[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.]
She squirms and struggles to hold back her sounds as he gives her breast attention with his tongue. Her undergarments are removed with deft hands and finally, she's completely bare and vulnerable under his gaze. And when Gale lowers himself between her legs, breath hot as he guides her leg...
Oh.
A sweet and delighted cry escapes her mouth as Gale's tongue teases her folds and enflames her even further and fiercely within. Fingers tightly grip the sheets as he relishes it with even more attention.
Not fair. She's going to lose herself too soon from the sheer thrill of how he wants to pleasure her with his mouth without her having to ask. It was her choice to let down her guard but it's at this moment she realizes how many she had up. But she can't pull away. She needs more of him more of his tongue inside of her. Amelia brings a hand to her mouth to bite her knuckles and tone down her voice; regardless, the plea behind it cannot be concealed much as she tries.]
[The sounds she makes— he had thought it impossible for himself to want her even more than he already had, but the sweet sound of her voice as she responds to his efforts, the tug of the sheets he feels beneath them, all of it only serves to fuel him further. He moans softly against her as he remains focused on his attentions, lifting his eyes only for a moment to see how stunning she is sprawled back against the pillows, and he feels his heart beat faster at the sight of her biting her knuckles to try and stifle herself.
She'd asked him not to stop, and he has no intention of doing so.
His fingers dig into her thigh just a bit more as he anchors himself, not enough to cause pain, and he gently circles the spot he knows will bring her the most pleasure with his tongue, careful and attentive, focusing his efforts there in hopes of getting another delightful squirm out of her before he dips lower and tastes her more deeply than before. Unwilling to leave her unattended, he lets his thumb take over while his lips and tongue are otherwise occupied, each kiss and stroke of his tongue as gentle as it is adoring, his thumb tightly circling and nudging that bud of pleasure as he keeps himself attentive and attuned to her responses— what she likes, what makes her go tense, what draws those sweet sounds of pleasure from her, what causes a tug of the sheets. They both still have a great deal to learn about one another, and this seems an excellent place to start.]
The normally composed and severe witch now lies on her back, body flushed and eyes incensed. She writhes at Gale's ministrations, her breathing hot and rhythmic, interrupted just as suddenly as his thumb works in tandem with his tongue to make her feel incredibly sublime. There's an attempt to be stubborn and silence her voice but to no avail as she gasps feverishly through each stroke. Each lap of tongue makes her delirious, and each motion of his thumb threatens to make her clamp his head between her thighs and propel him further.
Her hold on the sheets loosens and tightens before she arches her back slightly, just enough to sit up and cradle his head between her hands, fingers gripping his hair with need. When Amelia speaks up, she barely recognizes her own raw and frantic voice.]
Good— Gale, it feels so good, I'm—!
[She could drown at this moment, balance on this tightrope of exquisite torment or give in and fall off the quickly approaching edge. His careful work and attention to her center of pleasure are making her wet and it makes her lose her articulation.]
I'm... I...
[She's so close to release and he can feel it in the grind of her hips against his tongue and the dewiness of her center as she chases it desperately. No other thoughts, just her, Gale, and this impossible pleasure he's ravishing upon her.]
[Gods above, to hear his name on her lips like that... it is so, so much sweeter than he ever could have imagined.
Even if she hadn't given voice to her unraveling, he would have known she was dangerously close— the shudder of her thighs as she struggles not to trap him between them, the uneven hitch of her breath, her grip on his hair that only serves to further stoke his own arousal. He looks up at her from beneath long lashes for but a moment, her voice having gained an edge that stirs something primal deep within him, and he only gives her a brief moment of reprieve as he allows himself a breath, his beard scraping against the inside of her thigh as he shifts his angle, the muscles in his back pulling taut beneath her gaze as he disappears between her legs once more.]
Let yourself go, my love.
[His voice is low, raw and husky with his own desire, and he feels drunk on the scent of her as he closes his lips around her clit, once again lavishing attention on her with his tongue, its strokes tender but no less persistent in the wake of his thumb, releasing her thigh and letting it rest over his shoulder as he reaches to lay his hand against her stomach. Gently, he presses two of those dexterous fingers inside of her and curls them forward as if to beckon her, stroking her from within while he continues to push her higher with lips and tongue alike, breath hot and labored against sensitive skin, intent on bringing her over that edge and watching her come apart, his efforts as intense as they are meticulously controlled, unwilling to lose himself until he's given her what he feels is her due.]
[She nearly groans as he gives himself a breath pulling him back to her although there's no need as he sets about driving her mad once again, his thirst for her yet to be slaked. If she could, she'd admire his control and countenance but that's hardly doable at that moment.
Amelia doesn't know if it's his words (and for a split second her heart feels a sting, quickly smothered by her haze of lust) or the obscene way he consumes her and slips his fingers inside to rub her, but it all leads to the same end. She completely shatters.
She's deaf to her own cries as she arches her back and comes. Her body quivers and shakes, awash with pleasure, and the pads of her fingers grasp his hair tightly before letting go and raising them so that her arms cover her eyes.]
Oh—
[She whimpers in blissful awe. Even with her eyes closed she sees sparkling lights akin to the fireworks that were set off not too long ago. To say that she's bewildered, stunned, or irrevocably elated wouldn't be able to measure up to the aftermath of how Gale made her feel.]
[He doesn't relent for a moment, carrying through her peak and bracing a hand against her hip to help steady her as that wave of pleasure rolls through her, drinking in every sound, every cry, every quiver, her fingers in his hair drawing a groan from him as he remains fixed against her. Only when she finally stills does he stop to catch his breath, slowly and carefully withdrawing his fingers and leaving a soothing kiss in his wake before he props himself up on one elbow, disheveled, watching her intently as he takes his own fingers into his mouth and sucks them clean.
Careful not to overwhelm her, he shifts forward so that he can join her once more and puts an arm around her waist to gather her against his chest, carding fingers through her vibrant red hair and pressing a soft kiss against her forehead before dropping one on either cheek, then finally reaching her lips, catching them with his own. Seeing her like this, hearing her come undone as a result of his attentions, all of it has his pulse reaching a fever pitch, his blood thundering in his ears, and he exhales happily against the curve of her mouth, eyes closed.]
You should hear yourself.
[Some might feel self-conscious after hearing such a statement, but the low rasp of his voice makes it very, very clear that he quite likes what he hears.]
[Amelia is breathing hard but it begins to recede as Gale pulls her close. She's pliant under his embrace and moves her arms as he softly kisses her. When they reach her lips, she returns them dazedly, registering the faint taste of herself on him. When Gale speaks with that low rasp and she finally takes in his elated face up close, her body shivers once again.
With some great effort, she manages to reply, still sensitive to every touch and his skin against hers.]
I... Was I loud?
[A redundant question and maybe kind of adorable of her to ask. Amelia's hands move up to Gale's shoulders.]
That was... You're...
[You're so wonderful. Even in the aftermath of the shockwaves that slammed into her in a flash, she's already glancing downward and says:]
Gale. [Her kisses take a turn and he'll feel his lower lip being nipped at.]
Aren't you...?
[Her fingers are sliding down his torso and towards his hips. She inhales before continuing, a gentle longing in her voice.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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She squirms and struggles to hold back her sounds as he gives her breast attention with his tongue. Her undergarments are removed with deft hands and finally, she's completely bare and vulnerable under his gaze. And when Gale lowers himself between her legs, breath hot as he guides her leg...
Oh.
A sweet and delighted cry escapes her mouth as Gale's tongue teases her folds and enflames her even further and fiercely within. Fingers tightly grip the sheets as he relishes it with even more attention.
Not fair. She's going to lose herself too soon from the sheer thrill of how he wants to pleasure her with his mouth without her having to ask. It was her choice to let down her guard but it's at this moment she realizes how many she had up. But she can't pull away. She needs more of him more of his tongue inside of her. Amelia brings a hand to her mouth to bite her knuckles and tone down her voice; regardless, the plea behind it cannot be concealed much as she tries.]
G-Gale... More. Please don't stop—
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She'd asked him not to stop, and he has no intention of doing so.
His fingers dig into her thigh just a bit more as he anchors himself, not enough to cause pain, and he gently circles the spot he knows will bring her the most pleasure with his tongue, careful and attentive, focusing his efforts there in hopes of getting another delightful squirm out of her before he dips lower and tastes her more deeply than before. Unwilling to leave her unattended, he lets his thumb take over while his lips and tongue are otherwise occupied, each kiss and stroke of his tongue as gentle as it is adoring, his thumb tightly circling and nudging that bud of pleasure as he keeps himself attentive and attuned to her responses— what she likes, what makes her go tense, what draws those sweet sounds of pleasure from her, what causes a tug of the sheets. They both still have a great deal to learn about one another, and this seems an excellent place to start.]
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The normally composed and severe witch now lies on her back, body flushed and eyes incensed. She writhes at Gale's ministrations, her breathing hot and rhythmic, interrupted just as suddenly as his thumb works in tandem with his tongue to make her feel incredibly sublime. There's an attempt to be stubborn and silence her voice but to no avail as she gasps feverishly through each stroke. Each lap of tongue makes her delirious, and each motion of his thumb threatens to make her clamp his head between her thighs and propel him further.
Her hold on the sheets loosens and tightens before she arches her back slightly, just enough to sit up and cradle his head between her hands, fingers gripping his hair with need. When Amelia speaks up, she barely recognizes her own raw and frantic voice.]
Good— Gale, it feels so good, I'm—!
[She could drown at this moment, balance on this tightrope of exquisite torment or give in and fall off the quickly approaching edge. His careful work and attention to her center of pleasure are making her wet and it makes her lose her articulation.]
I'm... I...
[She's so close to release and he can feel it in the grind of her hips against his tongue and the dewiness of her center as she chases it desperately. No other thoughts, just her, Gale, and this impossible pleasure he's ravishing upon her.]
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Even if she hadn't given voice to her unraveling, he would have known she was dangerously close— the shudder of her thighs as she struggles not to trap him between them, the uneven hitch of her breath, her grip on his hair that only serves to further stoke his own arousal. He looks up at her from beneath long lashes for but a moment, her voice having gained an edge that stirs something primal deep within him, and he only gives her a brief moment of reprieve as he allows himself a breath, his beard scraping against the inside of her thigh as he shifts his angle, the muscles in his back pulling taut beneath her gaze as he disappears between her legs once more.]
Let yourself go, my love.
[His voice is low, raw and husky with his own desire, and he feels drunk on the scent of her as he closes his lips around her clit, once again lavishing attention on her with his tongue, its strokes tender but no less persistent in the wake of his thumb, releasing her thigh and letting it rest over his shoulder as he reaches to lay his hand against her stomach. Gently, he presses two of those dexterous fingers inside of her and curls them forward as if to beckon her, stroking her from within while he continues to push her higher with lips and tongue alike, breath hot and labored against sensitive skin, intent on bringing her over that edge and watching her come apart, his efforts as intense as they are meticulously controlled, unwilling to lose himself until he's given her what he feels is her due.]
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Amelia doesn't know if it's his words (and for a split second her heart feels a sting, quickly smothered by her haze of lust) or the obscene way he consumes her and slips his fingers inside to rub her, but it all leads to the same end. She completely shatters.
She's deaf to her own cries as she arches her back and comes. Her body quivers and shakes, awash with pleasure, and the pads of her fingers grasp his hair tightly before letting go and raising them so that her arms cover her eyes.]
Oh—
[She whimpers in blissful awe. Even with her eyes closed she sees sparkling lights akin to the fireworks that were set off not too long ago. To say that she's bewildered, stunned, or irrevocably elated wouldn't be able to measure up to the aftermath of how Gale made her feel.]
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Careful not to overwhelm her, he shifts forward so that he can join her once more and puts an arm around her waist to gather her against his chest, carding fingers through her vibrant red hair and pressing a soft kiss against her forehead before dropping one on either cheek, then finally reaching her lips, catching them with his own. Seeing her like this, hearing her come undone as a result of his attentions, all of it has his pulse reaching a fever pitch, his blood thundering in his ears, and he exhales happily against the curve of her mouth, eyes closed.]
You should hear yourself.
[Some might feel self-conscious after hearing such a statement, but the low rasp of his voice makes it very, very clear that he quite likes what he hears.]
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With some great effort, she manages to reply, still sensitive to every touch and his skin against hers.]
I... Was I loud?
[A redundant question and maybe kind of adorable of her to ask. Amelia's hands move up to Gale's shoulders.]
That was... You're...
[You're so wonderful. Even in the aftermath of the shockwaves that slammed into her in a flash, she's already glancing downward and says:]
Gale. [Her kisses take a turn and he'll feel his lower lip being nipped at.]
Aren't you...?
[Her fingers are sliding down his torso and towards his hips. She inhales before continuing, a gentle longing in her voice.]
Do you want more of me?
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