"Okay but just don't get disappointed when it's not, like, creative," Xanthippe replied, serving her self-deprecation with a side of chuckle. She also knew that wasn't really a warning he needed - but she had to work her random bouts of self-consciousness out some way.

She leaned closer to his ear and dropped her voice to a husky whisper. "But remember what you said about... dreaming of the day when I ride your face against the mattress?"

She licked just barely at the edge of his earlobe.

"That could be today. That could be pretty much right now."