[SH] The First Time - Part the Second (NC-17)

[shepcrew]

[We uh...we kinda broke the customized comment pages comment buffer. And I like having the custom comment pages because they look better. So, um, yes. Continued from here.]


He's beaming at her until she catches the slight slip of the tongue and the smile turns into an 'aw shucks/so busted look'.

Oops.

He can't lie to her now. It was easy to pretend when she had first arrived, since she had no reason to believe otherwise, and he was nervous enough that his body language masked the lie.

But now..."You, uh. You weren't supposed to find out until I took you back there. To uh...to check on the status of the paint drying."



She may or may not be suppressing a giggle; since she does it successfully it's hard to tell. But she is grinning. "Well, since you've managed to keep me out of your room, the surprise is still intact, even if the knowledge that there is a surprise isn't."

And he's being adorable again. Although, really, he's almost always adorable now, so it sort of goes without saying. So she smiles softly, brilliantly.



"Well, I hope it doesn't lose too much of its impact, now that you know there's another surprise," he says, grinning sheepishly.

And that's about the time when the music being played turns into a fair rendition of the song they first danced to. It's also when he stands and moves to her side of the table.

"May I have this dance?" he asks, holding a hand out to her.



"I can't imagine it..." Oh. Oh. "... would."

Oh.

So she stands and takes his hand, because the answer is "Of course." but it comes out in barely a whisper between smiles and shy blushing. She was way more poised when they first danced.

And then again, when they first danced, she had no idea with whom she was dancing, or what it would turn into. Knowing, now, she wonders what it will turn into this time. If she could possibly love him any more than she does at this moment, as she keeps her eyes on his and she smiles, blissfully happy.



He returns the smile as his fingers close round hers, and he tugs her away from the table. She may or may not notice Lorne call someone over so they can remove the chairs, along with the table and its contents so the couple can have the entire balcony to move around. And that marks the end of Lorne's part in tonight's festivities.

John's eyes never leave Inara's as he pulls her into the opening steps of the dance, holding her slightly closer than he had the first time.

Comments

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He'll feel sorry for Lorne in the morning, because he knows that the poor guy is going to be accosted by a dozen different people as soon as he shows his face.

Right now it's just Inara, though, and he's just as deeply entrenched in her now as he had been the day they had met. The feelings coursing through him are slightly different, though. When they had met, it was all intense and somewhat sexually charged, but now - though still intense - was warm and comforting.

He rests his cheek against hers, moving through the dance a little slower than usual, wanting to drag the moment and this closeness out. If he didn't know what he had planned for afterwards, he'd be terribly inclined to not let her go after the song was over. Actually, he might not be terribly inclined, either way.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

It's almost like drifting but not quite, there's no sense of being away from the moment. She's very much in the moment, hyper-aware of him and her and the way their bodies move.

She smiles a little, eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she moves on physical reflex and emotional instinct. If he has many more surprises in store for the night, she might not survive. Metaphorically speaking. Although excitement is giving way to blissful contentment.

And along those lines her fingertips lightly caress over his fingers for a moment, a breath, and her thumb brushes lightly over the side of his hand. She rests her cheek against his as he does, words pressing against her lips again but with less urgency this time, having been spoken once before. And still, a little part of her that retains her courtesan's timing says it might be better if she waits.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He closes his eyes, letting the sensations of the moment take him away to a very happy place. He's not sure how the rest of tonight is going to live up to this because, quite frankly, he thinks he's manages to achieve perfection right here and now. Maybe it'll just be icing on this very, very sweet cake?

He has a hundred comments he could make right now, all of them flattering and meant to make her flush with pleasure, but he doesn't say them. He knows he doesn't need to.

When the final bars play out, he doesn't move them in the traditional finish, as he did the first time they danced to this song. Instead, he just holds her close, pressing a kiss to the spot just below her ear.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

There's a happy little sigh on that kiss that's almost those words in and of itself. She melts against him, into his arms, lifting her head lightly in a movemet that half nuzzles her cheek against his, before turning her head to kiss his cheek.

She'll find breath to say something shortly, but this doesn't need words, and carries on the tone of non-verbal communication that they started with. And the thought flits through her mind that it almost makes it easier, in some ways.

The way she smiles against his cheek says that she's pleased. The way she rests in his arms says that she loves him. The way she's slightly flushed and yet breathing calm and evenly says what an impact all these surprises and treats and preparations he's made have had on her. The way her fingertips lightly trace the curve of his shoulder, back and forth, after a moment, suggest a quiet familiarity and contentment; that, with or without golden sunsets and marble halls, she's just as surely his.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

In response to all the little gestures, the touches, the breaths, the kiss, is his own little speech. The way his arm cradles her speaks to how he'll always support her and carry her; his fingers, which he threads with hers, says he sees them as one.

That he will never knowingly harm her, physically or emotionally, is communicated through the brush of his cheek against hers, that she is special and priceless falls from the soft kisses he places delicately on her skin.

He's just as much hers as she is his.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Her eyes, when she does open them briefly to blink at the first stars, are glittering. Her lips form his name but she still can't quite give breath to make any sound, and that's all right. Everything's all right, now.

The world's narrowed to just this, just them, just this moment of happiness and it's hard to think outside of it, to even imagine that there's anything that follows.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He allows the moment to play out to its fullest extent before pulling away to look at her. The look he gives her says I love you, there's a slight hesitation, and then he's leaning in to kiss her, and it's slow and chaste and filled with how much he adores and cherishes her.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

There's a word beyond melty but we're not sure what that is.

Her breath catches on the kiss and then she's kissing him back, almost trembling with it. Devotion and affection, simple and as pure as anything she could have imagined. How simple it is; one kiss can make her world turn. One kiss that has nothing to do with artifice or lust or sex or anything, but love. That she loves him.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He lets go of her hand so he can hold her properly, snug in his embrace. He keeps the kiss chaste, but lets it linger for a bit. He's sure neither of them notices when he finally deigns to move them towards the door, so he can lead them - half blindly, since he can't bear to break the kisses - down the hallways towards his room.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She doesn't so much notice as take account of the fact that they're in motion and accomodate the whole holding the kiss and embrace without falling over bit. As has been remarked upon before, she is a woman of singular grace. That includes passionate smooching in the hall while making her way to someone's bedroom.

Really, they'd get there quicker if they broke contact for a moment. But she's not willing to, either.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

They pass a startled Carson, who's on his way to his room for the night (see, he leaves the infirmary sometimes!), and he barely jumps out of their way in time. He watches them go off, brow raised at the public display and how incongruous it is for the Sheppard he knows. Hell, if Inara's normal visits were good for morale...he was definitely curious to see what tomorrow would bring.

We're sure neither of them notice the poor doctor, though, as John slowly but surely leads them closer to his room.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She definitely doesn't notice the poor doctor. Doesn't notice anything except that they're moving; doesn't even notice the direction or that they're down familiar corridors by now.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she does notice that they're acting like teenagers, which almost makes her laugh, but. Kissing. Touching. Is more important. She'll giggle breathlessly later, or something.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

Well, at least it's a mostly-controlled careening down the hall while smooching, as opposed to the true, teenager impatience to finally get it on. That has to count for something?

But they get to save people from the mostly smooshy stuff because they're outside his room now and he stops. He lets the kiss come to a natural end, and then he's taking her hands in his as he gazes at her lovingly.

He smiles shyly, reaching behind him to swipe the sensor before grasping her fingers again. And while the door is open, he walks backwards into his room, leading her in and watching her reaction...

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Despite whatever fears he may have had earlier, the comparison between what he's prepared here and the little rituals of a Companion's appointments don't even come close to crossing her mind. Her eyes widen again, taking in the changed atmosphere in the room, candlelight and flowers.

It also doesn't cross her mind what it all might be in aid of, except that it's one more delightful, romantic twist on the evening. Eyes wide, smile lighting up her face, she looks at him with that same sort of goofy admiration that speaks louder than the words she can't find yet. That she loves him, so, so much.

And that he's completely adorable (adorkable?) for setting all this up.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

And the door slides shut, he reaches behind her to enable the privacy setting on the lock. Then he leads her a little forward into the room, and he leaves her for only a moment to put on a CD of soft, romantic music.

Inara will have to thank Katie for the selection, 'cause otherwise it would have been a collection of Johnny Cash ballads.

He returns her smile, pulling her into a hug and spinning her around the room once as he holds her close. And with his mouth close to her ear, he finally speaks the words they've been once more breathing to each other, "I love you."

And the undercurrent there is something she once Didn't Say to him, along with a question: The time is right, and the moment's perfect. I'm ready now, are you?

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Despite the languid romance to the whole thing, there is definitely a part of her that just wants to go 'WHEE!' with delight. Ahem.

And as she settles into his arms and hugs him back, listening to what he's both saying and not saying... she smiles. Eyes falling closed for a moment, brushing a kiss over the curve of his jaw before she speaks.

Of all the things she's ever been unsure of, this has ever so rarely been one of them. She was certain then, and she's still certain now.

And when she whispers "I love you." it's as much to say yes as it is to say I love you. And, along with that, I'm glad. Glad of waiting, of picking the right moment.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He smiles, swaying with her gently in time to the music. Now that he's here, he's not quite sure how to do this without it seeming too rushed, or too slow.

The balance needs to be right...

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She tucks her head to his shoulder, smiling softly into his collar as they more sway than dance through a song. If he has ideas about what to do now, she's more than willing to entertain them.

When he doesn't seem to, or at least doesn't move to, she takes the initiative or the lead or whatever it is they're doing. Steps back, for a moment, just to look at him and admire him. The sweetness and the not-quite-shyness and the fact that, well, let's face it, John Sheppard is a handsome man.

She brings her hands up to run down his arms, again, curling her hands over his and kissing his fingertips. And then, leaving him for a moment, attends to the practicalities before anything else. Because once they're well sunk in the moment she's fairly sure they won't want to leave the warmth of each other in the bed. There's already glasses conveniently there. It's the work of but a moment to fill one for each of them and set them in an empty space on the bedside table.

And then, smiling softly, brushing the backs of her fingers lightly down his cheek, she takes his hand and leads him to the bed. Not for anything overt. Not for anything more involved than settling down so that they're no longer standing, and closer to the surface they'll inevitably wind up on. Another step they don't have to take once they're in that moment.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He watches her as she moves around the room, letting her do her thing. He would never have thought of the water thing, really. And once he's sitting next to her, he does the only thing that seems logical to him at that point:

One hand clasping hers, the other reaching up to cup her face, he leans in and kisses her chastely. Not so much a waters-testing thing than it is a need to continue to draw this out. They've waited this long, after all, and another several minutes of doing so won't hurt them.

Besides, he intends to thoroughly enjoy the foreplay, since he's dying to explore her body...

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

She smiles briefly against his mouth before kissing him back, fingers sliding through his and back away again only so she can gently caress her fingertips over his palm before taking his hand in hers again. Her other hand rests, light and innocuous, on his knee.

Drawing things out in their proper time will only make the consumation of the desires they've been allowing to build all the sweeter. And rushing now would spoil the moment, she's well aware. And besides, she enjoys the simple pleasure of those soft kisses, just the touch of his lips to hers. Just the kiss, chaste as it is, makes her sigh and melt.

Also, perhaps more than that, the easier they both sink into this equally rather than her taking the lead, the easier it may be for him. The question he asked towards the beginning, after she told him what she was, still echoes a little.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

And if he knew about that echo, he'd tell her that after this long, he isn't terribly worried about her deception any longer. It's part of the reason why he waited, after all.

And besides, the chaste kiss is something he knows they've had no problems with taking farther and deeper, and the gradualness of it is usually staggering in and of itself.

Once she's sufficiently melty, he brushes his thumb across her cheek lightly, and eases into a deeper kiss, coaxing her mouth open.

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

It's a perfect place to start, really. Starting slow, easing into it, through territory they've crossed before and into new. Not that it does anything for the nervousness more than take the edge off it, make it internal instead of visible or tangible.

It's not nervousness that makes her sigh, lips parting for his kiss, fingertips stroking lightly up and down just above his knee. Definitely not nervousness that makes her taste the wine, the dessert in his mouth, gently exploring again. Long practice lending itself to expertly including, this time, the little nuances and catches of breath that he can feel as they kiss and little movements of lips and tongue that make it more sensual, just a bit. In more ways than she's expressed before, except maybe once or twice.

There's a difference, she reminds herself, between the artifice of skill and the artifice of pretense. She has skills. No reason not to use them.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

He moans ever so softly into the kiss, totally focussed on the now instead of the what's to come. And right now, he decides to bring the kiss to an end, lips still hovering close to hers, eyes half-shut. Half-shut becomes open, as he gazes at her, pulling away to take her in, then he's reaching up to try and figure out how to unpin that hair...

[sevenvirtues.livejournal.com]

Her eyes slowly open as he pulls away, relaxing and smiling softly, almost shyly, as she catches his expression. Her hair is easy enough to unpin, requiring only a little feeling around for the pins, and then the circlet is a simple clasp to undo.

[shepcrew.livejournal.com]

Which is what he figures out after a few minutes of gently running his fingers over her hair. He takes the same amount of care pulling each pin and the circlet out as she did putting them in. No need to cause undue pain, after all.

Each bit that comes out gets put on the bed-side table, and once it's all gone, he runs both hands through her hair carefully a few times before cupping her face and kissing her, this time with a little more ardour.