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[ He pulls his phone from his pocket to set a timer for fifteen minutes, then leaves it on the table behind him, only moving to wrap both arms around her waist, hands easily spanning most of her back.

He's all too easy to skip words and just lean in for a kiss, this time letting it get deeper, eyes closing when his tongue swiping at her bottom lip. He drags a hand up her back to rest under her jaw, tucked against her neck, his thumb moving back and forth softly against her cheek as he kisses Kimberly. He doesn't want to pull away, but is happy keeping the pace sort of slow, letting the music guide his movements as his free hand fists up into the material of her dress, pulling it up slightly as he does. ]

( the cool air in the apartment hits the exposed skin of her legs, kisses pricks of gooseflesh across her thighs as the hem of her dress pulls up; she can't help but shiver appreciatively into his embrace from the contrasting sensations. there's heat here, too, in the warmth of his hands splayed over her lower back, one sliding up to rest against her cheek, and in the lazy sweep of his tongue between her lips.

he's a much better kisser than she'd expected him to be. not that she'd expected him to be bad, but... less experienced than the evening has proven him to be. she's surprised, but hardly disappointed; her approval, rather, is evident in the way her body leans flush into his, the fond curve of her smile as she lets her head tilt, practically melting into his touch.

as they part, air still an unfortunate necessity, kimberly lets out a soft, slow exhale, measured and careful, and blinks up at him, thick lashes fluttering up and down. she should say something, anything, but it's all she can do to keep the smile on her face from blooming into a wide, nearly delirious grin. )

[ He doesn't stop touching her when they pull back, eyes fluttering open slowly; the whole atmosphere for the evening is languid, and Baby feels relaxed now, the nervousness from earlier completely gone from his frame as he leans back against the kitchen table. For a split second, he's reminded of mentioning Kimberly to Robbie and the awkwardness that ensued, how Robbie said that they both should have a talk with her.

And maybe Baby will, at some point. But right now, he's having a delicious time, the kitchen starting to fill up with the smells of the fried chicken and its special secret ingredient, mixing with the spiciness of the bourbon-maple sauce and the waffles he's prepared just a bit earlier. All of it combined with the taste of Kimberly's lips is all too good for him to want to disrupt it in any way.

It feels like only a second and an eternity at the same time, when his phone beeps with his timer, and Baby licks his lips, brushing hair off the side of Kimberly's face. ]

You hungry?

Edited 2017-08-30 09:24 (UTC)

( baby may be debating the pros and cons of interrupting this evening with talks of exclusivity or lack thereof, but all kimberly can think of is how nice this is. how different baby is from anyone she's known, any boy she's ever kissed. he's patient and kind and polite, but he's proven her wrong too; for all that sweetness, he's anything but shy.

his fingertips tuck a lock of hair behind her ear as he asks her about dinner, and she has to shake off the hazy warmth that's settled in her bones in order to manage an answer. ) Yeah, I'm... ( hungry, yes, but in more ways than one. aware might be a better word for it. ) It smells great, Baby, really.

( a pause, as he extricates himself from their embrace in order to attend to what's in the oven; kimberly takes it as an opportunity to settle herself at the table, admiring the care that's been taken to accentuate the space. the candles, the flowers, even just the place settings so carefully arranged — it feels a little bit like something out of a movie. not something that happens. )

But you didn't have to go all out like this, you know.

( not that she doesn't appreciate it, because she does, but there's still a part of kimberly that doesn't really believe she's worth all of this fuss. her experience with dating hasn't exactly been the best, after all. )

[ If you asked him, Baby would say that the less she thinks she's worth any of this attention to detail, the more she actually is. If no one actually cared, in the past, to give her this kind of consideration, just gives him more incentive to do so.

Yes, it's cheesy; even he realizes that, and he knows that it's a bit over the top, but he's a romantic, that grew up being told of love through music more than through people, and he wants to sweep Kimberly off of her feet. That's how he does things; all or nothing. ]

Maybe I wanted to, [ He replies from the counter, his back to Kimberly, getting the plates together. Waffles, chicken, a heaping of sauce to top it all, before he brings the plates over, going back to put the extra sauce and butter on the table by their sides. He smiles as he sits down across from Kimberly. ]

Because I wanted to. And also Joe would disown me if I didn't put some effort in.

( whatever she had thought chicken and waffles would be, the plate that's settled in front of her is decidedly better. it looks a little strange, admittedly, crispy fried chicken over a golden waffle drenched in sauce, but it smells incredible, and kimberly doesn't hesitate to cut in and take a first bite. )

This is... ( a hum of appreciation, and another bite, before she sets her cutlery down; her now free hand reaches over to drape over one of his, fingertips curling around his palm in a gentle squeeze. ) This is really nice. And, okay, I admit: I thought chicken and waffles was going to be super weird, but this is actually really good.

( a soft, pleased little smile, and kimberly's gaze ducks down. she's not sure what to say. )

Thank you.

( a good start? right? )

You're welcome.

[ He doesn't say something like 'it's nothing' - he doesn't want to devalue the experience for her, makes it seem like it's no big deal for him to try his best to seduce her. His fingers curl around hers, and his smile is sincere, a little amused at the corners.

There's something in him that feels a little exposed when he's not wearing sunglasses, when he doesn't have the excuse of looking at the road ahead of him and he can only look into her eyes and let her see him that's slightly unnerving, but he doesn't look away. He wonders what she can see in his eyes; can she tell of his criminal past? ]

So where are you from, that chicken and waffles isn't a breakfast staple?

[ There's a lot he still has a chance to learn about Kimberly, and he's curious by nature. ]

Oh. Uh, California. ( which usually conjures up images of palm trees and hollywood lights, so kimberly often has to clarify. ) Not, like, Hollywood or anything. Small town. Mostly... football, I guess, and fishing.

( she shrugs. angel grove had not exactly been the best place to grow up, but it was home. she doesn't exactly miss the place, but... thinking about angel grove makes her think of the rangers. did they know she was gone? did they miss her? were they safe?

she has to shake herself out of those thoughts, an apologetic smile as she feels his hand squeeze against hers, a reassuring gesture. )

It's funny, I always wanted to get out, just go anywhere else. You know? Get in a car and just drive... ( a quiet huff of laughter under her breath punctuates the thought. ) I didn't really think it would ever happen.

Oh. Other side of the country from me. [ He cuts a piece of waffle, drenched in sauce, with his fork, not letting go of her hand. The good thing about this meal is that he can eat it expertly with one hand if he so chooses. And right now, he does. ]

Atlanta, Georgia. Grew up in the thick of the city.

[ Maybe why he started stealing cars so early. Too much temptation.

That'd be a lie, though. It wasn't why, but it contributed to it. The temptation, and the anonymity. He takes another bite before speaking again, his smile a little bittersweet when he does. ]

Drive east, in a car you can't afford, and a plan you don't have?

Yeah, exactly.

( maybe directions hadn't been part of it, but kimberly had never had much of a plan. she had just wanted out of angel grove, out of the judgmental stares and the mean girl bullshit. and then... everything changed, and she'd wound up tied to the town in a way she had never expected. being somewhere else felt a little bittersweet now.

she's not quite as adept at working with her left hand, so as much as kimberly wants to let her hand rest entwined with him, she sort of needs it if she's going to eat anything before it gets cold. the adjustment comes, at least, with an apologetic squeeze and a smile; it helps, too, that she's enthusiastically pleased about how good everything is, or that it doesn't take her very long to finish off her plate once she starts. ranger appetites, they're a dangerous thing.

they linger in companionable quiet for a few minutes, until the plates are cleared and the table settings set away for washing a bit later; when all is done, kimberly lingers by the countertop, the hint of expectations unfulfilled in her eyes as she watches him work. )

Thank you, by the way. ( it's unflinchingly sincere, in a way she doesn't often try to be. you can get hurt being honest, putting your heart on your sleeve, but there's something about baby that tells her she can trust him with it. ) I... honestly, I can't remember the last time somebody did something like this for me.

[ Their meal is quickly polished off - talks of hometowns and driving away without ever looking back the main part of their conversation. It's comfortable and easy and it makes Baby feel good, feel like he's in the right place, with the right people.

He clears up the table after they're done, piling everything up in the sink before turning to Kimberly when she thanks him once more. He reaches out again, too easy not to, to twirl a strand of hair around one of his fingers. ]

You're welcome. It was my pleasure, truly.

[ And it was - maybe it's his upbringing, but he likes to take care of people, and he knows he can be reckless about it. But in this way, it's simple and easy and it makes him feel good, too, to see that smile on her face and the softness on her features. ]

So. No pie?

( there's a feeling in her stomach that's suspiciously close to butterflies as he steps in, closes that gap between them to let his hand find gentle purchase in the strands of her hair. it's not quite touch, far enough removed to be just a tease, but there's a sweetness to it that has her unsure of how exactly to proceed.

he's not leering at her. there's no blatant expectation of desire or wanting, just pleasure in her company, in doing something nice just because. kimberly's not really sure what to do with it. for once, she feels like she's playing on someone else's home turf.

but at least there's a question posed. something for her to reply to, straightforward and easy. ) I'm not much of a pie person, honestly?

( open to alternatives, though? definitely. )

[ He nods when she mentions not being a pie person, and lets himself frame her face with his hand, thumb brushing under her cheekbone.

He doesn't know why - it's not fear of rejection, or worry; he's feeling calm and confident and comfortable, right now, but he still feels compelled to ask: ]

Can I --

[ kiss you? goes unsaid as he leans in closer but still doesn't close the gap, even though he kissed her just before dinner. It feels more decisive, now, like a kiss could definitely lead to more, and he doesn't want to assume. ]

( can i, he asks, and kimberly can hardly breathe for a second, air caught in her mouth as she manages a silent nod. she doesn't know why. a kiss is nothing, barely even worth writing home about, but the way he asks her feels it means something so much more than just of the press of his lips to hers.

of course he can. she's here, isn't she? she's here, with her face cupped so carefully in his hands, like she's a delicate piece of china, something that might break if handled wrong. if only he knew how roughly kimberly's been handled, how much she can take.

how much she will take, if only to feel something for a moment. how roughly she believes she should be handled, how that touch is all she believes she's owed.

her answer comes as quietly as his question, breathed out over a soft exhale that skims over his mouth, ) Yeah. ( her tongue darts out to flick over her bottom lip, lingering for a moment before pulling back. )

You can.

[ To him, she is delicate. He can't tell if it's the look in her eyes, sometimes, when she thinks no one can see, or the way her easiness gave way to nervousness, but there's something here, a fragility that Baby is careful of.

Maybe she likes to be handled roughly. But she also doesn't look to be complaining about the careful way he touches her and asks her permission, and so he smiles when she agrees, leaning in to kiss her, thumb still brushing her cheek.

Despite the softness, he's also not hesitant about it, when he kisses her. He licks at her bottom lip, the corners of his lips curved into a smile as he pushes her against the kitchen counter a little, still leaving her more than enough give to pull back if she wants to. Still, he angles his body towards hers, and kisses her with intent, nothing to be mistaken there - she tastes like brown sugar, and he can't get enough. ]

( it isn't soft, not really. it's gentle, careful and patient, but there's nothing soft about the press of her back into the countertop, or the way her hands find purchase against his hips, holding on to him like he's a life raft in the open ocean. he's a life raft and she's clinging on because this — the slow, determined slope of his mouth over hers, warm and sure but not quite desperate, not quite reckless — is drowning, unfamiliar territory that kimberly doesn't know how to navigate.

she expects him to push forward, to take with greedy desperation, heat and wanting pulling their bodies together, but it never comes. instead, he lingers just far enough away to make her miss the closeness; his hands are warm and reassuring against her jaw and cheek, delicately guiding her movements as his mouth plots out a course against her own.

it's enough to leave her a little breathless, eyes fluttering closed; her body is at once both loose and strung tight like a bow, but yet, and perhaps more importantly, malleable — entirely, completely his for the taking, if he'd like her to be. )

[ Instead of pushing forward, he moves down. He breaks the kiss, exhaling hard as he bends further, dragging his lips down her cheek, the hinge of her jaw, the curve of her jaw. his tongue darts out to feel her pulse, and he keeps his eyes closed, hand moving down to trail along her side.

Whatever she's willing to give, he'll take. Without pushing, or demanding. His hand finds the place it did earlier, before dinner, where it rested low on the back of her hip, fisting the fabric of her dress.

When he pulls away, he's pretty sure he's looking a little dazed. He licks his lips, eyes darting down to her legs, helplessly. ]

Want to take this to the living-room?

( he keeps asking, carefully posed questions whispered between them, and all she can do is nod her head in agreement. the answer seems obvious, to her — yes, to whatever you're offering, yes, and please — but the questions do come, as if there's an expectation that she's going to say no or push him away. she can't help but feel a little confused for it. is she not clear enough? is he looking for some kind of obvious signal that she's not giving, some body language or quiet sound that she hasn't offered? )

Okay, ( murmured over a slow exhale, an encouraging smile curving up the corners of her mouth, thumb brushing over the line of his hip. ) But I don't want to sleep on the couch if you're making me waffles in the morning.

( as in, i'm sure there's a perfectly good bed, if you'd prefer to use it. )

[ Baby had been raised by a very polite old man, and had learned sexuality with women sometimes twice his age, teaching him the importance of making sure; or maybe it was just a Southern thing. He was sure she was into it, into him, but he thought it better to ensure she wanted more.

At her answer, Baby can only chuckle, pulling her close and wrapping an arm around her, hoisting her up easily, allowing her to wrap her legs around him if she so wished. That kind of answer was exactly what he'd been hoping for since he offered to make her breakfast in the morning; something just as unsubtle, and just as smooth. ]

Wouldn't have that.

[ Skipping the living-room couch it is. He'll walk them over to his bedroom without missing a beat, Motown still playing in the background, like encouragement. ]

( that's it, isn't it? she'd wondered what he wanted when she'd arrived, questioned the nature of the evening with his fussy jacket and her casual dress, but his clever allusion to something much more intimate than dinner had answered those questions for her. perhaps he'd been wondering the same thing. what she wanted, how far she wanted this to go, how much she wanted him.

because as soon as the words slip out of her mouth, it's like the gates open; his grip is firmer, more sure, more determined as he pulls her up into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist on instinct alone. kimberly can only laugh, pressing her forehead against his shoulder as it rumbles through her chest, clinging to him with arms wrapped around his neck as he carries her through the small apartment. )

This is much better, ( announced as they cross through the threshold, amusement high in her voice. ) Don't you think?

[ Damn, but she weighs nothing. It's all too easy to walk with Kimberly in his arms, holding her tight to him as she laughs, making him grin. He nods, passing the threshold of his bedroom and pushing the door closed with a foot. ]

Much better, [ he agrees, intent behind the words, just as he sits down on the bed, letting Kimberly straddle him. Like this, it's just too easy to kiss her again, to let his hands roam over her hips, the small of her back, her ass, down to the hem of her dress, trailing his fingers along the skin just below it.

He lets out a noise against her lips when he realizes the music is not filtering through the door,
but he still can barely hear the ringing in his ears, replaced by the steady, rapid beat of his heart as he holds Kimberly to him. ]

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i continue to be the #worst

hush you're the best

no clearly n o t

shhhh pets your hair

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	you've reached kimberly — you really should have texted me. who leaves a voicemail anymore? audio \| text \| video \| snapchat \| action
kimberly hart.

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i continue to be the #worst

hush you're the best

no clearly n o t

shhhh *pets your hair*

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shhhh pets your hair