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[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

Grey glanced up from his crossword puzzle and did a double-take. It was the woman from the boat party, the Death Eater who'd gotten away. And from the look of it, she either hadn't seen him, or she'd come looking for him. Either way, his eyes narrowed, and he set down the Quibbler to reach casually for his wand. Unfortunately, he had no proof, so he couldn't turn her in to the authorities, but he intended to be cautious anyway.

"May I help you?" Grey asked, standing. His wand was hidden from view by the counter, but all his senses were on high alert, and if she tried to draw her own wand, he'd be one step ahead.

[Dahlia Alexander]

Dahlia turned to Grey, her smile widening into a grin. "Not from way over there," she purred. Dahlia tempered her grin into something more innocent, though the blazing green of her eyes would give away the act. He obviously recognized her, it wasn't like he didn't know. "Could you...help me?" Dahlia's voice was high and almost childlike in her request. "Please?"

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

The tone of her voice was ingratiating, and yet something about her attracted him none the less. Could it be her resemblance to Claire-Elise? No, Grey thought firmly. If anything, that resemblance added to his deep-seated knowledge that the woman was trouble, if not actually dangerous. Even so, he found himself standing, crossing the shop to stand beside the woman. "How may I help you?" he repeated, the words polite and distant, even if laced with an echo of the woman's mockery.

[Dahlia Alexander]

Dahlia turned without warning and wrapped her arms around Grey's neck. "We have unfinished business." She kissed him before he had a chance to respond. The kiss was more intense than the ones she'd taken at the battle. She'd been bored and she'd been looking forward to this for weeks.

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

Whatever Grey had been expecting, it wasn't this. He was thrown completely off-guard, and before he'd even registered what was happening, he found himself kissing her back like a man starved, his arms wrapped tightly around her slender body. Even so, his response was a power play, a refusal to let her lead as he backed her against the shelves. He'd recognized his attraction to her at the boat party, during the battle. She'd realized it too, and used it against him. No more. He'd learned his lesson from Claire-Elise. No woman would ever hold him prizoner to his body.

[Dahlia Alexander]

Dahlia was surprised and pleased by his reaction. She'd been expecting a short response and a quick rebuff, but this...this was nice. She kissed him back with every ounce of fire she could give, and only pulled away when she felt like she might faint from the intensity. She looked at Grey with wide jade-green eyes. Wow. "Not bad," she said, as casually as she could. She'd have made her escape, but he was pinning her to the shelves.

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

Grey's eyes narrowed at her comment. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asked, repressing a growl, though he spoke through clenched teeth. It seemed he could never feel completely victorious around this woman, even when it was obvious by the starry look in her eyes that she was more affected than she'd say.

[Dahlia Alexander]

"No, I'm good," Dahlia said casually. She gave him a feline grin, and added, "You're pretty good yourself." She glanced around the shop, or at least as much of it as she could see around him. "Are you all alone in this big old place?" she asked innocently. Strange, but it had never even occurred to her that a man like him was probably taken. After that kiss she doubted it, but you never knew.

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

Grey wasn't willing to play cat-and-mouse. His eyes darkened, and he turned away from the woman, though his hand at once sought his wand as precaution. "This is a place of business," he explained, hoping to annoy her at the least, if not prompt her to leave. "If you wish to buy something, please do. We will be closing soon." A bit sooner than usual, but if it was the only way...

[Dahlia Alexander]

Dahlia gave a petulant moue of displeasure as Grey walked away from her. How dare he?! She wasn't finished yet! She managed to smooth her features and put on a face of innocent curiosity. "Aren't you just a little bit lonely?" she asked in her baby-sweet voice. Dahlia put a purposefully seductive sway to her hips as she crossed to the counter, leaning against it to give Grey a tempting view, if he chose to take it. "I'm so lonely," she cooed.

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

Grey could not seem to help the path of his gaze, despite danger flashing in his mind. For all his carefully cultivated wisdom and the scars he held closely, he was only a man, and she was blatantly offering something that he had strenuously avoided for years. "I want nothing from you. Leave." It was a lie; he wanted her, but only as far as his body, which he had taught himself to ignore, no matter the temptation.

[Dahlia Alexander]

Dahlia could feel how close he was, and she ignored his words, pulling herself to sit on the counter, a firm statement of her refusal to obey. "Make me." She cocked her head to one side and smiled sweetly, challenging him to act instead of just blustering at her. His strong, brooding male act didn't scare her in the least.

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

Grey felt the challenge down to his bones, felt the undeniable attraction between them as he moved in front of her. Expelliarmus. "What do you want?" Grey asked, bringing his wand level with the woman's heart.

[Dahlia Alexander]

Dahlia gasped as her wand flew into the store, then scowled as she turned her gaze back on Grey. "Do you have to be so rude?" Well, one of her plans was out the window now, unless she could slip past him to get her wand. Damn. Taking out a member of the Order would have been a coup. Still, she had wanted to play with him first, and she still had her wits.

"Well, you've got me now," she purred, retreating to the tone that seemed to get him the most worked up. "What are you going to do with me? Can't turn me in for teasing you a little." A slow sweep of her tongue against softly painted lips was more than a suggestion, it was an invitation. She could destroy him some other time.

[Greyson "Grey" Sebastien]

The room was unbearably hot, the tension thick enough to cut. Grey held all the power in his wand hand. There was no reason to give in. "Leave," he repeated. "And no, you're not getting your wand back. Consider it a warning."