when the birds write

Chiaroscuro on AO3 (chapter 6/8, 70k posted, fully written and posting wed/fri until complete)

Relevant tags for chapter 6: language lesson as pretext for making out, kitchen sex, inappropriate use of art supplies, emotional revelations, the vague maudlin nostalgia of childhood sodas

Snippet:

“Ilya,” she protests, but it’s only for show, because she immediately folds into the next kiss, her hand coming up almost of its own volition to bury itself in her girlfriend’s messy curls. Soft, sleek, easy to twine around her fingers. It’s a pleasantly solid counterpoint to the push and pull of their bodies together.  

“Krasotka,” Ilya murmurs into her mouth, catching her lower lip between sharp teeth and biting down until Shane is gasping and wriggling against the tide of heat flooding through her gut. “Because you are a pretty, pretty girl, especially when you look at me like this.” 

“Like what?” Shane is well aware it comes out breathless and bratty, a little bit coy. “I don’t think I have a look.”

It’s just so addictive, the way Ilya’s gaze gets dark and her pupils blow wide when Shane pushes back at her a little. Her hand slides lower on Shane’s stomach, tucking under her waistband and dragging blunt nails across shivering, ticklish skin.