Courage is not simply one of the virtues,
The brightest, most wicked of grins spread across his face, an idea bursting forth in his mind as she egged him on. Leaning forward, Zavien lowered his voice with true threat while his hands trailed to the sensitive spot along most people's sides. "Brace yourself. We reserve only the cruelest of punishments for such heinous crimes."
But as his hands found their places - poised to tickle and torture - he was met with the bare skin below her cropped top, warm and soft and vulnerable beneath his fingertips. All thoughts of punishment vanished as he froze. Something shifted, his brain blanking so fast that he had to reassess their positioning in a new light.
Zavien was propped over Soh, who lounged dramatically beneath him, so much closer than they'd been before, more skin exposed between them than he would usually find appropriate for a friend. And yet he was captivated by the blonde hair tousled beautifully around the high flush in her cheeks, framing the molten silver of her eyes that stared expectantly at him, lips parted in a playful smile that could light up a room. The sight nearly took his breath away.
He had the sudden urge to kiss her.
Where he would have usually paused to think of the consequences - to think of all the ways kissing her was not a good idea - Zavien was already pressing in, placing his lips softly against hers. It was instinct and unhesitant experimentation, only the recesses of his mind flickering with the damning consideration of Koa and propriety and ruined friendships, mixing with the confusion of his own unhindered actions. But in the moment, all he could do was give into the brief impulse, curiosity and desire driving him forward to capture her lips with his own.
But as his hands found their places - poised to tickle and torture - he was met with the bare skin below her cropped top, warm and soft and vulnerable beneath his fingertips. All thoughts of punishment vanished as he froze. Something shifted, his brain blanking so fast that he had to reassess their positioning in a new light.
Zavien was propped over Soh, who lounged dramatically beneath him, so much closer than they'd been before, more skin exposed between them than he would usually find appropriate for a friend. And yet he was captivated by the blonde hair tousled beautifully around the high flush in her cheeks, framing the molten silver of her eyes that stared expectantly at him, lips parted in a playful smile that could light up a room. The sight nearly took his breath away.
He had the sudden urge to kiss her.
Where he would have usually paused to think of the consequences - to think of all the ways kissing her was not a good idea - Zavien was already pressing in, placing his lips softly against hers. It was instinct and unhesitant experimentation, only the recesses of his mind flickering with the damning consideration of Koa and propriety and ruined friendships, mixing with the confusion of his own unhindered actions. But in the moment, all he could do was give into the brief impulse, curiosity and desire driving him forward to capture her lips with his own.
Zavien
but the form of every virtue at the testing point.
