Can't stop the rain (open)

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase inhaled sharply, his assault on her senses deepening in intensity with the innocent lust in her reaction. Somewhere, deep in the back of his mind, he thought that perhaps he shouldn't be doing this, that his unspoken promise to Dru extended farther than he'd said, but God, he wanted this, and he told himself she needed it. She needed to relax, to give in and enjoy herself, to learn that there was nothing wrong with a mutual exchange of pleasure. She needed to admit to herself that she wanted this.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna hated that he could manipulate her so easily, hated that she couldn't refuse him when he held her in his arms. But she loved the crackling awareness that came over her. Her hands clenched in his hair, holding him to her. Unable to do anything but live in the moment, she took in his heat, scorching against her body. Her own blood boiled as her heart beat faster with each passing second.

[Chase Firebrand]

Unthinking, Chase turned, pressing Anna back the few steps before the counter stopped her. He needed something to ground him, needed just that much support as his body pressed to hers, tempting soft curves molding to his own hard planes. His hands rose against her back, fingers spreading to take in everything he could even as the need to touch her, to bring them back to that moment at the masquerade, rushed through him. But for now, the pressure of his weight against her would have to be enough. Maybe he wanted to overwhelm her, but he didn't want to frighten her with it.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle's eyes shot open, the feeling of being trapped bringing her back to earth. She let go of his hair, bringing her hands to his chest and pushed. Her lips pulled away from him and she turned her head away. "I can't do this." Her breath was coming out faster then she'd wanted; a testimony to how carried away she'd become.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's head whirled at the sudden stop, and he opened eyes gleaming with scarlet, hazily focusing on Annabelle. Her push, for all that it had stopped the kiss, stopped his hands from moving against her, hadn't budged him physically. Chase looked at Anna, her words taking half a heartbeat to sink in. "You can," he murmured, one hand rising to tip her chin toward him again. "Let me distract you." His lips hovered a heartbeat away from Anna's. "Just let me kiss you." His lips brushed hers, slowly, seeking permission, but again, coaxing to get it.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna protested against the butterflies in her gut and the urge to lick her lips where his were touching hers. "I shouldn't." She spoke against him, hoping that if she could keep talking her mind wouldn't be lost to him again. "It's not right. Doesn't make sense." She looked into his eyes, pleading with him to help her sort through what was going on in both her mind and body. "I want to but I don't."

[Chase Firebrand]

"You're scared," Chase murmured, his lips half a breath from hers, eyes shimmering crimson and scarlet by turns. "But I'm not going to hurt you, Annabelle." He brushed his lips against hers in a feather-light caress. "There's a reason it feels so good, a reason we're drawn to it. Did you ever ride a broom to feel the wind in your hair? Ever sit by the lake to feel the sun on your face?" He brushed her lips again, tempting her. "I won't push you so far you'll regret this. Trust me, Anna."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

His words triggered a memory in Anna's head of when they'd first met. If you regret it, change it. Live. Experience. She had run away then, too scared to enjoy herself. She didn't want to fall into the same patterns of life. She snaked her arms around his neck, and completely gave up trying to think. With his lips on hers, and being in his warm embrace, there didn't seem much sense in trying to figure out whether kissing him was such a good idea. Her brain, which had just seconds ago been trying to decided whether this would would destroy her, was now completely occupied with how he made her feel deep within.

[Chase Firebrand]

She had kissed him. It was so unexpected, even with all the prodding Chase had done, that he was momentarily thrown off-guard, and all of a heartbeat passed before his lips firmed, taking back control. His hands against Anna's back spread again, grounding him this time, as what remained of his mind tried to work through what had just happened. Had he gotten through to her with subtle physical persuasion, or reason?

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna refused to let her mind quit on her this time. If she were going to indulge with Chase, she wanted to participate and take it all in. Her tongue darted out instinctively, brushing against his lips. She took in the heat from their bodies pressed together, the feel of his hands across her clothing, the taste and smells of him. She wanted to remember it all.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase could feel the change in every feminine muscle pressed against him, in every motion that said she was participating as much as experiencing. He set himself to teaching her, to showing her with purposeful strokes of his tongue what he wanted, handing her just enough power to go to her head. His hands tightened against her back, holding her closer now that it seemed the fear had drained from her. It was so easy to feed off her want and echo it back.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna loosened her grip around him so she could explore. Her hands ran slowly up and down his back, taking in the muscles she felt. She had never cursed clothing before, but at that moment she hated his shirt more than anything else. She wished she could feel his skin directly on her fingertips. She moaned into his mouth. When their lips parted briefly for breath she whispered, "I want to live."

[Chase Firebrand]

A low groan rumbled deep in Chase's throat, those few simple words sparking everything inside him into driving need. His lips fused to hers in a maelstrom of desire held with such a gossamer thread of control that it might have been nonexistent but for the fact that he hadn't already torn aside her clothes and taken her. His hand sought that tempting curve he had only briefly caressed at the masquerade, but this time he sought to give her oblivion without that slow ease he'd worked so hard to give her before. If she wanted to live, he was more than willing to oblige.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle arched into his touch, unable to believe this was happening to her. She felt on fire at the pure pleasure of the moment. Her fingers dug into the cloth and muscles of his shoulders as she tried to stay grounded to reality. His expert touch flared a need in her that she never even knew existed. She still didn't fully understand what it was she was so eager for, only that she needed more. Her hand released him and maneuvered straight to his waistline, slipping under his shirt until she felt the hot meaty flesh of his abdomen.

[Chase Firebrand]

It was the feel of skin on skin that nearly broke his already thin control. He wanted--needed--more, but a promise hovered against what was left of his mind, that one gossamer-thin strand, fighting against him. The kiss grew, if anything, more intense, Chase's brows knitting in near pain as he coaxed Anna on, as he let her hand go where it would without allowing himself the relief of moving against her. Chase's hands took all the motion he would not otherwise allow himself, purposefully inciting, drawing every last pleasure from her body while his own remained tense and hard.