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[insteadofwords]

He wouldn't admit to being scared, but he's definitely a little bit shaken by his run in with Rapunzel's friend at the mall. Yeah, he'd screwed up when he kissed her, but he'd honestly thought that everything was okay between them, but then he'd had his...conversation with Sweeney and now, honestly? He's not so sure.

He turns it over and over in his head and then, finally, after dinner, he pulls out his phone to send her a message.

Did I do something? x

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[fatesdesign]

“You were just so… lit up when you were talking about it.” Rapunzel explains, thumbing at the soft skin at the inside of his wrist. “At the time, I thought it was just the game you were so passionate about, but she seemed like a good guess.”

It feels like a weight has been lifted, like some of the pressure has been taken off of her, and she laughs at the question, cheeks pink as she shrugs.

“I have no idea,” she says with a giggle. “What so you want to do?”

[insteadofwords]

The touch is barely there, but he can feel it all over his skin anyway. Now that they're here, on the edge of something, he feels a little dizzy with it.

"Honestly? I'd like to kiss you again, but I'm also absolutely happy to wait for, like, a formal invitation."

[fatesdesign]

She laughs again, but it’s not at him. It’s a nervous, happy laugh, because he’s adorable and sweet, and it feels a little like she’s climbing to the top of a tall tree even knowing how badly it’ll hurt if she falls.

“Well, the mail system here is kind of slow, so.” A flush spreads down her neck and to her chest, disappearing under her shirt as she bites her bottom lip, letting her gaze dip to his full mouth.

Like Sweeney said, she can love Peter and have this, too. It’s not all or nothing. It’s not a bad thing to want.

“Keys.” She smiles softly and leans in a little. “I formally invite you to kiss me.”

[insteadofwords]

Part of him had been expecting her to say that she still wasn't ready and he would have been alright with that, he really would, but then she says that and a shiver goes all of the way through him. He takes a moment, taking his glasses off his sweater and putting both them and his tea down on the table. He leans in, eyelashes fluttering, his fingers coming up to skim along her jaw as he presses his mouth to hers. It's gentle, at first. Chaste. It's a start.

[fatesdesign]

It’s so sweet, the way he looks nervous, and the way he touches her face. She feels a flutter of nerves as he leans in and she closes her eyes as his lips touch hers.

She appreciates that he doesn’t dive right into it, because she does like him, but she’s kind of the type to want to take things slow even if she weren’t still hurting.

It’s a nice kiss, slow and chaste but full of promise, and Rapunzel pulls back only long enough to shift the angle a bit before kissing him again, reaching up to touch the side of his neck.

[insteadofwords]

He feels the moment she starts to kiss him back and, slow and soft as it is, it sends a shiver straight through him. His hand stays where it is, cupping her jaw, and he lets her set the pace. He'd be pretty content to kiss her like this for hours. His free hand finds the curve of her waist.

[fatesdesign]

Rapunzel does her best to stay present, rather than thinking about what she’s lost, or could lose again, and it’s easy to do because it feels so nice to be kissed.

His hands are so big and Rapunzel hums her approval as he squeezes her hip, shifting her hand to the back of his neck and shuffling closer. It’s obvious that he’s taking his cues from her, which only makes her feel more affectionate toward him.

“You’re really sweet,” she says once she breaks the kiss, nudging her nose against his playfully. “And very cute.”

[insteadofwords]

"I try," he says, and means it. That's all he's ever done, really -- tried not to be an asshole, not to make choices that would make his sisters ashamed of him. Her top has ridden up and he brushes the pad of one finger against her bare skin as he presses another kiss to her mouth.

"You're just... You're so beautiful."

[fatesdesign]

"Stop," she says with a soft laugh, feeling her cheeks flush at the compliment. She puts her hand on his thigh to brace herself as she shifts closer to him, then lifts it to the back of his neck, kissing him again as she slides her fingers up into his thick hair.

His hand feels so big against the small of her back, fingertips brushing the bare skin above her waistband in a way that makes her shiver.

[insteadofwords]

He makes a soft, dissenting sound in the back of his throat.

"Can't. Sorry." She shifts closer, and he's so intensely aware of her hand on his thigh, the fact that she could so easily be in his lap. He's so intensely aware, also, of the fact that he's wearing sweatpants and that doesn't really give him much room to hide. He feels her shiver against him, his hand stilling in the small of her back. "Is that okay?" he asks, bending his head again to smudge a kiss at the corner of her mouth, along her jaw.

[fatesdesign]

The answer makes her giggle, and she smiles at the question, pleased that he checks in with her. She's still so inexperienced with this, having only ever been with one person, but she likes being touched. She likes sex, like a lot, even if she's not sure that she's ready for that yet.

"Maybe just-- hands stay above the waist for now?" She suggests, because that feels okay to her. More than okay, and she sighs contentedly as his mouth travels along her jaw, tipping her head to the side to give him better access.

[insteadofwords]

"Above the waist. Got it."

Keys has always kind of been an ass man, truth be told, and he's definitely registered Rapunzel's but, hopefully, there'll be time for that. No rush. He presses his hand against her bare skin, thumb stroking lightly as he takes advantage of the fact that she's tipped her head back to kiss down the side of her neck.

[fatesdesign]

"Good boy," she teases, just because of the way he's always so quick to say yes ma'am. Now that she's set this boundary and he's accepted it, she twists to sit astride his lap, stretching her legs out along the sofa as she leans against his chest, sliding one hand slowly back and forth as she tips her head back for more kisses.

His lips are so soft against her skin, and when something like guilt starts to creep into her mind, she remembers what Sweeney told her. It's okay to not only want this, but to take it. Peter wouldn't want her to be alone forever, and she isn't betraying his memory. He'll always be a part of her, and Keys gets that. She doesn't have to try and stamp it down, or pretend it doesn't exist.

"I know Sweeney might have seemed scary," she finds herself saying, opening her eyes to look at Keys again. "But he's the one who told me it was okay to want something new. He helped me be less afraid of this."

[insteadofwords]

She's in his lap and she's calling him a 'good boy' which had a dizzying effect on him that he's not willing or able to examine too closely right now. His hands shift, feeling the curve of her waist, his lips brushing lightly against her skin.

When she speaks, he leans back, looking up at her.

"Guess I ought to thank him then?"

[fatesdesign]

"I just want you to be friends," she says pleadingly, nudging her nose against his and reaching up to drag his hair back from his face. "That's all."

Her mouth finds his again, and this time she licks tentatively at the seam of his lips, fingers curling in his hair.

[insteadofwords]

He's about to say that that probably depends more.oj Sweeney than on him but then her fingers are in his hair and her mouth is on his, kissing him deeper, with more urgency than before and he makes a soft sound that's almost a moan. He opens his mouth, pressing into the kiss with lips and tongue, one hand roaming up her spine.

[fatesdesign]

The kiss deepens and Rapunzel feels warm sparks of pleasure at the first touch of his tongue, tightening her nipples and flaring between her legs, and it's almost unfamiliar after so long. She feels a little like a flower blooming after a long winter, coming back to life after lying dormant for almost a year.

She lets out a quiet whimper and twists a little, kissing him back as her arms tighten around his shoulders.

[insteadofwords]

That sound she makes goes straight to his cock and he shifts his hips, trying to keep a little bit of distance between them, trying -- trying his best -- to respect the boundaries she'd set for him. His hand presses flat against the bare skin of her back and he echoes that sound, leaning up to kiss her as deep as he can.

[fatesdesign]

Keys' big hand presses against her spine, pulling her closer, and Rapunzel shifts forward as he kisses her, arching against him. In this new position, she can feel the bulge in his sweats against her hip and it surprises her a little, for some reason.

It always surprises her when she's wanted like this, when someone's body responds to her in such a way, and she pulls back to give him a wide-eyed look, breathing hard against his mouth.

[insteadofwords]

She pressed in against him, her breasts against his chest briefly and then she's pulling back, eyebrows raised and he feels the blush across his cheeks, down under his.ar, darkening.

"Sorry," he says. "Didn't get the memo about above the waist, apparently?"

[fatesdesign]

"No, no, it's okay," she says with a giggle, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear as she looks at him. His cheeks are flushed, eyes glassy and lips swollen, and Rapunzel puts her hand on the side of his face. It feels complicated, being with him like this, but easy at the same time. She just doesn't want to go too fast.

"Is it?" She asks, suddenly nervous as her fingers card through the hair at his temple. "Okay that I'm not ready for that, I mean."

[insteadofwords]

He turns his head, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist.

"I'm okay with whatever you're okay with," he says, his dark eyes fixed on her face. "Whatever you're ready for. I just..." He smiles, quietly mortified for a moment. "Can't help that." He traces the sharp point of her chin with one finger, down her neck. "But I can wait. Promise. And if you're never ready? That's okay too. We'll figure it out."

[fatesdesign]

His words soothe her worries and she smiles, relieved and affectionate. He seems genuine, and Rapunzel believes him. She knows that she doesn't have to be concerned that she'll feel pressured.

"You're very sweet," she says again, eyes crinkling at the corners as she thumbs at the dip just under his lower lip. "And it's okay, I don't expect you not-- well, you know. It's flattering."

She giggles and presses another soft kiss to his mouth, pitching her voice low and flirty. "I don't know about never, but you'll at least need to take me on a proper date first."

[insteadofwords]

That voice definitely isn't helping things below the waist, and he groans softly, shifting slightly against the sofa. He trails that finger slightly lower, just brushing the soft curve of one breast above the neckline of her tanktop. He tries not to notice the points of her nipples under the thin fabric.

"Any time you want," he says. "Where do you want to go?"

[fatesdesign]

Now that they've acknowledged the whole below the pants situation, Rapunzel feels okay with relaxing against him again, feeling him pressed against her hip. His hand dips lower, inching under her shirt, and Rapunzel knows that if she were to move his hand or tell him to stop, he'd do it.

That's reassuring, so she checks in with herself and decides that no, she doesn't want him to stop. She did say above the waist, after all, and her nipples are so hard that they ache. Keys has to notice them too, because his gaze keeps gliding down only to jump immediately back to her face, and she finds it deeply charming. He's being such a gentleman about all of this when from what she's heard, a lot of men wouldn't be.

"Surprise me," she says in that same teasing voice. His eyes dip again and Rapunzel giggles, leaning in to press her lips to his ear. "You can look at them. It's okay."