I can agree to those terms. I may have a few other goals in mind for the coming year, but at this very moment, there are none that matter more to me than this.
[His thumb brushes against the curve of her cheek as he leans in to press a kiss against her forehead to seal their agreement.
Time passes quickly, as he's found it so often does when they're together. They enjoy their cider, sample their food and discuss daily goings-on, chat about the upcoming book club; he shares some of what he's come across in his recent research as he looks into not only magic theory from other worlds, but also uses the hotel's resources to acquire tomes that would have been impossible for him to obtain in Faerun. Nothing to help him meet his immediate goal just yet, but fascinating nonetheless, clearly excited to share such finds with her.
Eventually, with his now-empty glass in hand, he catches a glimpse of the clock sitting on the table just inside the doors leading out to the balcony, and for a moment appears genuinely surprised.]
[It's true what they say; time flies by when you're having fun. Amelia had let the minutes slip by and would have missed the stroke of midnight had it not been for Gale noticing first. She moves to grab the champagne bottle by the neck.]
Time for this then. Or rather, I'll open it up when it's midnight. How many minutes do we have left?
Two minutes, from the looks of it. Any last-minute resolutions you care to make?
[He's teasing, naturally, but sets his glass down on the table so that it can be filled when the time comes.]
So, we toast to the new year at midnight— I may have done a bit of research to prepare myself for this evening and found there's something else traditionally done at midnight, as well.
[With a raised brow she sits back down and lets the bottle be. She has a pretty good idea of what he's referring to. Stretching her arms out in front of her, she leisurely gives Gale a sideways glance.
It's been another engaging evening with one another and it promises an end to the old and a welcome to the new. They may very well just head to sleep right after.
[He's certain she must know exactly what he's speaking of and proceeds to humor her with a growing smile, raising a brow.]
I read that it's customary to exchange a kiss for good luck in the coming year.
[It seems there are a lot of traditions that include kissing around this time of year, although he certainly can't complain. It's not as though the two of them need an excuse; they do plenty of kissing all on their own without any assistance, but there's still something exciting about having someone to celebrate these things with.]
You know me— I aim to respect and honor other cultures as I have the opportunity to learn of them in this place.
[He leans forward to meet her, amusement and something akin to mischief alight in his eyes. Even if they're technically supposed to kiss at midnight, it can't hurt to be extra thorough, can it? Ensure they have all angles covered, as it were. Perhaps they'll have even better luck as a result.
He reaches to lightly brush some of her vibrant hair back from her face, his palm coming to rest warmly against her cheek before he tips his head to press his lips against hers, slightly parted and just barely over the line of being chaste, and already he can taste the bright notes of the cider they had been drinking. He feels his pulse quicken; it always does, and he knows full well how easily a kiss can run away with the both of them. Often they are saved by having other places to be or exchanging a kiss goodnight before parting ways, but tonight, there are no such limitations.]
[Amelia accepts his kiss gratefully. Early or not, she's not going to argue and folds herself into its warmth.
Her hands move to Gale's shoulders and when his lip part slightly, she takes that as an invitation to taste him back, but softly and playfully. Eyes closed, she moves closer, body pressed against him and arms fully wrapping him in an embrace.
Looking back on this, Amelia will remember the taste of apples between their lips. She'll remember that the clock struck midnight but she neither notices nor cares, focusing instead on building up the warmth growing between them. She manages to not deepen the kiss (surely, they won't get too carried away) and keeps it on a level of frustrating gentleness.
[He exhales softly against the kiss as it breaks, though he never pulls back entirely, inclined to stay as close as he can for as long as she'll allow. He, too, had missed the clock striking midnight— somewhere in the back of his mind, he might have distantly heard it, but his focus had been entirely elsewhere.]
Happy New Year, Amelia.
[He almost leans in to steal a second kiss, but is startled into turning his attention elsewhere when there's a loud whistling followed by an explosive bang somewhere behind him. He turns his head to look over his shoulder, just in time to see the sparks of fireworks beginning to dissipate before another shoots upwards from somewhere below the balcony, and he laughs softly to himself, shaking his head.]
I thought I'd told Tara I decided against those. I was worried it might be too much. [He, himself, is often too much.] Apparently, she had her own ideas.
[Also startled, her head whips around to watch as the fireworks are set off. The colorful lights reflect in her eyes, highlighting the wonder within.]
I guess she wanted a riveting start to the year... Good on her.
[Internally, she's feeling giddy from the kiss and had hoped Gale would steal a second one... But how about a drink first? Amelia takes the champagne bottle and uses magic to easily take off the cork. With a small pop she raises the bottle at Gale and pours the champagne into their glasses.]
I'm not leaving yet, so let's have our first drink of the year. Cheers.
[The fireworks continue, shapes and starbursts in every color imaginable lighting up the conjured sky, but even with such a spectacle before them, Gale's gaze remains fixed on her, the look of wonder in her eyes enough to flood his chest with warmth— he's glad Tara had taken things into her own paws when he'd second-guessed himself.]
She certainly gave us quite a show— I'll have to thank her. She seems quite invested in ensuring we have a memorable evening.
[It would have been memorable regardless, he feels, but the fireworks certainly don't hurt. He watches with both interest and amusement as Amelia uncorks the bottles and fills their glasses, his heart light as he takes up his own and offers her to it in toast.]
Cheers— to the year ahead.
[He smiles warmly and takes a sip, and averts his gaze for but a moment as he searches for the words that he'd been considering all night— since long before her arrival, in fact. He exhales steadily, clearing his throat softly as he turns his gaze back towards her, somber despite the smile that remains on his lips.]
As for that bit about you not leaving... I wanted to ask you about that, in fact. I was wondering if you... might like to stay the night? [There's a note of uncertainty in his voice, as though he's not sure how such a question will be received, but he's quick to follow up before she gets the wrong idea. Well, perhaps not the wrong idea, but such an idea would only be one of several options.] Nothing need happen that you aren't ready for, I only— don't wish to start the new year by having to say goodnight to you.
[Amelia had been taking a generous sip from her glass as Gale presented his question. Her expression is neutral as she registers the somber look in his gaze that contrasts with the smile he gives her.
. . .
It should be troubling, perhaps, how she doesn't answer right away and how it's hard to tell at that moment what thoughts are running through her head. Her answer comes in the form of moving closer to Gale again so that they're shoulder to shoulder.]
We'll have to say it eventually.
[She says it so plainly that it would be easy to take the words at face value. But if Gale is truly smart, he'll recall that she said something similar during their evening at the ball when everything was laid bare.
[Cheeky indeed. The thoughtful silence does worry him, at first, but those words stir something in his heart, remind him of that night they had first kissed— he hasn't forgotten a single moment of it, and he doubts she has, either. Though he cannot quite decipher where she stands, he feels that fluttering of anticipation, the warm brush of her shoulder against his arm almost answer enough in itself, though part of him is afraid to presume he knows her that well, hesitant to make assumptions when she has shown him that her heart is a delicate thing to be handled with care.
He lowers his glass after helping himself to a generous sip of his own, turning away from the ongoing fireworks to lean in and press another soft kiss against her lips, this one accompanied by the bright taste and scent of champagne, cupping the side of her face with his hand as though it were second nature by now. It may as well have been.]
Perhaps, but I would much rather say good morning.
[A far more confident response than he'd been able to offer her that first night. It has been mere weeks, but he knows full well now where he stands with her.]
[Unable to maintain her cool facade, Amelia smiles into Gale's lips, enjoying the lingering taste of champagne. His need to please her and handle her feelings with care is welcome as it is endearing. But even more endearing is when he has the confidence to say that so smoothly.
Her free hand reaches up to trace Gale's chin with her fingers and she draws back slightly. Right now, there are no burdens of the past on her mind and no fear of the uncertain future. And it's not even the Emerald Witch who gazes fondly into the eyes belonging to Gale of Waterdeep.
No, she's just Amelia and he's just Gale.]
I'll stay tonight, Gale. As for what happens...
[Well, just let her have another sip of champagne, set the glass aside, and focus completely on giving Gale another kiss, this time with an invitation with parted lips and champagne fresh on her tongue, as if to tell him, drink.]
[His heart practically leaps into his throat as she answers him at last, but even that euphoric moment is nothing compared to what he feels when she leans up to kiss him with such focus and intensity that it is almost dizzying. Blindly, he sets his own glass aside and eagerly accepts her wordless but very plain invitation.
He feels his breath catch as he parts his own lips and tastes her with the tip of his tongue; he's unsure of when the fingers of his free hand had found their way into her hair, but they are tangled there now as he pours himself into that kiss, intent on letting her know precisely how much he burns for her, body and mind.
I'm in love with you.
He feels it with every fiber of his being, but even with all that's been said and done up until now, he fears it might be too much— but if he cannot tell her just yet, he will do all he can to show her, and he makes a soft, muted noise against her lips as his hand falls away from her face and comes to the small of her back, fingers curling into her sweater so that he can pull her closer.]
Thank you.
[He all but whispers it against the curve of her lips.]
[The words may not come easily, but she hopes that her actions and touch can convey it tonight. She knows that her problem is different from Gale's; having been without affection for so long, she struggled to accept what good there was in the world and that anyone could have it for someone so void and empty such as herself.
Gale was so, so, good but life was equally unkind to him. He had been abandoned by his goddess and had few true friends like her and yet he wanted to give and give.
He made her feel in ways that weren't possible. He made her want to give back and to show him that he was someone wonderful outside of his title and magic.
When he pulls away from their eager kiss and draws her closer with his hand on her back, Amelia shivers, gathering her thoughts. What to do next? Will it come back to her naturally? Would he...? She glances down, almost shy.]
We're... Not going to sleep out here on the balcony, right? It'd be a shame... [And here, her cheeks start to burn even if her voice is measured.]
[He exhales and laughs all at once, even as she averts her gaze, and despite the heat of their kiss, his touch is careful and incredibly soft as he lightly brushes a stray lock of hair back from her brow, shaking his head.]
That would be a terrible shame, wouldn't it? Of course not— I have a much better idea.
[The remaining food, the glasses, all of that can wait until the morning to be tidied up, assuming Tara doesn't get to it before him regardless— but it's clear that she has left them to have their privacy as the fireworks have slowed to a stop, and barring any dire circumstances, they'll not have to worry about interruption.
It would be a simple enough matter to teleport them to their ultimate destination, but doing so in this particular moment lacks the proper poetry, and instead, he tips her chin up with his index finger to steal another kiss before he proceeds to lift her upwards, sweeping an arm beneath her legs with the other around her shoulders so that he can hold her close to his chest as he starts towards the double doors that lead back to his sitting room.]
[He laughs, though it's cut short as she whispers against his ear, color flooding his face even as his confident smile remains, feeling a shiver running straight through him— between his shoulders and down to the very base of his spine, because that is certainly new, though he would be lying if he'd said he hadn't imagined her using her voice in such a way before now.]
Would it be ungentlemanly of me to say 'yes?'
[There's a mischievous glint in his eyes before he drops his chin to let his lips and the tip of his nose lightly brush against her forehead, barely enough to count as a kiss, though he plans to make up for that soon.
They pass through the sitting room without stopping, and through another door that had been left ajar to a bedroom that is undeniably Gale from floor to ceiling, from walls painted and charmed to mimic the night sky to the overstuffed bookshelves full to bursting with the volumes and trinkets he's collected during his months here.]
I can be called many things, but never coy, and I am certainly not a priest.
[He is, for better or for worse, incredibly human, with all of the wants and needs that implies. He hadn't allowed himself to count the number of times he'd been distracted by thoughts of her; if he had, he's sure the number would have been thoroughly embarrassing.
He carefully sets her on the end of the bed and joins her there in one fluid movement, planting a hand against the mattress and his knee coming to rest beside her thigh as he drops his head to steal another kiss, warm and lingering.]
If— [He speaks against the curve of her lips now; it would be quite easy to lose himself far too quickly, but he doesn't want to rush a single moment of this, nor does he want to be overbearing.] —you should change your mind, you need only say, but I will swear to you what I have sworn once before regardless: I am yours, Amelia.
Edited (I found an error do not perceive me) 2024-01-06 23:56 (UTC)
[She sinks into the mattress as he sets her down and her heart beats against her chest as he claims her lips once again. Gale never fails to swear himself to her, a reminder of how much she meant to him. It makes Amelia swallow as he makes that promise.
The rest of the night was theirs. Her whole being is alight at the anticipation of what it will bring. Amelia tries to be patient like Gale and tries not to rush as she responds to his pledge with another kiss; this one is languid yet wanting as she tastes him in a way that implores him to taste her back.
Steadily, slowly, the candle begins to burn brighter.
Amelia pauses to breathe and one of her hands moves to the collar of Gale's sweater.]
I... [Her other hand starts to thread through his hair, gripping it softly.]
... Don't want you to stop.
[In the next second, if he glances down, he'll find that she's relieved herself of her jeans; her feet and legs are completely bare though her upper half remains covered. Her cheeks continue to burn red but Amelia doesn't look away from his face.]
You need to show me what you've been thinking about, Gale.
[He kisses her back with ardent enthusiasm, the taste and scent of her already dizzying, and all he can do is eagerly accept that invitation, heated and wanting as he drinks her in deeply, moving well past teasing when his tongue meets hers. His breath catches when he feels her fingers tangle in his hair, the soft tug of their grip, and he can't help the soft moan that escapes him, the sound drowning in the kiss itself in the moment before it breaks.
She doesn't want him to stop, and it only takes a single glance downward to see just how readily she's committed to moving forward, made herself vulnerable. He exhales, pressing another kiss to the corner of her mouth, the bridge of her nose, swallowing hard and taking a moment to remind himself how to breathe.]
Of course— as you wish, my heart.
[He pulls back, one knee still pressed against the mattress as he proceeds to tug his sweater off over his head, but aside from the brief moment where they're covered, he never lets his eyes leave her, watching her intently as he tosses the sweater aside to be dealt with later on. He makes short work of the button-down he'd been wearing beneath it, his heated gaze remaining fixed on her as he does so, taking in the color in her cheeks, the soft curve of her lips, and once he's free from the waist up, he joins her once more, a hand against her hip so that he can gently ease her back towards the pillows.
The orb's markings are fully on display now, but any self-consciousness he may have had about them is forgotten. He kneels before her with his legs spread, taking her face in his other hand so that his lips can crash against hers, hungrier now as he's let some of that patience and restraint slip, his fingers warm against her skin as he lets them sneak beneath the hem of her sweater.]
You are truly breathtaking.
[He murmurs against her lips between kisses, chasing after each one for more like a man dying of thirst, as though they are his very lifeblood.]
[Amelia watches as Gale strips down for her and for a moment all she can hear is a drumming pulse in her ears as he eases her towards the pillows and she moves further back. His gaze is intense and it causes her to shiver from the roots of her hair to her fingertips; what remains of her quickly dwindling coherent thoughts are how she wants to run her hands over the plane of his chest, trace the markings of that orb like it's beautiful rather than something to fear, and how she would dearly love to caress his shoulder blades.
Those thoughts are drowned by his demanding and hungry kiss and she returns it in kind so he understands that the desire and need are not one-sided. She would never want to do this half-heartedly, especially with Gale who promised her his whole being. She moans into his lips and the ever-increasing heat around her body and between her legs makes the fabric of her sweater unbearable especially when his fingers find their way beneath it.]
Gale...
[Amelia says his name with reverence and her green eyes burn into him. She frees up her hands so that she can slip her arms out of her sweater and swiftly pull it over her head. Though her bra and underwear are all that's left, the need to feel his skin against hers has amplified as she cups his face in her hands and takes several breaths to collect herself, and then starts kissing her way up starting with his collarbone, then his shoulders, and then the side of his jaw, mixing little nips of teeth and tongue.
Even without words, she can tell him how much she wants him and how electrifying being with him is by the warmth emanating from her skin. But Amelia tries to return his words, the longing— ]
[He only has the briefest of moments to admire her between kisses once she slips out of her sweater, the need for the heat of skin against skin too strong to overcome, but he intends to learn and admire every inch of her by touch, by taste. A soft moan escapes him as she kisses her way up his collarbone; his head drops back as she peppers his shoulders and jaw with kisses and the teasing scrape of her teeth, and he can feel want and desire radiating from her and dancing across the very surface of his skin, even as heat simmers just beneath it.
The markings left behind by the orb have begun to glow faintly, the magic in him reacting to hers, rising to greet it, and even as she tries to find words, he encircles an arm around her waist and bears her back against the pillows, following her down so that he can pull her flush against him. He has a very, very clear idea of how he'd like to proceed, and he claims her lips with another deep and needful kiss before he begins to steadily work his way along her jaw, kissing along the curve of her neck and offering his own playful nips as he goes. One hand slides over the slope and curve of her breast before circling around to work at the clasp of her bra— an unfamiliar modernization of what he's used to, but he determines it's intuitive enough.]
Relax. [The word comes soft against the hollow of her throat between kisses, almost purred, his head bent.] Allow me to take care of you tonight. I'll see that you have everything you want and more.
[His trousers feel almost unbearably hot in that moment, as well, but rather than hurry to shed them, he focuses his attention on her, intent and eager to please, and when the clasp finally comes loose in his hand, he blindly guides one of the straps over her shoulder, following its path by kissing his way along the length of her collarbone and then downwards, slowing just enough to make each kiss deliberate, lingering.]
[Amelia shudders as the bra is removed and she assists by sliding her arms out of the straps and pushing it aside. There's no chance for cool air to wash over her, not when they're so close to each other and Gale busies himself with his nips to her neck. His soft reassurances against her throat could have made her melt right then and there but she shakily inhales again to focus solely on him and how he moves down her body with his kisses.
There are so many ways to go about this but she isn't exactly thinking with clarity. All she knows is that she needs Gale and his touch over her and inside her. Mouth, tongue, hands, anything that could send her over with shockwaves.
Somehow she manages to speak up as her hands sneak back into his hair.]
Are you... [She holds back a pleased hum.] Trying my patience, Gale?
[Because it's working as her legs start to move apart expectantly.]
[He laughs against her skin as he continues to work his way downwards, a shiver running through him at her heated reprimand and the tug of her fingers in his hair; he takes one of her breasts in hand and gently circles and teases its peak with his thumb while he kisses his way down the slope of the other, his beard lightly scratching against fair skin as he gently takes her nipple into his mouth and laves his tongue against it before releasing it to exposure to the cool air.]
Perhaps I am, but not for long.
[He kisses his way down her stomach, his hands firm as they move along her curves with purpose, down over her hips before hooking his fingers into her undergarments and pulling them smoothly downwards, sitting up on his knees just long enough to remove them with some limited assistance. He takes that moment to truly appreciate her, look her over with a heated gaze that speaks not only of lust but utter adoration, and his gaze meets hers for a moment that leaves him nearly breathless before he tosses that last scrap of clothing aside.
He lowers himself between her spread legs with no remaining barrier between them, one hand coming to grip her thigh as he guides it over her shoulder and drops down to trace the line of her lower lips with his tongue, bottom to top, deliberate and almost painfully slow before he parts them and kisses here there, too, eager to lose himself as he tastes her in earnest, desire coiling hotly in his own stomach.]
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[His thumb brushes against the curve of her cheek as he leans in to press a kiss against her forehead to seal their agreement.
Time passes quickly, as he's found it so often does when they're together. They enjoy their cider, sample their food and discuss daily goings-on, chat about the upcoming book club; he shares some of what he's come across in his recent research as he looks into not only magic theory from other worlds, but also uses the hotel's resources to acquire tomes that would have been impossible for him to obtain in Faerun. Nothing to help him meet his immediate goal just yet, but fascinating nonetheless, clearly excited to share such finds with her.
Eventually, with his now-empty glass in hand, he catches a glimpse of the clock sitting on the table just inside the doors leading out to the balcony, and for a moment appears genuinely surprised.]
Almost midnight already— where does the time go?
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Time for this then. Or rather, I'll open it up when it's midnight. How many minutes do we have left?
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[He's teasing, naturally, but sets his glass down on the table so that it can be filled when the time comes.]
So, we toast to the new year at midnight— I may have done a bit of research to prepare myself for this evening and found there's something else traditionally done at midnight, as well.
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[With a raised brow she sits back down and lets the bottle be. She has a pretty good idea of what he's referring to. Stretching her arms out in front of her, she leisurely gives Gale a sideways glance.
It's been another engaging evening with one another and it promises an end to the old and a welcome to the new. They may very well just head to sleep right after.
... Should they?]
And? What were the fruits of your research?
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I read that it's customary to exchange a kiss for good luck in the coming year.
[It seems there are a lot of traditions that include kissing around this time of year, although he certainly can't complain. It's not as though the two of them need an excuse; they do plenty of kissing all on their own without any assistance, but there's still something exciting about having someone to celebrate these things with.]
You know me— I aim to respect and honor other cultures as I have the opportunity to learn of them in this place.
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[Amelia who can't hold back her smile leans forward with her hair draped across her shoulders.]
Far be it from me to dissuade you from partaking in the culture. You've only got less than two minutes after all.
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[He leans forward to meet her, amusement and something akin to mischief alight in his eyes. Even if they're technically supposed to kiss at midnight, it can't hurt to be extra thorough, can it? Ensure they have all angles covered, as it were. Perhaps they'll have even better luck as a result.
He reaches to lightly brush some of her vibrant hair back from her face, his palm coming to rest warmly against her cheek before he tips his head to press his lips against hers, slightly parted and just barely over the line of being chaste, and already he can taste the bright notes of the cider they had been drinking. He feels his pulse quicken; it always does, and he knows full well how easily a kiss can run away with the both of them. Often they are saved by having other places to be or exchanging a kiss goodnight before parting ways, but tonight, there are no such limitations.]
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Her hands move to Gale's shoulders and when his lip part slightly, she takes that as an invitation to taste him back, but softly and playfully. Eyes closed, she moves closer, body pressed against him and arms fully wrapping him in an embrace.
Looking back on this, Amelia will remember the taste of apples between their lips. She'll remember that the clock struck midnight but she neither notices nor cares, focusing instead on building up the warmth growing between them. She manages to not deepen the kiss (surely, they won't get too carried away) and keeps it on a level of frustrating gentleness.
When she finally pulls away, the witch murmurs:]
Happy New Year, Gale.
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Happy New Year, Amelia.
[He almost leans in to steal a second kiss, but is startled into turning his attention elsewhere when there's a loud whistling followed by an explosive bang somewhere behind him. He turns his head to look over his shoulder, just in time to see the sparks of fireworks beginning to dissipate before another shoots upwards from somewhere below the balcony, and he laughs softly to himself, shaking his head.]
I thought I'd told Tara I decided against those. I was worried it might be too much. [He, himself, is often too much.] Apparently, she had her own ideas.
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[Also startled, her head whips around to watch as the fireworks are set off. The colorful lights reflect in her eyes, highlighting the wonder within.]
I guess she wanted a riveting start to the year... Good on her.
[Internally, she's feeling giddy from the kiss and had hoped Gale would steal a second one... But how about a drink first? Amelia takes the champagne bottle and uses magic to easily take off the cork. With a small pop she raises the bottle at Gale and pours the champagne into their glasses.]
I'm not leaving yet, so let's have our first drink of the year. Cheers.
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She certainly gave us quite a show— I'll have to thank her. She seems quite invested in ensuring we have a memorable evening.
[It would have been memorable regardless, he feels, but the fireworks certainly don't hurt. He watches with both interest and amusement as Amelia uncorks the bottles and fills their glasses, his heart light as he takes up his own and offers her to it in toast.]
Cheers— to the year ahead.
[He smiles warmly and takes a sip, and averts his gaze for but a moment as he searches for the words that he'd been considering all night— since long before her arrival, in fact. He exhales steadily, clearing his throat softly as he turns his gaze back towards her, somber despite the smile that remains on his lips.]
As for that bit about you not leaving... I wanted to ask you about that, in fact. I was wondering if you... might like to stay the night? [There's a note of uncertainty in his voice, as though he's not sure how such a question will be received, but he's quick to follow up before she gets the wrong idea. Well, perhaps not the wrong idea, but such an idea would only be one of several options.] Nothing need happen that you aren't ready for, I only— don't wish to start the new year by having to say goodnight to you.
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[Amelia had been taking a generous sip from her glass as Gale presented his question. Her expression is neutral as she registers the somber look in his gaze that contrasts with the smile he gives her.
. . .
It should be troubling, perhaps, how she doesn't answer right away and how it's hard to tell at that moment what thoughts are running through her head. Her answer comes in the form of moving closer to Gale again so that they're shoulder to shoulder.]
We'll have to say it eventually.
[She says it so plainly that it would be easy to take the words at face value. But if Gale is truly smart, he'll recall that she said something similar during their evening at the ball when everything was laid bare.
Cheeky. Or perhaps, pert.]
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He lowers his glass after helping himself to a generous sip of his own, turning away from the ongoing fireworks to lean in and press another soft kiss against her lips, this one accompanied by the bright taste and scent of champagne, cupping the side of her face with his hand as though it were second nature by now. It may as well have been.]
Perhaps, but I would much rather say good morning.
[A far more confident response than he'd been able to offer her that first night. It has been mere weeks, but he knows full well now where he stands with her.]
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Her free hand reaches up to trace Gale's chin with her fingers and she draws back slightly. Right now, there are no burdens of the past on her mind and no fear of the uncertain future. And it's not even the Emerald Witch who gazes fondly into the eyes belonging to Gale of Waterdeep.
No, she's just Amelia and he's just Gale.]
I'll stay tonight, Gale. As for what happens...
[Well, just let her have another sip of champagne, set the glass aside, and focus completely on giving Gale another kiss, this time with an invitation with parted lips and champagne fresh on her tongue, as if to tell him, drink.]
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He feels his breath catch as he parts his own lips and tastes her with the tip of his tongue; he's unsure of when the fingers of his free hand had found their way into her hair, but they are tangled there now as he pours himself into that kiss, intent on letting her know precisely how much he burns for her, body and mind.
I'm in love with you.
He feels it with every fiber of his being, but even with all that's been said and done up until now, he fears it might be too much— but if he cannot tell her just yet, he will do all he can to show her, and he makes a soft, muted noise against her lips as his hand falls away from her face and comes to the small of her back, fingers curling into her sweater so that he can pull her closer.]
Thank you.
[He all but whispers it against the curve of her lips.]
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Gale was so, so, good but life was equally unkind to him. He had been abandoned by his goddess and had few true friends like her and yet he wanted to give and give.
He made her feel in ways that weren't possible. He made her want to give back and to show him that he was someone wonderful outside of his title and magic.
When he pulls away from their eager kiss and draws her closer with his hand on her back, Amelia shivers, gathering her thoughts. What to do next? Will it come back to her naturally? Would he...? She glances down, almost shy.]
We're... Not going to sleep out here on the balcony, right? It'd be a shame... [And here, her cheeks start to burn even if her voice is measured.]
I wouldn't want it to be cold again.
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That would be a terrible shame, wouldn't it? Of course not— I have a much better idea.
[The remaining food, the glasses, all of that can wait until the morning to be tidied up, assuming Tara doesn't get to it before him regardless— but it's clear that she has left them to have their privacy as the fireworks have slowed to a stop, and barring any dire circumstances, they'll not have to worry about interruption.
It would be a simple enough matter to teleport them to their ultimate destination, but doing so in this particular moment lacks the proper poetry, and instead, he tips her chin up with his index finger to steal another kiss before he proceeds to lift her upwards, sweeping an arm beneath her legs with the other around her shoulders so that he can hold her close to his chest as he starts towards the double doors that lead back to his sitting room.]
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[Well, she certainly didn't expect Gale to carry her. As she holds onto Gale, she can't help but let out a laugh of disbelief.]
I see I'm getting the full treatment tonight.
[And teasingly she adds (by whispering into his ear mind you):]
You've been having ideas for a long while now, haven't you?
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Would it be ungentlemanly of me to say 'yes?'
[There's a mischievous glint in his eyes before he drops his chin to let his lips and the tip of his nose lightly brush against her forehead, barely enough to count as a kiss, though he plans to make up for that soon.
They pass through the sitting room without stopping, and through another door that had been left ajar to a bedroom that is undeniably Gale from floor to ceiling, from walls painted and charmed to mimic the night sky to the overstuffed bookshelves full to bursting with the volumes and trinkets he's collected during his months here.]
I can be called many things, but never coy, and I am certainly not a priest.
[He is, for better or for worse, incredibly human, with all of the wants and needs that implies. He hadn't allowed himself to count the number of times he'd been distracted by thoughts of her; if he had, he's sure the number would have been thoroughly embarrassing.
He carefully sets her on the end of the bed and joins her there in one fluid movement, planting a hand against the mattress and his knee coming to rest beside her thigh as he drops his head to steal another kiss, warm and lingering.]
If— [He speaks against the curve of her lips now; it would be quite easy to lose himself far too quickly, but he doesn't want to rush a single moment of this, nor does he want to be overbearing.] —you should change your mind, you need only say, but I will swear to you what I have sworn once before regardless: I am yours, Amelia.
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The rest of the night was theirs. Her whole being is alight at the anticipation of what it will bring. Amelia tries to be patient like Gale and tries not to rush as she responds to his pledge with another kiss; this one is languid yet wanting as she tastes him in a way that implores him to taste her back.
Steadily, slowly, the candle begins to burn brighter.
Amelia pauses to breathe and one of her hands moves to the collar of Gale's sweater.]
I... [Her other hand starts to thread through his hair, gripping it softly.]
... Don't want you to stop.
[In the next second, if he glances down, he'll find that she's relieved herself of her jeans; her feet and legs are completely bare though her upper half remains covered. Her cheeks continue to burn red but Amelia doesn't look away from his face.]
You need to show me what you've been thinking about, Gale.
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She doesn't want him to stop, and it only takes a single glance downward to see just how readily she's committed to moving forward, made herself vulnerable. He exhales, pressing another kiss to the corner of her mouth, the bridge of her nose, swallowing hard and taking a moment to remind himself how to breathe.]
Of course— as you wish, my heart.
[He pulls back, one knee still pressed against the mattress as he proceeds to tug his sweater off over his head, but aside from the brief moment where they're covered, he never lets his eyes leave her, watching her intently as he tosses the sweater aside to be dealt with later on. He makes short work of the button-down he'd been wearing beneath it, his heated gaze remaining fixed on her as he does so, taking in the color in her cheeks, the soft curve of her lips, and once he's free from the waist up, he joins her once more, a hand against her hip so that he can gently ease her back towards the pillows.
The orb's markings are fully on display now, but any self-consciousness he may have had about them is forgotten. He kneels before her with his legs spread, taking her face in his other hand so that his lips can crash against hers, hungrier now as he's let some of that patience and restraint slip, his fingers warm against her skin as he lets them sneak beneath the hem of her sweater.]
You are truly breathtaking.
[He murmurs against her lips between kisses, chasing after each one for more like a man dying of thirst, as though they are his very lifeblood.]
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Those thoughts are drowned by his demanding and hungry kiss and she returns it in kind so he understands that the desire and need are not one-sided. She would never want to do this half-heartedly, especially with Gale who promised her his whole being. She moans into his lips and the ever-increasing heat around her body and between her legs makes the fabric of her sweater unbearable especially when his fingers find their way beneath it.]
Gale...
[Amelia says his name with reverence and her green eyes burn into him. She frees up her hands so that she can slip her arms out of her sweater and swiftly pull it over her head. Though her bra and underwear are all that's left, the need to feel his skin against hers has amplified as she cups his face in her hands and takes several breaths to collect herself, and then starts kissing her way up starting with his collarbone, then his shoulders, and then the side of his jaw, mixing little nips of teeth and tongue.
Even without words, she can tell him how much she wants him and how electrifying being with him is by the warmth emanating from her skin. But Amelia tries to return his words, the longing— ]
I want—
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The markings left behind by the orb have begun to glow faintly, the magic in him reacting to hers, rising to greet it, and even as she tries to find words, he encircles an arm around her waist and bears her back against the pillows, following her down so that he can pull her flush against him. He has a very, very clear idea of how he'd like to proceed, and he claims her lips with another deep and needful kiss before he begins to steadily work his way along her jaw, kissing along the curve of her neck and offering his own playful nips as he goes. One hand slides over the slope and curve of her breast before circling around to work at the clasp of her bra— an unfamiliar modernization of what he's used to, but he determines it's intuitive enough.]
Relax. [The word comes soft against the hollow of her throat between kisses, almost purred, his head bent.] Allow me to take care of you tonight. I'll see that you have everything you want and more.
[His trousers feel almost unbearably hot in that moment, as well, but rather than hurry to shed them, he focuses his attention on her, intent and eager to please, and when the clasp finally comes loose in his hand, he blindly guides one of the straps over her shoulder, following its path by kissing his way along the length of her collarbone and then downwards, slowing just enough to make each kiss deliberate, lingering.]
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There are so many ways to go about this but she isn't exactly thinking with clarity. All she knows is that she needs Gale and his touch over her and inside her. Mouth, tongue, hands, anything that could send her over with shockwaves.
Somehow she manages to speak up as her hands sneak back into his hair.]
Are you... [She holds back a pleased hum.] Trying my patience, Gale?
[Because it's working as her legs start to move apart expectantly.]
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Perhaps I am, but not for long.
[He kisses his way down her stomach, his hands firm as they move along her curves with purpose, down over her hips before hooking his fingers into her undergarments and pulling them smoothly downwards, sitting up on his knees just long enough to remove them with some limited assistance. He takes that moment to truly appreciate her, look her over with a heated gaze that speaks not only of lust but utter adoration, and his gaze meets hers for a moment that leaves him nearly breathless before he tosses that last scrap of clothing aside.
He lowers himself between her spread legs with no remaining barrier between them, one hand coming to grip her thigh as he guides it over her shoulder and drops down to trace the line of her lower lips with his tongue, bottom to top, deliberate and almost painfully slow before he parts them and kisses here there, too, eager to lose himself as he tastes her in earnest, desire coiling hotly in his own stomach.]
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