Author's Note: I said this was likely going to be the last chapter. Then I started writing it, beginning with some good ol' fashioned smut, and next thing I knew I wrote over 3,000 words… of smut. So there's definitely one more chapter coming after this. For now, I leave you here with all the smut—wrapped in a bit of character development, of course ;)

PART TEN: AT LEAST UNTIL MORNING

Ignis hadn't entertained what intimacy would be like since he lost his sight. There were far more pressing matters, and it never even entered his mind—until now.

He hadn't considered the frustration of wanting to see the little details; or how his hands would become an even more essential guide to getting his lips where he wanted them; or how certain sensations would feel far more intense.

Their time together at Cape Caem had been exploratory and even a bit tentative, but there was no room for that here. As Ignis pulled Aranea onto the bed, she placed her legs on either side of him, straddling him. She took his glasses off, reaching and placing them on the bedside table, and examined his face closely. Her first touch to his large, starburst-shaped scar made him flinch, and she wondered if it was pain or embarrassment.

"Does it hurt?" Aranea asked.

"Not really. It's just… I can't imagine it's very pleasant to look at," Ignis said, as his eyes dropped.

"You're going to have to stop that right now, you hear? Your scars will never be a problem for me."

"They don't bother you?"

"Honestly, if they hadn't caused you so much pain, I'd say they're kind of hot."

Ignis pulled Aranea closer, burying his face in her neck and kissing her collarbone.

"And hey," Aranea said, running her fingers through his hair. "I thought we're pretending for the night."

"I'm afraid I can't pretend this one thing away," Ignis replied.

"Yeah… guess you can't."

Aranea thought about this a moment, and knew he was right. They couldn't pretend quite the same way they did at Cape Caem. But she was getting more comfortable with this whole not-running-away idea, so why not take things for what they were?

"How about," she continued, "we don't pretend all this shit didn't happen. You're blind, I'm scared of getting close, and we're both still getting used to all of this. But tomorrow…"

"Tomorrow is an open book," Ignis finished for her.

"Exactly. We can pretend about tomorrow."

"Yes… So let's pretend I'm not leaving in the morning."

"That's a good start."

Ignis ran his hands up Aranea's back, feeling that she was wearing only a tank top. He pulled it over her head and tossed it aside, then ran his hands down her back and over her hips, realizing that she was in her underwear.

"Are you always this indecent when you have company?" he asked.

"Only when there's no consequence," she said, standing up and pulling her underwear down, then sitting back down on him, now fully naked.

"I'm sorry to tell you, but there are about to be some consequences," Ignis replied, running his hands over her bare ass and giving them a squeeze. "You're fully naked."

"I've got socks on."

"No you don't," he said, feeling her feet.

"Busted. But you're still fully clothed. Seems a bit unfair," she pouted.

"I want to feel you for a moment longer. I'm… remembering."

Ignis let his hands trigger the memories for him. He ran his hands up and down her body as she remained straddling him, recalling as many details as he could. Her scars from the injuries he tended to on her thigh were a bit rough, but felt like they had healed well. Her stomach was flat but soft, and his hands ran over a small mole he'd noticed before, as if confirming his memories were intact. Her breasts were still that teardrop shape, and her nipples hardened as his hands brushed over them.

Aranea shifted her hips forward into him, feeling that he was fully aroused. Ignis took a sharp breath at this motion; he hadn't been aroused since his injury. Some of his senses were already getting more acute and, apparently, it didn't stop with his hearing. He felt almost desperate to be inside her warmth again.

After ample time letting Ignis' hands explore her body, Aranea placed her own on his shoulders and pushed him back. Something about being this exposed in front of him, even though he couldn't see her, made her feel all the more exhilarated—though she was getting impatient to undress him.

As Ignis lay at her whim, Aranea hovered above and kissed him deeply as her fingers moved down his shirt, undoing the buttons. She spread the shirt apart and pressed her breasts against his chest, letting go of a deep, soft moan at the contact.

She sat back up, taking her turn to admire him. Back at Cape Caem, there was so much going on that she felt she nearly missed this—missed certain details. He had a few small freckles on his abdomen, as he did on his face. Her hands trailed down his chest and stomach, running over the smooth skin, the trail of hair under his belly button, and landing at his belt, which she unbuckled easily.

Grabbing the belt loops, Aranea started pulling Ignis' trousers down as he kicked his shoes off, and threw the trousers aside. She then removed his socks for good measure.

"You don't get to wear these either," she said playfully.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Aranea ran her hands over the bottoms of his feet, giving them a slight tickle and laughing at Ignis' knee-jerk reaction.

"Are you more ticklish now too?" she asked.

"I didn't think it would be possible, but apparently I am," he laughed.

She ran her hands up his legs and hooked her fingers on the hem of his underwear, teasing a pulling motion without actually removing them. Instead, Aranea moved to his navel, placing small kisses there. She peered up at him and noticed Ignis basking in this attention. Not that she hadn't reciprocated what he had given her in Cape Caem, but it felt different somehow—as if he hadn't expected her to show this sort of interest now that he was damaged.

Moving a bit lower, inches above his underwear, she moved a hand over him and felt the hardness. He let out an audible sigh at the contact. Her hand massaged up and down, then her mouth found him too, underwear still on, and she let out a warm breath. Ignis' hand felt around for her and wound his fingers around hers.

Aranea slid his underwear off, tossing it next to the discarded socks. She then pushed his shirt off of his shoulders, adding it to the pile. She licked her hand and placed it on him, wrapping her fingers tight and moving up and down slowly. Ignis propped himself up on his elbows as if he were watching her do this—which, she now recalled, he had enjoyed doing. Was he picturing her now, as she looked up at his unseeing eyes and ran a tongue softly over the tip?

Her tongue moved back and forth, and she studied his expressions—the subtle changes on his face or the twitching muscles in his upper arms. She then placed her lips over him and enveloped him deeply.

"Ah…" Ignis breathed, finally getting that full, warm sensation he was craving.

Aranea moved her mouth and hand in synchronicity, judging the speed by his reactions, her tongue dancing over him. She moved a little faster, pausing every now and then with a generous lick along the shaft to the tip before enveloping him again. Ignis particularly seemed to enjoy this moment of suspension, the brief rush of cool air before the warmth of her mouth returned.

Truth be told, Aranea couldn't remember ever enjoying this so much. Usually it was somewhat of a chore that appeased men, one that seemed only fair if they had put in similar efforts. But with Ignis, she didn't care if he returned anything. She didn't find her mind wandering to mundane tasks or thinking about her orders for the next day. She was here in the moment with him, enjoying every build in his expression, and feeling herself throbbing in response. She felt as if, if she were to touch herself right now, she could come in no time.

Ignis squeezed her free hand harder. He was tensing up and Aranea could tell he was getting close. He sat up straight, running his hands up and down her back as she increased her speed. He gripped her hard, his hips moving with her now and his body curling over her frame.

As if to encourage him, Aranea wrapped an arm around Ignis' waist, pulling him as close as she could, and moved her mouth and hand over him furiously. I want you to come, she thought.

Ignis thrust forward harder and his hands dug into her back as he released right into her mouth. Aranea now moved slower, gentler, letting him finish. He slumped over her, hands releasing and rubbing the spots he had grabbed a little harder than he intended—not that she minded.

Slowly, Aranea peeled her lips away. She raised herself up, and Ignis ran his hands over her face, placing his forehead against hers.

"Thank you for that…" he whispered. Ever the gentleman, he had thanked her in Cape Caem too, but this was filled with so much more gratitude.

"You don't ever have to thank me, you know," Aranea said.

Ignis kissed her then, pulling her back onto his lap.

"Your turn, m'lady," he said playfully.

"I won't say no, but there's no hurry," she replied. "Let's just hang out for a sec."

Aranea scooted onto the bed, pulling Ignis after her. She lay down and pulled him on top, wrapping her legs around him. He brushed his fingers through her hair, faces inches away from one another.

"So what's it like?" Aranea asked.

"What is what like?" Ignis asked innocently.

"You know… this. Without being able to…"

"Ah, I see—or I don't, rather. But you wish to know, what's it like now that I'm blind?"

"That was a stupid question, you don't have to answer that," Aranea said quickly.

"It's… intense," Ignis replied. "Yes, that's the word. It's as if all of your other senses matter more, so you pay more attention to them. At least, that's what I felt this time around…"

She knew she had no business asking, but Aranea couldn't stop herself: "Were there other times around… with other people?"

"No, not at all. I just meant… this is the only time I've been in any sort of… state like this, since it happened." Ignis pulled her tighter. "Aranea, since Cape Caem, you're the only one who's been on my mind. Unless Noctis counts."

Aranea laughed at this, but she knew there was more weight to his quip. Noctis—his duty, his closest friend—would come before her. Ignis had already given his sight for him; he was ready to give it all. She didn't waste time having any sort of feelings about this though. She merely accepted it.

"I know that duty will call," Aranea said, "but hey, don't let anything else happen to you. Okay? You're supposed to try and outlive me, remember?"

Ignis smiled at the memory of them skinny dipping, when he found out she was several years older and had joked that he could at least live as long as her.

"I do love a challenge," he said playfully. "I'll try my hardest to outlive you."

"Good."

Aranea pressed her hips into him, feeling him getting aroused again. Ignis reciprocated the motion and kissed her collarbone.

"Now, how about your turn?" he grinned.

Aranea responded with a low, throaty laugh as his lips moved over her breast, tongue massaging a nipple. His hand roamed lower, never lifting off her skin so that he could build a more accurate map of her body in his mind. He traced his fingers up her inner thigh, and she moved her legs apart in response. He recalled her on the pier in Caem, when he had watched her spread before him, wet from the water and glistening in the sunlight. She had let him see her in detail, completely unabashed, every curving shape and color and detail laid bare. No one he had ever been with before was this open, usually preferring dim lights that left far more to the imagination.

Now that all he had was imagination, he was especially thankful she had let him see her like that.

Ignis' hand reached the top of her inner thigh, his fingers moving gently to trace between her legs. He worked slowly, teasing almost, as he kissed her neck, feeling her pulse quicken under his mouth. He spread her apart and slid a finger inside. Thud thud thud thud.

"Tell me you want more," Ignis breathed into Aranea's neck.

"Yes…" Of course she wanted more.

Another finger slipped in as Ignis shifted down to between her legs. He paused and looked up, as if he could read her expression. He maintained his supposed eye contact as he ran a tongue over her. Aranea let out a low and relieved moan to finally feel him there again.

"Am I remembering how you like it?" Ignis asked in between running his tongue along her.

"Oh, yes."

"I wish I could see your face, so that I can know for certain."

"You don't need to see my face. Just read the other signs."

As if to make her point, Aranea shimmied her hips and ran a hand through Ignis' hair, pulling him in. He placed his mouth on her in response, moving his tongue in circles. He worked steadily, taking her advice and judging if she wanted it slower or faster, deeper or lighter. if her increased breathing and moans were anything to go by, he was doing an excellent job of gaging this—perhaps even better than before. But instead of taking Aranea all the way, he pulled back from when he started feeling her tightening up.

"Not yet," he said, his voice more demanding now.

He lay on top and teased her with entering, but not letting her have the satisfaction. She pressed against him, hands on his ass, trying to push him in.

"You want it?" Ignis asked playfully.

"Yes, dammit. You know, you were much easier before," Aranea teased back.

"I've learned about the benefits of yearning."

"Yearning?"

Ignis pressed a little closer to her, almost inside her but not quite.

"There are so many things I yearn to do now that I can't immediately. But when I finally figure it out, there is so much…" he pressed inside her, "… satisfaction."

Aranea breathed in sharply, wrapping her legs around him to get as deep as possible. He was right; it felt like a special kind of satisfaction. It felt like she had been waiting forever, and now it was hers.

"You have a point," she said, trying to maintain her breath.

Ignis kissed her as he moved, deep and slow, till Aranea was practically begging him for more. He smiled at her mischievously and, in a quick move, got off, spun her around on all fours, and playfully slapped a hand onto her ass. He licked her from behind, running his tongue up between her cheeks, and then entered her again.

He reached around to her front, running his hands over a breast and then down, stimulating her. Aranea stretched her hands out in front and arched her back, letting him hit her in just the right spot from the inside too.

The hesitant Ignis that had showed up at her door was gone, and she didn't mind one bit.

After letting him stay in control a while longer, Aranea decided it was time to switch up the dynamic—she wasn't about to let Ignis think he had all the upper hand. She shoved her hips backward suddenly, sending him falling out of her and onto his elbows. She turned around and pinned him down by the wrists before he could respond, straddling him.

"That's enough, Four Eyes—"

Aranea stopped suddenly, realizing what she had said. Instead of looking hurt though, Ignis started laughing.

"Technically, the term ought to be No Eyes," he chuckled.

"I am not calling you that."

"Then call me what you will. I just like to hear you say it."

"Oh?"

"I want to hear you screaming my name," Ignis said with a buck of his hips.

"Your bros might hear."

"All the better."

"Let's get to work then."

Aranea started riding him, keeping his hands pinned. Sweat dripped between her breasts and onto Ignis, but he was just as wet. She finally let go of his hands to prop herself higher, and Ignis grabbed her hips, moving her against him. Aranea was fulfilling her promise, her moans getting louder and louder, his name coming off her tongue like a hiss.

Wanting to coax more out of her, Ignis sat up and grabbed Aranea in his arms, then stood and took a few paces to the nearby wall, pinning her against it hard and holding her up as he continued to move inside her. He was glad he had kept track of the paces from the door to the bed.

Aranea did get louder, but she also got rowdier now that their game shifted again in Ignis' favor. She used her dragoon skills to hoist herself up high over his shoulders, and flipped around behind him. She pinned him against the wall now. He was a fair bit taller than her 5'6" frame without heels, and his ass was at the level of her navel. She grinded against him the best she could, biting the skin between his shoulder blades. She reached a hand down between his cheeks, massaging there for a moment before moving further down between his legs and fondling him from behind.

"Maybe I want you to scream my name too," she purred.

"As the lady wishes."

"Ever the gentleman."

She turned him around and jumped on him, straddling with her strong legs, and guided him back inside her. Ignis stumbled back to the bed, lying her down while he stood at the edge, and moved furiously. She propped herself up for leverage, and the two battled it out with their hips.

Aranea said his name with abandon, screamed it aloud so everyone could hear that, no, he wasn't damaged. No one had to feel sorry for him. She came so hard, even harder than at Cape Caem, that she thought her body might never stop convulsing. She was surrendering the battle and Ignis was still going—but not for much longer as he thrust a few more times before collapsing, burying himself deep, and her name exhaling from his mouth like one huge breath of gratitude.

They crawled onto the bed, limbs now heavy and tangled up. Ignis rested his head on Aranea's shoulder, his hair tickling her jaw. They lay there for a while, breath slowly calming down.

"You know," Aranea whispered, breaking the silence, "you have a place here too, if you want."

"You wish for me to stay?"

Aranea thought about this before answering. "I do," she said at last, "but only if you wanted to. I know you have your duty to the King."

"I thought we were still pretending that tomorrow is an open book."

"Are we?"

"At least until morning. If you don't mind."

"'Course not."

Ignis took her hand and kissed it, and she nuzzled his head. She was certain he wouldn't stay, but she had to at least let him know she wanted him to. And he had to let her know he wanted to pretend that he could.

It wasn't everything, but it was more than they ever had.

Next Chapter: It's hard to say goodbye…