[It's hardly surprising, to see Nicole so reactive. Surely Varka would feel the same, had he been the one to suffer 6000 years without a single touch. He already feels fit to burst from his own skin having spent only a handful of years without anyone to stoke his flame, so to speak.
That doesn't keep him from making mental notes here and there, marking down spots to return to based off of her more vibrant reactions. Provided their "practice" is a long term endeavor, he'd rather like to see how she reacts past the initial rush that she's experiencing.
As the question floats into his head, Varka sees fit to pause for the time being. A heavy breath escapes him, followed by a sharper inhale. Is it a sign of his age that he's getting so winded? Or just a reflection of how Nicole makes him feel?
Maybe he doesn't want to ponder the question for too long.]
Normally? [He shifts so that their foreheads are pressed together, so that their noses brush.] Mm... Yes and no. When it's good, when you click with the person you're with, yeah.
[Varka would like to hope that's part of the reason why things are so electrified right now, but. That would remain to be seen, wouldn't it? For now, he returns to their kiss, this time emboldened enough to deepen it. Nicole seems ready for it.
What she might not be ready for is how he pairs it with what her thoughts seem to crave. He drags his fingers back down, settling to trace a circle around the space where he'd caught a glance of ink once or twice. He can only hope that the way he seems to want to pull her all the closer, the urgency of the kiss they share, assuages the rest of her doubts.
[ If this situation were any different, maybe she would have teased him for how breathless he sounds. As cliche—and ridiculous—as it would be to call Varka an old man when she was several thousands of years his senior, had he not been the one to call himself such in their prior interactions?
Still. Teasing him is the furthest thing from her mind right now… and it isn't as though she doesn't have to catch her own breath when he nudges their foreheads together. Despite the thrumming of her heart, it is a welcome reprieve to simply bask in their proximity.
Clicking with the person you're with. Was that what it meant to find your perfect match? Not that Nicole was so quick to spin such romantic, naive theories from a few intimate encounters. It was hard to deny how well they seemed to fit together, though. It was equally hard to deny how attuned to Varka's touch her body seemed. Whether that was due to her own inexperience remained to be seen.
A pleased noise threads the gap between her contemplative silence and Varka pressing in for another, deeper kiss. While her grip round his neck has hardly loosened in between their quick, greedy kissing, it somehow manages to find a way to tighten the moment his fingers start to trail downward.
Varka tracing a circle on her lower back should, in theory, be a relatively innocuous motion. It was hardly an erogenous zone on most.
For Nicole, it is both the site from which her wings bloom and a vulnerable, naked area. The first brush of his fingers elicits a shiver so strong that she nearly dislodges from their kiss… which would have been a terrible tragedy indeed. Her mouth flexes in shuddering surprise as the whole of her body seems to jitter momentarily in place: flexing hands, shifting hips, shuffling legs. ]
Oh. [ It's a sound bordering dangerously on a sigh. Or a moan. ] Varka.
[ Overcome and not entirely sure what to do about it, she drags her hands up his neck and rakes her fingers through his hair. ]
[Somehow, some way, he's going to have to even the playing field when it came to communication. It didn't seem fair that Nicole could lavish praise upon him while he was otherwise occupied. Not when she deserved praise and reassurance both in spades. Even knowing this, though, he is reluctant to part from their kiss.
And oh, there are more important things to consider. He had not expected that mark to elicit such a powerful response. It makes him curious at best, greedy at worst. His fingers press in harder, kneading against the space in an attempt to draw out more. Though he does miss out on the satisfaction of being able to directly swallow the noises she makes, having them reverberate in his skull more than makes up for it.
... right. Where was he? He carefully parts from the kiss, even as his body aches for more.]
I was - thinking the same thing. [What an eloquent answer.] No notes from me so far.
[Once more, he traces kisses along her jaw, though this time he opts to move upward, rather than bother her neck again just yet. He delivers his next blow before she can even complain about his stubble again, opting to whisper in her ear:]
And don't worry about me not wanting you. Surprised you can't feel how much I do yet.
[He is... definitely very physically aware of her presence, that's for sure.]
[ Unfortunately for Varka, this conundrum is likely to worsen the further into dangerous waters they tread. Even at this point, the majority of Nicole's sighing praise was unbidden. The less composure she possessed, the higher the likelihood of her unabashed positivity leaking through (no pun intended).
Varka's fingers press insistently at the delicate, looping golden inkwork on the small of her back as if he is trying to pluck a chord. Magical characteristics aside—and the point of contact for her delicate, fluttering wings inherently made it intimate—the contact to bare skin that was so rarely touched was deeply evocative. Nicole sighs just as easily as she had at that first meandering touch, lashes fluttering.
She even makes a faint nose in protest when his lips steal away from hers. There was a need thrumming deep in her core.
Far be it from her to complain about a sensation she secretly enjoys. She is quick to cant her head to give Varka as much access to her jaw as necessary.
The brush of his lips against the sensitive shell of her ear and the whisper that follows sends shivers up her spine so immediately that she bodily twitches. Her stomach climbs up into her throat and then drops betwixt her legs in one seamless motion. For a single, shivering moment, she is utterly at a loss for what to do. Not out of uncertainty, but an… inability to formulate a thought beyond sudden, intense want.
She turns her head slightly, practically brushing her ear against his lips in unspoken desire. It might be difficult to tell given her jewelry, but the tips of her ears had turned a rosy hue to match her cheeks.
To address what he is implying… Nicole adjusts herself as much as she can in his grip, exhaling faintly. Her tongue flicks out to wet her bottom lip. ]
Are you holding yourself back on my account?
[ It would likely come across as a relatively innocent question if not for how particular she is about vocalizing it demurely. ]
[Every second that passes, every inch of skin explored gives Varka so much more to work with. It was enough to make a man dizzy, to cause his mind to run wild with possibilities. He cannot deny that there is a very deep-seated part of him that wants to have her right now, like this.
Seeing as how that thought involves torn leggings and a ripped dress, however, he demurs. There might be a tailor in town, but he doubts Nicole would want to explain how something like that happened.
More than that, though, there is the incredibly chivalrous part of him. He joked about throwing the knights' code out of the window to some degree, but it still formed the foundation of Varka's entire person. It took a unique turn when applied to matters within the bedroom, but generally, his pleasure was derived from that of his partner.
Which meant he had learned to be very good at what he did, no matter who he was with. And if that meant taking things slower, savoring the little moments as they arose, then that was all the better.]
Not at all. I'm exactly where I want to be. [He allows his teeth to graze the edge of her lobe, then noses upward until he meets metal.] But that does pose an important question.
[Once more, Varka finds himself leaning away. Not terribly far — he can barely stand to be apart in this moment — but enough to let her breathe.]
How far do you want this to go? Not - not in general or anything, we can get to that later. But I mean right now. Tonight.
[ Head dizzy with desire, Nicole practically tips over when Varka's teeth drag over her ear. Whatever initial question he might have had is almost swallowed in the sighing wave of lust that overtakes her, spilling over into their telepathic connection like an overflowing cup.
The distance is nearly painful. The heat has suffused her so thoroughly that she can feel it in her fingertips, swollen and shuddering from warm anticipation. She wets her lips again, and then a third time for good measure.
How far does she want this to go? Frankly, she can hardly fathom pausing even now, let alone navigating the nuances of starting and stopping points. Her breaths leave her in short, panting bursts as she leans back, eyes roving over his face.
Was it ill-advised to follow this thread as far as it could potentially lead? To start the evening with an innocent request to kiss, and then allow him to unravel her? Perhaps. In equal measure, though, she selfishly desires it in exchange for six-thousand years barred from this kind of passion. She yearns to lose herself in it. She aches to lose herself in Varka.
Almost mindlessly, her fingers trace over his face. Up his jaw to tuck behind his ear. Across his brow and up into his hair. She is tender about the way she brushes it out of his face, but it is a motion punctuated by her idly sucking her own bottom lip into her mouth. ]
Would it be wrong to want it all? [ She drags her fingers through his hair, over his scalp, until she can interlace them behind his head. ] Would you allow me it?
[ And maybe she's playing a little dirty, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. But she was a witch in the same breath as an angel, and a little flirtation at the right moment never hurt anyone. ]
[Maintaining such distance is just as painful for Varka as it is for Nicole. Each time she wets her lip, he has to fight with the desire to kiss her again, to savor the taste for as long as possible. Her hands against his skin make it all the worse — he isn't convinced she isn't using her pyro to burn him alive from the inside out.
Her answer is very nearly the ignition point, comes dangerously close to spurring him forward and catching her mouth in a kiss that would not end until both of them are spent. The more rational part of his brain forces him to settle, reminding him that there are important things to consider before he leaps into this.]
It - wouldn't. But...
[Nicole is not a small woman. The problem is that Varka is a very large man. Her body, presumably, lacks the kind of experience that would help her in that regard. It isn't a problem, but it does involve taking things slow. It's a point he'll have to emphasize to her, lest she tear herself apart.]
I'm gonna ask you a real forward question first, alright? [Even if his cheeks burn all the hotter for having to consider it.] Have you ever, uh... Let your hands wander, so to speak!
[ One of Varka's more significant charm points, to Nicole, is how easy it is to tease him. For as much as he went out of his way to poke fun at her, it was never as if he was immune to retaliation. This is incredibly apparent even when he is largely guiding her through this affair: it is incredibly, achingly obvious that he is struggling to leash his own desires.
Nicole likes it more than she would have initially thought she would. It also makes her want to tease him that much more. Even if it was only to test how far she could push.
His line of questioning, while obscure, physically drags her mind from that particular rabbit hole. She at least understands what he is asking – the context makes it all the more obvious. She casts her memory back in much the same way that one would try to recall an everyday memory, tapping her thumbs against his nape idly. ]
Once or twice. [ She says, eventually. Oddly unabashed, she rubs her nose against his sideburn like she's nuzzling at his face.]
I recall finding the experience uninspiring. It was pleasurable, certainly, but I became bored with the cyclical nature of it as soon as the novelty had worn off. The first must have been shortly after I chose to maintain this form… [ Translation: thousands of years ago. ] And then, more recently, while reading a novel. Does that answer your question?
[While Nicole ponders, Varka lets his hands wander. He slides them up and down her back, somewhat mindful of how their earlier skin to skin contact had rattled her, but not enough to completely avoid it. He wants to hear what she has to say, but he can't help his own selfish desires. He likes the feel of her.
Especially as she rubs against his face, breath spilling across his cheek. The hair on the back of his neck rises, and he finds his legs tensing as he fights the desire to grind into her. He needs to know what he's working with, after all.]
Musta been a good novel. You'll have to tell me about it at some point. [A sigh escapes him. Where were they?] When you, uh... did. Were you [His brow pinches. Now that he's actually thinking about the concept, words are failing him.] I mean, did you prefer any internal motion, or were you keeping things external?
[If he can figure out what she's familiar with taking, it'll be a good start.]
[ The instant Varka's hands wander back down to her spine Nicole's breathing grows heavier. It’s a subtle difference—it isn’t as if she’s panting from something as simple as a hand rubbing over her back—but a difference nevertheless.
Luckily, the fact he seems to be stumbling over his words this much is more than enough of a distraction from his hands. Nicole starts giggling before he’s even fully mumbled his way through.
Was he envisioning it? She thinks he would likely be disappointed by the reality. Both individual instances had been defined by their frustration, and utter lack of anything definitively climactic.
She pulls her head back to look at him properly. ]
You’re asking for details. I'm afraid it won’t be anything particularly impressive. The first time involved strictly external stimulation. The second…
[ A modicum of embarrassment creeps in, finally. She glances away. ]
I… attempted internal stimulation, but ultimately found very little success. I recall a sensation that was not unlike… tension? In my abdomen, but it didn’t amount to much either time. It was an unsuccessful experiment that left me feeling overheated and sticky. Which is why I mentioned finding it uninspiring.
[It's a bit humiliating, to be tittered at when he's doing his best to be a proper gentleman but... Varka won't hold it terribly against her. And to his credit, as Nicole describes her experiences, he sobers up entirely. His head tilts, eyes closing not as he imagines it, but rather as he tries to piece together the puzzle that is Nicole.]
Think that's pretty normal, actually. Especially when you're starting out. It can be a lot of work for a payoff you've never experienced before.
[His eyes roam over her form thoughtfully, not lingering anywhere in particular, but taking in the whole picture.]
Is it something you're interested in figuring out? I ask, because - [Ugh, the tips of his ears start to warm. Varka wouldn't call himself humble, but he isn't exactly a braggart, either. It makes the words on his tongue feel wrong, accurate though they might be.] I'm not - uh. A small guy. And if you were struggling with just your fingers, then, well -
[He pulls one hand back from Nicole in favor of rubbing at the back of his head.]
[ Varka is taking it so seriously, and listening to her so intently, that her giggling does simply taper off. The embarrassment starts to set in the moment the temporary buffet of amusement wears off. She twitches subtly at the sudden weight of his gaze, one hand peeling away from the back of his head to start sheepishly twining a lock of hair around her finger.
What a ridiculous scene. The two of them fidgeting with flushed faces. If the Heavenly Principles could see them now, perhaps they would believe that intervention was unnecessary given the state of them!
Eventually, though, Nicole sneaks a peek back at Varka's face. It might have been… uninspiring before when she was touching herself, but perhaps she simply hadn't had the right motivation? Or material? Varka's touch on her body this evening had already proven to be significantly more… provocative, and he hadn't even touched anywhere erogenous.
And besides: how could she not want to experience every part of him? Love and appreciation for humanity were innate qualities in her. Varka was no exception except in how that appreciation manifested.
She lightly clears her throat, tugging on the hair curled round her knuckle. ]
…It is a part of you. I want to experience all of you.
[There is a small part of Varka that finds he is relieved by Nicole's answer. While he would have gladly accepted Nicole's answer regardless of what it came to be, that she decides she wants every part of him -
Well. It certainly speaks to all the fantasies that have rattled around within his head.
Little wonder, then, that a smile spreads across his lips. And while he had held back from affection to allow her the chance to formulate a proper answer, now Varka leans in. He kisses the tip the finger tangled within his hair, then angles his head to brush his lips over her cheek.]
You don't need to say please. [He tilts his head, so that his low laugh rumbles into her ear.] Not yet, at least.
[Leaning back, he flashes the full force of his crooked grin, before sobering into something a little more serious.]
If we're going that direction, then I need you to make me a promise right now. A couple of them, actually. [He holds up a finger.] You'll be okay with me calling the shots, and taking things slow. [Another finger comes up.] That you'll tell me if you're uncomfortable and want to stop. [And finally, a third.] And that you understand you will not hurt my feelings if you do have to tap out.
[ She was going to have to examine why is voice in her ear was so particularly devastating. The sound of it seems to vibrate down to her very bones. In spite of herself, she shivers. Before he can wholly pull away, she turns her head to press a kiss to the side of his nose.
If she had seemed riveted before, it is doubly intense now. She stares at him with the grave seriousness of one who is on the verge of taking notes… even while her face is still flushed a warm cherry red.
…even if her initial reaction to being told they would be taking it slow is to sulk. She doesn't know quite why this prompts her to pout, but… a not insignificant part of her wonders what it would be like to be overwhelmed by Varka. He was intent and intense on the battlefield, after all. Would it transfer to the bedroom, she wonders? She pulls her finger free of her hair and does her best to pout slightly less obviously. ]
Those seem easy enough. I promise. Though, I must admit, my pride rankles at the idea of me needing to "tap out" of anything! I promise I am capable of handling whatever you may decide to do.
[Varka has been doing his best to quell some of the worst of his urges. Unfortunately, there's just something about the way Nicole speaks so insistently about her capability that manages to electrify him down to the very core.]
I'm sure you are. A good girl like you could take anything I threw at her, huh? [He doesn't even try to be subtle, not with the way he winks.] But we'll save that for down the road, okay? For now...
[The hand against her back shifts once more, drifting up to where her collar is. It's a curious gesture, one clearly searching for something. With all the staring he's done, you'd think he'd figure out how to unzip the damn thing but...]
First thing's first, why don't we get you comfortable?
[ Varka was certainly helping her learn things about herself that she hadn't anticipated. The moment the words good girl leave his mouth, a twinge unlike any she had experienced up to this point twists in the lowest point of her stomach. She colors so immediately that her head spins, grappling with the abrupt realization that she was going to endure the simple fact that being praised by Varka was going to present far more of an issue than she initially thought.
It had been one thing to weather the wordless pleasure over her adaptability, or to be told that she was doing a decent enough job with the experimentation. That had been expected. She knew she was capable of learning, and learning quickly, given the right amount of passion and dedication. This was… different.
Subtly—but likely not nearly as subtly as she would like—her hips rock against him. That could be in response to anything!
Delicately clearing her throat, she lifts a hand to assist him with her dress. Yes, a far better use of their time: getting her out of this damnable thing as soon as possible. It was starting to feel far too tight. ]
There is a clasp. Ah, fair warning: as involved as the dress may look, the moment you unclasp it at the collar, the majority of it is likely to simply fall down. The sleeves will have to be removed separately.
[ Which she can start to do, unless Varka is insistent on being the one to undress her. She needs to do something with her hands. Immediately. ]
[Well, Nicole is going to have to bear with him here. Even the gentle rock of her hips against his is enough to short circuit his brain. A rough sound leaves him, and his fingers tighten against the fabric. It's a good thing they're working on removing clothes here, because he's once again considering ripping hers off.
He clears his throat.]
Dangerous maneuver, don't you think? What if it got torn in combat?
[That's a fun thought. Maybe they should spar at some point and -
Anyway. Find the clasp. Thankfully, he's familiar enough with that, albeit in a mildly different context. All the same, his fingers alight on what he's searching for and — after a quick glance at Nicole to offer a warning, he undoes it.
Part of him thinks to cover his eyes. Politeness almost wins out. But they're meant to be sharing with one another, and... really he wants to see what awaits him there.
At least he minds his hands for the time being, keeping them braced against her back, as if it might protect her from the chill? Never mind the fact that half of her back was bare anyway.]
[ Wildly, she briefly considers throwing caution to the wind and simply bearing down with her weight because that sound is more than enough to wear considerably at her sense of reason.
The fact they hadn't managed to tear anything as of yet actually surprises her. It wasn't as if her dress was made of hardy material, after all—it was largely crafted for cosmetic purposes, not a functional one outside of the obvious—and they'd been twisting and turning and grabbing at one another the whole night.
If Nicole can connect the dots about what Varka is considering when he comments on the dangers of her attire, though… she doesn't. She does not connect the dots at present. ]
No one has ever gotten close enough to tear it.
[ That was the truth. Any would-be aggressors were far likely to be wiped off the face of the planet by her spellcraft before they ever got close enough to tear her dress.
As she had cautioned, the upper half of the dress effectively falls down the moment Varka undoes the clasp. She, at the very least, lifts a hand to prevent it from sliding down entirely, but it is a token effort at best. The dress had already bared at least a sliver of skin on either side of her chest but loose as it is, the whole side of her breasts are nearly fully visible if she angles herself.
Oh, that's right. She doesn't wear a bra. Dreadfully uncomfortable things, those are. ]
Was I meant to let it fall all the way off?
[ It is both a genuine question and a genuinely teasing one. She allows it to slip an inch more, fingers bunching the fabric. ]
[Varka's brows absolutely lift in anticpation, then swiftly draw together in disappointment when the full show isn't revealed. Not that he doesn't have plenty to marvel at. COnsidering everything they've done up until this point, he doesn't feel the slightest bit bad about letting his eyes rove over what skin has been exposed.
And judging by the toothy grin, he isn't going to pretend that he wasn't.]
I might have enjoyed it, if you did. But hey, I'll show you mine if you show me yours?
[He leans back, hurriedly undoing the remaining buttons on his shirt and tossing it aside. Only his necklace remains on his torso, swaying between his pectorals. As if they weren't already hypnotizing enough. Naturally, his chest is possessed of the same amount of scarring as the rest of him, a particularly vicious set of claws marring the left side of his rib cage, and suspiciously sword shaped puncture on the lower right part of his abdomen.
None of these bother him. He's practically showing them off as he squares his shoulders and meets Nicole's eyes.]
[ The moment Varka starts to unbutton his shirt Nicole knows she's made the right decision. She was a grand and beautiful and intelligent mage, after all. She would devise such nefarious and cunning schemes to ensure that Varka undressed in front of her far before she bared her own torso. Really, Nicole, her mind supplies, you are a visionary and strategist of the highest caliber and…
And then her train of thought sputters to an ungainly halt the moment Varka discards his shirt. Really, if Varka was unabashedly staring, Nicole's riveted gaze would make even the most stoic of knights blush. She had wholly anticipated Varka being well-built, both given his stature and his profession, but being confronted with the whole picture was…
Her eyes dart from his chest to his face and then… yes, back down again. Then further still, sweeping down the length of his torso in an effort to commit it all, burningly, to memory.
One of her hands frees itself from where it is clutching at the fabric of her dress to trace the lines of that sword-shaped scar with light fingers. Those fingers trace upward slowly enough to map out the ridges of Varka's abdominal muscles, then trip carefully over the raised skin surrounding the clawmarks on his ribcage. When she eventually finds her way up to his chest, she traces between his pectorals with the backs of her fingers rather than her fingertips.
…distracted as she is, she's still holding her dress up with one hand. Sorry, Varka. ]
[Fortunately for Nicole, Varka isn't in the right frame of mind to complain. The moment she makes contact with him, as her fingers slide down sensitive wounds and rigid muscle, all thoughts flee from his mind. He shudders bodily beneath her, gooseflesh rising in the wake of that wandering touch. His head tilts upward slightly, eyes locking with the ceiling as he bares his throat entirely.
He swallows hard, throat bobbing with the force of it. Neither his vivid imagination or most scandalous of dreams could have ever done this justice.
And all of that was before she made contact with his chest. All his attempts at keeping himself together fail in one instant, a low noise emerging from his throat. His head lolls back down, once more making eye contact with her. A strained smile crosses his lips, and a tight laugh rumbles through his chest.]
[ Oh wow, Nicole's mind chirps, bright and awed and assuredly definitely into their mental connection. Wow. Gosh.
While it is a blessing to know she isn't the only one affected, Varka's reactions are invigorating to a degree she was hardly anticipating. The way his body shifts beneath her touch, the flexing muscles and barely-suppressed shivers… if she weren't careful, she could easily lose herself in this.
The sound he makes when she touches his chest physically jolts her. Heat blooms in her stomach, and she feels pinned beneath the heady weight of his gaze. If she had wanted him before, it was a shade of the desire she feels now. If she had felt attracted before, this was… magnetizing. He is beautiful in a way that would have been difficult to envision before he granted her the opportunity.
A feeling not unlike reverence settles over her. Being called a tease only slightly disrupts it.
Her cheeks burn. With a visible swallow, she lifts her hand away from her dress and allows the fabric to fall away. While it pools and bunches at her waist, Nicole sets to removing her sleeves to even the playing field.
In stark contrast to Varka's, her skin is entirely unmarred. Her chest shifts with each breath, a hint laborious in the face of her desire. She glances away bashfully, finding the prospect of shared nudity to be a surprisingly intimate one. ]
[The idea of continuing to rib Nicole fades just as quickly as the fabric drops. As much as he enjoys their back and forth, making sure she feels comfortable in this situation is far more important. Thus, he shuts up when she reveals herself, focusing his attention on memorizing every inch of her form.
Her incredibly beautiful, undeniably perfect form. Some part of him thrills to know that this is a sight only he has ever witnessed. It is a miracle, and a precious one at that. Above all, it is something he refuses to squander.
His hands shift forward, settling against her hips at first. He does not hesitate to stroke upward, following the curve of her form, studying the firmness of her ribs beneath his. Only when he draws steady with her chest does he drag his touch inward, and only with one hand. He lays his hand above her heart (and yes, of course, her breast.]
Still with me? Can't have you burning up before we've had any fun.
[Okay, maybe a little teasing is in order.]
You're beautiful. Just in case no one's told you that before.
[ Nicole understands now why Varka was twitching so much.
She twitches the moment he touches her, then continues to when his hands start to move. A subtle tremble overtakes her as she vividly maps the sensation of his calloused palms on her bare skin. It isn't overwhelming – not in a negative way. She is finding the whole experience borderline dizzying, though.
A faint sound filters through the noise when his hand fits round her chest. Her lashes flutter. Her face is warm, but the embarrassment has fled in favor of something else, something deeper. Her mouth flexes around her next breath as she struggles to take it.
Was it going to be this devastating every time? They'd barely even touched one another! Wildly, Nicole begins to fret over whether she was going to embarrass herself by losing her composure over something as simple as skin-to-skin contact! ]
I'm here. [ She must be distracted indeed, given that she barely ruffles under his teasing. ] So are you… I was wondering if it slipped through the link, but it must have not.
Oh, I definitely heard you. [His smile turns a little sheepish.] Just got a bit distracted along the way.
[There's so much to keep track of; the flush of her skin, the noises playing out within her mind, the very look of her body. It's little wonder that a few things have slipped through the cracks.]
Here, let's get this out of the way, yeah?
[He slides his hands back down to her hips, then lifts her up. He hasn't missed how much she seems to enjoy being handled. To be honest, he enjoys it quite a bit himself. Besides, gently nudging the dress off to the floor helps her from getting all tangled up.
Especially when his next task is setting her on the bed proper. Yes, he wants nothing more than to run his hands over every inch of her, but if he starts too soon, he's going to get lost. Distracted.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-03-11 05:22 am (UTC)That doesn't keep him from making mental notes here and there, marking down spots to return to based off of her more vibrant reactions. Provided their "practice" is a long term endeavor, he'd rather like to see how she reacts past the initial rush that she's experiencing.
As the question floats into his head, Varka sees fit to pause for the time being. A heavy breath escapes him, followed by a sharper inhale. Is it a sign of his age that he's getting so winded? Or just a reflection of how Nicole makes him feel?
Maybe he doesn't want to ponder the question for too long.]
Normally? [He shifts so that their foreheads are pressed together, so that their noses brush.] Mm... Yes and no. When it's good, when you click with the person you're with, yeah.
[Varka would like to hope that's part of the reason why things are so electrified right now, but. That would remain to be seen, wouldn't it? For now, he returns to their kiss, this time emboldened enough to deepen it. Nicole seems ready for it.
What she might not be ready for is how he pairs it with what her thoughts seem to crave. He drags his fingers back down, settling to trace a circle around the space where he'd caught a glance of ink once or twice. He can only hope that the way he seems to want to pull her all the closer, the urgency of the kiss they share, assuages the rest of her doubts.
She is not too much. And he wants her terribly.]
We can call this NSFW now.
Date: 2026-03-11 05:53 am (UTC)Still. Teasing him is the furthest thing from her mind right now… and it isn't as though she doesn't have to catch her own breath when he nudges their foreheads together. Despite the thrumming of her heart, it is a welcome reprieve to simply bask in their proximity.
Clicking with the person you're with. Was that what it meant to find your perfect match? Not that Nicole was so quick to spin such romantic, naive theories from a few intimate encounters. It was hard to deny how well they seemed to fit together, though. It was equally hard to deny how attuned to Varka's touch her body seemed. Whether that was due to her own inexperience remained to be seen.
A pleased noise threads the gap between her contemplative silence and Varka pressing in for another, deeper kiss. While her grip round his neck has hardly loosened in between their quick, greedy kissing, it somehow manages to find a way to tighten the moment his fingers start to trail downward.
Varka tracing a circle on her lower back should, in theory, be a relatively innocuous motion. It was hardly an erogenous zone on most.
For Nicole, it is both the site from which her wings bloom and a vulnerable, naked area. The first brush of his fingers elicits a shiver so strong that she nearly dislodges from their kiss… which would have been a terrible tragedy indeed. Her mouth flexes in shuddering surprise as the whole of her body seems to jitter momentarily in place: flexing hands, shifting hips, shuffling legs. ]
Oh. [ It's a sound bordering dangerously on a sigh. Or a moan. ] Varka.
[ Overcome and not entirely sure what to do about it, she drags her hands up his neck and rakes her fingers through his hair. ]
That feels nice. You feel good.
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Date: 2026-03-11 06:16 am (UTC)And oh, there are more important things to consider. He had not expected that mark to elicit such a powerful response. It makes him curious at best, greedy at worst. His fingers press in harder, kneading against the space in an attempt to draw out more. Though he does miss out on the satisfaction of being able to directly swallow the noises she makes, having them reverberate in his skull more than makes up for it.
... right. Where was he? He carefully parts from the kiss, even as his body aches for more.]
I was - thinking the same thing. [What an eloquent answer.] No notes from me so far.
[Once more, he traces kisses along her jaw, though this time he opts to move upward, rather than bother her neck again just yet. He delivers his next blow before she can even complain about his stubble again, opting to whisper in her ear:]
And don't worry about me not wanting you. Surprised you can't feel how much I do yet.
[He is... definitely very physically aware of her presence, that's for sure.]
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Date: 2026-03-11 07:09 am (UTC)Varka's fingers press insistently at the delicate, looping golden inkwork on the small of her back as if he is trying to pluck a chord. Magical characteristics aside—and the point of contact for her delicate, fluttering wings inherently made it intimate—the contact to bare skin that was so rarely touched was deeply evocative. Nicole sighs just as easily as she had at that first meandering touch, lashes fluttering.
She even makes a faint nose in protest when his lips steal away from hers. There was a need thrumming deep in her core.
Far be it from her to complain about a sensation she secretly enjoys. She is quick to cant her head to give Varka as much access to her jaw as necessary.
The brush of his lips against the sensitive shell of her ear and the whisper that follows sends shivers up her spine so immediately that she bodily twitches. Her stomach climbs up into her throat and then drops betwixt her legs in one seamless motion. For a single, shivering moment, she is utterly at a loss for what to do. Not out of uncertainty, but an… inability to formulate a thought beyond sudden, intense want.
She turns her head slightly, practically brushing her ear against his lips in unspoken desire. It might be difficult to tell given her jewelry, but the tips of her ears had turned a rosy hue to match her cheeks.
To address what he is implying… Nicole adjusts herself as much as she can in his grip, exhaling faintly. Her tongue flicks out to wet her bottom lip. ]
Are you holding yourself back on my account?
[ It would likely come across as a relatively innocent question if not for how particular she is about vocalizing it demurely. ]
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Date: 2026-03-11 07:38 am (UTC)Seeing as how that thought involves torn leggings and a ripped dress, however, he demurs. There might be a tailor in town, but he doubts Nicole would want to explain how something like that happened.
More than that, though, there is the incredibly chivalrous part of him. He joked about throwing the knights' code out of the window to some degree, but it still formed the foundation of Varka's entire person. It took a unique turn when applied to matters within the bedroom, but generally, his pleasure was derived from that of his partner.
Which meant he had learned to be very good at what he did, no matter who he was with. And if that meant taking things slower, savoring the little moments as they arose, then that was all the better.]
Not at all. I'm exactly where I want to be. [He allows his teeth to graze the edge of her lobe, then noses upward until he meets metal.] But that does pose an important question.
[Once more, Varka finds himself leaning away. Not terribly far — he can barely stand to be apart in this moment — but enough to let her breathe.]
How far do you want this to go? Not - not in general or anything, we can get to that later. But I mean right now. Tonight.
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Date: 2026-03-11 07:59 am (UTC)The distance is nearly painful. The heat has suffused her so thoroughly that she can feel it in her fingertips, swollen and shuddering from warm anticipation. She wets her lips again, and then a third time for good measure.
How far does she want this to go? Frankly, she can hardly fathom pausing even now, let alone navigating the nuances of starting and stopping points. Her breaths leave her in short, panting bursts as she leans back, eyes roving over his face.
Was it ill-advised to follow this thread as far as it could potentially lead? To start the evening with an innocent request to kiss, and then allow him to unravel her? Perhaps. In equal measure, though, she selfishly desires it in exchange for six-thousand years barred from this kind of passion. She yearns to lose herself in it. She aches to lose herself in Varka.
Almost mindlessly, her fingers trace over his face. Up his jaw to tuck behind his ear. Across his brow and up into his hair. She is tender about the way she brushes it out of his face, but it is a motion punctuated by her idly sucking her own bottom lip into her mouth. ]
Would it be wrong to want it all? [ She drags her fingers through his hair, over his scalp, until she can interlace them behind his head. ] Would you allow me it?
[ And maybe she's playing a little dirty, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. But she was a witch in the same breath as an angel, and a little flirtation at the right moment never hurt anyone. ]
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Date: 2026-03-11 07:34 pm (UTC)Her answer is very nearly the ignition point, comes dangerously close to spurring him forward and catching her mouth in a kiss that would not end until both of them are spent. The more rational part of his brain forces him to settle, reminding him that there are important things to consider before he leaps into this.]
It - wouldn't. But...
[Nicole is not a small woman. The problem is that Varka is a very large man. Her body, presumably, lacks the kind of experience that would help her in that regard. It isn't a problem, but it does involve taking things slow. It's a point he'll have to emphasize to her, lest she tear herself apart.]
I'm gonna ask you a real forward question first, alright? [Even if his cheeks burn all the hotter for having to consider it.] Have you ever, uh... Let your hands wander, so to speak!
[Please don't make him explain it.]
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Date: 2026-03-11 11:14 pm (UTC)Nicole likes it more than she would have initially thought she would. It also makes her want to tease him that much more. Even if it was only to test how far she could push.
His line of questioning, while obscure, physically drags her mind from that particular rabbit hole. She at least understands what he is asking – the context makes it all the more obvious. She casts her memory back in much the same way that one would try to recall an everyday memory, tapping her thumbs against his nape idly. ]
Once or twice. [ She says, eventually. Oddly unabashed, she rubs her nose against his sideburn like she's nuzzling at his face.]
I recall finding the experience uninspiring. It was pleasurable, certainly, but I became bored with the cyclical nature of it as soon as the novelty had worn off. The first must have been shortly after I chose to maintain this form… [ Translation: thousands of years ago. ] And then, more recently, while reading a novel. Does that answer your question?
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Date: 2026-03-11 11:56 pm (UTC)Especially as she rubs against his face, breath spilling across his cheek. The hair on the back of his neck rises, and he finds his legs tensing as he fights the desire to grind into her. He needs to know what he's working with, after all.]
Musta been a good novel. You'll have to tell me about it at some point. [A sigh escapes him. Where were they?] When you, uh... did. Were you [His brow pinches. Now that he's actually thinking about the concept, words are failing him.] I mean, did you prefer any internal motion, or were you keeping things external?
[If he can figure out what she's familiar with taking, it'll be a good start.]
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Date: 2026-03-12 12:22 am (UTC)Luckily, the fact he seems to be stumbling over his words this much is more than enough of a distraction from his hands. Nicole starts giggling before he’s even fully mumbled his way through.
Was he envisioning it? She thinks he would likely be disappointed by the reality. Both individual instances had been defined by their frustration, and utter lack of anything definitively climactic.
She pulls her head back to look at him properly. ]
You’re asking for details. I'm afraid it won’t be anything particularly impressive. The first time involved strictly external stimulation. The second…
[ A modicum of embarrassment creeps in, finally. She glances away. ]
I… attempted internal stimulation, but ultimately found very little success. I recall a sensation that was not unlike… tension? In my abdomen, but it didn’t amount to much either time. It was an unsuccessful experiment that left me feeling overheated and sticky. Which is why I mentioned finding it uninspiring.
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Date: 2026-03-12 12:46 am (UTC)Think that's pretty normal, actually. Especially when you're starting out. It can be a lot of work for a payoff you've never experienced before.
[His eyes roam over her form thoughtfully, not lingering anywhere in particular, but taking in the whole picture.]
Is it something you're interested in figuring out? I ask, because - [Ugh, the tips of his ears start to warm. Varka wouldn't call himself humble, but he isn't exactly a braggart, either. It makes the words on his tongue feel wrong, accurate though they might be.] I'm not - uh. A small guy. And if you were struggling with just your fingers, then, well -
[He pulls one hand back from Nicole in favor of rubbing at the back of his head.]
I don't want it to be unpleasant for you, is all!
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Date: 2026-03-12 03:38 am (UTC)What a ridiculous scene. The two of them fidgeting with flushed faces. If the Heavenly Principles could see them now, perhaps they would believe that intervention was unnecessary given the state of them!
Eventually, though, Nicole sneaks a peek back at Varka's face. It might have been… uninspiring before when she was touching herself, but perhaps she simply hadn't had the right motivation? Or material? Varka's touch on her body this evening had already proven to be significantly more… provocative, and he hadn't even touched anywhere erogenous.
And besides: how could she not want to experience every part of him? Love and appreciation for humanity were innate qualities in her. Varka was no exception except in how that appreciation manifested.
She lightly clears her throat, tugging on the hair curled round her knuckle. ]
…It is a part of you. I want to experience all of you.
[ Then, for good measure: ] Please.
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Date: 2026-03-12 03:54 am (UTC)Well. It certainly speaks to all the fantasies that have rattled around within his head.
Little wonder, then, that a smile spreads across his lips. And while he had held back from affection to allow her the chance to formulate a proper answer, now Varka leans in. He kisses the tip the finger tangled within his hair, then angles his head to brush his lips over her cheek.]
You don't need to say please. [He tilts his head, so that his low laugh rumbles into her ear.] Not yet, at least.
[Leaning back, he flashes the full force of his crooked grin, before sobering into something a little more serious.]
If we're going that direction, then I need you to make me a promise right now. A couple of them, actually. [He holds up a finger.] You'll be okay with me calling the shots, and taking things slow. [Another finger comes up.] That you'll tell me if you're uncomfortable and want to stop. [And finally, a third.] And that you understand you will not hurt my feelings if you do have to tap out.
That fair?
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Date: 2026-03-12 04:16 am (UTC)If she had seemed riveted before, it is doubly intense now. She stares at him with the grave seriousness of one who is on the verge of taking notes… even while her face is still flushed a warm cherry red.
…even if her initial reaction to being told they would be taking it slow is to sulk. She doesn't know quite why this prompts her to pout, but… a not insignificant part of her wonders what it would be like to be overwhelmed by Varka. He was intent and intense on the battlefield, after all. Would it transfer to the bedroom, she wonders? She pulls her finger free of her hair and does her best to pout slightly less obviously. ]
Those seem easy enough. I promise. Though, I must admit, my pride rankles at the idea of me needing to "tap out" of anything! I promise I am capable of handling whatever you may decide to do.
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Date: 2026-03-12 04:23 am (UTC)I'm sure you are. A good girl like you could take anything I threw at her, huh? [He doesn't even try to be subtle, not with the way he winks.] But we'll save that for down the road, okay? For now...
[The hand against her back shifts once more, drifting up to where her collar is. It's a curious gesture, one clearly searching for something. With all the staring he's done, you'd think he'd figure out how to unzip the damn thing but...]
First thing's first, why don't we get you comfortable?
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Date: 2026-03-12 04:42 am (UTC)It had been one thing to weather the wordless pleasure over her adaptability, or to be told that she was doing a decent enough job with the experimentation. That had been expected. She knew she was capable of learning, and learning quickly, given the right amount of passion and dedication. This was… different.
Subtly—but likely not nearly as subtly as she would like—her hips rock against him. That could be in response to anything!
Delicately clearing her throat, she lifts a hand to assist him with her dress. Yes, a far better use of their time: getting her out of this damnable thing as soon as possible. It was starting to feel far too tight. ]
There is a clasp. Ah, fair warning: as involved as the dress may look, the moment you unclasp it at the collar, the majority of it is likely to simply fall down. The sleeves will have to be removed separately.
[ Which she can start to do, unless Varka is insistent on being the one to undress her. She needs to do something with her hands. Immediately. ]
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Date: 2026-03-12 04:48 am (UTC)He clears his throat.]
Dangerous maneuver, don't you think? What if it got torn in combat?
[That's a fun thought. Maybe they should spar at some point and -
Anyway. Find the clasp. Thankfully, he's familiar enough with that, albeit in a mildly different context. All the same, his fingers alight on what he's searching for and — after a quick glance at Nicole to offer a warning, he undoes it.
Part of him thinks to cover his eyes. Politeness almost wins out. But they're meant to be sharing with one another, and... really he wants to see what awaits him there.
At least he minds his hands for the time being, keeping them braced against her back, as if it might protect her from the chill? Never mind the fact that half of her back was bare anyway.]
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Date: 2026-03-12 05:04 am (UTC)The fact they hadn't managed to tear anything as of yet actually surprises her. It wasn't as if her dress was made of hardy material, after all—it was largely crafted for cosmetic purposes, not a functional one outside of the obvious—and they'd been twisting and turning and grabbing at one another the whole night.
If Nicole can connect the dots about what Varka is considering when he comments on the dangers of her attire, though… she doesn't. She does not connect the dots at present. ]
No one has ever gotten close enough to tear it.
[ That was the truth. Any would-be aggressors were far likely to be wiped off the face of the planet by her spellcraft before they ever got close enough to tear her dress.
As she had cautioned, the upper half of the dress effectively falls down the moment Varka undoes the clasp. She, at the very least, lifts a hand to prevent it from sliding down entirely, but it is a token effort at best. The dress had already bared at least a sliver of skin on either side of her chest but loose as it is, the whole side of her breasts are nearly fully visible if she angles herself.
Oh, that's right. She doesn't wear a bra. Dreadfully uncomfortable things, those are. ]
Was I meant to let it fall all the way off?
[ It is both a genuine question and a genuinely teasing one. She allows it to slip an inch more, fingers bunching the fabric. ]
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Date: 2026-03-12 05:16 am (UTC)And judging by the toothy grin, he isn't going to pretend that he wasn't.]
I might have enjoyed it, if you did. But hey, I'll show you mine if you show me yours?
[He leans back, hurriedly undoing the remaining buttons on his shirt and tossing it aside. Only his necklace remains on his torso, swaying between his pectorals. As if they weren't already hypnotizing enough. Naturally, his chest is possessed of the same amount of scarring as the rest of him, a particularly vicious set of claws marring the left side of his rib cage, and suspiciously sword shaped puncture on the lower right part of his abdomen.
None of these bother him. He's practically showing them off as he squares his shoulders and meets Nicole's eyes.]
Well?
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Date: 2026-03-12 05:26 am (UTC)And then her train of thought sputters to an ungainly halt the moment Varka discards his shirt. Really, if Varka was unabashedly staring, Nicole's riveted gaze would make even the most stoic of knights blush. She had wholly anticipated Varka being well-built, both given his stature and his profession, but being confronted with the whole picture was…
Her eyes dart from his chest to his face and then… yes, back down again. Then further still, sweeping down the length of his torso in an effort to commit it all, burningly, to memory.
One of her hands frees itself from where it is clutching at the fabric of her dress to trace the lines of that sword-shaped scar with light fingers. Those fingers trace upward slowly enough to map out the ridges of Varka's abdominal muscles, then trip carefully over the raised skin surrounding the clawmarks on his ribcage. When she eventually finds her way up to his chest, she traces between his pectorals with the backs of her fingers rather than her fingertips.
…distracted as she is, she's still holding her dress up with one hand. Sorry, Varka. ]
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Date: 2026-03-12 05:39 am (UTC)He swallows hard, throat bobbing with the force of it. Neither his vivid imagination or most scandalous of dreams could have ever done this justice.
And all of that was before she made contact with his chest. All his attempts at keeping himself together fail in one instant, a low noise emerging from his throat. His head lolls back down, once more making eye contact with her. A strained smile crosses his lips, and a tight laugh rumbles through his chest.]
Tease.
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Date: 2026-03-12 05:56 am (UTC)While it is a blessing to know she isn't the only one affected, Varka's reactions are invigorating to a degree she was hardly anticipating. The way his body shifts beneath her touch, the flexing muscles and barely-suppressed shivers… if she weren't careful, she could easily lose herself in this.
The sound he makes when she touches his chest physically jolts her. Heat blooms in her stomach, and she feels pinned beneath the heady weight of his gaze. If she had wanted him before, it was a shade of the desire she feels now. If she had felt attracted before, this was… magnetizing. He is beautiful in a way that would have been difficult to envision before he granted her the opportunity.
A feeling not unlike reverence settles over her. Being called a tease only slightly disrupts it.
Her cheeks burn. With a visible swallow, she lifts her hand away from her dress and allows the fabric to fall away. While it pools and bunches at her waist, Nicole sets to removing her sleeves to even the playing field.
In stark contrast to Varka's, her skin is entirely unmarred. Her chest shifts with each breath, a hint laborious in the face of her desire. She glances away bashfully, finding the prospect of shared nudity to be a surprisingly intimate one. ]
…not intentionally...
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Date: 2026-03-12 06:03 am (UTC)Her incredibly beautiful, undeniably perfect form. Some part of him thrills to know that this is a sight only he has ever witnessed. It is a miracle, and a precious one at that. Above all, it is something he refuses to squander.
His hands shift forward, settling against her hips at first. He does not hesitate to stroke upward, following the curve of her form, studying the firmness of her ribs beneath his. Only when he draws steady with her chest does he drag his touch inward, and only with one hand. He lays his hand above her heart (and yes, of course, her breast.]
Still with me? Can't have you burning up before we've had any fun.
[Okay, maybe a little teasing is in order.]
You're beautiful. Just in case no one's told you that before.
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Date: 2026-03-12 06:11 am (UTC)She twitches the moment he touches her, then continues to when his hands start to move. A subtle tremble overtakes her as she vividly maps the sensation of his calloused palms on her bare skin. It isn't overwhelming – not in a negative way. She is finding the whole experience borderline dizzying, though.
A faint sound filters through the noise when his hand fits round her chest. Her lashes flutter. Her face is warm, but the embarrassment has fled in favor of something else, something deeper. Her mouth flexes around her next breath as she struggles to take it.
Was it going to be this devastating every time? They'd barely even touched one another! Wildly, Nicole begins to fret over whether she was going to embarrass herself by losing her composure over something as simple as skin-to-skin contact! ]
I'm here. [ She must be distracted indeed, given that she barely ruffles under his teasing. ] So are you… I was wondering if it slipped through the link, but it must have not.
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Date: 2026-03-12 06:22 am (UTC)[There's so much to keep track of; the flush of her skin, the noises playing out within her mind, the very look of her body. It's little wonder that a few things have slipped through the cracks.]
Here, let's get this out of the way, yeah?
[He slides his hands back down to her hips, then lifts her up. He hasn't missed how much she seems to enjoy being handled. To be honest, he enjoys it quite a bit himself. Besides, gently nudging the dress off to the floor helps her from getting all tangled up.
Especially when his next task is setting her on the bed proper. Yes, he wants nothing more than to run his hands over every inch of her, but if he starts too soon, he's going to get lost. Distracted.
And right now, this is supposed to be about her.]
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