Her laughter was lost when he claimed her mouth in a kiss that threw what little was left of softness out the window. How had she spent the last decade without this? She knew at some point in her late marriage, this need had disappeared and she had functioned as a creature of intellect and reason, but if her life depended on it, she couldn't remember why.

Something she had now that she lacked in her ignorance innocence was confidence and a grasp on another power separate from her magic. As much as she needed to touch him, she needed his focus, his worship more. Leaning away from him just enough to shake her curtain of hair over her shoulders, she stilled the hand he had at her laces. It was shameful how much she heated at his eyes on her. "Merlin, yes. Show me what we've both won." She could have played at blushes at shyness, but for Merlin's sake, why deny him what he had earned?

Her will to tease him in a slow reveal fell apart when a hand found her more than ready for him. It was her turn to lose the plot completely. Hands frustrated at the barrier between them, she scowled before yanking at her own corset ties. Free of at least the top of her garments, she pulled his free hand to a breast before attacking the buttons of his vest, her lips nipping at his jaw. "Off, now. Please." Well, fuck. Fine, once wasn't begging, it was being polite. As polite as she could be when fighting to disrobe them.

"You are so warm." The idiotic observation felt essential now that her body was determined to have him on her in every way possible. "I want to feel you." She almost whined as caught his lips again. Fine, it was a bit like begging but damned if she wouldn't have them both feeling like damn winners in a moment.

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