ketterdamn | for wraithes

for wraithes

[ It's been a long day. Which doesn't quite do it justice, since most of his days heading the Dregs have been long. No, today had been long in the way that pulled taffy is; just when one thinks it'll snap, it keeps going down to the spider fine threads. He's running on those threads now, as he opens the front door and attempts to stop thinking about the day in its entirety.

A monumental task for him, because his mind keeps spinning back to the problem with the Black Tips. To the idle reminders of papers he has to get through tomorrow or the meetings he knows he'll be going into. Meetings for information from Roeder, for Anika's report, the drawn out process of sorting through new recruits. All things that need his attention. He leans back against the door, letting out a long sigh. He wants nothing more than to flop right into bed and curl up with Inej.

Prying himself away from the door, he makes his way to the bedroom, pulling off his coat and hanging it on a nearby hook. His gloves (for warmth, nowadays) are next, deposited on the bureau. It's a quiet process, not wanting to bother Inej too much—she's already probably heard him come in. ]

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[ inej, too, has had something of a long day. mostly in navigating the rooftops, tracking down a new lead on slavers in ketterdam. a new member of the council (according to wylan, who shrewdly told inej the individual was (1) a creep and (2) probably better off dead) had begun partaking in one of the newer brothels and had seen fit to brag about acquisitions a-plenty.

he would be dead within the week, if inej has her way, but collecting information takes precedence. she had been looking forward to returning home to tuck herself into bed alongside kaz, but he hadn't been home. late, likely due to the dregs. so inej had decided to take a long hot bath, something she had just begun wrapping up when she hears kaz come into the bedroom. ]

You are home late.

[ she says lazily, still soaking in the bathroom, her eyes closed, her hair pinned up to avoid it getting completely soaking wet.

she would move. eventually. ( she generally avoided mixing kaz and water unless strictly necessary, although he has gotten infinitely better. ) it sounds like he's just gotten in, anyway. ]

[ Her voice floats out from the bathroom and if he listens closely, he can hear the quiet trickle of water. In her volcanic water, as usual. Something about that knowledge makes him smile, just a bit.

Using the bureau edge, he pulls his shoes off and then makes his way to the bathroom, cane tapping along the tiles. ]

Dregs needed their hands held today. [ The tiredness definitely leaks into his voice and he swipes a hand through his hair as he perches on the edge of the tub. ] Been back a while?

[ she opens her eyes when she hears the click of his cane against the tile, and tilts her head up to offer him a warm smile when he sits at the edge of the tub. he does look tired. should probably be in bed, all things considered. ]

Not that long. Busy night.

[ she sits up a little bit, scooting herself forward in the water to rest her forehead against his thigh briefly, in greeting. she’ll avoid the wet hands for now. instead, she leans her shoulder against the side of the tub so she can rest her cheek against his leg, her face still dry. she hadn’t totally submerged herself yet. ]

I was just about to get out when you came in, actually.

[ her tone thoughtful. ]

So you have perfect timing.

Seems to be a trend. [ His response is wry, a similarly small smile turning up the corner of his mouth. When she leans her cheek against his leg, he carefully sets his hand at the back of her neck, mostly on her hair, knowing it was dry. Wet skin doesn't make him panic quite like it used to, but sometimes it's hard to tell if it'll set him off badly. So this is the closest greeting he can give her for now. ]

Water not boiling enough for you anymore?

[ Kaz grins, knowing very well how hot she liked her baths. If she's been in here for any amount of time, it's probably gone a little cooler at least. ]

In the plans all along. [ Not really, but he'll take credit for the coincidence. Reluctantly, he pulls his hand away, levering himself back up and out so she can finish her bath in peace. ]

Not quite scalding.

[ it’s a quip, though she does return his grin a little, straightening back up as he lifts himself up to stand. part of her is sad to miss his hand against her neck, but she really should get up and into pajamas. and sitting on the edge of the bath tub can’t be comfortable.

she watches him go, taking the half a moment to rinse herself off a final time before unplugging the train. she doesn’t bother ducking down below — the bath had been more to relax than properly wash herself, anyway. and once that is done, inej towels herself off meticulously before wrapping herself in said towel, unpinning her hair so it can settle against her back. ]

I may have a late night tomorrow, too. I have a new lead in the city.

[ as she steps into their bedroom, towel loosely wrapped around her frame as she weighs her options between shrugging herself into pajamas and not bothering. ]

But once he is dead, we can take a weekend away.

[ you know, just normal barrel things. ]

[ The sounds of her finishing her bath are muted by distance and he partially tunes them out as he changes for bed. Or rather, strips out of his clothes and tosses them in the hamper. Pajamas are an effort so he opts for remaining in his underclothes.

It's not like he needs to be modest. He uses that time to rinse and dry his face off, at least, feeling slightly less exhausted by the time he's done. Inej comes into the room as he's flipped back the covers, hair unpinned and a fluffy towel around her shoulders. As usual, he feels the urge to kiss her. Nothing complicated or more, just a small show of affection. ]

Anyone I know? [ Idle curiosity; he's never going to stop her. ] Countryside might have early spring.

[ It's typically cooler in Ketterdam, with the winds coming off the harbor. Inland has probably gotten warm enough for things to come out of hibernation.

Either way, a weekend off sounds enticing. Especially now, as he thinks a bit about the busyness of the day while he sits on his side of the bed. ]

The new council member. Scum.

[ it’s said mildly, with half a shrug of her shoulders before she elects to sit on her side of the bed, scooting herself over to loosely wrap her arms around his shoulders, the towel dropping a bit. pajamas be damned, she had missed him. ]

It could be early spring. [ she muses, pressing her lips against his temple in a soft kiss. he feels tense, but also genuinely tired. ] You need a break.

[ something she has not so subtly told anika. and may consider reminding geels to back off, the snot that he is. ]

Let’s go next week.

They usually are.

[ Some worse than others, though. When she wraps her arms around his shoulders, he leans slightly back into the hold, a hand coming up to loosely loop around her forearm. Ugh, he missed her all day. Missed this all day. ]

Possibly. [ Lately it feels like he has. ] Lots of moving parts of late.

[ Sometimes it was just that way. The Barrel never rested, not truly, and he'd built the Dregs up to be one of the lynchpins that things tend to rotate around. It comes with pros and cons, the latter usually being the monopolizing of his time. ]

I'll give Anika a heads up. [ They can work on a schedule this week.

That aside, he tucks his chin down to kiss her wrist and then the back of her hand, really just wanting to touch. ]

[ ah, no hemming and hawing about how busy he was. he must be tired. and so inej hums to herself as he kisses her hand, tightening her hug briefly before letting her arms slide off of his shoulders. ]

Lay down, you sound exhausted.

[ slightly chiding as she readjusts the towel, running a hand along his back. ]

You can at least sleep in; Anika will be fine alone for a bit.

[ Really, he'd like to say it's been a long day and he'll bounce after some rest. But realistically, it's been a long month, full of plans and renovations and general day to day. He'd put up a fight about leaving otherwise but he's too tired to.

She pulls away and he misses the weight across his shoulders, though there's something soothing about the hand she runs down his back. ]

She has Pim on morning shift, in case. [ The two of them have been working together since he'd brought them in. They'll be fine. Probably.

Kaz moves to lie down, stopping only to press a kiss to her mouth before he does. It's soft, the greeting he didn't get to give her earlier. ]

[ the kiss is soft, and inej grins a little into it before she settles herself to sit next to him, her thigh resting against his side as she gently brushes his hair back, amused. ]

I missed you.

[ she murmurs, ducking down to kiss his forehead, mostly abandoning the towel in lieu of giving him the attention that he had missed all day. they had been living in the house for upward of a few months, now, but she still feels a pang of loneliness, whenever he isn’t at her side. too many long months away from one another has left her a little selfish, when it comes to kaz’s time. ]

I am serious, about a weekend away. [ as she shifts her weight a little, to press her lips against his cheek, before deciding to swing a leg over his hips, finding a much better angle to kiss his jaw. ] I won’t forgive you if you fall over from exhaustion.

[ though she pauses, then, a hand finding his cheek, running her thumb along his face. ]

Exhaustion caused by anyone but me, anyway.

[ clarification is important, as inej presses a single chaste kiss to his lips with a warm smile. ]

I missed you too.

[ Her company alone was something he always found himself wanting. It's been years since she's worked by his side day in and day out—she has a ship and a dream to steer, after all—but he feels that lack in the spaces between. Sometimes, he simply misses knowing she was in the rafters somewhere.

So whenever she is back, he's greedy for her attention, eager to make up for the months spent away. ]

No, I can't imagine you would. [ Well, she is forgiving. More than he is, at any rate. She would still be quite upset with him if he fell over from pushing too hard. They're still young and he's still stubborn, but he thinks of that span of days prior to the auction in the Church of Barter and wonders how he managed it.

Those thoughts evaporate as she settles across his hips, her weight solid and welcome. He lets her kiss, sliding his hands to her thighs, head tilting when she kisses his jaw. ]

Is that a suggestion? [ Because to be clear, he finds it a good one. He follows the soft kiss with one of his own, and then another, slightly less soft. Her smile is mirrored, though, on both. ]

A warning.

[ she murmurs against his lips, though she does return his kiss, her teeth catching his bottom lip with a slight tug as she straightens back up. her hands find his, fingers tracing over the tendons in his hands.

he looks good like this, relaxed and —- well, underneath her. pressed into the mattress, tucked in amongst the pillows. and inej considers that for a moment, idly tracing her fingers along his hands, before: ]

I want to take care of you.

[ as she curls her fingers around his wrists, removing his hands from her thighs to neatly lay his arms at his sides, pinning them to the mattress as she tips forward for another kiss, dragging her lips across his cheek so she can murmur in his ear. ]

And make sure you stay in bed tomorrow.

[ A warning, huh? He has the same reaction to that as he does with most warnings: a desire to see what the consequences were. Especially since he knows Inej means it in the most positive way possible. It adds to the sudden spark of warmth under his skin as she tugs on his lip with her teeth.

There's something impossibly alluring about her sitting the way she is now. Sure, he could probably flip her over if he tried, but he won't. A syrupy heaviness settles in his gut at that–he doesn't mind being pinned under her gaze, her small, strong hands.

And his breath definitely hitches when she moves his hands, weighing his wrists down with a shift of her balance. ]

How do you plan on that?

[ the question is a good one, as she considers him situated between her legs. she presses a single kiss to his jaw before straightening back to rest on her knees, her fingers still curled loosely around his wrists. ]

I want to try something.

[ she says, before removing her hands from his wrists to shift to his face, thumbs running over his cheekbones, the touch more gentle than the previous. ]

Something that I think you will like. [ as she ducks forward for a soft kiss. ] I want to make sure that you are the focus of my attention, which means . . . [ and she kisses him again with a slight grin. ] I have to keep you from touching.

[ because, bless him, he always wants to shower her with affection and attention, which is appreciated and loved, but he deserves the same level of focus, too. ]

[ His head tips just slightly to the side as she kisses his jaw, more than happy to let her do so. And then there's a curious look returning her thoughtful one. It's not uncommon for them to try new things, especially as they continue to figure out what limits they can push and which ones they can't.

Some part of him feels an old sense of nervousness, the sliver of anxiety at not knowing. In a practiced way, he can push it down to pay attention to her soft touch, the light kisses. ]

A tall order. [ He returns her grin–she knows just how much of nuisance he can be when he's determined. And even if it's a positive exasperation with which she greets his attention on occasion, he knows it's also quite distracting.

There's just...something nice about being able to touch her with or without any intent to go further. Still, she wants to try something, so he'll let her. ]

[ the comment earns a laugh, and inej pressed a last kiss against his lips before shifting her weight a bit to lean toward her night table, tugging open the drawer to rummage around in it for a moment before tugging out a sash from a dress that had been torn ages ago.

she had been irritated beyond belief, but she supposes the tub had that night had been worth it. ]

Because I know you won’t behave.

[ as she resettles her weight across his hips, putting the sash between her teeth so she can take his hands, unceremoniously pinning his wrists together above his head in a smooth motion. once that is done, inej tugs the sash out of her mouth to tie his wrists together neatly, looping the silk against the headboard so his arms were (comfortably) situated above his head.

the image causes a slow grin to appear, as inej adjusts the sash a bit, tightening it enough to know he can’t get out of it easily, but not tight enough for it to hurt. and she draws a finger along his cheek before she says: ]

Tell me if it is too much.

[ as she ducks her head down to kiss his neck earnestly, letting her teeth drag across his skin as she dips lower. ]

[ Her weight across his hips keeps him from fully turning, though he follows her motion with his gaze, eyebrows slowly going up when she produces a sash from the nightstand. There's another twinge of mental discomfort as he connects the dots. Being restrained isn't exactly at the top of his list of fun activities.

And at the same time, there's a surge of heat that slides through his middle as she takes hold of his wrists and secures them to the headboard. There's enough slack that it doesn't pinch and he can bend his elbows without strain. If he really bent his attention to the task, he's certain he could get out of it; there's a comfort in that knowledge. ]

It's– [ He tugs, just a bit, always wanting to know the limits. That rush from earlier comes back and he feels his face heat with it. ] –fine.

[ Her teeth might be a little distracting. Maybe that's why his response comes out with a short exhale. ]

[ she feels him tugging, testing the strength of the sash, and inej pauses for a moment before reaching up to the knot, fishing out a loose end of the sash to press into the palm of his right hand.

he seems to be enjoying himself, given the shuddering state of his breathing, but just in case it becomes a little overwhelming, inej dips down to kiss him, lips moving against his as she murmurs: ]

If you pull sharply enough on that, the knot will fall apart.

[ so, indeed, he has an easy out, if he decides enough is enough. but she resettles herself back into resting her weight on his hips, offering a slow roll of her own into his, sighing to herself at the feeling. ]

Mmm . . . [ almost slightly distracted from her mission, but she does it again, resting her hands on his chest. ] I have been thinking about seeing you like this all day.

[ well - not strictly true, but inej knows he enjoys (1) her bossing him around a bit and (2) the teasing to the point of frustration, as she digs her nails into his skin a bit, continuing the motion of her hips. ]

Very distracting, given I had work to do.

[ Without the loose end, he's pretty sure he could get out of the knot. There aren't many things that can keep him tied down if he really doesn't want to be. Still, something in his shoulders loosens, knowing he had a quick out. Just in case.

It makes it even easier to enjoy this, hips lifting a fraction to echo her motion, pulse ticking up as she touches–clearly unhurried. He likes seeing this side of her, the one that knows what she has in the palm of her hand. The one that intends to follow only one plan: hers. ]

How distracting? [ Her nails dig in and he lets out a soft hiss, squirming from the sharp bite of them. ]

Distracting enough.

[ the arch of his back feels good, pressing against her, and inej idly considers that she should remove his underwear at some point. but the slow and lazy build feels better than rushing, at the moment, as she drags her nails down his sides, digging in just enough. ]

I like knowing that I am the only one that can do this to you. [ it's soft, but nonetheless heard, as she dips down to press a kiss to his neck, then his collarbone, edging down his chest. it means her weight is off of his hips a bit, but she's clearly edging toward something a bit more than that, anyway. ] I am the only one who can make you squirm, or beg.

[ it's a special kind of affection, in her tone, as she rests her chin against his stomach, grinning up at him as her fingers dip to the waistband of his underwear, tugging purposefully. ]

Half the Barrel would pay millions to see you like this, and I can do it for free.

[ and she presses a light kiss to his stomach. ]

[ She doesn't go into detail but it's enough. It's enough because there's something between, an understanding they've built up over the years. Inej it's easily distracted, neither of them are, so there's more pleasant warmth layering in his gut.

Or maybe that's the scratch of her nails doing the trick. Probably both.

Her words are quiet, even in the relative silence of the room, but they're weighted, dripping with intent. He groans as she works her way down, the touch and anticipation enough to make his face flush up to his ears. There's the urge to reach down and cup her cheek or tug her up for a kiss. Except he can't, not with his hands tied.

And while it would be simple to tug on the sash and loose it, letting her take the control leaves him feeling like a coil is unspooling under his skin. ]

Anytime. [ She's privy to it all; it will never go beyond these doors. The kiss to his stomach has him sighing, back arching at the sensation. ]

[ anytime. she doesn't doubt that, though she does press another kiss to his stomach, soft and gentle. appreciative, for his trust and affection and, quite frankly, adoration.

she will tell him so later. but she tugs his underwear down a bit, to free his cock from the linen. but instead of taking him into her mouth, she lazily drags her nails along his length, settling between his legs. ]

How long do you think you can last like this?

[ her tone is conversational, but still quiet, her fingers not quite touching him, not giving the full benefit of a stroke. ]

[ The second kiss she places on his stomach is both teasing and slightly ticklish, the press of her mouth soft, feather light. There's an instinctual squirm from the way it feels, though he's distracted from the residual tingle as she tugs his underwear down. No longer trapped in the cloth, there's a small sense of relief.

Only a small one, because then she's grazing the tips of her fingernails down the line of his cock, drawing a shivery breath out of him, toes curling as he tries not to buck his hips up. ]

Hard to say. We can find out. [ Is she planning to keep him on edge? There's an allure to it, he thinks, to her using her careful touches to keep him guessing. ]

[ she continues to draw her fingers lazily up and down, tracing a vein almost experimentally as she listens to him. we can find out causes a slight upward curve of her mouth, which clearly indicates that she intends to, but: ]

We have all night.

[ clearly, before she dips her head to flatten her tongue against his cock, licking in one smooth motion, from base to tip. her fingers curl around him loosely, but she doesn't stroke. ]

I could do this for hours. [ she says, her tone mild -- bordering on lazy -- as she runs her tongue along the tip of his cock, humming lightly to herself. ] I'm not so sure you could.

[ He's always been one to keep his concentration. It's never been a difficult thing for him, even when he'd been under pressure or injured.

That definitely doesn't apply here. Not with how she's touching him or with that smirk on her mouth being...distracting. ]

We do. [ Except there's a part of him that agrees that he might not last that long. The swipe of her tongue makes him groan, shivering with the loose curl of her fingers. ]

Only one way to figure it out.

[ He has to admit he likes the idea of drawing it out. Even as his hips lift when she licks the tip of his cock. ]

[ he looks good like this, entirely at her mercy. and inej idly considers what, precisely, she wants to do. but first, she focuses on his cock, slowly licking from base to tip before lowering her mouth to suck, fingers twisting just so around his shaft. she bobs her head, tongue curling around the tip as another hand dips lower to massage his balls, the movements clearly built toward slowly but surely working him up.

part of her wants to abandon this and shift to straddle his face while he’s still bound, forcing him to get her off. but the part that wants him to want it wins out a bit more, pushing his legs a bit wider as she continues to suck him off. ]

Mmm.

[ a thoughtful hum as she pulls off, squeezing his balls as she does so. ]

[ Truthfully, it had taken them both a while to get used to this action. For her, there'd been so many bad memories tied up in getting a man off with her mouth. Men who'd forced her to stay, made her disappear into her head. He'd been too keenly aware of it, every time they'd made those shaky steps in the beginning to test their boundaries. Mixed with her demons rearing their heads and his fear of too damp skin, this had taken the longest for either of them to enjoy.

She had been determined not to be held back. And while he isn't certain she gets the same kick from it that he does when he goes down on her, he suspects she likes his reactions. Especially when she has him tied down as she does, unable to do much of anything aside from squirming and panting.

Hips push up as she hums, the sound reverberating through him and just adding to the sensation. He follows her nudge, legs dropping open wider as he tilts his head back into the pillow some more. His fingers flex with a familiar urge to touch, blocked once more by being bound up. There's some part of him that finds it annoying but a larger part is finding he's enjoying this much more than anticipated. ]

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