|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 2:44:24 GMT
River couldn't help jumping when Penn's hand hit her in the ear, but then she burst into giggles. She reached up to take his hand, guiding it down to her shoulder as she stepped forward carefully, making sure not to just slam right into him. As she moved his hand, he'd probably feel her hair, which was soft and wavy, down about to her shoulder blades.
"I hadn't really thought about it, but you're definitely a lot taller than me! I'm only 5'4, so you might have to bend a little. But yes, you absolutely have permission, Sir Penn."
She bit her lip as she brought up her other hand, trying to hit his chest or stomach so that she'd be able to figure out where to wrap her arms around his middle. "I didn't expect this to be so...so everything." She whispered. "I'm excited and terrified all at once."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 3:14:35 GMT
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” He said as he bumped into her and then laughed when she did. “Ya, maybe I should have mentioned my height before.” He said with a little guilty chuckle. His fingers played with her hair, his thumb brushing against her jaw bone by her ear.
He was wearing a T-shirt with a blazer and jeans, the texture of each she’d been able to feel. He smelled of clean laundry. He was clean shaven save for a tiny bit of stubble of today’s growth.
He gently placed his hand on top of hers as it found his chest and then moved up her arm before he wrapped her in tender hug. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head before resting his cheek there and breathing her. “I’m certainly excited.” He whispered to her, the proof of it probably evident in his quick heartbeat.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 3:29:47 GMT
River gasped slightly when his thumb brushed against her face, instinctively leaning into his hand. "Nothing to apologize for. I promise. I love having my hair played with."
River was wearing a soft, somewhat oversized sweater that fell a little off one of her shoulders due to the wide neck, and the perfume her mother had gotten her, which truly made her smell like a library, although, with his face in her hair, Penn would notice a hint of lavender from her shampoo. She wrapped her arms around Penn's waist under his blazer and squeezed tight for a moment before she sighed happily and relaxed into his arms. She felt safe there, with his heart beating under her cheek.
"Mm, I feel like I'm going to pass out, but in the best possible way." River said with a breathless laugh, tipping her head up a little as if she could look up at his face. "This must be why people like rollercoasters."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 13:44:50 GMT
Penn took a deep inhale, taking her all in. "You smell amazing." He whispered with a smile that she might feel against her head. When she looked at him he lifted his head so she could do so and looked down at her. He chuckled at her comment, his hand moving gently, stroking her hair.
"It feels so good to finally hold you." He told her softly. "When I think about you I can't help but see our life together. It always make me smile. Imagining life with you..." he trailed off thoughtfully.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 14:40:42 GMT
River shivered slightly as he stroked her hair.
"Me too...I keep thinking about us reading on the balcony." She giggled, then added, "Footsie and all."
She sighed, squeezing him a little tighter. "Now that I have you, I'm not sure I want to let go." She buried her face in his chest. "But I'll see you again soon, right?"
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 14:46:02 GMT
Penn rubbed her back softly, his fingers playing with the ends of her hair each time he reached her shoulder blades. "I actually fell asleep last night thinking about that, our evening together on the balcony." He admitted with a soft chuckle.
He melted into her embrace and placed another kiss on top of her head, then on her temple. "Let's not talk about letting each other go. I don't like that conversation." He said with a smile.
"Very soon." He promised, whispering tenderly near her ear.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 15:03:32 GMT
River's heart and breathing sped as he held her, making her feel a bit light headed.
"Deal," she answered softly about letting him go.
When he whispered in her ear, she gasped, taking fistfuls of his shirt without really meaning to. She turned her face towards the sound, glad he couldn't see her absolutely flaming blush, although her warm cheek brushed his lips and nose in the movement.
"Penn...if I wanted to kiss you...would that be too much? I know you didn't want to rush things..." She whispered.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 15:20:49 GMT
"Am I scaring you?" He asked softly with a smile in his voice when she gasped. He loved all these little reactions if he was being totally honest. She was so dang cute.
His knees buckled a bit at her question as if he was releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Yes, please, can I please kiss you?" He said, his heart pounding even quicker. He used his fingers to ever so gently tilt her face up towards him as he leaned down. His thumb caressed her lips to make sure he wouldn't miss in the dark and he brought his lips so close to hers that they just barely brushed hers.
He hesitated for a moment in case she changed her mind, but if she didn't he'd tenderly press his lips to hers in their first kiss.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 15:48:00 GMT
"No, you're perfect. I think I'm scaring myself."
"Yes, please," she breathed as his thumb ghosted across her lips. Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it rattle her ribcage.
When he kissed her, she thought for a moment she might faint. It was perfect. She made herself release his shirt, moving her hands up to the back of his neck instead as she pulled him closer. She pushed herself onto her tiptoes, suddenly desperate to get as close to him as she could.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 16:01:38 GMT
He sighed into the kiss as if it was a drink of water from an oasis in the middle of the desert. As her hand moved to the back of his neck his hands wrapped around her middle and gently lifted her up if she let him while he kissed her. He breathed her in, the smell of lavender and books filling his senses.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 16:38:22 GMT
River was totally in the moment until her feet almost left the ground--and her brain interrupted.
She broke the kiss with a gasp for breath, leaning her forehead against the bridge of his nose for a moment. I'm sorry--I...I need a minute," she told him, detangling herself and taking a step back. She pulled her arms in and wrapped them around herself.
"It's not you, I promise. I really thought I was over this, I'm so, so sorry. Just...bad memories ruining things.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 18:21:31 GMT
Penn gently set her down as she reacted and stayed where he was while she stepped away. "River, I'm so sorry." He told her, allowing her to have her space regardless how much he wanted to hug her and make it better. He let her have a few moments silence before he spoke again.
"You can talk to me about it if you want to." He told her softly. "But I'll never push you. I'm sorry." He apologized again.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 18:31:45 GMT
River took a shakey breath, and exhaled slowly. "You don't need to apologize. I wanted that. I just..." She took another deep breath, trying to force herself to keep it slow.
"Remember how I told you about my last boyfriend? The professor? I...didn't quite give you the whole story." She paused, and when she continued it was obvious she was crying. "I never even told my dad."
"My ex tried to push me into things. We'd been drinking, and he--he pushed me down on the bed. I tried to argue but he didn't want to listen. He didn't stop until I knocked the lamp off the bedside table and the glass broke. He didn't actually--that is I've never--"
She burst into wordless sobs and hurled herself into Penn's chest clinging to him for dear life.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 18:46:32 GMT
Penn clenched his hands into fists when she started crying to force himself to wait and not reach out, not yet. He didn't want to make things worse. He didn't interrupt, only listened as she explained the story. His face, unseen in the dark, had certainly clenched up with anger.
It was honestly a relief when she clung to him again and his arms were instantly around her, holding her close. "River, that's...awful." he said tenderly. "You shouldn't have had to go through that, it's not fair. I... I wish I could take your pain away." He said in a whisper, a hand stroking her back softly.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 18:53:49 GMT
River couldn't say anything for a long moment, she just wept.
Thank you..." she told him, freeing one of her arms so she could wipe her eyes with her sweater sleeve.
"I wanted to do a better job telling you than this, but I was afraid to say anything...I was going to wait and see if we really--" she cut off and shook her head.
"I should have known better, but somehow... everything is different, now that you're really here."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 19:10:45 GMT
Penn didn't rush her at all, he let her cry, he rubbed her back and held her securely in his arms.
"I'm really happy to be here with you, River." He told her honestly. "I don't blame you for not saying before, I can imagine it was hard to say in the first place. You're an incredible woman." He said.
"And for the record, I think we really--." He added with a smile in his voice.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 19:17:18 GMT
River laughed. "I think you might be right," she told him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek--although she was pretty sure she missed a little and hit the corner of his mouth. He was tall and it was dark, ok? "I'm really lucky I found such a great knight."
She was quiet for a moment, then burst into a fit of giggles that almost made her fall over.
"I just realized--" She managed between giggles, using his arm to hold herself up, "you're not just my knight, you're my Jedi knight. I should have thought of that sooner"
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 19:24:52 GMT
Penn smiled at her quick kiss, she had indeed missed a little bit but he wasn't complaining.
Penn gasped at her words, delighted. "Your Jedi knight!? Okay, you're amazing. You win the 'who is the best' competition. Hands down." He said with a laugh. "Oh you know I'm eating that up." He said, holding onto her while she laughed.
"You have the cutest laugh, have I told you that?" He remembered yesterday when she had fallen of the couch and grinned widely to himself.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 5, 2020 19:30:40 GMT
River squeaked and hid her face in his chest again.
"That's not fair, you're going to turn me into a flustered mess!" came her muffled complaint.
"And besides, I like yours better."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 5, 2020 19:37:55 GMT
Penn laughed. "Agree to disagree then." He said, still chuckling. "Gosh, you are just so cute." He told her.
"So I didn't scare you away did I? Will I get to see you again after this?" He asked her.
|
|
o
c
i
a
l
h
u
b