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[color=808080][color=0bbdaf][b]#0bbdaf[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/Okl6AJX][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=04ed42][b]#04ed42[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019806ab-5bf3-73c1-af11-60d7bfbd86f0.webp][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]tappi's cabin[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Tapeesa led Nate across the snow dusted grass back toward her cabin. With every step her hand shifted in his until her fingers slipped effortlessly between his. She kept her gaze forward as her heart skipped and a flush threatened to return to her cheeks. As they rounded the side of the small cottage, she noticed how the front door was still wide open from when they sped off without a care and chuckled softly. 

She continued to pull him along behind her as she went back inside and closed the door behind them. Tappi paused for a second, looking around the dark living room. [color=0bbdaf]"Light switch,"[/color] she mused to herself as she ran their joined hands against the wall until she found the switch and illuminated the room. The sconces emitted a soft yellow glow that just barely shed enough light to see her way around her living room. Her brows furrowed slightly as she slowly walked around the couch and found a small nook that looked like some witchy apothecary corner. It was only then that she turned to look back at Nate with a warm smile. [color=0bbdaf]"You can have a seat if you want,"[/color] she offered, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before slowly slipping her own hand free.

Nate had a hard time reading Tapeesa. Grabbing his hand the way she did made it seem like they were far more familiar to each other than a few hours of conversation would permit. Yet, he somehow still felt comfortable with their fingers entwined as if they were meant to hold each other. It didn't mean his heart didn't race as she led him inside. When a seat was offered, he took it. He gently lowered himself down on the couch, his eyes naturally following Tapeesa as she turned away to get to work. Did she always look so stunning, or was he far too distracted earlier by the bolder women who usually dragged him back for one night stands?

Tappi dipped into the alcove and tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, deep in thought. She subconsciously started humming a song her mom used to sing her as she searched the cabinets. She pulled out an empty jar and a small plastic bag, but after checking every available compartment she’d have to settle for a mortar and pestle. [color=0bbdaf]"Guess I am a witch,"[/color] she muttered to herself with an amused giggle as she started plucking buds from the dried plant and tossing them into the empty jar. Once finished she put a small handful of buds into the mortar and started grinding them by hand. When she finished, she carefully dumped the prepared weed into the plastic bag and sealed it. 

She crossed the room back to where Nate sat on her couch, her smile was bright with dimples prominent in her rosy cheeks. Tapeesa pinned the small bag against his chest with her index finger. [color=0bbdaf]"To your remission."[/color] Her face scrunched up and she laughed softly. [color=0bbdaf]"I don't know if that counts since I'm literally giving you drugs… [i]but[/i],"[/color] she shrugged her shoulders innocently.

He reached up, grabbing the bag and Tappi's hand again in his own. The corner of his lips were upturned in a slight smile as his brown eyes studied her expression. He spoke softly, as if too much noise would scare her away. [color=04ed42]"You know… I don't think this counts as a favor if you offer it before I ask, Tapeesa."[/color] He held her gaze as he gently tugged the bag free, shaking it a little as he did so. His eyes only briefly dipped to admire the gift before he stared back up at her.

Nate's other hand was slowly raised up into Tapeesa's line of vision. He waved it slightly, and seemingly out of nowhere a single cigarette appeared held between his thumb and index finger. He held it with the filter facing the ground, letting out a sigh. [color=04ed42]"But since you were so kind, I have decided what favor I want from our race."[/color] He extended the cigarette out towards her, almost wincing as he did so. [color=04ed42]"It might sound dumb… but I want you to hold on to this for me, ok?"[/color] He clicked his tongue in his mouth for a moment, seeming to anticipate Tapeesa's hesitance. [color=04ed42]"Not to smoke it… it's Lucky."[/color] He said it with a surprisingly straight face, a small air of gravity towards the move.

Tapeesa’s smile grew with silent amusement at the sleight of hand. She looked at the single cigarette then back at him, brows furrowing as she noticed the subtle way the offering almost seemed to pain him. Her head tilted to the side, faint concern and confusion crossing her face. [color=0bbdaf]"Ok,"[/color] she agreed softly with a nod. She hesitantly reached out and gently took it from his grasp, treating the small bit of paper and tobacco like it was delicate and in need of safe keeping. Her gaze fell to where it rested in her hand, rolling it slowly between her fingers before looking back up into his eyes. [color=0bbdaf]"I didn’t know they could be lucky."[/color] The inflection at the end of her words hinted at an unspoken question. The concept of a lucky cigarette was lost on her. A glint of curiosity sparkled in her eye and tugged at her smile. She owed him a favor, so she wouldn’t argue, but the way she waited expectantly and inspected the cigarette like it was some rare artifact showed she was interested in knowing more if he was willing to share.

Nate nodded softly, tilting his head back and forth as he considered how to answer her unspoken question. [color=04ed42]"It’s an old tradition my dad passed on… the basic idea is it is the one you would smoke last, decided when you first open the pack. And I usually save it for something special."[/color] He leaned back on the couch, his tongue running along his inner cheek as he thought through his next words carefully. [color=04ed42]"Quitting Cold Turkey is a bit of a tough ask… but I can’t open another pack until I smoke the Lucky, so…"[/color] He tilted his head up slightly, hoping Tapeesa could finish the thought for him.

[I]Something special.[/I] Tapeesa looked down at the cigarette held between her fingers with more respect. Her lips scrunched as she tried not to let her smile grow too bright that it outshined the meaning behind his words. While she didn't expect him to quit based on a single comment she made, let alone cold turkey, his willingness to try didn't go unnoticed. She chewed on her bottom lip, spinning the cigarette between her fingers once more before she tucked it behind her left ear. [color=0bbdaf]"You're kind of sweet. You know that?"[/color] She lightly bumped the toe of her boot against the side of his foot for emphasis.

A blush bloomed across Nate's cheekbones as he instinctively turned his head away from Tapeesa for a moment at her comment. He couldn't help but let a soft, sardonic laugh loose. A glance back to her face and the tapping of her foot against his made it clear that she wasn't joking. That only made the bright red of his face grow a shade darker. [color=04ed42]"I… don't think I've been called sweet before."[/color] He ran his free hand down his pant leg, unable to smooth his wrinkled jeans. His question began before he could even comprehend what he was saying. [color=04ed42]"Is that something you're—"[/color] Nate paused, his eyes flashing wide. He shook the thought from his head. [color=04ed42]"Sorry… uh… force of habit,"[/color] he stammered.

Tapeesa shifted her weight from one foot to the other, holding her left index finger in the palm of her right hand. She tilted her head, watching the way the redness bloomed across Nate's cheeks, rivalling the color of his hair. Her smile changed slightly at his comment. Maybe he was different with her? There was no way for her to know, but he [i]was[/i] being sweet and, for whatever reason, she felt the need to tell him that. Her brows raised and a soft chuckle slipped out at the way he cut himself off and stumbled through his words. She didn't know what he was starting to say but rather than focus on it, she shrugged her shoulders with a smile. [color=0bbdaf]"It's ok, Nate,"[/color] she reassured him quietly.

Nate nodded to her words, small smile on his lips as he seemed easily convinced by her calming tone. He needed a distraction, though. He didn't want to leave yet. He needed an excuse to stay. [color=04ed42]”Should we…?"[/color] He shook the bag a little, smiling at her as he did so with a sort of bolstered confidence. [color=04ed42]"Just a taste. Always hits better with good company."[/color]

She nodded in silent agreement, smile never fading as she took a step past him. Then Tappi paused, rubbing her forehead as she peeked over at Nate. [color=0bbdaf]"I don’t actually have paper,"[/color] she confessed before making her way over to her bag and kneeling down beside it. After a minute or two of sifting through her belongings she pulled out a sweater. She slowly unwrapped it, revealing a [url=https://imgur.com/XG358iE]pipe[/url] that was easily older than both of their ages combined, and then some. Her hand dipped into a side pocket of her bag, grabbing a lighter, then she stood back up and returned to him. Tapeesa slid onto the couch beside him, sitting close enough that when she crossed her legs beneath her, her knee lightly brushed his leg. [color=0bbdaf]"Hope you don’t mind looking like an old man,"[/color] she teased softly while holding up the pipe with a lopsided smile.

Nate smiled, carefully taking the pipe from her with a bit of reverence. He could tell the pipe had some significance, even if she didn’t share what it was. [color=04ed42]"I think it would make me look dignified,"[/color] he whispered with a grin.

[color=0bbdaf]"Oh yes, very dignified."[/color] Tappi laughed softly as she turned to face him. Her knee pressed a little into his side as she leaned forward slightly to grab the bag from him. [color=0bbdaf]"It’s walrus ivory. Belonged to my grandfather and was passed down in my family for… I don't know, generations?"[/color] She opened the bag, pinching a small bit of weed and started packing it into the pipe while he held it. [color=0bbdaf]"I've never actually learned how to roll a joint or whatever,"[/color] she confessed with a soft laugh. 

Tapeesa reached out, gently taking the pipe back from him with her left hand. In her right hand she held an old antique brass zippo. It was dented and scratched from a rough life before it ever fell into her delicate grasp. In a single fluid motion she flipped open the lighter against her thigh, then ignited it by rolling it down her leg in the opposite direction. She brought the pipe to her lips and carefully lit the other end. It took a couple puffs and a cough or two, but she eventually got it started then passed it off to Nate with a warm smile.

[color=04ed42]"Hot."[/color] Nate couldn't muster enough brain cells to try and hide his absolute delight and infatuation with Tapeesa's trick. His left hand fumbled for the pipe, his eyes focused on Tapeesa's face so close to him. He shifted his right arm up onto the back of the couch so he could face her, his torso rotated at a slight angle. He lifted the pipe to his lips, letting a bit of smoky air into his mouth. It was a familiar sensation, though the taste and quality seemed a bit higher than he remembered. He lowered the pipe from his lips, turning his head away to let out a small cloud of smoke from his nostrils. He repeated the motions, taking another puff of the pipe.

When he offered it back in her direction, he spoke softly as his muscles seemed to relax a bit. He hadn't realized how stiff he had been around her since they got to the cabin. He pressed his leg against her knee, his body lingering in that slight warmth of contact as he settled in. When he spoke softly to her, a bit of smoke fell from his lips as he did so. [color=04ed42]"You are full of surprises, aren't you?"[/color]

Her head turned away slightly as Tapeesa became very aware of the growth warmth in her cheeks. She never really thought about the way she lit her grandfather’s old lighter before. It was more muscle memory and repetition at that point. But the unabashed compliment made her stomach flutter with a foreign anxiousness she was quickly growing to associate with Nate’s presence. She took back the pipe and raised it to her mouth. Before pressing it against her lips, she looked over at him from the corner of her eyes with a curious expression. [color=0bbdaf]"Am I?"[/color] She inhaled, letting the smoke slowly fill her lungs and warm her chest. 

As she went to hand over the pipe to Nate, still holding in her breath, a boom cracked in the sky over her cabin. The rumble was so loud and jarring against the tentative silence that filled her living room, that Tappi started and coughed out the smoke from her lungs. Her gaze drifted toward the large window opposite them, catching glimpses of sparkling reds and golds against the glass as the familiar sound of fireworks thundered overhead. She looked around her dimly lit cabin until her eyes set on a clock hanging by the stairs. [i]One minute until midnight.[/i] [color=0bbdaf]"Time flies…"[/color] she commented softly, trailing off before she finished her thought. Her voice was almost lost beneath the explosive lightshow outside, hiding a faint timidness in her tone at the realization Nate would probably wander off back to the party or his own cabin soon. Her shoulder rested against the back of the couch beside him as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. She held the pipe out for him with her gaze fixated on the space between them where their legs touched.

Nate took the pipe, his eyes focused on the flashes of light coming in from the windows. He had almost forgotten it was New Years. He took a quick puff, blowing out the smoke into the air above him as he remembered the various parties he had attended over the years. [color=04ed42]"You have any traditions to ring in a New Year?"[/color] The question was simple and probing, turning his head back in Tapeesa’s direction as he held the pipe out towards her. He noticed the changing color of her cheeks, a smile cutting an arc across his face.

She took back the pipe, but rather than taking another hit, it remained cradled in her palms, resting in her lap. Tappi shook her head, running her thumbs over the etchings in the ivory while the corners of her lips tugged downwards slightly in a pensive frown. [color=0bbdaf]"No,"[/color] she answered plainly as her gaze slowly lifted to look over into his eyes. [color=0bbdaf]"The orphanage never really did anything for New Year’s and this is—[i]was[/i] my first party,"[/color] she confessed with a sheepish laugh. [color=0bbdaf]"What about you?"[/color]

Nate shrugged, his eyes shifting back towards the window for a moment. [color=04ed42]"Fireworks, drinking, dancing… hit all the highlights really so far."[/color] He sucked in his bottom lip as he paused, considering his next words carefully. Even with careful thought, they didn’t exactly come out right. [color=04ed42]"But… well… there’s this old tradition that when the clock strikes midnight, you…"[/color] He turned his head back to face Tapeesa, his awkward speech halted as he caught a glimpse of her face again. A small exhale whistled past his teeth before he continued. [color=04ed42]"Well… kiss someone."[/color]

It was hard for her to look away, even as her stomach knotted at his words and her heart skipped. Tappi swallowed softly, forcing her gaze to fall to the pipe in her hands and hiding her face behind loose hair that had long since slipped from her braid. [color=0bbdaf]"I know of the tradition… I’ve seen a movie or two,"[/color] she teased quietly, attempting to relieve some of the tension with a bad joke and hide her own awkwardness with a weak laugh.

Nate let out a nervous wheeze at her joke, his nerves fraying as he continued to face her. His heart thrummed in his chest at a speed that certainly wasn’t medically safe. He moved slowly as he raised his left hand up, absentmindedly brushing loose strands out of Tapeesa’s face. His fingertips brushed softly against her temple, tracing a line down her cheek more by muscle memory than intent. His question was quiet and brief. [color=04ed42]"Do you want to try it?"[/color]

Tapeesa drew in a shaky breath when she felt the tips of his fingers softly brush along her skin. Her face already felt like it was on fire and somehow Nate’s touch still felt warm against her cheek. She couldn’t tell if it was the fireworks or her own pulse that pounded furiously in her ears. The tips of her thumbs continued to run along the engravings of the pipe in methodical repetition in an attempt to calm her nerves… but it wasn’t working. The sparkling lights reflected more brightly against the window as the rumbling intensified. It must have meant it was midnight but she couldn’t bring herself to check the clock. She cleared her throat before slowly looking up at him from beneath her lashes. [color=0bbdaf]"What if I’m bad at it?"[/color] she whispered, unable to hide the nervousness that was evident across her face.

Nate’s grin grew wider as he slowly leaned closer, moving his right arm in to gently cradle Tapeesa’s left cheek. He was committed now, his own lids lowering as his words became breathy. As he spoke, the heat from his words radiated across her nose. [color=04ed42]"Then we practice until you aren’t."[/color] He spoke like it was the most obvious solution in the world. His hands kept Tapeesa steady as Nate continued to lean in, his neck craning so that he could close that final distance between them.

He kissed her. His cracked lips had interposed themselves around Tappi’s bottom lip. He was gentle and slow, letting his lips linger between hers for a few seconds that felt like ages. The resounding shake of fiery explosions in the sky barely held a candle to the jolt of electricity that coursed through his body at their connection. He tasted like nicotine, weed, and still faintly of honey. His lips pulled back slightly for a second, letting loose a small pop as the suction was broken. He pressed in for another kiss, a delighted exhale slipping through his nostrils as he did so.

Tapeesa's eyes remained open a fraction of a second longer than Nate's as he removed any space between them, finally slipping closed before his lips pressed against hers. At first, her body remained frozen in place as a surge of tingling nerves washed over her. She forgot to breathe and to think as everything else slipped away into a cloudy haze of background noise. It felt like all her nerve endings were ignited, radiating out from their kiss to the tips of her fingers and toes. Nate flooded her senses, drowning out the world around them. 

Her lungs burned and when he pulled away for a brief moment, she sucked in a sharp breath. But then his lips found hers again, catching her more off guard than their first kiss. Tappi's nervous tension slowly slipped away as the seconds ticked on while they were still wrapped up in each other. The now cold pipe and old lighter slipped from her grasp and fell into her lap. Her hands moved to rest in the dips of his elbows and against his biceps. She pressed back against his lips, growing more confident as she slowly found her rhythm.

When Nate broke the kiss to give himself some room to breathe, he leaned against the side of the couch. He took a few shallow breaths, his half-lidded eyes fixed on Tapeesa’s face. He kept his hands holding her face, unsure if he was going to go back in for another round yet as he smiled. [color=04ed42]"I… I think that was a good start."[/color] He let his tongue peek out from lips to moisten them.

Her chest heaved in sync with the waning roar of the fireworks as shaky breaths slipped between her parted lips. Tapeesa lingered in the dark safety behind her eyelids for a moment longer before slowly opening her eyes as her nerves slowly started to build once again. But seeing Nate’s smile shining back at her eased the tension in her shoulders, while his words elicited a soft laugh. Her gaze fell to his mouth as he wet his lips before quickly looking back up into his brown eyes. [color=0bbdaf]"I had no idea what I was doing,"[/color] she whispered the confession. Her smile matched his, dimples prominent beneath his hands on her still flushed cheeks.

Nate nodded, his eyes flashing with recognition as he processed what she had confessed. He shouldn't have been too surprised, but a pressure grew in his chest at the thought that [i]he[/i] was her first kiss. He shrugged off the thought, leaning in close until the tips of their noses were pressed together. The least he could do was help. [color=04ed42]"You should pout your lips out a little more before the kiss… helps make sure you don't bump teeth."[/color] He closed his eyes, his nose sliding next to Tapeesa's as he began to close the distance between their lips again. [color=04ed42]"Otherwise… Just follow my lead."[/color]

Tapeesa swallowed, heart racing like it had never stopped as Nate drew closer. Her hands fell to her lap, fumbling around as she scooped up the pipe and lighter before stretching out her arm to discard them on her coffee table. Her breath caught in her throat as his lips lingered dangerously closer to hers for a second time. The familiar flurry of nerves spiraled in her stomach and tightened in her chest when his nose brushed against hers. [color=0bbdaf]"Sorry,"[/color] she whispered. The warmth of her breath tickled against his lips as she nodded her head faintly beneath his hands, silently agreeing to let him guide her.

[color=04ed42]"Don't apologize… I like this."[/color] He responded quietly, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. A moment later, he went in for another kiss. It had a little more force behind it, the burning in his chest spurring this one to be a little more passionate. He held her face steady, that faint feeling of her dimples beneath his palms reminding him of that infectious grin she had been wearing most of the night. His core fluttered at even the thought of her, or maybe the weightlessness came from the weed truly kicking in. Either way, when Nate broke the kiss, he shuddered as he let out a euphoric gasp. [color=04ed42]"Yeah… yeah, that's good."[/color]

Being the faintest bit more prepared, Tapeesa leaned in to meet him halfway, or as much as she could considering the tiny bit of space that remained between them. Following his instructions, she pouted her lips a little more and attempted to mirror his movements. For a fleeting moment she had expected another kiss like the last one, but then he pressed in more. The passion stirred a rising heat that churned in her chest and ignited her boldness to where she no longer followed but matched him. Her hands rested against his sides, the warmth of her palms radiating through his shirt as she gently grabbed onto the fabric. When Nate parted their lips it pulled a deep, trembling breath from her. A coy and slightly guilty smile tugged at the corner of her mouth hearing the sound that came from him. [color=0bbdaf]"Good,"[/color] she whispered, followed by a breathy laugh.

Nate let out a small laugh too, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to ground himself a little. His hands slid down from Tapeesa's face to her neck, and then her shoulders. When he opened his eyes and took her in, his grin grew. [color=04ed42]"What about you? Good enough for you?"[/color]

Tappi took a deep breath, trying to calm down… if possible. When she agreed to come to camp she expected to train and be around others like her. Getting kissed on her first night was the last thing she expected and left her head spinning… or maybe it was the weed… or Nate. Maybe both? Her smile never fell, bright and bashful as she slowly released her hold on his shirt, hands subconsciously brushing against his legs as they returned to her lap. She remained close, basking in the warmth of his hands on her shoulders and where her knee was still pressed against his thigh. [color=0bbdaf]"Yeah it was,"[/color] she reassured him with a gentle nod of her head. Her fingers anxiously picked at the skin around her thumb as she searched for her next words. [color=0bbdaf]"I should have told you I had never been kissed… [i]before[/i]."[/color] She gestured her hand as she spoke, moving her index finger in a general going backwards motion. [color=0bbdaf]"I’m sorry."[/color]

Nate's smile faded a little as she let go of him, and even further as she started apologizing again. He shook his head, his hands quickly sliding down the length of Tapeesa's arms until he was holding her hands in her lap. [color=04ed42]"Don't apologize for that."[/color] He squeezed her palms with his, his thumb gently caressing that same spot on her thumb that she kept picking at. He clicked his tongue as an idea crossed his mind. Nate lowered his voice to a whisper, [color=04ed42]"Can I tell you a secret?"[/color] He leaned in a little closer, his eyes darting to the door as if afraid someone would barge in and overhear. [color=04ed42]"That might not have been my first kiss, but it was my [i]favorite[/i] kiss."[/color] His devious grin had returned in full force, his drooping eyes making it clear just how relaxed he had become.

Her gaze drifted over to her left shoulder and watched his hand as it trailed down her arm. Tapeesa's shoulders dropped slightly, not out of sadness or dread, but out of relief knowing that he didn't feel deceived. It wasn't like it was some secret. She just never felt the need to share, never found herself in a situation where it was relevant until it was apparently too late and Nate was already kissing her. She watched the way his hands cupped hers and the gentle stroke of his thumb against the irritated flesh beside her thumbnail. Her head tilted slightly near his, ready to hear his secret with curiously raised brows. Nate's confession made her stomach flutter and the flush that seemed like a permanent fixture around him returned rosy and warm. Her lips scrunched in the way they did when she tried to suppress her smile from being too bright or too big. [color=0bbdaf]"Liar,"[/color] she teased him playfully as she lightly bumped his arm with her own.

[color=04ed42]"I don't lie."[/color] The words slipped out quickly, a dazed smile still shining brightly on his face. He let his head roll onto his left shoulder while his own face scrunched to mirror hers. [color=04ed42]"I don't really see a point in it."[/color] He paused, letting in a hiss of breath as he felt a need to clarify. [color=04ed42]"Well, I guess I do see the point. But I don't agree with it."[/color] He had a nagging feeling in his chest that he needed a cigarette, but the sensation of Tappi's smooth hands kept the urge at bay. Did he always light up before going on another one of his long-winded speeches?

[color=04ed42]"The way I see it, lying is a sign of weakness. It's a way to control someone, turn them against themselves or others just for your gain. Doesn't matter the lie, how big or small, if you're trying to be kind with it. If you lie, you hurt someone more than being honest ever could."[/color] His eyes shifted towards the cabin windows for a moment as he tried refocusing, but found it difficult through the fog of exhaustion and intoxication. There was only a single thought that burned through the proverbial smoke. [color=04ed42]"So… No, Toppings… I am not a liar. I mean it."[/color]

While Tapeesa had meant her comment as a playful joke, and maybe a way to deflect some of her new budding nerves that keep building inside her while she's around him, his words struck a calmness in her that she had never felt with someone so soon before. Her shoulder sunk more into the back of the couch beside him with a content sigh. She studied his face and got lost in his brown eyes as every word made her smile grow the tiniest bit more. [color=0bbdaf]"I agree… with everything you said."[/color] Her thumb idly brushed against the side of his hand, almost in a self soothing-like repetition. 

[color=0bbdaf]"I believe people tend to think I'm naive or gullible because of how honest and trusting I am."[/color] She shrugged her shoulders like it was a fact she had grown to accept years ago. [color=0bbdaf]"Lying to make people like you more? I don't know. You can't build anything if there isn't a stable foundation. I'd rather be honest and have people hate me, than lie and lose who I am… You know?"[/color] Her head tilted to the side, loose hair sweeping across her brow as she watched the way he looked out the window. It was like he was illuminated with a phantom light that slowly revealed another piece to the puzzle that was forming her image of Nate. 

[color=0bbdaf]"I find it really attractive that you're so honest,"[/color] she confessed into the dark silence of the room. While being honest to a fault, Tappi couldn't recall if she ever admitted to anyone that she found them attractive. Her chest tightened at the words she spoke into existence but even in the vulnerability of her embarrassment, she couldn't bring herself to look away. Nate [I]was[/I] attractive. She had noticed it before, she wasn't blind, but in the growing comfort of his presence she found herself [I]really[/I] noticing it for the first time. His natural confidence, his charming weirdness, how his warm smile accented his jawline, the way his hands lingered on hers and how he listened to every word she spoke like gospel. Her gaze subconsciously fell to his mouth finding that all the reasons she found attractive made her want to kiss him more. She never really believed people when they claimed things ‘just happened.’ But now seeing how the space between them felt like a mile and she clung to the faintest bit of physical contact they shared, she could see how a single kiss could open a floodgate.

Most people wouldn’t admit to thinking lying was good. Most people would repeat the same tired lines about trust and honesty being the cornerstones of relationships, but then turn around and lie or hide their true motivations. Nate was always bad at telling when someone was lying. He would get a feeling, but he always felt it better to try and trust and build that connection than let a few lies keep him cynical. Yet, as Tapeesa echoed his points about honesty, he was incredibly confident she was being truthful. She hadn’t lied to him thus far from what he could tell. He truly connected with her desire to be authentic in her thoughts and words. He couldn’t help but smile a little brighter as she continued. He [i]did[/i] know what she meant.

What he did not expect was a confession of attraction. Perhaps he should have, given how they were being honest. But to be considered attractive because he was honest? That was usually not on the list people would share with him when trying to get him to come back to their place. It was usually something superficial, like his physique or his smile. Sometimes he would be told that his vibe was attractive, or any other number of vapid buzzwords that he couldn’t argue with. It wasn’t like he cared, really. He was just happy to make others happy, and to share in bliss with someone wasn’t a bad deal either. Tapeesa’s words hit a little deeper than that. His eyes met hers… or, well, as close as he could. His smile was warm and his tone soft as he spoke. [color=04ed42]"Tonight was fun because I met you, and I can honestly say I have not felt as… in sync with someone before."[/color]

Tappi’s heart fluttered for only about the millionth time since she met him. If someone had told her that she was going to meet a guy, have the corniest dance battle in existence, and then an hour later be kissing him on her couch… She would have asked if they hit their head. Everything about it was so far out of the realm of normal for her. She had always made friends easily, anything more than that less so. It wasn’t uncommon for her to catch feelings quickly when someone was kind, attentive, and [i]insanely[/i] good looking like Nate was. But it was the unbridled honesty and reciprocation that caught her off guard. It was weird how easily they both clicked, matched energies, and fell into a comfortable symbiosis. Weirder still how the words fell so effortlessly from his lips and made her cheeks ache from the inability to stop smiling. [i]Weird[/i] was quickly growing to be the best word to describe all of it, but in the best possible way.

Nate let go of Tapeesa’s hands, raising his palms to gently hold her cheeks. He slowly tilted her head up slightly, guiding her eyes to meet his. He quickly ran his tongue between his lips to provide a little bit of moisture before he continued. [color=04ed42]"I also think you are very pretty, and I want to kiss you some more."[/color] His smirk grew a little with his bluntness, before he closed his eyes and leaned in again for another kiss. He locked his lips with hers, his left hand slipping away from Tapeesa’s jaw to slide between her arm and torso. His hand rested on her side, his pinky finger lightly grazing the small sliver of exposed skin between her shirt and jeans. As the kiss gradually transitioned from tender to yearning, he leaned into her more. He moved from sitting to kneeling on the couch next to her. With each passionate exchange, he leaned further into her as their heat intertwined. Before either of them knew it, Nate had guided Tapeesa onto her back on the couch while they perfected their techniques.

The early moments of the new year were lost to the murmur of heavy breaths, soft moans, and the quiet sound of their lips parting only for them to meet again in another kiss. Tapeesa’s hands pressed against his lower back, warmth emanating from her palms, seeping through the fabric of his shirt and blooming across his skin. Her thighs lightly hugged Nate’s waist as he rested in the space between her legs and his chest pressed against hers. The scent of weed that had clung to the air had long since faded away and her high disappeared beneath waves of sensations that surpassed anything the drug had ever accomplished. 

The ache in her lungs forced Tappi to break the kiss and take in a shaky breath. She swallowed and flicked the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip where the taste of him still lingered. Her smile returned with a natural ease as she opened her eyes to look up at him. The heated flush that she felt across her chest and cheeks was reflected back at her in the redness of Nate’s face. [color=0bbdaf]"I think we lost track of time,"[/color] she filled the silence with a breathy whisper and a soft laugh.

Nate merely nodded, opening his eyes and reflecting Tapeesa's smile back at her. He held himself up with his knuckles, his arms acting almost like blinders on either side of her. He took in a shaky gulp of air, smoothing his hands flat on the couch with some readjustment. He looked up towards the wall, taking a moment to read the time on a clock. It had been around an hour, but Nate didn't seem too concerned with how he had spent that time. He turned back to look at Tapeesa, whispering softly. [color=04ed42]"I don't have anywhere better to be."[/color]

Logically, she should have taken advantage of the temporary pause and found the motivation to detangle herself from him. But a single kiss—ok, [i]more[/i] than one kiss—unlocked a dormant need in her that she didn’t know existed until Nate freed it. When he looked back down at her, Tapeesa’s heart skipped a beat like she hadn’t spent an unknown amount of time lost in him. [color=0bbdaf]"We should stop,"[/color] she spoke softly, but her words lost all conviction as her body sang a different tune. Her foot hooked around his leg while her hands slowly ran up his back and pressed against his shoulder blades, beckoning him closer, contrary to what she said.

[color=04ed42]"Should we?"[/color] The question was more rhetorical than anything. Feeling her beckon him closer, he was more than happy to oblige. He pressed down into her, holding himself up enough to not crush her under his weight while his lips met hers yet again.

They both fell back into their rhythm like they had never stopped to catch their breaths in the first place. Neither one of them ever spared a second glance toward the clock, getting lost in each other while time ticked on. Every so often their embraces were broken up with whispered words, until it grew to be more talking and less kissing. Then, in the warmth and comfort of each other’s presence, still entwined on the couch, Tapeesa’s head lulled against Nate’s chest and they both drifted off to sleep.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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