What do I have to Do? (Anna or Dru)

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's brows knitted in near pain at everything he was feeling from Anna, at his own need threatening to tear him in two. One hand left her skin, his arm moving to wrap around her waist, anchoring her soft, water-slicked body against his. He didn't know how much longer he could last, how much farther he could take this without breaking entirely. The hand that wasn't holding Anna upright slid down the side of her body, then rounded her curves, purposefully seeking to break her, to save himself from having to suffer another moment of this unrelieved desire.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna couldn't take anymore, unable to think or breathe. She crumbled in a fit of whimpers, relying solely on his support to keep her upright. Her hands relaxed their grip, her breath coming back in heavy pants. She rested her head against his chest, allowing herself to come back to earth. She was soon able to open her glossy eyes and stole a glace up. With a lazy smile, she searched his face. Only then did she notice that he didn't look to have enjoyed himself nearly as much. She averted her eyes, the only sign that she'd noticed, and started thinking that thought over.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's eyes were closed, every muscle locked around Anna as he fought for control of himself. He'd felt it even stronger this time, the desire to take her and to hell with the consequences, and as a result, his blood was pounding harder, his breathing more difficult to calm. He held her, hoping that, like last time, she would simply revel in the aftereffects and pay no notice to his own state.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

As each heartbeat passed, Anna's thought process picked up. She understood the mechanics of male/female relations, but not any of the specifics. She thought Chase would have enjoyed their tryst, and wondered if he hadn't because he was so much more experienced then her. Frustrated, Anna chewed on her bottom lip as she lifted her head and studied him, searching for an answer. "Chase?" She paused, wanting him to enjoy as much as she, but afraid of sounding stupid. Letting out a breath, she asked what was burning to get out. "You didn't enjoy that, not like me. I want....I-I need to know.....What I mean is, How do I, you know, make you feel like what you did to me?" She finally managed to get it out, her face brightly flushed from the effort.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase exhaled a tension-filled breath at Anna's questions, his lashes rising to show eyes still swirling with flame. "I can't," he said simply, wondering if the words sounded like as much of a plea as they felt. He looked at Anna, the concern in her eyes, the rose of her cheeks calling to him again, prodding him to let go, though somehow he held firm. "I want to, Anna," he said huskily, "but you don't owe me that, I won't ask it of you." Maybe, just maybe, his promise to Dru was filtering back into his mind, but it was a weak defense. He knew she was trying to write him off, and he'd been trying to do the same when Anna had found him.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"But you didn't ask, I did." Anna softly reasoned, trying to understand why he would deny himself the pleasure that she'd experienced. Part of her mind told her he was talking of going beyond, to the interaction he'd had with other girls, but she wasn't sure if that's what it would take for a man. She'd read so many romance novels, but didn't trust their accuracy. She slowly lowered her hand along his side, wanting to see his reaction, before boldly adding, "Wouldn't you enjoy me touching you that way?"

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase inhaled deeply at Anna's question, his eyes closing against the temptation of her hand against him. "Yes," he said in a choked whisper. He should have lied, should have told her that he didn't need this, that giving her pleasure was enough for him, even if that was a lie. He prayed for the rain to grow cold, to wash away the desire still throbbing through him, but he could still feel Anna's body against him, could still hear her, could still taste her on his lips.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna's nerves quickened at his reaction. Her blood started racing at just the thought of what she was about to do. Taking her time, she ran her other hand down his side as well, until they joined at the waistline. Her eyes followed their progress, and focused on where they ended, fascinated at her new-found boldness. With a few fumbling movements, she'd made her way to the inside of his clothing and one hand continued her exploration blindly. She licked her lips instinctively, her eyes darted back to Chase's for guidance.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase let out a choked groan, and his eyes opened again in shocked pleasure. Some part of him said that he'd let this go too far, but that part was weakened, and he couldn't hear it over the pounding of his blood. His eyes were burning, yet hazy all the same as his hand, the one that wasn't wrapped firmly around her waist, gave her the guidance she'd asked for. His head dipped, and his mouth took hers, the kiss filled with desire, pleasure, need, and relief.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna followed his lead, quickly learning what he liked. Her empty hand reached behind him, finding a curve to hold and squeezed her hand against it. As instinct took over, it seemed only natural to be trying to pleasure him. The initial shock of her actions faded away with the feel of his lips on hers. She struggled to keep her mind focused on him as her own desire began to build again. She channeled her passion, putting more energy into the kiss, into pleasing Chase in every way she could.

[Chase Firebrand]

Anna was a quick learner, and soon, Chase didn't need to guide her anymore. His hands set themselves to exploring Anna again, taking in the feel of her like fuel. The intent had changed, and it likely showed in the kiss, in the way his hands moved against her, purposefully bringing her with him rather than stringing her along with pleasure as he had done before. Chase built them up, let Anna build him up, and when everything broke, he was left panting, exhausted, and unable to regret it.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna relaxed against Chase, allowing herself to enjoy the afterglow. Her arms wrapped around him, hugging him close so she might still feel their connection. As her breath began to even out, she felt a sense of accomplishment that was nothing comparable to getting an 'O' on her owls. She could hardly believe this was her standing here, and all that had passed between them. She let out a satisfied sigh, content in his arms.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase held Anna for some indeterminable minutes before finally moving to straighten their clothes, as subtly as he could without actually moving away from her. It was only then that the rain drew his attention again, and he remembered having tried to send Anna in. Chase's hands settled just under Anna's jaw, and he tipped up her face, looking into her deep chocolate eyes framed by glistening lashes. Thank you, he wanted to say, but couldn't. Maybe he wanted to thank her for her persistence, for her show of faith, for stubbornly refusing to let him push her away, but he couldn't even think those words. Still, his eyes shone with them, and he was too emotionally worn to try to hide them.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle saw the emotion in his eyes, and was surprised by it. He had told her when she'd first broke up with Michael that he didn't get emotionally attached, but those words were completely forgotten at the moment. All Anna could tell was that he was pleased with her, far more content then when she'd stumbled across him such a short time ago. A smile formed on her lips that she was unable to repress; the knowledge that she'd been able to change his mood a huge boon.

[Chase Firebrand]

That smile should have seemed strange, with drops of water clinging to her lashes like tears and trailing down her cheeks. It should have unnerved him, the intimacy of it, knowing she'd seen more than he liked to be seen. Dru had never called him on any of it, had only laid her head against him and spoken softly. But Anna's smile...he didn't realize his own lips had curved ever slightly as he looked at her, trying to decide what it was about that smile that his mind couldn't let go of.