Warning: We're getting into the heavier stuff…head the rating change. This chapter is rated PG-13/ (mild) R
Disclaimer: The usual I don't own anything, blah blah blah.
Slowly, ever so slowly, V lowered his last defense, his only protection against the world. His head was tilted down so that the silky curtain of the wig created a shadow over his face. He had already fought back the demons that prevented him from removing the mask, but inside the battle was still raging. Maybe he couldn't do this? Maybe he could replace the mask and save this obstacle for another time? He glanced nervously at the mask discarded off to the side of Evey's leg. No. This must be done. If he could not even show her his face, then he could not trust her; and if he could not trust her, then they had no future together.
After a few more moments of preparation, he raised his head up to meet Evey's gaze, steeling himself to see the horror in her eyes.
But instead he saw something else. As he looked up, a soft smile teased her lips and a flicker of happiness sparked in her eyes before they moved on to take in every detail of the scenery.
Twisted red and white tissue spotted his cheeks and parts of his forehead, pulling the skin tight; it crept up over the bridge of his slender nose and onto the other side, joining each ragged cheek. During her exploration, V had removed the wig so that she could see the rest of the scaring. The back of his head had definitely taken the worst, the hairless skin taking on a more melted appearance, similar to that of his hands. But other than that, the rest of his face seemed to have healed well. He had a finely chiseled mouth, his lips full and pink, and the area surrounding his eyes was healthy pale skin; long, thick black eyebrows with a few jagged scars jutting into them lined his brow and matched the lush lashes lining his deep blue eyes.
V, who had been silently wallowing in his own personal hell trying to gauge her reaction, didn't even notice when Evey brought a hand to his face. He jolted at the contact as if he'd been electrocuted, his eyes quickly darting to hers. But there was only that same loving acceptance, and he found himself finally truly believing. He closed his eyes, slowly relaxing and succumbing to the blissful sensation of Evey's fingers softly trailing the scars of his face for the very first time.
"You should have told me you were hiding such a handsome face behind that mask," she cooed as she delicately traced the contours of his brow.
V immediately tensed, his eyes snapping open. She stopped her gentle exploration, registering the hurt on V's face.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.
"Evey, there is no need for such patronization. I am well aware of what I look like to know that I am far from handsome."
"Patronization?" Her brow furrowed and she sat up a bit straighter in his lap. "I am not patronizing you about anything, V. I was being quite serious."
"Evey—"
"Listen to me," she interrupted, cupping his face with both hands and looking deep into his eyes. "Whatever you think about your face is not what I think. You may see scars, but do you know what I see? I see the face of the man who put his country before his life; the face of the man who had the compassion and the conscience to take in a frightened girl and protect her; the face of the man that has the strength to survive even the worst horrors of humanity; the face of the I've thought about ever since the night of the fifth almost two years ago; and the face of the man that I love."
With that, she tenderly lowered her lips to his.
Shocked, V gasped, and Evey took full advantage of his open mouth. She slid her tongue in, eliciting a groan from each of them. A wave of desire crashed over him so powerfully it nearly shook him with its force. His arms wound about her like steel bands, locking her to his chest as her lips moved sensually over his.
So this is what it feels like to be wanted. The thought floated though his brain as his eager hands caressed every curve of her body. This is what it tastes like. And then all coherency vanished as he succumbed to the sweet sensation of her mouth and softness of her body.
Marred hands slid up her back to tangle in her hair as she explored the confines of his mouth. With another groan, he took over and lowered her to the couch, his weight bearing down on her as he deepened the kiss.
Nearly two years of suppressed desire and longing bubbled up inside him, and he felt his body begin to respond. His breathing grew shallow as a foreign pressure began in his groin. The pressure heightened as he ground his hips into hers, reveling in every sound she made.
Evey's hands traveled from back to front, grasping at the material of his doublet before sliding up to cup his cheeks. Her clothing was feeling much too tight, and all she could think about was being out of them with V. But first, they had to get off this couch.
"V?" Evey breathed between kisses, then gasped as one hand slid down to cup and kneed her breast through the material of her shirt. But V didn't seem to hear her, he was so caught up in the sensation.
"V." She breathed again, this time gently pushing on his shoulders. V reared back with a hurt look, but before he could even register rejection she was already reassuring him with a smile and a quick but fervent kiss.
"Bedroom? The couch is too small," she husked with a wicked grin.
V stared at her for all of a moment before he whisked her up into his arms in one fluid movement, holding her tight against his chest. Evey wrapped her arms around him, giggling with excitement into his neck as he began to march purposefully through the gallery.
Author's Note: Yes I know this update is long overdue. My apologies that this chapter is so short. Truth be told, this is all I have finished so far for this section of the story (ducks head as reviewers throw tomatoes). This was suppose to be longer in length, but I decided to split it up into 2 chapters…again…sigh. I figured that it was just time to update. I'm working to get the rest of this section finished.