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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 20:28:17 GMT -5
Yes, Carolynn was pouting. She was pouting more than usual, and it had even run off Mano. She hadn't seen her fiance in much too long to be proper. Not that she was exactly frustrated....well...that was a lie, the one time with Eros didn't come close to being enough. She sighed. Darling Mr. Firebrand needed to show up, or she was sending a letter to complain to her father. Well, another letter to complain, but the next one would be much less subtle.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 20:46:25 GMT -5
Chase didn't want to be here, but he'd received a rather angry letter from his father about duty and what would happen if he blew this. He almost wanted to blow this. He'd written his father more than once about Carolynn's open cohabitation with an unrelated male that it turned out she was known to have a relationship of sorts with, and he'd been told more than once that if he didn't acknowledge it, then perhaps it would blow over. His father was lying through his teeth, and he knew it.
What was this? Some kind of test of loyalty? He'd allowed his father to choose a bride for him, he'd signed the papers, what else did he need to prove? And how in hell was he going to follow in his fathers august footsteps when he was being openly cuckolded?
Still, he'd dressed in slacks and highly-polished shoes and a fine shirt, and he'd headed for Diagon Alley. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to tell her to f~ off, that she could find someone else to marry if she wanted a doormat. But instead, he put on an apologetic smile that would have fooled anyone if not for the smoldering fire in his eyes.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 20:57:42 GMT -5
When Carolynn opened the door to see Chase she was immediately torn. Did she keep up the pouting, hurt face, or did she instantly forgive? After a moment, she decided on a compromise. She looped her arms loosely around his neck as she ushered him in. "Where have you been?" she asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I've missed you," she insisted.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 21:04:03 GMT -5
It was so hard to stay furious when his body was reacting to her. She was still beautiful, still physical perfection, even if he knew that she'd ruin him given the time. It did no good to keep a woman like her if everyone knew he couldn't hold her attention. Chase's hands caught gently at Carolynn's to move them. He didn't need the distraction. He was here to do his duty, not to get caught up and sleep with her.
"I've been reading the Daily Prophet," he said simply.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 21:13:42 GMT -5
Carolynn shifted her hands to link her fingers through his. "Oh? Is it long enough to keep you away so long?" she asked, kicking the door shut lightly with her heel. "Or have you been reading backissues?" They'd have to go back to before he was born to warrant staying away from her for so long. She leaned in closer to him to where her body brushed his lightly.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 21:51:52 GMT -5
Chase refused to show how she was affecting him. The past year he'd done little but brood and learn to control himself; he decided to do so now and set himself to simply play the game, as much as he hated it.. His hands slid free of hers, and he gave her his most urbane smile. "Not quite, Carolynn," he said. He swept a lock of hair back from her face and let himself look at her, anywhere but her deceptive eyes. "Tell me, princess, if I were keeping another woman under my roof and all of Society knew it, would it make you happy?" Now he met her eyes, and his chin rose as he looked down at her.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 22:00:46 GMT -5
"I'm sorry," Carolynn said, shifting closer to Chase. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." She only barely concealed the tightening of her jaw and the brief hardening of her eyes. She smiled sweetly and tilted her chin up, bringing her lips closer to his. Her and Mano had had a completely platonic relationship since she had met Chase, he could say nothing. She just wanted to live closer to Chase.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 23:36:25 GMT -5
Chase's eyes flashed. He didn't pull back, but neither would he allow Carolynn to tempt him into kissing her. "Do you want me to say it, Carolynn?" he asked. His hands settled at her slender waist, ready to pull her away if it came to it. "The Daily Prophet has implied some unflattering things, and people are talking. Are you still confused, or would you like me to go on?" He always had been impatient with games, especially when he didn't have the upper hand. But he would.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 23:45:11 GMT -5
"I'm sorry, I haven't done anything worth talking about," Carolynn insisted, pouting her lips slightly. She had slipped up once since meeting Chase, but really, it had been weeks since she had seen him and Eros had always been so nice. Her lashes lowered as her eyes focused momentarily on his lips. She really needed to get out of this predicament, and if she could just kiss him...
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 23:52:56 GMT -5
"It doesn't matter if you've done anything," Chase said, though he didn't for a moment believe that she hadn't. "It looks bad, and you know how powerful appearances can be." Yes, she knew. Looking at her it was obvious. Those practiced pouts that attracted him as much as they grated on him were only a small example.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 22, 2009 23:56:35 GMT -5
"I'm sorry," Carolynn said, bringing one hand down to spread against Chase's chest. "I moved here so I would be closer to you." She raised her eyes to his, sighing softly. "I thought it would be better to be near you than so far as my father's home." There wasn't anywhere else for her to go, she definitely wasn't going to buy a shop or an apartment to live in by herself.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 23, 2009 12:57:41 GMT -5
She was still playing stupid and innocent, and it was grating on Chase's nerves. And yet the rest of her was tempting him. He took a step back, despite the fact that it would give away that he was affected. "He's not your cousin, Carolynn," he said, ignoring her attempts to distract him. "No one believes it." Carolynn is living with a man she says is her cousin. Strangely, the Wizarding Genealogy doesn't say a thing about the Singh family being related to the Berwyns.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 23, 2009 13:22:40 GMT -5
"It's better to live with a friend than alone," Carolynn pointed out. It certainly wasn't proper for a young lady to live alone. She shifted closer to him again, reaching up to play with his hair with one hand while the other smoothed against his chest. She pressed lightly against him. If she could just get him to give in and kiss her...
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Jul 24, 2009 15:38:00 GMT -5
"If he were only a friend, there would be no need to call him your cousin!" Chase countered. "I heard nothing of an escort, but of a cousin." Carolynn was avoiding his questions, something that aggravated him no matter how much he had expected it to happen. He stepped back again, away from her persistent touches. He would not lose the argument by letting her tempt him, and he held onto that no matter how his mind wanted to fade and his body wanted to give in. "We will discuss this," he said.
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Post by Carolynn Firebrand on Jul 24, 2009 15:47:19 GMT -5
A glare slipped past her defenses for just a moment before she stepped back. "Fine, then we will discuss this. It was a lapse in judgment, I should have called him an escort, then." So maybe the cousin thing hadn't been the best idea, but it had been better than nothing. "There, unless you have proof of something I've done wrong, there is nothing more to discuss."
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