The white sheep of the family
Loren smirked. "Hardly a saint." Reaching up, he tucked a strand of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear. "I'm simply used to dealing with far more difficult people than you." The statement was equal parts fond and bemused.
Letting out a huff of laughter, he gave her a pleased look. For a moment, he very much looked like the cat that got the cream. "I didn't mind hearing it. And I won't tell anyone if you don't tell them I sounded like a fumbling schoolboy." Despite the teasing words, there was something unabashedly happy about his tone and expression.
"Good thing I'm a try-hard." This came out with his characteristically wry and self-deprecating tone. However, as she mentioned being better at keeping things under wraps, he gave her an understanding look. "You don't have to, you know." Speaking in a soft voice, he cleared his throat. "Hide the mess from me, I mean." Rubbing the back of his head for a moment, he gave her a sheepish smile.
The kiss went on, and he found himself not quite satisfied by the little taste. Indeed, he let out a little demanding growl, though he didn't ask for more. Not yet. Instead, he just grinned as they surfaced for air and she brought up his kin. "Here I was thinking getting disowned would spare me the sins of my relatives. Silly me." He brushed his lips across her cheek and nibbled on her earlobe. "But I can certainly be myself. Commit my own sins, so to speak." The words came out in a wicked whisper.
"Hey now, not just my past! My present too." Chuckling a bit, he nodded at her assessment of Korbin and her chances against the Launceleyn. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I can think of things I'd much rather spend my time, energy, and passion on." His thumb brushed against her hip as he spoke.
However, his slow and careful touches ceased as she answered his admittedly poorly conceived question. Pulling away slightly, though keeping his hands on her, he searched her features. "Yes, outside of that. I like to think I know what we're doing on that front." Laughing briefly, his expression grew more serious as she went on. "Just three, huh? Why don't you tell me those rules, then?" His voice was quiet, though not hesitant.
Letting out a huff of laughter, he gave her a pleased look. For a moment, he very much looked like the cat that got the cream. "I didn't mind hearing it. And I won't tell anyone if you don't tell them I sounded like a fumbling schoolboy." Despite the teasing words, there was something unabashedly happy about his tone and expression.
"Good thing I'm a try-hard." This came out with his characteristically wry and self-deprecating tone. However, as she mentioned being better at keeping things under wraps, he gave her an understanding look. "You don't have to, you know." Speaking in a soft voice, he cleared his throat. "Hide the mess from me, I mean." Rubbing the back of his head for a moment, he gave her a sheepish smile.
The kiss went on, and he found himself not quite satisfied by the little taste. Indeed, he let out a little demanding growl, though he didn't ask for more. Not yet. Instead, he just grinned as they surfaced for air and she brought up his kin. "Here I was thinking getting disowned would spare me the sins of my relatives. Silly me." He brushed his lips across her cheek and nibbled on her earlobe. "But I can certainly be myself. Commit my own sins, so to speak." The words came out in a wicked whisper.
"Hey now, not just my past! My present too." Chuckling a bit, he nodded at her assessment of Korbin and her chances against the Launceleyn. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I can think of things I'd much rather spend my time, energy, and passion on." His thumb brushed against her hip as he spoke.
However, his slow and careful touches ceased as she answered his admittedly poorly conceived question. Pulling away slightly, though keeping his hands on her, he searched her features. "Yes, outside of that. I like to think I know what we're doing on that front." Laughing briefly, his expression grew more serious as she went on. "Just three, huh? Why don't you tell me those rules, then?" His voice was quiet, though not hesitant.
Will blood tell
