Off The Beaten Path

Brave New World

"She was dead for a long time." Levi leaned back on his couch, arms splayed over the back.

Bernell felt her gut clench. She recrossed her legs from across the room hoping that he couldn't tell how aroused she was. Over the last two weeks they'd been meeting at one house or another, talking, experimenting with touch. Baring secrets. Exposing themselves slowly. It was an exquisite torture, Bernell didn't want it to end. As time went on he became less guarded. He'd began wearing less clothing around her, unbuttoning his shirt. Partly to tease her, she knew this without him saying a word. She could tell in the way he walked, spoke, looked at her.

"She got so sick." His eyes glazed over, "It wasn't sudden, it took years I guess. I don't really remember exactly how long. I was still pretty young. I remember the day she-" He ran a hand over his face and closed his eyes. "It took months for someone to find me. I was so little. I didn't know where to go, how to fend for myself. Not the right way, not in a way that would have done anything but lead to my death at an early age."

"And that's when Kenny-?"

Levi's eyes narrowed and he moved to resting his arms on his knees, glaring into the flames. "Yes. He taught me to fight, steal. Survive."

Bernell didn't inquire further instead leaving her chair and walking over to him. The soft pad of her bare feet on his floor was faint as she crossed the room, sitting before him, resting her head on his knee. Her hand moved up and down his arm soothingly. His hand twitched, she could feel apprehension rolling off him. Slowly his hand moved to her hair and his head lowered. She held her breath as one hand tangled in her mass of loose hair, his cheek resting on the top of her head. Bernell swallowed hard, remaining still, terrified to move. In some ways, in this sense - with this level of vulnerability - she was afraid one false move would break him somehow, would ruin what they were building.

He wasn't fragile, and yet he was. Like wood. Sturdy, solid, dependable - but if hit in just the right place the entire structure was compromised and would crumble. She didn't want to cause that. At the same time her left leg was going numb and it was difficult to breathe trapped between his head and the hot air trapped in the circle of his torso. she shifted and, to her disappointment, he pulled away.

A moment later he lifted her onto his lap effortlessly. She fell back on the empty part of the couch, her legs draped over his lap. She watched as his hands slowly lifted the layers of her skirt, pushing them to her knees. His fingers pausing to touch each exposed inch of flesh that the peeled away layers revealed. She closed her eyes, biting her lip to keep from making a sound. His hands did feel as good as she had imagined, the rough skin stimulating her body. All too suddenly she became aware of exactly how ready for him she was. Self consciously she tried to pull away.

His grey eyes pinned her, his hand clamped around her ankle refusing to let her go. "Are we getting skittish now?"

His brow raised and that damn cocky attitude of his returned.

"Are you sure you want this?" She was trying not to breathe too fast. Probably failing.

His gaze didn't leave hers but his grip relaxed, his fingers traced up her ankle, over her calf, circling her knee. She gripped the cushion as his touches sent waves of heat to her core. She closed her eyes, enjoying the attention, until his fingers fell above her knee, caressing her inner-thigh dangerously close to-

"What are you doing?" Her voice was deeper than she intended.

"You like this." He whispered, watching her. "You like this too."

His fingers barely, barely whispered over her clothed vulva. She jolted at the hint of the sensation. Wide eyed she met his gaze, his face seemed satisfied at her reaction. He withdrew his hands leaving her feeling cold and bereft.