[ She's not about to ask him to shift back. She likes this, the comfort in the silence, and the implicit trust between the two of them. Sure, she might be doing things wrong half the time with him, but they still have this, the trust. It's something, and Claire wants to enjoy it, allow him to have a good time.
When she gets a bit cold, she slips her dress back on, without underwear - who cares, at this point - and keeps on petting Derek, running long along his flank, back up to his head, running her fingers down between his eyes. ]
[ It's amusing to Derek that she's still worried about being bad at this after he's already had the conversation with her that if she was that bad at it, he wouldn't be here. Additionally, how bad can someone possibly be at petting a docile wolf?
Because he can't speak, Derek moves his head into her touch again before stepping away from her only enough to lie down and roll onto his back. See? Implicit trust. That's something that most people who know him even a little know is something he does not give lightly. She's not sucking it up or he wouldn't still be doing this. It'd be all too easy to shift back, take up his clothes, and call it a night. He isn't. ]
[ She lets out a soft noise when he turns over to his back, offering her his stomach. She might not be much of an animal person but she knows what that means, the trust, the submission. Slowly, she shuffles closer, knees making grooves in the sand as she buries her fingers in his fur some more.
He's so dark, he could be an oil spill, and Claire is fascinated, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against his ribcage. She feels like maybe she shouldn't, but she leans in anyway, pressing her ear to it, the thumping loud and steady, the fur soft against her skin. ]
[ Derek hasn't actually spent this long in wolf form in the presence of someone else. The first time he'd done it at all, it had been with Kara and it had been an accident; she'd come upon him when he'd been out on a run and she'd just approached him and started petting him, so he'd had to pull back and transition out, not wanting her to be unaware of what she had actually been doing.
This is different and it's strange, but it's also kind of nice, because this way, they're communicating non-verbally and sometimes, for Derek, that's actually more powerful; he's not as good at talking, sometimes, as Claire has almost definitely noticed.
Derek takes a deep breath, letting it out in a contented sigh through his nostrils when she rests her head against his chest to listen to his heart. He can hear hers without reciprocating the action but it's nice to hear that it's not erratic with uncertainty, or worse, fear that he'll turn on her in this form.
He waits patiently, comfortably, until she sits back up before getting almost grudgingly back to his feet again and then lowering himself into a sit as he looks back at her, studying her expression and trying to gauge what she might be thinking and whether he ought to stay like this longer or transition back out; whether the latter will shatter this sort of moment of bonding they're sharing when he's feeling less inhibited because he feels safer when he's embracing this part of himself than he does when he's hiding it in the human form. ]
[ When they're sitting, face to face, Claire doesn't do anything but look at him for a long time, not wanting to say anything, break the silence and the understanding between the two of them right now. Instead, after a long while, she reaches out again, cupping his bottom jaw, not holding in any way, a finger stroking along the jawbone.
If he wants to change back, she'll take it. If he wants to stay like this longer, she'll also take it. She genuinely doesn't have words, right now, and all she can think of doing if he does change back is lean in, hold and touch him as a human as she did when he was a wolf. ]
[ For a little longer, Derek just looks back at her, leaning into the way she holds his muzzle. It's a nice feeling, he hardly wants to lose it. But then, he really can't stay like this forever, especially since he can't really talk to her.
So he takes a couple of steps back and transitions back out, getting to his feet at the end of the transition by reflex only to lower himself back down after snatching up a towel to wrap around his waist, clearing his throat as he moves to kneel in front of her. ]
Thank you for not being afraid. I think most people would've been afraid.
[ Claire's heart is beating a mile a second when Derek changes back, kneels in front of her. Her eyes are wide, and the smile that blooms over her face is a little hesitant at first, but she allows it to grow, reaching right back out to cup his jaw. ]
That was... amazing. Honestly. I'm -
[ She knows he can hear her heartbeat but she still reaches for his hand, pressing it to her chest, cradling it between her own hands. ]
I know we're. Exploring what this is, and taking things slow and all, but this? This is how I constantly feel around you.
[ It's a rush, basically. So different from everything she's always known. Fascinating, and terrifying, and amazing. Her words are soft, honest, an edge of embarrassment to them, but he deserves the truth. ]
[ Derek's eyes flicker to his hand as she places it on her chest, before returning to her face. He can already hear her heart racing, but it's interesting to additionally feel it beneath his fingertips when she does that.
His own heart is picking up speed, adrenaline coursing through his veins because he hasn't ever shown someone this side of himself on purpose when he wasn't about to maul them — and, in his defense, Kate deserved that; he should have killed her for burning his family alive, it's just that he doesn't have the heart of a murderer and he couldn't do it. It's strange and exciting to be intentionally showing someone the part of himself he typically holds so close to his chest and for her not to be frightened or disgusted, but to be awestruck hits Derek hard.
Her words surprise him a little. He's taken aback by her admission that this is par for the course for her when they're together. Mostly, he's surprised that he never noticed it before, because he probably should have.
And, because he has no words; no clue where to even begin to respond, in spite of the fact that they're both only clad in towels and she's probably freezing in this weather, still all wet, Derek takes that as another sign and he's not going to miss his window this time. Instead, he gives in to impulse, leans loser, and kisses her. ]
[ It's been a night of surprises, for Claire, and turns out, getting to see Derek as a wolf isn't the last one. She truly doesn't expect him to lean in, and even less to kiss her. She moves both hands still holding onto his to her knee, cradling his fingers and not looking to make him touch her. She barely moves, waiting a second before returning the kiss, just wanting to make sure he's not about to change his mind, but when he doesn't she pushes back, eyes sliding closed.
It's still chaste, in most ways, and Claire smiles, feeling warmth in her stomach, forgetting entirely that she's still damp, and it's not exactly summer, too busy enjoying the company, in a completely simple, uncomplicated way. ]
[ Derek chooses to do things the way he does them because he wants to make sure that he isn't going to set himself up for failure or heartbreak...or worse. Claire has been more than patient with him and he can feel her continuing to be just that, when she waits to return the kiss.
He finds himself smiling into it a little, when he deepens their kiss just slightly. The last thing he wants is to go overboard, because he doesn't mean to lead this somewhere he's not really ready for it to go just because they both happen to be pretty damn near naked still, but he can't help kissing her a little more deeply; it's been a long time coming, by now, anyway. ]
[ Even in their current undressed state, Claire would never think that this moment would lead to sex. Not with someone like Derek, who has been way too slow, careful, protecting himself all the way through every single interaction. He's been opening up, too, bit by bit, piece and piece, and Claire is immensely grateful for it, but she's not naive. He's not going to switch on a dime, just because of a kiss.
And that is fine by her, too. She reaches up with one hand, fingers curling through his stubble gently, letting the warmth of the kiss reach all the way down to her toes. There's no rush, right now, like the two of them are caught in a bubble on this beach, just a moment in time that doesn't have to change the rest of their lives.
Claire's the one that pulls back first, laying a couple of brief kisses over his lips before she presses her forehead to Derek's, humming out a content sigh. Then, she chuckles, soft, as he hand moves to curl around the back of his neck. ]
[ Claire is the one to break the kiss and Derek opens his eyes slowly to look back at her, a little grin tugging up the corners of his mouth with amusement at her comment. Her fingertips feel nice against his skin; he's always secretly been a very tactile person.
She's earning trust slowly but surely. Claire would have his full trust by now if Derek wasn't such a broken, wounded man at this point in his life. But she's getting there and her patience is always appreciated. ]
I gotta give you a reason to want to keep spending time with me, don't I?
[ He laughs a little, eyes shifting down sheepishly before he looks back at her and shrugs impishly. ]
[ She laughs, dropping her head, the tips of her hair wet and hanging around her face. ]
It sure is an adventure.
[ Because she never knows what to expect. She never knows how far she can push or if she shouldn't on this particular day. But at least, she knows that he likes her, and that this isn't either of them forcing themselves through awkward moments because they don't know how to say no. This is more than that, and Claire appreciates it a lot.
Taking a deep breath, Claire looks back up with a crooked grin, before a shiver runs through her body, obvious, leading to goosebumps all over her arms. ]
[ Derek laughs, too, and looks back up at her, the laughter giving way to sympathy when he sees her shiver. Derek gets to his feet and holds a hand out to her to help her up. ]
Yeah, you'll freeze. And I'm wet, so I'm not even much help, probably.
[ Typically, his temperature runs warm and he's been playfully called a walking furnace a time or two, but when his skin is wet and cool from the air, even if he's comfortable, he would probably be little use warming another person. ]
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When she gets a bit cold, she slips her dress back on, without underwear - who cares, at this point - and keeps on petting Derek, running long along his flank, back up to his head, running her fingers down between his eyes. ]
You let me know if I suck at this, yeah?
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Because he can't speak, Derek moves his head into her touch again before stepping away from her only enough to lie down and roll onto his back. See? Implicit trust. That's something that most people who know him even a little know is something he does not give lightly. She's not sucking it up or he wouldn't still be doing this. It'd be all too easy to shift back, take up his clothes, and call it a night. He isn't. ]
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He's so dark, he could be an oil spill, and Claire is fascinated, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against his ribcage. She feels like maybe she shouldn't, but she leans in anyway, pressing her ear to it, the thumping loud and steady, the fur soft against her skin. ]
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This is different and it's strange, but it's also kind of nice, because this way, they're communicating non-verbally and sometimes, for Derek, that's actually more powerful; he's not as good at talking, sometimes, as Claire has almost definitely noticed.
Derek takes a deep breath, letting it out in a contented sigh through his nostrils when she rests her head against his chest to listen to his heart. He can hear hers without reciprocating the action but it's nice to hear that it's not erratic with uncertainty, or worse, fear that he'll turn on her in this form.
He waits patiently, comfortably, until she sits back up before getting almost grudgingly back to his feet again and then lowering himself into a sit as he looks back at her, studying her expression and trying to gauge what she might be thinking and whether he ought to stay like this longer or transition back out; whether the latter will shatter this sort of moment of bonding they're sharing when he's feeling less inhibited because he feels safer when he's embracing this part of himself than he does when he's hiding it in the human form. ]
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If he wants to change back, she'll take it. If he wants to stay like this longer, she'll also take it. She genuinely doesn't have words, right now, and all she can think of doing if he does change back is lean in, hold and touch him as a human as she did when he was a wolf. ]
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So he takes a couple of steps back and transitions back out, getting to his feet at the end of the transition by reflex only to lower himself back down after snatching up a towel to wrap around his waist, clearing his throat as he moves to kneel in front of her. ]
Thank you for not being afraid. I think most people would've been afraid.
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That was... amazing. Honestly. I'm -
[ She knows he can hear her heartbeat but she still reaches for his hand, pressing it to her chest, cradling it between her own hands. ]
I know we're. Exploring what this is, and taking things slow and all, but this? This is how I constantly feel around you.
[ It's a rush, basically. So different from everything she's always known. Fascinating, and terrifying, and amazing. Her words are soft, honest, an edge of embarrassment to them, but he deserves the truth. ]
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His own heart is picking up speed, adrenaline coursing through his veins because he hasn't ever shown someone this side of himself on purpose when he wasn't about to maul them — and, in his defense, Kate deserved that; he should have killed her for burning his family alive, it's just that he doesn't have the heart of a murderer and he couldn't do it. It's strange and exciting to be intentionally showing someone the part of himself he typically holds so close to his chest and for her not to be frightened or disgusted, but to be awestruck hits Derek hard.
Her words surprise him a little. He's taken aback by her admission that this is par for the course for her when they're together. Mostly, he's surprised that he never noticed it before, because he probably should have.
And, because he has no words; no clue where to even begin to respond, in spite of the fact that they're both only clad in towels and she's probably freezing in this weather, still all wet, Derek takes that as another sign and he's not going to miss his window this time. Instead, he gives in to impulse, leans loser, and kisses her. ]
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It's still chaste, in most ways, and Claire smiles, feeling warmth in her stomach, forgetting entirely that she's still damp, and it's not exactly summer, too busy enjoying the company, in a completely simple, uncomplicated way. ]
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He finds himself smiling into it a little, when he deepens their kiss just slightly. The last thing he wants is to go overboard, because he doesn't mean to lead this somewhere he's not really ready for it to go just because they both happen to be pretty damn near naked still, but he can't help kissing her a little more deeply; it's been a long time coming, by now, anyway. ]
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And that is fine by her, too. She reaches up with one hand, fingers curling through his stubble gently, letting the warmth of the kiss reach all the way down to her toes. There's no rush, right now, like the two of them are caught in a bubble on this beach, just a moment in time that doesn't have to change the rest of their lives.
Claire's the one that pulls back first, laying a couple of brief kisses over his lips before she presses her forehead to Derek's, humming out a content sigh. Then, she chuckles, soft, as he hand moves to curl around the back of his neck. ]
Always keeping me on my toes.
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She's earning trust slowly but surely. Claire would have his full trust by now if Derek wasn't such a broken, wounded man at this point in his life. But she's getting there and her patience is always appreciated. ]
I gotta give you a reason to want to keep spending time with me, don't I?
[ He laughs a little, eyes shifting down sheepishly before he looks back at her and shrugs impishly. ]
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It sure is an adventure.
[ Because she never knows what to expect. She never knows how far she can push or if she shouldn't on this particular day. But at least, she knows that he likes her, and that this isn't either of them forcing themselves through awkward moments because they don't know how to say no. This is more than that, and Claire appreciates it a lot.
Taking a deep breath, Claire looks back up with a crooked grin, before a shiver runs through her body, obvious, leading to goosebumps all over her arms. ]
I should probably - get dry and warm.
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Yeah, you'll freeze. And I'm wet, so I'm not even much help, probably.
[ Typically, his temperature runs warm and he's been playfully called a walking furnace a time or two, but when his skin is wet and cool from the air, even if he's comfortable, he would probably be little use warming another person. ]