with just one breath, i'm locked in

[turned_to_steel]

WHO: Sansa Stark
WHERE: Down by the river - Raleigh's
WHEN: January 8th
OPEN TO: Raleigh
WARNINGS: will update if necessary
STATUS: closed

---

Hurrying up the front steps to Raleigh's home, Sansa felt a little like a smuggler as she thought about the wrapped object that she had clutched close against her chest. The book, one of the presents she had received, was currently wrapped up in a piece of fabric. That was exactly how she had kept it since sneaking it into her home and trying to keep her brothers or her sister from ever finding it. After a couple of close calls, one including the time her dog found it and dragged it out, she had decided that she needed another place to hide it.

She wasn't sure yet that asking Raleigh to hide it was the best idea that she'd ever had but she was sure that he would listen to her if she asked him to never unwrap it. Plus, it wouldn't be for long. Only until she had time to talk to another friend that she trusted who she hoped would hide the book for her too. That or maybe she would just burn it, just to be safe.

Knocking on Raleigh's front door, she hesitated before opening the door and letting herself inside his house. "Raleigh?"

She called out a couple more times but there was no answer. Chewing at her bottom lip, she looked around for a place to put the book down before turning around and hurrying out again. She had a feeling that he was down by the river checking the lines, so she was going to check there first. She would just have to remember to tell him about the package and not to open it when they got back. It seemed like a simple enough plan as long as she didn't get distracted or forgetful.

Making her way down to the river, she was relieved when she finally spied him working just as she thought he would be at this time of the day. Slowing down, her features softened as she watched him, enjoying the view for a moment before lifting her hand and waving.

Comments

[rangerbecket]

"We should," Raleigh agrees. "If it makes you feel any better at all, though, I don't want to stop."

Actually, the last thing he wants in this world is to stop and Sansa has him so turned around he doesn't know which way is up. He flops down beside her, on his back, and gives her a sheepish grin.

"Someday. I promise."

[turned_to_steel]

She smiles softly when he reassures her that he doesn't want to stop and she shifts to roll onto her side when he flops down onto his back beside her. Shyly, she reaches out to slide her hand over his chest.

"I don't think you realize how much it means that you're willing to stop." She murmurs softly, hiding her gaze by looking down as she plays her fingertips lightly over his skin. "Or how much you mean to me."

[rangerbecket]

"You're starting to mean the world to me," Raleigh says. He lets his eyes drift shut when she touches him and just tries to enjoy it for what it is and not push for more. His heart is beating double-time and he knows, sometime in the near future, he's going to want and need more with Sansa. Still, he wants to take his time. It's meaningful for him, to take this step, and he wants her to be ready and not just going along with it to please him.

"I just want to take care of you as best I can. It's special to me, what we have and what we do together. I don't want to rush it."