[I'm wondering if this is too long… I can't decide what to cut, though, because they're both so damned careful, and with each little bit they're both trying to figure the other out. Reviews not only welcome but greatly desired! *g*]

Chapter 4 – Imagination

Remember who you are right now.

Grinning impishly down at Darmas, Vacy allowed herself to blush – wasn't hard to do, what with being naked. It was kind of convenient, because lying was an awful lot easier when you could keep things pretty near the truth. Curious. Excited. Mostly comfortable, with just a touch of awkward and shy. While she could play a complete innocent, Darmas wasn't the sort to be won over by the nervous love-talk that so easily flowed from that situation. Too simple – no, he'd appreciate a touch of challenge, though of course, like any good sharp, he picked challenges he was pretty sure he could overcome.

Whatever you do, don't let him see you thinking. She took a short breath, leaned down, and as her lips touched his, let herself slip into the lie.

Her thumbs stroked his jaw as she kissed him, lightly at first, then open, and when she felt his hands rest at her waist, fingers brushing her skin, she pressed her hips down against his, slowly. He thrust against her in reply, and she gasped softly against him, shivering a little as she felt his fingertips digging into her.

She wrenched herself upward and smiled lazily at him, knowing that her lips were swollen and her hair was pulling free from her ponytail; she could feel wisps drifting against her face. Hips rocking against his, she traced her fingers over the luxurious folds of his tunic, then slowly unfastened the buttons and pushed the fabric away.

His skin was smooth and warm, and she could feel the firm cut of muscle underneath. Knowing he was watching closely, she smiled to herself and ran her palms slowly up and down his chest, fingers splayed. She looked back up, her eyes half-lidded, and she arched a brow. "Sit up?" she whispered.

He did, which surprised her a little – but then, she'd asked rather than told, which may have helped. As she pushed the shirt down his arms, she leaned just close enough that the tips of her nipples brushed against his chest each time she took a breath. Then she left the shirt tangled around his wrists and slid her hands up his back, pulling him firmly against her, and nuzzled the side of his neck, grinding her hips against his as she straddled him.

It didn't take more than a moment for Darmas to free his hands and wrap them around her, cradling her body against his as he softly touched kisses along the line of her shoulder and up her neck. And then he leaned back, just a little, and when she looked at him, he simply held her gaze for a few moments, and she could not read him.

And when he kissed her again, finally, it was gentle, and she tensed, because tenderness and sweetness were not part of the plan – at least, not her plan. So she kissed him back slowly, carefully, and shivered.

Breaking the embrace, she wrinkled her nose at him. "You know, you're still wearing your pants," she said, mock-scolding him. And if she was a little breathless, and her heart was pounding, so what? Given the circumstances, that was a good thing.

"Well, why don't we do something about that?" he murmured against her neck. He lifted his hips (she groaned at the contact) and wriggled, tugging, and then kicked off his trousers – and his drawers, Vacy realized a moment later with a sharp breath.

She thrust down and moaned, feeling his skin against hers, and the plan flickered a bit in her mind. She growl-whined, rubbing against him again. "Dammit, Darmas," she sighed. Shortcut. Let's hope this works.

"Mh?" He looked up, hands still caressing her breasts.

Vacy stuck her lower lip out. "Well I was gonna be all hot and seductive-y and I wanted to make you writhe and moan and… and want me." She pursed her lips, still half-pouting. "But now you're naked and I'M naked and… and … well I just don't think I have the patience for that." She hrffedout a sigh, and her voice was quieter – almost a little sad – when she added, "I wanted to make you as crazy as you make me."

He laughed, his caramel-brown eyes sparkling, and Vacy wrinkled her nose at him. "Delightful vixen," Darmas said, and suddenly she was on her back, looking up at him, "what, in the name of all the planets, makes you think you're not making me crazy?"

She blinked. "Hey, that's a pretty neat… wait." She blinked again, and then beamed at him. "Really?" She wiggled her hips under his, and when he hissed, clenching his teeth, his eyes darkening, she laughed. "Hurray! I'm not incompetent after all." And she twisted her legs around his and pulled him to her – or her to him, she wasn't really thinking about that, so it could've been either – and nipped at his chin, then kissed him soundly.

He chuckled, the sound low and rumbly and she shivered against him. "No. Definitely not incompetent," he managed between kisses.

She rubbed against him, arching her back and tilting her hips up, and – almost – she felt his tip press against her, then slide past, and she ground her teeth. "Lover, you're killin' me. Please, Darmas…" she whimpered.

"What?" he whispered against her. "Please what?"

Vacy felt him slide past again, rubbing back and forth against her core, and she moaned, her fingers digging into the small of his back. "Just bein' mean, now – please – aw, c'mon…" She wondered how long it made sense to hold out, but when he shifted so that he was rubbing back and forth over her clit, she figured that was her cue. "Oh… m-my… stars," she sighed.

His back was damp with a sheen of sweat as he thrust back and forth, still teasing, but Vacy could feel the tension in his muscles. And when he slipped down, just a little, his tip pressing against her opening, she pushed against him, just a little, and he groaned. "This what you want?" he murmured, his voice shaky.

And it was so very, very easy to open her eyes to gaze at him, lips faintly parted, and just blink with a confused "Muh?" Vacy didn't waste neural energy trying to decide whether or not she could reply coherently, because thank goodness, it wasn't necessary.

"Tell me," he whispered, pressing again, but she angled just a bit differently so that this time when she pushed against him he slid inside her, just the tip, and she moaned, eyes fluttering closed again.

With a groan that sounded like it might have been a curse, he pushed forward, a whispered sigh as he filled her completely before pulling back to thrust again.

And again.

And then all that mattered was sensation. Vacy pushed with him, arching, forcing him deeper, arms wrapped around his shoulders so that their bodies moved together. She felt his hands grasp her hips as with a growl he thrust harder, building tension as he slid in and out of her and a gasp wrenched out of her, her head fell back, and she was begging him, pleading with him not to stop, to take her harder, to make her come

but it was when she whispered, "fill me" that she felt him clench, heard him cry out – in anger? – and she came again, harder this time, shaking beneath him as his control slipped and then shattered inside her

It was some time later (she wasn't sure how much) that she realized that he was gazing at her and she was smiling at him. "Hey," she whispered.

He blinked, and leaned down to kiss her before moving away and stretching out next to her with a sigh. "Well!" he chuckled, propping himself up on an elbow and grinning at her. "That conversation was certainly interesting."

Vacy smiled softly at him and cuddled close, nuzzling into his neck. You have NO idea.