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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 18:56:59 GMT -5
Carolynn had finished her talk with the amusing little girl and given Mano his promised few minutes. Then she had hovered anxiously as he had gathered a small bag to take with him to visit one of his friends for drinks over the night. Only when he was firmly out the door did she run up to her room to get ready. She didn't change dresses, though she did tug it just a little lower on her shoulders and tighten the strings in the back just so. She did, however, wash her face for a different layer of makeup, somewhat darker shades of pink and purple than she wore during the day.
Her lips were painted a perfect dark shade of pink with a light gloss applied over and her eyes stood out against dark purples. She had even dusted a little of that childish sparkling powder over her chest for the fun of it. She looked at herself in the mirror for a few long minutes after all that was finished and made sure her curls sat just right before blowing herself a kiss and trotting down the stairs to wait in the living room.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 21:13:31 GMT -5
Chase had gone all-out. He'd taken a cursory shower this morning, but decided to take another when he'd reached the dorms from his recent visit to Diagon Alley. The pounding, steaming water had helped him relieve pent-up tension, and he'd had a fresh start on his hair. He normally wasn't vain about it; he rubbed a towel over it and it dried in messy curls, but tonight... He was determined to impress. Tonight his hair was an artfully arranged mess, and rather than a half-assed attempt at propriety, he was as purposefully rebellious as he thought proper.
He wore his best tailored slacks, part of a new proper wardrobe his father had insisted on. Of course, it hadn't been difficult to convince the tailor to alter it to his specifications, and so the fine cloth, rather than hanging off him like an old man's skin, accentuated every asset a good pair of trousers should accentuate. He couldn't have cared less about the pieces that went with those trousers, but chose a black button-down shirt with subtle, deeper-black grooves, again tailored to accentuate rather than simply cover. Even when he'd given up he'd refused to roll over and die. He'd bypassed his usual talon earring for a more inconspicuous stud, and he'd thought all the while of that wicked little gleam he'd seen in her eyes.
Now he stood at the door, cloak thrown over his shoulders with his own wickedly gleaming eyes. If everything went as he hoped, he'd owl his father tomorrow to set up whatever kind of gathering was necessary to officially announce the betrothal. He knocked confidently.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 21:21:34 GMT -5
Carolynn's eyes snapped up to the door from the magazine she had been reading and she smiled. Who else could it be but Chase? She slid the glossy book into a drawer in the table by the couch before standing up, smoothing down her dress, and walking to the door. It took a lot of control to keep an excited bounce from her step and she had to pause at the door before opening it. When she finally let herself open it, her eyes sparkled and she let out a soft oh at Chase's appearance. "Please, come in," she said after a moment when she pulled her eyes back up to his. Oh he looked good.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 21:42:09 GMT -5
One end of Chase's lips rose in a smirk when he heard that soft exhalation. He'd only just kept himself from a quick intake of air the moment she opened the door. His gaze had flickered over her, reminding him that yes, she really was what he remembered, but part of the princess had faded, or perhaps he was only seeing through it, because that wickedness was definitely in her eyes now. He couldn't look away from them. Part of it was the exotic look of her, yes, but he wanted to see everything. He couldn't decide where to look next.
Chase inclined his head lightly in greeting and entered the apartment, the modest living room warm and comfortable, reminiscent of simple but fine things. He wondered vaguely if she'd had any say in it, and if so, what she would do to the manor when it was theirs. Theirs. A tempting thought. His.
After that cursory sweep of the room, Chase's eyes found Carolynn's again, and his blood warmed. "Has it only been a matter of hours?" he asked. His hand slipped against hers and raised it, a light bow bringing his lips against her soft skin. He let them linger indecently long before looking up at her.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 21:49:36 GMT -5
Carolynn's eyes sparkled at how his lips lingered, and it took her an extra moment to think of a reply. "It seems as though it has been days," she said as she looked into his eyes. She held his gaze for a long few seconds before dropping her eyes, "Will you sit with me?" She didn't lie to herself and say he didn't know what she expected from the night, but she wasn't about to just invite him to her bed right then.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 22:00:51 GMT -5
Chase straightened and gave a slight nod of assent, though inside he was tamping down the demons that hissed at the wait. His lips curved into a polite smile belied by the energy in his eyes, and he placed her hand on his sleeve, enjoying the game of propriety. She had let him into her home without another soul to guard against his wickedness. This was all foreplay.
"If you'll pardon the observation," Chase began, waiting for Carolynn to sit before he seated himself, "this room, as inviting as it is, seems lacking in the vibrancy of its mistress." It paled against her, the soft earth tones somber when he saw her seated against them. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 22:07:10 GMT -5
Carolynn blushed and sat against the arm of the couch and gestured for Chase to sit with her. "I didn't have the honor of helping to decorate, my cousin enjoys much milder colors than I do." As though that wasn't obvious enough with what she was wearing. "I was in control of what my bedroom looks like, though. Perhaps later I can show you one of my puzzles and you can see it," she offered, looking up at him from under her eyelashes.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 22:20:08 GMT -5
Chase's eyes were going wild and he knew it, but that was one thing he'd never been able to control. They gave him away every time, but for now, this time, he made no move to look away and disguise it. If she was going to tease him, she might as well get her enjoyment.
"I would like nothing more than to see your puzzles," Chase said smoothly, sitting beside Carolynn. He purposefully ignored the proper distance he was technically supposed to keep. It would be ridiculous.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 22:29:18 GMT -5
"Everything in its own time," Carolynn said with a light giggle in her voice. She wondered how long it would take for him to just kiss her. On one hand, she would love to just take him to her room, but on the other, she would probably be with him the rest of her life. She was curious to see how much she could push without him breaking, considering she really wouldn't get the chance ever again. "I have two I would really love to show you, though, two globes. They were hard to make, they are my pride."
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 22:42:59 GMT -5
Chase knew of puzzles like that, but his desperate and currently depraved mind went in entirely the wrong direction, at her most likely purposeful behest. His eyes were a wash of swirling flame, but he kept his smile polite. "I'm sure I'll be impressed. Such globes take considerable skill and delicacy to bring to perfection." He shifted slightly, one hand flexing purposefully as he looked at her. His eyes made promises he wouldn't allow himself to speak.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 22:46:59 GMT -5
"They do," Carolynn said. "And they have to be handled with care, of course," she paused and laid a light hand on his knee with a smile and a light laugh, "That's assuming I let you touch them." She shifted as well, turning her body into the crook between the arm and back of the couch. It was a subtle invitation, but one that she didn't truly expect to be acted on. She forgot to remove her hand from his knee.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 23:21:48 GMT -5
Chase shifted again, the motion of his body beginning even before hers had stopped. He faced slightly toward her, responding to both the invitation and the challenge. As of yet, the benefits to his pride for making both of them wait outweighed the prize at the end of the game, so he waited. He had all night.
"Without touch, I can only half appreciate your cleverness," Chase said, choosing his words purposefully. "To view something exquisite is gratifying, but to know it..." Chase trailed off, his hand settling on top of her small, delicate one against his knee. "That is true pleasure." Her skin was so distractingly soft.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 2, 2009 23:30:29 GMT -5
"I completely agree," Carolynn said, meeting his eyes no matter how much she wanted to look down at that firm, warm hand on hers. "Perhaps I'll let you touch them, but if you break them, you will owe me," she warned, though she smiled sweetly still. She didn't think at all that he would hurt them, but that didn't mean she didn't like the idea of him owing her.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Mar 3, 2009 0:07:16 GMT -5
"I'll be especially gentle with them," Chase said, his voice lowering intimately, "if you want." He could be gentle, but he doubted she wanted that outside the tease. Or maybe he hoped. Either way, he would give her what she wanted. It would be the most thorough way to get what he wanted, which was control of the relationship. He wouldn't spend the rest of his life under a woman's thumb, no matter how pleasurable it might be.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Mar 3, 2009 0:12:53 GMT -5
"You can handle something with care without being gentle," Carolynn said, her own voice lowering. "And they can take a lot more than most give them credit for. Just don't try throwing them around the room." She smiled and lowered her eyes. "I'm sure if you keep them on the bed they will be fine." She knew she was being more obvious, but she also knew that she needed to at least begin to suggest.
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