ꃴꀤꉓꀤꂦꀎꌗ ꌃꀤ꓄ꍟ, ꀭꍏꀸꍟꀸ ꃅꍟꍏꋪ꓄ (ꌗ꓄ꍏꀤꈤꍟ ꊼ ꌃꀎꈤꈤꌩ)

[Staine]

When she'd flinched, Tobias had tried to do the right thing, he'd pulled back and given her space to recover from whatever internal struggles were threatening to overwhelm the poor girl. He was going through some himself, mainly worrying if he'd pushed her too far. He'd obviously overwhelmed and it was true that he should have known better but he was also thinking that maybe he shouldn't have pushed on her fears. Riley put up a brave front, and she challenged anybody that wanted to get close to her, suspicious of men and rightfully so, and even if she'd asked him to do it he felt he'd probably done too much in pressing on that fear. What he'd wanted was to get her reaction to it out of her so that she could learn to control it, and she'd done wonderfully...but he'd definitely gotten carried away. More than just grabbing her ass and kissing her, he'd felt his own arousal peak and continued when she'd not taking it badly.

He looked at her rocking, holding herself on the sofa beside him and he'd left her like that until she'd finally spoken again, and he'd done all he could after that. Mostly, just smiling back as she'd lifted her head to look at him. He opened his mouth to speak but she continued, and that gave him pause. She liked it? The news itself didn't surprise him, he was practiced enough that he knew when a woman was enjoying his touch but to hear her say it, that was...huge. She'd looked down from his eyes and he could see the blush on her cheeks, it was cute, and she also admitted it was scary. He could work with that, he could work with scary...because after her admission, he was feeling something himself now...he was feeling hope. There was possibility here, it was impossible to deny to himself that he'd come to have feelings for Riley, he wasn't entirely sure what all of them where yet since this protectiveness he was feeling was entirely new to him but he knew a large part of that was the physical attraction he had for her too. She seemed calmer now at least, so he smiled at her and nodded.

"I know, it's scary, it's probably quite new to you too, huh?" He was keeping his words soft. "I...liked it too. Obviously you realized that...I should have been more careful, I should have remembered not to overwhelm you like that, but I got carried away, I could feel you against me, and I could taste you when I kissed you, and...I kind of got lost in you. There's no excuse for it, I'd never push myself onto you like that but I definitely wanted more, and I wanted you to want me so I...I'm sorry, Riley." He nodded when she asked for Bumbles back and he stood to go retrieve the bear while he processed what she'd said alongside that request. He didn't have to be a genius to figure out that it meant she was feeling a little possessive over him, she didn't want him bringing other women back. It was something that would be hard to promise to her in the long term unless something happened between them, he didn't want to wait forever, but...

"I won't be taking any partners for a short while anyway, Riley, I have my hands full dealing with my father and my business, and now you...so don't worry about that okay? I'm not going to...ah...smell...like anybody else any time soon." He chuckled softly as he pressed Bumbles into her arms and sat down beside her again. This time he reached over for her far shoulder, putting his arm around her and he sat very close. "It's really not worth thinking about...though I'm a little curious what I smell like...it's not bad, is it?" He laughed, trying to lighten the mood a little and he leaned in, pressing his lips to her head. "I'm sorry your head hurts. Come here, rest against me." He changed his position so that he was facing her but still on the sofa, his shoulder against the back cushion and his head near the headrest. Legs parted, he patted his inner thigh. "Come here, we can rest like this, I'll hold you, you will sleep, I will sleep, it will be comfortable, and don't worry, you won't feel anything." He smiled warmly.

 

[Bunny]

“Well, yeah..” It was said that way that teenagers could manage, like he’d said the most obvious thing and it was a bit silly. Seventeen was still a teen so it fit. She smiled some and rolled her eyes at him. Her expression sombered though and she nodded some. “Just not used to so much.” So many choices, so many feelings, so many emotions.. The list could go on and on. Her cheeks heated and she shifted on the couch, looking at him. He got lost in her? Those words made something stir in her stomach, like butterflies. He stood when she asked for Bumbles and brought him back to her, her hands reaching out for the stuffed animal. She pulled him into her chest and nuzzled her cheek against him.

She looked up from his fur and she nodded. That made her relax some. She din’t like the idea and her mind didn’t go to his needs, as she’d never experienced such needs herself. She snorted softly as he changed the subject. “Why would I want Bumbles to smell bad?” She questioned him in that same voice from before. “You smell nice. Woodsy, a little spicy.” She offered the answer without being asked again. His lips pressed to her forehead and her eyes closed for a moment.

When he shifted against the couch and beckoned to her, she rose on all fours and then shifted to her legs and one arm, cuddling Bumbles into her chest as she crawled between his legs and curled into his chest. Her cheek rubbed over his chest until she going the strong beat of his heart and she closed her eyes. His arms slipped around her and cocooned in his warmth and scent, Riley fell asleep holding Bumbles.

The day slipped passed, from afternoon to early evening. It was her stomach that demanded she way up. Shifting against him she stretched, her stomach giving a little grumble. Above her, Tobias slept soundly. Carefully she pulled from his arms, trying to not wake him. She placed Bumbles in his arms before padding away from the living room she headed to her own room. Changing into a big comfy sweater, she pulled her hair into a high ponytail. Comfy and more covered than she had been, she headed toward the kitchen. Riley had in her mind to make him dinner.

She wasn’t a good cook, but she thought she knew how to make chicken.. And how hard could it be to figure out how to make some sides? Shifting she looked at the spotless kitchen and wrinkled her nose. She was going to poison him.. Sighing she padded back to the living room and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Tobias, wake up..” She said softly, pulling back. “Tobias.” His name said again and a hand reached out to shake his shoulder some. “I’m hungry and I wanted to make you chicken but I am afraid I’d make you sick..”

 

[Staine]

Tobias laughed softly at the tone she used with him, it seemed slightly petulant and cheeky but he didn't begrudge her that, and he let her finish explaining how she'd felt, nodding when she said she wasn't used to so much. It made sense, and he knew he should have been more cautious with her but it was something he'd never had to concern himself with in the past at all. He'd handed Bumbles back to her and again he laughed as she told him he didn't smell bad and phrased it like it was obvious. He shook his head with a grin. "Well I didn't think I smelled bad but I don't really know what I smell like, I don't have that power you know? My nose isn't nearly as powerful." He reached over to her and touched his finger to her nose. "Boop." He didn't know why he did it but it made him laugh, he knew 'boop the snoot' was a cute thing but he'd never once considered actually doing it until that moment and was quite sure it was likely to alarm her more than anything, but he'd done it anyway.

Then he'd beckoned her to him, made room between his thighs for her to cuddle against him on the sofa. It was his executive decision that they both needed a bit of a nap to shake off the harder parts of the day, and more than that he felt like he wanted to hold her again. It was a new feeling, even when he had women over he didn't really cuddle them much. He would pet them, he felt aftercare was important and he would hold them if they needed it but it was always for them, not for him and this...this was something he wanted. He held his arms out as she crawled to him, and it took a little concentration not to get excited again at the sight of her, she was still wearing the revealing clothes, he was still incredibly attracted to her and seeing her kind of on all fours was playing with that part of his brain but he willed himself to behave and soon she was laying against him, her head against his chest. He smiled, shifting to make himself comfortable and with one arm around her waist, he idly pet her ear as he closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep with her.

He didn't know how long it took to fall asleep, he remembered he was petting her for quite a while before he drifted off but the next thing he knew he was being shaken awake and his eyes opened slowly as he took in his surroundings. Riley was there, she was wearing something that looked a lot more comfortable now and he seemed to have something in his arms. He looked down and raised his eyebrows as he noticed he was now holding Bumbles. Laughing and arching his back as he yawned, he came out of it laughing and lifting the bear up towards her. "That's funny, I could have sworn I went to sleep holding a puppy, not a bear..." It took him a moment to shift the brain fog that had descended on him and process what she was saying as she'd woken him and he looked at her quizzically. "Chicken? Sick?" Slowly his brain pieced together what she was trying to say and he smiled, climbing up from the comfort of the sofa. "Oooh, you were making food for us?" He grinned and reached out to rub her ear, something which was quickly becoming a habit and he was happy for it to be that way. "Okay, okay, let's take a look. I'm sure you can cook just fine but if you want I can teach you a few things, I've been living here alone for a while now, I had to learn how to do it myself."

He followed her back to the kitchen and looked through the fridge, taking out some of the chicken breasts he had ready to be cooked. They'd been marinated in Jamaican jerk spice a couple of days ago since it had been what he'd been wanting to cook and he laid them out on the side, but there were a few plain, unmarinated ones left too. "Which would you prefer? I like these ones." He held up the spiced bag. "But if it's just plain chicken you'd prefer then we can cook a couple of those too just in case, how about it?" Wanting to keep it simple, he took out a bag of pre-cut fries to go along with it, it wasn't the most balanced meal so he added some vegetables too, getting out a few pans and the frier for the chips. "Come on, if you want to learn, I'll show you how to do this. I don't want to coat the chicken this time but I can teach you fried chicken some time too, just be careful not to burn yourself on the oil, I did that my first time." Smiling, he made room for her as he heated everything up and began to cook their meal. "Get me a couple of plates and glasses too please, and you can choose what you'd like to drink."

 

[Bunny]

Her giggle was sweet when he said he had gone to sleep holding her and now was holding a bear. “I didn’t want you to sleep alone.” She said softly. When he shifted to the food and her rambling explanation she gave a small shrug. When he rose, she led the way back to the kitchen. Moving to the kitchen island, she leaned against it watching him as he rummaged in the fridge. Two options were offered and she nodded to the spiced one before gasping and turning on her heel and running from the room,

Any curiosity on his part was answered when she came jogging back in, Bumbles in her arms. When he said some on, she wrinkled her nose and gave a very stubborn shake of her head. “I will stick to sandwiches.” Riley said firmly. Though, when he asked for plates she turned without comment, the stuffed animal still under one arm to pull out two plates. She set them on the counter next to him before grabbing a glass and filling it with ice and water. After a moment, she filled a second the exact same and held it up to him.

Moving back to the island, she leaned on it, her chin on Bumble’s head, watching him as he began the process of cooking. Cooking didn’t really appeal to Riley. It was domestic and something expected of her kind. It made her resistant to wanting to learn. That and she knew she could easily make them sick and had no desire to even try if it meant poisoning them both.

She might not have been willing to cook, but she was willing to get him anything he needed in order to feed them. Plates, spices, things from the pantry. Riley got them without question as the scents of cooking food began to fill the kitchen. Between fetching things, she sipped on her water and cuddled Bumbles. Her mind wandered, shifting to his mouth as he spoke, watching his lips and when his back turned to her, Riley found her eyes falling to his rear.

It was like he’d infected her with that kiss and all she could think about was kissing him again and how nice his butt looked. She huffed a little sigh out and drew her eyes upwards to focus on what he was doing rather than ogling Tobias.

 

[Staine]

It was a sweet notion and one that made Tobias chuckle softly. "That's cute, but I've slept alone many times, Riley. That was something new to me, I can't remember ever falling asleep while holding a girl before." He laughed and reached out to ruffle her hair and ear as he'd gotten up, and he could feel at least a slight blush forming on his own cheek in admission. It was the truth, he slept with women but he didn't sleep with them, they usually left or if they were tired he would let them sleep in one of the spare rooms. He had many, and normally they would be in the basement dungeon while they played anyway and sleeping down there was not common even if there was a sizable bed down there. The cuffs on his own bed in his actual bedroom, they had seen some use but it was far more rare and they were mostly there for convenience in case he did guide them up there instead. There were still parts of the house that Riley just hadn't seen, the basement included, and he wasn't in any rush to show her that knowing what she thought of him from just the cuffs on his bed.

In the kitchen he looked at her quizzically as she went running off only to roll his eyes and smile widely when she returned with Bumbles. He was happy to see that she was bonding with him, it brought the smile to his own lips and made him feel warm inside knowing that something was making her happy. It seemed her happiness was quickly becoming a top priority for him, something he was only recently considering. He gave her a nod when she said she'd stick to sandwiches and abandoned all pretense of other ingredients and parts of the dish, though he kept the fries out because he knew he'd enjoy them himself. Instead he got out some bread and put it to the side as he started to cook the chicken. "I think I'll join you in sandwiches then, can you take out some bread and spread some butter on it for me? The butter is in the fridge, 10 or so slices should do and put them on a little plate when you're done. We can make up our own sandwiches when I'm done cooking."

He took out some more spices, though the chicken had been marinated in enough already he wanted to spice the plain breasts he was cooking too, and he'd decided he was going to grill them rather than fry. His favourite food was actually roasted chicken, but he liked to do it whole and maybe he would show her that another day, he was sure she'd enjoy it too since he usually made it into sandwiches, which she seemed very fond of. At the same time he put the fries into the deep-fat fryer, making sure to keep it on the opposite side of the kitchen as Riley was and while he was cooking he wasn't paying too much attention to where she was, or what she was looking at. If he'd known she was staring at him...he'd definitely have had something to say about it.

Her roving eyes unnoticed, it was a few more minutes before he was happy that everything was cooked satisfactorily, and he took one of the large plates and placed all of the chicken on it, and all of the fries were put into a bowl instead. He salted them and poured on a little vinegar and started carrying it all to the dining table, placing both plates in the middle. Next he poured some drinks for them, he went with a jack and coke for himself, and for her he let her choose from a variety of things he had in the fridge and poured her a glass. Once everything was set, he sat down at the table.

He knew he'd asked for a lot of bread, but he was grinning as he took a slice and started to put not chicken, but some fries onto it, placing them in a row before folding the slice over and taking a bite. "Here, make your own sandwiches, if you want just chicken you can try both types but you're welcome to try the fries too. Most people don't like them on bread, but I visited England once and developed a taste for it." Taking another bite, he sighed in satisfaction...he hadn't intended to make this kind of sandwich at all until she'd mentioned sandwiches, and then it had been foremost on his mind.

 

[Bunny]

His logic didn’t track. “Well so I have, but I still would have wanted to wake up with Bumbles..” Her head tilted with confusion. Though there was something else to tackle in that sentence. “Never? How come?” Didn’t he like holding someone while he slept? She’d liked being held. His hand reached out and ruffled her hair and she smoothed it back into place. She’d never fallen asleep in anyone’s arms before today but Riely liked it more than she wanted to admit. Tobias had made her feel safe and cared for. All with nothing more than his arms around her and his heartbeat to lull her to sleep.

In the kitchen he offered to teach her to cook and she declined. The idea of cooking wasn’t appealing but she gave a small giggle as he misunderstood. “I meant, I will stick to making sandwiches.. But They do sound good.” The last was offered shyly. The room started to smell good as the chicken cooked, spiced beautifully as it roasted in the pain with the light coating of oil. She could pick up so many scents. When the fries were started, they too joined the cacophony of smells.

She’d stuck with water and carried her glass and Bumble to the table. Hopping into a chair she put her chin on the table looking at the bounty of food he’d made as he told her to make her own sandwiches. The way he had made his own sandwich was mimicked and a careful bite was taken after blowing on it to cool it. Her feet kicked in excitement as she chewed. The flavors were strong, enhancing the chicken. The fries were slightly crunchy and soft on the sandwich. “Mmmm” She smiled at him as she took another bite.

Two sandwiches vanished and she was building a third of just fries when she paused and looked up at him. Something was on her mind, but Riley wasn’t sure how to address it. It had to do with falling asleep together. About liking kissing him. The problem was Riley didn’t know how to bridge the game without it overwhelming her again.. Her mouth closed and she looked down at her food before taking a bit of her new sandwich. Her feet thudded against the legs of the chair absently, her mind swirling with how to ask..

 

[Staine]

"Okay, okay, that's fair, I can't argue with that kind of logic." Tobias grinned as he said it, it was such an innocent and sweet kind of logic that she'd followed and it made him smile that she thought enough of him to leave her precious Bumbles with him while he slept. Her next question caught him a little off guard, though in hindsight he should have expected it after what he'd just said to her. "No, never. Well...I've just never really gotten attached to other people. I have sex, and we both have fun and then we go our separate ways. Seems easier that way and I could focus on myself and my own life, building up my business, studying...it would have been different if I'd met somebody I wanted to spend my life with but I never did so it's never really been an issue, you know?" Honestly he hadn't really thought too deep into it, either back in the past with the women he'd had sex with or with Riley herself when he'd pulled her close to sleep with him on the sofa, he'd just done something because he wanted to do it. Thinking too much on it had never served him in the past, which is why it was something he'd only reserved for his studies or his work.

He frowned slightly in the kitchen when he realized the mistake he'd made. "Oh...I thought you were saying you wanted sandwiches, not that you just didn't want to cook..." He grinned sheepishly. "I can understand that, I think...you probably don't want to do anything that makes you feel like a servant, huh?" Even getting this wrong, her giggle had made him smile and he chuckled to himself as he cooked. "You know, cooking can be fun too, if you look past that part. I'm never going to make you cook for me, but if you'd want to cook with me some time, you might enjoy it. Just think about it." It didn't take very long to finish cooking everything he had made, and bringing it all to the table he'd started to eat, making his own sandwich with the fries.

He watched her do the same as he ate his, waiting to see if she liked it and he smiled as she took another bite. Happy that she was enjoying the food, he made a sandwich with the spiced chicken next, then another, enjoying the simple food. Sandwiches really were hard to beat, and chicken with bread was probably one of his favourite foods of all time even if it was about as basic as you could get with chicken. Hearing a noise, he looked up from the third sandwich he was making and he could see that she was a little lost in thought. Just as he'd looked up he'd seen her close her mouth and look back down, like she'd been just about to say something or ask him a question and then decided better of it.

"Riley, are you okay?" He put down his food for a moment and had a drink instead. "You looked like you were trying to say something...it's okay if you were, you know. Whatever you want to say, you can say it to me, I'll answer any questions you have, I'll help you with anything you're struggling with, okay? And if you don't feel like you can, that's okay too. I know you've probably got a lot on your mind, it's been a crazy few days for you huh?"