|
Post by River Hughes on May 12, 2020 3:46:47 GMT
River was relieved when the door closed behind them, leaving them in an empty hallway. She wasn't sure where Dean and Lainey had gone, but that was fine--they probably wanted some privacy, based on how they'd been looking at each other. On the other hand, now that she and Penn were standing in the silent hallway, with the muffled sound of laughter and conversation on the other side of the door, she realized she hadn't really thought past getting out of that room. She cringed with almost her whole body, and turned slowly back to look at Hugh Pennington. "Um, here's the thing...I didn't really have an action plan. It was just noisy in there and I wanted you to myself..." She blushed and looked away, covering her mouth with her free hand when she realized how that sounded. "I mean, um, do you have any ideas? It sounds like we have some time while we're waiting." |
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 12, 2020 4:02:37 GMT
Penn instantly felt his body relax a bit as the door closed and muted the sound behind them. The quiet was calming to all the excitement of the day.
He smiled down at her as she admitted she didn’t know where they should go. He gently tucked a piece behind her ear and leaned down to kiss her nose before looking down the hallway. “Hmmm, let’s see...”
Then he smiled as he got an idea. “I know. Wait here one second.”
He popped back into the main room and pulled some drinks out of the fridge and the Oreos out of the pantry and then came back to her.
With his free hand he took hers softly and brought it up to his lips to kiss her knuckles if she let him and then led her down the hall to one of the doors. It was an identical set up to the other suite rooms so he could guess what would be behind the door.
He opened up the door to a bedroom and nodded, stepping inside. “Come here.” He said, guiding her past the bed to a sliding door on the opposite side of the room. He let go of her hand to open the door out onto a small balcony. They could even see the ocean in the distance. There were two chairs and a small little table.
“Would you like...iced tea or sprite?” He asked with a little chuckle. “I didn’t even look, I just grabbed the first two things I found.”
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 12, 2020 4:12:52 GMT
River waited nervously, lifting the little silver pendant she was wearing into her mouth without really thinking about it as she waited, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She knew he wasn't actually gone for very long, but it seemed like ages standing there alone in the hall.
She was so relieved to see him again she didn't question him as he kissed her hand and pulled her through one of the doors--although when she realized it was a bedroom she nearly tripped on her own feet. Once she saw where they were really going, though, she let out a relieved sigh. She was excited, but not quite ready for her worries about all that.
"Wow, it's gorgeous out here," she murmured, leaning on the railing to take a look farther out at the ocean. The breeze blew her hair to the side for a moment, and she sighed happily. She turned back to him when he asked what she'd like to drink, and tipped her head to the side as she considered, brushing her hair back behind her ears. "I like both, so you pick first. I know you like vanilla coke best, but I don't know about these ones, yet."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 12, 2020 4:23:17 GMT
Penn was taken aback, as he watched her move towards the railing. The wind toying with her hair. She looked so stunning he could barely breath. It was like being in a dream, or a classic romance movie. Apparently those were actually based on real life because this was too perfect.
He almost forgot what he had asked her and when she answered it took him a moment to process her reply. “Oh, right, um,” he moved to hand her the iced tea and fumbled with it. He almost dropped it but managed to catch it, only to have the Oreo pack tumble out of his arms and cookie side down onto the ground.
He cringed. “I guess we get cookie crumbles.” He said, feeling like an idiot. He handed her the iced tea and set the sprite on the table before picking up the Oreo pack and setting it down too. At least it hadn’t been opened yet and none of the cookies had spilled. He cleared his throat.
“I, um, I hate iced tea.” He told her with a little shy smile. “I mean if you had said you didn’t like it either then I would have taken it so you could have something you do like but you said you liked it so I took the sprite. I like sprite better. It’s just...better.” He rambled.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 12, 2020 12:34:49 GMT
River's brow furrowed slightly as he stared at her, although her smile didn't quite disappear. She just couldn't figure out why he looked so startled.
Once he was fumbling all the snacks, though, it occurred to her that he might be just as overwhelmed by all this as she was, and her heart swelled. Just when she thought she couldn't love this man any more than she did... Her smile returned with enough force to crinkle her nose. He was perfect.
She walked towards him slowly, not wanting to make him any more nervous than he already was, and took his empty hand in her own. She set the tea aside on the table, not concerned with that at the moment Mimicking him, she brought his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles, although her cheeks turned awfully red as she did.
"I'll remember," she told him with a soft laugh. "And don't worry about the cookies. I will happily eat cookies crumbles if it's with you."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 12, 2020 12:57:07 GMT
Penn felt his nerves immediately start to settle as she kissed his knuckles though the nerves were then replaced with butterflies, and after she did his large hand curled out to tenderly touch her cheek.
He was honestly speechless for a moment, a dozen thoughts ran through his head of things he could say but none of them felt quite right. Instead he just closed whatever distance was between them, looking down at her as his thumb stroked her cheek, and he smiled affectionately down into her pretty blue eyes. "I love you, River." He felt like he'd never get tired of telling her that.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 12, 2020 13:12:14 GMT
River, for once, didn't feel like she needed to fill the silence right away. She just leaned into him, automatically drawn to be as close as he would let her. His gentle presence and the distant sound of the ocean put her right at ease.
Once they were close enough, she let her hands rest on his waist as she looked up at him. Hearing him say he loved her still made her stomach do little flips. Had it only been 24 hours?
"I know," she told him with a hint of sass, and a shockingly mischievous smile played across her lips. She wondered if he'd still catch the reference, coming from her.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 12, 2020 13:22:41 GMT
Oh he caught the reference! His smile couldn't have been bigger in that moment and his was once again filled with the feeling of his heart about to explode out of his chest with love and happiness. He knew he'd never never never regret his decision to choose River, she was exactly what his heart needed and surely no one else could possibly be as perfect as she was for him. He only hoped he could always make her feel even half of what he felt for her.
He bent down a little, his arms wrapping around her middle unless she stopped him and he started to playfully nom into the crook of her neck as he chuckled happily, gently swaying them both back and forth as he did so.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 12, 2020 13:44:09 GMT
"Noo, that's my weakness!" River squealed and giggled, leaning away from his pursuit, but not trying that hard to get away.
Luckily, with him bent towards her to get to her neck, that meant his was also in reach. Revenge!
"Two can play at that game!"
She pushed up on her tiptoes to get better access and pressed a rapid flurry of kisses to the side of his neck and probably his ear, she wasn't being very careful. As a last ditch effort, if he hadn't already stopped his attack on her neck, she'd 'bite' him, scraping her teeth lightly across his skin with a fake little chomp noise.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 12, 2020 13:54:16 GMT
He laughed as she started to play back. He was a pretty playful guy and was still getting a feeling for what was okay or not okay for her, after their brief hiccup during the maze when he had picked her up. He was always ultra aware of his actions since then and eventually hoped to have more of a conversation about it rather than playing a guessing game. But for now, for now he was happy to just be gently silly with her.
As she ‘bit’ him he gasped playfully. Of course it hasn’t actually hurt. “Oh you fight dirty.” He said chuckling. “I surrender, good lady!” He said, putting his hands up in a surrendering gesture.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 12, 2020 16:49:52 GMT
River laughed and shook her head at him.
"A Jedi knight so easily defeated by a measly little girl? The sith Lords must be real pushovers," she teased, poking him lightly in the stomach.
"Or maybe I, too, am powerful in the force." She raised her eyebrows and wiggled her fingers to illustrate. "My power is countered only by my curse of anxiety, else this master librarian would rule the world."
Finally feeling secure in him, she was able to be a more playful self--a side of her usually reserved for time spent alone in her kitchenette or beating her father at Scrabble. It was nice, she decided, even as that little anxiety voice in the back of her head was cataloging his reactions to see if he thought what she was doing was stupid. She decided to ignore that part of her as long as she could.
Luckily, you haven't discovered my true weakness, or I would be powerless."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 13, 2020 0:11:49 GMT
Penn was giddy at her words and purely delighted in her playful nature. He dropped his surrendered hands, a renewed look of determination on his face.
“I know what I have to do but I don’t know if I have the strength to do it.” He said, his expression serious for a moment before his lips slowly curled up into a smirk. “I will make it my mission to find your true weakness and thus enact my revenge.”
He then swooped in and moved to dip her dramatically, his lips less than an inch from her neck, his hands securely wrapped around her so she wouldn’t fall. “Oh great temptress, this will be my greatest challenge yet.” He said in a deep, vibrating tone before his lips just barely skimmed her neck.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 13, 2020 0:39:55 GMT
River's smile widened as he replied with another quote and then professed his mission to find her weakness--which was just what she'd hoped for. She wasn't going to just tell him, of course, but he'd definitely know when he found it. In fact, she'd only realized what made her go totally weak in the knees when they were in the maze, but she wasn't going to tell him that either.
When she was suddenly swept backward she gasped and held onto his arms, but once he was talking it was like she melted as all the tension left her muscles. She was still technically holding onto him, but not for dear life anymore. Her eyes fluttered shut and a shiver ran down her spine. Well, that was a fast transition, but she was definitely not arguing. When his lips brushed across the sensitive skin on her neck, she just barely kept herself from making one very suggestive sound. Her cheeks burned, but she didn't want him to stop.
"Mmm, close..." she murmured. "Your instincts are good, Jedi."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 13, 2020 1:43:15 GMT
It was so easy to get lost in her, to forget about everything else in the world and just focus on her. He could see himself at work on any given day and just itching to get home to her. It was a feeling he had never had before. For one, he'd been alone for so long now that he was used to having no reason to rush home. But even with Emma he hadn't felt this...need to be with her, at least not in this way. This was new, different, exciting, and maybe even a little scary. But he was all in it for her.
He smiled against her skin when she said he was close. He placed one very soft kiss at the hollow of her throat and then moved up again against the side of her neck and finally moved to place a kiss just below her ear, his warm breath against her soft skin.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 13, 2020 2:03:23 GMT
River didn't realize she was holding her breath until she released it in a laugh that was barely there. He was really going to try and figure it out, wasn't he? She bit her lip and wiggled her toes, trying to keep herself from just blurting out the answer--or worse, just telling him to take her into the bedroom now because she was impatient. She was new at this, at wanting someone to touch her.
She didn't know what it was about Marcus, before, but she'd always been uncomfortable with the way he touched her. He was always grabbing her hips too harshly or groping her in the dark, then got mad when she squeaked when she was surprised or couldn't talk when she was excited. She'd felt guilty for nausea that he'd induced, thought she was a bad girlfriend for not wanting to 'put out.' Something about him just hadn't been right, but it had been clear for a long time what he had wanted from her. He simply hadn't been brazen enough to try and take it until he'd bullied her into getting drunk with him.
Penn was the opposite. Everything he did was considerate, and he didn't seem to think the way she reacted was stupid--in fact, she was pretty sure he was enjoying himself. She wasn't entirely sure how to handle it. She'd just gotten into the habit of assuming her own feelings didn't matter as much.
The kiss just under her ear brought her back to the present with a jolt, and this time the little wiggle of her hips was involuntary. "Warmer," she answered, trying not to giggle and ruin it.
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 13, 2020 2:20:33 GMT
As she wiggled her hips Penn's hand slipped from her waist to her hip and gripped her softly, an action full of desire while still keeping her secure in his hold.
"Hmmmm..." He hummed against her skin thoughtfully. "Do you want me to stop?" He asked in the same deep, resonate voice he had used in the maze thought there was certainly an added level sensual quality to his voice now. Was that really only yesterday? His teeth grazed her earlobe.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 13, 2020 2:51:41 GMT
Oh, she was definitely going to die. Her heart was going to give out. At least she'd die very, very happy.
She inhaled sharply as he spoke directly into her ear, trying to hold out even though he was definitely right. But his mouth on her earlobe was the last straw; she couldn't fight it. She curled in towards him, her legs pressing against him and only making it worse...better? She wasn't entirely sure. Now her head was curled into his neck, and she was practically digging her fingernails into his elbows.
"O-oh," was all she could manage for a moment because her brain had not quite caught up with her body. She took a deep breath. "I think you win...but please don't stop." She unfurled her fingers, realizing she might have hurt him, and turned to kiss the corner of his jaw. "I promise, I'm alright. I know I'm safe with you."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 13, 2020 10:28:25 GMT
At first Penn wasn’t sure what to think. His instinct was telling him that her reaction was a positive one and the way she moved against him was a major turn on for him but his mind was warning him that maybe he needed to slow down, particularly given the way her nails dug into his arm. It hurt a little but...not in a bad way. Was that weird? He wondered as his hold on her grip softened just a bit.
However, as she assured him that she was okay he let go of his worries and instead smiled before nipping softly against her earlobe again. “You cannot out smart my Jedi mind tricks, maybe next time you won’t underestimate my abilities in the force.” He whispered playfully in her ear but in a deep voiced sultry tone.
His hold on her hip deepened again before he hand moved down over hip and down the side of her leg. As his large, warm hands reached skin he felt his longing and desire for her grow. He had a half a mind to scoop her up and take her to that bed after all, but he had more self control than they. Besides, the anticipation was half the fun wasn’t it?
He hand moved back up her thigh, his thumb grazing just barely under the hem of her skirt before moving on top of it to hold her waist again as he gently brought her out of the dip. He didn’t want to risk his hold weakening and have her fall. He would never risk the trust he had so far gained from her.
|
|
|
Post by River Hughes on May 13, 2020 12:46:07 GMT
River gasped against his neck when he whispered in her ear again, then pressed a kiss against the skin just below his ear, just as he had done to her not too long ago. As his hand moved, she pressed tighter against him, shivering when his fingers reached her bare skin. Without thinking she raised her knee, sliding it up the outside of his leg as his hand followed the skin. Her heart skipped as he moved back up and his thumb grazed under the material before ultimately returning to her waist, and she almost told him to go back.
When he brought her back up from the dip and she settled more firmly on the ground, she made a little disappointed 'hmph' as it brought him just a little farther out of her reach.
"Believe me, I won't make the same mistake twice," she told him with a sly little laugh, skimming her hands further up his arms until they actually nestled inside the sleeves of his t-shirt. "But I have a feeling that you have weaknesses of your own, and I won't rest until I find them."
|
|
34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
|
Post by Hugh Pennington on May 13, 2020 13:48:02 GMT
Torture. This was torture. Just the fact that she seemed disappointed made him want to keep going. He never wanted to disappoint her and the way she had run her knee up his leg had turned him on even more than he already was. He wanted to explore every inch of her body, to love her and make her feel good, to have her keep making those little noises that were driving him crazy.
He had to keep telling himself to wait. Wait, why was he waiting? Oh yes, because they didn't have all that long before they'd be getting on a plane, because they were in a suite full of other people, because this was already such an exciting day considering her had only proposed that morning. Ya, ya, those were good reasons rights?
He made a pleasant humming sound as she slipped her hands inside his sleeves, her warms hands felt amazing and he couldn't get enough of the sensation of her touch on his skin. His fingers brushed softly along her jaw and she'd likely notice the slight shake in his hands. He wanted her so much it was overwhelming and he loved her so much he could barely contain it.
"Though a Jedi should never reveal his weakness, I have a feeling that if anyone could find mine it would be you." He told her.
|
|
o
c
i
a
l
h
u
b