& OPEN NSFW POST ( i. )

[aeneia]

NSFW OPEN POST ( I. )
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[mahalakshmi]

[ Her arm links through his, just the same as every other time. A polite goodbye given to the driver before she turns to walk with him. ]

Well, when you find your time spare, yes I should like that. I will be meeting with the Komarran women. Perhaps they could help me, as well. [ She'd want them to come, they had taken care of her so well, taught her much - helped her navigate like she was one of their own in their small way, even if it had taken her time to coax them to not be so worried about Duv's uniform. ] Did you want to clean up first? I will, well, take a little bit of time to unravel all this.

[ Which was as good an excuse as any to get him out of the way. ]

[komarran]

[ His brows furrow as he glances over at her. ]

Who are you intending to invite to your gathering? [ Was she planning on it being a Komarran affair? Reports for it would no doubt end up on his desk afterward.

Once he has his answer, he watches her for a moment longer before nodding and disentangling their arms. ] I won't take long, [ he promises before heading into the bathroom. ]

[mahalakshmi]

Those who have been kind to me, that is all. [ A small list, thus far, but varied. She made friends quickly, she always had, and she encouraged that kindness as she could amongst them. She wasn't particularly discerning as to the background of them in particular.

Which no doubt, would only make a far more complicated report for him to deal with.

Let him think about then, as she watches him go - she's doesn't want him thinking about it now. Thinks please don't, as he promises not to take too long. Her fingers shifting to undo her hair as she moves. This isn't quite as she liked, perhaps. Might like to draw it all out for a whole day - but she could never be sure of her time anymore. Soak herself and oil her skin to smell sweet, to be soft as she knew how to be. It's own kind of ceremony, in a way. Padding quietly on bare toes, that half burned in feeling on her skin of his fingers upon it, even if it had been light, respectful, always respectful of her. Viciously, she thought he would be a little less so, sometimes. She wasn't going to break if he gripped her a little harder.

But no - he's oblivious, Miles had said, one of the most observant men I've met, and yet - . Well, she had best give him something to observe but not at all be able to misunderstand. She wasn't known for being subtle or drawing things out. Why would it now be the case? No, no, fighting down a bit of maybe hysterical laughter by sinking her teeth into lip, she began to unwind her clothes from herself. Padding on her bare feet after she takes her shoes off, after him into his bedroom that she had been commandeering for months now. That from time to time, she caught half glimpses of him undressed and enjoyed far too much the sight of.

So that when he did come out, she was waiting for him. Wrapped up in a sheet, drawn up over her hips and chest, her jewellery on still, and not much else, posed carefully on the bed. A jut of bare skin against the material, making it clear she hoped, even for him, about what she was offering. The length of her hair pulled over her shoulder, hanging loose, her toes curling up absently on the material in a little shiver of cold. Painted in the same kind swirling patterns as her hands and wrists were, the henna dye staining her skin. Waiting patiently there for him, as she heard the water turn on and then off again, his movements in the bathroom and when the door opened, she's there, her and nothing else. ]

Captain. [ Just a word, nothing else, to make it clear to him that this wasn't a mistake he'd just walked in on. Didn't put it past him at this point. ]

[komarran]

[ Duv thinks nothing of what she's doing while he's showering. It's a moment alone, a chance for him to catch his breath and transition into the end portion of the evening. Soon he'd be able to lay down and sleep.

So he assumes when he steps out of the shower and changes into a loose fitting t-shirt and shorts. He'd forgo the latter if he still lived alone, but since her arrival he's made it a habit to not force any accidental immodesty. They had to share this space and he would hate to make it worse. He steps out into his bedroom and--

Any thoughts he had of laying down go out the window when he sees her. What in the hell was she doing? Did she realize he still had to walk through the bedroom to get back to the living room where he'd been sleeping since she got here?

There's a long moment where he gapes slightly before he quickly averts his gaze and his cheeks flush. ] My apologies, I did not realize you were--

[ He falters there because he can't imagine what she would have been doing. ]

[mahalakshmi]

- waiting for you?

[ which is to say, oh yes, she realised exactly where she was, just where he had to walk. Right in her way. She doesn't shift or move too much, her arm laying across the curve of her hip. The material soft under her fingers as she smoothes across it to settle it there. ]

Miles said you might not understand if I did not make it as apparent to you as possible.

[komarran]

[ Miles. Of course the other man had something to do with this. The man wouldn't have lied to her or done anything that would cause her to do this without her full knowledge of what she were implying which means--

Bloody hell.

He keeps his gaze elsewhere because while she may be poised with all the elegance of royalty to be watched, he's still not certain that's what she wants. ] And what exactly are you trying to make apparent?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She has no shame in it, she never has. Not bred to, never had the time for it. She pushes herself up that little bit further onto elbow tilting her head that little as she speaks. The sheet still covering her, if barely. ]

That I desire you. That I want of you. That I want you to want me back, and I think that you do.

[ There is her only worry she thinks so, she hopes so, hovering and for that she lowers her eyes. She's not here to force him, he can walk away from her right now. She would accept it without comment or recompense. ] But if I am wrong, and that is not what you wish... then, only say so, and in the morning I will be gone from you, and you will not have to look upon me again.

[komarran]

No, it's not that, [ the words tumble out of his mouth, quickly and hurried. He isn't trying to push her away, far from it.

He peels his gaze from the hole he'd been burning into the floor to try to meet hers. Eye contact, this would be far easier if he maintained that. So she was interested in him. That was far from what he expected and he doesn't bother trying to hide the surprise in his expression. ]

I didn't think you were interested in me. [ There's only a second of hesitation before he asks, ] Have you been trying to get my attention?

[mahalakshmi]

Yes. For months now. [ There's a bit of relief for that. She didn't mind so much making a fool out of herself, it was the nature of risking anything.

But that he looks up at her, finally, eases her some barely kept line of tension in her spine she didn't realise she was holding. He didn't loathe her, there was that at least. Another bit of laughter. ]

[komarran]

Months? [ That can't be possible, how the devil could he have ignored that for months? His brows furrow as he hears her laughter. That had to be a good sign at least. She tended to be in good spirits when they were together. ]

I didn't realize I had been so blind.

[mahalakshmi]

Quite, I'm afraid. [ He looked so taken back by that. She bites her lip on another bit of laughter. ] I wasn't sure, to start with. I didn't know how would be right for your own people. But the - ah, the Komarran women, about how to approach you and they said 'any usual way'.

[ Which wasn't the most helpful, in hindsight. ] Then Miles told me you would not have the faintest idea if I did not become direct with you. [ And she shifts, her invitation that he should be allowed to look she thinks is made, her hand slides out from underneath her, lowering herself down, her legs uncurl against the sheets. Let him look. Dear God, give her just one indication as to whether she had made a fool of herself or not. The faint chime of the belled anklets, the rustle of material and she sighs a little. ] So I did.

[komarran]

[ Would this have been how Laisa felt had he approached her after months of him not making his advances obvious? The shoe on the other foot.

He swallows thickly and his gaze does take her in more fully. Beautiful. She had always been, but he had not taken any liberties with where his eyes wandered. Until now with her explicit permission. ]

And you're suggesting...? [ Sex. He's not as oblivious to not realize what she's hinting at. ] That may be moving more quickly than I can go.

[ Which isn't to say he's uninterested. There's a short pause before he steps closer, moving to sit on the edge of the mattress beside her. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She lets out a breath, as he does, relief flooding her. Even as she doesn't do much, doesn't get too close, nor move against him too directly - she wasn't sure what she was expecting in that regard. Him to be nervous, certainly, she knows what she is, if nothing else, and he has always been respectful of that. Even when she sometimes wished he would not be. ]

As you wish for it. [ She could feel her pulse, thick and thudding in the back of her own throat. Nervousness was a potent exhilaration in its own right. A warm taste in her mouth. ] All of it, nothing at all. I might disappear as quickly as I came, and I will always have one devotion, and those are the only things I can be sure of. But the rest - ?

[ There she hovers, not moving close, not to startle him where she's so clearly taken him by surprise. But her hand lifts, hovering in the air a moment before she lets it move closer to him. A mimicry of how she had touched him before. It has made me sure. He keeps making her sure. Her fingers against her jaw, a closeness of space where she's - and he - is just there. It's flat and open in gaze, an utter appreciation and blindness to all else but him. ] Ask, and I am happy to give.

[komarran]

[ He tentatively reaches for her hand, taking it in his gently. ]

I don't want you to disappear. [ That's said with confidence. He's certain he wants her here, with him, for however long she's willing to stay. ]

It's been years since I've been with anyone. [ A confession of sorts. ] Are you certain?

[mahalakshmi]

[ she pushes up with that invitation. That lack of surety asks for nothing else. That want to not have her disappear and a surety, that she wouldn't - not right now. ] Nor I, since my husband passed.

[ The sheet holds, if barely, her hand slips from his to slide against his shoulder and then over it, pushing herself forward into him, to kiss him and nothing else. The taste of wine on her mouth, the downed glass of champagne she'd drunk to make it possible to do - any of this. Her head tilting at the angle to slip against him. It's a press and nothing else, asking no more than other to say yes as loudly as possible. Yes, yes she is certain. ]

[komarran]

[ There's a small gasp of surprise as their lips meet, but it only takes a moment for him to relax into it. A minute ago he wouldn't have imagined them doing this and yet here he is, trying to memorize how her lips feel against his. ]

You're beautiful, [ he murmurs, lips brushing against hers when they finally part. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She sighs against his mouth in contentment for it. Her eyes shut, taking slowing calmly breaths as she presses her lips together. A brief conjure up of that pressure as he moves back. His compliment as easily given as he kissed her, soft, almost and she doesn't expect it. Doesn't expect up it flushes warmth up her, into her features. Would he like her - her marred skin, her calloused fingers. Her husband called her such, yes, once, but that was before war came and scarred her body, before Lycans ripped into her skin, before Hasting's vampire kin clawed her flesh. It had been a long time since she ever thought of herself like that. Would Duv still find all of her such? Most men wouldn't, she knows, she's not a soft woman anymore. A little, little noise because it almost hurts. ] It's been some time since anyone called me that.

[ Which is to say - she doesn't need it, but to know that he looks at her and sees something he likes - well, that she might want to herself, greedily taken. ]

[komarran]

[ The color in her cheeks causes him to smile. Hard around the edges with a certain grace and softness she kept hidden from most. The way she carried herself had been something he admired and his gaze shows as much as he pulls back to regard her. He meant what he said and intertwines their fingers together. ]

A mistake on their part. [ Missed chances to get to know her, to spend time with her. ] Do you want to dress?

[ Because while he wants to spend time with her, he moves far slower than she seems to be expecting. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ Much, much slower - a little too used to the way she was raised. That these things are snapped up quickly, and to that where she offers everything and nothing. Always her way. Always too much. She lifts the hand her joined with his, their thread fingers so she could kiss the back of his knuckles. Then to turn his fingers around and another to the inside of his wrist before she untangles them.

Still, she can't help but tease a little. ]

If you want me too.

[ Still not a bit of shame, but she doesn't look at him as she unravels the sheet from herself, letting it fall away with an easy confidence now that she's sure of him. Steps off the bed, comfortably bare as she pads away from him to the draw she'd been keeping her clothes in. Fishing out a nightgown to pull over herself, letting it fall down her body comfortably. Not going back to him immediately, leaning forward to undo the chains from around her neck.

Give them both a moment, to catch their breath, it seems. ]

[komarran]

[ He needs that moment. With a deep breath, he pulls himself up further onto the bed and wonders for a brief moment if he should take the initiative to move towards the couch. No, that would be too off-putting. He trusts her, trusts himself to keep within whatever limits they set. They had been living in close proximity to one another for a while now, but this feels as if they were only just now getting to know each other's true intentions.

With a light stretch, he sits up against the headboard and waits for her to return. When she reappears, he holds out his hand to offer it to her. ]

Do you want me to sleep here tonight?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She moves back to him once she's a little less - more? - dressed. A little warmer at least as she comes back to the bed. Glad he's still there - wouldn't be sure how she felt if he had gone away so quickly. But she takes his hand and moves to settle next to him in the bed, a moment, where she's knees either side of his hips. Posed over the top of him before she keeps going to sit. Turn to face him, smiling still. ]

I would like that. [ It had been easy, the first week, when she was too tired and relieved at not having to check her back every night. But as it had gone, it felt wrong, after awhile. Spent some nights when she was a filled with terrors of a world away, thinking what it would be like if he was there beside her. ] Seems wrong to be in your bed and for you not to be here.

[komarran]

[ His heart skips a beat as she poses over him. Was she going to--?

There's a sag of relief that he doesn't have to refuse her a second time when she settles in. That made this easier. The transition was already going to feel strange without skipping through several steps. ] I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, [ he replies with a slight shrug. ] You were more deserving of it than I.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She turns her face away with a bubble of laughter. Her hair falling in front of her like a curtain for a minute. ] Hardly that. It would only settle me more, rather than drive me further away.

[ Bubbles with it. ] Once I had to sleep a week with corpses the other side of the room. Believe me, you would have to do far, far worse than ask for your bed back. I had expected you to do so earlier.

[komarran]

[ That... has his brows furrowing. Duv has had his share of poor conditions, but corpses being only a stone's throw away was new. Likely a trait of her time where proper disposal of bodies was more difficult, particularly in the heat of war.

He sighs lightly and reaches to tuck her hair behind an ear. ] You having worse conditions doesn't mean you should have to endure poor ones for the rest of your life.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She stretches up into it, her eyes drifting shut without a push for anything else but sheer enjoyment of those motions. Permission as obvious as could be that he was welcome to do that as much as he likes. A flutter of her pulse in her throat. ]

No, but even sleeping on your floor would be a marked improvement over my more recent years. Everything here - everything you have done for me is... more than I ever expected.