Come out and Play (Chase & Anna)

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna's eyes widened. "How did you - Oh. right, the bookstore." She'd forgotten for a moment that Chase had found out about the Regency Era novels that she loved. Anna looked at him, seeing the mischief in his gaze, but unable to avoid it. She flicked out her tongue and licked her lips, "I've never watched a p-porn before." It took her a moment to remember what she had been going to say before he'd brought up pornography. "Seeing people do...things in life is different though, even kissing is a private moment."

[Chase Firebrand]

"So reading about graphic sex is less offensive than seeing a suggestive picture. Even if nobody's having sex in the picture?" It seemed pretty backwards to Chase. He wanted to keep prodding now, to see how far this would go, and in what direction. Somehow she kept surprising him. He hadn't actually expected her to say the word porn, though he had to admit that the way she stuttered on it was endearing. Or at the least entertaining. Chase was watching Anna almost avidly now, letting himself enjoy those little potions that gave Anna's nerves away. He would have kissed her at that lick of her lips if he hadn't been so into the conversation.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna looked away, unable to think clearly with his attention. She thought about his words, realizing he'd misunderstood her. "No, it's not that. I wasn't talking about just pictures. I meant words are one thing, but seeing people in front of you is completely different. Haven't you ever felt self conscious seeing other people together, or having other people around when you're with a girl?" The moment it came out of her mouth, she felt stupid. Of course he'd never felt that way, she couldn't imagine Chase feeling anything but in control when it came to members of the opposite sex.

[Chase Firebrand]

No, he hadn't actually, but then, most of the time he didn't try anything unless he was alone with a girl. He didn't particularly care if people gawked or what they might think, but company or noise tended to be distracting, if not for him than for the girl.

Chase didn't answer Anna's question directly. It looked like she'd probably made enough of a connection already. Instead, he asked her a question in return. "How self-conscious were you the night of the masquerade?" Yes, he recognized that she got flustered, he actually found it amusing, but they were talking about a different reason for self-consciousness, a different type of it.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

The Masquerade. Her actions there were completely unlike her normal self, on so many levels. She was in costume, had gotten carried away, and had completely lost all sense of reality for a short - or rather a long - moment with him. "That was different." She didn't think she needed to explain things. He couldn't really think that in a normal circumstance she'd make out with him while she had a boyfriend in a dark corner with all their classmates wandering around the general area. She still couldn't believe it had happened, no matter how much she enjoyed it.

[Chase Firebrand]

"It wasn't," Chase argued lightly. He knew that the masks released a lot of inhibitions for some people--he'd seen Anna's costume, after all--but they were still the same people underneath it all. "Do you usually think about where we are and who might walk up when we're kissing?" He didn't think anything more needed said about that. It was obvious she didn't by the way she wholeheartedly offered herself to him, if not by the many and various places she had done so.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Well yeah." Anna paused, thinking back to the time she'd spent with Chase, all of which had been public places even if no one had been around. She could explain away her bookstore since it was closed at the time and it felt like a second home, the lake had been in the middle of a storm where no one in their right mind would have wandered out, and the classroom was an empty one that students never used. But that still left the time in the dungeons when she assumed they were close to the Slytherin common room and they could have easily been interrupted.

Chase was right, she hadn't thought about it, and she hadn't even realized until now. She looked back up at him with a shy smile. "I used to at least, I would pull away, or freeze up. You remember don't you? But I guess I haven't thought about it much lately. With you, it's been different somehow." She knew what was different; he had pushed through her barrier, had encouraged her when she froze or backed down. She had been so overwhelmed with him that she'd forgotten about everything else.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase inclined his head in acknowledgment, both in acceptance of her words and in returning the sentiment. It had been different, and he couldn't pinpoint why. Or maybe he just didn't want to pinpoint it. And yes, he remembered Anna trying to freeze up, but after that first meeting in the library over a year ago, a little encouragement was all she'd needed.

It didn't occur to Chase that sex had anything to do it. They weren't having sex, after all. They were close enough, but he knew how different it was actually crossing that line. Maybe part of him was afraid that it was too late, that if they did it now it would be too intimate. Maybe part of him was afraid that it would ruin everything. Either way, that was something he wouldn't ask Anna for. He was sticking to that promise he'd made, seemingly so long ago.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Later, Anna wouldn't be sure what had made her do it. Whether it was to prove she was no longer inflicted, or because she was overcome with the desire to touch him; but after sneaking a quick glance at the empty path she'd traveled, Anna uncharacteristically leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. Her hands reached out to stable herself, resting against him. Encouraged by her action, she proceeded to kiss a soft trail towards his ear. She had no clue what she was doing, only the desire to taste his skin with her lips.

[Chase Firebrand]

One of Chase's straight brows had lifted at that kiss against his cheek. It was incredibly odd being kissed there, and yet from Anna, he couldn't truly think it strange. It was the kisses that followed the light press of her hands that truly peaked his interest, though. Chase didn't know what had prompted any of this, but he made no complaints, allowing Anna to do as she wished. He closed his eyes to focus his attention and expand sensation, but other than that, he gave no sign as of yet that he was affected.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna's nerves started to surface, and her kisses slowed as she reached his ear. He hadn't responded as she had thought he would, kissing her back and taking charge as usual which threw her off. But neither had he pushed her away. This last thought firmed her resolve and encouraged her to continue, mimicking some of the things he'd previously done to her. With a flick of her tongue, she circled his earlobe, bringing it into her mouth to suck and lightly nibble. Her heart was beating fast, and undoubtedly her breath brushed heavy against him..

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase couldn't feign keeping his cool at that. He exhaled a long breath he'd been holding, and a low sound rumbled in his throat. The quick breaths against him did nothing to slow the steadily growing pulse of his blood, but Chase didn't feel like taking charge right now. He wanted to see what Anna did next, wondered how far she'd go. She'd surprised him more than once tonight, and he had no intentions of walking away.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna's excitement grew at the sound he made in reaction to her. Her hand snaked up along his body until she cupped the other side of his head and began to massage his ear between her thumb and forefinger with slow small circles. Releasing his ear from the attentions of her mouth after a few moments, her lips began to descend the side of his neck. Making it up as she went, her tongue darted out on occasion, her lips stopping to suck the tempting spot near his collarbone just before his clothing covered the rest of him.

Unsure of her next move, Anna's hands moved to his top button as she pulled slightly away, meeting his gaze. Her eyes spoke her question, if she should continue, and if this was the next step she was supposed to take. Her lower lip found it's way between her teeth, betraying her with the nervous action.

[Chase Firebrand]

It was too chilly outside to finish what Annabelle had started, though it was incredibly tempting and the motion of her lip between her teeth only made it more so. Chase caught Anna's hand, drawing it underneath his cloak to smooth against him, leaving the barrier of his shirt intact. He leaned forward, rescuing Anna's lip and capturing it for his own as he initiated a slow kiss. Yes, he wanted this, but he knew enough to avoid the discomfort of attempting things in weather like this.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna let Chase guide her hand against him. She spread her fingers and felt the heat through his shirt against her palm. She scooted towards Chase on the bench until their legs were pressed up against each other with a need to be closer to him that she still didn't fully understand. Anna's lips parted and she used her tongue to entice him deeper into their embrace. Even though it had only been a day, it had felt like too long since she had felt his lips against hers.