Letting Her In

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna looked up at his question, not understanding at first since it was so far from where her own thoughts had wandered. When she focused, she shook her head and spoke much more softly then they had been. "It's not bad at all. It's just," She paused, taking a breath, then shook her head. "Nevermind." What she'd been thinking was far too personal, opening herself up to him way too much.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's eyes narrowed. His patience was nil right now, and his determination not to have personal contact took a back seat to wondering what it was that Anna wasn't saying. "Tell me," he said. It wasn't bad but sounded a lot like it was bad after all, and if he had some massive defect that had caused all this misery, he wanted to know about it, so he could consciously choose not to care and put it behind him.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna shook her head again, "It's, It's embarrassing." She managed to get out; her face heating up until she glanced away. Why was it about him that she couldn't resist a simple request? After a moment, she gave in with a sigh. "It's just that, well, I'm not good at separating emotions from my actions. You're, well," She had to pause again, trying to get the words out without making a ninny of herself. "You're dangerous to me. I think I could get in far over my head too easily, and fall for you in the worst way. And I know I can't do that, but I don't want to give up whatever enjoyment I've found with you." She finished, her speech getting faster and quieter as she went on. At the end, she wasn't even sure he'd heard it, which wouldn't have been a bad thing, Anna thought.

[Chase Firebrand]

On the contrary, Chase had heard every word, had heard some of his own fears reflected back at him. Dangerous. She was dangerous, too. She made him want to knock common sense into her sometimes, but she also made him want to protect her, made him feel guilty for how he treated her, even if he'd never promised more, even if she'd never demanded more. "I'm not looking for enjoyment," Chase said at last, his eyes cooling as he closed himself off. "I'm not looking for a friend, either." He should walk away, he knew it. He should leave. Now.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Chase." She whispered, her hand reaching out to touch his arm, as if that small amount of contact could stop him. Stop his words, stop his walking away for good. She'd taken a stupid risk, and bared her inner thoughts, only to be thrown aside as not even a friend. "What are you looking for?" She asked, her mind desperately trying to make sense of it. He'd completely shattered what she thought she knew of him, what she'd thought he was seeking and needed.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's muscles shivered beneath Anna's touch, but he couldn't seem to pull away. His jaw tensed. What was he looking for? Answers? Peace? An end to everything? "I don't know," he said, his voice low. It was only after the words were out that he realized he shouldn't have even acknowledged her question. Chase looked away from her, away from danger and temptation back out into the street. He should go.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Chase." She repeated, taking a step closer. She didn't know why she did it; why she risked being pushed aside again. All she knew is that she had to, she was drawn to him, in a way she didn't understand. "Please." Please don't do this, don't walk away from me. She reached up with her other hand and brushed it against his jaw, begging for some sort of reaction that he did care, that his words were just words, and that he could feel somehow.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase wanted to pull away; his jaw tightened beneath Anna's hand, but somehow, the reflexive motion away from her didn't come, no matter how he willed it to. His eyes closed briefly, and his lungs ached. He didn't know what he wanted, but he knew what he didn't want. He didn't want to risk himself, didn't want to give anyone that kind of power over him.

Chase looked resolutely out to the street again, unsure what he was doing here, how to push her away without just making himself want her more. I don't want her. Lies, he knew. "I'm not doing it again," he said. He was referring to Dru, to their twisted relationship, but he could have been referring to any of the girls he'd been with, could have been referring to Anna. He wanted nothing, and more specifically, he wanted it with no one.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

She took another step toward him, closing the space between them. She shifted as she moved, so he had no choice but to look at her. "I'm not asking you to," Anna said softly, not quite sure what he meant. Her hand ran up his cheek as she stretched up, looking into his eyes. She tentatively brushed her lips against his. She needed this moment, and thought he did, too.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase had only glanced down at Anna by reflex when she stepped in front of him, but she'd spoken, and he'd been unable to drag his gaze away just yet. He would have argued but before the angry words had formed on his lips, they'd been distracted by soft warmth. Chase's lips moved against Anna's without his permission, a subtle shift, but not at all the rejection he knew he should have shown her. His hands made no move to wrap around her--he was still trying to hold back--but he couldn't pull back.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Chase hadn't embraced her like usual, but he didn't step away, either, which gave Anna hope. She took his inactivity as a sign she could move forward. If she had thought about it, the role reversal might have made her laugh. She moved her hand to the back of his neck, brushing along his hair as she took the liberty to deepen their kiss.

[Chase Firebrand]

A soft groan, something between frustration and longing, rumbled deep in Chase's throat at Anna's persistence. Why couldn't he seem to say no to her, and keep to it? He moved into the kiss, his body shifting away from the wall to press lightly against hers. His hands tensed, wanting to move, though he still had enough of his mind left to whisper that there was danger in doing so. If he didn't hold her, he wasn't giving in, right?

[Annabelle Hennessy]

At Chase's subtle acceptance, Anna's hand moved up his arm to his shoulder. She pressed against him, increasing the pressure that he had started. Her mind had gone blank from rational thought as she enjoyed their heated exchange.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's hands moved reflexively, catching Anna around the waist as she pressed against him. Part of him had meant the motion to stop her, to hold her steady so she couldn't shift against him, couldn't tempt him any further. He should have pushed her away, but he was already drawn into the kiss, and as much as his mind protested, his instincts were finely honed, and too strong to deny.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna let out a sigh of pleasure; her body's reaction to the feel of his hands holding her. She wanted more, wanted to feel them as she had before, but would take what she could get. Part of her knew that Chase wasn't himself, and she tried not to do anything that would push him away. Instead, she ran her hand through his hair as the other made it's way lower on his back, tracing the muscles of his shoulders as she went. She clung to the kiss, begging it to take her away completely.