Freeing the Muse (Closed for Serenity30822)

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that he heard the softest of sighs from Calliope when he kissed her forehead, and he knew that he didn't imagine the little shiver that he'd felt run through her body, despite the comfortable temperature in the room. His eyes studied hers once more when she pulled back and nodded. Still, it didn't pass his notice that she kept her arms around his neck, albeit not as tight given their distance, and the feeling of her fingers running through the hair at the back of his neck pulled a soft sigh from him as well.

With Calliope's nod giving him the permission he needed, Anton adjusted himself on the floor, getting his feet beneath him, the position putting himself a bit closer to her, much like how they'd started out. His arms tightened around her, mostly of their own volition, as he rose quickly to his feet in one quick motion, taking her with him. The motion served to pull her tight against him as he supported her, both while she stood up, and while she got her feet fully beneath her, but it sent a shiver through him. When he made to step back though, his hands didn't want to listen, not fully anyway. His dark brown gaze lowered to find her violet one as his left hand moved to find her hip and his right one moved to cup her cheek. He studied those unique and beautiful eyes once more, searching for any sign that he was making a mistake, his thumb brushing across her lips, before he slowly stepped forward once more, dipped his head, and pressed his lips to hers.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope let out a soft squeak of surprise when he stood and pulled her up with him, feeling his solid chest against hers as he held her tight against him. She looked up at him as he moved back slightly, feeling his hands shift on her body to her hip and cheek. When his palm rested against her cheek, her head tilted to lean into his touch, blinking slowly as she looked into his eyes.

She felt his thumb brush across her lips and gasped softly at the gentle but intimate touch. Feeling him step closer to her again, she tightened her arms around his neck once again, and when his lips met hers it was like fireworks in her head. She'd been kissed before of course but never had it been like this. She knew she was safe, and that Anton wasn't going to hurt her, and even just this simple interaction had her buzzing with happiness.

Calliope returned the kiss gently, her eyes drifting closed of their own volition and her fingers curling at the base of his neck as she made a soft sound of contentment.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

The little squeak that Calliope had let out as he'd pulled her up to stand with him was just one of the things that had given Anton the courage to kiss her. He knew it was wrong, that it was too soon, and that he should wait, but every sign her body was giving off was telling him that it was right. He'd seen, felt, and heard gasp at the lightest of intimate touches that was his thumb brushing across her lips, felt her arms tightening around his neck when he stepped forward, and even heard the soft sound of contentment that she'd made as the two kissed.

Anton continue to kiss Calliope, soft kisses that made the faintest of smacking noises every time their lips parted, all while his hands held her without force. Hell, her own arms around his neck were holding him more captive than he was holding her, and it was with that knowledge that he tilted their heads ever so slightly, deepening the kiss as he dared to open his mouth and let his tongue trace over her lips, gently probing here or there for entry, but just like his hands, there was no real force behind his efforts.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope felt herself rapidly getting lost in the moment, her lips parting the second time his tongue pressed gently for entry, her own tongue moving forward to meet his. She felt herself leaning into Anton more as their tongues danced together, her body molded against his. Her mind was blissfully empty except for thoughts of the current moment. They way he tasted, the way he smelled, the warmth everywhere their flesh touched, the fabric of his clothing against her bare skin. It was bliss.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Any doubts Anton might have had about what he was doing were all but erased when Calliope's lips parted before his questing tongue. It of course dipped inside, gliding along and rolling over hers as he felt her mold herself that much more against his clothed body. He savored everything, from the softness of her lips, the taste of her mouth, and the feel of her yielding curves as they pressed against the harder planes of his body. His hand had drifted from her cheek to behind her head at some point, marveling at the soft smoothness of her violet hair as he gently rubbed and massaged the back of her neck.

It was only with a herculean effort that Anton finally managed to pry his lips free of Calliope's, and even then it was only during one of the times that he had to break for air. Despite breaking the kiss though, he kept his forehead pressed against hers as he lightly panted for breath, trying desperately to maintain some semblance of intimacy as he forced himself to speak.

"Calliope...you know that you can say no right?" Anton asked her softly, holding her gaze with his as even his hands stilled for a moment. "You know... that you don't have to do this...if you don't want to...that I won't punish you if you say no...and that I'll still free you...right?" His bottom lip quivered as he spoke, reaffirming to the beautiful goddess that she did in fact have a choice in this, and he meant every word. He would stop if she asked him to, wouldn't hold it against her or punish her for it, and he would still free her. He just wanted to make sure that she knew that before they went any further...if they went any further...

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope couldn't stop the barely audible whimper that escaped her when Anton broke the kiss. She opened her eyes when he spoke, looking into his while their foreheads were pressed together, her breathing a bit heavy. She listened to his words, hearing the tone in his voice that told her he would stop if she said so, but he didn't want to stop. Which was good because she didn't want him to stop.

She waited a moment after he finished speaking, looking into his eyes the entire time, torn between what to do. She decided not to make a decision and go with both options, muttering a quick "I know," before closing the distance between them once again. When their mouths met again she let out a soft groan, the sound a mix of excitement and pleasure.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

The barely audible whimper that Calliope had made, which he only heard because of the incredibly intimate distance he maintained, pulled at Anton's heart strings. He saw her unique and beautiful violet eyes open, and once again saw so many emotions playing through them. Whoever said that the eyes were the window to the soul certainly wasn't lying.

The near-silence between the pair only lasted for a couple of second, but they lasted for an eternity to Anton, such that he was almost subconsciously counting Calliope's quickened breaths as he fought desperately to keep his face neutral. He truly did mean what he said, but he didn't want to influence her any way or the other. He didn't know how far this might go, but he wanted her to know that she had a choice before it went there.

Anton heard the two words that Calliope spoke, but barely had time to process them before she closed the distance between them. He both heard and felt the groan that she let out into their kiss, and he couldn't help but groan right back at her. His right hand went back to stroking her hair, and his left hand moved to her lower back again, but this time it gently rubbed and massaged at the tight muscles that he knew were there. His tongue surged forward, almost of it's own volition, pushing hers back into her mouth as he tilted their heads more than before, deepening the kiss all the more as his tongue flicked against hers, slid along it, rolled over and around it. He fed off of what he felt from her, and he gave back as good as he got.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope shuddered against Anton when she heard him groan. She felt his tongue pressed past her lips once again, her own moving to meet his, moving with and against it. She arched her back as his fingers kneaded into her, pressing into him even more. She kept one arm wrapped around his neck while the other pulled back slowly, her hand dragging slowly over his shoulder down onto his chest before coming to rest just about in the center.

She felt herself getting lost in the kiss, that almost weightless feeling of happiness and pleasure coursing through her. She could get used to this, easily. There was something about Anton that made it easy for her to relax and be completely comfortable, though she couldn't quite figure out what it was, and she was too busy enjoying herself to try.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

The feeling of Calliope shuddering against him sent another shiver of excitement through Anton's body, and it was only with extreme effort that he managed to keep his body still. His efforts were tested all the more when he felt her arching her back in response to his kneading fingers, the motion crushing her breasts against his chest all the more. He even felt one of her hands abandon his neck, drag over and down his shoulder, and come to rest on his chest, which would have made his jaw quiver if not for the fiery kiss it was engaged in. He was sure that she'd feel how fast and hard his heart was beating, but there was no help for it. He couldn't stop her...wouldn't stop her...He was trying so hard to be strong for her, trying to not let his own insecurities taint the moment that she clearly needed.

It was even harder for Anton to break the kiss this time around than it was last time, but he did somehow manage it. No sooner did he tear his lips from Calliope's though, than he found himself leaving a fiery trail of kisses across her cheek to her ear, down to and past her chin to her neck. His kisses were fast, hard, and passionate, and he couldn't help but wonder if she would figure out where the trail was leading before his lips pressed against the pulse point of her neck, his tongue flicked against her skin before his lips closed gently around her skin, sucking at that sensitive spot, even as his added a bit more pressure to the tense muscles of her lower back and his other hand rubbed and massaged her neck through the thing, soft, and smooth layer that was her hair.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope didn't even try to stop the whimper this time when the kiss was broken once again. She opened her eyes to look at him in question but understood when she felt his lips press to her skin over and over. "A-Anton..." her voice was quiet, breathy, but no doubt he'd hear her given their proximity. Her head tilted back as he teased at her neck over her pulse. Her fingers curled against his chest, gripping his shirt.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

The whimper that Calliope let out when their kiss broke almost broken Anton's resolve. He hadn't truly wanted to break the kiss, but he also knew that the two of them would likely spend hours in that embrace if one of them didn't take the initiative.

If the sound of his name in that quiet and breathy tone wasn't enough to convince Anton that Calliope was not only okay with this, but wanted more, then the way her neck tilted to give him easier access to her neck certainly would have done it. He felt her fingers curl into his shirt, gripping it as he sucked on her neck, and as torn as he was in the moment, he did allow his lips to relax, letting go of her neck with an audible popping sound before he spoke. "Calliiiiiopeeeee..." He whispered heatedly against the flesh of her neck, intentionally dragging out a couple of vowels in her name as he let his cheek brush against her chin and his hands widen their worshipful touch, both working on her back now, rubbing, massaging, and kneading at the tight muscles as he savored the intimate closeness and every reaction it pulled from her.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope felt her legs begin to tremble, and when Anton whispered against her skin she released his shirt, putting her arm back around his neck to hold onto him for stability. Which turned out to be a good idea since he started really working on her back soon thereafter. She felt herself arching and squirming a little under his touch enjoying both the pressure and just the contact of his hands on her body.

She leaned forward to bury her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his smell while his hands moved over her back. She couldn't quite resist the urge to open her mouth and give the smallest of nibbles to the sensitive skin where his neck met his shoulder, her arms tightening around him as she did so.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton felt every single reaction of Calliope's body to his ministrations, be it the manual or oral ones. He felt her body tremble, causing her to release his shirt and wrap her arms around his neck again. He felt her arching and squirming, pressing herself needfully into his body as she also literally buried her face in the crook of his neck. That action pulled a low and primal groan from him, especially when he felt not just a kiss, but the smallest of nibbles to the sensitive area where his shoulder met his neck.

All of this combined into Anton almost acting on instinct as he bent his knees, dropped his hands to her ass without a moment's hesitation, and scooped Calliope into his arms. His hands remained beneath her ass, but they didn't do anything more just yet, even if they probably could have with the grip she had around his neck. He redoubled his own oral attentions on her, sucking hard at the sensitive pulse point without a second thought as to whether or not he'd be leaving a hickey behind. His mind was on other things of course, and that carrying the goddess out of the bathroom so that he could deposit her on her butt on the bed. His hands then flared out to her hips, giving each of them a squeeze before moving back up her back to give it the same worshipful attention he'd been giving her. His mouth however, moved to mimic what she'd been doing to him, kissing, licking, and eventually sucking at that sensitive spot where her shoulder met her neck.

 

[Serenity30822]

Hearing Anton groan again had her trembling all over again, and when he lifted her off her feet she tightened her arms around him. Feeling him sucking at that tender spot on her neck pulled a soft moan from her lips as she held onto him and he carried her from the bathroom. Once he deposited her on the bed and moved his hands to her hips, she pulled her arms from his neck and trailed her hands down his chest slowly, tilting her head to give him better access to that spot between her neck and shoulder.

Calliope moved her hands around to his sides and began to grip and tug at his shirt. His hands on her back once again felt wonderful but she craved more contact. She wanted to feel his flesh against hers, not just his clothing.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton felt and loved the tremble that he felt in Calliope's body, and the way she tightened her arms around her. He'd of course been worried about how she'd react when he tried to change their location, but he was glad to see that her reaction was a positive one. A soft sigh slipped from him into the flesh of her neck as he felt the slow trailing of her hands back down from his shoulders to his chest.

When Calliope moved both of her hands to his sides and gripped his shirt, Anton knew what she wanted, and as reluctant as he was to pull his hands and lips away from her, he wasn't about to deny her in this most intimate of moments. He kissed his way back up her neck as his hands glided up her back. His lips glided across her cheek once more, pressing a single tender kiss to her lips before lifting and pressing one to her forehead. His hands meanwhile, had slid up the full length of her back, to her shoulders, and glided gently up her neck with just his fingertips before he finally pulled both his lips and hands free of her.

Even as Anton went to remove his shirt, he went slow, almost as though Calliope were a baby deer that he didn't want to startle with sudden actions. His hands lifted slowly up over his head to grab the back of his shirt. They started to pull slowly, pulling it up over his head as his stomach was revealed to her inch by inch. He didn't have rock hard abs or anything, but he did run every now and again to clear his head. So his body had long wiry muscle instead of big bulky muscle, which she'd likely see in time.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope kissed him back when he pressed his lips to hers, closing her eyes when he kissed her forehead just to open again when he pulled away from her. She watched as Anton moved, watching the movement of his muscles beneath his skin, the slow fluidity of his actions. She held his gaze until the shirt covered his eyes, then lowered her gaze to his stomach where his skin was coming into view little by little.

She couldn't help the urge to touch him, reaching both hands to gently brush her fingertips across his abdomen, then pressing her entire hand against his belly while her other hand settled on his side. The hand on his belly slowly traveled upward, following his shirt, her fingertips staying about even with the bottom hem. When her fingers reached his shoulders she stopped and slowly moved them back down, watching as he pulled the shirt the rest of the way off and discarded it on the floor beside the bed.

Calliope looked up at him before lowering her gaze slowly, taking in every inch of his bare skin. She noted each and every little detail, from any freckle and scars, to the dip of his muscles below his belly button. She lifted her gaze once again, looking up at him, and moved her hands around his waist in a bit of a hug, pulling herself forward until their flesh met in the middle, her cheek resting against his chest over his heart. She let out a soft sigh of a moan as she felt his skin plastered against hers, the warmth of his body seeping into her.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton swallowed hard when his head was shielded by the shirt as he took it off, his mind curious about what was going to happen next as his body twitched and tingled with anticipation.

No anticipation in the world could have prepared Anton for the gentle brush of Calliope's fingertips across his abdomen though, nor prevent the soft sigh of contentment that followed it. Next came the full press of her hands, one wrapping around his side as the other pressed to his belly and slowly traveled upwards, following the progress of his shirt until she reached his shoulders, at which point she slid it back down as he discarded his shirt to the side.

The sight of Calliope sitting as she was, just looking up at him, was truly an awe-inspiring image, and Anton had to hold himself back from sighing with dismay when she lowered her gaze to take in his body. He remained still beneath her gaze, or at least as still as was possible. Every muscle twitched, aching to move forward and hold the beautiful goddess, but all of them were somehow kept in check, at least until that gave of hers lifted and met his once more.

The feeling of Calliope's hands sliding around his waist, now with no clothes in the way, elicited a soft sigh as Anton's own arms lifted of their own volition, one hand moving to the back of her head as she pressed her cheek over his heart. He felt the warm softness of her breasts crushing against his belly, and it pulled a long sigh from him, but tried his very hardest to focus on her, letting his free hand slide as far down her back as he could reach before reversing it's motion and rubbing as high up as the base of her neck. The more of his skin that touched hers, the more his body alerted, as though every nerve was firing, and every one that wasn't touching her was just waiting for it's turn, the combined sensations sending surges through him that made it so very hard for him to stand firm and steady, but stand firm and steady he did, for the lovely muse that needed him so.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope let out a quiet sigh of happiness as his hand moved over her back and up to the base of her neck, letting herself enjoy the moment. She found herself thinking about her future, about being free again. Her mind drifted to the thought of what would happen when Anton freed her. If the two would separate or if he would want her to stay with him. After all, it was different when one was given a choice. Her lips curled into a small smile as she considered that possible future.

She imagined what life would be like for both of them if they stayed together, unashamedly daydreaming like a schoolgirl. She came to her senses, the feeling of his hand moving over her back bringing her back to the present and she pulled back gently. When she pulled back, she only did so far enough to turn her head, pressing her lips to the center of his chest gently, eager for his reaction to the sensation.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton happily let his mind wander as he just held Calliope. Yes, it was a very intimate and sensual position, but at it's core, it was just two people holding each other close. He was of course acutely aware of how flawlessly smooth and soft her skin was, and just touching it right now was sending ripples of sensation from his fingers to his brain and back again. His eyes then drifted down to her hair, with it's natural violet color that was unlike any other human. It was soft, smooth and silky, almost weightless when he ran his fingers through it.

The feeling of Calliope's lips, pressed to the center of his chest, pulled Anton out of his own head and back to the moment with a primal groan. Her lips were soft too, soft and yielding, like they were begging to be kissed with a passion, pressed against his harder mortal lips. His bottom lip found it's way between his teeth as he thought of her beautiful body and all the things he'd like to do with her, because that was what separated him from his ancestors. He wasn't doing things to her. No, he was doing this with her.

It took everything in Anton to bring his left hand up and off of her back, even if it was only so far as her hair. His hands glided forward, brushing her hair back from her face as he used the smallest amount of pressure to tilt her back. His head descended then, pressing the tenderest of kisses to the side of her lips, feathering kisses across her lips to the cheek that hadn't yet felt his worshipful kisses. He then kisses his way across it, letting his own cheek brush against hers as both of his hands stroked her hair.

"May I pleasure you, Calliope?" Anton asked, whispering the words softly into her ear as his hands lifted to the top of her head and stroked down her hair once more. He could have asked to fuck her, to make love to her, or so many other things, but no. Right now, the thing he wanted to do the very most, was pleasure the goddess before him. He doubted that it would truly help replace any of the bad memories with this good one, but he wanted to at least try.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope felt Anton's hands move up to her face and gently press her head back. She moved with his guidance, tilting her head back to look up at him. The corners of her mouth tipped up slightly as he kissed his way across her face. She felt her cheeks heat as his breath rushed across her ear.

When Anton whispered in her ear an involuntary shudder tore through her, and she nodded. The truth was, his thinking was right on the money. She wanted to put the past 600 years out of her mind, replace the memories with so many better ones. And who better to begin with that the one responsible for saving her from that hell.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton felt the shudder that tore it's way through Calliope's body, and while it of course worried him, her nod told him that it was a good shudder, not a bad one. He smiled against her cheek and kissed his way back across it to her mouth. When he reached it this time though, he kissed her fully, pressing his lips against her soft and pliable ones in a hard, deep, and passionate his. Both of his hands held her, without true force, to that kiss as he tried to convey everything he was feeling in that moment, tilting her head this way and that as he made a right mess of her beautiful hair, all before he finally tore himself away. He was already panting for breath, but paid his mortal needs no mind as he lowered himself slowly to his knees before the naked goddess. He kissed a slow and deliberate path from her chin down her throat, pausing just long enough to kiss his way back up her throat and down one more time before continuing.

As Anton's trail of kisses continued, moving down Calliope's breastbone and dipping between those lovely breasts of hers, his hands followed suit, gliding down her back but keeping pace with his mouth, rubbing and massaging her back as he let his tongue along the underside of one of her breasts before kissing his way up around the outer curve of it, the top, and all around it in an ever-tightening circle. His kisses changed to licks when he got to her areola, flicking against and around the pebbled skin in that ever-tightening circle until his tongue was gliding around and flicking over her nipple. Then, and only then, did he finally stop, but only so that he could pounce on that distended nub like a starving babe, sucking hard while he simultaneously flicked it with his tongue. His hands were still right there with him, supporting her back as he pulled her against him, holding her breasts to his worshipful attention.

 

[Serenity30822]

Calliope moaned when his mouth found hers once again, matching the intensity of his kiss eagerly. With yet another whimper of protest when he pulled away, she watched as he moved onto his knees in front of her. Feeling his lips against her chin and neck, her eyes drifted closed and she tilted her head back slightly, giving him full access. She felt his head and hands dip lower, feeling his mouth and tongue lightly teasing her breasts. She found herself squirming against him, his gentle teasing extremely enjoyable.

At the first touch of his tongue against her nipple she drew in a quick breath, arching her back which caused her chest to rise up a little bit. When he stopped flicking his tongue over her nipple, she began to lift her head to look at him, only to be stopped in her tracks as his mouth closed around her nipple and he sucked, drawing a not so soft moan from her throat with no hope of holding it back. She lifted one hand from the bed, running it up his arm to his shoulder, to the back of his neck until her hand essentially cradled the back of his head against her breast. There was no pressure behind it, but Gods she didn't want him to stop.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton savored every sound and reaction that his knowing ministrations pulled from Calliope, right down to the little whimpers of protest whenever he had to abandon her lips with his. In truth, he felt like he could spent hours just kissing her and kissing every part of her. He loved the moans, the whimpers, the way her head tilted slightly this way or that, giving him better access to whatever was the current target of his lips. Even the squirming that he could feel between his lips and his hands was utterly adorable. He could feel how much she wanted it, how much she was enjoying it, even if her body wasn't used to it

Of all the things Anton truly enjoyed as he teased Calliope and played her body like the divine instrument it was, it was the way she responded when he touched her nipples. Whether it was the little arching at the first touch, the moan when he'd pounced, or the hand that now cradled his head, he loved all of them. If he could spend hours kissing her, then he certainly could spend days worshiping her breasts, touching, teasing, tantalizing.

How Anton managed to tear himself from Calliope's breast, he would never know, but it was almost certainly only because of what he knew was coming next. That would of course be the same worshipful kisses around her other breast, the teasing touch of his tongue along the sensitive underside, the circle of kisses that spiraled up it, the flicking of his tongue against the pebbled areola, the dragging touch of his tongue around her nipple, and then finally the pounce with his mouth and the hard sucks that came as his head literally bobbed against her chest as his tongue continued to flick it.

 

[Serenity30822]

It wasn't long before Calliope's body was trembling in earnest, Anton's consistent movement and teasing and knowing touch driving her higher and higher. She sat up just enough that she didn't need to lean on her hands, and ran both of them down his back as he suckled at her other nipple, her body practically vibrating with pent up need at this point. She groaned out his name softly, "Anton..." It had been too long since someone had cared about her, wanted her like this. Not just physically wanted her, no, that was too easy. Anton made her feel like... Well she wasn't quite sure what he made her feel. Free, she supposed. He made her feel free, and cared for, and wanted beyond just the physical.

 

[Lucian_Devine]

Anton could almost feel the nerves vibrating beneath Calliope's skin as he worshipped her glorious breasts, which he'd been enough of a gentleman to not even sneak a single look at until she let him pleasure her. Just feeling her body react to his ministrations was one thing, both beneath his knowing lips and tongue and his hands splayed across her back, was one thing, but even that paled in comparison to hearing her react. He loved every little moan, groan, and gasp that he pulled from the beautiful goddess, and of course the sound of his name on her lips in this most intimate of moments, especially when it came with the feeling of her own hands running up and down his back. He could almost feel the vibrations she was clearly feeling through her hands as well, and the need that came with them.

How long Anton would have spent worshipping Calliope's breasts, even he didn't know, but the sound of his name on those soft and luscious lips gave him just enough strength to drag his mouth from her nipple. He kissed his way down her breast to the center of her chest, his hands still splayed across her back, both supporting her and pulling her to his lips. He didn't linger too long there though, before starting to kiss a slow trail down her chest and stomach. His kisses shifted to licks when he reached her belly button, tracing a slow circle around it before giving it a single flick and moving on. His hands continued to follow his lips, gliding lower and lower on her back, reaching her butt as his kisses dipped below her waist.

Anton's chin preceded his kisses, gliding over the short, thing, and sparse pubic hair that led the way to his destination, with his chin even gliding just over her clit before his kisses glided to the side of it, just missing it as his hands slid forward along Calliope's butt and things, his thumbs grazing over her hips on their way by, gliding down her legs as his trail of kisses paused in their circling of her pussy just to kiss the inner-most part of each of her thighs, one on the way down and one on the way up. His hands abandoned her legs after feathering over her knees, but only so that they could start over at her feet, gliding up the inside of her legs. No sooner did his lips reach her clit once more, than his hands reached her knees, but instead of continuing further up her thighs, they dipped beneath her legs, with his arms wrapping around her thighs as he kissed one final trail down her pussy.

Only when he was positioned where all of this had been leading, with his lips poised and ready at the base of her slit, the scent of her arousal filling his nostrils, with his hands splayed across her lower abdomen and his thumbs on either side of her pussy, ready to spread her for him, did Anton finally stop, his blackened gaze flicking upwards, searching for Calliope's, and the permission he wanted to have before continuing.