Alethea smiled as he pulled her into a gentle embrace, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her, the lingering warmth that her skin still gave off, the sound of his panting breaths, his still-racing heart. She got some strange satisfaction from knowing it was because of her. It was somehow exciting and satisfying, and it kept her from truly relaxing, instead focusing on him with almost the same intensity as before.<br/><br/>She couldn't help but reach out and touch his face, trace a finger across his cheek, across his lips that smiled at her with such warmth. As she smiled in return, he leaned up and captured her lips. It was a softer kiss than those before, yet still filled with fire, with desire. A soft, happy sound echoed from her lips, into his. And when he pulled away, resting his head against her brow she let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes and biting her bottom lip gently.<br/><br/>She swallowed hard when he whispered her name while stroking the sides of her face and neck with immense tenderness, earning another shuddering breath. She wondered if he realized what he was doing, that even, or perhaps especially such tender touches were maddening now, sparking her lingering desire instead of letting it fade. Did she really want it to fade? Perhaps not.<br/><br/>A fire still burned inside of her, desiring more of him, his touch, his taste, his caresses, his voice. She wanted all of it, perhaps even more now. Was that wrong? Was it selfish or greedy? She didn't know, but regardless, it was how she felt. Yet she didn't understand it. How was it that she still wanted so much, she desired him so after everything he'd already given, everything she had given? She was happy, beyond happy. So why did she want more? Why was she being so greedy? More questions she had no answers to. But she wondered then, if she would ever truly have enough. She hoped not. But she was more than happy to test that theory.<br/><br/>She realized that he felt the same. He still wanted her, just as badly as she wanted him. He wanted more of her, as she wanted more of him. She smiled at this, opening her eyes and looking into his as he smiled, bright and warm, before drawing her back down. She gladly complied, moving to snuggle close to him in an intimate embrace. And despite the lingering desire begging her for more, she felt happy in the embrace. But as she thought that, as she had almost resigned to the idea that she could be happy with this, he nuzzled against her neck.<br/><br/>It was soft and sweet, yet the touch against the skin that still vividly remembered his touches, his soft and sweet, yet passionate and lustful kisses, it was maddening. She thought that like this, he could hear her once again racing heart beat, her somewhat erratic breaths, and perhaps even the soft moan she'd barely managed to stifle. It was beyond her to explain why such a simple touch could do so many things to her body, and yet she couldn't deny that it did. It was intoxicating.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">How do you do this to me?</span>she wondered, but never voiced, not trusting her voice not to fail her at the moment. As she thought this, her hand gently stroked his hair, trying to focus on anything but his hot breath against her neck, lest it drive her mad and push her beyond her ability to resist the desire that rose in her with renewed vigor, threatening to take control of her again. She was already beginning to doubt her ability to do so. She was already teetering on the edge again, ready to fall back in with the tiniest of pushes. It was up to him to either quiet the passion or push her over, or was it pull her under? Either way, she was at his mercy.