With all of her insecurities put to rest, Eva felt a weight lifted off her shoulders she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying around with her. It was unfathomable to a girl who had never really put any stock into marriage or courting or any of that, but now she rather thought it inevitable instead of impossible. Funny how finding the right person could change so much. After everything they'd been through, it was hard for her to now picture anything without him.

His smile had her heart fluttering and when he leaned in to kiss her, she met him halfway, scooting in as he pulled her close and laid them down on the conveniently placed pillows. The motion left a twinge in her side, but she purposefully ignored it (along with the food, whoops!) and instead chose to focus on the warmth of his arm around her and the intoxicating feeling of being wanted. Which coincidentally was maybe what drew her to him in the first place. Eavan, though she had never consciously put much thought into it, had just always assumed she was kind of undesirable in that manner. Apparently it just took the right person!

Settling in next to him, Eva poured any leftover tension into the kiss and tangled her fingers in his hair gently as she pressed as close to him as possible.

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Fletcher was quite content staying right there in the moment. He didn't need anything else. Just Eavan.

He couldn't really help himself as she pressed closer to him, tangling her fingers in his hair. His own found her hair, not thinking twice of messing it up and ignoring any pins or ties she may have in place holding it into its simple fashion. It didn't take long for the kiss to turn a bit more heated or for his kisses to leave her lips and to trail along her jawline. It was pushing boundaries, he knew, but hearing her say she loved him in return seemed to have opened up another door for him.

He hummed pleasantly as he went, trailing kisses on the exposed bits of her neck. He should stop. He really should, but he was finding it to be increasingly harder to do.

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BEE-utiful Set!

Eva let out a ragged little gasp against his lips as she felt his hand in her hair, unfazed by the fact that it was likely all mussed up. If she had any willpower to move her own hands she'd undo the tie holding in the braid and shake it loose, but as it stood she couldn't even think about letting go of him. She hummed out a little noise of approval as she came up for air, though he had other ideas.

Surely he could feel her pulse pounding, the adrenaline flowing through her veins, though she had a hard time worrying about. Itching to be closer, she arched her back slightly, pressing her body against his, the distinct lack of a corset very apparent as she could feel the heat between them- both literally and figuratively. Finally  managing to untangle her fingers from his hair, she skimmed along the little skin she had access to, fingertips brushing tentatively down his neck, beneath the collar of his shirt.  She let them wander over his shoulders, hands curling in the fabric as he hit a sensitive spot along her jaw. The sensation elicited a tiny whimper that had her biting her lip as she angled her head to allow him better access.

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This was bad and all a little too much. Fletcher couldn't help the small thoughts in the back of his mind telling him he needed to stop this. He really should. It was the right thing to do. But he really didn't want to. Such admissions and finally hearing her say she loved him had brought the evening to an entirely different height. He hadn't really expected it. He'd wanted to hear it, sure, b ut he'd never planned on pushing her to it. He could be a patient man. He had been a patient man. But all of this, well, it was almost too hard to deny.

The little whimpers and sighs, feeling her non corsetted body pushing up against him had quite the way of making his mind go blank. All thoughts of propriety were quick to vanish as she angled her head to allow him better access to her neck and jaw. He caught the faint scent of her person, a slight hint of floral along with whatever else was truly Eavan. It was intoxicating to say the least and he soon found himself positioning their bodies so that she could lie easily on her back without having to strain to meet his higher position. As a result, he was nearly on top of her though he made a point to not rest much weight on her. He was still something of a gentleman after all.

His kisses began to dip dangerously low down her throat and to her collarbone. It wasn't until he met fabric that he hesitated, a brief flicker of the idea needing to stop coming to the forefront of his mind. "We shouldn't be doing this," he all but whispered against her skin, feeling her own heavy breathing as well as his own as his lips continued to rest just above the swell of her breast. It would be a chance for them to make a decision. For them to continue down an exciting but reckless path, or to put a stop to it in one quick moment. He knew what his body wanted, and even his heart, but the war within his mind to respect her and her virtue was strong and real.

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BEE-utiful Set!

Eva moved with him easily, rolling  against the pillows, though her back automatically arched toward him again, toward every new sensation leaving a trail of fire along flushed skin. Just as he had his doubts about continuing, Eva knew she too should find some reason to stop, but couldn't. It was as if, between the obvious care he'd put into the evening and finally getting the hesitations off her chest she was too overwhelmed for rational decisions.

Never mind she didn't actually want to stop.

She nearly missed it, his whispered warning, but even she knew it was half-hearted. Though her judgement was likely clouded, she did know what the stakes were here. But were they really all that high of they were already discussing marriage? If the chance of an unplanned pregnancy were almost non-existent? Would he think any less if her if she had no desire to stop now? She highly doubted it and knew that if at any point she did ask him to stop, he would.

Unfortunately, she didn't really know how to say all of that, how to put words to the streams of emotions running rampant, so instead took a deep breath to give herself pause. It was incredibly hard to think with his lips on her skin like that, so she slid her hands up and framed his face, pulling him back up so they were eye to eye. Blue eyes searched his for any ounce of hesitation, but did not find enough to spur her one way or the other. Opening her mouth to say something, anything, she found she still couldn't articulate what it was she wanted to get out. Instead she leaned in to kiss him, softly at first, letting the intensity build as she let her hands drift down to the buttons of his shirt. Clearly that was where she stood on this matter.

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Fletcher's gaze moved up to meet her blue eyes with his own. He searched her face, hoping that she could prove to be the stronger of the two of them. As he looked at her, he knew he was well and truly lost. The flush of her cheeks and the swollen lips would certainly be his undoing. The glisten in her blue eyes didn't help and neither did the feel of her hands framing his face. But he found himself taking a deep breath as he got lost in those blue eyes, one to match her own deep breath. He watched as she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Instead, she brought her lips to his again.

The decision had been made because there would be no way he'd be telling her no in that moment, not as the kiss gradually intensified and her fingers soon began to work at the buttons of his shirt. His own hands when to whatever it was holding her hair in place. He really didn't pay attention to what it was he was pulling free, just knowing that he wanted her hair free as he slowly trailed kisses from her lips to her throat once again.

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BEE-utiful Set!

Pleased to find that they were at least on the same page, Eva let out a soft sigh, feeling him return to his previous position, hands now tugging at her hair. She helped him out there, pausing her own mission to pull the tie from the end of her braid, red tresses shaken loose easily as they scattered on the pillow around her. It was longer than she usually let it get, but she'd been too busy to take care of it lately.

Letting her hands wander slowly back to finish off the buttons, Eva was moving on instinct more than anything else, far out of her depth, but trying to keep up. It wasn't as if she was one of those girls who didn't even know the basics; it was hard to work with animals and not, but the finer points, the subtle touches and nuances of being intimate were unfamiliar to her. Fletcher had been her first kiss, would likely be her first and only everything, but she still felt a little self-conscious. She needed to stop thinking and just go with it. Overthinking it would just ruin the moment.

Sliding her hands up his arms, over his shoulders and back to his shirt, she tugged at the fabric, freeing it from where it was tucked in, finally undoing the rest of the buttons. Her fingers itched to explore, to feel the warmth of skin as she ran her hands under the fabric of his shirt. Eva hesitantly trailed her fingertips up and over his shoulders as she pushed the shirt out of the way, though as he hit that sensitive spot on her neck again, she hummed out a throaty approval, nails digging ever-so-slightly into his skin.  

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Eavan helped Fletcher to remove the ties from her hair but his kisses never left her skin. Trailing lower, he followed along her collar bone until he got to the crest of her breast once again. He hummed appreciatively, hearing her own hum and feeling her nails dig into his skin just slightly. Things were certainly getting heated and he was sure it would only grow moreso as they went.

He pulled back then though, settled between her legs just slightly to kneel in front of her and slip the shirt she'd already buttoned off entirely. He took that moment to really take her in. Her lovely hair was splayed out all around her on the pillows and her cheeks were flushed with the same excitement and desire he was feeling himself. And though Fletch wasn't exactly the most vain of men, he was one to take good care of his body and a part of him wanted to see her expression when she was able to actually see him without the shirt on.

Grinning down at her like a smitten fool, which he very much was, he ran his hands along her waist and up her sides before slowly lowering back down to kiss her again fully on the lips once more. "Do you want to go to my bedroom?" he asked softly after the brief but heated kiss. The bed would be more comfortable, that was for sure, but there was an undeniable romantic feel to what was all laid out around them.

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BEE-utiful Set!

As Fletch moved out of her reach, Eva  whimpered out a little protest, having been quite enjoying herself. At the sight of him hovering above her, she sucked in a deep breath, her hands brushing her hair from her eyes and falling back to the pillows. Biting her lower lip, she gave him an appreciative once over, cheeks flushing a darker shade of pink, making her freckles stand out even more.

He leaned back down and Eva's arms automatically slipped around his neck, fingers tracing slow circles on his skin. The kiss had her breathing hard once again and her only response to his question was a breathless chuckle. She was perfectly comfortable here, but she worried about knocking things over- and there were a lot of candles around. Plus it would be easier to get this dress off if they weren't laying down. "I would hate to make a mess out here," She managed, voice low and heavy with desire.

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Seeing Eavan flush in such a way did something to Fletcher he didn't even know was possible. He was far from a virgin, having partaken in a woman from time to time, but there was something different about the moment with Eavan. There was no doubt in his mind that she was a virgin herself but that wasn't exactly what held the allure. It was special, surely, but he had a feeling it had a lot more to do with actually being in love with the woman below him. And knowing that she loved him in return. It was crazy and reckless what they were doing, but he couldn't deny the strength of what he felt for her.

Chuckling softly at her response, he gave a small nod before pushing back up to his knees and then taking her hand to help pull her up to her feet as he stood up himself. He didn't release her hand though, instead he pulled her in and wrapped his other arm tightly around her waist for another searing kiss before pulling away to grin at her once more. "It's this way," he said easily enough though there was no doubt the desire in his voice as he lead her to his bedroom.

It wasn't grand by any means and actually quite simplistic. A basic wardrobe sat against one wall with a desk and chair next to it with a large but basic bed centered in the middle of the room with the headboard against the wall opposite the door. Surprisingly, the bed was made perfectly with a dark burgundy coverlet and rather fluffy looking pillows at the head. He paused after they entered the room, watching her so she could take in the pretty basic bedroom so she could gather her bearings before things progressed any further.

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BEE-utiful Set!

If she stopped to think about how the evening had progressed, Eva might have second guessed how they had gotten here, but at this point she wasn't really making conscious decisions. All she was doing was moving in response to Fletch and the emotions wreaking havoc on her senses. As he pulled her up, she squeaked in response to the abrupt movement, free hand coming to rest on his bare chest, though she was immediately lost in the intensity of the kiss.

He pulled back and Eva was left reeling, dizzy and weak in the knees. Somehow she managed to follow along to his room as if she were floating, a shiver of anticipation reminding her that she did in fact have a spine; that she hadn't melted entirely. Taking a moment to look around the room, she noted with a smile that his room was far neater than her own. Of course hers was shared, but her side was a jumble of books, notes, actual critters and anything else one might find in a bedroom. It was barely controlled chaos. His room was neat and tidy, just like him. It never failed to amuse her just how opposite they could be.

Without much thought, she toed off the house slippers she'd worn for her trip to the fireplace and nudged them aside. Slowly she turned dark blue eyes up toward him, biting her lower lip, unsure of the next step; she had to follow his lead here.

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Her tentative nature and biting of her lip was beyond endearing and had Fletcher smiling down at her. It was the first chance he could really take her in in all of her lovely glory. Face flushed, wide dark blue eyes, red tresses falling in loose waves down her back and over her shoulders. She was certainly a lovely sight, one he hoped to one day see every morning he woke up.

"Turn around," he said softly as he met her gaze and smiled at her. When she obliged, he tenderly began to undo the buttons down her back. He ran his hands up her arms as he kissed the back of her neck after all the buttons had been seen to. Carefully he pushed the sleeves of the dress off of her shoulders before trailing kisses along the exposed part of her spine left uncovered by losing of her dress and what the chemise didn't cover.

With his hands continuing to run along her bare arms, he continued to kiss whatever bared skin get could literally get his mouth on. "You'll be the death of me one day, Eavan," his whispered against her neck just below her ear before giving the lobe a nibble.

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BEE-utiful Set!

The feeling of surrendering control usually caused Eva to panic. Her job was to have control at all times, whether it be dealing with creatures or people, if she was in control, everyone was safe. Here though, she hadn't lost that feeling of safety, in fact she felt incredibly cared for at the moment, but she also knew that in letting him have control of the moment, she could take it back if or whenever she wanted. That alone sent a surge of affection for him shooting through her and left her relaxed enough to follow whatever requests he made of her.

Slowly she turned, though it took her a moment to realize why, the feeling of his hands on the buttons of her dress made everything really hit home. With a lack of anything better to do with them, Eva used both hands to sweep her hair out of the way and over one shoulder, fingers playing with the ends idly. Feeling the restrictive layer of clothing loosen little by little, Eva's first reaction was to try and hold the dress up, but she realized quickly that defeated the purpose and so let him slide it down her arms slowly. Perhaps the response was because she knew the skin beneath the fabric was uneven, littered with scars and freckles and other imperfections that nobody, save for family, had ever seen before.

Most obviously, a long, thin scar ran over her right shoulder and across between her shoulders, in triplicate, the remnants of a scratch long since healed, from a feisty winged tiger. Then there were three crocodile scars, though the only one currently visible was the one on her left arm,  and had been the least worrisome of the day, it was one of the most recent. In between, scattered among freckles were smaller, less prominent marks, many from incidents she barely remembered anymore, but still there, and still made her self conscious.

That all flew out of her realm of focus when she felt his hands on her bare skin and his lips on the back of her neck. The jolt was unexpected, eliciting a small gasp, but she warmed up quickly, her smaller frame practically melting into him as she let go of the dress completely and let it pool to the floor around her feet.

Feeling his breath at her ear, the comment had her biting her lip again to suppress an uncharacteristic giggle. Unsure of what to do with her hands, but knowing she wanted them on him, she leaned her head to one side and reached up gently with the other hand to run her fingers through his hair. "Hmm, likewise, if you keep that up."

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Fletcher's gaze just passed over the scars that were visible to him, a bare flicker of note registering in his mind about them. They didn't phase him, didn't change his thoughts on her in the slightest. He'd known she had a less than safe sort of job and that scars were likely. He knew there was a pretty nasty thanks to the jaws of a crocodile so had been prepared for more as a result of other creatures. But instead of disgust, admiration swelled in his chest. He had hardly a scar himself and the fact that the woman he loved had been through such things was actually quite amazing. It hurt him to know she had had to suffer but he also knew her experiences made her the woman that she was. The woman he'd fallen hopelessly head over heels in love with. And that, well, was something he sincerely never wanted to change.

And as she bit her lip to prevent a giggle from leaving, he chuckled against her neck at her words. His hands slid down to her waist and he slowly turned her back to facing him. And then, without much warning, lifted her with his hands at her rear and pulled her bodily against his chest. He turned her toward the bed as his lips met hers once more and carefully laid her down atop the coverlet, making sure not to put his full weight on her as he continued to kiss her. There was a hungry desire to his kisses as his hands slid from her rear and down her legs until he met bare flesh.

Slowly, his hands worked their way back up her bare skin, pushing the chemise up as he went. The movements were slow and gentle, not wanting to push too far too fast no matter what she'd said of (or not said) in regards to what it was they were doing. As his hands moved higher, his lips moved lower and left a trail of kisses and nibbles down her throat and to her collar bone once more. With the dress out of the way, it was much easier to actually get to her breast. Nuzzling the thin bit of fabric her chemise was, he bared a breast. He glanced up at her just briefly then, a small pause in his intentions to be sure she was still on the same page as him before proceeding further.

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BEE-utiful Set!

Eva could do little but to follow along with his movements, slowly turning back to face him, arms looping around his neck once more, which turned out for the better as he hoisted her off the ground. Her legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, lips meeting his with a desperate fervor now that they were at a more even height.

Just as soon as she was up, she was down again. Feeling the cool fabric of the bedspread sent a shiver across hot skin as he set her down on the bed. Eva kept her legs pressed tight against him, though unwound them from their current hold, an undeniable need to feel him against her. If she'd thought the feeling of his hands roaming over her body had been enticing earlier, having them on bare skin was enough to have her gasping quietly against his lips.

The gasp faded into an soft whimper when he broke away to resume what he'd started before. Between his hands and lips demanding her attention, it was hard to know where to focus. Her body automatically arched toward him subtly, lashes fluttering closed as the sensations almost overwhelmed her. Feeling him move lower and his hands slide higher, Eva curled her fingers in the duvet simply for something to ground her. Everywhere he touched tingled as though she was fire, her breathing ragged and uneven, her heart rate climbing higher and higher, especially after she realized where he'd stopped on her body.

Then it all came to a pause and Eva took the moment to catch her breath before daring to look at why he'd stopped.  There was something truly indescribable about the way he was looking back at her, checking to make sure she was alright, moving at an easy pace to make sure she was comfortable. His obvious care had her falling in love with him all over again. Expression softening, Eva gently skimmed her fingertips up his arms and over his shoulders, one hand brushing against his cheek and through his hair. "I'm okay." She assured him in a soft whisper, though her voice was laced with a mixture of affection and desire.

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The little sounds she made along with the ragged breaths only egged Fletcher on that much more. He'd always sought to see to her needs, her wants, and he wasn't about to stop anytime soon. She deserved the best he could offer and he fully intended on giving her just that. And then there were her own gentle caresses. Everywhere her fingers trailed left a path of hairs standing on end and sent a holy if excitement to his very core. Her soft whisper was enough for him to proceed, likely being the last time he'd to her for such a reassurance. He wasn't about to annoy her by constantly asking. She'd tell him if she wanted him to stop, he was sure of it.

With one last loving smile, his lips found the nipple of the breast he'd been hovering above. His kiss and even slight suckle was gentle and tender, bringing it to a taut peak. He left it then but not without trailing his kisses to her other breast, set to give it the same attention as the other.

Meanwhile, his hands had moved up along her thighs and to the waistband of her drawers. He carefully skid his fingers along the edge of them, slipping beneath the top ever so slightly as he slowly began to push them down her legs. He made a point of caressing her bare legs as he went, determined to leave no but of skin untouched.

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BEE-utiful Set!