He hesitates, looking at her for a long moment, wanting to be sure that he isn't misunderstanding her. That he won't offend her, or scare her. Give her anything she doesn't want. But she doesn't shrink away from him, or shift her eyes away from his gaze, and after a moment Joel nods gravely.
He moves closer, crouching in front of her on his knees, and bends his head to her neck, giving her plenty of time to change her mind and push him away before he presses his lips to her bruised and purpling skin. His kisses are soft, fluttering things, the barest press of his mouth all along the ugly handprint he'd left on her neck, light, feathery touches to skin that he knows is tender and fragile.
[Evelyn's gaze is more challenge than acknowledgment, waiting on him to follow through with a suggestion that might seem absurd in light of the circumstances.
But he prostrates himself, after a fashion: Joel nods with unprecedented seriousness, moving before her, lowering himself. Debasement for the sake of her satisfaction in accepting his bid for forgiveness. She lifts her chin as he leans in and his mouth knocks the breath out of her faster than his hand had only minutes prior. Evelyn had anticipated a single apology but he offers a flurry of them, gentle and careful, sincere.
Her eyes slip shut before she can help it and Evelyn makes a small sound of approbation, taken in by the warmth of his breath and the scrape of his chin. Her fingers travel up again, lingering on her lips.]
[ Joel pulls back when she speaks, only to see her fingers tapping her lips lightly, and he swallows hard, his chest and his pants alike suddenly tight. It can't be this easy. There's no way she's going to forgive him all of that in exchange for a few kisses.
But he'll take this while it lasts. He murmurs in acknowledgement, then reaches for her, gently cradling the back of her head with one hand, fingers sliding through soft hair as he lowers his mouth to hers and kisses her gently. ]
[Evelyn cannot and will not forgive him so easily, but it's a start. Had she met his Mirror and found him an abominable person she would have reacted similarly, if not worse. Not everyone can pick up a person with one hand and shove them against a wall, and that's why she often carries a handgun.
But none of that matters all that much when Joel takes her order seriously instead of protesting, agreeing to the terms without complaint, and Evelyn shivers as his knuckles brush the flesh of her throat before curling into her hair. His hand is warm and wary, so much so that she almost feels guilty for giving him a challenging stare until he can no longer maintain eye contact for the extreme proximity.
Joel kisses her and Evelyn's lips part in response to let out a soft sigh, pressing back ever so slightly. It is sweet, this kiss, and not at all what she expected, though she does not know what she expected in the first place.
Fingers hunting for purchase they twine in his shirt, gently pulling, anxious for what she has craved.]
[ It is impossible not to compare this kiss to the ones he had shared with her Mirror the previous night. She had been passionate, skillful, wanting, and Joel had, at the time, been certain that nothing could ever make him happier.
This is far better.
There is no selfishness in the way Evie pulls at his shirt, no ulterior motives in the press of her lips against his own. He had sensed, last night, that Evelyn was keeping something from him. At the time, he had thought it tantalizingly mysterious. Erotic, and right, that a beautiful woman should have secrets to keep. It had only stirred his lust to greater heights. But now, with Evie, the real Evie, open and vulnerable beside him, trusting him even after he had hurt her, unabashedly eager for him...
His heart floods with warmth, nearly extinguishing his guilt, and he bends towards her when she tugs at him, deepening the kiss. ]
[There is selfishness in her desire for him, certainly, and selfishness is not something in which Evelyn indulges all that often. She needs it now and again to remind herself why rewards of this nature are so precious and fleeting, she needs him to return the favour before it feels as though he is no longer interested, having already metaphorically walked in her metaphorical garden.
Joel does not disappoint, urged by her gentle tugging and he leans into her. His fingers span the nape of her neck and Evelyn opens her mouth to him, teeth just catching his lip in encouragement. But the strain of craning forward reminds her of her state and Evelyn's hand crawls up to Joel's throat, curled loosely over his Adam's apple when she pulls away enough to breathe.]
Never touch me like that again. [She whispers, thumb brushing his skin.] Promise me.
[ He doesn't want to stop, but there's no way he can refuse her when she gently pulls away. Joel goes reluctantly, searching her face with a mixture of worry and longing, and at her words, he swallows, mouth suddenly dry and brain full of uncertainty.
What does she mean? Don't threaten me again, don't hurt me? More than understandable, and not something she should even have to ask.
Or is it worse than that?
Never touch me like that again.
Has he blown it already? Is this all he gets, one kiss he'd never deserved before she - justifiably - turns him away forever?
He swallows again, slowly letting his hand fall away from her.
[Evelyn barely allows him the time to finish his sentence before she interrupts with a hasty-]
Good.
[-as he hand skips back up to his cheek, scratchy and warm. There is a discernible fear in Joel's eyes - that he might have done something else, maybe, and that fear is warranted - but she would never be so cruel as to dangle the carrot before presenting one with the stick. The draw to him is too strong now, and she is too insatiable, so much so that Evelyn practically speaks against his mouth, harried and in a rush.]
I know you want to protect me. [A blessing she can give him, if he so desires.] I want that too, but I want you first. Just you.
[ Apparently he hadn't ruined everything after all. Miraculously. He still doesn't understand his luck, even less so now than he had when her Mirror had approached him and he'd decided to take what he was being offered without unnecessary question, but as he had then, he decides the wisest course is to take it.
And hope it doesn't come back to bite him in the ass this time.
He sighs into her mouth, sliding a hand into her hair again, kissing her gently, then leaning his forehead forward to rest against hers. His voice is a low rumble, an implicit promise. ]
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uncalendula) wrote2017-11-22 01:39 pm
no subject
He hesitates, looking at her for a long moment, wanting to be sure that he isn't misunderstanding her. That he won't offend her, or scare her. Give her anything she doesn't want. But she doesn't shrink away from him, or shift her eyes away from his gaze, and after a moment Joel nods gravely.
He moves closer, crouching in front of her on his knees, and bends his head to her neck, giving her plenty of time to change her mind and push him away before he presses his lips to her bruised and purpling skin. His kisses are soft, fluttering things, the barest press of his mouth all along the ugly handprint he'd left on her neck, light, feathery touches to skin that he knows is tender and fragile.
He won't hurt her. Not again. ]
no subject
But he prostrates himself, after a fashion: Joel nods with unprecedented seriousness, moving before her, lowering himself. Debasement for the sake of her satisfaction in accepting his bid for forgiveness. She lifts her chin as he leans in and his mouth knocks the breath out of her faster than his hand had only minutes prior. Evelyn had anticipated a single apology but he offers a flurry of them, gentle and careful, sincere.
Her eyes slip shut before she can help it and Evelyn makes a small sound of approbation, taken in by the warmth of his breath and the scrape of his chin. Her fingers travel up again, lingering on her lips.]
Here.
no subject
But he'll take this while it lasts. He murmurs in acknowledgement, then reaches for her, gently cradling the back of her head with one hand, fingers sliding through soft hair as he lowers his mouth to hers and kisses her gently. ]
no subject
But none of that matters all that much when Joel takes her order seriously instead of protesting, agreeing to the terms without complaint, and Evelyn shivers as his knuckles brush the flesh of her throat before curling into her hair. His hand is warm and wary, so much so that she almost feels guilty for giving him a challenging stare until he can no longer maintain eye contact for the extreme proximity.
Joel kisses her and Evelyn's lips part in response to let out a soft sigh, pressing back ever so slightly. It is sweet, this kiss, and not at all what she expected, though she does not know what she expected in the first place.
Fingers hunting for purchase they twine in his shirt, gently pulling, anxious for what she has craved.]
no subject
This is far better.
There is no selfishness in the way Evie pulls at his shirt, no ulterior motives in the press of her lips against his own. He had sensed, last night, that Evelyn was keeping something from him. At the time, he had thought it tantalizingly mysterious. Erotic, and right, that a beautiful woman should have secrets to keep. It had only stirred his lust to greater heights. But now, with Evie, the real Evie, open and vulnerable beside him, trusting him even after he had hurt her, unabashedly eager for him...
His heart floods with warmth, nearly extinguishing his guilt, and he bends towards her when she tugs at him, deepening the kiss. ]
no subject
Joel does not disappoint, urged by her gentle tugging and he leans into her. His fingers span the nape of her neck and Evelyn opens her mouth to him, teeth just catching his lip in encouragement. But the strain of craning forward reminds her of her state and Evelyn's hand crawls up to Joel's throat, curled loosely over his Adam's apple when she pulls away enough to breathe.]
Never touch me like that again. [She whispers, thumb brushing his skin.] Promise me.
no subject
What does she mean? Don't threaten me again, don't hurt me? More than understandable, and not something she should even have to ask.
Or is it worse than that?
Never touch me like that again.
Has he blown it already? Is this all he gets, one kiss he'd never deserved before she - justifiably - turns him away forever?
He swallows again, slowly letting his hand fall away from her.
Just in case. ]
I swear, Evie.
I promise.
no subject
Good.
[-as he hand skips back up to his cheek, scratchy and warm. There is a discernible fear in Joel's eyes - that he might have done something else, maybe, and that fear is warranted - but she would never be so cruel as to dangle the carrot before presenting one with the stick. The draw to him is too strong now, and she is too insatiable, so much so that Evelyn practically speaks against his mouth, harried and in a rush.]
I know you want to protect me. [A blessing she can give him, if he so desires.] I want that too, but I want you first. Just you.
no subject
And hope it doesn't come back to bite him in the ass this time.
He sighs into her mouth, sliding a hand into her hair again, kissing her gently, then leaning his forehead forward to rest against hers. His voice is a low rumble, an implicit promise. ]
Tell me what you want, an' I'll give it.