she realise on the next repeat that he was changing the second word. “You’re not even writing the same thing, how is this fair?” She huffed softly, her eyebrows furrowing whilst Ned simply chuckled. “I never said it was the same, but for your own sake, would you like another clue?” He then asked, leaning forward and laying a sweet kiss on her shoulder. Nodding softly, Catelyn answered, “Yes please,”
”They’re all the things I love most about you, Cat.” Ned whispered again and Catelyn felt her heart melting in an instant, it was such a sweet endearment, she couldn’t even be mad at him for waking her; not that she had been to begin with, merely curious. “And you thought now was the perfect time?” She then teased playfully before her husband quietly hushed her. “I gave you a clue, now you have to guess.” He insisted in a whisper and his wife fell silent once more. They were easier to decipher now she had more context on what to guess. Smile, laugh, hair; one right after the other. After each correct guess, Ned would press another kiss to her skin, slowly veering away from her shoulder to her neck. “Your…” Catelyn whispered, waiting for the other letters to come. “B.. r.. e- Ned,” She tutted softly as she realised what he was writing, hearing the quietened but deep laugh that left his throat. Slowly, she turned herself over to face him, her gaze meeting his and making out the features of his face in what little light they had. “Are you back in highschool, my love?” She questioned, her eyebrows raised as she attempted to maintain a straight face but it was beginning to crack, the edges of her lips curling into a smile ever so slightly. “I’m a simple man at heart,” He justified, a grin of his own appearing. “Besides, if I was back in highschool, it would’ve been even more crude.”
“Eddard Stark,” Catelyn chided softly, giggling quietly under her breath. “I think you’re going delirious, perhaps it’s from the lack of sleep. How long have you been writing them?” She asked, her hands snaking their way from her sides and finding themselves capturing his face in her palms, his own hand lifting to catch her wrist and gently caress his thumb against it. “I wasn’t keeping track, Cat.” He whispered. “Gods, you’ve been at it for hours, haven’t you?” She sighed softly before pressing her lips to his, lingering on the kiss as her fingers brushed themselves against his beard. “It was very sweet though, my love. Sweet enough that I can forgive you for waking me.” Catelyn added, teasing him playfully with the last part. “Thank you.” Ned replied in return, stealing another kiss from her lips whilst his free hand found its way to her her waist, his arm wrapping around it and slowly pulling his wife closer towards him until there was no longer any gap between them. With one arm around her waist, Ned released her wrist in favour of bringing his hand to her breast, palming it gently. “Still definitely one of the things I love most about you.” He whispered, hearing Catelyn sigh sweetly before tutting. “Ned.” She murmured softly, chuckling under her breath before she rested her forehead against his.
It was then that she yawned, her own hand retreating to cover her mouth. Both of Eddard’s hands then fell to her hips, pulling Catelyn atop of him to rest as she nuzzled the side of her face into his chest. “You’ll overheat, Ned.” She whispered, the tiredness clear in her voice but she still persisted to remain awake whilst they spoke. “You keep me just warm enough, my love.” His voice is hushed once more, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. They both very well knew that he would in fact overheat but he endured it all the same, he preferred Catelyn to be comfortable over himself and she could do little to object when she grew so sleepy atop of him. They were silent for a few minutes before Ned felt his wife’s finger begin to trace lightly over his shoulder with her nail. “Catelyn,” He whispered and he could hear a faint chuckle leave her lips, but she only got as far as ‘you’ before her hand settled and she had fallen asleep, in a way however, it was the perfect word to finish with. Ned silently watched her after that, nestling a hand into her auburn locks to play with, this time without disturbing her. It didn’t take him long either to fall asleep himself, embracing his wife as they slept soundly in an entanglement of limbs.