[ he imagines he might tell her those smaller fragments of himself with time β about maria, lisa, frank jr. β more than those vague answers heβs provided thus far. she deserves to know, and more than that, heβll want her to know; those memories, theyβre as much of himself as anything sheβs already seen, and the only reason heβs who he is now. even if he knows thereβs a chance it might end up being too much, that thereβs too much blood on his hands to be forgiven for, heβd rather she held the whole truth than hold on to this without giving her the chance to make a choice with all the missing parts finally in her grasp.
for now, heβll bask in the hold heβs allowed, his fingers tracing over her naked back to secure his palm at her spine once she nestles closer into his chest, the warmth of her radiating over him. ] No snoring. I just drool a lot in my sleep. Cute image, actually. [ his own chuckle is a predecessor to that exhaustion finally settling in, and as the quiet replaces their banter, he knows sheβs dozed off, cycling through a small stock of thoughts before he finally drifts off as well.
he doesnβt know how long it is before he wakes, but he knows he feels rested. sunlight still flutters in through the curtains in an indication that it either might still be morning or theyβve ventured into the afternoon. he could crane his neck to get a view of the clock on the table, but his body is well curved into her, shuffled onto his side with his arms looped around her and the top of her head still pressed into his collar. somehow even still, he canβt think to move.
instead, he plants a gentle kiss atop her head, tender and lingering, fingertips tracing slow ghost lines across her back. thereβs no intention to wake her, not when heβs hardly ready to fully wake himself, but thereβs a pleasant warmth in his chest in knowing he still has her here like this even after sleep, that itβs all still continued to last even until now. ]
[ she dimly perceives the last bit of his words against her before ultimately slipping under, able to drift into dreaming in spite of the sun's steady rise to stream brighter light through the curtains, that thin, wafting fabric only able to keep out so much of the day from the quiet they find beside each other, her head pillowed on his shoulder and her arm drawn across his stomach, fingers maintaining a small clutch at his far hip. it's the closest she's ever slept next to anyone, save those occasional nights at the homestead after the heater would kick it and she and waves would be forced to curl up tight, spooning each other beneath a cocoon of blankets.
and she doesn't stir, save for the occasional incoherent murmur or shifting that precedes an unconscious nuzzling into him, like she's trying to burrow closer even from the recesses of her awareness. and she doesn't dream of anything, body and mind lulled enough to let her rest peacefully throughout the morning without her stirring. there's no blaring of an alarm to wake her the way it happens normally; instead, she dimly registers a small press against her head and something light, almost ticklish trailing over her spine, gradually tugging her from sleep.
she groans softly, nose scrunching before her eyes open, and she has to take a second to remember the events of the last few hours, remember how she got here and what happened prior to that, why she has warm skin beneath her cheek and her hand pressed firm along someoneβs side, why there's a pleasant looseness in her hips.
slowly, the room swirls into focus, and when she tips her head up to be greeted with the underside of a chin, dark hair coating a formerly shaven jaw, and a pair of dark eyes looking back at her, her smile is immediate, undefended, none of her normal guards coming down when she's still coming out of sleep. she stretches beneath the sheets, tensing briefly against him, and lifts her head to rest her chin on his chest, hair a mussed, wild tangle that streams down her shoulders. ] Morning.
[ he has more than enough time between that scrunch of her nose and the opening of her eyes to slip on a brief smile and let it falter away before it gets sighted. except he doesnβt put forth the effort to let it vanish, to simply fizzle out without notice. the smile remains at the sleepy gesture while he peers down to her partially still-dozing form as she pulls herself together.
fingers lazily brush her shoulders, the tips of them spinning small circles against her skin, still not fully recognizing any proper intention on waking fully. her hair bears a light fuzz, lightly from the vague combing of his traveling hand, running over the strands when heβd been caught in that peculiar in-between of dreaming and waking. ]
Morning. [ he repeats back, though his own tone is coarser, laced with deep rest still in his throat, realizing he might have lingered here even longer than he might be guessing.
still, the rush doesnβt fall over him, content to take these extra seconds, minutes, to slowly get out of that dazed state. because it might just be the result of that continued sleepiness affecting his more conscious decisions, but heβs still finding himself lulled by the position, by the weight of her pressed so warmly against his side and he knows he stands the possibility of getting closer to the acknowledgement of what it means to keep her there.
for now, he wonβt think of it as anything more than what it simply is. ] Sleep alright?
[ she's still blinking sleep from her eyes, most of their surroundings still a blur, but the closest thing to her β him β remains in her full sight and she shifts, stretches along his side again, wondering why it isn't her first instinct to pull away and start looking for her clothes instead. (never mind the fact that everything she'd been wearing last night is still downstairs.)
she'd been able to perceive the weight of him against her throughout the night, somehow sensing that she wasn't fully alone but not seeking to put more space between their bodies. she just doesn't do this, doesn't find a reason to curl up next to anyone for any prolonged amount of time, and she definitely doesn't search for an excuse to stick around in the morning either. if there's anything that she can fall back on here, it's her own selfishness β for not wanting to give up the quiet, the solitude, and honestly, he's going to take all the warmth with him when he leaves. can't have that. ]
Yeah, actually. [ she lets herself verbalize the surprise of it, the unexpectedness; his hand is a steady, constant stroke across her upper back and bare shoulders and she has to repress a sudden shiver as fingertips inadvertently tease that skin, rendered more sensitive when she's still waking up.
but she looks to him then, braces her hand against his chest, beneath her chin, and when she turns the question around on him she realizes she's actually genuinely interested in his answer. ] You?
[ he purses his lips, a gentle press of his mouth as if debating the question before he returns the answer fondly, ] Yeah, actually.
[ the surprise is shared, considering his habit for lack of sleep, for hours he attempts to lie in his bed only for his eyes to remain open for a good portion of the night. even when he finds that eventual doze, it's always interrupted, always filled with those flickers of a carousel, the echoing jabs of laughter that always transform into screeching screams. he's faced it head-on for years, accustomed to the pile of sweat he'll find himself in when he wakes, but it never softens the pain of it.
working at the diner helps, fills those later hours with something to keep his hands busy even if it's scrubbing hard at the tiles when there's a lack of customers. but this β he never found himself threatening to wake, never even had the faint imagery of those old dreams coming to tug at him. they'll return, they always do, but for now, he finds himself laying here in a small portion of peace. ]
Starving, though. [ he gives her back a firmer rub, palm rubbing over his eyes. ] Anything in your kitchen I can scrap together? [ doubtful; he's seen her fridge. had to fix it enough to know its lack of contents. ]
[ she's far too used to the patterns she's slipped into without trying β a shift at the bar either in the early afternoon or the evening, ending up back here with a glass of something dark to help her come down after so many hours on her feet, not so much slipping into sleep as passing out hard and waking up with a fuzzy tongue and bleary eyes. she'd usually either stumble through making coffee by this point or shove a toothbrush in her mouth before jamming on a pair of sunglasses, driving into town to pay someone to make the strong stuff for her, and the cycle would continue after that unless the town found itself besieged by yet another wacky supernatural phenomenon.
he's disrupted her schedule, leaving her with the compulsion to linger, to stretch out lazily in the bed and wake up to something that isn't her alarm β one she hits the snooze button on several times before finally getting up β but she still turns her face away from the sun in favor of glancing over his expression instead, dark eyes tilted downward before he rubs over them.
finally, she sits up, heedless of where the sheet falls to pool around her hips, and attempts another stretch, shoulders rolling before she tilts her head from side-to-side, removing any cricks acquired from sleeping at a certain angle. still, she's looser overall, no tightness in her joints, and she lets her hands fall down into her lap. ]
Why do you think I asked for the fries? [ she flashes him a quick grin; a trip to the mart's definitely on her to-do list, but that doesn't do them any good when his stomach's rumbling now. ]
Jesus Christ. [ his typical signal of annoyance, though it lacks any real sharpness, even if he supplies it with an exaggerated roll of his eyes, one of his arms drifting beneath his head to leave a supporting wrist there as he peers to her.
as she rises, the sheet rolls off of her skin, bare and smooth on display, but in place of any simmering fluster, there's only a flicker of adoration in his eyes, that conscious acknowledgement that she looks damn beautiful in this light, the sun fluttering in faint illuminated stripes across her body. it's a fairly nice way to wake up, dreamlike, he thinks, and his fingers caress faintly at the skin of her naked hip, not hinting at anything intentional, but simply absentmindedly still settling into this lazy morning. ]
How the hell do you even survive out here, Earp? It's farm land, right? Might need to start growing some damn crops. [ though he can't much say he sees her out there tending to fields and growing vegetables. hell, he realizes she doesn't even have a single plant in her house, leaving him to wonder if she can handle a fern in here. ] We're not eating soggy fries.
[ she narrows her eyes at him β a playful gesture that doesn't hold any significant annoyance, at least in response to his muttered remark and certainly not once he stretches out more decisively against the bed, the shift of muscle beneath skin when he lets that arm slip up to pillow behind his head. it's a sight she can't help but appreciate, gaze flickering down the length of him for a few seconds.
this is supposed to be way more awkward than it is right now. she'd fumble through an excuse while hurriedly attempting to retrieve her clothes, attempt some bullshit about calling him later, remain unable to locate her bra and have to go without for her latest walk of shame, wynonna earp edition. but she curves back, studies him down the round of her shoulder, his fingers idle at her hip, subtly leaning into that contact while her brain tries to reboot itself. ]
Mmm. Can you honestly see me up before the sun, going into the barn to milk the cows? [ she scrunches up her nose again, visible distaste at that mental image, and shakes her head with a corresponding sway of wavy hair. ] Look, if I'd known I was going to be feeding more than one person this morning, I would've ducked into Hart on the way home from work instead of my procrastinating norm. [ that's a lie. she probably would've put it off anyway until the last possible minute, when the fridge was down to a jar of one lone pickle and a box of cold, stale pizza from peter's. ]
[ he might only realize now that it might have been a good idea to have snagged his pile of clothes while he was down there, to at least have them at a closer distance even if he hadn't put them all back on just yet. even his phone remains well out of his reach down the stairs, but there still hasn't been much temptation to check it, to see for any missed messages or alerts, content to have to shut away the outer world while he's here. ]
Well, I can definitely see you wrestling some cows. [ he flashes a lazy grin, a low huffing chuckle beneath his breath as he tilts his head with the imagery in his mind. ] Shoving yourself up against them, trying to herd them through a fence. Actually a pretty fun picture.
[ really, this house can barely hold itself together enough to keep her in comfortable living conditions. he can't even imagine what it'd be like to try and sustain actual living animals in the barn as well. he'd definitely be the one working overtime. ]
Y'know, I'm pretty sure you don't have to wait until you're feeding more than one person to considering stocking up something beyond expired yogurt. [ shit, he purses his lip with that comment, suddenly remembering how this all had even began in the first place, when the call had first come in with her random question. ] Not even toast? An egg or something?
[ it's not her first tendency to check her device at this time of day, but she's never really been in a position here where someone would have reason to blow up her phone with texts; that might not necessarily be the case for him, now that he's acquired enough responsibility here in the form of managing a business to merit needing to be within easy reach, but he hasn't made any sudden moves to depart from the bed and she can't bring herself to offer him that reminder either. ]
Getting trampled, you mean? Oh, yeah, definitely, hilarious image there. [ she retrieves a pillow from the edge of the bed and chucks it loosely in the vicinity of his chest, counting on his reflexes being a little slower and inhibiting him from grabbing it before it smacks him.
and she'll finally try to wrest herself free of the bedsheets before he can consider a swift and sound retaliation, swinging her legs over towards the far side and rising up to stand with another full stretch, both arms winding above her head. before she even considers whether or not she has enough in her fridge to sustain them this morning, a shower is definitely taking priority β though she looks back at him again as if gauging whether or not she even needs to say anything to extend that invite, if he'll be able to decipher it solely by the look in her eyes. ]
There might be eggs. [ her mouth quirks to one side while she wracks her brain for that memory β what else had she seen in there when she'd been talking to him before, holding that expired yogurt in one hand? understandably, anything that happened prior to their clothes coming off is a little fuzzy now. ] Why, you work up an appetite or last night or something?
[ the pillow is met with an oof sound blowing from his mouth, not out of any real physical reaction to the hit, the feeling of it bouncing off its skin more ticklish than anything, but simply to dramatize the response all for her benefit. she can take it to be victorious or anything β either is acceptable from his point of view. ]
Way to look down on yourself. I think you can take on a cow just fine. You got that β y'know, that charm. [ which is more of a playful comment, but admittedly, there's truth to it, how she'd once taken his grumpy responses and softened it with her stubborn retalitations, light commentary and tacky jokes somehow steering him in a direction that somehow inevitably landed him here in her bed.
he lifts himself to sit up, arms extended and palms pressing into the mattress to hold him steady as he peers to her, eyes lingering on the full stretch of her. ]
I don't know about that. Think I ate pretty well last night.
[ and there's that signature smirk, one that shifts in a bit more freely this time aorund with that curving of his lips, a soft swiping of his lip with a teasing tongue for a display that's now purposeful, knowing that her eyes are bound to linger there. ]
[ she would've considered it more of a personal triumph if she hadn't figured out he was completely putting it on, his reaction too exaggerated to be sincere, but she'll take advantage of any potential opportunity to try and gain the upper hand, this entire exchange remarkably in line with the familiar dynamic they'd already established prior to last night. ]
Oh, is that what it is? Charm? Not just wearing down the cow's defenses until it had no choice but to give in? [ somehow this bovine subject has become more of a metaphor now as the conversation's gone on, shifting to be less about the literal and closer to a stand-in for the person who continues to make themselves thoroughly comfortable between those sheets.
any plan she had to veer off in the direction of a shower is completely stalled when he licks across his mouth, her gaze drawn to it in spite of herself, in spite of knowing he means to knock her off-center; sense memory fills in the reminder of where that tongue had been only hours before, and damn him for trying to make her squirm like that, heat immediately pooling low between her thighs. ]
You had your fill yet? [ beyond the dirtier innuendo, though, there may be a nudge of deeper questioning in it, an ask in regards to whether he's done with her, too, and she tips her chin down to level their gazes, hope subtly residing in her own eyes. ]
Maybe a little bit of that, too. [ it's definitely tipped β the conversation, not the cow β and it's fairly clear where the metaphor runs, but that doesn't deter him from pouring his continued teases into the banter, even if he's confident that plenty of honesty rings true through it too.
it's the same way that the rest of his teasing commentary is spoken easy, not quite as reserved or left subtle as it once had been. whatever had happened last night had steered them into a far steeper direction, one they both must have known would guarantee that there was no real way of returning to the simpleness they once tried to maintain, back when even the events of the pollen had threatened to push them over the edge. making excuses for that was easier when not all of it could be pinned on their own control, but this β this was entirely in their hands and it was either to be dropped in its entirety or ran with.
his choice is more obvious when he rises even further, lifting on his knees before dragging them across the mattress and the mess of tangled sheets, right up until he gets to the edge, close enough for him to reach out and take her hand. a light enough tug can bring her in closer, just enough for him to press his lips to her, brief but tender. ]
No. [ he says without uncertainty, a simple word leaving his lips firmly as he draws away enough to gaze at her with confident eyes, the answer pertaining to more than simply the events of the night before. ]
That's what I thought. [ she's amused herself by this entire train of thought, evidenced by the small hunching of both shoulders and the strong press of her lips together as she tries to subdue the fullness of a chuckle that manages to resound from somewhere deep within, the small twitch of her abdomen betraying her even further along those lines.
but it's easy, like so much of this has already been between them, a free and open exchange of lightly jabbing comments and quick witticisms that defined the course of their relationship from the beginning when neither of them was all that thrilled to be trapped in their shared predicament. and slowly, it had evolved from her saying things to provoke some kind of response from him to his own readiness to counter her banter, the cleverness in his remarks surprising her first and foremost before anything else had transpired.
her gaze tracks him as he moves, a slow slide that takes him closer to her until he's sitting there in front of her, reaching out to snag her hand in his β and she can only begin to guess what he'll do before he draws her near, enough to drop a kiss there. it's not that she won't have her reservations still β about herself, mostly, if she's even capable of doing this β but all of that manages to evaporate when his lips nudge to her skin.
and something ignites within her chest, warming her from the inside out, prompting her fingers to curve more firmly around his rather than dropping away too quickly. ] Good.
[ none of this should feel as natural as it does, the casual way his fingers slip into hers, how easily they fit, one by one curling around hers for a hold that isn't tight but plenty firm for a steady enough grip. perhaps he's still lost in it, the haze of the previous hours drifting further into the rest of the morning, and once he's supplied time and distance, he might grasp sense of it all again, why he shouldn't be lingering so close to her. he knows his reasons for being on his own, why it's better to hold onto his barriers and avoid these connections.
but his mouth presses soft to hers and it feels safe, and he can't quite imagine steering himself away from it so soon. ]
Good. [ he repeats, though it's more of a puzzle on his own tongue like he's surprised by the word, by the wonder that any of this is good, and that they're both still bulldozing forward into this collision against one another.
his free arm folds around her waist, a loose hold that simply guides her in close, curving her low into his space where he still remains kneeled at the bed's edge, just slightly beneath her height when he's urging her chest against his own, allowing his kiss to blossom into something just slightly deeper, but still mostly soft simply for embracing the sensation of it. ]
[ she'll find time to mull over all of it later β the events of the past couple of days, how they somehow stumbled through to this moment now, why he reaches for her and she doesn't hesitate, choosing to bask in the newness, the excitement, the thrill of a revised understanding between them. maybe once they're separated, she'll be able to put her head on straight again, think past the somersaulting in her stomach that seems to happen every time he looks at her, kisses her, touches her now.
the scariest part is she could stay here all day if they didn't have anything primed to tug them in two different directions. ]
Mmhmm. [ she breathes a soft hum into that kiss, his arm slung low across her waist and drawing her in, skin against hers, more of that warmth achieved; she shouldn't be so used to this yet and she sort of is, the tender rhythm of mouths that precedes her withdrawing to look down at him, free hand idly stroking along the side of his face. ]
Wanna help me use up all the hot water? [ he's not holding her so tightly that she can't slip free, briefly tweaking his chin between thumb and index prior to her stepping back, pivoting on one heel to head in the direction of the bathroom. it won't solve the issue of needing to retrieve their clothes from downstairs eventually, but she also can't show up to work with sex hair either. besides, she's giving him a different angle to observe β along with the pair of deer antlers darkly inked into the small of her back. ]
[ he hasn't forgotten that he has other responsibilities he'll need to actually return to eventually. a brief glance to the clock on the table assures him there's still plenty time before the promised point in which he'd told the part-timer he'd officially take over shift duties again, but he also knows he needs to be careful about getting too distracted, since this visit was never originally going to preceed one hour, instead mulitplying to many where he'd simply curled up with her in her bed.
her question sparks a light chuckle, along with that subtle pinching of her fingers to his chin, hairs there caught in a minor tug. he doesn't get to sprout a response, not when she's already moving across the room, spinning away from him with the assumption of his answer.
but his eyes find a momentary distraction anyway, a slight squint when he notices the dark lines low on her back, an angle he'd yet to see her in until now. ] So, that's where it is, huh? [ he'd learned about the tattoos early, briefly assuming they'd all been in the same spot, that perch right over the heart where his own was printed without his knowing. but he'd seen them in various locations since, either on a shoulder or wrist, but he'd never been able to pinpoint hers.
not that he'd ever really cared about the ink at all, not even having thought about it when he did finally get an almost full gaze of her naked in front of his eyes. still, seeing it now sparks a minor smirk, one that remains on when he rises to his feet, shuffling in the path behind her until he catches up, fingertips lightly grazing the pattern on her skin. ] Guess I missed it.
[ regardless of whether he takes her up on her offer, she decides to go on ahead, motivated now by the promise of detangling her hair and washing the mess of them combined from her skin. her own bathroom's adjacent to this one, a different door connecting the two, and she squints against the sun streaming more directly onto old tile and the giant, claw-foot tub given that curtains haven't been fully drawn in here β but she turns, prompted by the brush of a hand at the curve of her lower back and ducks her head with a quiet laugh when she realizes what he's referring to. ]
Oh. [ and she freezes, mid-movement, arms rising up from her sides as if that could potentially invite more of a view, before trying to crane her neck over one shoulder to glimpse it for herself. she's never been able to get a full-on view of it unless she's turned her back to a mirror, the tattoo perfectly positioned between her hips for her to only make out the edge of the design. ]
Talk about adding insult to kidnapping, right? "Sorry for taking you to Dreamland against your will, here's your very own tramp stamp." [ her scoff punctuates the attempt at a joke, and she's rolling her eyes good-naturedly before stretching out a hand to brace her palm against his chest where his own tattoo sits left of center, fingers curving slightly to let the tips rest a bit higher. ] In case you wondered if you lucked out with yours at all.
[ he'd been in here before, on account that her kitchen sink is hardly the only one with piping problems, though he's fairly sure he's ended up in most of her rooms by now (he'd never had a reason to be in the bedroom for long, but even that's changed over the past several hours). but entering here for the purposes of a shower is a new one, especially on account of sharing one, which might be the first in β definitely years. well, mostly. being in one together with someone else, even fully clothed, might be a more recent experience than not.
when her fingers drift on his chest to compare the differences of their inks, his lips purse, almost in a half-curved smile. ] Well, I thought I had. But as it turns out, I apparently have a knack for ending up shirtless more often than not. Who knew?
[ the raise in a brow is an obvious tease directed her way, considering their long history together, in which she'd come to see his bare chest more than one, twice, three times or so even before the events of last night. all accidental for the most part, but no less ridiculous on account of her constantly and by coincidence being in the room when it occurs. ]
Speaking of which β [ he steps around her, leaning across the bath to work the handles, trying to find that balance of hot water before he turns his head to peer over his shoulder towards her. ] This is pretty familiar, ain't it?
[ she has no way of knowing how old this place is, given that her first introduction to it had been literally waking up in the bed they've just vacated and learning all of its quirks and idiosyncrasies shortly thereafter β though for all its disadvantages, leaky sinks and creaky floorboards and rotted wood, not to mention living literally on the edge of town limits, there's enough here that feels familiar, bears shades of the earp homestead even if the layout is different, even if it's not filled with the same people. she's made it her own, not necessarily through any obvious trying but in inhabiting this space for long enough.
and if she had to guess, the house's second-longest occupant has been him. between his visits to fix any old thing, he's made himself comfortable in the space in small ways. tools scattered at random points, a used coffee mug sitting on the kitchen counter for him to go back to between breaks. there were indications of his presence becoming more frequent here long before last night.
she uses her index finger to trace the design on his chest, starting with the antler on one side and then traversing across the intricacies of it until she ends up on the other. ] Just my luck, huh? [ because she'd made no secret of it being a distraction when it had happened, though she'd only ever benefitted from the spontaneous prompts that had forced him to remove that top layer. ]
I don't know about that. Pretty sure it started out differently. [ with him hitching her up over his shoulder and dumping her in, that is, and she glares at him suspiciously, trying to gauge if he'll follow that first instance to the letter. the water had also been a markedly different temperature, a shock to the system that had left her spluttering beneath that icy spray of water trickling down her hair and in between her clothes; she'd left sopping wet bootprints behind on her hasty retreat out of chloe's house, an obvious trail to track her getaway route all the way back to her own place. ]
[ his fingers wave beneath the fall of water, testing out the temperature of the spray until it's satisfactory, a faster accomplishment these days since before he'd had to fix that too when it'd mostly ran cold water until enough time had passed for it to heat. he chuckles at her statement, straightening himself out as he turns back to face her, a squinting from his eye that notes his own internal planning prompted by her own warning glare.
casually, he hooks his thumbs into his boxer briefs, shucking them down off his legs to his ankles and lifting his feet before kicking them lightly to the side. ] Different's not so bad.
[ the lack of clothes might be the biggest difference of them all, remembering how the fabrics had clung to their skin, denim heavy on his legs as the chill of the water prompted goosebumps on his bare arms. but the air between them is also a change, subtleties still present then in the way they spoke, flirtatious banter still not in full growth as they'd tried to dodge it at every corner.
but now he lacks any hesitance as he steps back to her, swift when he squats just enough to guide one arm to her back and the other behind her knees, scooping her up into his arms for a standard princess carry β an improvement from simply tossing her over his shoulder, he thinks. carefully, he'll guide her to the shower, only loosening his hold when he's able to deposit her safety within the tub itself. ] See, different.
[ she's still not used to only having to wait a matter of minutes before the water warms to a more soothing temperature, having spent weeks upon weeks putting up with older pipes that had required more patience than she'd been prepared to deliver, but one visit from him had launched the farmhouse's plumbing forward by at least ten years of advancement. it's her first instinct, though, to scrutinize him while he shucks off the fabric that sits on his hips, leaving himself as bare as she is for eyes and hands alike.
and it turns out her suspicions about what he's planning next aren't completely unfounded, because he crouches beneath her and that's the only warning she gets before he's picking her up in his arms, her own thrown around his neck with the surprise of it even though his hold on her is secure. she's shaking her head through a smile, chin tipped down while he gently sets her down inside the tub and steps over to join her fully.
the water is warm this time, at her back, and she lifts a hand to pull the curtain, enclosing them within; it doesn't block out so much light that she can't see the slant of his mouth, can't find her way forward until she's nudging closer, until her face is tilted up enough for her lips to seek his, a light peck initially that isn't lacking any affection. ] Not completely different.
[ because she'll kiss him here as she did then, only without the risk of interruption, without that tiny voice that had been all too happy to nag her before about her poor decision-making β just the certainty of what they have now between them, the assurance that they're both in it for however long it lasts β and she'll lose herself a little longer in that shared heat, guiltless and pliant against him. ]
[ she'd been more resistant the first time around, annoyance clear when she'd kicked and complained as he'd taken her beneath the water, an exaggerated response to a joke of sprayed water (which, to be entirely fair, had been her idea in the first place). it's a contrast to the way she reels him in alongside her now, how there doesn't come a second thought when she kisses him, more confidence in the gesture now than when they hadn't known each other's lips, when spontaneity was all that guided them instead of this new found sense of purpose in it.
he returns it with the tender response of a caressing mouth, parted lips that draw in the wet parts of hers, cleaning those droplets one by one as they cascade from above them, warm on their skin.
even his hands are reminiscent of that time, rising to palm over her cheeks, fingers tracing back those wet strands of hair to lock behind her ears, holding her face steady to his own. that'd been the very thing that tricked him then, left him with surprise at how gentle her skin felt against his, mostly when she'd brought her fingers to his chin, a simple stroke of it, luring his mouth to act on instinct than any logical thought. ]
Aren't gonna run out on me this time, are you? [ he mutters the tease in the midst of their kiss, not entirely drawing himself away even as he smiles through the amusement of his question. ]
[ she can't ignore the irony of the moment, this one bearing so many shades of similarities to the last time they were standing in a shower together β though the difference between then and now is a surprisingly smaller amount of clothing on his end, top half bared entirely due to a burst of unexpected vomit rather than her own eager hands.
and the curiosity with which she seeks out his mouth now isn't impulse-driven by one too many pot candies, but the wet slide of his lips against hers feels almost the same, his hands spreading across her face to sweep her hair back from her skin the way he had then, too. ]
Well, for starters, this is my place. [ she maintains that proximity between their mouths, soft caresses that tease a deeper press on every other syllable, and when she smiles he can probably feel it too, the brief tension in her cheeks beneath his palms.
she slings one arm low, around his waist, unconsciously nudging their hips together even if she isn't seeking to bring them closer beyond that. for now, she wants to enjoy just how nice it is to have this, something she isn't entirely convinced she even deserves but won't bring herself to relinquish, too stuck in the newness and the wanting of it to know better. ] But I'm not going anywhere.
[ he shouldn't be allowed this, this safe haven within the privacy of her bathroom, of this house, where both of them had resorted to remaining confined here for hours rather than even casting a single peek at the world outside of it. since he's been here, he's sought out different ways to keep himself busy, working the diner, doing home repair, but he hadn't imagined for this distraction, one of that's less of an excuse to prompt activity for his hands (though there's plenty of that) and one that simply keeps him still.
beyond the amount of clothing, the difference here from that first kiss is how he'd done it as a way to drown out the noise of the party, of the chaos that was driving him into a series of frustration; here, he's merely extending the already lingering peace, a soothing heat drifting from her mouth to his. ]
Your place? Is that where I've been all this time? [ sarcastically spoken, a nudging smile prodding up against her lips, a laugh held back in his breath.
when he finally draws back, his eyes remain on her, a soft gaze in her direction as his palms roll across her cheeks and begin to slick back her wet hair, tucking it all behind her ears neatly, brushing the damp strands down. ] Funny how every time I see you, I've got some way of getting you wet. [ because of the shower, obviously. ]
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for now, heβll bask in the hold heβs allowed, his fingers tracing over her naked back to secure his palm at her spine once she nestles closer into his chest, the warmth of her radiating over him. ] No snoring. I just drool a lot in my sleep. Cute image, actually. [ his own chuckle is a predecessor to that exhaustion finally settling in, and as the quiet replaces their banter, he knows sheβs dozed off, cycling through a small stock of thoughts before he finally drifts off as well.
he doesnβt know how long it is before he wakes, but he knows he feels rested. sunlight still flutters in through the curtains in an indication that it either might still be morning or theyβve ventured into the afternoon. he could crane his neck to get a view of the clock on the table, but his body is well curved into her, shuffled onto his side with his arms looped around her and the top of her head still pressed into his collar. somehow even still, he canβt think to move.
instead, he plants a gentle kiss atop her head, tender and lingering, fingertips tracing slow ghost lines across her back. thereβs no intention to wake her, not when heβs hardly ready to fully wake himself, but thereβs a pleasant warmth in his chest in knowing he still has her here like this even after sleep, that itβs all still continued to last even until now. ]
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and she doesn't stir, save for the occasional incoherent murmur or shifting that precedes an unconscious nuzzling into him, like she's trying to burrow closer even from the recesses of her awareness. and she doesn't dream of anything, body and mind lulled enough to let her rest peacefully throughout the morning without her stirring. there's no blaring of an alarm to wake her the way it happens normally; instead, she dimly registers a small press against her head and something light, almost ticklish trailing over her spine, gradually tugging her from sleep.
she groans softly, nose scrunching before her eyes open, and she has to take a second to remember the events of the last few hours, remember how she got here and what happened prior to that, why she has warm skin beneath her cheek and her hand pressed firm along someoneβs side, why there's a pleasant looseness in her hips.
slowly, the room swirls into focus, and when she tips her head up to be greeted with the underside of a chin, dark hair coating a formerly shaven jaw, and a pair of dark eyes looking back at her, her smile is immediate, undefended, none of her normal guards coming down when she's still coming out of sleep. she stretches beneath the sheets, tensing briefly against him, and lifts her head to rest her chin on his chest, hair a mussed, wild tangle that streams down her shoulders. ] Morning.
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fingers lazily brush her shoulders, the tips of them spinning small circles against her skin, still not fully recognizing any proper intention on waking fully. her hair bears a light fuzz, lightly from the vague combing of his traveling hand, running over the strands when heβd been caught in that peculiar in-between of dreaming and waking. ]
Morning. [ he repeats back, though his own tone is coarser, laced with deep rest still in his throat, realizing he might have lingered here even longer than he might be guessing.
still, the rush doesnβt fall over him, content to take these extra seconds, minutes, to slowly get out of that dazed state. because it might just be the result of that continued sleepiness affecting his more conscious decisions, but heβs still finding himself lulled by the position, by the weight of her pressed so warmly against his side and he knows he stands the possibility of getting closer to the acknowledgement of what it means to keep her there.
for now, he wonβt think of it as anything more than what it simply is. ] Sleep alright?
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she'd been able to perceive the weight of him against her throughout the night, somehow sensing that she wasn't fully alone but not seeking to put more space between their bodies. she just doesn't do this, doesn't find a reason to curl up next to anyone for any prolonged amount of time, and she definitely doesn't search for an excuse to stick around in the morning either. if there's anything that she can fall back on here, it's her own selfishness β for not wanting to give up the quiet, the solitude, and honestly, he's going to take all the warmth with him when he leaves. can't have that. ]
Yeah, actually. [ she lets herself verbalize the surprise of it, the unexpectedness; his hand is a steady, constant stroke across her upper back and bare shoulders and she has to repress a sudden shiver as fingertips inadvertently tease that skin, rendered more sensitive when she's still waking up.
but she looks to him then, braces her hand against his chest, beneath her chin, and when she turns the question around on him she realizes she's actually genuinely interested in his answer. ] You?
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[ the surprise is shared, considering his habit for lack of sleep, for hours he attempts to lie in his bed only for his eyes to remain open for a good portion of the night. even when he finds that eventual doze, it's always interrupted, always filled with those flickers of a carousel, the echoing jabs of laughter that always transform into screeching screams. he's faced it head-on for years, accustomed to the pile of sweat he'll find himself in when he wakes, but it never softens the pain of it.
working at the diner helps, fills those later hours with something to keep his hands busy even if it's scrubbing hard at the tiles when there's a lack of customers. but this β he never found himself threatening to wake, never even had the faint imagery of those old dreams coming to tug at him. they'll return, they always do, but for now, he finds himself laying here in a small portion of peace. ]
Starving, though. [ he gives her back a firmer rub, palm rubbing over his eyes. ] Anything in your kitchen I can scrap together? [ doubtful; he's seen her fridge. had to fix it enough to know its lack of contents. ]
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he's disrupted her schedule, leaving her with the compulsion to linger, to stretch out lazily in the bed and wake up to something that isn't her alarm β one she hits the snooze button on several times before finally getting up β but she still turns her face away from the sun in favor of glancing over his expression instead, dark eyes tilted downward before he rubs over them.
finally, she sits up, heedless of where the sheet falls to pool around her hips, and attempts another stretch, shoulders rolling before she tilts her head from side-to-side, removing any cricks acquired from sleeping at a certain angle. still, she's looser overall, no tightness in her joints, and she lets her hands fall down into her lap. ]
Why do you think I asked for the fries? [ she flashes him a quick grin; a trip to the mart's definitely on her to-do list, but that doesn't do them any good when his stomach's rumbling now. ]
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as she rises, the sheet rolls off of her skin, bare and smooth on display, but in place of any simmering fluster, there's only a flicker of adoration in his eyes, that conscious acknowledgement that she looks damn beautiful in this light, the sun fluttering in faint illuminated stripes across her body. it's a fairly nice way to wake up, dreamlike, he thinks, and his fingers caress faintly at the skin of her naked hip, not hinting at anything intentional, but simply absentmindedly still settling into this lazy morning. ]
How the hell do you even survive out here, Earp? It's farm land, right? Might need to start growing some damn crops. [ though he can't much say he sees her out there tending to fields and growing vegetables. hell, he realizes she doesn't even have a single plant in her house, leaving him to wonder if she can handle a fern in here. ] We're not eating soggy fries.
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this is supposed to be way more awkward than it is right now. she'd fumble through an excuse while hurriedly attempting to retrieve her clothes, attempt some bullshit about calling him later, remain unable to locate her bra and have to go without for her latest walk of shame, wynonna earp edition. but she curves back, studies him down the round of her shoulder, his fingers idle at her hip, subtly leaning into that contact while her brain tries to reboot itself. ]
Mmm. Can you honestly see me up before the sun, going into the barn to milk the cows? [ she scrunches up her nose again, visible distaste at that mental image, and shakes her head with a corresponding sway of wavy hair. ] Look, if I'd known I was going to be feeding more than one person this morning, I would've ducked into Hart on the way home from work instead of my procrastinating norm. [ that's a lie. she probably would've put it off anyway until the last possible minute, when the fridge was down to a jar of one lone pickle and a box of cold, stale pizza from peter's. ]
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Well, I can definitely see you wrestling some cows. [ he flashes a lazy grin, a low huffing chuckle beneath his breath as he tilts his head with the imagery in his mind. ] Shoving yourself up against them, trying to herd them through a fence. Actually a pretty fun picture.
[ really, this house can barely hold itself together enough to keep her in comfortable living conditions. he can't even imagine what it'd be like to try and sustain actual living animals in the barn as well. he'd definitely be the one working overtime. ]
Y'know, I'm pretty sure you don't have to wait until you're feeding more than one person to considering stocking up something beyond expired yogurt. [ shit, he purses his lip with that comment, suddenly remembering how this all had even began in the first place, when the call had first come in with her random question. ] Not even toast? An egg or something?
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Getting trampled, you mean? Oh, yeah, definitely, hilarious image there. [ she retrieves a pillow from the edge of the bed and chucks it loosely in the vicinity of his chest, counting on his reflexes being a little slower and inhibiting him from grabbing it before it smacks him.
and she'll finally try to wrest herself free of the bedsheets before he can consider a swift and sound retaliation, swinging her legs over towards the far side and rising up to stand with another full stretch, both arms winding above her head. before she even considers whether or not she has enough in her fridge to sustain them this morning, a shower is definitely taking priority β though she looks back at him again as if gauging whether or not she even needs to say anything to extend that invite, if he'll be able to decipher it solely by the look in her eyes. ]
There might be eggs. [ her mouth quirks to one side while she wracks her brain for that memory β what else had she seen in there when she'd been talking to him before, holding that expired yogurt in one hand? understandably, anything that happened prior to their clothes coming off is a little fuzzy now. ] Why, you work up an appetite or last night or something?
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Way to look down on yourself. I think you can take on a cow just fine. You got that β y'know, that charm. [ which is more of a playful comment, but admittedly, there's truth to it, how she'd once taken his grumpy responses and softened it with her stubborn retalitations, light commentary and tacky jokes somehow steering him in a direction that somehow inevitably landed him here in her bed.
he lifts himself to sit up, arms extended and palms pressing into the mattress to hold him steady as he peers to her, eyes lingering on the full stretch of her. ]
I don't know about that. Think I ate pretty well last night.
[ and there's that signature smirk, one that shifts in a bit more freely this time aorund with that curving of his lips, a soft swiping of his lip with a teasing tongue for a display that's now purposeful, knowing that her eyes are bound to linger there. ]
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Oh, is that what it is? Charm? Not just wearing down the cow's defenses until it had no choice but to give in? [ somehow this bovine subject has become more of a metaphor now as the conversation's gone on, shifting to be less about the literal and closer to a stand-in for the person who continues to make themselves thoroughly comfortable between those sheets.
any plan she had to veer off in the direction of a shower is completely stalled when he licks across his mouth, her gaze drawn to it in spite of herself, in spite of knowing he means to knock her off-center; sense memory fills in the reminder of where that tongue had been only hours before, and damn him for trying to make her squirm like that, heat immediately pooling low between her thighs. ]
You had your fill yet? [ beyond the dirtier innuendo, though, there may be a nudge of deeper questioning in it, an ask in regards to whether he's done with her, too, and she tips her chin down to level their gazes, hope subtly residing in her own eyes. ]
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it's the same way that the rest of his teasing commentary is spoken easy, not quite as reserved or left subtle as it once had been. whatever had happened last night had steered them into a far steeper direction, one they both must have known would guarantee that there was no real way of returning to the simpleness they once tried to maintain, back when even the events of the pollen had threatened to push them over the edge. making excuses for that was easier when not all of it could be pinned on their own control, but this β this was entirely in their hands and it was either to be dropped in its entirety or ran with.
his choice is more obvious when he rises even further, lifting on his knees before dragging them across the mattress and the mess of tangled sheets, right up until he gets to the edge, close enough for him to reach out and take her hand. a light enough tug can bring her in closer, just enough for him to press his lips to her, brief but tender. ]
No. [ he says without uncertainty, a simple word leaving his lips firmly as he draws away enough to gaze at her with confident eyes, the answer pertaining to more than simply the events of the night before. ]
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but it's easy, like so much of this has already been between them, a free and open exchange of lightly jabbing comments and quick witticisms that defined the course of their relationship from the beginning when neither of them was all that thrilled to be trapped in their shared predicament. and slowly, it had evolved from her saying things to provoke some kind of response from him to his own readiness to counter her banter, the cleverness in his remarks surprising her first and foremost before anything else had transpired.
her gaze tracks him as he moves, a slow slide that takes him closer to her until he's sitting there in front of her, reaching out to snag her hand in his β and she can only begin to guess what he'll do before he draws her near, enough to drop a kiss there. it's not that she won't have her reservations still β about herself, mostly, if she's even capable of doing this β but all of that manages to evaporate when his lips nudge to her skin.
and something ignites within her chest, warming her from the inside out, prompting her fingers to curve more firmly around his rather than dropping away too quickly. ] Good.
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but his mouth presses soft to hers and it feels safe, and he can't quite imagine steering himself away from it so soon. ]
Good. [ he repeats, though it's more of a puzzle on his own tongue like he's surprised by the word, by the wonder that any of this is good, and that they're both still bulldozing forward into this collision against one another.
his free arm folds around her waist, a loose hold that simply guides her in close, curving her low into his space where he still remains kneeled at the bed's edge, just slightly beneath her height when he's urging her chest against his own, allowing his kiss to blossom into something just slightly deeper, but still mostly soft simply for embracing the sensation of it. ]
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the scariest part is she could stay here all day if they didn't have anything primed to tug them in two different directions. ]
Mmhmm. [ she breathes a soft hum into that kiss, his arm slung low across her waist and drawing her in, skin against hers, more of that warmth achieved; she shouldn't be so used to this yet and she sort of is, the tender rhythm of mouths that precedes her withdrawing to look down at him, free hand idly stroking along the side of his face. ]
Wanna help me use up all the hot water? [ he's not holding her so tightly that she can't slip free, briefly tweaking his chin between thumb and index prior to her stepping back, pivoting on one heel to head in the direction of the bathroom. it won't solve the issue of needing to retrieve their clothes from downstairs eventually, but she also can't show up to work with sex hair either. besides, she's giving him a different angle to observe β along with the pair of deer antlers darkly inked into the small of her back. ]
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her question sparks a light chuckle, along with that subtle pinching of her fingers to his chin, hairs there caught in a minor tug. he doesn't get to sprout a response, not when she's already moving across the room, spinning away from him with the assumption of his answer.
but his eyes find a momentary distraction anyway, a slight squint when he notices the dark lines low on her back, an angle he'd yet to see her in until now. ] So, that's where it is, huh? [ he'd learned about the tattoos early, briefly assuming they'd all been in the same spot, that perch right over the heart where his own was printed without his knowing. but he'd seen them in various locations since, either on a shoulder or wrist, but he'd never been able to pinpoint hers.
not that he'd ever really cared about the ink at all, not even having thought about it when he did finally get an almost full gaze of her naked in front of his eyes. still, seeing it now sparks a minor smirk, one that remains on when he rises to his feet, shuffling in the path behind her until he catches up, fingertips lightly grazing the pattern on her skin. ] Guess I missed it.
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Oh. [ and she freezes, mid-movement, arms rising up from her sides as if that could potentially invite more of a view, before trying to crane her neck over one shoulder to glimpse it for herself. she's never been able to get a full-on view of it unless she's turned her back to a mirror, the tattoo perfectly positioned between her hips for her to only make out the edge of the design. ]
Talk about adding insult to kidnapping, right? "Sorry for taking you to Dreamland against your will, here's your very own tramp stamp." [ her scoff punctuates the attempt at a joke, and she's rolling her eyes good-naturedly before stretching out a hand to brace her palm against his chest where his own tattoo sits left of center, fingers curving slightly to let the tips rest a bit higher. ] In case you wondered if you lucked out with yours at all.
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when her fingers drift on his chest to compare the differences of their inks, his lips purse, almost in a half-curved smile. ] Well, I thought I had. But as it turns out, I apparently have a knack for ending up shirtless more often than not. Who knew?
[ the raise in a brow is an obvious tease directed her way, considering their long history together, in which she'd come to see his bare chest more than one, twice, three times or so even before the events of last night. all accidental for the most part, but no less ridiculous on account of her constantly and by coincidence being in the room when it occurs. ]
Speaking of which β [ he steps around her, leaning across the bath to work the handles, trying to find that balance of hot water before he turns his head to peer over his shoulder towards her. ] This is pretty familiar, ain't it?
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and if she had to guess, the house's second-longest occupant has been him. between his visits to fix any old thing, he's made himself comfortable in the space in small ways. tools scattered at random points, a used coffee mug sitting on the kitchen counter for him to go back to between breaks. there were indications of his presence becoming more frequent here long before last night.
she uses her index finger to trace the design on his chest, starting with the antler on one side and then traversing across the intricacies of it until she ends up on the other. ] Just my luck, huh? [ because she'd made no secret of it being a distraction when it had happened, though she'd only ever benefitted from the spontaneous prompts that had forced him to remove that top layer. ]
I don't know about that. Pretty sure it started out differently. [ with him hitching her up over his shoulder and dumping her in, that is, and she glares at him suspiciously, trying to gauge if he'll follow that first instance to the letter. the water had also been a markedly different temperature, a shock to the system that had left her spluttering beneath that icy spray of water trickling down her hair and in between her clothes; she'd left sopping wet bootprints behind on her hasty retreat out of chloe's house, an obvious trail to track her getaway route all the way back to her own place. ]
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casually, he hooks his thumbs into his boxer briefs, shucking them down off his legs to his ankles and lifting his feet before kicking them lightly to the side. ] Different's not so bad.
[ the lack of clothes might be the biggest difference of them all, remembering how the fabrics had clung to their skin, denim heavy on his legs as the chill of the water prompted goosebumps on his bare arms. but the air between them is also a change, subtleties still present then in the way they spoke, flirtatious banter still not in full growth as they'd tried to dodge it at every corner.
but now he lacks any hesitance as he steps back to her, swift when he squats just enough to guide one arm to her back and the other behind her knees, scooping her up into his arms for a standard princess carry β an improvement from simply tossing her over his shoulder, he thinks. carefully, he'll guide her to the shower, only loosening his hold when he's able to deposit her safety within the tub itself. ] See, different.
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and it turns out her suspicions about what he's planning next aren't completely unfounded, because he crouches beneath her and that's the only warning she gets before he's picking her up in his arms, her own thrown around his neck with the surprise of it even though his hold on her is secure. she's shaking her head through a smile, chin tipped down while he gently sets her down inside the tub and steps over to join her fully.
the water is warm this time, at her back, and she lifts a hand to pull the curtain, enclosing them within; it doesn't block out so much light that she can't see the slant of his mouth, can't find her way forward until she's nudging closer, until her face is tilted up enough for her lips to seek his, a light peck initially that isn't lacking any affection. ] Not completely different.
[ because she'll kiss him here as she did then, only without the risk of interruption, without that tiny voice that had been all too happy to nag her before about her poor decision-making β just the certainty of what they have now between them, the assurance that they're both in it for however long it lasts β and she'll lose herself a little longer in that shared heat, guiltless and pliant against him. ]
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he returns it with the tender response of a caressing mouth, parted lips that draw in the wet parts of hers, cleaning those droplets one by one as they cascade from above them, warm on their skin.
even his hands are reminiscent of that time, rising to palm over her cheeks, fingers tracing back those wet strands of hair to lock behind her ears, holding her face steady to his own. that'd been the very thing that tricked him then, left him with surprise at how gentle her skin felt against his, mostly when she'd brought her fingers to his chin, a simple stroke of it, luring his mouth to act on instinct than any logical thought. ]
Aren't gonna run out on me this time, are you? [ he mutters the tease in the midst of their kiss, not entirely drawing himself away even as he smiles through the amusement of his question. ]
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and the curiosity with which she seeks out his mouth now isn't impulse-driven by one too many pot candies, but the wet slide of his lips against hers feels almost the same, his hands spreading across her face to sweep her hair back from her skin the way he had then, too. ]
Well, for starters, this is my place. [ she maintains that proximity between their mouths, soft caresses that tease a deeper press on every other syllable, and when she smiles he can probably feel it too, the brief tension in her cheeks beneath his palms.
she slings one arm low, around his waist, unconsciously nudging their hips together even if she isn't seeking to bring them closer beyond that. for now, she wants to enjoy just how nice it is to have this, something she isn't entirely convinced she even deserves but won't bring herself to relinquish, too stuck in the newness and the wanting of it to know better. ] But I'm not going anywhere.
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beyond the amount of clothing, the difference here from that first kiss is how he'd done it as a way to drown out the noise of the party, of the chaos that was driving him into a series of frustration; here, he's merely extending the already lingering peace, a soothing heat drifting from her mouth to his. ]
Your place? Is that where I've been all this time? [ sarcastically spoken, a nudging smile prodding up against her lips, a laugh held back in his breath.
when he finally draws back, his eyes remain on her, a soft gaze in her direction as his palms roll across her cheeks and begin to slick back her wet hair, tucking it all behind her ears neatly, brushing the damp strands down. ] Funny how every time I see you, I've got some way of getting you wet. [ because of the shower, obviously. ]
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