Genesis Mark [2]

"That's really another great place to have a genesis mark..."

With a nod, Ravene spoke "I know right..."

Brandon leaned back slightly and asked in a casual tone "Care to show me, Aunt Rave?"

"Tsk, tsk… You really are a bold one, aren't you?" she murmured, tilting her head as if pondering his words.

"Curious, are we?" she murmured.

He didn't look away "You could say that."

With a soft chuckle, she reached out and grabbed her office skirt, lifting up a little to her waist.

Brandon lowered his gaze and the dark band of her stocking came into view, snug against her upper thigh, held in place by delicate clips attached to a garter.

"Mm… seems like these are in the way," she mused, mostly to herself.

Brandon exhaled quietly, watching as her fingers moved to the tiny silver clasps.

With a shake of his head, he spoke "This would be faster if you let me help."

She tilted her head, amusement dancing in her black eyes "Oh? You offering to assist me?"

Without waiting for an answer, she took his hand and guided it toward her thigh.

His fingers met the soft, warm skin above the garter and he could feel the faint pulse of heat beneath his fingertips. 

His thumb traced over the edge of the stocking band before slipping down to one of the clasps. 

He flicked it open with a quiet *click*, releasing the first clasp. 

As he worked, his other hand settled lightly against the outer curve of her thigh and his fingers pressed in just slightly... enough to feel the tension in her muscles. 

"Ha..." Ravene let out a quiet exhale feeling his fingers grazing her skin.

Brandon smiled faintly "Sensitive?"

She chuckled softly "Hardly. Just enjoying the service."

He unhooked the second clasp, letting the stocking loosen.

Ravene flexed her leg slightly, watching as he rolled the fabric down and his knuckles brushed against her bare skin as he peeled it away inch by inch. 

When he reached her ankle, she lifted her foot slightly and removed her heel allowing him to slip the stocking free.

He set the rolled stocking aside before shifting his attention to her other leg. 

"This one too?"

She merely lifted her other thigh slightly in response, offering it to him.

He repeated the motion... undoing each clasp easily, letting his touch linger just a little longer this time.

His palm pressed against the warm skin of her thigh as he slid the stocking down, feeling the way her body responded beneath his fingers.

When the second stocking was discarded, she shifted once more, her weight settling more comfortably against him.

Then, with a slow, teasing motion, she lifted her skirt higher... high enough for the lace-trimmed fabric of her underwear to come into view, deep black against pale skin.

His grip on her leg firmed slightly, his thumb brushing against the sensitive skin near her hip. "And where exactly is that Genesis mark again?"

Ravene leaned in as her warm breath touched his ear "Right… here."

And with that, she shifted just enough to tilt her leg to the side, revealing the intricate, glowing mark nestled just beneath the curve of her inner thigh.

Brandon let out a quiet breath, his eyes locked onto the swirling patterns of energy etched into her skin "Now that's something…"

And without hesitation, he reached out to touch it.

His fingers hovered just above the mark, feeling the residual warmth of her ether signature before touching it.

The moment his fingertips brushed against it, a tingling sensation surged through his skin... like static electricity humming between them.

"Hah… You're really just going to touch it like that?" she murmured.

Brandon's thumb brushed over the edge of the mark, tracing its glowing ridges "It's… warm."

His gaze drifted lower once more, to the way her skirt had bunched up near her waist, letting him see a bit of her underwear.

A slow smile tugged at his lips.

"You know… this skirt is kind of in the way," he remarked casually.

Ravene arched an eyebrow "Oh? And what exactly are you trying to see, brat?"

Brandon shrugged, his fingers already hovering over the hem of her skirt and before she could respond, he hooked his fingers into the fabric and began to tug it downward.

"W-Wait, brat—" she was startled, but he had already made his move.

With one swift motion, he slid the skirt past her hips, down the smooth curve of her thighs, and all the way to her knees.

The fabric pooled slightly before slipping down completely, leaving her seated on his lap in nothing but her top and the deep black lace of her underwear.

Brandon's gaze darkened slightly, taking in the full sight of her now bare legs resting against him.

"Oh, it's black," he muttered again, more to himself than to her.

Ravene hit his chest playfully and clicked her tongue. "What kind of reaction is that?"

"I mean.. they look good." Brandon chuckled lightly, his hands still resting on the soft curve of her thighs.

"You're getting bold, brat,"

Brandon tilted his head slightly, his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist as he pulled her in, letting her body mold against his. 

She let out a quiet breath and her fingers drifted up his shoulders, then to the nape of his neck, where she played lightly with his hair.

Ravene sighed, resting her chin against his shoulder. "You know… you shouldn't be wasting time playing around like this," she muttered, her voice quieter now.

"The meeting is happening soon."

Brandon's expression darkened at the reminder and his hold on her tightened slightly. "Right… the meeting that's going to decide whether I even have a future."

Ravene shifted in his arms, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "Don't talk like that," she said, her fingers pressing lightly against his jaw.

"There are people in that room who will fight for you."

"Elize.. Charlotte."

"And myself, of course. You're not alone in this, Brandon. Whatever happens in that meeting, you're not going down without a fight."

She gently raised his chin and looked at him before leaning forward to kiss his lips.

Brandon was taken aback for a moment but then he closed his eyes and sank into the kiss.

Her lips were warm and her breath was faintly sweet.

Brandon exhaled softly and his lips parted just enough to return the gesture.

His hand slid up along the curve of her back, feeling the delicate rise and fall of her breath as she melted into him.

She tilted her head slightly, letting him deepen the kiss as he softly sucked on her lower lip before releasing it.

Pulling from the kiss, she gazed into his blue before leaning in and striking his lips "Kael..."

Her eyes trembled as she looked at him and she opened her lips to speak, but no words came out.

Maybe now was the time.

Maybe now she could finally say it.

She has the courage to say it now.

The words clawed at her throat, begging to be released... to scream, to tell him everything.

Even after all these years, her heart still ached in ways she couldn't explain whenever she looked at him.

But she couldn't.

Not now.

Not when his future was hanging in the balance when so much more than her own selfish emotions were at stake.

So instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to push it all back down where it had always belonged.

"Ha..."

A soft, bitter sigh escaped her lips, and before she could change her mind, she hurriedly slid off his lap, putting space between them.

Brandon blinked at her sudden retreat, but he didn't move to stop her.

He could tell something was on her mind.

Instead, he watched as she crouched down, quickly grabbing her discarded stockings as her fingers worked hastily to smooth out the fabric.

"It's almost time," she murmured, her voice quieter than before, almost as if she was trying to steady herself.

"I should do some tests on you first."

Her hands were quick, rolling the sheer material of the stockings back up her legs, fastening each clasp of the garter quickly.

She reached for her skirt next, slipping it back over her hips, smoothing out the creases.

Even as she fastened the clasp, her fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second before she inhaled deeply and steadied herself.

Finally, she slipped her feet back into her heels, the soft click of the stilettos against the floor sounding louder than usual in the silence that stretched between them.

Brandon could tell she was forcing herself to act normal.

Still, now wasn't the time to ask about it.

So instead, he exhaled softly as he leaned back on the chair, and asked in a teasing voice.

"You sure you're okay, Aunt Rave?"

Her fingers twitched slightly at the name, but she forced a smirk onto her lips.

"You're the one about to go into a life-altering meeting, and you're asking if I'm okay?" She scoffed, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder before crossing her arms.

"How noble of you."

With a chuckle Brandon asked "You looked like you were thinking about something."

"Maybe I was." She arched a brow, tilting her head.

"Or maybe you're just imagining things."

He hummed, watching her for another long moment before deciding to let it go.

For now.

"Come on," she sighed, adjusting the cuff of her blouse before turning toward the research machines in the room.

"We don't have much time."