lost my grip | {kieran/paige}

paige .

Kieran needs no other words from Paige — and when her permission is finally granted, his lips meet hers without any hesitation. It's like the moon giving up all control; diving into the tides and flooding the world just for one beautiful moment of suspended peace. ( Eternal damnation for a single chance at salvation, and their kiss is surely more than worth all the suffering that could potentially follow. ) They're not drowning, though, and there is no pain as he reaches down to prop her leg up against his hip. She's not sure how to describe it. Regardless of how many metaphors she can think of when he presses her against the wall and she wraps both her legs around his waist, all that matters to her is how real all of this is. She knows that she's not dreaming. There's no need to pinch herself.

Paige can feel everything, like a chord of silk that's being blown by the wind. Still, she is also weightless. She is affected by all the factors of their relationship, yet immune to them all the same. Flames rise between the two lovers, electricity wrapping around their bones, but when she opens her eyes there's only skin to be seen. Just a mouth smiling with white teeth and fingers trailing down the length of her arms. There's no fires, no storms, nothing dangerous; but she still tilts her head at an angle and gently bites into Kieran's neck. How sensual she feels isn't enough to stop her from nearly sliding off of him, though, but luckily he catches her with a quick laugh and a startled gaze. "You're my hero," she teases more awkwardly than she means to, cheeks flushed red, and she doubts that Kieran knows how truthful she's actually being.

Before they can take what they have into uncharted territory, however, he pulls away just enough to place her feet back onto the ground. He kisses her forehead, resting against her and sharing each breath that she draws in. There's a moment where an inhale catches in his throat, as if he's trying to prepare himself for something, and she brings up a hand to brush a lock of dark hair out of his face. An anxious part of her thinks to apologize, wondering if she let things get too heated for their first time back together, but she knows that's not the case. She's getting better at fighting away her thoughts. Small steps, one at a time; but it helps to have Kieran standing across the way, cheering her on. Whatever she did to deserve him, she's glad that she did it.

"Paige," he whispers, and she's surprised by how loud such a hushed voice can be. She closes her eyes when he does, hands holding tightly to his as if she's at risk of losing him, but she's not afraid. Not in the slightest. "I love you, too." She smiles, only just realizing how badly she had wanted to hear him say those words back to her. She goes to speak, to pull him into an embrace and continue this moment, but a knock on the door lets them know that it's time to open back up to the world; to stop existing only as a pair. Kieran's name is called out, to which he chuckles and recognizes his little sister as the culprit. Paige smirks and steps away, allowing him to let the girl inside.

She stands in the corner as they have their conversation, amused by Coralee's innocence and playful speech. A nod of support is given when it becomes clear that she won't take no for an answer when it comes to taking Kieran away to help their younger brother, which Paige understands. Kieran says that he'll be there right away and Coralee dashes off, but not before he walks back over to Paige and gives her a quick kiss. She grins, separating her crossed arms in order to wave him off. "I'll see you at my place later, right? We can talk then." She doesn't get the chance to answer before he exits and the door swings shut, but that's okay. Kieran already knows that she'll be right on time. She always is.
__________

"I'm fucking late!" she squeaks shrilly and profanely, pushing her mother out of her way and storming down the stairs, but then she twirls on her heels and storms right back up. "Sorry! This is my first time eating with his family, and I'm just—" she goes on, trailing off to kiss her mother on the cheek hastily.

"And you're just nervous?" her mother finishes for her, chuckling and waving goodbye to her daughter as Paige continues with her downwards march. "Relax! Go have fun with Kieran. It'll all be fine." And she tries, she really does. She adjusts her hair in a hallway mirror and throws on a simple black jacket when she reaches the front door. That goes with a blue dress, right? This outfit isn't too formal, is it? Fuck. She's overthinking too much — breathe, Paige. She inhales as she turns the doorknob and steps out, closing it behind her with a rushed shout of farewell. She jogs over to the Emberstatt house, only slowing down to scold herself and calm her pace when she reaches the entryway. She doesn't want to look like she's been running a marathon when Kieran invites her inside.

The steps are calmly ascended, but she ruins this by excitedly knocking on the door, not even registering how loud the banging is. She smooths out any wrinkles across her clothes, fidgeting with the locks of red hair falling over her shoulders. There's as much love for how she's acting as there is hatred. Kieran brings out the best in her; and the most annoying parts, too. Either she's a rational young woman braver than her age should allow, or she's a giddy teenager fumbling immaturely over a stupid boy. Granted, he actually happens to be the guy of her dreams, but that's so melodramatic that she nearly gags.

She clenches her jaw and narrows her eyes when the door opens, tucking her hands into the pockets of her jacket and lifting her chin in an aloof display of greeting. "Hey, my man. What's up?" she starts, trying her best to be mock-cool, but then she snorts and isn't able to maintain her composure. It's a joke that he hasn't been let in on, but she knows he won't mind. She spent so long trying to close herself off, to harden her heart and strive off isolation — and she knows that Kieran would never shame her for feeling free; for being happy. "I've missed you a lot." She kisses him softly.

"And I'm absolutely starving!
I hope your Aunt Reggie's
cooking is as legendary
as you say it is."