Richard sat in the back of limousine, putting the final touches on his tuxedo ensemble. He pulled the strings of his black leather oxfords maybe a little harder than needed before tying them off. Sitting back, he took a cleansing breath. All told, he was ready to go, just one final thing remained: the mask.
It was a simple, black matte, gothic-style mask that obscured his face around the eyes, down the bridge of the nose, and flared out on the right side, forming a spike that traced his jawline. With a dark reverence, he donned it, and became Domino.
Rigid training kept him from clenching his fists in tension before he exited the limo, a show-piece rented for his character this evening. The night was dark, but not compared to his mood. He walked straight past a gaggle of women who were giggling as they put their masks on outside the club. They quieted somewhat as they noticed him, as though a cold breeze followed in his wake and they had gotten caught up in it. When he skipped the line and walked straight up to the doors, the cadence of his footsteps alone broke the silence.
He stopped in front of the doormen, looked the bigger one straight in the eyes, then reached into his jacket to withdraw an invitation card between two fingers. Standing perfectly still otherwise, he rolled his arm at the elbow to hold the card out.
The two wasted no time opening his way after seeing the name on the card. Heads bobbed over shoulders as the club-goers tried to get a look at the man who had skipped the line and gotten inside before the club even opened. Then he was gone, disappeared into the darkness behind the black door bearing a placard that read:
The Edge
Once the door had closed, the doormen straightened their black ties. A masked man at the front of the line tried to offer their ID to get inside, but was denied.
"Ten minutes."
***
Madison stood in the one of the back rooms of the club, facing a mirror. She finished pinning a few wisps of her long, wavy, chocolate brown hair back, and looked at her reflection. She was wearing a blue sleeveless dress. The simple fabric seemed to flow from off of her one shoulder down across her body to the floor.
Deep blue eyes stared back at her with a delicate silence. She took a deep breath, and completed her enable, by placing a white mask across her face. The silver accents and intricate edges drew the attention away from directly into her eyes.
This was how she would hide tonight. The self conscious and sensitive girl, would act as a confident and proud woman. Tonight she was not a struggling writer, but a respected individual, helping with the preparations for a party. No one would know who she really was, so for once, a she had nothing to fear. She would go by the name of Blue.
She stepped out of the room and walked down a hall to the main room of the club. Everything was ready now, and the first of the guests were entering. Since she had helped set everything up earlier, now she would simply be enjoying the night. The most esteemed guests were already inside, while the line of people waiting at the door were just beginning to trickle in.
She walked with dignity out into the gathering crowd of people, looking for someone to talk to, or some task to busy herself with.
***
Richard took note of the exits: One behind him, one backstage, two for either side of the stage, and many, many doors... leading apparently to private rooms as they were numbered and bore small signs intended to display whether the room inside was occupied.
Next were the people. He counted twelve, all going about the business of preparing for guests be it in service or poised, calculated displays of power. Nothing he hadn't seen before. Activity behind the curtain of the stage, impossible to get a count. At least twenty outside, he would keep track as they entered. He'd heard the bouncer, call himself a doorman all he wanted, his job was to be a bouncer, say he had ten minutes before people started pouring in, so he had time.
Thirteen people. Markov made his entrance into the ballroom from stage right, sweeping his hands up dramatically in welcome.
"Domino has arrived!" he announced, laughing his way over to his old friend.
That's right. Tonight he is known as Caesar.
"Caesar's august self, in the flesh," Domino responded. He stood waiting with muted body language, watching how the host would greet his character. Caesar caught on, then slowed his approach to a stop before Domino, and bowed deeply at the waist.
"Forgive my boisterousness, Lord and Master. Chalk it up to excitement at seeing you."
"Forgiven my friend," Domino made a show of surveying the inside of the club as if he hadn't already scoped it out, "and my gratitude for your invitation to a most decorous celebration."
Caesar had risen, so the shock was evident on his face.
"Invitation? This is your party!"
Domino blinked with unimpressed blandness. Caesar grinned.
"Yes, this one is for you, brother, and you've earned it," he made another bowing motion, but swept his arm out to indicate a black leather, studded, high-backed chair that looked like nothing so much as a throne. It was behind him, on the same wall as the door he had come in from, and was facing center-stage. Domino looked back at Caesar then spoke in a dry tone.
"You shouldn't have."
Caesar laughed at the notion, then moved to escort Domino to the stairs that gave access to the raised platform the throne was on. Domino allowed himself to be escorted, but Richard whispered in a hiss low enough that only Markov could hear.
"What the fuck is this, Markov?"
Fabian Markov grinned back at him from behind his Caesar mask.
"Oh, trust me, this'll be fun."
He bowed for the third time to give way to the Lord and Master of the evening, but was rocking his head side to side, wearing a huge, shit-eating grin.
***
Blue took a closer look around the room as she adjusted a few decisions, being picky about every minute detail.
She noticed that Caesar had entered, being as dramatic as always. He was with another man. Dominic, she thought she heard him called. He seemed to simply exude power. She watched them for a few minutes. Of course, that was who the throne was for.
While working at The Edge, Madison had claimed to be a Mistress for her own safety and convenience. Yes, it may be horrible, but it was lie. If she was known to be a sub things would be far more complicated and difficult. It didn't matter to her anyway, since she refused to intimately participate in any club activities. So far not one individual had seen through her.
Why not meet this strangely honoured guest?
She casually and calmly walked over to the two men. She had observed them carefully. She bowed respectfully to Domino, and lingered in that position a moment, before turning herself and nodding politely to Caesar.
She had the slightest prideful smirk on her face. "Is there anything I can get you gentlemen?" She asked. It wouldn't be out of place for someone working here b to all that. She was an equal to those who came to enjoy the club, only when there was nothing her superiors, such as her boss and special guests, need or wanted from her.
***
"Your antics do not amuse me so much as you think, Markov," Richard hissed, "the limo was one thing, but a throne too?"
Caesar, positioned more advantageously, just grinned wider. Domino turned his head slightly as he became aware of a masked woman approaching. He took note of her deference to him, watching as it only vaguely slid in Caesar's direction as well. In the time it took her to complete her niceties, he profiled what he saw of her, or at least that's what he told himself he was doing. Determined to at least try to take Caesar's suggestion that he might have some fun, he considered what fun he might have with a bowing, masked mistress, judging by her apparel.
At her question, Domino looked back at Caesar, whose grin had shifted decidedly into a smirk.
"Well, Domino? How may this lovely lady serve you?"
Domino blinked slowly in his consideration of Caesar's grin, then let his eyes flick back to the still-bowing woman. In that moment he noticed that the rest of the people in the room were watching intently, if not obviously. Based on his read of the situation, his reaction to her demonstration would determine her reputation going forward. Based on Caesar's smirk, a relationship with this one wouldn't hurt his reputation in the slightest. Domino gave a minute nod in her direction.
"In fact, if you have the evening available, I should like an escort."
Caesar's smiling eyes landed on Blue. He ran the establishment, and she had completed all tasks he had asked of her as an employee. Ever the gracious host, he winked at her then bowed out of the conversation, leaving just the two of them: he with his decision to take the throne before people started pouring in from outside, she with her free choice of how to enjoy the party.
Domino watched his friend go, then turned his attention back to his most auspicious and bold acquaintance. He stood still, keeping his body pointed toward the stairs; allowing her to keep the side-along posture she had chosen rather than turning to face her, which would be a dramatic shift in dynamic. He drew on what he remembered from his training to maintain an awareness of political power struggles. Markov had told him to be prepared for something like this, as he very merrily tended his little fantasy world, but he clearly thought this would be a good match for the character of Domino. Richard decided to play along and see what happened. He straightened his cuff, then offered his hand, watching her reaction closely. She'd been bowing for more than a long moment, and if it were him, he might like a hand for balance, especially considering the heels.
"A very great pleasure to make your acquaintance miss. It would seem my identity is clear enough, what name suits you this evening?"
***
Her analytical mind observed the situation. He must be a close friend if Caesar's. Close enough that the two might mess with each other, though Domino was clearly the more serious one, and not so easily amused, though he did appear to be a good actor. He had quite intelligent looking eyes, that read her just as she did him. He seemed to accept and approve of her, which was good. Hopefully, he remained just as much in the dark as she was. She didn't need anyone knowing her true identity or about her personal life.
She took her cue from Caesar that she was free to spend her evening as she chose.
She took his graciously offered hand and straightened up. "It would be my pleasure to show you about this evening. I am Madam Blue."
She watched him closely, catching every slight movement. She was intrigued by this man. Perhaps she would find more than only an acquaintance in him.
***
A cold, silvery calm washed over Domino as he watched her eyes. Tension drained from him as he recognized the gaze of a peer. His pulse, still audible in his ears, was slow and rhythmic. His head smoothly shifted with his body as he memorized the curves of her face from a variety of different angles. He watched the subtle pulse of changing shadow in her neck, measured the dilation of her eyes. By his count he still had a couple of those ten minutes left, and he was not shy about using them.
"A mutual pleasure at that."
Respectfully reeling in his attention before his scrutiny defeated the purpose of the mask, he let his lip rise into a devious curl. He subtly inclined his wrist under her hand while giving a slight dip of his head, resulting in a gesture reminiscent of placing a kiss on the back of the hand perceptible only to her.
"Better accompaniment could not be found, I'm sure."
As he released her hand he glanced at the gleaming black leather beckoning to him, then blinked as his eyes slid back to hers.
"I am under the impression that were I to not take the seat I have been offered, some part of the alignment of reality would shatter. Knowing Caesar, he won't let them open the doors until I do, but regrettably there is only one chair."
The line of his mouth flattened as his eyes drifted far away.
"Reality is the ultimate dominant; to it we must all submit." The recitation seemed to galvanize him, returning him to the moment. "If there is a vantage on that platform you would like, do take it."
With that, he made his way up the steps, across the platform, then stopped in front the chair, facing out. He locked eyes with Caesar, smirked, then took his seat. The moment Domino fell still in the chair the fill lights went out, the music surged to life, and the club lights turned the ballroom into a brooding den of dark indulgences.
Caesar clapped his hands together from the center of the stage opposite Domino, a picture of confident, excited geniality, then called out, "Show time!" He winked at Domino, who sat motionless in complete shadow.
***
The way he had looked at her, sent an odd shiver through her. Something about him, was both comforting and unsettling.
She gave just the slightest little genuine laugh, that was so innocent and lady-like, at his joke at Caesar's expense.
She valued intelligence most highly, and it was clear that this man was more thought than action, unlike so many. His eyes spoke of unspeakable things, and she could tell he was not one to question.
She had no desire to be raised up on a platform, even if she was hiding behind a mask, she still by no means, meant to intentionally be seen by so many. Though he was hidden in shadow now, she knew, that in no time, he would be made known to all that were pouring into the large room.
She eased herself back against the wall near the base of the platform, that was also curtailed in darkness.
Caesar was, of course, one to put on quite a show, so what, she wondered, Did he have planned for this evening? This was the first night that she had stayed after all the preparations had been finished.
***
The dance-floor filled quickly, replete with newbies wide-eyed and tentative, old hands who moved with swift efficiency or decadent laziness, performers and fakers, some genuinely curious explorers, singles, couples, groups all with the mostly universal expectation of having a good time, one way or another. Regardless of background, the club-goers appeared in black-tie fashion, or whatever passed as their Friday-night best.
Richard considered the fill-rate of the club unusual, as the line outside hadn't seemed long enough to fill the club when he'd arrived. Considering Caesar and his antics, he suspected shenanigans, such as some kind of delayed flash-mob technique using the side-rooms and stage. The question wasn't whether Caesar could or had done it, it was how, as it clearly had something to do with Domino, and Richard had been cast in the lead role of Caesar's play.
Regardless, the revelry was a pleasant enough show in itself, as even the most painfully shy appeared to be cutting loose. That in itself was enough evidence of Caesar's altruistic intentions that Richard could relax into Domino for at least the opening curtain event. Within thirty minutes the club was teeming with patrons who were dancing, looking at the equipment in booths, reclining in a seated dining area, or in the balconies in the upper level that overlooked the main stage.
To his great surprise, Richard discovered his friend actually had given him a favorable position. The platform was the eye of the storm as far as the club sound system was concerned; he was seated in a palpable world of sound that careened over his nerve endings and changed his perspective on listening to music permanently. Domino didn't move an inch, but Richard's fingers were dancing on the leather of the chair for the pure joy of movement. It was better this way, as otherwise those thirty minutes would have been spent tracking every single newcomer into the club, keeping track of their numbers, their movements and interactions. Domino instead was a statuesque figure, masked in shadow and wrapped in a world all his own.
That is until the curtains flared open as dramatic fires burst forth from the stage and the crowd broke out into applause. Richard's fingers seized, gripping the armrests with such force that his arms jerked and trembled in taut tension; Domino was stone-faced, gaze intent on Caesar, who stood stage center, arms held up in welcome to the audience.
***
As the crowd burst into the room, Madison sunk further back into the shadows. She did not enjoy herself as the many others were. She couldn't. Not here, with these people. She was uncomfortable with crowds and large numbers of strangers.
She should just leave. No. She was already here and she had already agreed to be this Domino fellow's escort around here for the night.
She sighed and watched all the people. There were so many. She didn't like it one bit, but she was forcing herself to stay here at least just this once.
She made sure to avoid all eye contact. She became invisible, one of her greatest skills.
When the curtains opened and the fires sprang up so suddenly, Madison gasped and went wide eyed, all while she jumped. After a moment, she had calmed to only shaking, and even that she kept mostly controlled.
***
"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen," Caesar said, "and otherwise. I am most pleased to be your host this evening, and honored indeed gifted as I am the opportunity to present to you this most exquisite celebration of those who have served us best, who have offered their very selves, and sometimes even their very lives that we may have the freedoms and rights and privileges that we all enjoy."
The crowd had grown somber at this last, and Caesar graced them with an appreciative smile. He had noticed the tension in Domino, and realized the only way he could recover from his mistake was to immediately calm the crowd and give his friend time.
"So tonight, while we always treasure the ones at our side, in front, and behind, I think this Memorial Day weekend we should hold in highest esteem those who have given more than we could ever ask of them."
The lights flicked out, putting the club in pitch darkness for a moment, then the stage spotlights cascaded open on the first act.
Richard's eyes saw only the fire. The fighting. The mission. The weapons. The blood. He saw his fellow servicemen, dusty and dirty from traveling through gusty deserts and long, windy roads. He saw the eyes of his enemies glowing red. While Domino took in the performances and filed away information for later use, Richard saw war. When the performance came to an end, Caesar swept again center stage.
"Tonight we have with us a very special guest. He is a veteran, as many of you may be as well, and he is a very dear friend of my very own. I'm afraid however, that I've misjudged in my presentation this evening, thus I expect he shall be very upset with me and rightfully so. We shall have to see. Friends and guests, meet Domino."
Caesar bowed at the waist, then lights hit the platform behind the crowd where Domino waited. And waited.
"Rise Caesar."
Caesar rose with a glitter in his eye, but his voice was genuine.
"Sorry friend, I wasn't thinking."
Domino was motionless for a long moment.
"Forgiven."
Caesar loosened a bit, as if he had been tense.
"Thank you," Caesar said. He straightened up, then the confidence was back. "Sir, I have given you the floor, may I have it back?"
For just a moment, it seemed darker behind that platform.
"Caesar, the best men that ever lived in in this world called me Sir. My name here is Domino, and that is how you shall refer to me." Caesar blinked, but Domino continued. "Yes. Please take back your show."
Caesar was grinning from ear to ear.
"By your leave."
The music bled back into the club as the lights all shifted back to main stage. As soon as the mask of darkness was replaced, Domino left his platform. He stopped when he saw Madam Blue had responded much the same way as he had. She didn't show it, but Domino knew enough about shock and panic to see that this one was very out of her favored element.
"Peer indeed," he murmured. He waited to catch her eye before choosing a course that could either take him to her or out the front door. He paused at the crossroads to see what she would do.
***
Well that was... interesting? She would never truly understand Caesar. It was quite a nice show he put on, but she couldn't manage to get herself to enjoy it no matter how hard she tried.
She'd made up her mind, she had to leave. She couldn't do this. She was just looking around, about to head for the door, when she caught Domino 's gaze. He was watching her, waiting for a reaction from her, and it was clear that had been anaylizing her. What could he see? What could he tell?
She swiftly pushed herself off away from the wall, and took long strides toward him, before pivoting when she reached him, to take the path to the door. Inside, she was hoping he would follow and walk with her. Maybe they could talk. She guessed he might have PTSD. He just had this familiar look to him, and he had been military.
***
Surprised at her sudden, silent pivot, Domino followed behind her. Once they were off the floor and into the front lobby, he spoke so she could hear.
"You have lived up to your promise, Madam."
At that moment the valet that Caesar had arranged for Domino's limo approached him with prompt attention.
"Shall I have the car pulled around sir?"
Domino blinked.
"Yes, please. Thank you."
The valet bowed.
"By all means, sir."
When he had gone, Richard sighed. He was about to speak when Caesar came into the lobby from the side door. He made a quick sweep of the room, then approached his friend.
"Brother, I am so sorry," he said. "I hope this doesn't completely spoil Domino for you-"
Richard cut him off with a smile and a shake of his head.
"No, no, not at all. It was a small mistake, nothing more. I actually quite enjoyed myself, notwithstanding."
Caesar smiled at that.
"Of course my friend, of course. I'll leave you to your evening."
Richard smiled back.
"Thank you. Enjoy your stage."
"I always do!"
Then Caesar was gone. Domino turned to see if Madam Blue was still in the lobby.
***
Madam Blue was still standing a few feet away watching him. She found it interesting to watch the two of them speak.
"You'll have to excuse me for not being entirely propper with you, Domino, but this is not my crowd either, and I should be getting home."
She had aquired a backpack, as if out of no where, and was now wearing sneakers. She had a light jacket on, and her dress was hiked up to be more of a loose skirt. It was as if by magic she had changed in the small amount of time they had been conversing. She really had things hidden all over the club that no one knew of. Plus, she still had her amazing skill to disapear.
She still wore her mask, though behind it her eyes were distant and held a slight gloom that it took a special sort of person to understand. She gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes, and a polite nod, and then turned and started to walk off down the street. She didn't look back, and after a few moments, she broke into a quick jog towards home.
She had given him no time to object or speak. She had to leave there, and she knew she most likely never see him again, and even if she did, she most likely wouldn't recognize him. She didn't want to risk having a potentially meaningful conversation when she would never be able to follow up on it.
***
Richard stood motionless after she'd left, lost in thought. He felt sad to see her go, more than he thought he would. He was going over his memory of her smile when the man came back to let him know the car was ready.
"Thank you very much. Do you take tips?"
The man positively blushed.
"N-n-no Sir, that's quite all right. It is our pleasure to serve a friend of the house."
Richard face lit up in an appreciative smile as he extended his hand.
"Then please shake my hand, you've served quite well."
Richard couldn't fathom why, but the man looked like he might need to go have a cry. After resting his other hand over the one the man gave him to complete the gesture, Domino was out the door and into the night.
***
Richard sat in the back of the limo looking down at his mask.
"Domino..."
He held it up before his face.
"Not bad, Markov... Not bad."
***
After she decided that she was far enough away from the club, she slowed down to a walk. She sighed and took of her mask and looked at it. It was a shame that she would only use it this once. She took and long, deep breath, and stored it back in her backpack.
She broke back into a jog, and ran the last 7 miles home. It only took her about 40 minutes. She was fairly athletic, so it wasn't a problem either. She lived in a nice neighborhood, though she was fairly new too. She inherited her small house when her parents had died a few months earlier. She hadn't met any of her neighbors yet. Her neighborhood was fairly quite, even though it was just outside of the loud city.
As she walked up to her porch, she took one more deep breath of crisp evening air. She looked up at the sky that looked so dark and colourless to her. Up there the small glowing orb showed some light on the restless world below.
She set down her backpack by her door and rummaged through it until she found her key. She picked her backpack up again and went inside, locking the door behind her. She walked through the livingroom and kitchen, up the stairs to her room. She undressed into some simple sleepwear and crawled into her bed, where her dog promptly curled up by her feet. "It was worth a try. She mumbled to herself."
--
Sitting face down on her doorstep, was her mask, with the morning sunlight glinting off of it, right where she had accidently dropped it when she got home.
***
The limousine pulled to a stop in front of Richard's home. He broke from his reverie when the door opened on his right side. Exiting the vehicle, he addressed the man standing at smart attention, holding the door.
"Thank you very much."
"No trouble at all, sir."
Richard paused for a moment on the sidewalk, considering the man in comparison to the one back at the club. The driver closed the door, then bowed at the waist.
"Anything else I can do for you sir?"
Richard squinted, uncertain.
"I am not accustomed to such things as all this, do I owe you anything?"
The driver smiled.
"Oh, no sir. As far you may be concerned, I've volunteered for this honor."
Richard blinked, his face blank. The man smiled, Richard saw it was genuine, then continued.
"Most men treat me as though I am invisible, and hardly worth their attention. I assure you, Domino sir, I will be quite pleased to provide your transportation to the club on any night you may desire, and in similar fashion."
Richard acknowledged the man with a small smile of appreciation, and a curt nod of his head.
"What shall I call you then?"
The man's face lit up in a bright grin.
"I should be quite pleased to be referred to as Hermes by you sir, if it please you."
Richard grinned back.
"Alright then, Hermes it is."
The driver gave a brisk salute and nodded to Richard.
"Yes sir. Good night sir."
"To you as well."
Richard heard the man get into the limo and drive off as he was making his way to his front door.
---
The next morning Richard rose early and went about his routine as normal. His house was large, two floors and a basement, and other than him, empty. He moved about it with mechanical efficiency, tending to chores and needs, ritualistically cleaning his firearm and sharpening the knives he'd been trained with. He worked out before breakfast, working up a sweat. Today was upper-body, and the presses had left him with a pleasant burning sensation in his arms and shoulders. Breakfast was a light affair involving eggs and fruit. Before going out for a run, Richard sat down to check his email.
He saw one from Markov, detailing contact information and club schedules, expressing his continued welcome and hopes to see Domino again. Richard smiled, then replied with his gratitude. Otherwise his inbox was empty. No work had come in yet, but he was expecting to hear from a client that day so he resolved to check back on it later. The Domino mask was on his desk where he'd left it, and seeing it put a smile on Richard's face.
Richard had trotted down the steps of his porch and was turning the corner onto the sidewalk when a glint of light caught his eye. He turned his head to see a small, white object on his neighbor's porch, encrusted with some type of jewel that had reflected the sunlight at him. He slowed from his jog instead of taking off into a run, then walked up the path to his neighbor's door to pick up what he found was a mask. He had already knocked when he realized he knew this mask.
***
Madison had had troubles sleeping for months, no, years, and had been lying awake until the early morning hours. She had only gotten a few hours rest when she was startled out of her light sleep, by a knock on her door. She figured it was one of her new neighbours coming to say hello, since she was new around, although she figured it was awfully early for that.
She reluctantly sat up, rubbing her eyes. She yawned as she stood. She quickly walked to her mirror. She observed that while it was a bit off, it wasn't a complete mess. She was wearing sweatpants and a tank top, so she decided that she was presentable enough.
She hurried down the stairs and went to the front door. Her dog right at her heel, she opened the door. She looked very tired, since she hadn't gotten much sleep and had just woken up. She tried to appear as awake and put together as possible, as she looked out at the figure before her. He seemed so very familiar, and then she looked down at what he was holding. Her eyes went wide as she realized that she must have dropped it. It also clicked how she knew this man. Domino.
Thinking fast, she replaced her look of slightly panicked surprise, for one of a more composed and welcoming look. She tried to look how a naturally dominant figure might, and not a submissive. She thought she was fairly convincing.
After a brief thought, she decided that this matter likely would not dissolve quickly, so she stepped aside, and gestured inside. "Come on in." She said openly. She waited for him and then closed the door and walked to the living room. She allowed him to take a seat and then took one herself and looked over at him, trying to hide how badly her anxiety was getting to her at the moment.
***
A flicker of amusement passed over Richard's face as he watched her startlement, then her recovery. Before moving to take her invitation, he knelt down to make friends with her dog, offering his hand for inspection, then scratching the happy pet behind the ears.
He had intended to return the mask and leave, but found himself seated in her living room instead. It looked like a home already, regardless of how new a neighbor she was. He smiled as he drew breath, content in his surroundings. The chair he had chosen was wide, deep and comfortable, and he wondered if he would want to leave it when the time came.
Finally, he sought her eyes, and opened his mouth to speak.
"I'd say this is going above and beyond your promise, Madam, but your grace persists even now."
He set the mask down on an end-table. Richard made no indication he'd noticed her apparel, treating the situation as perfectly normal, within reason, and not one whit out of the ordinary. He smiled at noticing the dog, and vaguely wondered to whom it would go.
***
The husky followed behind and sat next to him, seeming to take an instant liking to the new friend. He sat by his chair and looked up at him happily.
Madison sat in a chair across from him and gave him a small smile. She tried her best to appear calm and collected, but she had to clasp her hands together to try to hide their shaking. Her face was a mask of confidence and peace on its own, but her eyes told another story.
"Well I'm sorry to say that this would be the end of my grace and of that promise, as I will not be attending any more of the parties, and please, you may call me Madison."
She spoke kindly and softly, but her voice was lacking in volume and confidence.
***
Richard reached out to ruffle the big dog's fur, playing with his ears and patting him solidly on the side.
He looked up at his host, took in her tension, then turned back to the dog in order to avoid putting more pressure on the woman with his scrutiny.
"Oh? I'm sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to knowing there was at least one sane person in the room whenever I went back. They seem to like me inordinately and I think it'd be a shame to deprive them of my presence, though I admit to not understanding most of their behaviors."
Looking back up at her, he was smiling.
"Nice to meet you, Madison. My name is Richard. It seems like we are neighbors. I live next door and was out for a jog when I saw your mask on the porch."
He patted the husky as he spoke.
"I'm glad I knocked before realizing I recognized it, I may have left before making a wonderful new friend," he said, ruffling the dog's fur again.
"What's his name?"
***
She gave him a soft smile and started to relax a bit. He was so genuine and considerate. She took notice of that and was really thankful for it.
"I might as well say it." She took a deep breath, "I really don't like crowds of big loud things. Not to pry, but I could tell you didn't love that whole show either. I think it's nice of you to keep going, Caesar will really appreciate it. You would be missed. I never got to know anyone much, so it won't be a big deal if I don't go back."
She was startled by her own words. She was genuine, but still a bit out of character for her. Madison wasn't usually this open or talkative.
"I'm glad I'll still have a chance to get to know you though. His name is Danny, and he seems to like you quite a bit, which is odd. He usually didn't like many people"
***
The warmth of her smile rolled over him like the bloom of a crackling hearth. In the moment she relaxed he felt himself mirroring her, set at ease by seeing peace in her. His smile grew a bit at her first reply, considering it an odd way to respond to a question about a pet's name, though the content of her confession sobered him. As he listened to her speak of her displeasure for crowds his head was dipping in a nod, which went from agreeing to agreeable at her assertion. His lip curled in a warm smile at the mention of Caesar, but he blinked at her conclusion. Still, he waited for her to finish.
"Danny, huh?" Richard's smile grew as he reached down to ruffle the husky's fur with both hands. "Well, he's not the only one, but I think he's an excellent judge of character."
He straightened back up, considering his words as he relaxed back into the chair.
"I can think of at least three people that would ask after your absence."
He surveyed the room he sat in for the first time.
"This is a lovely home." He remembered the feeling he'd had of being cradled in a world of sound at the club, the security and comfort of it, and noticed it was here without all the noise. Considering getting to know Madison may mean more time in a place where his problems couldn't seem to reach his concern, he felt a quiet roll over him that he couldn't find the edges of. As his eye's were completing their survey and were on their way back to Madison, he was wondering how she felt in that moment when he realized that edge-less feeling had a source. He looked back to her eyes and ignored his leaping insides.
"Yes," he said, nodding. "I'm glad for that chance as well."
It was in that moment that Danny lost patience with his stilled hand, came around the chair, then jumped his front legs into Richard's lap. Pure, childlike joy and laughter spread over Richard's face as he fended off the dog's affection.
"Yeah, yeah," he said, getting a hold on Danny's face so his eyes squinted back off the doggy grin. "You too buddy! Come on, get back down now."
***
She blinked, still a bit tired from her seemingly constant lack of sleep. Although, this was of no present concern to her, as she was rather occupied with her current guest. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off him, but she did make certain not to stare or be too obvious about it.
"Danny," she spoke in a kind, but firm tone, warning the over excited dog. He turned to look at her with innocent eyes, before returning to his play with their new friend. He couldn't get enough and entirely ignored Madison's order, jumping up on the sofa beside Richard and laid down with his head on his new friend's leg.
"I'm sorry about him, I've never been much good at controlling him. I just can't bring myself to ever be mad at him." She spoke genuinely apologetic, almost as if she herself had done something wrong.
She took a deep breath, clearing her head further. She needed to seem strong and calm. She didn't want him to see her weakness. For some odd reason she had undeniable respect for him. She wanted him to think well of her. She couldn't understand nor see the source of the way she felt drawn to him so strongly.
She laughed slightly, further solidifying her relaxed persona, "I haven't the slightest idea which three people you might be talking about. I'm not very social. I don't have and friends there, and hardly any acquaintances." She spoke with a smile as usual, disregarding all thoughts aside from those pertaining to her current conversation and company.
***
Richard saw her tired blink, one of the signs he was taught to watch for in targets in order to sense weakness, tiredness. He knew she was tired, but she was no prey. She was… What was she? A neighbor? An acquaintance at a club? The dog was friendly, but friend didn't suit her. What 'friend' would go to such an establishment as they had the night previous, then upon meeting again a man outside a mask, invite him into her home? There was something more to this, but he held no presumptions as to what it may be.
Her attention seemed to be for him, and even her manner gave deference to him, even in her own home. He thought this was … odd perhaps, but it made him feel confident, secure, welcome, but also a little uncertain. He needed to know the why, and he wasn't going to guess.
Danny misbehaved, disobeying a direct order, one given in sound and reasonable fashion. Happy dog or not, and adorable, yes, this was a little much for his sensibilities. Order was the rule in his world, and disobeying a direct command was not appropriate. He looked down at the canine on his lap, and smiled. He liked Danny, it was hard not to. But he met the pet's eyes, and stared until he looked down.
Ahah.
Danny knew better. That made it easy.
"Down."
Danny blinked, then hopped off the couch. Richard leaned forward, extended his right hand and snapped it above his feet.
"Here, Danny."
Given a permissible place to be, Danny rushed to curl against Richard's feet on the floor. Richard sat back, eyes pointed to where Danny was, though he couldn't see the dog from his seated position.
"Hmm. Didn't know I could have such a way with animals."
He looked back up to see Madison recomposing herself. He saw no reason to make a point of noticing, so he smiled and waited. Her denial put a distinct curve of humor in his grin, but he reigned it in from becoming excessive.
"Then I feel quite special. I thought you were quite impressive in costume, and your forwardness caught my attention. Even now, you invite me into your home, to play host with no notice. Whatever you may think of your sociability, I feel very…"
His voice trailed off as he considered what exactly he felt. The depths would take some time to plumb, but when he looked up to see her eyes, the word struck him.
"Comfortable."
He blinked. That was odd. He hadn't felt so at home, at peace, since … before the war. A cool, steely emotion streaked through him, but it was soon warmed by the permeating sense of security he felt in Madison's presence. A thought struck him, and he laughed at himself.
"Perhaps not the most cordial of reports, but there you are."
A deep longing engulfed him, stretched out from his center and enveloped his awareness. In that moment she was much too far away for his liking. Part of him was shocked at this, and he tried to pay attention to both feelings at once. An idea occurred to him, presenting itself as a solution.
"Madison, would you like to have dinner with me this evening? Nothing fancy, but I do enjoy preparing a good meal. Presently I was intending to go for a jog, then resume work, should my clients ever get back to me, but I find myself desiring your company."
He laughed easily, at the realization his words had gotten ahead of him, at the situation, and just because it felt good.
"I think perhaps we both have situations that need tending, and I would hate to wear out my welcome."
***
With how closely and intently she watched him, she didn't miss the way he looked at her. It was mildly unsettling and a sliver of worry found a home in her mind. It seemed to her like he might be suspicious of her at least a bit. Why? She did not know, but as soon as the thought came, the rational part of her mind dismissed it, chalking it up to unreasonable paranoia.
Her mind was spinning and running in circles to get nowhere as she struggled to understand this man. Part of her mind wanted to run to him for comfort and to tell him of her struggles until they were meaningless specks in her past.
Reason returned quickly, putting away the notion calling it that if a weak fool that Madison did not want to let herself be.
She had watched him quite closely as he dealt with the dog. She was impressed to say the least. Danny seemed kind, but in her care rarely followed a command the first time it was asked.
At the mention of his departure, she realized for the first time, just how affected she had been by his presence. She felt safe. She felt like her company was wanted and valued with him. All of these feelings had been only distant memories from long ago for Madison, until Richard had walked into her home and her life.
For a brief moment she looked at him as if he had two heads, and then grinned widely. It was such a warm genuine smile, that it made all her others seem fake.
"Thank you, really. I think I truly would enjoy that quite a bit." She wasn't sure what else to say to him. So she simply smiled softly at him still, feeling awkward and uncertain, but full of hope.
***
Richard noticed the worry playing over her face as she watched him, and realized his internal questions had given her concern. Even so, her clumsy recovery from startlement had him grinning wide.
"Wonderful. I normally have dinner around six. I hope that will work for you."
He took in the radiant hope in her eyes, her luminous smile, the way she couldn't seem to look away, but also shied away from direct eye contact, then decided to take a measured risk.
"If you like," he began, "you may dress for candlelight. I think perhaps it may suit us better than big crowds, loud music and fiery explosions, don't you?"
Already his mind was turning, shifting around his schedule to make time for what he'd need to prepare for such a dinner. His heart though, was leaping and twirling around in his chest. He was ticking through a menu in his head when something occurred to him.
"Do you have any specific dietary requirements? Vegan or gluten-free or anything?"
***
"That sounds perfect to me, and no, you may cook whatever you desire." She responded quickly, already eagerly awaiting that night, even as anxiety crept its way into her.
She tried to ignore it and pushed it down, determined not to allow it to get to her until he had left. One of the hardest problems she had to deal with was her easily provoked anxiety attacks, that seemed like an animal waiting to pounce from behind every shadowed corner.
She clasped her hands together forcefully as to not allow them to shake, and forced herself to take a deep breath and focus. She would not let this get to her now.
All this while she did her best to keep up her smile and the genuine excitement in her eyes never diminished.
"I've always been a terrible cook, so I'm sure anything you make me will be a treat." She laughed softly at herself, and then stood up.
"Well I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you have plenty to do, and I do appreciate you returning my mask."
***
"Excellent. I'm looking forward to it."
Richard smiled at her eagerness. He was glad that she seemed as excited as he was, maybe more so, and that he had not been amiss in his suggestion. To anyone else, that little twinge of anxiety would have been indistinguishable, but Richard knew it well enough to recognize it when he saw it. It showed around the eyes, but he was surprised at the tension in her hands.
Even so, she was happy, and he could tell her reaction was not forced or faked. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help her and lessen her worry. He smiled wide at her comment about cooking.
"Ah, yes, well, I do enjoy putting a meal together. You'll have to let me know if I'm any good at it."
He shifted his foot a little before getting up to give Danny some fore-warning. Once standing, he extended his hand to her to shake before leaving.
"It's no trouble," he said, smiling. "I just saw it on the doorstep and thought I'd want someone to do the same for me."
***
She took a step forward, closer to him, and gently grasped his hand, only hesitating slightly as she shook it. She tried to make the gesture quick, while still not rushing it, in hopes to not give her hand enough time to start its anxious shaking or for him to notice it.
Normally something like this wouldn't worry Madison so easily or so quickly, but there was something about him that made her want to never let him down or disappoint him. She wanted him to approve and be proud of her, but she hadn't the slightest clue why. She just felt drawn to Richard in that way among others.
She quickly let go of his hand and walked to the door with him, opening it for him. "Then I suppose I will meet you at 6?"
***
He was considering raising her hand to his lips to kiss the back of it, but she pulled away. He smiled to himself. Perhaps that would have been too much anyway.
"Yes, that would be great. I look forward to seeing you then."
Richard stopped before leaving to look into her eyes.
"Madison, I'm familiar with feeling unreasonably uncomfortable with new places and people. I wonder if you might like to come by beforehand, to see the place outside of any other goings on. I'm normally gone for twenty or thirty minutes for that jog. If you like you may explore the place a little while I'm gone."
He smiled sheepishly.
"That might be a little odd, but if you think it may help, feel free to do so."
With that, he trotted down the front steps and out onto the sidewalk. Once he was out of sight he broke into a full-on run. The exhilaration of the wind whistling through his ears, the rhythmic pumping of his legs and arms, the pure exertion of every muscle in his body thrilled him as he picked up more speed.
Ever since coming back from the war, he'd been haunted with should have and shouldn't have dones. He'd broken down every moment of his choices in those critical moments over and over in his mind, looking for a way to have changed what happened, but he couldn't. The counselors had asked him to be honest and open, and he had. He told them he wanted the heads of the men who had orchestrated the attack. His reward for his honesty had been honorable discharge.
Markov had brought him to his club in the hopes that something there could get his mind off things, help him feel alive again and out of his head. He'd succeeded, but not in any way expected. Being with Madison blew all that away. When he was with her, nothing else mattered, she was all he could see or think about. Who could have known she was living next door all along? Nevermind that, what was he going to make for dinner?
He put on more speed. He ran for the simple joy of it. He got to where he'd usually turn around in record time, so he kept going just in case he took her up on his offer.
***
Madison took another deep breath when he turned away from her. She watched him disappear from her view, and then slowly closed the door. She turned her back to it and leaned against it, before sliding down till she was sitting on the ground with her knees to her chest.
Her arms snaked around her legs and hold right before they started shaking.She took shaky breaths and closed her eyes, laying her head on her knees.
Inside her head she chastised herself for not being able to just get over her anxiety already, for not being strong enough, good enough.
Madison's heart raced with unreasonable fear, as she forced herself up off the ground. She made her way up to her room, where she stepped up to a sound system and turned on some piano music loud enough that it drowned out her thoughts. She concentrated on the complexity of the piece and and tried to memorize the notes of the melody, instead of the event later that evening.
She continued, by going into her bathroom and turning on a shower as hot as she could possibly stand it. She stepped under the water and let herself soak in the heat and slowly start to relax. She took a few deep breaths and after a while finally started to bathe herself. Once clean, she shut off the water and dried herself, wrapping her towel around her, and going back out into her bedroom.
This had been her ritual since she had started having these attacks at 12. She did that as soon as she could once she started to get an anxiety attack, but if she couldn't, then she just had to suffer through her fear.
She turned down the music and got dressed into some comfortable clothes for the day, before sitting at her computer with Danny at her feet and trying to get some work done.
Through the entire day he never left her thoughts, even if he was just in the back of her head. She had trouble focusing, and she wasn't very productive, but managed to get some work done.
When it finally got to be about 5, she got up and started getting ready. She didn't know how late she would be there, so she fed Danny and checked his water dish. After seeing to it that he would be fine, she returned to her room and looked through her closet.
She ended up with a nice gray dress that had short sleeves and went halfway down her thigh. It was simple, but elegant, and it wasn't uncomfortable either. She wore some gray heels with it that were only about 3". Overall her attire was very nice, but incredibly simple.
When she was satisfied with her appearance and her nerves were under control, she headed out the door right on time, and knocked on his door at exactly 6.
***
Richard got back to his house forty-five minutes later. His heart was pounding and he was breathing hard, but his mind was clear and he couldn't keep the smile off his face. He went straight in the front door and to the shower once more to wash his body clean.
As the water poured over him, he pored over his plans for the day. First he needed to check his email again, as he was expecting work. He figured it would take at least a couple hours once he got it, but that would be fine. Next he'd need to pick up ingredients for dinner. There were a few items that would be best fresh, and the farmer's markets would be in that afternoon. After that he fancied a fire. He wasn't exactly sure why, but it seemed like a good night to build up a crackling hearth.
He got out of the shower, dried off, tidied up the mess, and set to his plan. The email was waiting for him, and the tasks he found in it were easily completed. He wrote a script to handle the monotonous portions of the work, then found and debugged the issues that were keeping the programs from working the way his client wanted them to. By his reckoning they were paying him way too much for the work he was doing, but they always seemed happy with the results.
That done, he went to the market to pick up some fresh vegetables, then looked at his watch. It was a little past two, and he hadn't had lunch. He was considering his options when a thought popped into his mind. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and texted Markov to see if he'd had lunch yet. A couple minutes later he got a text back saying he had, and asking about lunch tomorrow. Richard agreed to the plan, then got a smoothie from one of the stands at the market. He loved buying from local farmers, not only because it supported the community and was organic, but because the produce simply tasted wonderful.
Once he got home he put the vegetables away, then went out back to chop wood. He let all the concerns and business of the day fade away as he set himself to the task. It was simple: Set the wood up, then chop it down. He repeated this process until he was satisfied with the pile he'd made, then brought it inside and set it by the fireplace. He slapped his hands together to knock off the bark and dirt, then went to the kitchen to wash his hands.
He kept moving, transitioning straight into preparing dinner. He started the bread first, as he knew it would take the longest. Once it was set to rise, he started working on the main course. As it cooked, he chopped the vegetables to make a salad. By the time he'd finished, the bread was ready to go into the oven. He set the timer, then went into the living room to build his fire.
Richard took special pleasure in building an efficient fire. He wanted it to burn long and hot, so he built it tight on the stand. Once it was started, he set the table, and was stepping back to check his work when the alarm went off for the bread. He got it out of the oven and set it out to cool, made sure the rest of the meal was being properly chilled or heated for when the time came, then turned back to the bread with butter and garlic. Satisfied, he went upstairs to change clothes. He came back down in grey trousers and a white shirt, unbuttoned at the top. He put a comb through his hair, then went back into the living room to sit on the couch so he could watch his fire.
The flames were mesmerizing. Richard watched intently, letting his mind settle from the bustle of cooking. He had reached that empty state of meditation when there was a knock at the door. He glanced at the clock, then smiled. It was precisely 6pm. She was punctual. He rose from his seat to answer the door. It was good that he was smiling because for a moment he froze, stunned.
"Good evening, Madison," he said, recovering. "You look lovely."
He stepped to the side to clear the doorway then reached out to offer his hand.
***
Her heart was racing as she anxiously waited for the door to be opened. It took everything in her to keep her nerves under control. Her thoughts were on illogical what ifs and she was starting to question whether or not this was really a good idea.
Her mind went entirely blank, all fears and thoughts silenced, as the door opened and she caught sight of him. Her heart continued to race, but for an entirely different reason.
She smiled softly at him, with her worries gone for the time, as if he had snatched them away, although this thievery she was grateful for.
As she finally came back to her senses after that blissful realization, her mind registered his compliment, and it had her grinning wider. Her eyes seemed to have a warm glow to them, looking like sunlight hitting a deep lake at dusk in the spring.
She slowly stepped forward, taking his hand, with her smaller, delicate one, which still bore the mark of graphite smeared along the side of it and on her pinkie, that she had forgotten to pay special attention to scrubbing away before she came. Although, she did not notice, as she kept her eyes trained on him, before finally finding her voice; the unconscious thief in him had nearly stolen that as well.
"Why thank you, it seems the gentleman in you never rests." Her sweet, soft voice replied.
***
Richard saw her lips part slightly as he opened the door and watched her eyes go from restless to peaceful and serene. Looking into the dark, deep pools of her gaze, he felt time slip away from him again, just as it had in front of the fire. Deep in his chest a new fire was blooming, its ardent warmth filling him with a crystalline calm.
Her hand in his was like a petal carried by the breeze, a delicate softness that felt to him almost sacred as a token of trust. When her reply reached his ears, all that warmth spread into his face, both in expression and flattered regard.
"And your grace never wavers."
He helped her take the step into his home, providing balance through his supporting hand. Before she'd arrived he'd considered letting her be the one to close the door behind her, but now that he saw the look on her face he knew that wouldn't be necessary for her comfort. After pushing it back into its frame, he paused for a moment to take in the sight of her. He lifted a hand to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen over the side of her face, but paused for just a tiny moment before actually doing so.
"Thank you for coming. If you'd like to take your ease in the living room, I'll go finish preparing the table for dinner."
***
Her eyes lowered from him to the floor for a brief moment at his small gesture. She felt her cheeks heat up briefly with a slight blush on her fair skin. She wasn't quite embarrassed, but the proximity to him was enough to make her delightfully nervous.
She nodded slightly at his offer and stepped forward, making her way towards the living room, though not without a bit of disappointment when her hand slipped away from his.
She found her way into the room and her gaze immediately landed on the fire in the hearth. She took a seat near it and let the warmth and comfort that she felt here in his home and with him so near envelope her.
It was peace that she thought she had lost long ago, that she thought would not return to her, yet he gave her that feeling so easily without even knowing it.
***
Richard strode into the kitchen with purpose. He collected the meal then laid it out on the table, setting up two plates on adjoining sides from one another. The long candles were set on the other two sides of the table so that they would be directly across from either one of them. He judged their light to be just less than he wanted so he set up two others, one for each of the ones already lit.
There was one last thing to do. He stepped over to his wine rack to select one that would complement the pasta of the main course. Once the cork was popped, he set it on the table with two wine glasses, then filled a pitcher of ice-water to go along with it.
In that moment there was nothing left to do, no task that could occupy his mind. His eyes drifted closed and his lips upward as he noticed the drumbeat of his heart in his chest. The day had been splendid, he'd been walking on air as he'd gone about his business. Now that she was here, and the table set, the butterflies swarmed within him. The pain of his past was there too, but it had taken a backseat, and considering it was behind him, he figured that was where it belonged, at least for now.
Madison was waiting in the next room. Thrills raced through him as he considered her presence, her softness, her smile. He found himself wishing that smile would never have to leave her face. He realized he didn't know much about her, and he dearly wanted to. He wanted to know everything about her, and all the things that would make her smile. Well, that was what dinner dates were for, right?
He found her watching the fire he'd built. For moment he said nothing, letting her enjoy the heat of the flames, watching the serenity on her face. She seemed more at peace than he'd ever seen her. Emotion threatened to well up in his throat at that thought, and the one that followed: They seemed have that effect on each other. He knew that colors seemed brighter and life richer while she was around, but seeing her now he realized she could be feeling precisely the same way. If there had been a way to capture that moment, freeze time and stay there forever, he thought he might have done it. Then his smile returned to his features. Perhaps the night would improve from here…
Before he could get carried away down that rabbit hole, he moved, stepping into the living room.
"Dinner is ready, Madison."
Even as he held his hand out he remembered what she'd said about his gentlemanly tendencies, realizing he was further proving her point. He smiled, thinking he could live with that.
***
She jumped slightly as she heard his voice, startled, but not as frightened as she would normally be by being caught off guard. The sound of his voice, though, set her at ease in an instant. He always seemed so calm and collected. Like he was always in control of the situation and had everything planned out. That made her feel so safe, as if nothing could harm her in his presence.
She turned her gaze up to him and smiled brightly, as she rose gracefully, taking his hand as she stood.
The contact was like an anchor and she didn't want to have to ever let go. He was so strong, while she was so weak. Madison felt like if she could only just hold onto him, then everything would be fine.
As they entered into the dining room, her breath just nearly caught in her throat as she caught sight of the beautifully set table and skillfully prepared meal.
She was once again disappointed, however, at the thought of his hand being taken away from hers once they sat, as they reached the table.
***
Richard escorted her to the dining room, hand in hand. As they approached the table, he noticed a slight squeeze on his grip, as though she were reluctant to have to let go. He felt his heart go out to her in that moment. Something in her clung to him, as though for dear life. For the first time, he wondered if someone could have been dealt a worse hand than he had. Dinner could wait a few more minutes.
Instead of stepping forward to pull the chair out for her, he moved in front of her, still holding her hand. Then, moving with slow, deliberate care, he brought his other hand up to brush the side of her face with the backs of his fingers. When they'd passed over her cheek, he lay them softly upon her skin, gently framing her jaw.
"Madison," he asked, tilting his head slightly to the side as he watched her eyes, "is everything alright?"
***
She was surprised when he moved to stand in front of her. She certainly hadn't been expecting that. She could hear the beat of her heart in her ears and she had to stop herself from leaning her head into his touch. She looked deep into his eyes and saw so much care and genuine concern, that she was compelled to really tell him everything. No one had ever asked her that question before, actually wanting to know the answer.
"Of course, I'm fine." She couldn't help when those nearly meaningless words slipped through her lips. She couldn't quite help it. That was what she told every person who felt like they had to ask. That was what she told herself, in hopes that it would come true, or that she would at least believe it.
But he was different. She felt like she was lying to him, betraying him. Though, at this point she wasn't even sure if there was another way. This was all she knew. Bear it alone and keep going. Just keep moving.
***
The world froze when she looked into his eyes. He knew she was looking for something, and he thought he could guess what it was. He let her look to her heart's content, holding nothing back, so she could see that he was asking because he wanted to know. He'd heard that question often enough to know an automatic answer, but that was alright. The question had been asked, and she would answer when she was ready. That was good enough for him. Still, he didn't want this moment to end.
"Hmm. Yes," he said, nodding gently. "You are fine." He gave a tiny grin at the possible double entendre. "Sometimes I'm not, you know. Sometimes I curl up into a tiny ball and scream. I scream and scream until I can't scream any more, and then I cry. I feel like a wringed rag afterward, and nothing really changes, but the pressure of it passes for a while. Then I put on my normal face and go through life never letting that mask fall off, never letting anyone see the haunted look in my eyes. It's horrible, desolate and strange, but it's there, and it's me. I think something would be really wrong if it wasn't there."
He breathed through the aftershock of his confession, moving through the coarse, heavy thickness of the feelings.
"Every once in awhile though, I meet someone who I think could understand. Who has the depth of character and perception to grasp what is it that pains me." He stroked her face with the back of his fingers again. "Sometimes that person has those same haunted eyes, and we just can't hide from one another." He paused for a moment, calm and still. "Right now I've never been more grateful for that in my life." He reached up with his other hand, bringing hers with it, cradled her face in his hands, then kissed her forehead. Instead of pulling away after that, he wrapped her in an embrace with his free arm, holding her and nuzzling his head alongside hers.
***
Madison felt her heart well up with emotion as she listened to him and continued to stare into the crystal pools of his eyes. All of her composure was lost as she openly stared at him, hardly able to think, only feel, feel him. Her lips were parted, but she had no voice, not even the breath to speak. Her mind was nearly blank as she felt his motions, still never moving her stunned gaze.
When she felt him hold her face, and then the comfort of the gentle kiss, she knew with all her being that she was safe. She was safe to shatter, and sure enough, she was breaking right there in his arms.
She took a shuddering breath, and her eyelids drifted closed. The tension in her shoulders melted away, but they started to shake. In an instant, she had lowered her head slightly, though it wasn't much, with his height advantage over her and her heels, so that it rested on his shoulder with her face hidden in his neck. She couldn't stop herself, as she started to quietly sob. Her tears landed on the skin of his neck and shoulder. Tears that had been kept inside for far too long. Her body moved without her consent and arms wrapped around him and held onto him for dear life. It seemed as if her own legs could barely hold her up.
She was a fragile creature. Cracked and chipped away at all her life, without ever a chance to heal, and she was finally shattering.
For a moment she thought, that this wasn't her. She didn't ever cry. She was always composed. She didn't let her mask of normality fall in front of anyone.
But she knew that this was her, the one that was hidden inside, being suffocated, hidden away. This was the true Madison, the one who wasn't fine, who needed to heal, who needed to be cared for.
***
Richard held her as she fell against him, breaking inside. He remained, a pillar for her to lean against, to rely on. He'd had some idea of what might happen, and been prepared for it, though that didn't change the fact of the matter. It was clear to him that she'd needed this, and for whatever reason it had been denied her for far too long.
Her tears running down his neck felt like an anointing, and he meant to honor it. Feelings stirred in him from her closeness, some appropriately timed, and some not, but they were feelings, so he didn't hide from them. Instead he let them run their course, passing through then out of the way. He couldn't help but notice her scent, soft and delicate. It had the most calming effect on him he'd ever felt.
When she'd cried herself out, he was still running caresses up and down her back. He didn't move, but spoke softly.
"As soon as you're ready, let's sit down to eat. We'll speak of pleasant things and how our lives are, and we'll smile, knowing that, yes, there is pain, but we're not hiding it. It's a part of us, and we can share it too."
He turned his head to kiss her temple.
"How does that sound?"
***
She had slowly calmed as she listened to his voice and his offer. She nodded slightly in agreement to what he was saying. The sound of him, regardless of his words, instantly set her more at ease. She felt his lips on her temple and took a deep breath, breathing in his scent, and then let it out, soothing herself and simple basking in the feeling of being in his arms.
With that deep breath, she finally opened her eyes and straightened up a bit, reluctantly releasing her hold on him. She brought one hand up and wiped away the remaining moisture still on her cheeks.
She looked down, not sure what to do, or say, and embarrassed by her actions. All of the feelings and ways he treated her were so foreign that she didn't know how to respond. She could only imagine that she must look like a mess, but in front of him, it didn't seem like such a big deal.
***
The feel of her breath on his neck sent shivers careening over his flesh. His eyes drifted shut as he let out a shuddering breath, then took a deep breath of his own. He retracted his arms as she reclaimed her own space, and opened his eyes to see her wiping the tears away. A small, reassuring smile tugged at the corner of his lip as he reached up to brush one she'd missed away with his thumb. His voice came out in a soft whisper.
"You're much prettier than I am when I cry."
He lifted her chin with the inside of his finger.
"I think you can be very proud of what you just did. The strength it takes to cry in someone else's arms is a rare treasure, and I'm glad you have it."
Laying his hand on her waist, he turned to indicate a hall that led off from the dining room.
"Down that way is a washroom with a sink and towels. Feel free to make use of it, then come back and join me for dinner. Afterward we'll retire to the living room to watch the fire burn down."
***
She smiled timidly at him. His words made her feel not quite as embarrassed over her actions. She let out a small self conscious laugh at his remark about how he looked when he cried. She wasn't sure how Richard saw crying in his arms as something to be proud of, but she wasn't going to argue with him over it.
Even if she was embarrassed, she would never regret doing that. It had felt so… perfect, for lack of a better word. She felt like she was meant to be in his arms, she needed to be with him. He was like a drug, though his effect in her was more like a sedative, and she was getting addicted fast.
She nodded gratefully, before she turned and slipped away. She made her way into the bathroom and stepped up to the mirror. She fixed some smudges, and in other spots, she removed the makeup all together. When she was finally pleased with her appearance, she stepped out and walked back to him.
***
Richard watched Madison disappear through the door to the washroom in silence. Once she was out of sight, his eyes slid closed as he cycled a deep, cleansing breath. He could feel his heart beating in his chest, and it took a conscious effort to let the tension run down and out of his shoulders and arms. All he could hear was the crackling of the fire as he stood in the candlelight.
His myriad emotions stole over him as he waited. The sight of Madison in her high-heels and elegant dress took his breath, and was a major contributor to the drumbeat of his heart. Added in that she had dressed up for him alone, he felt deep desire and a thrill that permeated his thoughts. Alongside that, and deeper still, he felt a primal sense of protectiveness, and solemn responsibility. From what had just happened, he knew this was no fling for either of them. One way or the other, they would have an immutable impact on each other's lives, had already for that matter, and he was determined that his influence on her would be to her benefit.
He brought one hand up to his neck to catch her tears on his fingers. He brought that hand back out to inspect the wetness, running his thumb over his fingertips. This woman had literally poured herself out over him. The significance of that burned in his heart. He noticed his breaths had gotten shallow and quick, so he drew in a full breath, then let it out to pass over his lips.
In that moment he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that he loved her. Being in love with her was a short step away, but in his heart she was one of his. He knew next to nothing about her, but when had the heart ever cared about that anyway? Loving others was a part of him. It was one of the things that had made him such a powerful commander. Those under him knew that they were alive in his heart, and he would do all things in his power to keep them that way. His contemporaries had frequently asked him his secret, why his units consistently went above and beyond for him, but it was one of those things that if you didn't know, you couldn't be told. There was no secret to it, other than he was absolutely genuine.
Madison came back into view at that moment, looking fresh and beautiful. Abstraction came crashing back into reality as his eyes fell on hers, her lips, the gentle sloping of her neck. If he were to be genuine right now…
He took that small step, cradled her face in his hands once more, then, in what seemed like an eternity to him, closed the distance between them to press his lips against hers.
***
Madison had watched him carefully as she approached him. It seemed as if she had caught him right as he had come out of his reverie. She didn't want to disturb his thoughts, but she wanted nothing more than be by his side again.
She still had no idea what she felt for him. It was strong and undeniable. The emotion was foreign, but it sent her blood racing and silenced her worried mind. She never wanted to have to leave him and she wanted to hold him in return and warm those haunted eyes of his.
Her thoughts took a turn, as she tried to think of why he would ever want her. She wasn't all that pretty or charismatic, in fact she was broken. Who would ever want someone so broken?
Perhaps someone who has their own fair share of ghosts to fight off.
As she took that final step towards him, she started to reach out for his hand, that she so selfishly wanted to keep, but froze, as he brought his face to hers, and she felt his lips on her soft ones.
Her world stopped. The planets may as well have ceased orbiting. For a moment she did nothing. Her mind could barely think enough for it, but instinct took over.
Her eyes drifted closed and her hands found their way up to hold onto his shoulders, as her lips gently, hesitantly, moved with his.
She didn't know what she was doing, but she didn't need to. That foreign emotion made sense now. She knew exactly what it was. She loved him, and she couldn't deny it.
***
Her lips were exquisitely soft. At first he only made miniscule movements over their contact, savoring the feel of her, giving her time to process what was happening and decide what she would do about it. Then he felt her melt into him, giving herself over to his boldness. Relief bloomed in him, followed by a surge of hunger. He grinned at that, ignoring the compulsion to devour her on the spot. Instead he pulled her lower lip between his, then gave a feather-light tug that broke her free of him. He repeated that for her upper lip, then rested his forehead on hers as he wet his lips with his tongue. Panting through a couple shallow breaths, he reached deep for his faculties.
"Perhaps dessert should wait until after dinner."
Shaking with an ironic chuckle, he made a mental note to skip the garlic bread. Still, he made no move to separate from her, preferring to bask in their closeness.
***
She had only just barely been able to stop herself from allowing a little moan to escape her lips into the kiss, after everything he did to her. Yes, she was certainly getting addicted to him. After that kiss, she decided that he was her new favorite flavor.
She was panting with him, as she cherished the sustained contact, gazing into his eyes once again. She was on cloud mind just looking at him. She couldn't remember ever feeling this care free before, and she had him to thank for it.
She giggled at his comment, deciding he was probably right, before returning to watching him and simply enjoying the moment.
***
He returned her gaze with hooded eyes, making no effort to hide his arousal. Seeing she was also out of breath, he grinned, then held her steady as he planted a kiss on her forehead. Her giggle sent thrills leaping through him, and he responded with a deep rumble of pleasure in his throat. Pulling slightly away, he let his eyes dance over her face, wearing an expression of pure desire as he took in her features and considered exploring her more with his lips.
Instead he let his hands slide down her jaw and neck, hovering just over her flesh to make contact only with his fingertips as they brushed through the tiny, tiny hairs on the way to her shoulders. He watched her big, dark eyes with satisfaction as he found her hands with his.
"Come, sit. Partake of the meal I've prepared for us."
Holding her hand on side, he pulled her chair out for her on the other.
***
She grinned and fought the temptation to run her fingers through his hair, as she shivered from his feather touch. It was barely there, and yet it filled her senses and teased her almost unbearably.
She had only known him for what? Perhaps two days, and she had already become putty in his hands. She hadn't lost her backbone or personality, and she was still the very same person as before, but she reacted to him so strongly. He knew just how to treat her, touch her, and even care for her. She was an instrument, and he, her musician. He knew all the right strokes of his bow to make the strings of her soul sing.
She was so very tempted to find a way to tease him back, but her cunning ways would take time. She decided to keep an ear out for any useful information in regards to that during dinner.
She gratefully took the offered seat and watched him, waiting for him to sit and eat before she did, and also hoping that he would start the conversation, before she said something odd, being the awkward person that she was when put in social situations.
***
Once he'd seen to it that she was seated and comfortable, he moved around the corner of the table to take his seat. He gave her a soft, happy smile, then lifted his hand to indicate the main dish.
"Here we have roasted asparagus mushroom carbonara, with chopped salad made from fresh, local vegetables and homemade garlic bread. Please eat however you like, I'm far beyond caring about manners at this point."
With that he reached for the bottle of wine, then started working into it with a corkscrew. With a quick, tense flex of his muscles he had the cork out. Vapor drifted out of the mouth of the bottle as he brought the neck of it to her glass to pour a serving, then one in his own. He set the bottle down, then moved the pasta within her reach before taking the salad bowl and putting some on his plate.
"You're new in the neighborhood. What brings you here?"
***
She grinned at him, as she dished herself up a serving of the pasta, and then waited for him to finish, before getting herself some salad.
"Well I was competing at the dressage nationals when I found out that my parents got in a bad car accident. We were never really that close, but I came home to deal with some of the legal stuff. I was an only child, so they left everything to me and this other charity. That's how I ended up inheriting that house and moving in. I didn't really change that much stuff, aside from getting rid of the clutter and moving in." She spoke calmly, seeming to be already at peace with what had happened.
She considered the glass of wine set before her. She normally never drank alcohol, after discovering she had a very low tolerance for it. All of her paranoia and anxiety had kept her from trusting herself with it, but she felt safe with him. She decided she didn't want to be a poor guest, so she would at least have some.
She took a sip, before continuing. "I've been too busy trying to start a proper career with writing, to get back in the saddle. Plus without my parents sponsoring me and having them as my emergency contacts before, I can't really ride any more. I'm not really interested in getting back in the show circuit, but I really don't want to have to sell Niko. He's my baby, but if I can't be there for him, I want him to have an owner that can."
She stopped herself and looked at him. "I'm so sorry. I'm just babbling on now. It's just been so long since I've had anyone to just talk to."
***
Richard moved some pasta to his plate as he listened. For some reason he'd had a craving for asparagus, and he was looking forward to enjoying it. Her story caught his attention, but her tone was relaxed, so he went ahead and started eating while she answered his question. The food hit the spot; not quite enough to make his eyes roll back, but close. He'd have to remember this recipe.
When she paused, he looked over to see her making eyes at the wine. He could see the wheels turning in her head, though he couldn't be certain what was going on behind the scenes. Still, she lifted the glass to take some of it, so he relaxed.
He smiled at hearing of her dream profession, delighted that she had that creative spark. He wasn't sure he fully comprehended the world of horses she was describing, but he understood the emotion of it perfectly.
When she stopped to look at him and make her confession, he smiled easily.
"Oh, no, do go on. Niko, huh? What's keeping you from retaining him?"
***
She grinned. Happiness seemed to spread through her as she was reminded, once again, how greatly he cared. Even if he did not understand, he still wanted to hear about it and learn. "Well the realm of horses is an expensive one. Right now I'm barely making enough to keep the house and pay for all of Niko's food and board. I'm going to have to step up my game with my writing, or find something else I can actually make enough money in. Otherwise, I'll have to sell him. I was thinking of selling the house and moving to an apartment, but as of lately, there's been something keeping me here." She gave him a smile and a meaningful look. She was relaxed by his presence and calm about all of this now, but it normally caused her a lot of stress and anxiety.
She laughed lightly. "I've always wanted to be a writer if I couldn't make it in the show circuit, but I guess I never realized that I don't quite have enough talent to do it as career. Really, I guess it was quite silly of me to think I could." She shook her head slightly. "Well that's enough of my rambling, would you mind telling me how you know Markov?" She asked, hoping to get the attention away from herself. She felt like she'd made a fool of herself for trying to write for a living when she wasn't even all that good at it.
***
Richard topped the salad off with a vinaigrette. He was pleased that she felt comfortable enough to share her world with him, and even more so that his simple interest encouraged her. The privilege of having access to another's innermost heart set him at ease as it allowed him to see who they were, what mattered to them, and what kinds of things they might do to achieve their goals and dreams. More than that though, he had a tendency to mirror personal walls, even as he preferred to have none.
Her money issues were as leaves in the breeze to him, not because he'd never had any, but because he was more interested in what she was trying to do with the money she had. He could hear the love she had for her horse, and wondered if she would allow assistance. Upon parting with the military he'd been given a significant pension, and even now only worked because otherwise he'd have nothing to do. The look in her eyes as she'd finished suggested to him that a way could be found, but he left it for a different time.
In his idle time he'd gone looking for interesting things to read, and found that in general the most popular authors of their day had little in the way of obvious skill at writing, but much more in the way sheer volume of material. He preferred the writings of older times, when language was a point of pride, and ideas were rich and complex, as opposed to the widely indulgent uses it was put to lately.
"Silly is to abandon your dreams before you've even begun to chase them. Writing is a long-term game, and I'm almost certain you're better than you think. Perhaps you'd like to show me some of your work sometime."
His smile shifted into the wry as he considered her question.
"Markov and I go back to before I enlisted in the service. We were in school together for a time, and even then he had a penchant for being an entertainer. He could get a laugh out of anyone. We were an odd friendship, but I suppose opposites attract. When I got back from … when I got back, Fabian was the first person to knock on my door. He walked right in like old times and went straight to my fridge."
Laughter showed in his smile as he recalled the memory.
"It was the first time I'd felt anything close to normal in a long time." He paused to live in the nostalgia, then turned his gaze to her. He let it rest on her, searching her features as he discovered that in that moment, he felt far better than normal. Before too long he smiled, then continued speaking. "I actually rather like your rambling."
He thought back to the night he'd met her as he stirred his salad looking for his next bite.
"You were so lovely in that dress at the club." He glanced at her with a look in his eyes that clearly meant nothing had changed in that regard. "The way you walked right up to us, so forward and confident, you had my heart racing."
***
She listened to him with obvious interest. It really warmed her heart to watch him remember his past. She considered what she could show him, and decided in one of her poems that he might like, plus she had memorized, so she could tell it to him later.
She ate quietly as she listened to him without interrupting. She'd always had a skill for listening to people, and it had helped her notice things about people. She wondered what painful memories he might have from his service. It might have just been her imagination, but she thought he seemed a bit hesitant to mention it.
When she heard his comment on her rambling, she instantly blushed and looked down at her plate. As he spoke again, her face only heated more. "Th- that was different. I… was hiding. Behind the mask I could pretend to be someone else just for a little while." She said, hesitantly looking back up at him.
***
The sight of her blush rocked his world. That such a simple statement from him should have so powerful a reaction in her fascinated him and had him falling for her that much harder. In hearing her words he compared the dropping of her gaze to the prideful smirk she'd worn the night before. He mused that had he not seen her other persona, he would have considered it simple embarrassment, and enjoyed the effect he was having on her rising blood. Piecing the two together, he was impressed with her ability to show of herself only what she pleased. By contrast he felt he wore his heart on his sleeve.
Distant training was ticking in the back of his mind, noting the meanings of actions but he completely ignored it. He was far too happy with her company to worry about such things.
"Oh? Curious. I found it to be an exhilarating experience in which I could be my true self without concern. Liberating in the extreme either way, I imagine."
The return of eye contact thrilled him, not only internally but for her strength of will in meeting his eyes even while she was so affected. He sat back in his chair, relaxing completely into the moment and said the first thing that popped into his mind.
"That is a lovely color on you."
***
If she could have blushed more, she would have. "Um… thanks." there was a short pause of silence, though it was not awkward or strange. It felt peaceful, thoughtful. She leaned back in her chair, as if she was done eating, and gazed over at him.
"I really don't think I've been this open and comfortable with anyone before, ever. And it means alot to me that you're being open too. I've been so pent up inside myself without sharing or letting it out for so long, that I think it might have driven me crazy eventually. It probably doesn't seem like it because of earlier, but I don't cry. I just never let myself. Ever since I was 12 and I convinced myself that I was strong and alone, I've just kept it inside. I thought no one could help me, or that I would be weak if I let them. But something about you… just ruined my whole philosophy." She laughed at herself. "To really be honest with you" she took a deep breath, "I don't really want to leave. It just feels so much better to be near you."
***
He gave a slow nod to her reply, then used the silence to look inside himself and marvel at the peace he found there. It felt warm and expansive. It filled his chest, and his mind was like the surface of a still pond. In that moment he didn't want anything, didn't think anything, just was. Noting that she looked done, he took a sip of his wine. The flavors dancing on his tongue were delightful, and he was pleased to discover they indeed went well together.
Listening to her speak now, he supposed they went well together also.
"It had occurred to me that neither of us would want to be alone tonight."
He touched a napkin to his mouth before continuing.
"I am very glad that you feel that way, and that you've been able to release some of the tension inside you tonight. I know what it can feel like when it gets to be too much, and I think you're quite right about what it can do to a person. Philosophies are great, but nothing can replace a good friend."
He cleared his throat. It was harder than he expected.
"Although, there were things that happened overseas that I haven't been able to talk about at all, even with my old, reliable friend." He let that hang for a moment, watching her eyes. "I didn't think I ever would, but…" he stopped again, overcome with emotion. After the worst of it had passed he continued. "What you've been able to do tonight has inspired me to try. It is a topic for another time, but I can tell that it does in fact mean a lot to you to know my heart, so I don't really want you to leave either."
He looked from one of her eyes to the other.
"And I don't really see any reason that you should have to. Though I think it would be best to put all this away before retiring."
***
She sat there motionless, simply observing. Desires deep inside her wanted to comfort him, but she didn't know how, so she waited for him to finish. She felt helpless when she had to watch him like that. She wished she could just take it all away and make everything better, but then she remembered what he had said about pain being part of us. Whatever happened to him made him who he was now. Perhaps she wouldn't be here if the two of them hadn't suffered in the ways they had.
When she realized the meaning of his last words, it felt surreal. As cliche as it sounded, it was her most recent dream about to come true. Even more important, was that he didn't want her to leave either. She felt her heart do a flip at that statement.
Guilt crossed through her for a brief moment, when she realized she may have unintentionally seemed like she was asking for an invitation to stay. The idea was hurriedly tossed aside, by the rest of her mind, that was overjoyed to get to stay near him.
"Would you like me to help clean up?" She offered, somehow seeming brighter than before.
***
"That would be delightful," he said, smiling at her cheery offer. Rising from his seat, he took his plate and the bowl of salad from the table. The kitchen was nearby, an island and a row of overhanging cupboards separating the two rooms from each other. He set the plate in the sink, then went to get some wrap to cover the salad.
He was surprised at his calm. The night was young and held great potential, and in any other situation he would have expected his nerves to be getting the best of him. Not so with Madison, and so much the better for it. So much the wonder. He decided to not think too much about it, to accept that it felt right and didn't need analyzing.
Before heading back to the table, he retrieved a mason jar from the pantry then put it on the counter. He went back to the table for the bread and the wine bottle. Setting the bread on the counter, he proceeded to pour the remaining wine into the jar. Not fancy perhaps, but effective.
Watching so stunning a woman doing so mundane a task alongside him was an interesting experience. He grinned at the sight in spite of himself. They hadn't really discussed what it meant that she wasn't leaving, but he wondered if such a thing could become normal. Probably not wearing heels to dinner every night, but the rest maybe. What a lovely normal.
***
She stood and brought her plate and the pasta into the kitchen with her. She set her plate in the sink and searched for a container to put the remainder of the pasta in. Her first thought was a worry over if she did something not the way he wanted it, but her common sense told her it was no major deal. She found a container for it and put the remainder of the dish in the fridge.
She had no way of knowing what the night would hold, but she could imagine nothing but good coming from the evening.
As they finished putting away the last of their dinner, out of the corner of her eye she caught him looking at her and grinning. The sight of that nearly made her laugh aloud. It seemed they were both easily affected by each other's presence.
She found that she loved seeing him smile like that, so she gave him her own warm grin, and started to walk back out to the living room.
***
Seeing her grinning back at him jolted that calm a little bit. Thoughts sprang into his mind unbidden, and all frisky in nature. Slapping her rear as she passed, taking her for a kiss, bending her over the counter, putting her between a rock and hard place… He knew he'd gotten granite countertops for a reason. Still, the task was not complete, and his sense of order demanded that it be done before moving on to anything else, regardless of how fun.
He moved from the kitchen after she'd vanished into the hall that lead to the living room. Instead of following her immediately, he went to the table to blow out the candles and put them away. On the way out he picked up the wine glasses, still only sipped from.
The immediate feelings mixed with those from the conversation before, but somehow it didn't spoil him. Instead he felt his heart beating faster even as that calm persisted. He swirled his wine glass as he let the volatile cocktail stir in his chest. Once he'd found the edges of it and had it surrounded, he knew he could control it. At least for now. He wasn't in any kind of hurry, as potent as those feelings were. In fact, he preferred to let them simmer. For the pleasure of it, yes, but also because he felt it wise.
He set out to the living room to see where she'd gotten off to. It had surprised him when she took initiative and went down the hall on her own. He had been looking forward to holding her hand as they changed locations. On the other hand, he liked the anticipation of discovering her in the next room.
***
Madison had curled up in one of the comfortable chairs facing the fire. Her heels had been taken off and set next to the chair, so that she could bring her feet up onto the seat and underneath her. She looked so thoughtful and at peace as she stared into the fire. She seemed already deep in her thoughts and memories, yet there was something about her unfocused gaze, that told of her mind being on everything and nothing at all.
The warmth of the fire only echoed the feelings she'd had since she'd met him. From his comforting embrace, to his kiss of bridled hunger, she'd only felt drawn to him more strongly. She knew she was falling hard for this man, and fast too. She just didn't know what to do now.
***
Richard rounded the corner to the living room, then paused as he caught sight of her. She looked so serene, curled up in front of his fire. Even as his desire for her deepened so did his calm, as the resolution he'd just made overcame the blooming surge he felt inside him at coming back within sight of her. She looked far away in her reverie, so instead of saying anything he moved over to the sound system to put on some light music, setting the glasses down on an end-table. He had a pandora station for Philip Glass that seemed to him like it would suit the evening. After setting the volume to barely audible, he took a seat on the end of the sofa between the chairs.
The fire crackled as part of the fire collapsed on the frame, sending a plume of sparks up the chimney along with the smoke. Richard took a sip of the wine, enjoying the enthusiastic tingle of it on his tongue. The taste was smooth, rich and sweet, with a zingy aftertaste that left a smile on his face.
Calm though he was, his emotions were in a flurry of soft, delicate vulnerabilities that fluttered within him. Desire prompted action while consideration urged a more sedate pace. He'd never have guessed this would have happened when Fabian had invited him to that party, but it had, and here she was. His passion backed down and came to heel when faced with just how much he treasured her. For all the sauve gestures and genteel graces he'd shown her, at this point he had no idea what he was doing. It was part of the reason he'd tended toward the careful in … well, no, he'd been quite bold, hadn't he? His eyebrows went up in bemusement when he realized how much of a hand he'd had in bringing them to this point.
Still, this flower was beautiful in the blooming. He had the sense that she felt comfortable under his lead, and that being the case he wanted to have a clear idea of where he would be leading them. It struck him then that the moment she'd appeared in his life he'd felt lighter, and having her with him now improved him. Regardless of what that could mean, the one thing he was certain of was that he would be very sorry to ever see her go. Not that he wanted to chain her down, though considering the club they'd been at that could be a possibility, but if she would choose it he'd build a life with her in it.
Life and time would tell, but that was that then, wasn't it? Suddenly the thought of his old unit and how happy they'd be for him now popped into his mind. He set the wineglass down as he silently choked on that thought. Wherever they were now, he was sure they'd be cheering him on. That was the feeling he had, and wherever it had come from, he was glad for it, because what he'd promised to do meant that he'd try to acknowledge that his life with them had long ago come to an end.
A particularly loud snap from the fire brought him back. He looked over to Madison.
"Hmm," he said. "I'd never thought of that before."
***
She was such a simple and complicated creature. She saw everything in a logical and practical way, yet she acted in such strange and unexplainable ways sometimes. She had the mind of a scientist and the heart of an artist. Around him she felt so lost and useless, like she should be doing something, but she didn't know what. She'd never been this close to anyone before, not even her own parents. She always stayed distant. Now she didn't even know how to go about doing whatever it was that she wanted to achieve with him. This simply complicated creature, was simply confused.
She jumped ever so slightly at the sound of his voice. She slowly lifted her gaze to him once again, and shifted in her seat, so that she was facing him more than the fire.
"Thought of what?" she asked.
***
"I was thinking about how things change and never quite go according to plan. For some more than others, perhaps. But the thing that … dawned on me I suppose, was that a woman's potential to give new life extends beyond birth."
He squinted at nothing, trying to see the idea better.
"I've seen more lives end than I care to recount, and for a while I thought mine had too, in a way. It had never occurred to me that I might be able to begin again without having to start over."
Taking in her bunched up posture on the chair, he smiled.
"Would you like to come sit with me and tell me what you were thinking about?"
***
She happily got up and walked over, taking a seat beside him on the sofa. She once again curled up comfortably with her feet under her.
"To be perfectly honest and just a little bit blunt, I was thinking about you, or rather us. I was worrying over some silly things, and trying to figure others out. I can't say I've ever felt this way for anyone before." She watched him carefully with those bright eyes.
This certainly was a first. She wanted to be close to him in every way possible. She yearned to touch his mind and body and see him for who he was in his truest self. She wanted to share memories with him. She's never been that way with anyone before, nor had she ever wanted to be.
***
Seeing she'd risen to do as he'd suggested, he raised his right arm to the back of the sofa. Warm amusement spread over his face as he watched her tuck in again. Her words, especially 'us', had a fire blooming in his chest. With a grin, he wondered which was hotter.
"It is the same for me, Madison." His eyes drifted over her for a bit before coming back to her eyes. "Though, if I were to be so honest and blunt as you," he said, reaching over with his left hand to lay his finger on her lips. "I was thinking of kissing you. Here, and just about everywhere else."
He lowered his hand then pulled it back to lay it on his own lap. Even so, once he'd found her eyes he didn't look away.
"As well as what our new life might look like, were I to do so." Her eyes were so big, and so very bright… "Do you think I should?"
***
Her face flushed a bright red again as she listened to him. For a brief moment, she was torn between playfully biting at or licking his finger, but opted for neither, this time at least.
Her heart was racing like there was no tomorrow, as the simple word escaped her lips, "Yes." In that moment, she could think of nothing else. She wanted that more than anything else in the world. She slowly leaned just a bit closer to him. She wanted this so badly now. "Please?"
***
He grinned a lazy, wicked grin. "Ah, there's that color I like so much on you." He let his gaze roam down her neck. "When we get upstairs I'm going to take that dress off of you and see how far down it goes." He raised that hand again to unbutton the top-most button of his shirt, so that it was open partway down his chest. Otherwise though, he made no move. "Then you're going to crawl into my bed and I'm going make good on my promise." His grin widened. "I have it on good authority that the neighbors are out tonight, so I expect you'll be making quite a bit of noise."
He moved his hand from the back of the sofa to stir into the hair on her back.
"But for now, I want you to hike that pretty, little dress up so you can climb atop me and come get the kiss you want so badly." A solemn earnestness seeped into his features. "As long as you know that once you do, I'm likely never going to want to kiss anyone else like that from then on."
***
Even as nervous as she was, she started to do as he had asked, or rather told her, with almost no hesitation. She could see just how purely genuine and honest he was, and that only made her want him more.
She moved slowly, trying to tease him, and pulled up the edge of her dress, revealing more of her creamy pale skin, as she sat up on her knees. She crept closer to him and placed one of her legs on either side of him, while wrapping her arms around his neck.
She leaned closer until their lips were nearly touching and looked into his eyes again. Waiting was killing her, but hopefully it had the same effect on him. She closed that final small distance and closed her eyes that were filled with unbridled need and desire.
***
He saw it there, in her eyes. The intelligent choice she'd made, with every detail on the table. That those details only increased the desire burning in her eyes excited him, but more than that allowed him to let go. She knew he was serious, and she was walking into this eyes open. It was in that moment that the things he'd said went from a desire to a plan.
Her teasing, seductive movements thrilled him, zipping through him like wildfire. In telling her what he wanted, he'd left the choice of it to her, and here she came. He smirked. She'd come a few more times this evening if he had his way. For the first time, he looked at her body without holding back the fire in his eyes. A distant thought suggested that the fire might actually be reflected in his eyes, and that suited him just fine.
The dress went up, and he swallowed in anticipation. The movements of her bare legs were hypnotizing to him. He licked his lips as he watched her reveal herself, then spread her legs to straddle him. The smell of her nearly knocked him out as it inundated his senses. He set his hands on her thighs, sliding them up her form as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They got to her ass and he squeezed, feeling their taut strength and sensual curves.
He lifted his gaze, but slowly. Up from that little triangle of fabric, over the rumpled dress gathered over her waist, around the curve of her abdomen, to linger for a moment down her cleavage. He decided of all views of it, he liked this one best. He raised his head to meet her eyes. She was very close, and he could see the hope in her eyes that he'd liked her little show. Atop him as she was he wondered if she couldn't feel how much he'd liked it beneath her, but that hunger had him far, far beyond words. Even so, he could see its twin in her eyes, and his lips parted for her as he ran his hands up her back and one up her neck to get lost in her hair.
***
Every touch of his strong, confident hands, send the most delectable shivers through her. She could feel his arousal beneath her, and it only excited her more. It took everything in her not to wiggle around on top of him to tease him further.
Her lips mingled with his in slow passionate movements, while one of her hands moved up into his hair. Her lips were soft and supple on his. She bit his lower lip playfully and sucked it between hers.
Her hands came around in front of her, and started trying desperately to undo the rest of the buttons on his shirt, eager to rid him of it. She wanted to feel him the way he was feeling her. She wanted, no needed, to learn, to memorize the shape of him, every muscle and every movement.
She remembered his promise for dessert after dinner, and was certainly not disappointed. He was a man of his words, and she was savoring every piece of him she could get. And by the look in his eyes and how they drank her in, she knew he was too.
***
Madison came in for her kiss, sensual, soft and lithe. She was like a dream, a dream come true in his arms. He let her take her pleasure, responding to her kiss with patient intent. The feel of her fingers running through his hair sent shivers down his neck and back, and he straightened and twisted into them so they found the fullest reach they would within him. He gasped a tiny, little gasp when she bit on his lip, moaning into her as she sucked on him.
It meant the world to him that it was Madison atop him, Madison who was kissing him, Madison who was pressing into and down onto him. He wanted her, fully and entirely, and she was giving herself to him. Passion swelled in his chest for the reality of it, and he savored every last bit of it. He would go to bed beside this woman, and wake up next to her. He would live beside her and see her chase her dreams. He had made his offer, and she'd taken it. And tonight he would take her. Something clicked into place inside him. It felt right.
Her hands fell from his hair, then he felt her struggling to get his shirt off. He laughed into the kiss, deciding she was doing just fine, and would like her reward better if she had to work for it a bit. Besides, his hands also had more to explore. He ran his fingers through scrabbling tickles down her neck, then slid them down her dress to hold her back around the ribcage.
His woman. A deep, rumbling moan started from the center of his chest, so he grabbed it and shoved it into her through the kiss. He wanted to seize her hips and grind her against himself, but he would wait. He was looking forward to undressing her as he'd said, and that would be after the fire burned down. They had some time left, and plenty after that. The promise of more to come invigorated his patience.
Madison was just starting to get playful and make her own moves. Her need made her bold enough to strip him herself, and he wanted her boldness. He wanted her initiative. The woman he'd met the night before and the one here with him now was the same person, and he wanted all of her. It was easy to give her what she wanted, but that nervousness he'd seen before suggested it wasn't so easy for her to take it. That was all right; clearly all she needed was a little encouragement, and that he could manage easily.
He smiled into the kiss as he massaged her back, humming an affirmative to her to keep going.
***
The sexy, deep moans he made only encouraged her more. His hands in her hair and on her back supported her and held her together in a way while she had her way with him.
She finally managed to undo the last button, and barely restrained herself from pulling the shirt off of him immediately. She pulled away from the kiss, panting as she caught her breath and then moaned aloud in appreciation, as she took in the prize of her victory. She pulled the shirt off down his arms with his cooperation and tossed it away. She leaned in closer, while her hands explored and memorized every inch of his now exposed skin. As her hands worked on getting to know his strong chest, her hips moved around, wiggling on his lap.
Eventually, she stilled, but her hands worked their way around his sides to feel his back and slowly massage his shoulders. Her mouth came down on his neck and she hungrily kissed and sucked on the flesh there. She breathed in his intoxicating scent and nearly melted from the bliss of it.
***
Richard licked the inside of his teeth as he watched her take in his bare chest. The victory in her eyes stoked his hunger for her, showing in his grin. He'd kept in shape, keeping up the regimen from his time in the service, and it had never felt better than when Madison viewed the results. He chuckled when she tossed his shirt aside, then sucked in a huge, deep breath when her hands found his chest.
Everywhere her hands went incited magical, little twinges under her fingers. It felt like his insides were dancing under her touch. Her movement in his lap combined with all that wrenched a groan out of him from deep inside. He wondered what she might do if he gave her another shot of confidence. His voice came out breathy, with emphasis on any sound that involved his tongue.
"Like what you see? I know the feeling." He slapped her on the ass, none too gently. "Come on, my little tigress, show me what you've got."
She went hungrily for his neck, and he laughed for her enthusiasm. Her kissing and sucking was divine, as was the feel of her breath hot on his skin. He tilted his head to the side as he squeezed her again, moaning in rapture. He reached for her belly with his other hand, brushing her and tickling with his fingers.
"I am sooo looking forward to getting you in my bed, all naked and wild."
He moved his hands to hold her chest with his thumbs just under the curves of her breasts. Blissful, hungry mirth bubbled out of his chest before he continued.
"You're incredible, so strong and brave. I bet you could do anything."
He held on to her as he arched up to roll his shoulders on the sofa to resituate. As soon as he'd gotten comfortable again, he resumed running his hand up and down her sides.
***
His words only egged her on and made her even more confident. His groan was extra reassurance that she was doing the right things. When he slapped her ass, she couldn't help the moan that escaped her, soon being swept away by helpless giggles. Her sensitive skin was incredibly ticklish, but that only intensified the moment.
She kissed from his neck up to his ear, pausing to suck and bite at the skin every so often. Her warm breath fanned out and tickled his ear. "You'll only be able to get me in your bed if you can catch me and tame me first." She whispered seductively. Her kisses traveled down his jaw and eventually returned to his mouth, but only for the briefest of moments, before moving away again.
She traveled to his other side and repeated the process, except feather light. When she reached his ear, she nipped at it, but was even quieter. "I promise I won't be a nice little filly to tame. You'll have to take me down bucking and biting." This time she only kissed at the very corner of his mouth when she reached it, preferring instead to travel down his chest, giving it the same treatment. When she reached as far as she could get in their current position, she pulled back a bit to look at him.
***
Hearing her moan fanned his desire to hear more of them. The sound of it was ambrosia to his ears and would have been enough to make him blush had he not already been so worked up. Her giggles were adorable, and above anything else told him she was comfortable.
Her kisses and bites had his eyes rolling back in his head. Then she whispered her challenge and it was on. Even so, she wasn't going anywhere just yet, but those lips were roaming again. His breathing was short and ragged, but he was grinning in delight at her antics. He snuck in a brush of his tongue across her lips before she was gone again, traveling to the other side. Her promise inspired one in him, and it parted from his lips almost under his breath.
"And down you will go, bucking and biting until you're bucking and moaning, screaming and sighing."
His back arched into her kisses down his front, and where before his insides were dancing, now they were flipping under her kisses and nibbles, bites and licks. When pulled back to look up at him he glanced down only to have his breath catch at the look in her eyes. An ironic little corner of his mind noted that she was, in fact, going down. Chest heaving, he gazed down at her.
The firelight flickering behind her shone around her head and through the stray wisps of hair that had escaped their patterned order. He'd never seen eyes so big. Time seemed to freeze in that moment, a crystalline stillness that he was almost loathe to break. He moved his hands to her thighs, framing her but not holding her as he waited, watching her to see what she'd do next.
After a moment, he lifted a hand to caress the side of her face, treasuring her. He smiled as he turned his head to see how else the firelight caught her silhouette. He spoke as she had before.
"And that's a promise, Madison."
He waited to see if she'd come in for another kiss or if she wanted to continue going down.
***
She sat motionless for a time, simply returning his heated gaze. Delight had shivered through her at his promise, and now she wanted desperately to see him try to catch her.
With what little self control she had left, she ran her hands along his chest one more time, before slowly standing. Hopefully he wasn't expecting that. She walked around to the back of the sofa and trailed a hand across his shoulders, before leaning down to his ear. "Then come and catch me. If you dare."
She watched him with caution in her eyes, ready to bolt playfully as soon as he came for her. She had thoroughly enjoyed having her way with him, but now there were parts of her simply begging for him to take over, for him to come and get her. Too bad she was good at running.
***
Richard lifted an eyebrow when she stood back from him. The trails left in the wake of her hands was still tingling when she leaned down to his ear. He grinned.
The fire had burned down to coals, and would be safe to leave. He glanced toward her out of the corner of his eyes, considering his options. Throwing his arms back to seize her might work, but seemed a little bit over the top. Besides, this little filly wanted to run. Running in his current state would be tricky, but he'd manage.
"Do I dare…"
He leaned forward, then flung himself up from the sofa to give chase.
***
The second he moved, she took off. Unfortunately for her, she didn't know where she was going, so he held the upper hand, this time. She didn't know exactly how fast he was, but he was stronger than her, so she would have to find a way to use her smaller frame to her advantage.
Yes, she took her games very seriously. She would not go down easy tonight.
She sprinted for the first hall she saw. Perhaps not the best plan, but part of the fun was not knowing if she was even safe or not. She didn't look back behind her. She just kept going, hoping to find the stairs or something. She was just praying she didn't hit a dead end.
***
By the time Richard had made it to the hallway she was already half-way up the stairs. He laughed for the pure thrill of it as he chased her, catching a glimpse of her disappearing around the corner at the top of the stairs.
Well, this wasn't necessarily part of his plan for getting her up there, but it worked just as well. He took the stairs three at a time, getting to the top quick as a blink, then rounded the corner to see her looking for a place to go.
"Uh oh…" He said, grinning. "Looks like you're stuck now."
***
She gave him a mock scowl and kept trying to look around. She was stuck. Unless she went through a door, she would have to get passed him to make it down a hall. She backed up against the wall, watching him.
"That doesn't mean I've lost quite yet," she said, using her sweetest voice.
She didn't move, but she looked ready to run again, or pounce, or do who knows what with that crazy mind of hers.
***
Richard continued toward her, slowly closing the distance between them. He walked with his hands ready at his sides, as she looked like she might be getting ready to try to rush him. Even as he watched her eyes he noted the quick rise and fall of her chest, and what it did to the contours of her dress.
The dress he'd promised to get her out of. He decided he liked this game. He continued his approach, fingers dancing in anticipation.
"Oh no? What's a corralled, stuck girl to do? Personally, I think you win when you get caught, but that could just be me."
***
She continued staring him down. "Perhaps" was all she said. She shifted her weight back and forth between her feet. She was trying not to imagine what he might do when he caught her, but some of the first ideas that came to mind had her grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"But I don't see anyone who's stuck in this situation." She told him calmly.
***
Her non-committal response had him grinning again. He watched her sway from side to side, and of a sudden the combat training he'd received and 'Hips Don't Lie' mixed in his mind, causing him to show his teeth as he laughed.
"You know, neither do I. I think you're exactly where you want to be." He glanced at the door to her left, then back at her. "Or close enough."
He raised his left hand for hers, offering to let her take it, but wary of this tricksy, unpredictable mood she was in.
***
She was tempted to try to scold him for laughing at her, but she decided to let it pass for now.
She gave him a look, expecting some sort of trickery, but reached out and grasped his hand, too eager for what was to come to be careful. Plus, she was getting terribly uncomfortable with this bothersome dress on.
***
He held her hand gently as the amusement on his face melted back into impassioned hunger. Lifting the hand up, he bowed his head to kiss the back of it, watching her eyes the whole while. When he pulled back he turned the handle on the door next to them, pushed it open, then switched her hand into his other to lead her inside.
His heart was pounding, from exertion, but more from excited anticipation. Seeing the eagerness in her eyes told him that she was in a similar state, and he didn't really suppose words would be necessary at this point. His lips would be telling her things, as would be his tongue, but at a much more intimate distance. He remembered his promises.
The room before them was dominated by a large, california king bed, set against the middle of the wall opposite and to the left, so that as they entered they were standing at the bottom right corner of it. Backed against the right wall were tall dressers, while to the left were two doors, one that led into a walk-in closet, and the other a bathroom. Opposite them were windows shaded by curtains that hung all the way to the floor.
Other than sleeping, and whatever they may do there, the room had no other purpose, so it had little else in the way of furniture except nightstands and a round, comfortable chair in the corner opposite the door. He liked having it this way, as it tended to let him relax from whatever tasks he may have had going during his days. This was his sanctuary, a place of peace and quiet, where he let the rest of the world spin and toil while he drifted away.
He followed in behind her, turned on a small lamp, then closed the door behind him. Bringing her here meant almost more to him than if he'd put a ring on her finger. This place had been where he would flee when the memories became too much. Here he was safe, secure, and warm. Now Madison was a part of it, and he felt he wouldn't have it any other way.
Taking her hands in his, he wrapped her in an embrace from behind, holding her close and gently pressing a kiss into her neck.
***
As the door closed behind them, she found that the sense of being safe and away from the rest of the world came to her as well. She looked around the room briefly, before looking back to him with that ever present eagerness. She forced her mind not to imagine the possibilities, but instead focus on what was happening right then, and let him do the planning.
When he brought her closer in the embrace, she tilted her head to the side, in hopes to give him easier access to her neck, and in hopes that he wouldn't stop. She hummed in approval and pure bliss, as she felt the shivers that he coursed through her.
***
Richard slid his hands over her belly and abdomen as he took the access she gave him. The feel of her body under the dress, supple, pliant, willing, even needful fed his hunger for her. He kissed her low on the shoulder, then worked his way up her neck, losing himself in the sensation of her. His hands roamed all over her front, exploring the slopes and valleys of her, leaving no place untouched.
He pulled in a deep breath as he nuzzled into her, then stopped his hands to sigh, overwhelmed with her scent. His eyes drifted open to take in the bed and her heaving chest below him. After taking a few breaths to bask in that moment, he leaned in again to graze the surface of the skin of her neck with his teeth, then retreated a small distance so he could see her back. He brought his hands up to the zip at the neckline, then slowly drew it all the way down. He pushed the corners of it off of her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor.
"That's better," he whispered breathily. "Bra next."
He undid the clasp, then helped her shrug out of it. Tossing it aside, he stepped into her again, then wrapped his arms around her once more. He returned to necking her, in a daze from the pure pleasure of having her naked back against his chest. Dancing fingertips glided over her sides and belly, curling into light, teasing caresses as they flew. Eventually they made it up the sides of her ribcage, then flipped over to drag his fingernails across the underside of her breasts, leaving trailing lines of sensation in their wake.
***
She could barely breath, or think. All she felt, all she could think of, was him. Every breath she took was filled with his scent. Every sound was his breathing or his desire filled voice. His room, his body, his touch. She was entirely surrounded by him, and he was taking her breath away. She was so exposed, but she wasn't afraid. He was seeing her in ways no one had before, and she never wanted anyone else to see. Only him. In a sense, they belonged to each other now. Even with all the people around her, this was the first time she didn't feel so alone.
She closed her eyes as every sensation sank into her. Her knees were weak, but she stood before him, vulnerable and trusting him completely. She knew that just in case she did fall, he would catch her. But for now, she was fine.
She was fighting to stay still, but losing and trembling at his gentle touch. She bit her lip in an effort to keep silent, but couldn't keep control, as little whimpers mixed with moans escaped her throat.The gentleness and barely there touches were unbearable. "Please"
The word was whispered ever so quietly and she could barely even get it out. She didn't know what it was that she was asking for, but she wanted more. She wanted him to never stop, keep going, and she needed it so badly.
***
The sounds of her moaning, inhibited yet unrestrainable, had him grinning into her neck. They were so delightful and lovely, just as she was, and that she'd tried to hold them back only thrilled him further. Even as his pride swelled, his regard for her grew. She'd given herself over completely, and without fear. He could feel her trust for him in her movements, the ones that told him one thing or another was completely new to her. He held that trust dearly in his heart.
The word on her stolen breath rippled through him in a shudder of pleasure that shook him to his core. Sweet as it was, he would not have her pleading for long. He glided his fingertips up the center of her chest then lowered his palms onto her breasts, seizing them adamantly and digging in with clawed fingers. He pulled away to whisper into her ear.
"Your moaning has me so hard I can feel my pulse pounding through me."
He caught her earlobe between his teeth, then pulled until it slipped free.
"You won't stop will you?"
Releasing her breasts from his grip, he trailed his fingers up to their peaks to twist her nipples between his fingers and thumbs.
"They're like lightning in my veins."
He pulled on the trapped nipples until the flesh could not follow any further.
"You are so beautiful."
Laying his hands back on her chest possessively, he slid his hands down her front until they were gliding over the front of her thighs.
"I can't wait to see the rest of you."
His hands turned inward, but slowed so much they were barely moving.
"Perhaps I won't."
***
"Yes."
He was right, she wouldn't stop. The feel of his hands on her, so firm and rough, only made her breath catch in her throat for a moment, before her breath came shuddering out. Delightful shivers raced through her as he touched her, his words only making it harder to stand. She couldn't help but imagine what his words described to her. When his fingertips found her nipples, she yelped and her back arched against him, her head falling back. The pain felt so beautifully exquisite.
She was panting as his hands started to travel lower. She was so desperate for his touch, even though she knew he wouldn't be stopping any time soon. Even with his hands still on her, she wanted more. He just made her so hungry. "Please… don't wait."
***
Richard kissed her neck, offered so sweetly. The view from over her shoulder as she arched back against him was tantalizing. The curves of her breast thrown out in abandon, tortured nipples peaked out in tension, he was beyond pleased. He remembered that little ass wiggle she'd been doing earlier.
"Bend over and put your hands on the bed."
He retreated his hands through the creases on either side of her pelvis, then flared his hands out to her hips to hold her as she did as he'd bidden.
***
It took a moment for his words to register in her mind after they reached her ears, but when they did, her stomach fluttered in excited anticipation.
She finally opened her eyes to glance up at him, before she slowly bend forward and grabbed hold of the edge of the bed. She was glad for the support of something to hold onto, and he would likely be quite appreciative of the view. The only thing left that kept any part of her from his view, was the black lace pair of panties.
***
Richard met her eyes with an appreciative gaze when they fluttered open, then watched happily as she heeded him, sliding his hands gently up and down her sides. The view from behind her as she bent over for him had his heart racing. He grinned at the slowness of her movement; he wanted to encourage the tease in her.
"Very good. Now, this little booty was shaking for me earlier. Let's see if we can't get it moving again, nice and slow," he said, slapping the side of her right hip gently. "Show me how excited you are."
He crouched down behind her, pressed a kiss onto her left hip, then dropped a knee for balance as he slid his hands over the flares of her hips to find the lacey bits of the last piece of clothing covering her.
***
His hands on her sides comforted and steadied her further as she had bent over and she found her face and neck had brightened to that shade of red that he enjoyed so much at his words.
She started swaying her hips left and right nice and slow, just like he had said, but doing so in as sensual a way as possible, exaggerating all of her movements.
She was finding that she obeyed him so easily and comfortably, with hardly any thought. It just came so naturally, and he was so gentle, yet firm about it. It did help a bit that she wanted it just as badly as he did, though he at least appeared to have a bit more patience.
***
He let out a slow, hot sigh at the sight of her hips swiveling just for him. An irrational, buoyant joy welled up in his chest for having her here, seeing her display herself for him, the raw desire he could now smell coming off of her, and just the entire situation in general. For the first time in what seemed like ages he was happy, and could predict further sustained happiness for the foreseeable future, and it all came from her. She righted him.
"Oh, Madison," he whispered in pure awe. "You look so amazing."
He glanced over to her face, catching a wonderful angle on her breasts hanging suspended in air, then grinned wide.
"Ah, there it is!" A full-on smile spread over his face. "There's that color I like so much!" He briskly patted her flank, eyes glittering in his excitement, knowing full well the attention would make it worse. "Oh, it looks great, especially from back here." He moved back to take in the sight of her, swirling his hands over her cheeks and hips.
"Mmm," he purred contently, as he took in the moment. "Now then, off they go…"
He hooked his fingers under the lace then tugged the band from side to side before slowly pulling them down to her ankles. His dark, hooded eyes devoured the sight of her, finally before him in all her glory. A burst of raw, overpowering need exploded in him, sending aftershocks coursing all through his form. He closed his mouth, but a low, hungry moan rumbled out of him.
***
She nearly wanted to playfully huff at him and pout indignantly at how much joy he took in her embarrassment, while blush only crept further down her neck and chest. She continued to sway her hips so nicely for him, continuing even once the last bit of clothing had been removed from her. A pure prideful joy washed over her when she glanced back to see the smile on his face. Knowing that she put it there only further alleviated the nervousness that seemed to be draining from her by the minute.
With every bit of her entirely bare skin now there for his viewing, she was tempted to stand back up and insist on getting to see him, but she stayed put and told herself that she would get what she wanted soon enough. She glanced back at him, only for her own desire to rise unbearably when she saw how deeply she affected him. His deep rumble had her emitting her own helpless little needy whimper.
A new jolt of courage surged through her. "I take it you like what you see?" She questioned him in as sultry of a voice as she could manage.
***
"I liked what I saw the moment I first laid eyes on you," he answered in a hush.
He trailed the backs of his hands up the inside of her legs, flipping them over when he was getting to the top to palm her swaying hips. Every seductive movement gave him just a little bit different angle on the glistening pearl before him. Her pouting, little, pink inner lips were puckered out for him as she rocked back and forth, holding his attention and spiking his hunger. He drew the back of a finger down the side of her mound.
"Darling, the blush seems to descend quite low indeed."
He tickled the base of her clit with his fingertip before withdrawing it. Then he looked back to her eyes, his own glittering with incited passion.
"I see you, Madison. All of you."
Giving her ass one last smooth caress, he took a deep breath, then swatted her behind.
"Get over here and get these things off of me," he said, rising to his feet.
***
She let out a soft moan and shuddered slightly before he withdrew his finger. She didn't want his touch to go away, but she certainly did want to help him out of his clothes.
She slowly stood up and turned to look at him, once again gratefully taking in the sight of him, knowing she would never tire of it. She walked over to him, minding every step, and nuzzled into his neck, giving the skin there sweet kisses. Her lips traveled down over his shoulder and chest, taking their time as they moved over his solid stomach, nipping at the skin every few inches.
Her knees softly touched the ground in front of him as she knelt. Her small hands reached up and unbuckled his belt, before pulling it out of the loops and folding it in half, before setting it off to her side. She unbuttoned his pants and then glanced up at him, before lowering the zipper and leaning closer while she pulled his pants down his legs.
She looked back up at him again, watching his eyes, and slipped her thumbs into the waistband of the last piece of clothing that dare get in her way.
***
Her moan was sweet music to his ears, sending tingles up his neck and shoulders. He grinned at the thought of playing this instrument every night. Madison was so responsive and so delightfully erotic. The feeling was growing in him that he would never tire of her, and her beautiful mind. Here, tonight, he would come to know her body as well. The way she'd waved her ass for him shuddered through his memory, sending chills down his spine and arms. How dearly he wanted, and so many things. If he had his way they'd have a lifetime to do all of them, over and over.
He couldn't get enough of watching her move. Licking his lips, he scanned her with his eyes, watching her naked curves twist and glide toward him. Her lips on his neck brought him back into that moment. His eyes drifted closed and his head to the side as waves of relaxing, exciting sensation rolled through him. It was like his muscles didn't know whether to leap or melt.
Madison kissed her way down his body and the sensation of it ricocheted all through his torso, going places that made no sense but made the loveliest feelings. He opened his eyes when she knelt before him, naked and panting. Or maybe that was him, he could hardly tell. What he knew was Madison was there, and with no secrets before him. The significance of this was more than a pretty, naked girl kneeling at his feet, at least to him. He knew this woman, and she knew him. They wanted more of each other, and no one else. His heart was wont to beat itself straight out of his chest.
There was nothing in his previous experience quite like watching her undress him. It was as though all the anticipation of what would come next was boiled down into that precise moment, and getting ready to burst inside him. Her patient care with his belt had him mesmerized. He'd fully expected a frenzied ripping off of his clothing, but instead she was reverently taking things one step at a time. He hadn't thought his heart could beat any harder. Little did he know, apparently.
Somehow, when Madison, stark naked and dripping wet, glanced up at him from the floor holding his open pants in her hands, he felt her gaze resounding in the center of his chest. The steady rise and fall of his breathing quickened when he saw the look in her eyes, the one that told him she knew exactly what she was doing, and what she wanted more than anything else lie underneath. Never in his life had he imagined seeing such a thing, but here she was, and he was rapt.
The throbbing in his erect cock, finally free and standing proud, was such that he wondered if she couldn't hear it. Ridiculous, but such was the effect she had on him. He grinned at the abrupt, almost stern way she tore down the boxers he'd been tenting.
"The kissing of your everything is coming up next, unless you've got something you want to tell me while you're down there."
***
The sight of him had her frozen there. She was panting in blazing arousal, her hot breath reaching out a touching that newly unveiled piece of him. Seeing what she did to him so clearly, had her burning even hotter than before in every sense.
When she could finally think enough to tear her eyes away, they roamed every inch of his now very visible skin from head to toe. She couldn't stop the grin that spread across her features.
"What would I have to tell you when you've left me so speechless?" She returned her gaze to him.
She stayed kneeled there, waiting for him to make the first move.
"Oh, wait. Is this my everything everything, or my most things everything?" She questioned him, giving the sweetest look she had.
***
His head tilted to the side as he brushed her hair out of her eyes. He took in her face, looking up at him, her exposed shoulders, the swell of her breasts from above, her pert little nipples, the tops of her bare legs, the adoration in her eyes.
"Well darling," he said, trailing a finger over her jawline. "The sweetest words ever spoken were not words at all."
His chest was rising and falling like a bellows, swelling out then falling swiftly with his every breath.
"In the first moment I saw you as you are now seeing me, I wanted nothing more that to take you into my mouth, right there, right then. Unfortunately for my thirsty tongue, I have plans for just exactly how I'd like to do that, and I was not willing to forsake them."
He tilted his head the other way.
"You, on the other hand, have no such limitation." He ran his fingertips through her hair. "And are in a prime position to explore to your heart's content. I think I'd like you to take advantage of it."
***
The nervousness tried to creep back in as she understood what he was saying, but his hand in her hair helped to sooth her again. For a few moments, she simply sat there at his feet, looking up at him. She wasn't thinking, simply forcing the thoughts away. She thought of all the things that she might do wrong, even though she knew it was absurd. She worried too much, and she knew she didn't have to with him.
When she finally managed to drive them away, she seemed to brighten up as she watched him. She took a deep breath.
"Words like this?"
Never taking her eyes off him, she took her time leaning forward, before those soft, pink lips caressed the tip of his throbbing length in that sweetest word; kiss.
Her tongue slipped out between her lips, and licked at it. Only, she wasn't just taking him up on his offer for her to explore, she was doing more than that. She was adventuring. That tongue of hers licked at every crevice and piece of skin, so slowly and intentionally.
She kept her eyes on his, wanting to see every single one of his reactions, see when he enjoyed it most.
Before she finished, she wrapped her lips around that tip and sucked on it gently, while her tongue still played with it.
***
Richard saw the shadows of her nervousness creep into her features as he gazed down at her. He had purposefully phrased his words so that it was an expression of desire, and not a command. As he stroked her head, running his fingers through her hair, he considered how he might let her out of the pressure he'd put her under. Then he saw the calm seeping back into her, and the determination in her eyes, so merely smiled instead. He wasn't sure how much courage it took on her part to dispel her worries, but he was proud of her for mustering it.
He had been absolutely honest in his words about wanting her in his mouth. Even then he was dreaming dreams in his mind of what he would do to her, and how he would touch her, lick her, taste her, and by all his estimations she would be floating away on a swell of pleasure for quite some time. So when he'd encouraged her, he was giving her an opportunity to release some of the pressure inside her, to give back before he gave her more. The look in her eyes had told him she was bursting inside, so he felt it would do her good. Beside that, having Madison kneeling in front of him, looking up and waiting for command was a sight he would never forget.
The sparkle returned to her eyes, and he knew she had won her internal victory. He kept his eyes on her, watching her rise up on her knees to get in reach of him. His heart leapt in his chest as she got closer and closer, reaching out to him with delicate hands on his thighs for balance, then his mouth dropped open in a gasp when her lips found him.
Breath quickening with every lash of her tongue, he watched her watching him. He pulled her hair back and held it behind her head as she ran her kissing tongue over every inch of him. The inclination to roll his eyes back in pleasure was growing ever more powerful, but he wanted to hold her gaze for as long as he could. In an effort to keep from getting completely lost in the sensations, he recalled her earlier question.
"Everything. Every last part of you, you delicious, devious, little…" she'd wrapped her lips around the tip and was flicking her tongue on him and sucking and he lost it. His head dropped back with a huge, quick gasp. Barely able to breathe, his voice came out breathless and soft. "Angel."
He couldn't take it anymore. He pulled her up to her feet by her hair then took her mouth with his.
***
Pride had swelled so deeply within her while she had watched him, that any other accomplishment she thought she had, paled in comparison. The look that showed how difficult it was for him to not let the pleasure overtake him, encouraged her and helped her keep her courage.
When he pulled her up, she let out a startled yelp, but not before making sure she gave him one last firm lick as he had been starting to pull her up.
His lips crashed into hers and it took her a moment to get her feet properly under her, before she threw one arm around his neck, while her other hand moved up into his hair.
She kissed him back with equal force and desire, catching his lips between hers and pushing up against him.
***
Richard growled into the surge of pleasure he felt at the mercy of her tongue, wrapped his arms around her, then lifted her up into his arms so she could wrap her legs around him. He was moaning into the kiss at the feel of her body melting into his, her soft warmth against his firm stature. His desire for her was filling him so completely he could hardly think, and it was all he could do to carry her to the bed and crash into it with her in his arms.
He set to devouring her, kissing with lips and tongue, driven wild by her passion and the chills that raced through him with every movement of her hand in his hair. His plan, his promise, drove his kisses down from her lips to the underside of her jaw and down her neck. He got up on his knees to prop himself over her as he brought his hands back into play, running them up and down her sides. Needing more of her, he grazed the line of her clavicle with his teeth, then kissed her down the center of her chest as he slid his hands up from below to push her breasts up and together. He pressed his lips into her flesh at the top of one of them, then flicked her with his tongue.
He repeated this process all the way around the outside curve of the breast, then circled inward toward the nipple, then took it into his mouth and bit into her around the outside of the areola as he attacked the nub with his tongue. He slowly closed his teeth on her, applying suction as soon as the seal of his mouth closed on her, then tugged away, holding her between his teeth.
All the while he massaged the other, kneading into her with his hand and teasing her with his fingernails. He switched sides, giving the other the same treatment, then pushed them up and apart to lay kisses between them before traveling down her front, nipping at her along the way. He moved his hands to her sides as she arched into him, propping her up to feast on her flesh. Eventually he made it to just above her right leg, where he began giving her butterfly kisses and caressing her with his lips as he drifted across her pelvis.
Withdrawing to move his hands, he got them just under the inside of her knees, pushed them up and apart, then set back to running kisses up her left leg. When he reached her knee he glanced up to see her face as he switched sides. Watching her eyes, he slid his hand down her left leg as he kissed his way down her right.
"Madison," he teased, inching ever closer. "Do you think dessert is ready?"
***
Hearing their moans mixing in the air around them as they kissed, caused the fire inside her to burn ever brighter, and she wondered if he could feel it with her legs spread and wrapped around him like that.
Everywhere his lips traveled, her skin was left thrilled with hot, delightful sensations. She was sure she would burn up at this rate. She cried out in a half scream mixed with a moan when he bit down on her. The biting and teasing, torturing of her breasts, left her seeing fireworks, with sharp tingling left in the wake of his mouth. Her body arched up to him without her even thinking. It wanted, no needed more.
The nips at her skin as he traveled lower had her twitching slightly. Her muscles didn't know weather to relax or stay firm, so instead seemed to not decided, tensing and relaxing at every touch.
When his eyes met hers, they were clouded with pleasure and lust. She tried to push her hips up towards him to get him closer. As soon as she heard his question, she gasped, crying out, "Yes!" She didn't want him to wait a second longer.
***
Barely able to keep himself from shaking with amusement at her desperation, he pressed his lips against her inner thigh, eyes glittering with mischief. He licked his lips as looked down, finding everything about her delectable in this moment. Dark inspiration struck him as he saw how she arched up toward him, pushing her hips up into the air.
He moved his hands to lay flat on the bed beside her, then stroked the right side of her mound with his tongue from bottom to top. Then he kissed her across the pelvis, pulling her flesh in between his lips as he went, before finally repeating the lick on the other side. All the while he kept the elevation of his head the same, so she'd have to hold herself up while he partook of her.
Feeling somewhat merciful, he laid a feather-light kiss over her clit, just barely caressing it with his lips. Then he sank down to pierce her folds with his tongue. He curled it to use as a scoop, catching one of her lips between his. Humming his pleasure, he sucked it into his mouth as far as it would stretch, then once he had ahold of it, he used that suction to make his way up it until there was no longer enough to hold in his mouth. Then he laid his open mouth over her vulva to lash at her pink flesh with his tongue, stroking her up and down. A firm believer in balance, he then moved to give the other lip the same treatment as the other had received.
***
She looked down at him, her eyes pleading. She could barely hold herself up with the way his mouth attacked her, stealing away her ability to think and move of her own will. She shuddered when his lips touched her clit, wanting him to go back so badly. She trembled and moaned at the attack of his tongue, fighting not to let herself fall back down to the bed.
Her eyes begged him to end the exquisite torture and move his head lower so that she could lay her hips back on the bed. She normally would have been able to hold the position for a long time, but with him doing what he was, she didn't know how much longer she could hold it.
***
By the trembling he knew the burning tension was building in her legs, just the way he'd wanted it to. He glanced up to meet her pleading eyes, then turned his lips out and sucked her clit into his mouth to begin stroking it with his tongue up and down both sides. Underneath her he flipped his hands to tickle and tease the underside of her thighs as he increased the pace of his tongue-lashing. Before she got oversensitized and it became too painful, he pressed his tongue flat against her and held it there, letting her own movement dictate the pace.
He gazed up at her, watching her face, her beautiful expression, the way she arched for him, the proud swells of her breasts jutting up and jiggling with her every tremor. If he could have grinned he would have. He couldn't speak with his mouth, but his hands were free. Spreading them flat on her cheeks he propped her up then caught her eyes before abruptly clawing into her flesh, seizing her and holding on.
***
She was panting in pleasure, moaning loud and uncontrolled. The teasing of her thighs and the increased pace had her louder than ever. The sight of him between her legs was one she never could have imagined, but it was perfect.
She rocked her hips slightly back and forth, and then gasping when he grabbed ahold of her, whimpering delicately when he didn't let go.
***
Richard took a slow breath to relax into the moment. Quick, fast and rough seemed played out, and he felt a change of pace was in order. Rather than man-handling her, he decided to create for her an experience where she could relax, loosen, and build. First, he called back into his memory the way Madison had taken him into her mouth before, the things she had done to him with her lips and tongue, the way she'd made sure to give him as much pleasure as he'd allow. Reasoning that the things she had done were the things she thought would be most enjoyable, he decided to mimic them on her, as best as could be allowed.
Having her in his bedroom, naked and gasping on his bed, was a dream come true. He'd been anticipating this moment for years, and he wanted it to be perfect. Plus, he was a gentleman, as she'd said, and that meant ladies first. He truly adored her. Rather than try to find a way to tell her how much, he intended to show her. Loosening his grip, he moved his hands to her hips and eased her down on the bed. His hands turned soft and gentle, caressing her, running soothing, little circles around her hips, ass and front.
After the day they'd had, and as long as they'd put this off, he'd expected her to pop almost immediately, but he found she took a little more coaxing. He was game. Focusing all his attention on her, the sounds she was making, the movements of her hips, the pace of her breathing, he kept track as best he could what she liked best. When he found a pattern that she loved, he simply stuck to it, and kept going.
Keeping his lips closed on her and his tongue moving on her clit, he brought his hands inside her legs to massage her, eventually working in so he was pushing deep pressure just above his mouth, moving in little circles that stroked her shaft from the outside. Finally, he started humming, internal sounds of pleasure at first, but eventually just a solid tone to provide vibration to everything he was doing.
When he'd fallen into a rhythm so deep he didn't have to think about it any more, he opened his eyes to look up at her as he kept going. She was arched, so he could hardly see her face, but her breasts were thrust up into the air like cloud-scraping mountains. Of all of the views he'd had of them, this was definitely one of his favorites. Her slender waist and toned belly were an expanse of flesh he'd thoroughly enjoyed exploring with his mouth, and he looked forward to doing so again.
At that moment the thought occurred to him of filling her, thrusting into her, piercing her folds and plunging into her body over and over, grabbing her by the arms from behind and pulling her down on him, slamming into her as he slammed her against himself, feeling her squeezing tightly around him, anticipating the little shifts of her hips she would make as she held him inside her. His eyes drifted closed as he groaned, but he kept going, intent to build her up as high as he could get her. The night was young, and they would have time aplenty.
***
She gave up on keeping track of his movements and simply felt everything he was doing. She was panting with need and her chest was heaving. She seemed to be floating higher and higher, and now there was nowhere else for her to go. She felt herself shudder and she knew this was it. She gasped, "Richard I..." her voice trailed off and she couldn't find any other words, as something inside her seemed to explode.
It was far from a violent, forceful sort of way, but more like a dam breaking. Her whole being floated into a blissful existence of simply existing surrounded by ribbons of pleasure that shot through her veins. Her head was thrown back and she cried out a sort of moan mixed with a scream, the sound filling the room.
She floated on like that for a time, before slowly floating back down. She didn't move at all, but was so completely relaxed, lying on his bed. Madison had never felt like that before, and she was certain that Richard would be the only one to ever make her feel that way. She knew that they were meant for eachother and she wouldn't have life any other way now.
***
Richard held her tenderly, staying close and in contact as she drifted back down. He felt warm, almost glowing inside in the afterglow of her climax. When she'd fallen still once more, he pressed his lips to hers, brushing light kisses over her. He probed out with his tongue, licking through to the center of her, moving downward for the first time. When he slid his tongue over her virgin opening he paused for just a moment as a flurry of emotions flooded him.
He thought back to the way he'd told her that he'd not want anyone else like this again after her, and everything he'd meant to come after that. He remembered her ease and comfort with him as the night had escalated, and her earnest, eager, playful attitude. He even remembered her rather silly game, which still put a smile on his face. Most of all, the way she'd called out his name right before soaring away on a wave of bliss.
Her first time. The deep, abiding sense that she was his and only his coalesced into something solid inside him, and at the very same time a crushing sense of import overwhelmed him. Before it could carry him away, he got his tongue moving again, smoothly sliding his tongue up then flipping it over to slide it back down. The taste of her sweet pleasure was ambrosia to him, and he reached in with his fingers to spread her out for better access.
Inside he was still filled with awe at the gift she'd chosen to give him. At some level he knew that she would endure pain to be with him, and was using his tongue to caress into her his care for her. He was also taking his time to get to know her as well as he could, as this would be a night of change for both of them. Backing up, he looked down at her, feasting his eyes on her glistening wetness and delicate lips and luscious blush.
Then he looked up to her eyes, crawled up into the bed with her, propping himself in the air over her on his elbows and running his hand through her hair, brushing it to the side of her face. Considering what he now knew she was giving him, he decided this wasn't a time to hold back.
"I love you, Madison. I don't know everything about you, but I think I know enough, and I love who I am when I'm with you. I want you to be mine and I yours. I want this to be the first night of many together." He brushed the side of her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "How does that sound to you?"
***
She practically purred as he continued to caress her with his tongue. She was so relaxed and peaceful. Though still filled with the ever present need for him, she seemed more relaxed. It was as if every bit of nervousness and desperation had been washed away. She knew everything would come with time, and right now, every little touch he gave her was perfect. Everything she needed, he gave to her. If she didn't know better, she would have guessed he was inside her head.
She leaned into the touch of his hand in her hair. His voice was a cadence of soothing warmth. His words filled her mind and her heart swelled to the point where she thought it might burst. Those seemed to be the only words that could have made her time with him any better than it already was.
Her face was flushed and she was still regaining her breath after what he had done to her. She summoned up a particularly deep breath, bringing up the courage to speak what she had wanted to for so long with it.
"I love you too Richard. I love you, and I've never felt this way before. I don't ever want it to end. I want to be with you until the end of days. You make me feel safe, wanted. I don't have to worry, everything that usually bombards my mind doesn't seem to matter." The look in her eyes was pure adoration and love, "That sounds perfect to me, then I'll never have to let go of you, because I'm not."
Her words seemed a bit jumbled and out of place, but she couldn't think of any simpler way to tell him how she felt. She didn't have time for a speech or fancy words, so what she had said would have to do.
***
He watched her with open, vulnerable, inevitable eyes as his heart soared. For a time he didn't move at all, but then he shifted his weight onto one elbow so he could reach up with his other hand to rest it over her heart. His eyes drifted closed as he listened to her heartbeat with his hand, and his breathing slowed to a gentle, smooth flow. Marshalling his focus, he opened his eyes to see what he was doing as he moved his other hand into her hair. He lifted her head up then feathered his lips and tongue over hers as he gathered her hair in his hand.
If there was one thing he'd learned in all his time as a commander, it was that others appreciated being assigned tasks under the reassurance that the one in control would protect them. Up to this point he'd been focusing on making certain that Madison had a choice in all things. That she had control over her own situation, and by extension responsibility for it. Something had clicked in his mind when she described feeling completely at ease, without worry or concern, when she was with him. It was the same.
He was filled with a vast peace and stillness. Shifting into the authoritative leading role put him in so deep into his comfort zone he could scarcely believe how tentative he'd been. Of a sudden, home became complete, with Madison here in it. Falling into a sort of trance, he looked down into Madison, his love and lover. He tightened his grip in her hair, not roughly, but with just enough firmness that light pressure was spread all over her scalp, giving him control of her head. For someone who felt safe under him and who was so, so deliciously wet, he intended by this to give her the opportunity to fully succumb.
"Spread your legs and lift your knees, Madison," he said, his voice smooth and unyielding. "We're going to take this slow."
***
She never took her eyes off of him. With every passing moment, the peace and warmth inside her spread until she felt nothing but her love for him and his love in return. His firm, yet gentle hold on her felt so right. She still wasn't entirely sure why, but whenever he took control of the situation, even in the simplest of ways, she felt so cared for and light. The weights on her shoulders were not lessened, but gone when she was under his guiding care.
As his words washed over her, she moved to do as he had asked, almost without thinking at all. Even his simple instructions came across to her almost as a command, which she would gladly follow. She spread her legs further apart and lifted up her knees. She looked at him as if waiting for further instruction or to see what he wanted her to do now.
***
Richard tilted on that elbow as he momentarily turned back to find her knee with his hand. Turning back, he nudged her to wrap her legs around him, then moved that hand down to line himself up with her. That done, he rested his elbow on the other side of his head, then began stroking her neck. For a moment his eyes fluttered shut as a wave of delight rushed through him. He craved the feel of her lips over the rest of his shaft, and the kisses they were giving him were maddeningly erotic. Eventually he caught his breath, then looked back up to her eyes.
The look of perfect, carefree trust and innocent obedience he found in her gripped his heart. Suddenly focusing on what was best for her was the easiest thing in the world. He lifted his right hand to stroke her face then spoke slowly and softly as he gazed into her eyes.
"Now, I want you to listen and focus on my words, sweetheart." He lowered his hips ever so slightly, just enough to put pressure on her opening. "Because I'm going to tell you something really important." He held himself there, letting her body get used to pressure. "And it means a lot to me, so I want you to pay attention, all right?" He pulled back, then pressed forward again, only to stop when the stretch returned. "When I said I loved you, I meant all of you." He pulled back just a tiny bit, then reasserted the pressure. "I love your face, and your silly games." He rocked his hips in a little circle, drifting away then surging back in. "I love your eyes and seeing the things that bring them joy." He pushed a little harder, forcing her to stretch further.
"I love your hair, and the way you let me hold it." He tightened his grip on her, tugging just a little at her scalp as he drifted back from her just a little. His hand drifted down her face. "I love your neck and the sounds you make when I kiss it." His tickling fingers trickled down her neck and over her front. "I love the gentle swell of your breasts, and the way your back arches when I twist your nipples." He did so as he thrust back into her, stopping short when he met resistance. "I love your body," he said, stroking her side. "I figure you could probably tell me everything that's wrong with it, but it looks perfect to me."
He leaned in to kiss her as once more he retreated only to shove back into her again. He held the pressure against her as his kisses drifted out to her jaw and neck. "Perfect for me." He took a little of her earlobe in his teeth and tugged away until it broke free as he increased the pressure in her loins. "I love your dreams, and that you share them with me." He seized a breast with his right hand. "I love your moans, and the way you shake your ass for me." He slapped her exposed leg. "Just for me."
"But you know what I love most, sweet Madison?"
***
She kept her eyes on his, as his words washed over her. The sweet meaning and feeling in his voice, only made the feelings he gave her more intense, while distracting her from the very slight pain. Every kiss and every word brought her the sweetest joy. She had never felt more confident and okay. Now, no one else mattered in the world. She didn't have to impress anyone but him, and he loved her the way she was. She was so sensitive and responsive to even his slightest touches. She let out the tiniest whimpers for him.
She was practically panting by the time he asked his question. It was so intense and purely him, simply, intimately, nothing but them. She was adjusting to him well. It seemed as if she was made for him, and him for her. Her hands held onto his shoulders, keeping a tight grip on him. Her voice seemed almost lost, and came out soft and quiet. "What?" She asked so sweetly.
***
Richard pushed into her so that their hips were touching. Finally wedged inside her, he could barely speak, hardly breathe for the exquisite joy of being within her, feeling her every little flutter embrace him. He slid his hand up from her leg, over her belly then laid it flat in the center of her chest.
"Your heart, Madison," he said breathily. "I love your heart, and that you let me inside."
He wanted to keep gazing into her eyes, but he was overcome. His head dropped to her shoulder, and his breathing was ragged.
"You feel incredible, sweetheart… Your pussy is like a slice of heaven."
Nuzzling his forehead into her neck, he bit his lip as tremors rocked him. He twitched inside her, leaping upward, but otherwise managed to keep his hips still. The rest of him though was flexing and tensing, begging to move, screaming for more. Her whimpers in his ear drove him near to mad with need for her, and he was near to bursting with pride that she felt so good that she was able to completely let go with him. He turned his head to press his lips into her neck and focused on the feel of her flesh, feeding the anticipation. Gently pulling her head to one side so he could neck her, he felt all his latent energy coiling in his legs and hips. Once he'd fallen still, he released her hair and lifted his other arm to cradle her face in both hands as he rose to find her eyes again.
"Madison, roll your hips in little circles. Use your legs wrapped around me to squeeze and pull yourself up. Pretend like you're kissing me with both sets of lips at once…"
Then he leaned in and took her lower lip into his. He wanted her body to have to get used to having him inside her. He wanted her to be active in seeking her own pleasure while still letting her operate under his lead. He brushed his tongue back and forth over the captive lip. He wanted to invade her over and over, but he was going to stick to his word. He settled on a comprehensive invasion of her mouth while she flowed under him.
***
She kept her eyes on his, as his words washed over her. The sweet meaning and feeling in his voice, only made the feelings he gave her more intense, while distracting her from the very slight pain. Every kiss and every word brought her the sweetest joy. She had never felt more confident and okay. Now, no one else mattered in the world. She didn't have to impress anyone but him, and he loved her the way she was. She was so sensitive and responsive to even his slightest touches. She let out the tiniest whimpers for him.
She was practically panting by the time he asked his question. It was so intense and purely him, simply, intimately, nothing but them. She was adjusting to him well. It seemed as if she was made for him, and him for her. Her hands held onto his shoulders, keeping a tight grip on him. Her voice seemed almost lost, and came out soft and quiet. "What?" She asked so sweetly.
***
Richard pushed into her so that their hips were touching. Finally wedged inside her, he could barely speak, hardly breathe for the exquisite joy of being within her, feeling her every little flutter embrace him. He slid his hand up from her leg, over her belly then laid it flat in the center of her chest.
"Your heart, Madison," he said breathily. "I love your heart, and that you let me inside."
He wanted to keep gazing into her eyes, but he was overcome. His head dropped to her shoulder, and his breathing was ragged.
"You feel incredible, sweetheart… Your pussy is like a slice of heaven."
Nuzzling his forehead into her neck, he bit his lip as tremors rocked him. He twitched inside her, leaping upward, but otherwise managed to keep his hips still. The rest of him though was flexing and tensing, begging to move, screaming for more. Her whimpers in his ear drove him near to mad with need for her, and he was near to bursting with pride that she felt so good that she was able to completely let go with him. He turned his head to press his lips into her neck and focused on the feel of her flesh, feeding the anticipation. Gently pulling her head to one side so he could neck her, he felt all his latent energy coiling in his legs and hips. Once he'd fallen still, he released her hair and lifted his other arm to cradle her face in both hands as he rose to find her eyes again.
"Madison, roll your hips in little circles. Use your legs wrapped around me to squeeze and pull yourself up. Pretend like you're kissing me with both sets of lips at once…"
Then he leaned in and took her lower lip into his. He wanted her body to have to get used to having him inside her. He wanted her to be active in seeking her own pleasure while still letting her operate under his lead. He brushed his tongue back and forth over the captive lip. He wanted to invade her over and over, but he was going to stick to his word. He settled on a comprehensive invasion of her mouth while she flowed under him.
-
Being inside her was like being wrapped in a strangle-hold by liquid fire and molten silk. He could hardly bear it, could hardly breathe, so intense was the rapture of her love. He felt attuned to her every touch, noticing every brush and sigh of her flesh against his own. It was like being forged to her soul, and he felt all her desire and passion flooding into him as each of her tiniest movement took up his entire attention and giving him the dearest insight into her every reaction. She was his whole world. Every single thing about her screamed her purest, sweetest, most genuine dreams were coming true, setting him in astounded awe. He felt her most secret, warmest softness holding him in the center of her heart, and felt it turn her entire world, her entire life into brilliant joy. Witnessing her find purpose in being a part of him and having him as a part of her completely smoothed the surface of his mind.
So often when he crawled into this very bed, he had huddled with his head between his knees and screamed. So many lives, bright, pure and beautiful and full of love, had been lost under his watch, slipped through his fingers and fell into what he could only imagine was oblivion. For the first time in his life since that fateful day, he felt completely forgiven and at peace. He kissed her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world, because that's what she was to him.
It was then that he noticed that all the feelings she had within her only wrapped her tighter around him, and she was completely without discomfort. He slowly realized there was nothing he could do to hurt her in that moment, and that she would treasure every single movement he made within her softness. So he began to move.
Long, slow strokes at first, giving himself to get a grip on the swelling tide within him. He moved his attention from his own experience to hers, and the opportunity to further fulfil her utterly swept away the fear that he would fail, and suddenly that tide was completely within his grasp. He dropped his head to her shoulder and shuddered as he backed out of her then pressed back inside. Slowly he began to rock his hips, establishing a rhythm with her. Joy suddenly filled him and poured out of him as gentle, shaking laughter that made hardly any noise.
He couldn't fight for those he'd lost, but he could live for her. In that moment he felt purpose flood back into his existence. Somehow he knew that the next day and every day afterward she would wake happy, smiling, and full of joy because of what he was doing to her, and that contented him so deeply that nothing else mattered.
Regardless of what had happened in his past, what he had now was enough to completely support Madison. He felt the first steps toward being returned to whole. He caught one of her hands, pinned it down under him at the wrist, then slid his fingers into her hand and intertwined them with hers as he continued to plunge into her. He wanted her to stay forever, and he used his lips on her neck to tell her.
***
Her eyes had fluttered closed, and she was panting, soaking in the intensity of him, of what he did to her, everything. She felt so full and complete in every way possible. Everything was as it was meant to be. She was perfectly safe and for the first time, she was truly and rightfully loved. The feeling of his harsh breath across her shoulder and neck, made her tremble with a sweet understanding.
He moved deep, in and out of her, and all she could do was moan and sigh in blissful delight. She held to him so tightly with her legs, planning to never let go. One hand drifted up his back and into his hair, just holding and feeling him in the simplest and most intimate of ways. His lips came to her neck, and she naturally tilted her head to the side for him. She already responded to him without thinking, like she was waiting for his touch before it ever even came.
She felt a silent understanding. She knew he had a lot he had been through and hadn't told her yet, but she had a sense of knowing. She knew he had done and seen things that haunted him to no end, but she could tell that all of that was melting away into darkness. He had her now. Pride swelled within her chest at the knowledge that she had helped him. She couldn't imagine what he was thinking, and she would give everything she had to know, but she had a fairly good idea from what he told her with his lips. She had wandered for so long with no purpose or motive, living only for the sake of it and to see what would come just in case the future still held value, and it seemed that all her waiting for something new and better, all her searching for something, anything, had payed off. He was the solution to her every prayer and plea. Her every wish come true, he was her light. She no longer had to aimlessly wander the darkness. She would hold onto him and never let go. She didn't want to. She didn't have to. She would give herself to him in every way and they would heal each other's wounds.
***
Richard continually made love to her, feeling her embrace in every way. He lost himself in it, surrendering to the hunger and her achingly loving arms. He couldn't get enough of her fast enough. In time he felt himself beginning to teeter on the edge of bursting, but he wanted more. An orgasm in her, with her, would surely not mean an end. He felt so aroused, so secure, so complete in her that he wondered if he could ever come down in her presence. Still, he was not ready for that moment to come. He slowed to a pause inside her, then lifted his head to look into her eyes. The love he saw there was whole and complete, and the longer he gazed into its depths the deeper it went.
He smiled at her to let her know she was perfect. Perfection is a funny word. Everyone's got their flaws, but she was everything he needed, and that's what perfect means. He gave her a little nod, letting her know she was doing everything right, then let his gaze roam over her face for a moment, drinking in her passion. Then he took a deep breath and rose up from her, withdrawing from her folds, and prompted her with his hands to roll over. When she did, he lifted at her waist, getting her to rise up on to her knees, while he pressed on her back to signal her to keep her shoulders down. He brushed her hair back from the side of her face, then caressed her back until she was arcing for him, curving so her pussy was waving in the open air.
A deep rumble of satisfaction and desire sounded from the center of his chest. He drew his fingertips over the small of her back and over her hips, then massaged his palms over the expanse of her ass. Then he patted her gently, and backed away from her so he could look at the beautiful tableau she'd become for him. He dipped a finger into her introitus, slicking it with her fluids, then withdrew it to stir it through her folds. He fondled her there, touching her like she was the most valuable thing in the entire world. He caressed her lips, tickled her clit, and just touched her, never leaving her completely without him.
Soon he took a deep breath, and felt himself receding from that edge. He got up on his knees behind her, lined his hips up with hers, got a grip on her hips in the fold she'd made, and pressed into her once more. A sudden, sucking breath, at the glorious pleasure of it, and a shudder through his chest, and then he pushed deep, deep inside her.
"Oh, Madison," he said, his voice breathless. He looked down to see her ass flush up against his hips, her back arced, and a look of complete bliss on her face, so he resumed a slow, languid rhythm, slow enough that he could feel every shift of her flesh on his. He lost track of time doing this, so mesmerized was he by the sight of disappearing within her, of feeling the inside of her. Every so often he would massage her ass, squeezing and kneading, but always he would continue pulling her down on him, controlling her movement.
He steadily increased the pace, until he was plunging into her so quick and deep that the sound of their breathing and slap of her ass against his front was the only sound in the room. Every time he plunged into her his balls would swing forward and crash against her clit, tickling him in a way he'd never even imagined, and it was incredible. She was so tight, yet so soft, so firm yet so inviting. He would never have enough of this feeling. Suddenly he remembered that his ears did in fact work, and that she was moaning and crying out with each of his thrusts. He felt an overpowering urge to go harder, faster, but again he grabbed onto it and reigned it in.
Withdrawing from her, he pulled her hips down and lifted her up to him with a hand on her arm. He rotated as he sat beside her, then helped her into his lap like they'd been before, except this time he was seated at the foot of the bed. He smacked her ass lightly to get her to rise up, then he found her opening and pushed her back down onto him, plunging inside her. Then he wrapped her in his arms, squeezing her breasts flush against his chest, and leaned in to kiss her neck. He nuzzled into her, moved his hands to grip her ass, then gave her a peck on the neck before whispering in her ear. He was dizzy with pleasure and hazed with lust, but his voice was loving as ever.
"Madison, I love you," he said, breathing hard. "I want you to feel like this is your home. I want to share my life with you. I want this to be our life together. I want," and he was overcome, so he bit down on her shoulder. Another huge breath, and he started again. "I want you to move atop me and grind on me until I explode inside you." He squeezed her ass, hard. "I want you to swirl that little clit against me until you come. I want us to come together. Can you do that for me sweetheart? Will you try? Will you ride me until I fill you? Will you shake that luscious, little ass on me until we burst?"
***
***
Richard tilted on that elbow as he momentarily turned back to find her knee with his hand. Turning back, he nudged her to wrap her legs around him, then moved that hand down to line himself up with her. That done, he rested his elbow on the other side of his head, then began stroking her neck. For a moment his eyes fluttered shut as a wave of delight rushed through him. He craved the feel of her lips over the rest of his shaft, and the kisses they were giving him were maddeningly erotic. Eventually he caught his breath, then looked back up to her eyes.
The look of perfect, carefree trust and innocent obedience he found in her gripped his heart. Suddenly focusing on what was best for her was the easiest thing in the world. He lifted his right hand to stroke her face then spoke slowly and softly as he gazed into her eyes.
"Now, I want you to listen and focus on my words, sweetheart." He lowered his hips ever so slightly, just enough to put pressure on her opening. "Because I'm going to tell you something really important." He held himself there, letting her body get used to pressure. "And it means a lot to me, so I want you to pay attention, all right?" He pulled back, then pressed forward again, only to stop when the stretch returned. "When I said I loved you, I meant all of you." He pulled back just a tiny bit, then reasserted the pressure. "I love your face, and your silly games." He rocked his hips in a little circle, drifting away then surging back in. "I love your eyes and seeing the things that bring them joy." He pushed a little harder, forcing her to stretch further.
"I love your hair, and the way you let me hold it." He tightened his grip on her, tugging just a little at her scalp as he drifted back from her just a little. His hand drifted down her face. "I love your neck and the sounds you make when I kiss it." His tickling fingers trickled down her neck and over her front. "I love the gentle swell of your breasts, and the way your back arches when I twist your nipples." He did so as he thrust back into her, stopping short when he met resistance. "I love your body," he said, stroking her side. "I figure you could probably tell me everything that's wrong with it, but it looks perfect to me."
He leaned in to kiss her as once more he retreated only to shove back into her again. He held the pressure against her as his kisses drifted out to her jaw and neck. "Perfect for me." He took a little of her earlobe in his teeth and tugged away until it broke free as he increased the pressure in her loins. "I love your dreams, and that you share them with me." He seized a breast with his right hand. "I love your moans, and the way you shake your ass for me." He slapped her exposed leg. "Just for me."
"But you know what I love most, sweet Madison?"
***
She kept her eyes on his, as his words washed over her. The sweet meaning and feeling in his voice, only made the feelings he gave her more intense, while distracting her from the very slight pain. Every kiss and every word brought her the sweetest joy. She had never felt more confident and okay. Now, no one else mattered in the world. She didn't have to impress anyone but him, and he loved her the way she was. She was so sensitive and responsive to even his slightest touches. She let out the tiniest whimpers for him.
She was practically panting by the time he asked his question. It was so intense and purely him, simply, intimately, nothing but them. She was adjusting to him well. It seemed as if she was made for him, and him for her. Her hands held onto his shoulders, keeping a tight grip on him. Her voice seemed almost lost, and came out soft and quiet. "What?" She asked so sweetly.
***
Richard pushed into her so that their hips were touching. Finally wedged inside her, he could barely speak, hardly breathe for the exquisite joy of being within her, feeling her every little flutter embrace him. He slid his hand up from her leg, over her belly then laid it flat in the center of her chest.
"Your heart, Madison," he said breathily. "I love your heart, and that you let me inside."
He wanted to keep gazing into her eyes, but he was overcome. His head dropped to her shoulder, and his breathing was ragged.
"You feel incredible, sweetheart… Your pussy is like a slice of heaven."
Nuzzling his forehead into her neck, he bit his lip as tremors rocked him. He twitched inside her, leaping upward, but otherwise managed to keep his hips still. The rest of him though was flexing and tensing, begging to move, screaming for more. Her whimpers in his ear drove him near to mad with need for her, and he was near to bursting with pride that she felt so good that she was able to completely let go with him. He turned his head to press his lips into her neck and focused on the feel of her flesh, feeding the anticipation. Gently pulling her head to one side so he could neck her, he felt all his latent energy coiling in his legs and hips. Once he'd fallen still, he released her hair and lifted his other arm to cradle her face in both hands as he rose to find her eyes again.
"Madison, roll your hips in little circles. Use your legs wrapped around me to squeeze and pull yourself up. Pretend like you're kissing me with both sets of lips at once…"
Then he leaned in and took her lower lip into his. He wanted her body to have to get used to having him inside her. He wanted her to be active in seeking her own pleasure while still letting her operate under his lead. He brushed his tongue back and forth over the captive lip. He wanted to invade her over and over, but he was going to stick to his word. He settled on a comprehensive invasion of her mouth while she flowed under him.
-
Being inside her was like being wrapped in a strangle-hold by liquid fire and molten silk. He could hardly bear it, could hardly breathe, so intense was the rapture of her love. He felt attuned to her every touch, noticing every brush and sigh of her flesh against his own. It was like being forged to her soul, and he felt all her desire and passion flooding into him as each of her tiniest movement took up his entire attention and giving him the dearest insight into her every reaction. She was his whole world. Every single thing about her screamed her purest, sweetest, most genuine dreams were coming true, setting him in astounded awe. He felt her most secret, warmest softness holding him in the center of her heart, and felt it turn her entire world, her entire life into brilliant joy. Witnessing her find purpose in being a part of him and having him as a part of her completely smoothed the surface of his mind.
So often when he crawled into this very bed, he had huddled with his head between his knees and screamed. So many lives, bright, pure and beautiful and full of love, had been lost under his watch, slipped through his fingers and fell into what he could only imagine was oblivion. For the first time in his life since that fateful day, he felt completely forgiven and at peace. He kissed her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world, because that's what she was to him.
It was then that he noticed that all the feelings she had within her only wrapped her tighter around him, and she was completely without discomfort. He slowly realized there was nothing he could do to hurt her in that moment, and that she would treasure every single movement he made within her softness. So he began to move.
Long, slow strokes at first, giving himself to get a grip on the swelling tide within him. He moved his attention from his own experience to hers, and the opportunity to further fulfil her utterly swept away the fear that he would fail, and suddenly that tide was completely within his grasp. He dropped his head to her shoulder and shuddered as he backed out of her then pressed back inside. Slowly he began to rock his hips, establishing a rhythm with her. Joy suddenly filled him and poured out of him as gentle, shaking laughter that made hardly any noise.
He couldn't fight for those he'd lost, but he could live for her. In that moment he felt purpose flood back into his existence. Somehow he knew that the next day and every day afterward she would wake happy, smiling, and full of joy because of what he was doing to her, and that contented him so deeply that nothing else mattered.
Regardless of what had happened in his past, what he had now was enough to completely support Madison. He felt the first steps toward being returned to whole. He caught one of her hands, pinned it down under him at the wrist, then slid his fingers into her hand and intertwined them with hers as he continued to plunge into her. He wanted her to stay forever, and he used his lips on her neck to tell her.
***
Her eyes had fluttered closed, and she was panting, soaking in the intensity of him, of what he did to her, everything. She felt so full and complete in every way possible. Everything was as it was meant to be. She was perfectly safe and for the first time, she was truly and rightfully loved. The feeling of his harsh breath across her shoulder and neck, made her tremble with a sweet understanding.
He moved deep, in and out of her, and all she could do was moan and sigh in blissful delight. She held to him so tightly with her legs, planning to never let go. One hand drifted up his back and into his hair, just holding and feeling him in the simplest and most intimate of ways. His lips came to her neck, and she naturally tilted her head to the side for him. She already responded to him without thinking, like she was waiting for his touch before it ever even came.
She felt a silent understanding. She knew he had a lot he had been through and hadn't told her yet, but she had a sense of knowing. She knew he had done and seen things that haunted him to no end, but she could tell that all of that was melting away into darkness. He had her now. Pride swelled within her chest at the knowledge that she had helped him. She couldn't imagine what he was thinking, and she would give everything she had to know, but she had a fairly good idea from what he told her with his lips. She had wandered for so long with no purpose or motive, living only for the sake of it and to see what would come just in case the future still held value, and it seemed that all her waiting for something new and better, all her searching for something, anything, had payed off. He was the solution to her every prayer and plea. Her every wish come true, he was her light. She no longer had to aimlessly wander the darkness. She would hold onto him and never let go. She didn't want to. She didn't have to. She would give herself to him in every way and they would heal each other's wounds.
***
Richard continually made love to her, feeling her embrace in every way. He lost himself in it, surrendering to the hunger and her achingly loving arms. He couldn't get enough of her fast enough. In time he felt himself beginning to teeter on the edge of bursting, but he wanted more. An orgasm in her, with her, would surely not mean an end. He felt so aroused, so secure, so complete in her that he wondered if he could ever come down in her presence. Still, he was not ready for that moment to come. He slowed to a pause inside her, then lifted his head to look into her eyes. The love he saw there was whole and complete, and the longer he gazed into its depths the deeper it went.
He smiled at her to let her know she was perfect. Perfection is a funny word. Everyone's got their flaws, but she was everything he needed, and that's what perfect means. He gave her a little nod, letting her know she was doing everything right, then let his gaze roam over her face for a moment, drinking in her passion. Then he took a deep breath and rose up from her, withdrawing from her folds, and prompted her with his hands to roll over. When she did, he lifted at her waist, getting her to rise up onto her knees, while he pressed on her back to signal her to keep her shoulders down. He brushed her hair back from the side of her face, then caressed her back until she was arcing for him, curving so her pussy was waving in the open air.
A deep rumble of satisfaction and desire sounded from the center of his chest. He drew his fingertips over the small of her back and over her hips, then massaged his palms over the expanse of her ass. Then he patted her gently, and backed away from her so he could look at the beautiful tableau she'd become for him. He dipped a finger into her introitus, slicking it with her fluids, then withdrew it to stir it through her folds. He fondled her there, touching her like she was the most valuable thing in the entire world. He caressed her lips, tickled her clit, and just touched her, never leaving her completely without him.
Soon he took a deep breath, and felt himself receding from that edge. He got up on his knees behind her, lined his hips up with hers, got a grip on her hips in the fold she'd made, and pressed into her once more. A sudden, sucking breath, at the glorious pleasure of it, and a shudder through his chest, and then he pushed deep, deep inside her.
"Oh, Madison," he said, his voice breathless. He looked down to see her ass flush up against his hips, her back arced, and a look of complete bliss on her face, so he resumed a slow, languid rhythm, slow enough that he could feel every shift of her flesh on his. He lost track of time doing this, so mesmerized was he by the sight of disappearing within her, of feeling the inside of her. Every so often he would massage her ass, squeezing and kneading, but always he would continue pulling her down on him, controlling her movement.
He steadily increased the pace, until he was plunging into her so quick and deep that the sound of their breathing and slap of her ass against his front was the only sound in the room. Every time he plunged into her his balls would swing forward and crash against her clit, tickling him in a way he'd never even imagined, and it was incredible. She was so tight, yet so soft, so firm yet so inviting. He would never have enough of this feeling. Suddenly he remembered that his ears did in fact work, and that she was moaning and crying out with each of his thrusts. He felt an overpowering urge to go harder, faster, but again he grabbed onto it and reigned it in.
Withdrawing from her, he pulled her hips down and lifted her up to him with a hand on her arm. He rotated as he sat beside her, then helped her into his lap like they'd been before, except this time he was seated at the foot of the bed. He smacked her ass lightly to get her to rise up, then he found her opening and pushed her back down onto him, plunging inside her. Then he wrapped her in his arms, squeezing her breasts flush against his chest, and leaned in to kiss her neck. He nuzzled into her, moved his hands to grip her ass, then gave her a peck on the neck before whispering in her ear. He was dizzy with pleasure and hazed with lust, but his voice was loving as ever.
"Madison, I love you," he said, breathing hard. "I want you to feel like this is your home. I want to share my life with you. I want this to be our life together. I want," and he was overcome, so he bit down on her shoulder. Another huge breath, and he started again. "I want you to move atop me and grind on me until I explode inside you." He squeezed her ass, hard. "I want you to swirl that little clit against me until you come. I want us to come together. Can you do that for me sweetheart? Will you try? Will you ride me until I fill you? Will you shake that luscious, little ass on me until we burst?"
***
Time became a long forgotten and foreign concept with him. There was no need for it. These moment were the only ones that mattered, and for all Madison cared, they could last for eternity and would be only to her delight. She never had a second to relax her body, and yet her mind was the calmest and most peaceful it had ever been. He had taken control, and she was glad to follow. She had no need to worry. She trusted him with everything. And that trust was bringing her to new heights she had never known existed. Her thoughts were like echoes. There, but only just. Lost in the wind of the way his body made love to hers, and the art with which his words and his eyes, captivated her mind.
His love was like poetry, rhythmic and wild, yet so out together and meaningful. Those souls collided in dance, while he pressed into her so possessively, but he was right to do so. She belonged to him, and him to her.
Every touch, even the slightest brush of his skin against her's sent sparks through her. With the way she reacted to him so constantly, she wouldn't be surprised if she stayed arched like this forever. Her breath came only in gasps, and for some time, she was kept so close to the edge, that it was nearly maddening to not be able to reach her completion.
The none too gentle smack of his hand on her ass, caused her to come back to reality and open her eyes. She was pulled so tightly against him that she could hardly tell where her body became his. Words were out of the question for her current vocabulary. She could only reply in moans and whimpers, and so she did constantly now.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, one hand holding the back of his neck, while the other snaked up into his hair, holding on tight. She couldn't speak. Words were… lost. She gripped him tighter and nodded slightly as he finished speaking. Her lips moved to his, taking what was now hers. Her actions spoke for her.
Passionate kissing.
I love you.
Pulling at the hair on the back of his head.
I never want to leave. My place is with you now.
Letting some of her weight press on his shoulders as she lifted herself up and dropped back down, pushing him further into her.
This is our life. We are together now…
Grinding herself against him so hard in the desperate and needy way.
And forever.
She was shuddering like a leaf in the wind. Her orgasm was so close she could taste it. Her mouth traveled down his neck to his shoulder, as she pushed herself harder against him one last time and came, biting down on his shoulder, as the world spin around her, and she floated in her pleasure.
***
Richard lost himself in her. In the moment Madison took what was, is, and would from then ever be hers, fucked herself into bliss on his cock, Richard came inside her. His body erupted along with him, and he let it go, completely releasing the reins and allowing the wild, ravenous, primal part of his soul, that which is all that he is, buck into her, claim her, own her. The territorial, brutish, starving, human part of him rampaged completely unbridled and free inside the warm, slick, glistening, needful, cumming woman. His woman. His Madison. By right granted with her own word, his. By trust earned and with no stipulation, his. In the glory of youth and in throes of rapture, his. As a firm, and permanent fact of reality, his. He fucked her straight through cumming, lifted her into his arms as he stood up, then spun around to lay her on the bed, slamming down behind her, within her, into her. That was when he selfishly took her. With no thought or regard for her comfort, will or intention. He took them from her, or she gave them to him, there was no difference. He fucked her and she kept cumming, because he wouldn't let her stop. He had no interest in her stopping. This is how he wanted her. Always. He fucked her and let calm fly. He wasn't calm. He wasn't quiet. He wasn't even a gentleman. He fucked her because that was her place, and she had chosen it. It didn't matter that he loved her or that he intended to keep her happy. It didn't matter that he knew he actually could. What mattered was that he needed her. This. Like this. Naked, cumming, willing. He felt like he could conquer the world. He felt like he just might. He knew he didn't need to. He had her, and she was precious above the world. And he did. He had her. He owned her. He possessed her. Over and over and over again.
She made him feel powerful. With every thrust of his hips, each time he crashed into her, plunged deep into her pussy, shocks of force would ripple through her, causing jiggling tremors to roll up her flesh, and her tits to bounce in wild, rotating patterns, hypnotizing his eyes and delighting his mind. He alternated his pattern of thrusts and gauged the effect on the speed of her nipples' lusty dives, or the width of the ovals they drew in the air. Her rhapsodic sighs seemed to have succumbed to using the force of his invasions to move air, completely submitting to his control and becoming just another part of his symphony. He found with delicious malice that he could control her volume and intensity with force and speed, and played her to his own delight. As he rose to his final crescendo, he was satisfied that all good things must have an end, and so chased it with abandon. The beauty of the song was momentarily interrupted with shocked, overwhelmed alarm as he explored an even deeper well of power to draw on and channel into her. When at last he sang his final note, he arched in climactic euphoria, then collapsed atop her, out of breath.
He had just thought his bed had never felt so soft when he realized he was rising on one of Madison's breaths, chest buried in breasts' flesh. A low contented growl curled out of him, then he wrapped her in his arms and rolled over so she was atop him without ever withdrawing from inside her.
The reality of what they had just done sunk into his mind and smiled wide as he held her. He felt the wave of oxytocin crash into him that had been waiting and building since the moment her lips had wrapped around the head of his cock, and was blasted away by it. Somehow his mouth started moving, almost of its own accord, and he merely didn't stop what came out as it voiced what he felt for her.
"Forever, so far as I can help it, and you will it, I will keep you."
He felt his mind stir, as if from deep in a nap, decide it was content with the words as they stood, then curl back up and lay its head down. He smiled into the contentment.
***
