They walked silently together, up the stairs to the loft bedroom above. The wind had turned to rain, and the rain to ice, which now sounded against the windows over the bed. The light from the fireplace below spilled into the loft over the railed edge open to the lower floor, casting a warm glow into the room.
She led him in, stopped to face him, and easily shrugged her open blouse from her shoulders to allow it to fall to the floor. She reached back to unzip her skirt, but stopped. The knowledge of her far from perfect rounded belly and full hips, hidden beneath, made her suddenly uncertain and ill at ease. She didn't think she could stand to see disappointment in his eyes.
He watched her blouse drop, his anticipation rising, and he caught and understood her hesitancy. Placing a finger beneath her chin, he tilted her head to look up at him and met her lips in a kiss. His hands fell to her waist and slid around to meet hers. With slow control, he held her hands to ease the zipper down, releasing her skirt to land at her feet. He moved back to look at her and smiled, and in that smile she found the acceptance she needed.
She stepped out of the puddle of clothing at her feet, leaving her shoes in its center, and began to unfasten and remove her garter and stockings.
"Oh, no. Leave those on for me?" he asked catching her hands. His eyes sparkled in the fire's glow.
She smiled up, suddenly shy. "OK," she said softly.
Her hands slipped beneath his shirt, following and enjoying the contours of his chest. He purred as her fingertips brushed across his nipples. Pulling the shirt over his head, he tossed it aside. Her lips planted soft kisses across his bare chest, and her teeth playfully nipped at his hardening nipples. His eyes closed and a sigh escaped his lips as he drowned in her touch. One hand firmly planted over his heart, she pressed him back to sit on the edge of the bed, its soft down coverings turned back in anticipation.