Avriel Kaplan: Well dressed, well groomed, beautifully handsome, quiet and brooding and exactly the kind of man Ariel Declan doesn't need to know. But, that is not for her to decide.
Alexander Kirk: wickedly handsome, well known and well liked, egot...
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Scott opened the door to his loft and momentarily froze. There was a very familiar scent on the air. He smiled to himself and set his keys down on the table near the door. He didn't bother with turning on the lights, which was his custom instead, he just locked the door. He loosened the top couple of buttons on his stylish dress shirt and slipped his lightweight jacket off his shoulders. He hung it back in the closet by the door. He licked his lips as he ran his hand through his hair. He breathed in deeply through his nose, pulling her scent in with air. It was his all-time favorite.
He twisted the heavy ring that he always wore, sighed, and walked deeper into the loft. His loafers remained on his feet, though normally he would have taken them off already and put them in the closet along with his jacket. He could see the candlelight flickering in the living room from the entryway. He knew exactly where he needed to go, though he was rather hoping for the bedroom. They never seemed to quite make it there.
As expected, she was waiting for him lounging so elegantly on one of his leather sofas. The candle reflected off her unblemished ivory skin. Her dark eyes sparkled in the dim light. She beckoned him near with those long lashes of hers. He navigated the lavish space between them with all the patience and skill of a natural predator. She veritably purred at him as he moved towards her. He knelt in front of her and took her hand in his. He kissed it gently and found her eyes. She smiled and uncrossed her legs as she sat up. Her makeup was as flawless as she was. Her ruby lips called to him. He wanted to touch her skin and taste those lips. He knew their taste was sweet.
She used the hand that he hadn't claimed and touched it to his face gently touching his ear and running her thumb seductively over his lips gently parting them by pulling the lower one down a touch. He almost closed his eyes. Her touch was so pleasurable and so soothing. He placed his other hand upon her knee and moved it no further. She slipped a finger under his chin and turned his face up as she leaned in. His eyes did close then. He could feel her breath upon his lips. He wanted to take her lips with his, but experience told him to hold perfectly still. If she wanted his lips on hers she'd put them there.
He waited for the kiss that he knew was sure to come. He was unprepared for the growl and the slap. "You reek of him! What have you done you fool?" She hissed at him through clenched teeth. "Where have you been? Have you been with him? Was it all that you wanted? All that you remembered?" Her tone was sarcastic, heavy, cold, and laced with jealousy. "I can smell him all over you." She pushed her way past him. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Go shower. Wash his stench off you. Then return to me." She walked toward the balcony doors. "Oh, and burn those clothes. You'll never be able to wash his stink out of them." She opened the door and walked out on to the balcony. The candles were extinguished by the small gust of air that rushed in. It ruffled the sheer train of her black evening gown.
Scott just stood and watched her move to the door. He didn't really care about what she was saying. He had gone to help a friend, a former lover. What was he supposed to do, not help? He then got caught in the beautiful shape of her body. The moonlight shone through the glass doors casting her fine figure into silhouette. He was hard pressed to turn away and do as she bid him. After a long pause, in which he was certain she was aware of his unabashed staring, he turned about and went to do as she had demanded of him.
He took his time in the shower and made sure that he washed every part of himself at least twice. He wrapped his towel securely around his waist and stepped out into the steam filled room. Steam fogged the mirrors and dampened the tile floor and walls. Everything was coated in a thin layer of moisture. He almost walked into her as he rounded the corner while he was drying his hair. There were many things that could defeat a heighten sense of smell, especially steam. It also helped to dampen sound, not that she made any unless she intended to.
Scott pulled up short when her hand touched his bare chest, it tingled. Her nails were painted the same vibrant red as her lips. Much to Scott's disappointment, she was still dressed. He started to speak, but she put one gentle finger on his lips and looked at him seductively. He didn't stand much of a chance against her in this area. It was her element. If he didn't that meant that humans never did, male or female, what she wanted she took. The only person he had ever seen resist her was Avriel. Avriel he was not. His blue eyes swam in her dark brown orbs. His head was clouded and light. He felt pleasantly off balance. She pulled his chin down and drew her lips to his. She kissed him gently. He felt the tingle and burn he craved when their lips met. "Is this what you did to him?" She didn't raise her voice above a whisper. She kissed him again. He reciprocated the kiss. "Show me what you did to him you foolish, foolish boy." His own drive and intention took control. He drove her back into the bathroom counter and kissed her roughly. He pushed and pulled energy, giving back what he took. He pulled her hard against his body and refused to let go. He kissed her roughly just as he did Alex and abruptly pulled his lips and his energy back from her.
Her smug smile was gone from her perfect lips. But, she maintained her composure and the upper hand. She was far more powerful than he was. She almost smacked him for that stupid stunt, but something in his eyes made her give into him. She looked at him with reddish-brown eyes. Her lips parted. The light in the room glinted off her sharp pointy little teeth. Scott ran his tongue over his own cutting it open only to have it seal immediately and tilted his head exposing his long neck in offering himself to her. She locked her fingers in his hair, growled softly and went straight for his lips. She bit him. He bit her back. She kissed him long and hard. She quietly pulled away from him and smiled. She wiped a spot of his blood from her lips, licked her finger and looked up at Scott. He was on the verge of losing control. She had no shame. She reached behind her back and unzipped her gown. It fell to the floor. Never one to squander an opportunity, Scott ceased her and effortlessly carried her to his bedroom.
Scott lay with his eyes closed and his hands under his head with the sheets just covering his waist. She lay next to him wrapped tightly in his sheets. "Why," absently she asked.
"Why what? Why that? I thought you wanted to." Scott didn't bother with turning towards her. He wished she were affectionate and would lay her head on his chest and let him hold her, but she was not that vulnerable, and she had no feelings for him, not even after that. What they did was necessary and needed, it was business to her. She pulled from him the information she sought without having to burden herself with conversation.
"No," she said slowly to make sure he understood, "why did you heal Alex?"
"I still love him. Esther. It's what you do when you care about someone. You help them. I wanted to help him."
"By betraying Avriel? Are you ever going to learn?" She rolled to her side and looked out the window. She could see the faint glow of the sun beginning to rise on the horizon. She realized she wouldn't be leaving his bed until it set again. "Why does this room face east?"
"UV blocking window tint and bulletproof glass. I'll close them for you." He reached for the remote that controlled the heavy blackout curtains.
"Wait!" She placed a hand on his chest. "How much can we watch?"
"As much as you want," he cooed. Though he knew that he should not have wasted such tenderness and care on her, his reply was soft and sweet.
