#{{ ~ interactions. ~ carinna bronwell. ~ }}

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@pristinaluna said “can i touch you?” - Shane to Carinna

The way his question echoed inside Carinna's flower shop created a shiver running down her spine. It was late in the evening, so the closed sign was in place, but she still had to finish preparations for two big bouquets for tomorrow - hence staying up this late. But with the company she had, the redhead did not mind at all. "Are you asking for permission?", she teased, looking over her shoulder. It was still surreal to see him in the shop with her, a small, worrying feeling lodged deep within a part of her brain. It was a question away for Shane to wonder what was behind a certain closed door and then, she would've been faced with the decision to lie or to deflect, like always. But just having him there meant that she trusted him enough to entertain the thought of him staying with her despite the full truth. What a heartbreaking concept. "I'm not touching anything poisonous. You can always touch me, Shane. In fact, I encourage you." Her dark eyes turned to him, shimmering with love.

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@pristinaluna sent: Shane & Carinna - "We make a pretty good team, don’t you think?"

The little comment caught her a bit of guard, just as Carinna was leaving the new plant (a gift from her mother) at a free corner in her living room. Both of them had just returned from their first dinner at her mother's place and to say that it had went smoothly would've been an understatement. And now, with Shane's words warming their way through her body, she had nothing left to do but smile and slide back in front of him, hands sneaking around his body. "Have you doubted that before? I'm hurt," the redhead teased, her voice a purr as she buried her nose at the crook of his neck. "Are you sure you're okay? I know you were nervous, but I couldn't have asked for a better evening. Thank you." Pulling back she ignored the subtle vibrations of her phone in her back pocket and instead reached, fingers brushing away that one particular curl away from his handsome face. She had never felt more at peace than at that moment. "But I think its finally safe now and you can dare to kiss me, don't you think?"

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closed starter for @ofbookshelves​

Carinna hadn’t slept well for numerous of reasons but she had tried really hard to hide all of it - a subtle touch of make up, bright red lipstick and a smile that didn’t touch her eyes were able to fool mostly everyone. Because no one really cared about people they didn’t know. Everyone who walked inside of her shop were mainly nothing but polite in a way that had made her get used to the same cliché words over and over and over again. Here or there popped people who broke that vicious cycle but mostly things never changed. That was why she had always preferred flowers anyways - they were all different.

Now lifting her head from the bouquet she was making for a client coming to pick it up later, the woman couldn’t help but stop for a moment, taking the newcomer in. The other woman surely came for the first time, that much Carinna was certain of. “Hi! Can I help you with your choice?”

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Being too soft, too in love after meeting Shane was proving as quite the gradual but permanent change. It hadn't happened overnight and yet, since the first night, Carinna had been caught captive in his eyes, in the gentleness and respect which he exuded all of the time. It was only natural for people to start noticing it too. Surprisingly, the first were the customers at the flower shop; even if the redhead had always tried to keep a friendly smile on, the glow that was slowly blossoming after meeting him was impossible to hide. Even if she wanted to hide it - which, for a time, she did - it became not possible after a month. And when her mother had asked, of course Carinna had shared, even if apprehensively at first. It was no secret that she didn't trust herself or her judgment anymore and there was a long road of healing ahead. Luckily, she had Shane to walk it with her and no one could compare to him. "Of course they do, Clara adores you!" Was it even possible to be otherwise?

When he kissed her on the nose, she met it with a smile so broad that it caused her nose to crinkle. "It just happened... I-... I'm sorry, I should've mentioned it sooner." One of her hands caressed a spot right on top of his beating heart. "Well, you can kiss me on the cheek, then, if you're feeling so shy," Carinna whispered, burying her lips in the crook of his neck, but the interest in his next question made her to pull back slightly, thinking. "Of course, she's a redhead too. I took it all from her - the hair, the eyes, my irresistible charm." It was a tease, of course, followed by another small kiss. "In all honesty... she's quiet. A little sad. You already know I stayed here because of not wanting to leave her alone. And if you want a tip - bring her something sweet, you'll already be a step ahead." At the mention of his tattoos, Carinna shook her head. "Don't worry about them." As if to point at that, her finger moved and was now tracing the shape of the tattoo on his arm. "Wear whatever you want, Shane. She'll love you. Just as I do." Moving her head so she could plant a kiss on top of that tattoo, a second later she pulled back, looking at him with a challenge in her eyes. "Wait, does your family not know how I look like?"

Surrendering all control to Carinna was a big step — bigger than Shane'd been expecting to take this night, to be honest — but a leap that he was glad had happened. So glad. Lips curling into an adoring smile in silent recognition that, yes, this was real, and even if the world collapsed around them, he'd never want to leave this bed. It almost felt like a dream. As if Shane would wake the next day, and no trace of Carinna would be left behind. Yet, she was able to calm his whole world with a single gesture. She smiled and blushed, and it was as if, when the two of them faced the future together, it lost half of its terrors.

Shane smiled into the kiss, his lips moving against hers. It felt like an affirmation that last hour did happen and it wasn't just some fantasy stuck inside his head. Carinna pulled away and had him immediately missing her, though he knew he couldn't kiss her all night long — no matter how badly he wanted to. "Wait, are you saying your friends don't love me? I thought Clara had learned to put up with me." He quipped with a soft laugh, and when her arms came around him Shane pressed her protectively against his bare chest. His smile so big it seemed to fill every gap in the room. "I didn't know you showed her a picture of us." Unable to contain himself, he left a soft, tender kiss on her freckled nose. Flattered and shy at the same time that her mother had said such a thing, he chuckled, "Kiss you in front of your mom, my love? I will never," Shane proclaimed as if shocked by the proposition, but he kept smiling. "What's she like?" There was always that interest in knowing everything about Carinna's life, but at the thought that he was going to meet her mother soon, his curiosity peaked, "does she have red hair like you? wait, will the tattoos bother her? I can wear long-sleeved shirts." He eyed the room in thought.

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'A lifetime'. The soft, carefully interwoven promise in his words was like an answer to her previous fears. Shane had managed to do it again, reading her emotions without realizing, answering with exactly what she needed to hear, to feel, to experience. That didn't mean it wasn't a loaded promise and he had no idea of what that would mean. But she did. Carinna knew her secrets and also knew that they were not easy to swallow, even for the very few in her life that loved her and were there for her while she navigated life and learned how to save herself when no one would. And that thing, hanging above her head, was the only thing darkening her relationship with Shane. From the moment she'd met him, and saw that he wasn't like anyone she'd met before, Carinna knew she was in trouble. Not only because he had the prospect of stealing her heart - and he did - but because she knew every day together meant another day closer to having to admit the truth. It was worrisome before, but now? As she looked at him, so happy, so in love, her heart hurt. Because that 'what if' was springing to life once again.

Trying to swallow the bitterness away, Carinna only nodded. Before, she would've worried if that would be a moment when Shane would react differently, harshly even, but now it was impossible to imagine it. Not when his eyes warmed her body all over again, spreading a new wave of rosiness to her cheeks. "Like you? She'll love you, I'm certain of it," the redhead grinned, hands grabbing his face to kiss him again. She wanted to do it as much as she could. "She's not like my friends, don't worry. She's... soft. When I showed her our first picture together - the one from our official first date on the beach, when I asked that stranger to take it - the first thing my mom commented on was the way your hands wrapped around me. And the smile on my face. She said she'd worried that... that she would never see me smile like that again." Leaning in to kiss him again, Carinna wrapped her arms around him. "Don't worry. If you feel yourself getting nervous, just kiss me."

It was to hear Carinna laugh in that free, sing-songy way and Shane's heart was begging to go out and brush hers. And he, so in love he was, would let it. Again and again. If he had ever been afraid to give his heart to anyone, it hadn't been so with Carinna. He laughed with her and watched her with a smitten gaze, as if the greatest secrets in the universe were hidden in a place as unsuspected but treasured as her eyes. "Oh I don't. We have a lifetime for you to reveal them to me, after all, so I'm definitely in no hurry." There was lightness in his voice, even if his words held a certain weight, a gentle promise behind each one. At the moment it was only a dream, a deep longing in his heart. But Shane had never been good at silencing them. Especially not now, when he felt so happy.

The musician's eyes closed briefly at the gentle caress, his own fingers remaining anchored at her waist, touching her in loving circles as his face remained hidden within her red locks. The fragrance of her shampoo being already the sweetest, most familiar of smells. "I would say we have won each other over," hearing her say it still felt unreal - even holding her in his arms like this, having just made love, part of Shane was afraid she was going to fade away at a moment's notice. Hence Carinna's question made it all a little more real. For an instant the man just blinked, pulling his face away from between her hair to look into her eyes. Making sure this was what she wanted as a slow, genuine smile curved his lips. "Are you serious? Carinna—i— of course I would love to meet her!" He exclaimed softly, and a shy chuckle escaped his mouth before he leaned in to leave a brief yet tender kiss on hers. He couldn't explain why the idea of Carinna wanting to introduce him to her mother brought him such joy, but Shane's heart glowed. Breaking away, he whispered, "Do you… Do you think she'll like me? What have you told her about me?" They hadn't talked much about her mom, so Shane didn't know what to expect— suddenly feeling nervous.

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The night couldn't have ended in a better way - with the storm slowly rolling towards the city, the chill air wrapping around their burning bodies and Shane, so much of him, only for her to love. This type of content was unlike anything Carinna ever knew how to keep; it seemed that one wrong breath and the sensation would slip from in between her fingers, leaving only coldness behind. It wasn't that she didn't trust in Shane or that she doubted he wouldn't do everything he could to stay in her life, but... There was always that one 'but'. This time, when chillness ran down her spine, she wasn't completely certain that it was only because of the night air.

And apparently, somehow, her body had moved enough to elicit a response out of him. Sighing dramatically, Carinna was glad to be back in the present with him, rather to stay stuck inside her mind. "You don't expect me to reveal all of my tricks now, do you, dear?" She laughed wholeheartedly when he hid his face in the mess of red strands. The hand that was still resting on his chest moved and stopped at the back of his neck, gently massaging the spot. Her heart was so full with love that it was impossible for the darkness not to make path again, receding to the corners where it belonged. "From the way I see it, I should be worried about your charms, mister. This... us, it's because of you winning me over. It's obvious to anyone who looks at me. To see how happy you make me." And that line of thought, somehow, led her to... "Which... reminds me. Do you-... Would you want to meet my mom, Shane?"

Later, as the night air cooled, thunder was heard in the distance. The light of the storm flickered through his bedroom window, cold sweat beading his skin. Shane rested his lips on Carinna's bare shoulder, planting a few kisses as he tightened his embrace around her waist. Feeling more blessed and whole than ever, he held her in the makeshift circle of protection he'd created for her.

Shane's path had been unclear for much of his life. He'd gone through many twists and turns, made mistakes, but she'd come into his life like the sun — shining light into the darkest corners of his being and offering a sense of purpose. Shane wasn't kidding when he said Carinna had him under her spell. She was the music he didn't know he was missing. And when the time came, when his parents met her and fell for her like Shane had… Maybe — hopefully — she'd agree to be his wife, too.

Until then, he just prayed for a million moments like this.

"Hey, hey, hey. I don't think I gave you permission to get out of bed." He complained in a very serious voice, pulling Carinna's back even closer to his chest. The laughing gleam in his eyes giving him away. "—Or did you convince me to give it to you while you had me under the effects of your charms? Because that's playing dirty, Bronwell. I think I know why they considered you redheads witches in the Middle Ages…" Shane quipped as he hid his face in her hair.

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At one point, words cease to have the power to fully convey everything, not like actions could. No matter how much she loved listening to Shane's voice, at that particular moment, being subject to his breathless murmurs was much, much better. Carinna slipped her fingers over his face, cupping it, touching just at the right place where his jaw was gathering the most pressure. Since meeting him for the first time, she'd always wanted to do that for him - to ease this feeling in his chest, the one that kept lying that he was not good enough. Maybe, just maybe, he would finally get to believe her now. "I love you," her lips silently formed the words close to Shane's cheek before she pressed them over his jaw. Nothing more was needed in that moment.

When his movements were too slow, Carinna felt herself getting more desperate, more needy. As a result, she slipped her fingers over his bare back, nails slowly pressing into the skin. The path of her fingers didn't stop and she trailed as much as she could down his spine, probably leaving slightly reddish marks after her touch, but if he planned on going slow, then it was inevitable. She would have to kiss the marks afterwards and that thought only made her all that more happy. "Am I hurting you?", the redhead managed to gather her mind for that one sentence before burying her lips once more in his neck. This time the kiss she left there had a little taste of a soft bite to it. Blessedly, soon Shane quickened his pace and this time her moans intertwined with his, a slow, but gradually growing melody. Then, she slipped one of her hands over his chest and gave the slightest of pushes. And when her eyes met his, it was clear that she wanted to be on top of him. When she straddled Shane, it was her turn to sweetly torture him, by slowly letting him slip as deep as it was possible once again. This time, the moan that escaped her lips wasn't quiet at all. Leaning in to kiss him breathlessly long, the waterfall of messy red hair enveloped both of them, hiding them even more from the world around. Because it didn't matter at that moment. Nothing mattered but them and the way Shane filled her.

Shane pressed his forehead against hers. Arms kept her flush against him almost almost as if he was worried that Carinna might slip away. Right here. There was not another place he wanted to be. Not when her words repeated in his head, causing it to draw her in even deeper. For showing me what real love should look like. The more Shane thought about it, the more it made insides warm. That even with all his baggage, and awkwardness. Right now? In this very moment, he was just enough. And looking at her, it became increasingly clear that the most sincere "I love yous" were those that were not pronounced. A feeling of deep peace and sudden bliss came over him as he watched her beautiful face contorting in pleasure as they slowly melted into one, that joy-filled sob she let out was the most wonderful sound Shane would ever hear. "I only needed to see you once," he whispered in the middle of that kiss they shared, their most intimate to date, "just once, to know that you are one of those loves that last a lifetime."

And then, he made love to her.

Shane thought he'd done it in the past, but none of that was comparable to what was happening between these sheets. It was almost as if the things just melted away. In that moment, nothing was more beautiful. More important. Just her. She was his everything. She fueled a fire in him that hell couldn't even touch. Shane kissed the junction of her neck and shoulder as he carefully filled her. His jaw contracted, a scalding heat in his eyes, and then, he was finally as deep as he could go. Lost to the heat that seared him from within, lost to Carinna's sounds, and the long-awaited joining of their bodies. Shane toyed with her at first, slowly pushing into her before pulling out just as slowly. But then he began to pick up the pace, building up a rhythm that matched the wild beating of his heart. The room echoed with sloppy slaps of skin, with his murmurs of love, with his deep grunts.

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It wasn't until Carinna could truly catch her breath that she started to wonder if maybe she'd been a little louder than acceptable. Shane didn't seem to mind - or have noticed - but for a small fraction of a second the woman did wonder if his neighbors would throw knowing glances at him the next morning. That thought and the sudden sight of Shane getting up and finally fully undressing were enough of a combination to turn her cheeks once again red. And yet, all of it melted to nothing the second he uttered that 'my love'. Carinna's heart leaped inside her chest so fast that it was almost painful - but it was the sweetest pain possible. She had this dream of a man leaning over her, eyes blazing with the real proof of just how much he meant everything he uttered - and all Carinna could think about was that this was it, this was the feeling that writers and movie directors tried to recreate into their works. But it was impossible, because nothing could compare to this. To finding the one meant for you.

Her eyes refused to leave his - or were unable to - but that gave her hands more freedom to roam everywhere over his body. The redhead wanted to finally learn every muscle, every dip, to leave not a single place where she didn't know how he felt like. It was exhilarating and maddening and Carinna loved everything about it. With Shane lowering himself on top of her, the weight was just the perfect amount. She couldn't restrain herself enough not to do anything and slipped one of her hands in between their bodies, gently stroking him once, then twice. Opening her legs more and in one graceful motion wrapping them around his lower back, her gaze didn't leave his while Shane so slowly found its way inside her. A small gasp left her lips, mouth opening soundlessly afterwards. When both of her hands slipped over his tattoos, gripping at his muscles while all of her senses were focused on taking as much as she could from this new, exhilarating feeling, Carinna wanted nothing more than to stop time and just stay like this, with him, forever. And that was just when his next 'i love you' came, causing her grip on his shoulders to loosen. There was no doubt the new shine in the woman's eyes - never before did she know the meaning of 'happy tears'... until now. Biting her lower lip, Carinna let out a small sound - a mixture between a sob and a moan. Feeling Shane's racing heart underneath her fingertips was the clearest proof about how wildly special and painfully perfect this moment was. Suddenly, it felt so silly to her that they had waited for so long to admit that they loved each other. But maybe it was worth it, otherwise who knew if this, right now, would've felt so blessedly perfect? Leaning in, she placed a soft kiss on his shoulder blade. "I don't want you to hurt for me, my love. Ever." Never before did Carinna felt comfortable wanting to call someone that way. Maybe it was simply because her soul had dutifully waited to meet him. "I want you to feel... this. Feel how happy we make each other. How great. And how good it feels to be with the one your soul loves." Slowly, her lower body started to move in the same rhythm he did. And that feeling... it couldn't be explained with words. Hand turning under his grasp, she held it more tightly before slowly bringing it to her lips next. The kiss there was special, intimate - especially because Carinna's eyes still lingered on Shane's. "Thank you... for making me the happiest woman in the whole world... for showing me what real love should look like."

Shane felt so drunk off her — body fired with excitement, longing. Hand reaching for hers and fingers stroking along her soft skin. The sounds she made drove him as wild than the taste of her, and the musician basked in the feel of her trust and pleasure. His name in her lips sending the most electric shivers through him, wrapping his lips around the bundle of nerves. It was as if her body was singing for him, watching the way she squeezed her eyelids together as her chest heaved. The walls of her sex clenched tightly and everything inside her throbbed. Dark eyes obscured even further as he looked to her: he doubted he'd ever beheld anything as mesmerizing as Carinna's face as she climaxed. And Shane accompanied the last aftershocks of her orgasm with gentle caresses of his tongue, giving her a moment to catch her breath, to find some stability after the high of her orgasm, as he sat up from between her legs, gently brushing aside the strands of red hair that covered her gaze. Feeling exhilarated to be the cause of that dreamy look.

"Carinna." Her words struck him in such a way Shane felt his head light and dazed. With his heart beating wild, hands captured her face and lips catching hers in a deep, slow kiss. He felt like a man that had been starved but was finally getting his feast, two people wrapped in the sheer joy of what was happening between them. What is about to happen. Shane no longer felt any fear or shame, because he'd entrusted his heart to her - so giving her the rest was very simple. He pulled away just enough to finally remove the rest of their clothing, and didn't stop until he slipped his fingers under the thin fabric of her panties -the last piece on her body-, slowly sliding them down her legs. Shane held his breath and vigorously shook his head in disbelief: the more he looked, the more he found he could not look away. And his smile was slow; realizing this dazzling, tender, wonderful woman was his. "My love." He said in what sounded like a plea, and words lost in his throat as Shane lowered himself on her. The warmth and wetness greeting him as he pressed his length against her core. So warm, perfect. His heart pounded in the silence; their eyes meeting and staying locked together as Shane, slowly, oh so slow, pushed his way inside her. He groaned - he'd never felt so free in his damned life. "I love you," with an expression that left no doubt of what he had just told her, Shane just looked at her, overcome with emotion. The pulse thundered in his ears and inside their bodies, which fitted together with absolute perfection. Two halves that had finally found each other and joined without any fissure. "I love you so much it hurts," he added, placing her small hand over his racing heart, "here." This was what he had longed for all his life. This love. Just this.

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The very idea of someone making her so incredibly happy was like the sweetest of dreams after a lifetime of nightmares. As a gradual act since that fateful night at the restaurant, Shane had managed to warm his way into Carinna’s life, but instead of starting off like most men tried to do - with focusing on complimenting her outward beauty and nothing more, he had went straight for her heart, without even knowing so. There was no way any of them suspected what would come out of their little encounter; at least Carinna hadn’t. And even if she had been put into the position of not wanting to cause a scene and just endure the horrible, boring companion across from her, allowing for Shane to swoop in, almost like a hero, rescuing her when she had least expected it - even then, the dynamic wasn’t set. He hadn’t treated her like a pretty damsel in distress, ready for someone else to take advantage of her broken hopes; instead with his sweet smile and awkward blushing - and that irresistible smile of his - Shane had slowly but intently started to make sure that every other man would pale in comparison to him. And from that moment forward, the redhead didn’t even want to look at anyone else the way she had eyes for him. She certainly didn’t want anyone else to touch her the way he was doing right now too...

Being told she brought him calm, out of every other emotion in the world, was a feeling that warmed her up from the inside. And he wasn’t even doing anything yet, except using his mind. Swallowing softly when his hands took a hold of her face, Carinna let her eyes half-close, as if there was going to be a soft sigh coming next. Maybe it was still the thrill of it, but hearing him admit he loved her felt like the last drop to truly make her give up and become entirely his. And she wanted that... with a shuddering intensity that suddenly came out of nowhere. While his hands were sliding down her body, all the redhead could think of was that this was it, she was giving him permission to do something another one had used against her - to turn her fragile ability to love into a tool meant to erase everything that made her her. Shuddering involuntarily when Shane’s fingers started to take her blouse off, Carinna almost lost sense of time and place, the urge to shy away rising up, as if there was any trace on her bare skin that could betray more of the past she had left behind. But there wasn’t and what was more - Shane was watching her with such warm, filled with love eyes that focusing on them helped her to pull herself out of the past and into the future. The future she had with him. He was the second man she allowed to undress her and there was no one else that she wanted to give this to more than she wanted to give it to him. And so, lifting her hands up to help him take the blouse off completely, a second later they went back to touching him, this time also tracing warm lines over his lips, in the same manner she had sometimes daydreamed of doing. “Then take them off...”, her suggestive words came out as a whisper, because apparently her heart was beating so fast, making her feel as if no air would ever be enough to satisfy the hunger in her body. Not unless it was offered to her from his lips alone.

Gathering her hair so it wouldn’t get in the way, she leaned in, pressing a soft, teasing kiss to his jawline, that eventually continued down to his neck. The little rough touch of his stubble wasn’t unwelcome, if anything, it only added to ignite the need deep within her. Coming up to brush her nose against his, the woman smiled. “Take me to bed, Shane. I’m yours, only yours... since the moment you saw me. You make me feel... all these things with intensity I've never known before,” Carinna whispered, her body melting into his, pressing almost entirely. "You know, a part of me loves you since you had that daisy in your hair..." Sneaking her hands behind, she took a hold of his and firmly pressed them to her bare back - even slightly lower, a semi-smile tugging at her lips just a moment before going back in to kiss him.

Shane is aware his breathing has become unsteady, yet he can't remember the exact moment it happened. Maybe it was much earlier than he imagines: with her confession in the store, when he felt the collision of Carinna's breath on his face or when he felt her body next to his when they fell on the couch. Or maybe it was a long, long time ago when his breathing matched Carinna's rhythm - specifically when their gazes met for the first time in the crowd of the restaurant. Shane has the feeling that he's been breathing for her ever since, and he doesn't complain because it's a more than perfect reason to do so. While she wasn’t the only person Shane'd been with, obviously, she was the most familiar, the most stable - the most comforting and at ease. He had felt that with her from pretty early on in their relationship, had known somehow Carinna would be someone special to him.

He feels a kind of electric shock in every centimeter of skin that Carinna's fingers touch. This alone already makes Shane feel in heaven. And that singsong laugh only served to enamor him more as he kissed the tip of her nose, a brief and silly gesture before he pulled back enough, looking lovingly into her eyes. "Oh, do you?" He shudders when he feels that warm kiss under his ear, but this has nothing to do with sex or a desperate need, but with closeness and the feeling of just fitting in with each other. And his feelings for her are only magnified when Carinna kisses him with more need than before, unwilling to give them even that second of respite for their lungs to catch oxygen again. Shane doesn't want to share her even with the air, because right now Carinna is his. And he is hers.

Everything else is irrelevant. "I feel the same." Shane admitted against her lips in a fragile, but warm, whisper. He offered a shy chuckle, a breath. "You are not only the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life, Carinna you are… You give me a deep sense of calm that I find nowhere else." He released an involuntary, smiling breath. Shane was so caught up in a wave of affection for her, it came out as more of a whisper than anything: "I love you." And he wanted to show her not only with words but with deeds that he has been counting the minutes to hold her in his arms. To touch her like this. To make her his. He takes her face in his hands with utmost care and looks into her eyes again with tenderness, a tenderness only she can inspire in him. But now the need to touch her has escalated many levels, and Shane's hands end up sliding down slowly, past her body and sneaking under her blouse, getting completely lost in the sensation of feeling her soft skin under the palm of his hands. "Carinna…" A murmur very close to her ear, as if in this way he could communicate to her how much he needed and wanted to continue this. He wanted this moment to never end yet somehow he wished he could make it eternal. "I can think of a way to keep you happy… but you're still wearing too many clothes to show it to you." Shane whispers huskily, sketching a mischievous smile as he brings his hands to the end of her blouse and pulls it up gently to remove it completely.

[wintcrstcrfall]

There was once a time when Carinna believed she had received the biggest love the world could ever offer her. It came with a pretty face and an abundance of sugary sweet words meant to get under her skin and snatch her as far away from her previously known life as it was possible. It had taken her some time to find out that what she was receiving was as far away from real love, as one could get. This, right at that moment, was what real love felt like. And no, she didn't think that way only because Shane's fingers and tongue were bringing her to places she had never thought possible; the real love was sparkling, hidden into that look he sometimes got while gazing at her - the same look she now managed to notice in between heavy breaths and torturous attempts not to move too much. And then there were his words, a soft, seducing whisper that only made her to lose control over another whimper, as she felt herself getting closer to the edge he was purposefully pushing her towards. Carinna tried to swallow, but her throat was tight. Instead, a second later another heavy moan slipped past her lips. He wanted to see her let go? Letting their eyes lock once again, the affirmation was hopefully clear in her gaze. The hand that was previously locked into his hair slowly released him and instead beckoned him, palm up, for Shane to take hold of it with his other hand. She needed to hold on to something and the only thing Carinna really needed right now was him.

At that moment, the worries from a moment ago about anyone from his past didn't matter anymore. His past didn't matter, because the future was only theirs now. That slight shift in her was visible, indicating the moment the redhead truly decided to let go - and to trust him enough to actually do it. "Shane..." In no other moment did his name from her lips sounded more like an 'i love you' than in this moment. As her head fell to one side, messy red curls spilling in front of her eyes, Carinna felt her body shifting, trembling, that sweet release slowly but surely building inside of her. Never before had pleasure come to her with such intensity, and it made her head to spin, leaving only him and her to shine bright inside that mess of a brain Shane created out of her carefully built protections. When she felt her walls contract, a low sigh escaped past her lips. With her free hand she managed to reach down and get a hold of his finger that was massaging her, and just held it there, pressing the pulsing point of her until stars erupted behind her closed lids. As her body writhed for a while more, last pleasurable whimper left her before the dark brown eyes opened again and landed right over his handsome face. "Come to me...", Carinna whispered softly, breathlessly. Now, her hand was reaching for his face, all the while the high was still slowly seeping away from her sensitive body. "I need to kiss you... so badly. And some things... they really need to be taken off of you." Daring a smile, the redhead reached and ran a finger over his wet lips. There was no time for blushing now. They were just two people in love who wanted to make the other feel as good as it was humanly possible. "I need you so much, Shane. So much... Don't torture yourself more."

There was an undeniable rush in being able to elicit all these sounds and reactions from Carinna. Shane had dreamt of it for so long that there was some innate desperation to show her how much he wanted to please her, to give her everything, to wash away all her fears. Because he knew there were things the redhead hadn't yet told him — how the mention of their former relationship seemed to diminish that tender smile filled with warmth that the musician had become forever attached, how there were times when it seemed her mind seemed to drift away, finding herself physically with him but wrenchingly distant at the same time. But Shane, he was in no hurry. Carinna would open up completely to him at the pace she set, not the other way around, and in the meantime, he would prove to her day after day that he was someone worthy of something as precious as her trust was. He wanted to worship her, love her. Truth is, he didn't just want to be the first to taste her — he also wanted to be the last. Hence the way his mouth was exploring the hottest part of her body right now was about something beyond lust. It was a statement of intent, a "this is what you deserve each and every day for the rest of your life."

And Shane, he was volunteering. "You're so beautiful," he whispered out the praise in genuine awe, meant only for her in the private intimacy being shared between them. "Breathtaking." She was perfect in every sense of the word, literal or figurative. The way she writhed and moaned was as erotic as it was sweet, both innocent and corrupt at the same time. "That's it, that's it." He muttered, fascinated by the expression of abandonment she displayed. As if nothing mattered anymore. "Let yourself go, Carinna. Let me see you." A quiet, wanting whisper, massaging her clit in soft circles while he contented himself with looking at her freckled face. The musician didn't want to miss a second of her reactions or the way she responded to him. Pleasuring her like this, soaking in her taste, reaching every last corner of her with his tongue, listening to her heaving breathing, knowing he was responsible for her moans… Shane admitted he could get addicted to this much faster than he expected. He felt Carinna's hands wandering through his hair, and he devoted special attention to that tiny button that crowned her sex. It was entrancing, watching the way her body trembled and rocked against his ministrations. Never had his name sounded so good as it did coming from Carinna's flush lips, fervent and heady enough to make Shane feel delirious. He could easily spend his days like this, torturing her just this little bit to bring her greatest of bliss. Little did it matter the painful strain within his shorts… He could prolong this for the entire night.

[wintcrstcrfall]

The clear look of shock on his face did manage to bring out of her a real, deep blush. If the moment was any other, it would've made her to feel extremely silly for being able to get flustered so easily. Yet right at that moment, with all of the clear tension between them, it only added to the fact how much Shane and their relationship meant to her - and because of all of it, her blushing seemed like the only possible reaction. Just thinking about him pressing his mouth to her most intimate place, made her cheeks to remain permanently reddened. "Okay," she nodded, slightly embarrassed. It was so funny how their roles had changed in a second. Not that she didn't like this side of him - she did, a lot - but it was also such a vulnerable thing for her and the power shift in the dynamic was definitely something to get used to.

And yet, all of those constantly buzzing worries inside her mind melted to nothing the second Shane lowered his head. A gasp choked out the air inside her lungs the moment his lips pressed right over the mole she had pointed at him. And the way his eyes met hers while he did that? Carinna's whole body shuddered, warmth traveling up and down before pooling right in between her legs. Even if there was a second in which she doubted if that was a good idea for their first time, the moment Shane's lips pressed to her most sensitive spot, all of the worries turned to smoke. Exhaling, the woman let her head to fall back in the bed, eyes closing for a few frantic beats of her heart. Thankfully that she did that, because then Shane was actually pressing his lips to her warmth, no more barriers, no more anything but his lips and tongue, and then a soft, surprised moan left her. It was beyond impossible to try and keep her body still once he tasted her and Carinna moved her hips slightly, already desperate for more. "Shane..." , she was looking down towards him again... and that sight... His name was like a melody on her lips, becoming even more powerful than before. When the woman grabbed the sheets, twisting them in her grasp, a single whimper left her. Then another one. Even if no words were said, it was pretty clear how good it felt, how good he was. A sliver of a dangerous thought entered her mind, trying to poison the moment, but it was all too good to let that thought linger. Carinna didn't want to think about the others before her, didn't want to think where he had learned to do that. Selfishly, she just wanted to have all of him only to herself now. Forever. "It's so good... oh please, Shane..." Like him, her own voice was almost unrecognisable. It was not clear what exactly she was begging of him to do. But once her fingers managed to reach down and wrap gently over his locks, the redhead felt herself losing control all that more as another whimper escaped from her.

I want everything with you. The deep sense of exhilaration that swept over him took his breath away. Both blushing, but smiling. Anxious, but expectant. Wanting more. Wanting everything. Soft hands brush against his chest and a shiver ran through him from head to toe as, with deliberate slowness, the musician finished pulling her pants down. And once he had her in just her underwear, Shane's breath choked. You can't get an idea of the way you've filled my heart, so began the lyrics of the song he'd composed for her, and which suddenly echoed in his mind. I think my heart has been empty for something. I've grown up with no one to fill it because that hole was for you. For you and you alone.

The confession made Shane momentarily speechless. A hint of pure shock shining in his eyes as he desperately tried to remember to breathe. No one. What did she mean, no one? What person could have the most beautiful girl they would ever behold in front of them, and not want to run his mouth over every inch of her body? "Carinna…" He mused, surprised by his own voice. It was deep and gravelly, hoarser than she had probably heard him so far. Shane doesn't want to think about the people she's been with, not now, honestly not ever. He's just glad he has a chance to make her feel good. Desire and love shining equally bright in the musician's eyes. "There is literally nothing you can do wrong." Pure tenderness in his words. "Just, let your body tell me what it wants." It was hard to know what came over him when he slowly parted Carinna's legs. "God - look at you." He growled deep in his chest, eyes drinking up the state of his girlfriend, parting her legs more as Shane leaned down to trail his lips along the inside of her thighs. His overflowing affection for her had his lips pressing gentle kisses to her inner thighs, desperate to let her know, once again, he didn't just lust for her, but he also loved her. Deeply. Moving up, his lips touched her belly button mole with the gentlest of kisses, sharing a knowing glance with Carinna before exploring further. They had all the time in the world, but he had told her he wanted to taste her, and that was just what he was going to do. "Just tell me if it feels good or you want me to stop." Shane whispered, glancing up at her before pressing her lips into her heat, the barrier still between them. Shane's tongue slithered down, probing at her as the cotton fabric resisted, not letting his tongue go any deeper - until finally pushing her panties aside. Tasting Carinna for the first time, her sweetness filled Shane's mouth as he looked at her for a reaction.

[wintcrstcrfall]

Hearing Shane admit that he had dreamed of this special, vulnerable moment between them, did something to her, something that felt a lot like excitement and giddy anticipation. A part of her brain wanted to ask him to tell her details, to tell her everything they did in those dreams and then to do them with him all over again in reality, but for now the redhead bit her tongue and kept silent. There was time for this, there was plenty of time for this; right now all they needed was to savor this moment, right there. The woman wasn't the best in that - in stopping and just enjoying everything the moment had to offer; but right now, for their first time, it was worth it to try with all of her mind.

And then, her attention snapped right back to him. 'I'd love to hear you moan my name.' If Shane's cheeks had turned a little flushed, hers were bright red. That action, compared to the clear, intoxicating love and lust mixed together in his endless eyes - and Carinna knew she would never stop shaking. Not because her body was cold, yet simply because her mind accepted everything that he said, accepted the touches of his fingers, the way it made her skin to hum and burn in a clear reply and couldn't deal with it in any other way. The passion with which he said all of it, combined with how gently Shane's fingers trailed over her exposed skin, leaving a tingling path behind, it slowly overwhelmed her senses. The redhead tried to remember the last time someone had wanted to be this gentle with her and failed to; she didn't even know that it was something her body craved on such a deep, primal level. On its own her body arched, hips lifting to help him once he unbuttoned her pants. Shane was waiting for her to tell what she wanted but how was it possible to put into words everything her body and soul needed? Suddenly, she was the one struggling to form coherent thoughts. Anything more than whispering to take her, to make her his, was impossible to form into her brain - the same one she prided herself with in any other case. "I want...", she finally started, greedily reaching a hand to run up and down his chest and stomach. He really was the most perfect man her eyes had ever seen. "Oh, Shane, I want everything. Everything with you." Just thinking about it, him on top of her, then her on top of him, Shane in between her legs, his wild curls free for her hands to touch and grip at, and Carinna could feel herself moving a little in sweet anticipation. "Luckily for you... I have this mole right here," one of her fingers tapped on the left side of her stomach, right next to her bellybutton, and the redhead grinned, "that is awaiting your kisses." But despite the teasing sparkle in her dark eyes, for a moment she managed to swallow and place her hand on his. "Shane? No one's ever..." Maybe she shouldn't have said anything but something in her made her want to do it. To be honest with him about everything, just like she had been from that first night at the beach. "No one's ever tasted me before. Just promise to tell me if I'm doing something wrong, okay?"

As the sound of her giggles filled the walls of the apartment and Carinna looked up at him with those big, blazing eyes, the thought that she was indeed perfect crossed the mind of the smitten musician. She was breathtaking, love incarnate in a beautiful, freckled face. He wondered if she had any idea how much he loved her. The man himself was a little nervous about the magnitude of his feelings, but it was the kind of good, thrilling nervousness - the kind you experienced when you knew you were about to start a new phase in your life and longed for it to begin as soon as possible, but, at the same time, wanted to stop time to recreate the feeling forever. If Shane could capture this moment and make it go on forever, he would. Carinna's needy gasp set him adrift, and he looked at her with hooded eyes, as if savoring her. When had he ever felt so close to anyone? When had he ever wanted to feel anyone so close to him? Never, until now, until this very moment. "Whatever you want." With the help of his girlfriend, he ungracefully shed his shirt, tossing it to the floor to reveal his tattooed chest. For a split second the musician ran his fingers through his long locks of hair, feeling briefly insecure about his physique. He should go to the gym more. He should take better care of himself. But the girl looked at him as if none of that mattered, and Shane grunted before his lips eagerly sought Carinna's again, as if he had missed them in that short space of time.

The redhead indulged a small nibble on his lip that sent the mist of passion swirling over his head, moaning as Carinna tugged at his belt to draw him further between her legs. There were loves that burned in a night and others for which a lifetime wasn't enough. And Shane knew this feeling fell into the second category, that one night wasn't going to be enough, not two, not a thousand. He became lost in the depths of his mind as what he felt when he touched her, when he watched her and listened to her words, became more and more intense. "Carinna…" Shane let out a small moan at the back of his throat at her words. "I'm just a man. I've thought about this. God, I've dreamed about this." He confessed with an affected smile, as if it was a secret he only wished to share with her. "I want to taste every inch of your skin. I want to kiss every freckle, every mole." Whatever sanity he had left was already being stolen by Carinna with every smile, with everything he could see in her eyes and that contained entire galaxies. It seemed ironic it was precisely at this moment, when they had ever been closest to each other, that he wasn't getting enough of her. "I'd love to hear you moan my name." There was a soft flush on Shane's cheeks as he whispered it; his eyes however, were hot. "But before I make you fully mine… I'd like to taste you." With his hand he slowly caressed the path from her breast to her belly, anticipating the downward path he wanted to trace with his mouth, until he came up against another barrier on her body, the fabric of her pants. Shane lifted his gaze on those beautiful brown eyes, in which he'd lose himself of his own free will. Without taking his eyes off her for a second, almost without blinking, he started to slowly unbutton her pants. "But I'm not doing anything without you telling me what you want."

[wintcrstcrfall]

Having a front row seat of the long and turbulent way that Shane traveled through different emotions made the moment all that more special. She was nervous about admitting something like that in front of him - of course she was - but at the same time it seemed like the most natural thing in the entire world. After the conversations they had, after the shared moments of affections between one another, and considering how much they just fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle, in a sense... it felt ridiculous that she hadn't gathered the courage to say those words earlier to the man. But then her fear of scaring him off, of doing something to push him away - a fear that Carinna still harbored - it all made a little more sense to try and wait a bit more. To give him time as well as herself. Because if anything, Carinna's heart was scared to open up again, let alone to open up in such a massive way. But as Shane captured her lips, she felt all that more eager to tilt her face towards him, letting his lips to swallow the happy laugh bubbling inside her chest. Once her hands wrapped around his neck, that sealed the deal. Standing on tiptoes, her fingers instinctively buried in the soft hair at the back of his head. She didn't mind who might be walking outside in the night, didn't mind anyone seeing their little display of affection because it was perfectly normal between two people who loved each other. And that was what Shane's lips were telling hers - that he loved her back, just as intently as she did.

And if that wasn't enough, his next words turned her completely speechless. There was a reason why Shane was in a band - he was a romantic and he knew how to say stuff that no other man would ever dream of saying. It was just another of the reasons why Carinna fell in love with him so easily. To her, it felt natural, like breathing. "I love when you're speaking like a poet...", the redhead teased right when his lips got a hold of hers again. She didn't mind spending all of their time like that, just kissing each other. And when her fingers wrapped more tightly around his shirt, pulling him closer to her to the point where it felt as if both of them would melt into one another if possible, Carinna let out a little moan that got lost almost at the same time, swallowed by him. "I love you, I love you...", the woman whispered quietly once they let go to catch their breaths. As her lips trailed down a few kisses on his cheekbone and then on his neck, she smiled, feeling her heart filling with that dangerous, all consuming happiness. But when she pulled away, it was her turn to capture Shane's face in between her hands. Then, looking in his eyes, Carinna whispered: "Thank you for finding me that night at the restaurant. I can't imagine my life without you in it. And I don't want to. Whatever happens, I want you to know that all of this is real. And I'll fight for us... for this, right here. I promise."

Carinna repeats the word boyfriend and then lapses into a few moments of silence that seem like centuries to Shane, fear gripping him completely. Though he still feels that warm feeling that comes over him whenever he holds her in his arms, it fades to a more familiar anguish. What if…? The man swallows, making himself breathe and forcing a breezy tone, even though his heart is crumbling in his chest. "You can tell me anything." But before Shane can pepper his mind with a multitude of doomsday scenarios, Carinna does what she does best: make him feel at peace. She turns around in his arms and what she tells him next is not at all what Shane expects. His insides shake violently and he can only stare at her with parted lips, paralyzed. Hearing Carinna's voice telling him she's in love with him is all Shane can focus on.

The only thing that matters.

He keeps watching Carinna with shock, but what he feels the most is his heart beating wildly, as if so many years of silence had only prepared him to explode now. God, was he trembling? Carinna stood before him, handing him something as wonderful and precious as her heart, choosing HIM. And once he was able to take it in, slowly, oh so slowly, an enormous balloon of warm, undiluted happiness bursts inside Shane’s chest, flooding him with such intense joy that he began to smile, a dimpled smile, filled with a joy he'd never felt before. "Carinna…" He wants to tell her a lot of things, that he's in love with her too-- because of course he is. He always has been. His mind and his songs are only filled with her. But in the end he decides to take his hands away from her waist and brings them to her face, leaning down to kiss her fiercely, in ecstasy. Shane’s heart swells to five times its size. Pouring into that kiss the words that end up rushing from his lips, establishing a short distance when he breaks away to catch his breath. "It's as if in these years I've been exposed to a constant shipwreck. With every bad decision I made, with every failure, with every occasion when I ran from my feelings… It's as if I had been surviving storms to get to today, to the port where you would be waiting for me. And now that I know, that you too…" He laughs, a sound that mixes happiness and choking, as if he's about to burst into tears. "I'm in love with you too, god, how could I not be?" And then, Shane kisses her again.

[wintcrstcrfall]

When Shane lifted her effortlessly into his arms, Carinna's entire being melted there. Fitting so perfectly in his grasp was yet another thing that worked to ease her underlying nerves from what they were doing. With the softest of gasps, the redheaded woman wrapped her legs around his waist, all the while her hands roamed all over his back. She loved the subtle hint of strength underneath her fingertips, loved to find out new places on Shane's body that would elicit a sigh or a gasp out of him. And Carinna was probably a little too proud of herself for it, that little achievement of hers. Him calling her 'his most valuable thing' was surely starting to get to her head too, because when Shane's back collided with the door, all the woman could feel was a rising giggle. "You're perfect," the redhead whispered, burning eyes glued to his lips. Oh, the way she wanted to trace them over and over with her tongue, teasing, not even allowing him to fully kiss her until she didn't offer her own mouth to him.

Biting at the insides of her cheeks when Shane carefully lowered her on the bed, a needy gasp rolled off her chest in an instant. He looked... so good on top of her right now, his hair already a mess, eyes blazing with heat that made Carinna's own cheeks to redden significantly. And then, when Shane's hands slipped over her body, the goosebumps that immediately rose to the surface were impossible to hide or control, even if the woman wanted to. And she most definitely didn't. Reaching on her own towards him, her hands took a solid hold of the ends of his shirt. Somehow Shane was still wearing so many clothes and it was time for Carinna to slowly get rid of all of them. The nervousness was still there, hiding at the back of her mind, but to the forefront another feeling had emerged - a melting hot need that made her heart to thud wildly, afraid if it would be possible to survive through so many emotions mixed in one in her tiny body. "Take this off, please," she whispered, slowly tugging his shirt upwards, revealing more and more skin to her hungry eyes. Arching her back, so she could barely lift in order to capture his lips again, Carinna's teeth lightly sunk into Shane's lower lip, giving it a teasing pull. It was then that the fingers of one of her hands slid lower and hooked around his belt, using it to pull him teasingly even more in between her legs. "I've been thinking about this, you know?", looking up into his eyes, nothing but love and passion dangerously intertwining together, the redhead's face then lit up with a smile. There was nothing shameful about the way she was looking at him right now. "About the moment where you'll make me fully yours... Tell me, have you thought of it too? How do you plan on doing it?"

It was so exhilarating, being with Carinna. Single-handedly, she'd wormed her way into his heart. Mind. Body. Soul. There wasn't a part of her that Shane didn't want to claim, and at the same time his heart and soul were opening to her as they'd never done with anyone. With her help he got rid of that piece of cloth that now seemed completely unnecessary, pulling her blouse until he could take it off and leave it somewhere on the floor he wouldn't notice again for a long time. At Carinna's semi-nudity even Shane's gasping breath stilled and a gleam of admiration filled his eyes. A beauty of a woman with that touch of tenderness her almond-shaped eyes brought. He wanted to burn this image into his mind. He doubted he'd ever be able to forget it. Her words sent a shiver down Shane's spine even though the temperature in the room was only rising, and every kiss she left on his skin only made Shane have to remind the small reasonable portion of his brain that the need to hear her speak was also high on his pecking order. But those soft lips were making it hard for him. "That makes you then the most precious, valuable thing I have." He whispered, filled with a love he'd never felt before. Yours. No one had ever belonged to him, he'd never found anyone he wanted to belong to either. But without knowing they'd been searching for each other they'd found each other with that first kiss they dared to give each other.

When he felt her hands clasping his against her back with premeditation, Shane knew it wasn't going to be him calling the shots from now on, but her and the desire, the love he felt for Carinna. And it was the sight of her face in those moments, eyes shining and lips red and slightly swollen over his own, that made him not think twice about lifting her effortlessly into his arms, and set out on the path that would lead them to his room. Or at least that was what Shane planned-- until his back violently collided with the door of it as he miscalculated. "Ouch. I almost thought this moment was going to look passionate and erotic." He chuckled in admission. "I'd forgotten who I am." Not wanting to risk losing any vital part of either of their bodies, Shane held back the urge to continue kissing her for the few remaining steps to his bed, where he laid her down carefully, resting both hands on either side of her heart-shaped face. Every pore of his skin seemed to cry out for her and they all agreed that they needed to feel Carinna. So his hands moved almost by instinct to begin roaming her body, the silence only interrupted by the frantic beating of Shane's heart and that seemed to be pulsing with hers to see which of the two would leave their chest before the other.

[wintcrstcrfall]

The warmth of Shane's body had turned into a favorite feeling for the redhead. It might've sounded silly to someone else, but it carried this enveloping sense of security that Carinna could recognise anywhere. When his hands slipped around her frame so dutifully and so quickly after her agreement, the woman couldn't help but chuckle... and then press right towards him in return. Feeling the frantic beating of his heart against her back was another thing she loved; if it was up to Carinna, she would've wanted to believe that she would always be able to make it beat like that - and only for her. Because of her. "You're always a good boyfriend...", the redhead hurried to reassure him, without even putting too much thought into the term that had just slipped from her tongue. But then her mind finally backtracked a little, a sweet realization downing in place. "Boyfriend..." It wasn't silly that she had never really dared to put that term out there, to connect it with him out loud, even if she had considered Shane to be her boyfriend from their first official date. But now, once he himself had used it, there was no real reason for her to hold back anymore too. "I like that", Carinna admitted, head leaning to bump into his, while Shane's chin was still on her shoulder. She kept like that for a second too long, letting the weight of his arms around her to settle more firmly before daring to slowly turn. Then and there the woman decided that this was going to be the moment. No turning back. "I need to tell you something... but please don't panic", moving her hair to the side, Carinna took a nervous breath in before looking Shane in the eyes. Leaning slightly towards his lips, still holding eye contact, she whispered, "I'm in love with you, Shane McCormick. I've been in love with you for so long now that's a little embarrassing to admit from how long exactly..."

Shane's heart is pounding as he watches her work in the flower shop. He thinks, not for the first time, how much he likes the serene, focused expression on her face. How despite the hour she kept her fatigue at bay to do a flawless job. It was an image Shane used to keep in the back of his mind, to remember for later, when his mind wandered. Yet nothing was comparable to when Carinna looked at him like that. His heart beat harder, ecstatic. Full. He loved seeing that twinkle in her eyes, it still didn't make any sense but, it seemed like he actually makes her happy, and that's good because Shane… God, he's ridiculously happy. He chuckled at Carinna's response, stepping away from the counter he'd been hunched over for the last half hour, composing the lyrics to his new song, and walked towards her with an easy smile taking over his entire face. "I always want to touch you," he admits, in a remark that months ago would have made him blush, but now only makes his eyes sparkle as he stands behind her, "it's just that I was being a good boyfriend and didn't want to distract you." The word leaves his lips even though they haven't spoken on the issue again, and Shane blinked, fear bubbling in his chest, "--though when you look at me like that I find it pretty hard not to." Wanting to camouflage his lapse, he hugged Carinna from behind, slipping his arms around her waist as he rested his chest against her back and his lips brushed affectionately against the fabric of her shirt. The smell of roses, her perfume and the now so familiar fabric softener soothed him and made him close his eyes with a satisfied sound, before resting his chin on her shoulder and watching the bouquets with interest. Or at least pretends to watch the bouquets-- his mind keeps dissecting his last words with embarrassment and a growing sense of panic. Shane already thinks of her as his girlfriend, to be honest he already thinks of her constantly. And out of inertia he strengthened the grip of his arms around her body, trying to calm himself.

[wintcrstcrfall]

It was impossible for Carinna not to think over and over again about what Shane had said, not when the teasing nature of it played right with her impatience. And even if it was easily deduced, of course, from the kisses, the undeniable spark in his eyes and even the way his fingers always found their ways back to her, that didn’t mean Carinna wasn’t going to still feel the anticipation. But what was more surprising was that she didn’t mind, not one bit. Instead, she loved to savor every moment, every feeling that Shane could give to her, no matter if it made her to laugh or to melt right into his strong arms. The woman was ashamed to admit but sometimes, while she secretly looked at him when he didn’t realize it, Carinna felt so inspired that she imagined people who had the talent to put their feelings into words were feeling the same way in their best moments. And while the redhead was anything but a writer or a poet - that was strictly Shane’s thing - the love that was growing in her heart inevitably made her to desire to be able to express it more richly than just with her kisses and displays of affection.

When they finally arrived at his place and Shane's lips were once again on top of hers, all of those small worries didn't matter anymore. Not while he was brushing a lock from her hair, or gazing so intently, with such adoration in Carinna's eyes, that the redhead had to part her lips, hungrily taking in a deep, deep breath. But what that only did was to make her inhale Shane's scent and when he pressed her against the door, when his hand was sliding down her thigh, Carinna happily let him. And not only that, but she even wrapped her arms around his neck, then arched her back pressing entirely to him. When other men had called her beautiful before, all Carinna had felt was how empty that sounded. But with Shane it never felt like that - what was more, he always made it look as if it came straight from his soul. What more could a woman want in any man? Especially a woman like her.

When they stumbled, Carinna let out a light giggle that only rapidly grew when suddenly she found herself on top of him, legs at both sides of his body. Pressing her hands to his chest, so she could regain some sort of balance, the redhead shot Shane her best amused look, despite the flushed cheeks and rapid heartbeat. "So... I have little news for you," with every next word, her body leaned more and more towards his, taking its time. When her fingers slid down his chest, Carinna finally grinned just as she moved her lips next to his ear. "I actually get... really, really mean when I don't get fed properly..." Leaving a kiss right under his ear, slowly it moved downwards, warming him from the inside with every next touch of her lips. "How do you plan on keeping me nice and happy, Shane?" This time, there was the lightest, happiest of laughs bubbling in her chest. Still, despite it, Carinna's fingertips were already sneaking under his shirt, touching, teasing the hard muscles there with her nails. It was then that she pressed her lips on top of his, tongue slipping into his mouth. There was nothing innocent about the way she allowed her lips to ravish his. The warning about how hungry she was wasn't an exaggeration, after all. "You know... it's not only me who's beautiful," the redhead managed to say sneakily, pulling backwards just enough. "You look... so handsome right now. I can't believe that I get to call you mine."

He doesn't miss Carinna's cheeks starting to take on an unmistakable ruddy hue and the musician can't help but widen his smile with genuine adoration and slight curiosity, laughing fondly as he runs a finger across her cheek in a caressing manner - she looks so lovely that his heart threatens to burst. His eyes follow her as she begins to pick everything up at such an accelerated speed that Shane can feel a huge guffaw struggling to take over, his whole body throbbing with glee, his heart blossoming to twice its size. He would love to bottle this feeling. Instead, and while Carinna finishes putting away the bouquets, the man remembers what he had left forgotten earlier on the counter and hurries to grab his notepad. 'For Carinna' so reads the title of the song he's been composing for a while now, and Shane watches his girlfriend out of the corner of his eye, as if making sure she hasn't read it, before hastily stowing it inside his jacket. When the redhead finally finishes picking up, the musician looks at her again, holding out a hand towards him in a gesture full of trust that means everything. His mouth curves into another involuntary smile, the same one that belongs exclusively to her, and Shane leans in and rests his lips on Carinna's as if it was the only thing he could do, the only thing he wanted to do. It was an extraordinary feeling, like coming home. The safest home he had ever known. "I'll show you when we get home."

TIME SKIP

"--I had in mind to make you dinner and play you a song," Shane admits over her lips just after he's opened the door and caught her in his arms in one swift movement, holding her by the waist. In this same position he begins to walk towards the inside of his apartment at the same time he catches her lips again, this time with much more intensity; with need. "--But I have found that when it comes to you, I have no willpower." He leans against the door to close it. At that moment, when that floor gives him the assurance Shane needs to make sure it's truly just him and her, the man takes to gazing at her intently, losing himself in her eyes as if it's the first time they've seen each other, feeling Carinna's breath on his face as if it's the most incredible feeling in the world. He brushes a lock of red hair behind her ear with premeditated slowness, without taking his gaze from her eyes. Shane has the feeling that even if he were to stare at her till exhaustion, even if he were to learn by heart every single mole on her face or speck in her pupils, even if he could wear her out by not even daring to blink… Even with all that, for him it would never be enough. "You're so beautiful." Shane whispers, as if his lips had taken on a life of their own and were trying their hardest to put into words the thoughts that were running over in his mind right now. He turned gently so that Carinna's back was resting against the already closed door, and moved to kiss her lips again, this time vehemently, savoring her, at the same time his hand began to slide down her thigh gently filling it with soft caresses. A few seconds later, his feet were already moving, groping for the couch. However, he was so immersed in the task of discovering every nook and cranny of Carinna's mouth with his tongue that he wasn't aware that they had reached the piece of furniture until he stumbled over it - the next second, found himself with his back against the couch and Carinna on top of him. "Alriiight, there goes my attempt to be smooth." Shane jokingly stated and, inevitably, a soft chuckle bubbled up from his throat.