The Life and Times of a Loving Pair

"Twenty two...Twenty three...Twenty four..."

Cadence wrapped herself in her warm, cozy blanket, seeking comfort and refuge from the cold winter morning that followed after the last day of fall. The soft covers enveloped her, offering a sense of security as she closed her eyes, trying to escape into the world of dreams.

"Twenty five…Twenty six…Twenty seven..."

Something that was proving hard to do...

Slowly, she peaked over the blanket, taking in the sight that was her husband, doing pushups against the floor. The mare had wanted to sleep...to spend her day just laying about and not worry about her subject or papers or senators or the such...but...

"Twenty eight…twenty nine…thirty…"

Despite her initial annoyance, Cadence couldn't help but be captivated by the stallion's impressive physique. His muscles rippled and glistened in the soft morning sunlight that filtered through the curtains as he continued his push-ups, each repetition showcasing his strength and dedication. It was hard to look away as she observed the rhythmic rise and fall of his sculpted chest, the sinewy definition of his forelegs, and the way his sweat accentuated the contours of his body.

"thirty one…thirty two…thirty three…"

And his ass was nice. He had a very nice ass.

"Thirty four…and five! Phew." The stallion slowly stood up on all fours, wiping his brow with the towel around his neck.

Cadence couldn't resist a smirk as she watched her husband, now standing tall and proud after his morning workout. Even when he was young and quite the...how does one say it? Dork? When he was a dork and played that silly little game with his friends, his baggy clothes would hide the body of a wild mustang. Its a wonder she never seen him play sports back in school.

"Finished?" She finally asked after a moment, only her eyes and horn peeking from beneath the blanket.

The stallion epped before turning to face his wife, a smile soon playing on his lips. "Oh hey. Didn't wake you, did I?"

The mare shook her head, "No. Not really. I was just..." She paused as her eyes slid up and down her husband’s body. "Admiring the view."

Shining frowned before looking behind himself, finding only the wall. Turning back to his wife, he quietly motioned towards himself, mouthing the word “Me?” as he did so.

Cadence rolled her eyes. "Yes you, you dork. Who else?"

He blushed, looking away from the mare as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment . "Oh...ahaha...well...That’s true…ah…” He smiled bashfully. “Hope I didn't disappoint?"

Cadence laughed softly, "No, Shiny. You never disappoint." She sat up in bed, letting the blanket fall off her body as she did so. "In fact it is quite awe inspiring if I do say so myself." Her eyelids dropped to half mast as she spoke, her voice a soothing coo.

Every bit of it sent a shiver down the stallion’s spine.

"Oh...ah...well what can I say...I aim to please."

Cadence snuggled deeper into her blanket, a contented smile gracing her lips as she let her gaze linger on her bashful yet handsome husband. The faint blush on Shining Armor's cheeks as he avoided her teasing eyes was endearing, a stark contrast to the confident and disciplined Captain of the Royal Guard she knew he could be. It was moments like these, in the privacy of their shared sanctuary, that she treasured most—seeing the softer, more vulnerable side of the stallion she loved.

"I'm glad we called off all meetings today," she mused aloud, her tone dreamy and light. "A three-day weekend, no royal duties, no interruptions... just us." She pulled the blanket up to her chin, relishing the warmth and comfort of both the cozy fabric and the presence of her husband.

Shining chuckled, his nerves easing at her relaxed demeanor. "Well, I figured the ponies of the Crystal Empire deserved a break after the long fall preparations. And, well... so did we." He leaned down, resting his forelegs on the edge of the bed and meeting her gaze. "Especially you. You work harder than anypony, Cadence."

Cadence tilted her head, her eyes softening. "You're too sweet, Shiny. But you know I couldn't do half of what I do without you by my side."

"I could say the same to you, love," Shining replied, his voice tender and sincere. His deep blue eyes met hers, holding her gaze with an intensity that made her heart flutter. "Just waking up to your cute little pink muzzle nuzzling my own is enough get me though several winters.”

Cadence’s cheeks flushed at Shining’s words, the warmth in her chest rivaling the coziness of her blanket. She let out a soft laugh, reaching out to lightly boop his nose with her hoof. "You really do have a way with words, my brave Captain. I think you’ve spent too much time around the palace poets."

“Please, I’ve played a level twenty Ax wielding bard in one of my O&O sessions.” He scoffed. “I’m better then any of those hacks.”

Cadence raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh, is that so? A axe-wielding bard, huh? I don’t recall bards typically being the axe-wielding type, Shiny."

Shining puffed out his chest proudly, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "That’s because most bards lack imagination. But Sir Stringsmasher? He was a legend. Poetry in battle, music that could bring even the fiercest dragons to tears, and an axe that doubled as a lute. The perfect combination." Dusting himself off, he turned towards the princess fully. “So…what did you have in mind today?”

“I was thinking,” Cadence began, her voice soft and warm, “that we could have a cozy day in. Maybe bake some cookies, read a book or two...or just enjoy each other’s company.” She opened the blanket, allowing him to see her in full. “Your choice.”

Shining’s eyes widened at the sight of his wife invitingly displaying herself under the blanket, a mischievous glint in her gaze. His heart skipped a beat as he took in her beauty, the soft curves of her body illuminated by the morning light filtering through the window. The idea of spending a lazy day in with her was more tempting than any grand adventure or royal duty.

A slow grin spread across his face as he crawled onto the bed, moving closer to Cadence. “I think I know exactly how I want to spend our day,” he murmured, his voice low and husky with desire.

Cadence’s breath caught in her throat as Shining hovered over her, his warm gaze locking with hers. She felt a surge of anticipation and love for this stallion who knew her so well, who made her feel cherished and desired beyond measure.

And as they melted into each other’s embrace, their cozy day in took on a whole new level of warmth and intimacy.