#ref: tadgh x lyra

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Despite the complications of Tadgh's feelings at letting another person into what he'd deemed a cursed life, Lyra had a way of quieting the noise in his head. The tiniest hint of a smile even passed his lips when she pulled him by the shirt and brought her mouth to his. Tadgh wasn't one to be upset over a woman taking control, having been with all types of men and women in his forty-four years. Still, curiosity made him wonder if she'd let him take the power back. His tongue chased hers as he kissed Lyra back with just as much heat. Then slowly he pushed her down until she was laying down on the table he'd made with her legs dangling over the edge and his this body wedged between them. His hands massaged their way down her body until he was standing up, his weight no longer pinning her down as he admired her heaving chest and kiss swollen lips. But his calloused hands didn't stop there, instead they slipped under the hem of her dress, pushing the fabric over her hips. "If you want me to stop, A rúnsearc, now's the time to speak up. Otherwise, I'm going to fuck you on this table until you need me to carry you to bed."

lyra's breath caught as tadgh set her down on the edge of the table, eyes wide as she met his gaze. there was something intense in the way he looked at her and she felt nervous. she listened to his words, felt the heat of his hands as they slipped under her shirt, his fingertips brushing her ribs, and her heart seemed to stutter. she couldn't remember the last time someone had made her nervous. the sensible, logical part of her was telling her to pull away, that they should take things slow. what was the rush? but desire rose within her, and it was so much louder than sense and logic. any notion of them being friends was wiped from her mind as she reached for him, gripping the front of his shirt so that she could close the distance between them, her lips meeting his with a hunger that surprised even her.

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The carpenter's hands grabbed her hips, thumbs pressing into her slight curves as he set her down on the edge of a kitchen table he'd finished that only needed to be painted and polished. Tadgh leaned in, his pale blue-gray gaze locking on her soft features. "I haven't had friends in a long time and..." A self-deprecating chuckle passed his lips, his hands sliding under her shirt and up to her ribs. "The things I want to do to you on this table. It's not something men do with their friends, A rúnsearc." A part of him wanted her to push him away and tell him to stop, but the well of desire in his chest was taking over, the part he never let people see, and Tadgh desperately wanted her to pull him in and tear down his walls. His heart raced in fear and anticipation.

lyra's gaze stayed fixed on tadgh's, steady and unflinching, as he tucked her hair behind her ear. "no," she shook her head, smiling softly. "i don't regret it." she was unperturbed by his admission, by the uncertainty because, in truth, she wasn't sure what she wanted from him either. she hadn't come looking for answers or promises, she was quite content to just be. to escape from the whirlwind of her life, if only for a little while. she found the peace and quiet, the stillness, rather comforting. it wasn't just the absence of noise either, but the absence of expectation - nobody needed her, nobody was demanding her presence, calling her name, there was no mental list to run through of things that needed urgently actioning. she could let her thoughts drift without needing to be sharp or focused. she could breathe. "i don't know what i want with you either, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends whilst we figure it out."

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Tadgh watched her fingers move over his work, every piece in various phases of completion. For him it was no different than watching someone physically touching him and he swallowed down the thought as his skin was covered in goosebumps. Lyra seemed at ease out here and if he was the sort of person that remembered how to smile then he might have. Maybe he shouldn't have reached out and touched her and maybe the comfort he felt out in the quiet gave him some nerve, but when she didn't pull away, Tadgh didn't either. Licking his lips, he gave a firm shake of his head. "Probably shouldn't tell people you're stalking them in a room full of things that could be used as weapons." There it was, a little more of that teasing and flirting that almost never came out of him. With one hand still on her hip, Tadgh tucked her brown hair behind her ear to better study her face. "I don't know what I want with you, Lyra. I never want to be around people, never want to see some one again, never want to share my space... and then I met you." Giving her a minute to process that, his stormy blue-gray gaze met hers. "You regretting coming all the way out here now?"

lyra walked slowly through the workshop, her fingers trailing gently over every surface as she passed. it was quet here, peaceful. she didn't get much of that. as an emergency room nurse her best days were the ones that were just busy as opposed to downright chaotic. but here, she could deal the tension in her shoulders starting to ease, the constant hum of urgency in her mind settling somewhat. the scent of wood and the warmth of the space wrapped around her, a stark contrast to the sterile, high-pressure environment of the emergency room. here, her thoughts could wander without the weight of any life-and-death decisions pressing down on her. she started when hands gripped her hips, but let herself be manoeuvred without complaint. she didn't anything as he spoke, just listened, looking to him for only a moment before her gaze fell back to the table he was referring to. "to stalk you, of course." she looked up and raised her eyebrows slightly, her lips hinting at a smile. "why, do you not want me here?"