I don't know if brave is the word. [ mused mostly to himself, because he's certainly not feeling all that brave right now. when he leaves his quarters it's with the smile firmly in place, ready to dole out endless optimism and model the fearlessness he wishes they all could have. but here in his bed, it's often just him. it's here that he can turn over all his doubts without worrying if it's going to affect morale or plant the seed of uncertainty that ravka can't afford. there is far less bravery that goes on in this room than he would like everyone to believe, and far more sleepless nights than he cares to recount.
alina will discover these truths on her own, nikolai thinks, if he's lucky. if she's unlucky. for now it's nothing she needs to know. he's content to draw closer, his hand still grazing her cheek. ]
I won't knock you to the floor. [ he smiles before their lips press together, slow and sweet, a hint of jam still on her tongue. kissing alina is a bit like tasting the sun — near-painful brightness bathed in warmth, and nikolai can't help but wish once more that he could spend the entire day in this perfect patch of her sunlight.
this time they're not on a hard floor and he's not pleasantly buzzed on brandy. it makes it easier to gently guide her back onto the pillows, his hand curling in her hair. with his other he finds her hand, lacing their fingers together as they sink into the soft mattress. he traces her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, a feather-like pressure like he's asking permission to come inside from a long rain.
her mouth makes him forget his restless night and even his thoughts from just moments ago, instead feeling some of the ever-present tension drain away as if chased off by the simple action of kissing her. his hand travels from her hair to the slope of her jaw, trailing down the delicate line of her throat before his fingers settle above her heartbeat. ]
How is it that you look this lovely so early in the morning? [ he kisses her mouth again, then her chin, his lips grazing down her jaw. letting go of her hand, he instead draws his palm down the side of her gown, stopping to rest at her hip. ] Are you and Mal holding onto some Keramzin secrets?
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alina will discover these truths on her own, nikolai thinks, if he's lucky. if she's unlucky. for now it's nothing she needs to know. he's content to draw closer, his hand still grazing her cheek. ]
I won't knock you to the floor. [ he smiles before their lips press together, slow and sweet, a hint of jam still on her tongue. kissing alina is a bit like tasting the sun — near-painful brightness bathed in warmth, and nikolai can't help but wish once more that he could spend the entire day in this perfect patch of her sunlight.
this time they're not on a hard floor and he's not pleasantly buzzed on brandy. it makes it easier to gently guide her back onto the pillows, his hand curling in her hair. with his other he finds her hand, lacing their fingers together as they sink into the soft mattress. he traces her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, a feather-like pressure like he's asking permission to come inside from a long rain.
her mouth makes him forget his restless night and even his thoughts from just moments ago, instead feeling some of the ever-present tension drain away as if chased off by the simple action of kissing her. his hand travels from her hair to the slope of her jaw, trailing down the delicate line of her throat before his fingers settle above her heartbeat. ]
How is it that you look this lovely so early in the morning? [ he kisses her mouth again, then her chin, his lips grazing down her jaw. letting go of her hand, he instead draws his palm down the side of her gown, stopping to rest at her hip. ] Are you and Mal holding onto some Keramzin secrets?