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Tonight, the saloon is all but noisy—save for the occasional chatter from its few patrons lingering beside the tables. It's gentle and appeasing; Amir slips into quiet comfort, relishing in the atmosphere as he falls into conversation with the bartender.
He's paired with a usual old-fashioned, half empty and seemingly forgotten— a curious gaze finds him from across the room, flickering between his face and the beverage in hand.
There'd been hardly any entertainment that night, and Hosette was growing restless. The sight of her sweetheart was perfectly enticing, drawing her in—engrossed in his current doings, he doesn't catch on to her approach.
Perfect.
Her palm finds the top of his hat, pressing it down and watching the flush of his face when it covers his eyes. With little time for further reaction, his chin is grasped between her fingers; a kiss finds its way to his cheek, in which she beams when he melts into the touch.
"I miss you," she breathes out, low in his ear—uncaring of wandering eyes that follow her display. "Look at me."
In turn, he's already wrapped around her finger, circling his arm around her waist. A gasp escapes her when she's pulled flush against his side.
"I'm here, baby."
There's a flutter in her chest at that, though she focuses on the task at hand—another press of her lips, to his jaw. She can feel the bumps that litter his skin beneath her touch when her fingertips ghost his arm, finding her target.
When she pulls away, he chases the warmth of her; a charming smile graces her lips, free hand finding his chest and pressing him back into the seat, "Greedy, are we?"
He hasn't noticed the now emptiness in his palm. Eyes glinting with mischief, she brings the glass to her mouth—though when the contents make contact with her tongue, her nose screws upward, and she forces it down her throat.
She attempts to hold back a cough, and his eyes burn into her, a hint of amusement. "Too strong for you, dearest?"
"No—" Though she places it into his hand once more, bottom lip between her teeth.
"Mhm…"
Amir's gaze brings a hot flush to her skin, and she jabs a finger to his chest. "I can hold my liquor quite well, actually."
"Uh huh… Show me, then."
Oh, that lights a spark in her eye, meeting him with burning interest—she wasn't going to pass up a challenge.
There's a calming silence that passes between them—when Amir spares an upward glance, he's met with the sight of Hosette's gaze burning into him, cheek resting in the palm of her hand. It was downright chilling, in the best way, sending heat rushing up his back.
Two hours in, and the flush of her face is quite evident; her lazy sway a clear indication.
He can't help the small smile that overcomes him, focusing on the hint of a pout on her lips. "What?"
"…You're just real pretty, you know?"
Her comment catches him off guard, though before he can react, she slides in closer. The chair beneath her wobbles from the force of her scooting into him—she hardly notices it, though when his hand finds her hip to steady her, the flush of her cheeks brightens.
A choked cry escapes her, eyelashes fluttering to hold back tears as she presses a desperate kiss to his lips, messily smearing red upon him. "Mm… So happy you're here…"
Her arm slides over his shoulder, pulling him closer—another bright declaration of her love is laid on his cheek, incoherent whispers of adoration following suit. She's entirely charmed by him; her lips find his skin again, and again—
His hand slides across her waist, the simplest touch sending her weak. There's a hint of amusement in his gaze when she meets it, "…Not a lightweight, huh?"
Taken aback by the sudden tease, she attempts to shoot back, "No— I'm—"
When she fails, she resorts to her only successful tactic—when he opens his mouth to speak again, she drowns him out with more affections. He was truly enamored, melting into it when she kisses him a final time, a quiet laugh spilling against her lips.
Swaying backwards when they part, her shoulder bumps into the other behind her. Her gaze fixes on her, lighting up—the next willing victim of her advances.
It starts with a shy press of her lips to her cheek.
"I love you…" Hosette's voice cracks, leaning into her, seeking her warmth. Their lips meet, tender and sweet, and it brings a flutter to RaspBarry's heart.
She's trembling a bit, arms circling RaspBarry's waist. Another kiss is pressed to the corner of her mouth—she can taste the salt of her tears, and she pulls back, taking Hosette's face into her palms.
"Oh, baby…" Her thumb brushes her cheek, noting the mess of black it leaves—it was too sweet, the sight of her so worked up over such a thing. "I love you too, darling."
It was truly endearing—mascara following the trail of her tears, complimenting the flush of pink from the alcohol; the red of her lipstick, smudged below her lip.
Hosette presses into her touch, gazing up at her; nothing short of pure adoration. She hiccups, hands on her back to pull her in—when she kisses her again, RaspBarry laughs; Hosette becomes putty from the sound of it, and she sniffles between each light peck, "Love you both so much..."
By the end of it, she's a matching sight to Amir—the pair of them littered in stains of Hosette's devotion.
He watches, entranced in the sight of his loves swept in each other's tender affections. He's since grown quiet—the moment needs no words, when the other across from him meets his gaze.
He felt like the luckiest man alive—caught in the palm of their hands, led into their hearts—he wouldn't trade it for the world.
From between them, Hosette's cheek falls to RaspBarry's shoulder, the effects of an eventful night finding her. It warms his heart completely, and when he sweeps them into his embrace, he blinks away tears of his own.
The night was still young—upon settling Hosette into bed, Amir finds himself whisked back down the hall by RaspBarry, alight with newfound energy.
Her arms are warm and inviting—he follows her blindly, without hesitation; her voice ringing in his ear, hushed praises and the sweetest giggles.
She knew just how to get him going.
When her lips find his, he flushes hot. Melting into her gentle embrace, Amir barely manages to catch the stairway railing as he descends the final step, free hand sliding to her back, pressing her flush against himself—and when she parts from him, she laughs.
He could never get enough of her—her smile, vibrant and warm; her gaze, setting his heart aflame—he nearly loses all ability to speak.
"Baby," he's breathless, trembling lightly from the feel of her skin beneath his palm. It was surreal, almost—how he'd managed to win her heart; that he gets to unveil this side of her and bask in the intimacy of it all.
She slips away from him, lips curling into the softest grin as she trails his arms with her fingers, and swings him away from the steps.
That's when he notices it: his hat, snatched from atop his own head and now nestled snug over her curls—honestly, it pulls her look together perfectly, he thinks.
"When did—"
She silences him with another kiss, against his cheekbone this time, right beneath his eye. "Come here," her voice is a near whisper, eyes glinting with delightful wonder. She pulls him in, guiding his touch to her waist as she stumbles backwards to the main floor, "Dance with me."
How could he say no?
Her hand finds his shoulder, and they fall into step; the golden rays of sunset cast over the two of them, adding to RaspBarry's already mesmerizing glow. It frames her, illuminating her curls and highlighting the flush of her cheeks—Amir’s heart nearly stops from the sight of it.
His thumb brushes against her cheek, and when her eyes flutter shut, another quiet laugh escaping her, his heart swells.
"…How did I get so lucky?"
She smiles, and it's the kind of thing that leaves him weak in the knees. "I could say the same…"
The gentle lull of music filling the space aids their sway, the sounds of the saloon closing for the night; the soft clink of glass from the bartender, who pays them no mind.
They're the only ones upon the floor of the pub, taking full advantage of the fact. When she stumbles into him, his fingers press further into her waist; the way she gasps, gaze never leaving him, roots a positive ache in his heart.
Her warmth floods his senses—he's entirely lost in the moment. Nothing else matters.
Exhaustion finds its way to her, though she tries to hide it in the way she grasps his hands, tugging him along closer to the stage. It's awkward, yet charming, how she holds him for support when she trips over herself—his palm slides into hers, whisking her into him once more with a twirl.
Her laughter rings through, the only sound he cares for, "How sweet…"
And when she's in his embrace once more, he lowers her into a dip—in which she meets him in turn with a kiss, sweet and sensual. Her arms slip around his shoulders, palms finding the back of his neck as she chases the taste of him.
"Oh, darling…" She whispers, breathless when he melts so willingly into her.
He relaxes, a quiet breath escaping him—he's putty each time the endearment leaves her lips, making him weak in the knees without fail. He smiles into her kiss, pressing her close with a hand to the dip of her back; when they part, he savors the way her eyes hardly flutter to remain open.
"Love…" He's still so close, whispering into her skin—she follows his lips again, aware of the effect she has on him.
"Baby—" He laughs, soft and airy as he wills himself to part from her. Her gaze is unapologetic, letting out a tired hum when he rests his forehead to hers, "C'mon, love, let's get to bed…"
His voice carries her into slumber, when his arms encircle her frame—she couldn't argue with that.