[ She can look at him like that any time she wants.
Ted reflexively shifts to brace himself as soon as he feels her leg cross over his lap; one hand moves backward to help him balance against the mattress as his center of gravity changes, and the other snakes under the light fabric of the robe in search of her hip.
When he finds it and discovers the complete lack of any other fabric there, he laughs breathily against her mouth. ]
[ Why such a response has her biting back a smile, she couldn't say, but there is a giddiness spread through his gentle hold that makes it a struggle not to lose herself (ever her challenge). Vanessa has always been touch-starved, and once exposed, she has to remember not to take too much, because it's never enough. To bring affection into it only has her squirming in delight.
She wants to touch as much as she wants to be touched.
Already, she's reaching to tug at his sweater and shirt, even if that interrupts Ted's own balancing attempts. She could merely rip his clothes off—literally—but she is doing her utmost to behave when it comes to her more primal nature. ]
[ It's not graceful, the way Ted has to lean back to wriggle free from his clothing, but there's certainly a goofy charm in it as he hurriedly pushes both sweater and shirt up over his head and tosses them aside.
He's much more coordinated when he reaches for the knot of Vanessa's robe, though, but stops just shy of undoing it with a tug to check in first. ]
[ At this point, the inquiry is so ludicrous, it could be her turn to laugh, but instead her half-smile shifts from something puzzled to something darkly pleased while gazing down at him. ]
You have me.
[ With her fingertips trailing from his shoulder and along the length of his arm, she stops at his wrist and sits back to better let him see just what he's attempting. The knot's hardly complicated, and the robe is already slipping from her shoulders. ]
Vanessa could not be more clear in her consent, though, and Ted is a good boy who does as he's told, so his deft and eager Eagle Scout hands undo the belt with ease. He lets the robe fall, stares at what's beneath the same way one might stare at a work of ancient and impossible art – with reverence, appreciation, and a finger-twitch-inducing desire to touch.
Thank God this isn't a museum.
He draws her into a hungry kiss, both hands now pressed against her back to keep her close. ]
[ She has never been one to feel embarrassed about her own appearance, but there is a vulnerability in baring herself completely, a state she rarely pursues. It also keeps her more aware of the scar just beneath her shoulder-blades, where once she was branded a witch by those too ignorant to truly see her.
There's the slightest tensing at his hands on her back, but it melts away in an instant. His touch is somehow both soothing and enticing, drawing her close to feel the warmth of his embrace. As her fingers brush back his hair, she can't help but take in his scent. ]
...I couldn't. ...Shouldn't.
[ Though not for lack of desire, if her racing pulse and quickened breaths are any indication. In this state, aside from the soft glow of her eyes, it might be difficult to tell that she isn't even human. ]
I have only ever known...catastrophe, when intimate. Even now, I am...still afraid.
[ Her sigh is a tickle against his temple before she dips little kisses to his ear, where her voice drops low—raw with her whisper. ]
But if I can't feel you inside of me, I may soon perish.
[ Even now, dizzied by the drop in her voice and nearly put flat on his back by her words, he knows better than to say she's going to kill him – but Christ, she's going to kill him. He exhales a shuddering breath, fingers curling just slightly against her flesh, and whatever bump of scar tissue he may or may not feel goes unnoticed – or un-filed, at the very least, to be examined later.
With his pants regrettably still on and Vanessa's voice still vibrating pleasantly in his ear, he moves to slip a hand between them, something to tide her over for the moment: a light press of his fingers, a searching and finding, then a more insistent push to test those particular waters.
Ted is an attentive, patient, often careful lover, and it shows as he watches – studies – her expression. ]
[ Ted, currently tangled in a string of lights, pauses for a moment to take a breath and survey his progress from the comfort of the living room floor: there's a tree, small but healthy with its root ball intact for post-holiday planting; sparkling, golden garland framing the doorway; and warm, white lights laid carefully along the windows both inside and out. There's a bowl of popcorn next to him, half-empty – something he'll have to remedy when Vanessa returns, so they can string it for the tree – and a box of bits and baubles he's collected from around Folkmore over the past few days sitting, waiting to be turned into ornaments.
He wonders for a moment if this all might be too much – they've only just moved in – but that shred of doubt dissolves when he reminds himself that there's plenty to be celebrating. It's not perfect, it's not quite home, but it'll make Vanessa smile, and that's been one of Ted's highest priorities lately.
With an only slightly frustrated huff, he goes back to picking the string of lights apart. He doesn't get it; all he did was take them out of the box. How are they already tangled? ]
[ The scent of popcorn is unmistakable, and somehow nostalgic even if it isn't something her family decorated with at Christmas. Her father was too obsessed with keeping their high class appearance, if only to try (and fail) to keep her mother satisfied. It reminds her more of the markets during the holiday season.
The explosion of Christmas decor shouldn't necessarily be surprising, but it isn't a scene she expects to find on returning. Not this much, at least. With her covered basket dropping to hang low at her side, Vanessa turns as soon as she enters to tilt her head in admiration of the garland framing the doorway.
Unable to resist, she reaches out to run her fingertips along it, then looks to peer in the direction of the living room. Even if he wasn't making a sound, she'd be able to pinpoint his location through his heartbeat.
With a little smile, the basket is left beside the door. Vanessa creeps around the corner, silent in her steps as she sneaks up behind him while he attempts a losing battle against Christmas lights. If she can, she'll be kneeling to slip her arms around him before he can realize she's back. ]
[ Ted's so caught up in his fussing that he doesn't hear the door open or shut and doesn't sense Vanessa nearby until she's touching him — and then he goes still, his pulse faintly jumping the way it always does when she touches him but the rest of him suddenly calm.
He leans back into her embrace, smile as warm as the vibe he's working to cultivate in here. ]
Hey. Thought I'd do a little decorating while you were gone.
It seems you have been quite busy setting up such a lovely surprise. Was I meant to arrive after you were finished?
[ Her whisper may be slightly muffled with her nuzzling into the side of his neck.
It may be too strange to compliment how sweet he smells when this close, given that she would be speaking on the scent of his blood as opposed to something like a shampoo.
Around most creatures, Vanessa can smell jumps in adrenaline, fear, even arousal, but the scent of blood is always going to overpower that, especially the longer she goes without 'dining'.
She consumes the fake blood because it's better than starving, but it will never be alluring to her. Unfortunately, the same can be said for whatever is left of the popcorn sitting nearby, but she would still gain more joy out of consuming the human food than any fake blood. It may not nourish her body, but anything that draws a smile from Ted is more than enough to sustain her soul. ]
Shall I leave and then come back?
[ There is a teasing lift to her tone. Of course, she won't be going anywhere. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
{ november return
no subject
Ted reflexively shifts to brace himself as soon as he feels her leg cross over his lap; one hand moves backward to help him balance against the mattress as his center of gravity changes, and the other snakes under the light fabric of the robe in search of her hip.
When he finds it and discovers the complete lack of any other fabric there, he laughs breathily against her mouth. ]
Well hello.
no subject
She wants to touch as much as she wants to be touched.
Already, she's reaching to tug at his sweater and shirt, even if that interrupts Ted's own balancing attempts. She could merely rip his clothes off—literally—but she is doing her utmost to behave when it comes to her more primal nature. ]
no subject
He's much more coordinated when he reaches for the knot of Vanessa's robe, though, but stops just shy of undoing it with a tug to check in first. ]
This okay?
[ As if she didn't just start pawing at him. ]
no subject
You have me.
[ With her fingertips trailing from his shoulder and along the length of his arm, she stops at his wrist and sits back to better let him see just what he's attempting. The knot's hardly complicated, and the robe is already slipping from her shoulders. ]
Take hold of what you desire, Ted Lasso.
no subject
Vanessa could not be more clear in her consent, though, and Ted is a good boy who does as he's told, so his deft and eager Eagle Scout hands undo the belt with ease. He lets the robe fall, stares at what's beneath the same way one might stare at a work of ancient and impossible art – with reverence, appreciation, and a finger-twitch-inducing desire to touch.
Thank God this isn't a museum.
He draws her into a hungry kiss, both hands now pressed against her back to keep her close. ]
I've wanted to do this for so long, darlin'.
no subject
There's the slightest tensing at his hands on her back, but it melts away in an instant. His touch is somehow both soothing and enticing, drawing her close to feel the warmth of his embrace. As her fingers brush back his hair, she can't help but take in his scent. ]
...I couldn't. ...Shouldn't.
[ Though not for lack of desire, if her racing pulse and quickened breaths are any indication. In this state, aside from the soft glow of her eyes, it might be difficult to tell that she isn't even human. ]
I have only ever known...catastrophe, when intimate. Even now, I am...still afraid.
[ Her sigh is a tickle against his temple before she dips little kisses to his ear, where her voice drops low—raw with her whisper. ]
But if I can't feel you inside of me, I may soon perish.
no subject
With his pants regrettably still on and Vanessa's voice still vibrating pleasantly in his ear, he moves to slip a hand between them, something to tide her over for the moment: a light press of his fingers, a searching and finding, then a more insistent push to test those particular waters.
Ted is an attentive, patient, often careful lover, and it shows as he watches – studies – her expression. ]
I'll take care of you. Promise.
{ festive nesting
He wonders for a moment if this all might be too much – they've only just moved in – but that shred of doubt dissolves when he reminds himself that there's plenty to be celebrating. It's not perfect, it's not quite home, but it'll make Vanessa smile, and that's been one of Ted's highest priorities lately.
With an only slightly frustrated huff, he goes back to picking the string of lights apart. He doesn't get it; all he did was take them out of the box. How are they already tangled? ]
no subject
The explosion of Christmas decor shouldn't necessarily be surprising, but it isn't a scene she expects to find on returning. Not this much, at least. With her covered basket dropping to hang low at her side, Vanessa turns as soon as she enters to tilt her head in admiration of the garland framing the doorway.
Unable to resist, she reaches out to run her fingertips along it, then looks to peer in the direction of the living room. Even if he wasn't making a sound, she'd be able to pinpoint his location through his heartbeat.
With a little smile, the basket is left beside the door. Vanessa creeps around the corner, silent in her steps as she sneaks up behind him while he attempts a losing battle against Christmas lights. If she can, she'll be kneeling to slip her arms around him before he can realize she's back. ]
no subject
He leans back into her embrace, smile as warm as the vibe he's working to cultivate in here. ]
Hey. Thought I'd do a little decorating while you were gone.
no subject
[ Her whisper may be slightly muffled with her nuzzling into the side of his neck.
It may be too strange to compliment how sweet he smells when this close, given that she would be speaking on the scent of his blood as opposed to something like a shampoo.
Around most creatures, Vanessa can smell jumps in adrenaline, fear, even arousal, but the scent of blood is always going to overpower that, especially the longer she goes without 'dining'.
She consumes the fake blood because it's better than starving, but it will never be alluring to her. Unfortunately, the same can be said for whatever is left of the popcorn sitting nearby, but she would still gain more joy out of consuming the human food than any fake blood. It may not nourish her body, but anything that draws a smile from Ted is more than enough to sustain her soul. ]
Shall I leave and then come back?
[ There is a teasing lift to her tone. Of course, she won't be going anywhere. ]