Goodbyes

[Adara Snow]

What was that grin about? Adara tried to think enough to decide if there was something in the conversation she was missing again, but Emilian was distracting her. In front of company. She didn't have a moment's thought that it was unconscious. Adara's gaze lifted to find Emilian's again. She gave him no physical encouragement, but looked at him, trying to look expectant, or impatient with him, rather than hazy.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I would think that this was a more serious matter," Michael said quietly, even if he knew Emilian was partially trying to make himself forget, he was going about it the wrong way entirely. The link had finally worked its way to the front of his mind and he didn't doubt that Emilian would run it into the floor if given the chance. His thumb moved underneath Dare's, lightly against the skin between this thumb and finger.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's gaze broke from Emilian's to flicker down to where Michael's thumb moved against him. Then his gaze rose to Michael, about a hundred thoughts leaping into his mind. Michael didn't look oblivious. Dare's lips curved, and he squeezed Michael's hand lightly. There was a moment's heavy debate, then he raised Michael's hand and pressed a light kiss to his knuckles, a comfort, yes, but also a subtle reminder of the time he'd taken the touch further. He didn't look back at Emilian. As far as he was concerned, this wasn't part of the game. It was theirs.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian raised an eyebrow and his eyes hardened slightly, even if he was glad for the return of the game. He chose not to reply to Michael, other than to use it as a reason to hook his arm farther around Adara and press a kiss to her cheek. "You can't blame me for wanting to forget it for a little while," he said when he pulled away and flicked his eyes up towards Michael.

[Adara Snow]

What was Emilian doing? Adara was torn. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to put just a little breathing room between herself and Emilian. If Michael and Dare weren't here, she would have kissed him by now, but they were, and Adara knew Emilian well enough to know that if things were escalating, they would only continue to escalate. She would not have sex with him on the couch while Michael and Dare sat nearby. Even if her traitorous blood was heating.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyes had taken no time in moving over to Dare when he had felt the kiss, his entire body stiffening in shock before relaxing as he met Dare's eyes. He didn't return the kiss, but didn't pull away from him either. Instead of speaking he lightly squeezed Dare's hand, then Michael glanced over at the couple on the couch, wondering how far Emilian would push it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare felt that tension in Michael, and guilt trickled through everything else, settling in his chest. He didn't want to make Michael uncomfortable, didn't want to push him, but his pride prickled at the thought of just sitting back. Dare lowered his gaze to their hands again, watching the motion of his thumb against Michael's. He gave another light squeeze, unsure if Michael meant forgiveness or permission to go on, and unwilling to take the chance just yet.

A thought occurred to Dare then, and he brought his gaze--and his head--up just far enough that his curled hair could no longer do a half-assed job of hiding the marks at his jaw. He paused just a moment, then lowered his head again; he wouldn't push Michael, but that didn't mean he had to drop out just yet.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian didn't miss Adara trying to pull away from him, however small the movement was, and he shifted away from her as much as he would let himself. He looked up in time to see Dare tilt his head to where the hair was moved and the light hit the marks. They were obvious enough that he couldn't just blow them off like he had for Michael, and once they were hidden again, however hidden they could get now that he knew where they were, he turned his glare up to Dare.

He didn't want Adara to pull away any more, and so he settled for just letting his hand drop down over her hip to settle in the valley between her and the seat of the couch and telling himself that that bit of intimate contact would be enough to hold him over for Dare's next move. He knew it wouldn't be, though, and let his thumb continue to move over Adara's skin.

[Adara Snow]

Emilian was distracting her! Adara was trying to pay some attention to what was happening in the room, but nobody was speaking anymore, and her mind kept being drawn back to the sensation of Emilian's thumb shifting against her. She felt Emilian's other hand drop, felt it lodge against her, and it did nothing to help. Adara's gaze lowered, and she chewed her lip in uncertainty.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

At first Michael hadn't realized what Dare was doing, until he had seen the mark just below his jaw revealed to the light. Then, after a moment of shock, he hadn't been able to stop the grin that spread over his lips as he remembered how those marks had gotten there, and what had happened after. He looked down slightly, enough that his hair moved to hide the broad grin and light flush that came over him that hid any mortification he might have felt otherwise.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare had been praying that Michael hadn't noticed, but his prayer went unnoticed. He felt a moment of something that could have been regret, but it was washed away when Michael's lips curved. Dare's lips curved as well, even as Michael lowered his head. Dare squeezed his hand lightly, then leaned a bit over the arm of his chair. "Your hair's getting messed up," he said in a stage whisper, then lowered his voice further, just for Michael. "You want me to fix it again?" If he said no, it would be no problem. That grin was more than enough for Dare.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian's eyes narrowed, frustrated to the point that he couldn't think of anything else to do. Every so often he would catch a glimpse of a dark mark against Michael's skin through his hair, and it seemed like there were plenty instead of the one or two he had originally thought. He thought back, he couldn't remember Michael ever having them, much less many of them, even on the odd day that he was feeling adventurous. He kept his eyes on Dare and his hand tightened around Adara's.

[Adara Snow]

Adara felt the tension in Emilian's body, and despite her own discomfort, raised her eyes in concern. If there was something that he wanted, or needed, she wanted to be able to give it to him. She didn't want any more distance between them before he had to leave. Adara didn't know what was happening in the room, but she did know that Emilian had seemed content until she had pulled away. She leaned slightly closer to him, and though she still chewed her lip, her free hand settled over his beside her.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael raised his eyes to Dare's and shook his head slightly, it was useless to do that since Emilian had all but seen it. He could feel tension coming from Emilian, but it was pushed away from the good feelings he was getting from Dare. "He's already seen them," he murmured, then dropped his eyes to his hands before he could convince himself to kiss Dare. He almost wanted to look at Emilian, but knew his courage would instantly fall if he saw Emilian's reaction to everything.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's smile widened, and he leaned just a bit closer. "Not all of them," he said, his voice low enough that only Michael should hear him, even in an otherwise quiet room. He knew it was rude to just tune people out the way he was tuning out Emilian and Adara, but it was the only way he could guarantee that he wouldn't pick back up where he'd left off. This way, it was just him lightly teasing Michael, just them...being them. He still wanted to mess with Michael's hair, though.