[ Nicole was quickly learning that there was a successful and equally easy side path to her normal method of teasing Varka: teasing him with even an ounce of sensuality was proving incredibly effective. She makes a note of that for a later date, when she was truly determined to put him through the wringer. Maybe a flash of the thigh would be all she needed to entice him in the future.
The nature of that thought surprises her, but only for a moment. Yes, she decides, she wanted there to be more moments like this. Many more. She wanted to experience every facet of this potentially limited time with Varka. This assuredly included teasing him so thoroughly that he would hardly be able to walk straight before bedding her.
In present time, Varka is hopefully too distracted to notice that her smile had gone the slightest bit devious.
Besides: he's distracting her again. He nudges his way between her thighs and she sighs almost reflexively. The heat kindling in her stomach deepens, suffusing her from fingertip to ankle. She carefully brackets him with her legs, squeezing lightly. Encouragingly.
Which… feels better than she anticipated. Her breathing stutters. ]
[Indeed, Varka is blissfully unaware of the way he will soon be menaced. In the present moment, all he can really think about is how she looks. How she feels. And how desperate he is to touch her again.
And why shouldn't he?
Varka leans down, bracing his hands on either side of Nicole's head. His lips brush over hers, but only briefly. He is a man on a mission, kissing lower and lower still. There's so much of her throat that has been left unexplored, and this time, he doesn't hesitate to linger. He allows his lips to close around her skin, sucking a mark against her neck that will, mercifully, be covered by her dress.
But after that he drags lower still. His nose scrapes along her collarbone, only to pause as he presses a kiss into the hollow of her throat.
And then he drifts upward, following the curve of her breast.]
You feel... Mm. Would you kick me if I said you felt heavenly?
[His smile is almost too syrupy for the remark to sound at all teasing.]
[ If she thought kissing Varka on the lips was incendiary, this was… molten.
For the briefest moment, him bracketing her head flusters her more than any prior action had. Before she can even begin to conceptualize why, Varka's mouth alights on the side of her neck. When he begins to suck at her skin, a pulsing throb hums between her legs in time with each flex of his mouth.
It all feels incredible. She feels like a live wire. The desire blankets her so utterly that her brai nearly struggles to keep up, strung along through the growing sensation, the growing anticipation, the further down her body Varka travels.
She hardly realizes her breath is audibly fluttering in and out of her nose until he nuzzles into the hollow of her throat. It is embarrassing, but only for a moment. She cannot quite find it within herself to care overmuch about her conduct.
Varka's hand on her chest had felt pleasant. The barest brush of his mouth, the texture of his jaw – Nicole makes a sound that is dangerously close to a whimper. Her head tosses against the mattress. Instinctually, or perhaps out of a predilection to doing so, she lowers a hand to drag it through Varka's hair. She pushes it away from his face, mindlessly scraping at his scalp with her nails.
It shouldn't be possible, but she manages to sound breathless when replying to him. ]
N-no. [ A pause. She probably shouldn't simply leave it at that. ] I – couldn't kick you right now even if I wanted to.
[Similarly, while Varka thought Nicole's reactions were vibrant before, the way she squirms and sighs very much threaten to melt him into nothing. It's difficult to maintain his composure beneath the noise she makes. Once again, he finds himself wishing their connection were more mutual: he'd love to share his dancing thoughts with her without having to pause.
As her fingers slice through his hair, though, Varka does find it in himself to break for a moment. He angles his head into the touch, gaze shifting to peer up at her. He meets her eyes, hoping that she can see the mutual desire there.]
You know. I think I'll take that as a compliment.
[In theory, he moves in a way that shouldn't let her respond. Considering the nature of her communication, that remains to be seen. The point is, with his gaze still tethered to her own, parts his lips, allowing his tongue to graze over the peak of her nipple. Somehow, he finds himself as the one shuddering, if only because the taste of her is somehow better than he might have imagined.
That sensation naturally ratchets up as he draws her nipple into his mouth. A low noise leaves him, and he can only hope the vibrations naturally emphasize the moment. He complements the gesture with his hand, cresting the opposite side and palming over her, very deliberate about how his rough hands scrape over her skin.]
[ In her previous, limited forays into self-pleasure, Nicole had assessed and attended to her both with a largely efficient mind. She had catalogued what felt good and what inspired little reaction and made a note in the back of her head, for whenever she got the idle urge to try again. It had hardly been an involved affair, and she had only mildly touched her chest. The weight of her own hand had felt distantly pleasant, but it hadn't exactly been pleasurable.
It shocks her, then, how that first brush of Varka's tongue feels. The sensation is both bright and delicate; the weight of the gesture is riveted on Varka's eyes, heavy on hers. Nicole is already twitching before his mouth wraps round her nipple, and the thrumming of his mouth has her hand flying up to cover her own.
Not that the gesture was effective at muffling anything. She sighs falteringly into his head in spite of it at the warm rasp of his palm on the opposite side of her chest. It melts into a feather light moan.
Her body shifts at the waist as if restless. When she blinks down at him, her lashes flutter as though her eyes are struggling to remain open. While some might have found the texture of the callouses on his hand to be an unpleasant edge to a touch, it only serves to excite her that little bit more. It served as a beautiful counterpoint to his overwhelming gentleness.
The hand not covering his mouth finds his head again. She runs her fingers through his hair again, desperate to convey her appreciation and equally desperate to do something. ]
It's nice. [ She whispers to him, hushed in spite of the connection. ] Thank you.
[With his mouth otherwise occupied, and with Varka very much skeptical that Nicole wants him to change that, all he can really do his meet her eyes. That, and hum in response to her praise. She seemed to enjoy it before, after all.
Still, it's a good thing that his mouth is occupied. He is a prideful man, unopposed to gloating when the stakes were enough to allow for it. Given the way she trembles, the way her eyes seem to glaze over and unfocus with her pleasure, he'd probably take the opportunity to pat himself on the back. Not too much, lest she reconsider not kicking him, but enough to aggravate her all the same.
He's not one to remain idle, though. While he's remiss to abandon her chest so quickly, he also does not wish to tease. More than that, though, he wants to explore every inch of her. There will be plenty of time to linger later.
And so his mouth drifts further downward, tracing down the swell of her breast once more, then tracking toward her navel. He kisses around it delicately, flicks his eyes up to meet hers, before trailing down to the hem of her leggings. His hands meet him there, hooking under fabric, but not moving otherwise.]
[ It is assuredly a good thing that they do not presently have an open telepathic line between them. Not that Nicole would be upset over Varka's internal gloating, not at the moment: it was hard to argue the effectiveness of his touch when she was already struggling this much to maintain her composure.
Though she makes a faint noise in disappointment when he moves away from her chest, it is quickly overtaken by a fluttering at the warmth of his mouth traveling down the plane of her abdomen. It is a strange feeling. For a moment, she is torn between the desire to encourage his trajectory downward and to simply cradle his head against her stomach. He is so very warm, and she finds the idea of laying like that, with him, an incredibly compelling one.
Maybe it would be possible… afterward. Was it usual, for… lovers to spend the whole night together? She will have to ask.
She twitches bodily at the unexpected brush of his fingers just beneath the waistband of her tights. It isn't an unpleasant surprise by any means, but she is abruptly grappling with the idea of having the whole of her self bared to him. What unconcealed truths could be gleaned from the state of her once undressed? She worries, distantly, that it will be a boring affair for Varka. She surely would not last long, even with a simple touch, and they would likely not get to perform the act he had initially intended to prepare her for.
Nicole's brows knit faintly. After warring with herself, she eventually decides it will be best to be honest. ]
…I am concerned about… how long I will last. It will likely be over rather quickly, and I wouldn't want you to be disappointed…
[Well, Nicole gets her wish, somewhat. He's more than happy to wait until she's fully ready. That means he lays his cheek against her stomach, head angled upward. Is it a little ridiculous, peering up at her through her cleavage? Maybe. But Varka is a ridiculous guy.]
Disappointed? Me? [He tilts his head, laying a kiss or three against soft skin.] I'm having a great time. So you finish early? So what. We either wait a few minutes, or we try again tomorrow. And the day after that. And another day after that one.
[Varka might be grinning, but the edges are blunted by something gentle. Abandoning his current position, he leans back up toward her face, opting to kiss her directly on the mouth a few times as well.]
I'm not going to say I don't need perfect. I just think you misunderstand what my definition of perfect is. [He inches lower, laying a tender kiss upon her chin.] And that's you, just by the way.
[ Oh, goodness. Hello, Varka. Unable to resist, Nicole brings both hands down to run through Varka's hair. Whether this had become a self-soothing technique or was simply something she had come to expressly enjoy is unclear even to her. All she knows is that brushing Varka's bangs away from his brows sets her at ease… and also that she simply enjoys petting him. His hair is soft, and full.
But, hold on. Wait a few minutes? What does that mean? She is initially far too distracted by Varka's sudden appearance directly in front of her face to even mentally vocalize the question. She returns the kisses instinctively, tracing her fingers down Varka's shoulders.
He's sweeter than she expected him to be, but maybe she should not be all that surprised. Varka had never been brusque, after all… perhaps it was fully within what should have been her expectations that he is being so gentle with her.
Wait. She got distracted. She has a question to ask. ]
What do you mean by "wait a few minutes"? If it… ends, should it not… end? [ Okay, not being incredibly clear with what she means here. Maybe Varka will still understand, somehow. ]
[There is a note of confusion in his voice. He leans back far enough to angle his head, confusion writ upon his face, albeit tied intrinsically with that ever laid back smile of his.]
All those books of yours, and they never said anything about this?
[Maybe it makes sense. Books tended to exaggerate things, didn't they? A grand, passionate instance of lovemaking, and then on with the story? Pleasant and all, but hardly accurate.
For the time being, Varka shifts onto his side. Like this, it's easier to lay his hand against Nicole's hip, then trace it up to her rib and back down again. More than anything, he just likes touching her. He would never be so bold as to leave too many marks, but that doesn't mean he isn't mildly possessive in a different sort of way.]
Sure, guys like me need way more recovery time. They probably could only go once or twice. But uh... [He clears his throat.] Ladies need way less time to recover. You might be winded or tired, but if you wanted to keep going, you could.
Unless...
[His brow pinches.]
You didn't think I'd up and ditch just because I got you off once, right?
[ Nicole's confusion is genuine enough to overwrite any chance of embarrassment. And, besides… with Varka touching her so softly, it is nearly impossible to feel anything other than distracted. The more aware of his hand she becomes, the more she starts to shiver with each repetitive motion.
She turns her head to look him in the eye, hair bundled up under her cheek. It's surprising, how natural this kind of intimacy also feels. ]
Not exactly. There would be instances where the main couple would fall into bed with one another, of course, but it was often in moments of fraught peril. Even during moments of downtime, they only ever had enough time to wrap themselves up in one another the one time. I suppose I simply… extrapolated that that was the norm. And the books always had them both reach their, ah, climax, at the same time…
[ Sorry, Varka, you spurred her into a tangent without even realizing it. She's mostly thinking aloud, but it should as enough of an explanation.
She doesn't quite frown at him, but it is a close thing. ]
No, no. Or, at least, I hoped that you would stay here in bed with me afterward.
[Though Varka might be the first to tease her about her long winded rants, he'd also be the first to admit that he cherished them just as much. This is one of those times where he's content to lapse into silence, hanging onto every word with a syrupy smile. After all, it might well prove to benefit him in the long run.]
Unfortunately, the real world is a bit more messy than all of that. For starters, you can't exactly just - [A sheepish grin.] - stick it in. And when you're trying to prepare someone for that, well. You might as well make it good. So I'd say it's pretty normal for things to seem a bit... uneven. Especially when you're first starting out.
And before you say anything: it's not an inconvenience, nor do I think it's unfair. Trust me when I say, I'm probably enjoying it as much as you are.
[As his hand descends on a night countless journey, a thought occurs to him. His lips lift up at the edges as his fingers skirt down further still, grazing along her outer thigh and over the delicate fabric there.]
I was already planning on staying over but... Good to know I have your permission.
[ For some reason, the assurance that he is enjoying the preparation as thoroughly as she is is what makes her blush again. Though it is difficult to do given their position, Nicole turns her face partially into the mattress to try and conceal the exact expression on her face. ]
…Now that you've explained it, it makes more sense. Does that mean everything that they've put into books regarding it is sensationalist? I would have thought at least some of the material was grounded in reality… how disappointing…
[ Her mind has evidently gone somewhere both distant and distinctly risque, because she nearly squeaks when his fingers trace down her thigh. She shivers for what feels like the hundredth time this evening, unable to help herself.
She hopes that Varka won't ask for specifics. She think she might actually combust if she had to detail out the specific scenarios she had internalized as a result of some of the novels she's read. They were clearly inaccurate, so talking about them hardly mattered! ]
…Besides, this is your room. I could not very well kick you out of your own room.
[As Nicole shifts to hide herself Varka exhales an exaggerated note of exasperation. He follows after her, laying kisses against her cheek and jaw. He can't help himself. Affection aggression.]
I'm sure some of it had some basis in reality. What is it writers say? Write what you know? But - [A breathy chuckle.] Let's just say that writers and knights have the same penchant for embellishment.
[Varka counts himself among that number, at least facetiously. The more tall tales he weaves, the less believable his real feats start to sound, and the more his fellow knights start to see themselves just as capable as he is.
It's all about optics.
In any case, he does think to ask about some specifics. He might even make a mental note to bring it up later. But right now, his mind is focused on the present, of coaxing his hand across her knee and shifting along her inner thigh now. He wonders if any of her books ever talked about something like this, if they explored the idea of teasing through clothing and making someone whimper and squirm until -
He shivers hard enough to chase the thought from his mind. Maybe later.]
You could. If you wanted. I'd just about do anything you asked, you know.
[ The way Varka pursues her with his lips when she twists her face into the mattress hardly serves to deter her from continuing to hide. If this was an easy way to garner kisses, she would have to hide her face more often.
She does shift to peek up at him, between strands of hair and out of the corner of her eye. The fact Varka does not disparage the fact that the majority of her knowledge comes from books and instead provides an example for potential accuracy… it coaxes her out from hiding if only because she is, yet again, blisteringly attracted to him.
For all his propensity for teasing her, he seemed to wholly understand when to be genuine. It was a rare quality in most, in her experience. ]
…That might explain why most of the romance novels involving knights always seemed so fantastical. A multiplicative effect on embellishment.
[ Riffing off of his statement might have put her at ease, but his wandering hand nearly pushes her back into hiding. Not necessarily from embarrassment, but from the sheer, monumental weight of the desire that washes over her.
She needs him to touch her so badly that the want nearly chokes her. Unbidden, her body twists slightly at the waist, nearly turning her over on top of his hand. She shifts restlessly on the mattress. ]
[Even with her hair mussed up and half of her face smushed against the bed, Nicole is a picture. Silly as it seems, his heart skips within his chest, an effect that is only multiplied as she emerges from whatever cocoon she'd been trying to hide herself within. As a reward, he offers her a gentle smile, reassuring even as she teases.]
Sounds like they were inflating stories on top of inflated stories, yeah.
[Of course, he finds himself blinking at empty air as Nicole burrows again. This time, he supposes it can't be helped. Especially when her squirming does little to advance his hand. He reaches the apex of her thighs and presses upward, adding just enough pressure to tease her. Certainly, fingering her through her clothing was out of the question for the time being, but he didn't think it was off the table just yet.
Not when she behaves like this.]
Most anything, [He chides even as his hand shifts upward again, up to the hem of her leggings once more. He gives a tentative tug, watching her reaction carefully.] I won't be pouring out any casks of wine for you any time soon.
[ Whatever quip was brewing in her mind in response to his comment shatters to pieces the moment he fits his hand between her legs. Electricity streaks up her spine as the pressure collects against the sensitive, clothed area; it isn't nearly enough, and in that way it is perfectly maddening.
It's a lucky thing that Varka moves his hand so quickly, because if he wasn't so fastidious about shifting his hand to the waistband of her tights he would have likely had it trapped between her legs. She clamps her thighs against one another in the shuddering aftershock of a seemingly simple touch, staring at Varka with enough wide-eyed intensity that it might momentarily be a hint… intimidating? Her face is streaked with color, pink to the tips of her ears and dont the curvature of her throat. ]
You can just pour it out on me. [ It's a borderline nonsensical comment, and flies out into their mental bridge as a direct stream from between her legs to her buzzing brain. She does not even try to correct herself, or explain it.
She's far too busy shifting onto her back and lifting her hips encouragingly. If the wordless request is not clear enough, how fervently she rasps Please into his mind hopefully is. Enough conversation for the time-being, as pleasant and adept at putting her at ease as it has been.
The mere push of his fingers against her has effectively shoved any good sense firmly out the window. ]
Maybe it would be initimidating for lesser men. But the Knight of Boreas has faced great monsters and left legends in his wake. The challenge of bedding Nicole Reeyn will be a great one, but it's one he knows only he can surmount. This, too, will be part of his great history, tying them together once and for all as they -
okay, maybe he's getting a little ahead of himself. But rather than shrinking back, Varka surges forward. He capitalizes on that intensity with a kiss of his own, even as his hands finally move to divest Nicole of her remaining clothing.
Partially at least.
He cannot rush things, this much he knows. But he can still satisfy her command whilst being mindful of limitations. And right now, satisfying that means sliding his fingers upward, bracketing her clit between them to only apply the barest of pressure.
He breaks from where he sits at her lips to press open mouthed kisses all the way to her ear. His voice is nearly a growl when it finally emerges.]
Tell me if it's enough. Or too much. Tell me anything you want.
[ Nicole could sing Varka's praises for a thousand years for how he rises to the challenge. She is grabbing at his shoulders as soon as he is near, eagerly anchoring him to her to deepen that kiss. Her desire is as smoldering as her magic, heating her lips as she hungrily, experimentally, curls her tongue against his lips.
When Varka's fingers sink between her legs, he will find her drippingly wet. It will be enough to cling to his fingers already, making the press of the sides of his fingers on either side of her clit that much more vivid. Though she cannot quite make a sound, the air that rushes out between her parted lips into the space between their mouths will suggest she is certainly trying to.
She nearly tries to pursue him when he starts to kiss over to her ear, but is glad she does not: the rumble of his voice saturates her down to her bones, and her hips jolt hard enough to rock her clit between his fingers. She moans in earnest into their connection now, fingers momentarily digging into his shoulders before she forces them to relax.
The sound of her open-mouthed breathing will filter into the air audibly, at the very least. She wets her lips. ]
You can – press a little harder. I have seen how you handle your blades and –. [ She swallows, even if she does not have to. Challenging Varka is likely a hint of a dangerous game, but they are both more than aware of each other's capabilities. She rather likes the idea of coaxing more out of him. ] I would take your measure. If you'll allow me.
[There are a great many things about this whole affair that threaten to dizzy Varka. Somehow, though, the audible, breathy notes that she hits nearly threaten to be his undoing. What an accomplishment, nearly granting the mute angel speech through his affectations alone. Another to add to the list of accomplishments.
That isn't to say that those fingers digging into the bare skin of his back aren't equally as devastating, though. He could stand for her to be rougher with him, even if he briefly balks at the idea of doing the same to her. It wouldn't be very chivalrous, some part of his mind supplies. He promptly punts that thought from his head.]
Really think you can handle me at my best, huh? [His voice is almost a purr, and certainly takes a crooning note.] I did promise you anything, so -
[He obeys her command, curling his fingers tighter against him, even as he circles his wrist. His body aches for more, begs to be thoroughly buried within that clinging wetness. It's a miracle that he remains at face level with her, really. He could think of worse fates than drowning himself against her.]
[ If Nicole knew that Varka was worrying about chivalry of all things, even if only for a moment, she might actually have kicked him. Chivalry was the last thing she desired right now. Varka purring in her ear, wanting her, touching her… that is what she desires. Frankly, she is wildly, ridiculously convinced that she could handle him at this juncture even without the preparation he's emphasized. The distant, logical part of her brain knows he would reject the notion as soon as she vocalized it, but…
Nicole gasps as Varka's fingers close a little tighter, almost to the point of pinching. Her nails bite into his skin; again, only for a moment, only long enough to sting. The pleasure is warm and bright and sharp, and her legs tense on either side of his arm as if her body is deciding whether or not it is too much.
She moans, clear as a bell, and flexes her hips to rock into his grip. There was something to be said about the roughness of Varka's hands being a net positive: the ridges of his knuckles and the texture of his palm was doing something for her. As was the sight of his forearm flexing between her legs when she chances a peek down between their bodies. ]
I – I can definitely, assuredly handle you. [ She's panting it, mouth open enough to even give the illusion she's said it aloud. ] Mmh – that's good. You have – nice hands.
[Admittedly, the way Nicole's legs try to close around him is a bit challenging to work with. No matter. He shifts his own body accordingly, spreading his knees to push her legs further outward. It leaves him more room to work with as he slides his hand further down, replacing the pressure against her with a press of his palm. His fingers shift as well, moving from index and middle to middle and ring as they spread her apart.]
I almost think you could. [Some part of his mind echoes her own thoughts. What a tantalizing idea that would be.] But that takes away from the fun of it, don't you think?
[He hums to himself as his middle finger circles her entrance, an almost fleeting and certainly teasing sort of touch. His body shudders with the feeling of it. He's so close now, and yet terribly, horrifically far. Some part of his mind balks at the idea, even as the rest of him relishes the opportunity.]
[ Embarrassingly enough, having her legs levered open by Varka's knees stokes such a particular fire in her belly that she gasps again, threadier than the one prior. While it hardly occurred before—and had rather proven to be a bit of a logistical nightmare when they were trying to kiss one another upright—the difference in size and musculature is decidedly exciting. Varka barely has to open his legs all that wide to effectively pin her thighs to the bed.
If she had thought that that was enough to make her lose her mind… the solid weight of his palm bearing down on her clit sends a shudder down through her legs powerful enough to make them flex against Varka's knees, trying in vain to close against the sensation. She feels open, exposed, and though there is no longer a shred of embarrassment remaining in the back of her mind… it is something she must get used to.
And get used to it she does, incredibly quickly. The moment he starts to circle her entrance with his finger, Nicole starts to whine. So tantalizingly, damnably close – the pad of his finger is ever so slightly rough, and the shape of his finger thick enough that she knows, instinctively, that she will feel the stretch even from the first moment.
She wants it. She shifts her hips against the bed restlessly, wordlessly demanding. Her fingernails bite in, now. ]
Is – toying with me part of the fun? [ It's a genuine question. She doesn't even sound mad. More intrigued than anything, as a matter of fact. ]
[A low sound tumbles from his mouth, relishing the sting that radiates out from those nails. It's not a complaint — far from it in fact. He wears scars from countless battles. Nicole could leave her own permanent mark upon him and he would thank her. Let this be part of the history writ upon his form.]
Maybe a little. [He lifts his head, angling it faintly. He tries to make his smile sharp and teasing, but it's far too soft at the edges for all of that.] I've heard of how beautiful an angel's song could be, but hearing it is something else.
[He could listen to her crooning for hours, he thinks. Keep her on the knife's edge of pleasure until he'd drank his fill of her song. But that would be denying them both what they really want.
To get there, he needs to move forward. Just slightly, a careful press inward. Nicole might have said she could take what he would dish out, but he will not chance the matter in this regard.]
[ The penetration would ultimately be the test. When she had attempted it on herself, she had been far less wet between the legs and far less eager to continue. It has been experimentation without a goal in mind – in many ways, laying with Varka was already a marked improvement in that regard.
The key difference was in the relative width of his finger in comparison to one, or two, of hers. She feels it the moment he starts to press inward. A distinct discomfort, the stretch, the reflexive, split second concern. Was she truly going to enjoy this?
To anchor herself, she slides one hand from Varka's shoulder up to his nape. She holds on there, fingers tripping at the edge of his hairline as she forces herself to take a deep breath. In this regard, she knew it best to listen. ]
Okay… [ There is a note of uncertainty, but not trepidation. She trusts Varka in this.
A moment later, distractedly, she mentally murmurs. ] When can I see yours…?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 07:47 am (UTC)The nature of that thought surprises her, but only for a moment. Yes, she decides, she wanted there to be more moments like this. Many more. She wanted to experience every facet of this potentially limited time with Varka. This assuredly included teasing him so thoroughly that he would hardly be able to walk straight before bedding her.
In present time, Varka is hopefully too distracted to notice that her smile had gone the slightest bit devious.
Besides: he's distracting her again. He nudges his way between her thighs and she sighs almost reflexively. The heat kindling in her stomach deepens, suffusing her from fingertip to ankle. She carefully brackets him with her legs, squeezing lightly. Encouragingly.
Which… feels better than she anticipated. Her breathing stutters. ]
Um. You tell me.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 07:59 am (UTC)And why shouldn't he?
Varka leans down, bracing his hands on either side of Nicole's head. His lips brush over hers, but only briefly. He is a man on a mission, kissing lower and lower still. There's so much of her throat that has been left unexplored, and this time, he doesn't hesitate to linger. He allows his lips to close around her skin, sucking a mark against her neck that will, mercifully, be covered by her dress.
But after that he drags lower still. His nose scrapes along her collarbone, only to pause as he presses a kiss into the hollow of her throat.
And then he drifts upward, following the curve of her breast.]
You feel... Mm. Would you kick me if I said you felt heavenly?
[His smile is almost too syrupy for the remark to sound at all teasing.]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 08:13 am (UTC)For the briefest moment, him bracketing her head flusters her more than any prior action had. Before she can even begin to conceptualize why, Varka's mouth alights on the side of her neck. When he begins to suck at her skin, a pulsing throb hums between her legs in time with each flex of his mouth.
It all feels incredible. She feels like a live wire. The desire blankets her so utterly that her brai nearly struggles to keep up, strung along through the growing sensation, the growing anticipation, the further down her body Varka travels.
She hardly realizes her breath is audibly fluttering in and out of her nose until he nuzzles into the hollow of her throat. It is embarrassing, but only for a moment. She cannot quite find it within herself to care overmuch about her conduct.
Varka's hand on her chest had felt pleasant. The barest brush of his mouth, the texture of his jaw – Nicole makes a sound that is dangerously close to a whimper. Her head tosses against the mattress. Instinctually, or perhaps out of a predilection to doing so, she lowers a hand to drag it through Varka's hair. She pushes it away from his face, mindlessly scraping at his scalp with her nails.
It shouldn't be possible, but she manages to sound breathless when replying to him. ]
N-no. [ A pause. She probably shouldn't simply leave it at that. ] I – couldn't kick you right now even if I wanted to.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 06:06 pm (UTC)As her fingers slice through his hair, though, Varka does find it in himself to break for a moment. He angles his head into the touch, gaze shifting to peer up at her. He meets her eyes, hoping that she can see the mutual desire there.]
You know. I think I'll take that as a compliment.
[In theory, he moves in a way that shouldn't let her respond. Considering the nature of her communication, that remains to be seen. The point is, with his gaze still tethered to her own, parts his lips, allowing his tongue to graze over the peak of her nipple. Somehow, he finds himself as the one shuddering, if only because the taste of her is somehow better than he might have imagined.
That sensation naturally ratchets up as he draws her nipple into his mouth. A low noise leaves him, and he can only hope the vibrations naturally emphasize the moment. He complements the gesture with his hand, cresting the opposite side and palming over her, very deliberate about how his rough hands scrape over her skin.]
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Date: 2026-03-12 07:21 pm (UTC)It shocks her, then, how that first brush of Varka's tongue feels. The sensation is both bright and delicate; the weight of the gesture is riveted on Varka's eyes, heavy on hers. Nicole is already twitching before his mouth wraps round her nipple, and the thrumming of his mouth has her hand flying up to cover her own.
Not that the gesture was effective at muffling anything. She sighs falteringly into his head in spite of it at the warm rasp of his palm on the opposite side of her chest. It melts into a feather light moan.
Her body shifts at the waist as if restless. When she blinks down at him, her lashes flutter as though her eyes are struggling to remain open. While some might have found the texture of the callouses on his hand to be an unpleasant edge to a touch, it only serves to excite her that little bit more. It served as a beautiful counterpoint to his overwhelming gentleness.
The hand not covering his mouth finds his head again. She runs her fingers through his hair again, desperate to convey her appreciation and equally desperate to do something. ]
It's nice. [ She whispers to him, hushed in spite of the connection. ] Thank you.
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Date: 2026-03-13 02:34 am (UTC)Still, it's a good thing that his mouth is occupied. He is a prideful man, unopposed to gloating when the stakes were enough to allow for it. Given the way she trembles, the way her eyes seem to glaze over and unfocus with her pleasure, he'd probably take the opportunity to pat himself on the back. Not too much, lest she reconsider not kicking him, but enough to aggravate her all the same.
He's not one to remain idle, though. While he's remiss to abandon her chest so quickly, he also does not wish to tease. More than that, though, he wants to explore every inch of her. There will be plenty of time to linger later.
And so his mouth drifts further downward, tracing down the swell of her breast once more, then tracking toward her navel. He kisses around it delicately, flicks his eyes up to meet hers, before trailing down to the hem of her leggings. His hands meet him there, hooking under fabric, but not moving otherwise.]
Still okay?
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Date: 2026-03-13 05:45 am (UTC)Though she makes a faint noise in disappointment when he moves away from her chest, it is quickly overtaken by a fluttering at the warmth of his mouth traveling down the plane of her abdomen. It is a strange feeling. For a moment, she is torn between the desire to encourage his trajectory downward and to simply cradle his head against her stomach. He is so very warm, and she finds the idea of laying like that, with him, an incredibly compelling one.
Maybe it would be possible… afterward. Was it usual, for… lovers to spend the whole night together? She will have to ask.
She twitches bodily at the unexpected brush of his fingers just beneath the waistband of her tights. It isn't an unpleasant surprise by any means, but she is abruptly grappling with the idea of having the whole of her self bared to him. What unconcealed truths could be gleaned from the state of her once undressed? She worries, distantly, that it will be a boring affair for Varka. She surely would not last long, even with a simple touch, and they would likely not get to perform the act he had initially intended to prepare her for.
Nicole's brows knit faintly. After warring with herself, she eventually decides it will be best to be honest. ]
…I am concerned about… how long I will last. It will likely be over rather quickly, and I wouldn't want you to be disappointed…
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Date: 2026-03-13 06:04 am (UTC)Disappointed? Me? [He tilts his head, laying a kiss or three against soft skin.] I'm having a great time. So you finish early? So what. We either wait a few minutes, or we try again tomorrow. And the day after that. And another day after that one.
[Varka might be grinning, but the edges are blunted by something gentle. Abandoning his current position, he leans back up toward her face, opting to kiss her directly on the mouth a few times as well.]
I'm not going to say I don't need perfect. I just think you misunderstand what my definition of perfect is. [He inches lower, laying a tender kiss upon her chin.] And that's you, just by the way.
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Date: 2026-03-13 06:18 am (UTC)But, hold on. Wait a few minutes? What does that mean? She is initially far too distracted by Varka's sudden appearance directly in front of her face to even mentally vocalize the question. She returns the kisses instinctively, tracing her fingers down Varka's shoulders.
He's sweeter than she expected him to be, but maybe she should not be all that surprised. Varka had never been brusque, after all… perhaps it was fully within what should have been her expectations that he is being so gentle with her.
Wait. She got distracted. She has a question to ask. ]
What do you mean by "wait a few minutes"? If it… ends, should it not… end? [ Okay, not being incredibly clear with what she means here. Maybe Varka will still understand, somehow. ]
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Date: 2026-03-13 06:36 am (UTC)[There is a note of confusion in his voice. He leans back far enough to angle his head, confusion writ upon his face, albeit tied intrinsically with that ever laid back smile of his.]
All those books of yours, and they never said anything about this?
[Maybe it makes sense. Books tended to exaggerate things, didn't they? A grand, passionate instance of lovemaking, and then on with the story? Pleasant and all, but hardly accurate.
For the time being, Varka shifts onto his side. Like this, it's easier to lay his hand against Nicole's hip, then trace it up to her rib and back down again. More than anything, he just likes touching her. He would never be so bold as to leave too many marks, but that doesn't mean he isn't mildly possessive in a different sort of way.]
Sure, guys like me need way more recovery time. They probably could only go once or twice. But uh... [He clears his throat.] Ladies need way less time to recover. You might be winded or tired, but if you wanted to keep going, you could.
Unless...
[His brow pinches.]
You didn't think I'd up and ditch just because I got you off once, right?
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Date: 2026-03-13 06:48 am (UTC)She turns her head to look him in the eye, hair bundled up under her cheek. It's surprising, how natural this kind of intimacy also feels. ]
Not exactly. There would be instances where the main couple would fall into bed with one another, of course, but it was often in moments of fraught peril. Even during moments of downtime, they only ever had enough time to wrap themselves up in one another the one time. I suppose I simply… extrapolated that that was the norm. And the books always had them both reach their, ah, climax, at the same time…
[ Sorry, Varka, you spurred her into a tangent without even realizing it. She's mostly thinking aloud, but it should as enough of an explanation.
She doesn't quite frown at him, but it is a close thing. ]
No, no. Or, at least, I hoped that you would stay here in bed with me afterward.
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Date: 2026-03-13 07:00 am (UTC)Unfortunately, the real world is a bit more messy than all of that. For starters, you can't exactly just - [A sheepish grin.] - stick it in. And when you're trying to prepare someone for that, well. You might as well make it good. So I'd say it's pretty normal for things to seem a bit... uneven. Especially when you're first starting out.
And before you say anything: it's not an inconvenience, nor do I think it's unfair. Trust me when I say, I'm probably enjoying it as much as you are.
[As his hand descends on a night countless journey, a thought occurs to him. His lips lift up at the edges as his fingers skirt down further still, grazing along her outer thigh and over the delicate fabric there.]
I was already planning on staying over but... Good to know I have your permission.
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Date: 2026-03-13 07:35 am (UTC)…Now that you've explained it, it makes more sense. Does that mean everything that they've put into books regarding it is sensationalist? I would have thought at least some of the material was grounded in reality… how disappointing…
[ Her mind has evidently gone somewhere both distant and distinctly risque, because she nearly squeaks when his fingers trace down her thigh. She shivers for what feels like the hundredth time this evening, unable to help herself.
She hopes that Varka won't ask for specifics. She think she might actually combust if she had to detail out the specific scenarios she had internalized as a result of some of the novels she's read. They were clearly inaccurate, so talking about them hardly mattered! ]
…Besides, this is your room. I could not very well kick you out of your own room.
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Date: 2026-03-13 08:39 am (UTC)I'm sure some of it had some basis in reality. What is it writers say? Write what you know? But - [A breathy chuckle.] Let's just say that writers and knights have the same penchant for embellishment.
[Varka counts himself among that number, at least facetiously. The more tall tales he weaves, the less believable his real feats start to sound, and the more his fellow knights start to see themselves just as capable as he is.
It's all about optics.
In any case, he does think to ask about some specifics. He might even make a mental note to bring it up later. But right now, his mind is focused on the present, of coaxing his hand across her knee and shifting along her inner thigh now. He wonders if any of her books ever talked about something like this, if they explored the idea of teasing through clothing and making someone whimper and squirm until -
He shivers hard enough to chase the thought from his mind. Maybe later.]
You could. If you wanted. I'd just about do anything you asked, you know.
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Date: 2026-03-14 12:17 am (UTC)She does shift to peek up at him, between strands of hair and out of the corner of her eye. The fact Varka does not disparage the fact that the majority of her knowledge comes from books and instead provides an example for potential accuracy… it coaxes her out from hiding if only because she is, yet again, blisteringly attracted to him.
For all his propensity for teasing her, he seemed to wholly understand when to be genuine. It was a rare quality in most, in her experience. ]
…That might explain why most of the romance novels involving knights always seemed so fantastical. A multiplicative effect on embellishment.
[ Riffing off of his statement might have put her at ease, but his wandering hand nearly pushes her back into hiding. Not necessarily from embarrassment, but from the sheer, monumental weight of the desire that washes over her.
She needs him to touch her so badly that the want nearly chokes her. Unbidden, her body twists slightly at the waist, nearly turning her over on top of his hand. She shifts restlessly on the mattress. ]
Anything? ...Truly?
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Date: 2026-03-14 12:49 am (UTC)Sounds like they were inflating stories on top of inflated stories, yeah.
[Of course, he finds himself blinking at empty air as Nicole burrows again. This time, he supposes it can't be helped. Especially when her squirming does little to advance his hand. He reaches the apex of her thighs and presses upward, adding just enough pressure to tease her. Certainly, fingering her through her clothing was out of the question for the time being, but he didn't think it was off the table just yet.
Not when she behaves like this.]
Most anything, [He chides even as his hand shifts upward again, up to the hem of her leggings once more. He gives a tentative tug, watching her reaction carefully.] I won't be pouring out any casks of wine for you any time soon.
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Date: 2026-03-14 02:46 am (UTC)It's a lucky thing that Varka moves his hand so quickly, because if he wasn't so fastidious about shifting his hand to the waistband of her tights he would have likely had it trapped between her legs. She clamps her thighs against one another in the shuddering aftershock of a seemingly simple touch, staring at Varka with enough wide-eyed intensity that it might momentarily be a hint… intimidating? Her face is streaked with color, pink to the tips of her ears and dont the curvature of her throat. ]
You can just pour it out on me. [ It's a borderline nonsensical comment, and flies out into their mental bridge as a direct stream from between her legs to her buzzing brain. She does not even try to correct herself, or explain it.
She's far too busy shifting onto her back and lifting her hips encouragingly. If the wordless request is not clear enough, how fervently she rasps Please into his mind hopefully is. Enough conversation for the time-being, as pleasant and adept at putting her at ease as it has been.
The mere push of his fingers against her has effectively shoved any good sense firmly out the window. ]
Varka, I want you. As soon as possible.
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Date: 2026-03-14 02:51 am (UTC)okay, maybe he's getting a little ahead of himself. But rather than shrinking back, Varka surges forward. He capitalizes on that intensity with a kiss of his own, even as his hands finally move to divest Nicole of her remaining clothing.
Partially at least.
He cannot rush things, this much he knows. But he can still satisfy her command whilst being mindful of limitations. And right now, satisfying that means sliding his fingers upward, bracketing her clit between them to only apply the barest of pressure.
He breaks from where he sits at her lips to press open mouthed kisses all the way to her ear. His voice is nearly a growl when it finally emerges.]
Tell me if it's enough. Or too much. Tell me anything you want.
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Date: 2026-03-14 03:22 am (UTC)When Varka's fingers sink between her legs, he will find her drippingly wet. It will be enough to cling to his fingers already, making the press of the sides of his fingers on either side of her clit that much more vivid. Though she cannot quite make a sound, the air that rushes out between her parted lips into the space between their mouths will suggest she is certainly trying to.
She nearly tries to pursue him when he starts to kiss over to her ear, but is glad she does not: the rumble of his voice saturates her down to her bones, and her hips jolt hard enough to rock her clit between his fingers. She moans in earnest into their connection now, fingers momentarily digging into his shoulders before she forces them to relax.
The sound of her open-mouthed breathing will filter into the air audibly, at the very least. She wets her lips. ]
You can – press a little harder. I have seen how you handle your blades and –. [ She swallows, even if she does not have to. Challenging Varka is likely a hint of a dangerous game, but they are both more than aware of each other's capabilities. She rather likes the idea of coaxing more out of him. ] I would take your measure. If you'll allow me.
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Date: 2026-03-14 04:39 am (UTC)That isn't to say that those fingers digging into the bare skin of his back aren't equally as devastating, though. He could stand for her to be rougher with him, even if he briefly balks at the idea of doing the same to her. It wouldn't be very chivalrous, some part of his mind supplies. He promptly punts that thought from his head.]
Really think you can handle me at my best, huh? [His voice is almost a purr, and certainly takes a crooning note.] I did promise you anything, so -
[He obeys her command, curling his fingers tighter against him, even as he circles his wrist. His body aches for more, begs to be thoroughly buried within that clinging wetness. It's a miracle that he remains at face level with her, really. He could think of worse fates than drowning himself against her.]
How's that, firefly?
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Date: 2026-03-14 04:56 am (UTC)Nicole gasps as Varka's fingers close a little tighter, almost to the point of pinching. Her nails bite into his skin; again, only for a moment, only long enough to sting. The pleasure is warm and bright and sharp, and her legs tense on either side of his arm as if her body is deciding whether or not it is too much.
She moans, clear as a bell, and flexes her hips to rock into his grip. There was something to be said about the roughness of Varka's hands being a net positive: the ridges of his knuckles and the texture of his palm was doing something for her. As was the sight of his forearm flexing between her legs when she chances a peek down between their bodies. ]
I – I can definitely, assuredly handle you. [ She's panting it, mouth open enough to even give the illusion she's said it aloud. ] Mmh – that's good. You have – nice hands.
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Date: 2026-03-14 05:02 am (UTC)I almost think you could. [Some part of his mind echoes her own thoughts. What a tantalizing idea that would be.] But that takes away from the fun of it, don't you think?
[He hums to himself as his middle finger circles her entrance, an almost fleeting and certainly teasing sort of touch. His body shudders with the feeling of it. He's so close now, and yet terribly, horrifically far. Some part of his mind balks at the idea, even as the rest of him relishes the opportunity.]
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Date: 2026-03-14 05:19 am (UTC)If she had thought that that was enough to make her lose her mind… the solid weight of his palm bearing down on her clit sends a shudder down through her legs powerful enough to make them flex against Varka's knees, trying in vain to close against the sensation. She feels open, exposed, and though there is no longer a shred of embarrassment remaining in the back of her mind… it is something she must get used to.
And get used to it she does, incredibly quickly. The moment he starts to circle her entrance with his finger, Nicole starts to whine. So tantalizingly, damnably close – the pad of his finger is ever so slightly rough, and the shape of his finger thick enough that she knows, instinctively, that she will feel the stretch even from the first moment.
She wants it. She shifts her hips against the bed restlessly, wordlessly demanding. Her fingernails bite in, now. ]
Is – toying with me part of the fun? [ It's a genuine question. She doesn't even sound mad. More intrigued than anything, as a matter of fact. ]
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Date: 2026-03-14 05:33 am (UTC)Maybe a little. [He lifts his head, angling it faintly. He tries to make his smile sharp and teasing, but it's far too soft at the edges for all of that.] I've heard of how beautiful an angel's song could be, but hearing it is something else.
[He could listen to her crooning for hours, he thinks. Keep her on the knife's edge of pleasure until he'd drank his fill of her song. But that would be denying them both what they really want.
To get there, he needs to move forward. Just slightly, a careful press inward. Nicole might have said she could take what he would dish out, but he will not chance the matter in this regard.]
Just keep breathing for me, okay?
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Date: 2026-03-14 05:49 am (UTC)The key difference was in the relative width of his finger in comparison to one, or two, of hers. She feels it the moment he starts to press inward. A distinct discomfort, the stretch, the reflexive, split second concern. Was she truly going to enjoy this?
To anchor herself, she slides one hand from Varka's shoulder up to his nape. She holds on there, fingers tripping at the edge of his hairline as she forces herself to take a deep breath. In this regard, she knew it best to listen. ]
Okay… [ There is a note of uncertainty, but not trepidation. She trusts Varka in this.
A moment later, distractedly, she mentally murmurs. ] When can I see yours…?
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