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[bardische]

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[dalmast]

She's never seen him be so soft before, and while she isn't quite as relaxed into this as Basch is, Ashe privately delights in seeing him this way. So caught up in taking in every detail while he leans down to kiss her, she's taken by surprise when their lips finally meet, inhaling a quick gasp of surprise before the feeling of being touched like this bowls her over.

Not wanting him to pull away she lets herself be brave and release one of his hands so that she can settle hers on his shoulder. Ashe can't pull him in like her racing heart wants her to, but she can hope he realizes how much she wants him to stay close to her.

Lost to the warmth of his lips against hers, she sighs almost dreamily into that kiss, finally giving in to the desire to run her fingers over his cheek, shivering as she feels the hairs of his beard beneath her hand. It's not something she's let herself wonder about for long, but now that she's touching him, having her curiosity sated is already proving to be a brilliant, heady feeling.

[bardische]

That gentle touch on his shoulder is more than enough to keep him here with her, in this moment, and as he begins to realize her affection for him may well have been as well-guarded as his own. It is as though he is in battle, the way his body is deciding faster than his head, and when she sighs and tenderly brushes his cheek, he hums with contentment, letting his floating hand settle onto the back of her ribcage.

She is at once slight and elegant but strong and solid. He knows if they drew swords, she likely could best him. Her ferocity easily made up for his experience. Perhaps that is what makes her tenderness so precious. He has never seen her so soft and it fills his heart that she trusts him so.

[dalmast]

There's a moment when she's all but certain he's cast Float on her while she wasn't looking, the feeling of walking on air all too vivid to just be a product of how completely jubilant she is having kissed him. That her feet remain on solid ground is about as unbelievable as the fact that he does care for her as she's secretly cared for him.

Not wishing to pull back but too unsure of how long it's permissible to linger, Ashe breaks away from that kiss, her lips still parted as she looks up at Basch's face with dazed, stunned eyes, the pad of her thumb still tracing over his cheek.

"I must admit, that was better than the times I've imagined it."

[bardische]

He's starting to wonder if this isn't a dream. Her face lingers near his, and his eyes fall shut at the gentle caress of her thumb on his cheek, the latter nearly more electrifying than the former. The desire to study her wins out, and he's rewarded with an expression that mirrors his heart.

"You've imagined it?" he repeats, eyes widening. It is one thing to have his affections accepted and another entirely to have them so deeply returned. There's a sense of pride and warmth in him, elated to be fulfilling something she had privately wanted, and a deep respect at how well she'd guarded her own desire. It's not something he will take lightly, not also knowing this is new territory for her.

[dalmast]

His reaction to being told that she's pictured this fills Ashe's face with warmth, leaving her fighting off a blush - but just barely - a credit to her royal training, all things considered.

"You have not?" He must have, considering everything he's said to her, every confession that resounded with her and left her feeling like getting this close to Basch might be alright.

[bardische]

"More than I would have cared to admit," he assures her. He's flushing too, in part in being so transparent and in part because those fantasies hardly stopped at kissing, but his desire to show her the wantedness she has not experienced is larger than his pride.

He squeezes her hand as he tips his lips to hers again, guiding her hand up to his shoulder. His own hold shifts more solidly around her, gingerly letting their bodies press closer to flush.

[dalmast]

Unsure of what to do next Ashe keeps her hand on his shoulder, staying still right up until he guides her body closer to his and she's unable to stop herself from letting her arm wrap around his neck and pull him closer as their lips meet for a second time.

The hand still on his cheek brushes through his coarse beard hair as her heart skips a beat, relishing in the knowledge that after so much time spent secretly thinking about what it would feel like to touch him, Ashe finally can now.

"I'm happy then," she breathes against his mouth. "That you admit it now."

[bardische]

What grasp he has on his composure is slipping. If it weren't for being able to feel every tiny detail of this -- the weight of her arm, the gentle roughness of her hand, the heat of her body -- he'd be sure he was hallucinating.

"As am I. I hadn't considered this outcome," he admits. He tips his forehead against hers, wanting to stay close but paralyzed by the thought of going any farther. This is already so far beyond his wildest expectations.

[dalmast]

Her eyes flutter closed as he rests his forehead against hers, she cradles his cheek in her hand and hugs him closer, wanting to feel him nearer but not sure how to go about that beyond just hanging on and enjoying the moment for what it is.

"It's still difficult to imagine, isn't it? I fear I don't know how it will work, but, I'm very happy to learn."

[bardische]

As she presses closer, he holds her more firmly. A contented sigh escapes him as he breathes in her scent, heart racing and mind blank.

"We have both carried impossible burdens," he murmurs, his heart full to bursting with every additional affirmation that she wants this. "I do not know how this will work either, but, I believe it something we can successfully navigate in partnership."

Partnership. It's bold and almost crass, elevating himself as her companion and even equal, but she has asked, and he will honor that.

"Shall we take lunch together? And perhaps you'd like to join me when I visit the armorer this afternoon?"

He steps back a little, arms still around her, feeling for all the world like an awkward youth. He just wants to be with her, whatever they are doing.