A Holiday by Decree

~~Day 11~~

Slowly, gracefully Sansa leaned back on the pillows upon a small nod from Tyrion.

Mesmerized, Tyrion watched hungrily, as she glanced to the side and used one hand to pull the tie from the end of her braid that had fallen to the cushions on her right while he sat to her left.

Freed of the braid, the silky copper pooled beside her head and down past her shoulder. He longed to run his fingers through the waves there, but taking a deep breath, he forced his mind to work.

Don't fuck this up, he thought briefly to himself, but the trepidation could not last. He had wanted to touch Sansa… well, for longer than he would dare to admit, but still, that was what would help see him through this.

After all they had shared, the different ways that she had revealed herself to him in the past few days, he wanted nothing less than to give her the perfect experience.

Looking on her with more softness in his heart than he typically dared to allow, he spoke softly upon seeing that she appeared settled. "Will you leave your eyes open? I don't mind either way - whatever will make you feel most relaxed."

"Yes, I think I will," she breathed, her eyes already carefully though interestedly watching him.

Tyrion nodded again with a small smile, and he sincerely hoped he did not look as nervous as he felt. Taking a careful breath, he lowered his gaze from hers to center himself.

Thoughtfully, he considered her own exploration of him for how to safely proceed.

Beside her hips, Sansa had laid her arms out as he had, though her palms faced the cushions.

Taken with her creamy skin as he ever was, he started by tracing with the tips of his right fingers over her knuckles. He brushed softly the back of her hand and up her wrist. When he reached her forearm, he took in the fine hairs that flecked her skin for the first time.

Marveling at being allowed this intimacy, he checked again with a glance back at her watchful eyes before proceeding to the cuff of her dress.

Relieved to see what could only be heated fascination in her gaze, Tyrion continued.

Stroking his way along the deep amethyst silk of Sansa's sleeve, he felt himself relax at the indulgent heat of her flesh beneath the fabric.

Tyrion had always loved the touch of a woman's body, and Sansa's was no exception. He had only sworn off of it, as he had feared to trust even himself after all that had happened in those horrible years before the peace...

Now though, inspiration seemed to find him again, as he cupped Sansa's shoulder and tenderly caressed the muscles from there along the way to her slender neck.

His heart quivered as her blue eyes widened at first, but at the deep sigh of satisfaction that issued from her, he could not help but let his smile grow.