stumbledfromtheashes | Riverview: IC-Inbox

[Despite the fact that he isn't very fond of the devices given to them for communication, Cullen can admit that they are extremely convenient when compared to messengers and delivery birds. Especially at a time like this.]

Iona, are you free for the evening?

[When her device chimes, Iona picks it up rather distractedly. But that distraction fades the moment she sees who it’s from. There’s a sort of ridiculous smile on her face when she sees the message is from Cullen.]

As a matter of fact, I am.

I would like to take you to dinner again. Would you rather meet me at From Nature to Hearth or shall I come and pick you up?

Pick me up?

[She wouldn’t mind meeting him there at all, except that she wants to spend as much time as possible with him. So. Picking her up.]

[He would laugh, but he wants to spend as much time with her as possible too, so it works out in the long run.]

Are you at work or are you at the communal housing?

[He's finished patrolling for the day and he's already showered. It's obviously the best opportunity to spend time with her.]

I just returned to communal housing.

[She should have just enough time to shower before he gets there. It's too bad she can't invite him to join her...

Some other time.]

I'll be there in twenty minutes.

[True to his word, it takes him almost no time to get there since he'd already been walking towards the communal housing as he texted her. Maker, he feels like a giddy boy once more with his first crush.

Only without the overwhelming guilt.

He knows which floor she and Dorian reside on, since he's spent more than one night in her bed with her in his arms as they slept. As soon as he reaches the top of the stairs to her floor, he is aiming for the area she sleeps in.]

Iona, are you still here?

I’ll be waiting.

[She’s been out of the shower for all of 5 minutes when he arrives, her hair still damp from it. She’s dressed simply, in sandals and a sundress in shades of blue. And when she hears his voice she cannot help the smile that lights up her face.]

I am.

[When he sees her and her smile, he can't help but return it with one of his own. It would be impossible not to do so. Without thought, he crosses the space between them and kisses her gently. This is what he's been thinking about all day, this right here.

He's careful not to let it go too far, as it would be easy to lose himself in just this for a long time. However, they're not the only ones on this floor and he still wants to take her for a meal alone.]

You look lovely.

[ Just when she thinks she cannot get happier, it turns out she can. Creators, she does love his smile. ~~And his laugh, and just about everything about him.~~]

Thank you.

[She just rises up on tiptoe a little and kisses him again. Gently, and briefer than she would like. But they do have dinner plans.]

So do you.

[Another kiss.]

Shall we?

[The additional kisses make him want to forego dinner and spend the evening with her in his arms. However, he is hungry, and he can only imagine that she is as well. Besides, that was the whole point of sending her a message in the first place.

Well, one of many.

It doesn't stop him from framing her face within his hands and kissing her a bit soundly.]

Hmm, yes, let's. Although, I admit that I have no plans outside of dinner. So, if there's anything you wish do afterwards...

[He frames her face with his hands and kisses her like that and she wants nothing more than to forego dinner entirely. Spend the rest of the evening kissing him and... other things. Creators, finally, now that her ribs are healed.

So she tangles fingers in his hair and kisses him back fervently, before smirking up at him fondly. A heat to her lilac eyes that quite possibly holds a promise of things to come.] And what if my answer is you?

[Dangerous. This woman is beautiful and dangerous and if he's not careful, she will be the ruin of him. When it comes to anything but her.

With a great deal of effort, he pulls away from her. He takes her hands from his neck and wraps one arm around his own to start walking. It takes him a few more moments of breathing through his nose before he can reply to her loaded question. However, he suspects that the back of his neck and his cheeks are going to be very red for a while.]

It's not an unwanted answer, as you know, but hardly appropriate for where we are at this moment.

I was under the impression that most outings of this nature are filled with more than just food and...ahem... going directly to bed.

[She might not be as adamant about romance as a certain other woman in their acquaintance, but he's got two sisters. And evidently a sister-in-law now. He vaguely remembers his parents engaging on evenings alone outside their house from time to time.]

[He wraps her arm around his to start the walk towards their dinner destination. She cannot help but bite her lip and duck her head as she sees the blush colouring his cheeks and the back of his neck. Sorry, but she’s not actually sorry in the slightest. She means every word. But he is adorable when he blushes.

She laughs softly]

It’s not as though I suggested you press me against the wall and take me now, Cullen.

[As appealing as the thought is...]

But you did inquire as to if there might be anything I wish to do after dinner... Which is something of a nebulous time frame.

And I very much mean my answer.

[He avoids looking down at her, though her presence at his side is nothing he can ignore.

Especially when she says things like that.]

Maker! Iona.

[Yeah, that blush on his neck is darker by the moment and he doesn't even have his ruffed mantle to hide it from anyone passing them. The idea has merit, but he's fairly certain she's only said so much to get this very reaction out of him.

Running his free hand down his face, he gathers his composure and clears his throat again.]

Is that all you want to do then? Just food and straight to bed.

[Her laughter this time is bright. She can’t help it. She hadn’t INTENDED to make him blush more. ]

What?

[That is where you’re wrong, Cullen. She very much means that part of what she said, as well. Which she will happily make clear to you in a moment.]

Not all. I would like to go for a walk with you as well. Perhaps out for a couple drinks after dinner. Simply enjoy your company. But at some point after all of that I very much intend on our finding a tree or a wall. And a bed.

[Cullen has to stop midstep because his extremely flirtatious near-lover has made it impossible to walk for a moment. Deep breathing through his nose with his eyes closed is the only way he's able to keep from just skipping dinner altogether and finding out what she's like in bed.

Later.]

I can definitely agree to a walk and drinks.

[His voice is strained because he's still trying to not think about what she wants to do after dinner. It's far, far too tempting.]

However, do you have a preference for where we eat this evening? If not, there is a cafe that is closer to the barracks that I think you might like.

[She pauses as he gathers himself. Refrains from kissing him or otherwise touching him. If they ever want to make to dinner, it’s probably for the best. And they have afterwards to look forward to.]

A walk and drinks it is, then.

[To start.

She shakes her head.]

I do not. [Another little playful smirk.] I am in your hands. [A pause.] And so is our choice of where to dine.

[He looks down at her, her playful smile, and he knows that it's going to be impossible to not touch her after this. Walking with her at his side is all fine and dandy, but it's not enough just yet.

Without warning, he slides an arm around her back and pulls her flush against him before kissing her hard enough to bruise. He's known long before now how she feels in his arms and it's one of his favorite things. Especially since she's always so responsive when he does kiss her. After proving to himself that he is calm enough to proceed with her like they are, he lets her go just a little.]

Now you're in my hands, Iona. And I think the cafe will be fine. If you can behave.

[Oh... He catches her by surprise, startling a soft laugh out of her as his arm slides around her waist and she’s pulled flush against him. She moans against his lips and responds in kind, kissing him back just as hard

Creators, she does enjoy kissing him.

She is a little breathless when they finally part.] Yes I am. And I make no guarantees on my behaviour. [But she supposes she can a little. If nothing else so they can make it through dinner.]

[Maker, he could get lost in kissing, holding, teasing, listening to her. A part of him is worried that should either of them leave, he would no longer enjoy her as he can now. Which is a good portion of the reason he's refused to let his doubts win when it comes to their current position.

However, his desire to not make their relationship into a public spectacle is still very much alive and well. He is careful to take her arm again in his and starts walking.]

I would have no you other way, if I am perfectly honest. [Changing her isn't on the program, thanks. THe good news is that the cafe is actually right up on their left and he sighs under his breath in relief.] The food here is decent, nothing extravagant, but better than average.

[He eats here a lot, okay? As is evident when one of the waitresses waves at him and holds up two fingers.]

[Iona gives him a warm, pleased smile at that.]

I am very glad to hear it.

[Her arm curled around his, she leans into him gently, pressing her shoulder against his.]

I look forward to trying it.

[She hides a smile of amusement as the waitress clearly recognizes him. He eats here a lot. At least she now knows a good place to get food from if she wants to surprise Cullen with dinner. (Although she’s just as likely to surprise him with food from someplace new to the both of them.)]

[It's not as if he has the space to cook for himself. Or even really the ability to do so. Simple meals are fine at the canteen, but if he wants actual meals that will make up for the fact that he works as hard as he does, the cafe is a great place to go.

And now his not-so-secret shame is exposed to the woman he loves and she doesn't seem to mind it so much, he relaxes himself as he pulls out a chair for her at a table nearest the end of the restaurant's patio.]

I'm not sure what you would like, but I believe I've had a great deal of the menu.

[Talk of food is safe. And appropriate fore company here.]

I don't think it's up to Dorian's standards however.

Is my pulling you away from your strapping former Templar a possibility?

Always, Dorian.

Edited 2018-09-03 05:10 (UTC)

Brilliant. I'll be in my chambers.
Bring wine.

On my way.
With the best wine I can manage.

Thank you.

I don't deserve you, you know.

[Concern is rapidly increasing.]

Nonsense. You're family, Dorian. There's no deserving or not deserving. You have me.

[There's a long pause before his next response arrives.]

Magnus has gone. Again.

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