Xander's POV:

Her giggle sounded again as she began walking backward, pulling and guiding me over towards the bed.

That alone left me useless to fight against her even if I had wanted to.

I'll admit I was still stunned by the outfit she'd put together, but the second that question left her mouth, that need to be the one to set whatever was on her mind sprung into action.

My want for her was different here, I could already feel it.

It was stronger and much more pestering.

More demanding.

Hopefully with the boost in that also meant a boost in my ability to keep it from getting out of hand.

It wasn't certain, but I guess I'll find out the answer to that soon.

My purr began a few seconds later at the wholesome excitement in her eyes as she released my hands to set hers onto the foot of the bed and hopped backward onto it.

The action drew the shirt- my shirt -further up, exposing almost all of her thighs.

My fingers twitched with the sudden itch to put my hands on them.

Oh, this just got a whole lot more difficult.

I never expected my little dove to be such an intentional tease, but I couldn't lie and say that it wasn't a pleasant surprise.

It took me a second through my initial shock, to fully understand where this idea of hers came from.

I remembered the scene in the book she was reading.

And the fact that she wanted to replicate it with me.

No... No, I couldn't jump too far ahead of myself.

For now, I just had to make damn sure that I made this experience as good as the last ones.

I couldn't help but gaze over her again as she slowly slid back further onto the bed.

Heat continued to flood my cheeks no matter what I tried.

She was just so alluring to look at, and being all dressed up like that in my clothes sprouted something in me that I hadn't stopped to consider.

It almost felt like I didn't deserve to see her like this.

But... she intentionally graced me with this, so I'll be grateful for every last second.

"So," I began, "What exactly is the plan here?"

It was obvious that she had something in mind, yet I didn't know how to play along properly.

She wordlessly pointed a finger at me, switched it to pointing her thumb at herself, and then jerked the same thumb over to the head of the bed.

"Got it," I grinned, leaning my hands down onto the foot of it, a growl merging once again with my purr.

I could hear her excited little squeal despite the fact that her lips were pressed together as I stalked my way onto the bed.

It broke out into a laugh as soon as I crawled over her and scooped her into me by her lower back with my right arm, bringing both of us over to the spot she'd chosen.

Her smile still stayed as I set her back onto the bed, hair feathering over the pillows while she continued gifting the sound of her joy to my ears

Yes... that's the fun I wanted to convey.

None of that 'taking it way too seriously' bullshit that left her hesitant and tense.

That's not how I wanted to do these kinds of things.

Or... that's what I've been recently figuring out about myself.

Keeping the lightheartedness I've always favored between us even in situations like this.

I'm positive it could get more heated if it needs to but for now.

I caught myself staring at the sudden light that looked to have taken over her features, taking in one fact that I'd realized even from just today.

In just a few hours I could notice a difference.

She was happy here.

Less guarded, less hesitant all in a new place that didn't hold any kind of danger.

Where nothing reminded her about what used to be.

Except, well, me.

The hands traveling slowly up my triceps momentarily distracted me, yet brought firm attention to the position I'd put us in.

How I'd put myself completely on top of her.

That predatory growl faded as I slowly leaned down close to her face, but I had a feeling my purr wasn't going anywhere.

"Do you wanna switch before we get started," I offered, my voice coming out low, "I imagine you're not too fond of being under me."

Her laugh died down, yet the curl in her lips stayed, now just being met with a tilt of her head and a few confused blinks.

Those hands of hers continue their slow trek over my shoulder.

"Why wouldn't I want to be under you?" her question was genuine as if she was truly oblivious to any kind of answer.

The amount of times she's been stuck between a body and anything else? The pain she's endured in such a position no matter who it was?

I could only guess that our times together during the bloodmoons could easily show as unpleasant memories?

It was on my mind every time we were close.

"I can't think of anywhere safer to be," She voiced.

My eyes rounded as her hands, whether she was conscious of it or not, traced against the same spot Layla had shredded my back that day.

Oh... She was thinking about this a lot differently than I was.

"I mean...," There was a new, barely catchable timidness to her new words, "You've got me, right?"

I held to every word as they left her mouth, catching nothing but complete openness and honesty from her where she laid.

My next breath removed some of that lingering doubt.

"I always will," I solidified, hyperaware of the fingertips traveling over my neck and into my hair.

She guided my head lower, closing some space between us before she whispered her next words just an inch from my ear.

"Then have me."

...Holy Fuck.

The words sent a spark through me that I was immediately left to fight off.

My fingers curled into the sheets below, holding back my claws the best as I could whereas the rest of me wanted to pounce on the opportunity she sounded to have given me.

She didn't mean it like that. I knew she didn't.

It was her own personal way of swatting away the worries she realized I had in my simple offer, but that deep part of me that wanted her in every sense of the word was taking it as a full-on invitation.

It felt like it was slamming against my entire being, begging to be let out to give her what it assumed she wanted.

This is what I get for reading so many of those kinds of books, and now taking the simplest words in a completely different direction.

Either way though, I knew what it was that she truly was looking for now, and didn't want to wait a second longer.

I pulled back just enough to see the color in her eyes before meeting my lips with hers in an abandon I quickly had to correct.

A small noise, almost like a hum of approval, sounded from her throat at the contact, feeling my own hint of ease now that I had her here.

Having her so close like this again sent all my senses into a frenzy, which now, in this territory, was that much more rewarding in what they told me.

The sound of her heart almost beating in time with mine, the scent of her merging with my clothes further fanning the possessive flames I was constantly trying to stomp out.

I was all hers in moments like these, but she was so far from being mine.

Soft fingertips brushed against my jaw under my ear, she other skimming back down my arm

I'd always seen her move with such confidence, her actions stern and precise no matter what it was.

And yet she was touching me now with a care and delicacy that at first felt uncharacteristic.

It wasn't born from anything negative, that much I could deduce.

There was a quick swipe of her tongue against my lip that finally made everything click together

I think she was copying me. Repeating the same actions I'd done to her.

Another short-lasting growl as I cooperated to her silent request, almost wanting to test and see how much she was truly paying attention.

But the rush of it all, the hardening of her grip on me as our kiss drew deeper left me just clinging to this moment while it was here.

That familiar need I could feel from her just built and built my desire to touch her yet I resisted.

The feelings I already had were so much stronger here and I didn't want to push it and risk the control I was managing to maintain.

Not until I relearned my limits.

...Or this goes on long enough to where I feel like I can safely surrender.

I could feel the difference of confidence from the first time we did this to now, both of us I'm sure playing our part in that.

I let her take the lead as she so desired, yet often found myself having to keep her tongue away from my fangs with my own.

Though the soft laugh she let out around the third time it happened, and the way it brushed against my skin told me that she had made a game out of it.

That she was doing it on purpose.

My heart ached in my chest, that heavy longing I had for her growing every second yet the last thing I wanted to do was pull away to stop it.

She was just so... unparalleled.

Her hand traveled back into my hair, fisting a handful of it in a way that pulled a groan straight from my throat.

She tugged back the strands enough to where we parted.

I was expecting to get to look over her expression as we both caught out breaths, but instead, she got an elbow under her and pushed herself up.

Right into my neck.

The air completely dissipated from my lungs as her warm lips places little pecks into the side of my neck.

A hand lifted to her back to help keep her there without thinking and luckily my temporary stupor made sure that it didn't lead to anything.

Holy shit she-

A shiver ran its way through me as she closed her mouth over the bottom of my neck and sucked.

The admittedly blissful sensation had me relaxing into how she held to me embarrassingly fast

She was learning extremely fast, and impeccably well.

Dotting me with those warm, gentle presses followed by creating marks that we both learned would take a couple days to fade.

I could heal them, though, why the hell would I?

If anything, just the ones that are a little too noticeable.

Though she showed me something I don't remember teaching her the second she nipped at my skin.

I couldn't catch my gasp, my purr blaring as the action shot zaps down my spine.

It left a tingling sensation upon the surrounding area, my body instinctively craving the fangs she didn't have.

Craving the reciprocation from when I took her blood the first time we did this.

Wanting her to feel that rush I got when I had hers, yet deep down knowing that's not how it would work with her.

I blew a trembling breath out against her shoulder, letting and wanting her to continue regardless.

"Was," Even my voice sounded strained, "Was this what you wanted to try?"

She paused her antics, lowering herself just enough to regain eye contact.

"Part of it... kinda," She replied, drawing in a few deep breaths.

Part of it?!

My eyes narrowed, leaning in close enough for her to feel my words on her lips.

"What else could you have going on in that devious head of yours?" That deep tone unintentionally returned to my voice, wanting to keep the heated atmosphere here.

Her eyes drifted downwards for a moment, flicking back up to me.

"Well, I um-" She stuttered, blood rushing into her cheeks.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to..."

Her eyes squeezed shut, and I swore that I heard her curse herself under her breath for what was indeed a strange show coming from here.

Eventually, they opened, filled with that hardened, assured gaze I knew so well.

"Can you take off your shirt?"

Doe's POV:

That narrow look in his eye turned into the complete opposite the moment I forced the question out of my mouth.

He just looked... stunned.

and his silence wasn't really helping with how fast my heart was thumping away in my chest just from asking.

From just picturing it in my mind and partially from the actions before.

All of which I'd like to think I did well.

His eyebrows slowly pinched together while he looked over my face.

"Really?" He wondered.

Was my question that strange?

I just silently nodded, biting the inside of my lower lip at the silence that followed again.

My grip on his hair loosened, and not long after he let out a breath that sounded to be mixed with a single laugh.

"Yeah," he breathed, words calm with a smile that looked... different. Like it showed some reassurance if just for himself, "I can do that."

I caught myself not wanting to release him fully as he sat up on his knees and then shamelessly stared at the way his arms flexed as he reached both of them over his shoulder.

When his eyes locked with mine at that moment, it caused a fluttering that ran from my stomach to my chest.

I swear that I saw an upwards tilt to his lips before he lowered his head, grabbed the back of his shirt, and pulled it off. All in one motion that looked a bit too fluid.

His hair flipped as he looked back up, crumbling up the shirt and tossing it somewhere behind him.

I quite literally couldn't take my eyes off of what I could now see, that fluttering getting more intense.

It felt like a new warmth flowing through me, a tug in my chest, a kickstart to my heart.

I didn't understand it at all. I looked at this exact same body during the bloodmoon and none of these added emotions were attached.

None of these extra internal or otherwise reactions.

And especially not with this biting urge to touch.

I noticed that my hands were awkwardly hovering over my chest, yet just as soon as I registered that, he lowered himself back to where he previously had himself.

His hands laid flat against the bed by my shoulders whereas mine decided that then was their chance to act, reaching out to what was now in full view.

I managed to snap back into my senses a few inches away.

"Can I?"

I just... wanted to be sure.

I knew deep down that he too would ask before touching me in any new way.

Both his eyes and that smirk he was terribly suppressing softened as I spoke, lifting the hand he had to my right.

His fingers gently wrapped around my wrist, guiding my hand to close the space until it was flat against his chest.

"Always," He whispered, repeating the same answer as the last time I asked such a question.

And so, I did, guiding him down to me for our lips to mean again before letting my other hand join the first.

I could hear the stagger in his breathing as I slowly explored through touch alone, feeling every indent of the muscles that hid under there.

As well as noticing something that I couldn't tell until now was just my imagination or not.

"You're warmer," the words came out halfway breathless.

"You noticed," He commended in the same way.

It was just enough to be noticeable, yet some part of me wanted to feel every part of it anyways.

One hand remained on his torso while the other lifted to push his stupid hair away and again give me access to his neck.

He sucked in a quick breath as I returned my attention there, feeling him grip lightly to the side of my waist.

He tensed again whole I drew my nails lightly along the area of skin I knew his wings sprouted from.

Sensitive even now, I see, drawing a reaction that made me want to do it again.

The multitasking became easier as time passed and I let myself wander through him, moving myself to the other side of his neck and tracing the shape of his muscles and the indent from his spine.

It was a lot more... enjoyable than I ever imagined this sort of thing being.

There was a part of me angry at the cloth separating his hand from my skin, yet any more new experiences and I may just pass out.

Still... I don't know.

I wanted to feel him the way he was feeling me now.

Soon... maybe next time if he was up for it.

For now though.

I exhaled against his neck, whispering a question to aid in my curious endeavors.

"Am I doing this right?"

The hand on my waist slid under me to my back, lifting me right against him and feeling his purr directly.

"You're perfect."