Pao
(( note: An uncertain amount of days have passed since they started sharing a bed and such, for IC purposes))
Rhys was fresh out of the shower and heading back to Seren's dorm to wind down for the night. It was usually during this walk, at least for the past day or two, that he wondered how much longer they would dance this dance around going further than just making out. It was always him that pulled away first, too, despite the building urge and matching frustration that came with forcing himself to squash those urges for fear of what might actually happen if he gave in to them. The brunette wore an even, very neutral expression as he slipped inside her room, eyes down as he toweled off his hair.

Aria
Seren had already arrived, and was in her favorite nightshirt, sitting on the edge of her desk as she was brushing out her hair, after her shower. She'd dried it to the best of her ability, but she wanted to get it nice and neat before bed. She wasn't really aware that her shirt had slipped up a bit, exposing most of her upper thigh to the room. She was softly humming, though, and comfortable. She knew they'd been pushing close to going past making out, but she was fine with Rhys pulling back... She didn't know his limits, and unless he wanted to tell her, she had no way to figure them out.

Pao
When he eventually looked up his eyes landed naturally on her, and then they glanced down at the extra skin she was showing and he couldn't not smirk despite the nerves that sprang up at what that could possibly mean. He doubted it was on purpose, but even if it wasn't he couldn't deny that she'd gotten his attention with just that. For a second he stood by the door, just drying his hair and waiting for her to notice that he noticed something...different about her.

Aria
She glanced up and saw him at the door. "Hey babe..." She smiled at him, then blinked, curiously, and followed his gaze to where her leg was exposed. She blushed, slightly, and adjusted her shirt, with a slight shrug. "Sorry. Didn't realize it had slipped up." She stood and put her brush down, then walked over to him. "Not that I mind you seeing, in the long run."

Pao
"Never gotta be sorry for that kinda thing," he said, still smirking. He left the towel on his head to free up his hands to reach for her once she was close enough, and then gradually close the gap between them with just a couple of steps. His expression was admiring but playful, maybe even a little silly since he had a towel on his head. "I kinda think of it as a bonus for me since I started sleeping here..."

Aria
She laughed, smiling up into his face. "Well as long as you enjoy it, then I'm perfectly fine with it." She leaned up to give him a warm, welcoming kiss, happy to have him here. "Hope your day today wasn't too rough?" She said, as she rested her arms on his shoulders. "You've been worked hard recently, so I'd like to hope they gave you less heavy lifting today."

Pao
That laugh was music to his ears and brightened his smile a bit, and he returned the kiss, equally happy to be there with her. He had his arms around her waist as he relaxed and let his previous thoughts slip away, his focus now on her question. "Mm, it was alright. Less work but still work. Can't wait to take leave, that's for sure."

At that he leaned down for another kiss, seeking a bit more comfort to help make him feel a little better. "What about you? Kitchen duty again?"

Aria
"Mmm we need to do that soon." She sighed softly as she snuggled happily against him, watching his face as he spoke. "Can't wait to go see places with you. I know it'll be nicer to explore the world with you, then on my own."

The second kiss was met with eagerness, as she did love the feel of his lips on hers, and the taste of him. "Mmmm no, not today. Today they had me on clean up." She made a face, and said "The bathrooms. Thank gods not the ones downstairs."

Pao
It was his turn to laugh when she mentioned her duty, and he kissed her again to offer what little comfort he could for that potential horror. And also because he just liked kissing her and was always looking for excuses to do it, especially recently.

"One day they're gonna get you to clean those bathrooms. Short ********' straw." He laughed again and reached up to get the towel off of his head. "But yeah, knowing that you're going with makes me actually wanna see the world."

Aria
She sighed happily, accepting the comfort that kiss provided. His laugh had been like music to her ears. She pulled back from the kiss a little, not letting him go, just moving them backwards, not wanting to just stand here all night.

She laughed and sighed. "I knoooooooooooow, I know But until I do, I'm going to be so grateful that I haven't yet." She paused to take his towel and hang it out of the way, before sliding her arm back around his shoulder. "It's gonna be awesome. I can't wait to see all the things I've been curious about."

Pao
Sea green eyes squinted at that last bit, though he was still smiling. "Like what, babe?" he asked as he walked along with her; waddled, really, since he had to keep his legs a bit wider apart so he could walk without bumping hitting her legs. "The Eiffel Tower? Or the London Bridge? Egyptian tombs?"

Aria
"Any and all of those... And Tokyo, and Seoul, and just... There's so much to see!" She gave him another kiss, stopping walking as her knees hit the bed. "But what about you? Isn't there stuff you wanted to see?" Her blue eyes were focused on his face, bright with eagerness at the idea of seeing the world.

Pao
He shook his head as he kissed her again, his body already starting to react a little more with each kiss. "I'd be happy to see anything long as you're in the picture." His eyes met hers again, a little questioning, a little curious about where things might go tonight now that they were by the bed. If she let go he figured things would go on as normal, if not...he wasn't entirely sure.

Aria
"Mmm well we'll have to see what we can come up with..." She smiled up at him again, and saw the questions in his eyes. She simply looked back, trying to say without the words she didn't have that if he wanted her, she would be willing. She would never push, however. She simply stood there, arms around his shoulders.

Pao
"Yeah, guess so." He sighed slowly, gaze still fixed on hers, and when he saw her answer to his unspoken question he considered it for a split second. He considered his past and his nerves and the risk and potential outcomes and what it might mean for them in the long haul...but his wanting her, really needing her at this point, won out in the end. All of this in the moment just before he kissed her again, slowly as he gently pushed her down onto the bed.

Aria
She watched him think, wondering what was going on inside his head. When he kissed her, she sighed softly, moving with him more then willingly. Her arms tightened, just a little, wanting and happy that he finally seemed to be ready for this. She wanted him, wanted his happiness, wanted... them. When she was flat on the bed, she leaned up to kiss him more, nibbling softly along his lip.

Pao
It didn't take long for him to be hovering over her again, though this time the context was just a little different. When her lips met his again she pulled the entirety of his focus, and when she nibbled his lip his own kisses grew a little desperate, a little deeper...just wanting more of her. It wasn't that long before he started to get a little warm, so he took her hand and guided it to the bottom of his shirt, not really wanting to break the kiss just yet.

Aria
She shivered at how deep that kiss was getting, the feeling of him above her making her a little breathless with excitement today. She mmm'd into the kiss, and grasped his shirt, gently, before slowly rolling it up, and out of the way. She couldn't remove it from him without breaking the kiss, but she could get it most of the way up. She then slid her hand to rest gently, softly, on the skin of his back, not doing anything else for the moment, beyond the kissing.

Indeed, she took his lip softly between hers, and sucked a little on it, enjoying the taste of him.

Pao
Her hand on his back sent a small shiver down his spine, but even just that started a bit of prickling at the back of his mind. He ignored it though, as best he could, and tried to once again put all of his focus on her. Not too hard given the way she was kissing him, and how close they were and the way he was on top of her like that...

He broke the kiss and pulled his shirt the rest of the way off, breathless as he tossed it aside. And then he waited, maybe for a cue or for her to lead--it probably wasn't the best time to tell her that he'd never gotten this far with anyone before.

Aria
She found herself giving him a slow smile, enjoying the sight of him shirtless. He was beautiful, and it was breathtaking for her. She considered for a long moment, then reached up to guide his hand down, to the hem of her nightshirt, her other hand cupping his cheek, the fingers tracing soft swirls along his warm cheek. "Go on..." She murmured.

Pao
He leaned into her touch, eyes down as he started to gently tug the fabric up, slowly revealing more of her than he'd ever seen before. His breath hitched for a second when he got it nearly all the way off, though she'd probably have to do the rest in a second. His eyes went up to meet hers again and he leaned down, smiling as he whispered, "I've said it before but I'm gonna say it again. You really are beautiful, babe."

Aria
She blushed at his reactions, and even more at his words, which he could see went well down her neck and onto her chest. "So are you, you know." She whispered, as she lifted her shoulders to get the shirt off the rest of the way. She gently tossed it aside, and looked up at him again, before gently pulling him down into another kiss.

Pao
Her blush had him smiling as he was pulled down into yet another kiss. His hand trailed down, light against her skin as he explored her body. He was getting lost in it again, in her kisses and the feel of her skin beneath his touch and their bodies being so close...and for a while the prickling in the back of his mind had gone and it really was just the two of them.

He parted his lips against hers and traced her lower lip with his tongue, again waiting on her.

Aria
His ongoing hesitance, letting her take the lead, caught her attention. So he wasn't entirely sure about this, it seemed. She would have to show him, to some degree. His hand on her skin, the way it felt, though, was incredible. Nothing she'd ever done before had prepared her for the way it felt when some one she loved touched her.

His tongue on her lip had her parting her mouth softly, encouraging him to deepen the kiss, as her fingers began to brush, feather light, along his shoulders and upper chest.

Pao
It tingled just about anywhere she touched, a feeling that again sent a shiver down his spine as he took her cue and deepened the kiss. And then she touched him and that prickling came up again, a flash of something but there were no images or memories that flashed into his mind. Just a sense memory for the moment, humming in the back of his mind.

He broke the kiss and moved down to her neck, his hand soon settling on the swell of her breast. The uncertainty wasn't quite gone so he kept it steady there, choosing instead to focus on leaving his mark on her yet again.

Aria
She traced his tongue with hers, until he broke the kiss, her body shaking a little under him from the way his touches made her feel. "Oh..." The feeling of his hand made her gasp again, in soft pleasure, and her head tilted to the side, giving him full access to her neck. She continued to slowly caress his chest, fingers moving slowly down his warm skin.

Pao
The little sounds she made got a rise out of him, though it was dumbed down by that sense memory. A touch he couldn't get out of his head even in that moment that moment with her. Still, he tried but the further down her fingers went the more those buried memories threatened to surface.

He softly kissed the spot where the mark would eventually show, eyes a little hazy as he pulled back and met her gaze again.

Aria
She mmm'd softly at the kiss, then shifted to lean up and kiss him, slow and sweet, full of her desire for him. There was nothing more in the world she wanted then this, with him. Her eyes were gentle, and caring.

Her fingers made it to his waist, and his waist band. She drew them along it, with the intent to wait for the indication that he was ok with her going any further. She didn't realize the haziness in his eyes wasn't desire.

Pao
His breathing had gotten a bit uneven the further she'd gone down, memories finally beginning to bubble up into the fore of his mind, almost completely pulling him out of the moment. Out of desperation to hold onto it and to push everything else out of his mind he kissed her, hoping that it would help him focus enough on her to shove the unwanted memories away.

Aria
She kissed him back, confused a bit at how he was breathing... that wasn't excitement anymore. She began to worry, her fingers pulling back and away from his waistband, returning to his shoulders. Had she ******** up somehow? Oh gods she hoped not.

Pao
She hadn't, and he knew she hadn't but he didn't know quite how to explain it. But her fingers had lingered too long, traced over invisible lines that had scarred him way, way back to a time in his life he never voluntarily revisited. Even the kiss wasn't enough to push those memories away and eventually he pulled completely away, chest heaving as he stood up. He didn't even see her for a moment, completely blinded by a past he desperately wished he could forget.

Aria
She half sat up when he pulled away, her eyes wide, and worried. "Rhys.... Rhys, are you... ok, babe?" She didn't try to cover herself, she didn't try to move to him... She didn't know what to do. She just wanted to undo everything, because the last thing in the world she had wanted was to hurt him.

Pao
He barely heard her, as every single one of those nights playing in agonizing slow motion in his head. Clearly none of that therapy every worked because he remembered everything, and it all came pouring out all at once. It was enough to make his head explode, either that or make him completely collapse in on himself right there. So before that happened he looked up, just once, into her eyes. He saw the worry in hers and he hoped she saw the pain in his before he blinked, then turned and went straight out the door.

Aria
She saw it all right, and cried out his name, full of pain from knowing what, in her mind, she'd done to him. "Rhyyyyyyyyyys!" She wanted to chase him, but... she was definitely not dressed for it. She surged to her feet anyways, and grabbed her nightshirt, yanking it on before heading to the door, trying to spot him... But it was too late. He was gone.

She stared at the empty hall, tears filling her eyes, and she stepped back, slowly shutting the door, though not locking it, in what she was sure was wasted hope, and made it to... where his shirt lay on the floor, before collapsing besides it and giving in to sobbing. She pulled the shirt close, and held it.

She could never have anything good. All she would do is destroy it.