Character Roleplays discussion
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One on One's--Graveyard
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Carly + Penny(ZOEY NEVER DELETE THIS.)
Charlotte couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at his request. "Don't worry," she promised him as they moved slowly around the store. "I won't get a drama." she said with a slight grin. Her eyes scanned over the comedy shelf and she puffed out her cheeks. "Hmm.."Warren must've known how weak he made her. He had to know how he made her legs wobble beneath her, how she couldn't speak straight whenever he was so close to her. That was the only thing she could think of.
His breath was warm. It sent shivers shooting down her spine, making her tremble. She couldn't help but hate him for it, and she couldn't help but love him for it either. How he tempted her, it wasn't fair, but she would never admit that. His words filled her stomach with butterflies, made her tremble with anticipation.
"If you like romantic comedies.." she had to breathe so she wouldn't fall over right there. That or end up kissing him in the middle of the entire video store, jumping into his arms. The thought made her blush. "There's Away We Go, which is good. I'm always up for something funny. Or we could go just funny with something classic like Dodgeball or The Hangover." she mused quietly. "Or action?" she arched a brow. "Adventure-esque. Pirates of the Caribbean.."
She looked up and smiled at him, picking up a movie and shuddering. "Just.. I'm not a fan of horror." she made a face. "Though if you are, I'm sure that we could make a compromise." she smiled. With him there she was sure something scary wouldn't seem half as bad. "But not E.T." she added and grimaced. "The trauma of my childhood."
Alec smirked slightly and nudged her back. He found her smooth, silky leg and swallowed. He was dying to see them again, her shorts had done them justice, and there was something about her that drove him mad. He wasn't a 'leg man' like Warren, but he did admire hers. His eyes traveled over the blankets where her curves were still visible, until they were gliding up her body, finding her angelic face. Those beautiful eyes.
A smile passed briefly across his lips. "A witch. Right. Maybe my great great whatever knows of one." he mused but shook his head. "There was always a fortune teller in the city. Maybe we should try there while kicking around. Just a thought."
When she spoke again his brows arched. She knew more than he thought she would. "I read up a big on that as well." he replied with a slight nod, glancing over her. "We'll find that then." he smiled, taking a bit of a dry Ruben, just the way he liked it, and letting out a soft groaning sound of pleasure. "We'll start tomorrow." he added.
His gaze flickered over her again and he wondered vaguely if she wanted to kiss him. How long had she, when she did? So passionately he wanted to pull her down and kiss her for hours, just hold her and kiss her. But then there was that tug. That familiar tug. He couldn't help but be anxious. What if she were slowly getting her soul sucked out? He couldn't kiss her. But damn it, how he wanted to, it was torture.
She smiled warmly at him, his words making her blush. So there'd be a next time? The thought made her heart flutter. "Next time." she agreed with a slight grin. "But I do prefer this diplomatic way." she added. "It's a bit easier than standing around and going through trial and error until we find something." she flashed him a grin.Her fingers flicked the Away We Go case up between themselves and a smile danced on her lips. "I'll pay this time." she said with a smile, her eyes dancing in an entertained way. Her fingers slipped easily through his, lacing themselves through. "I mean, if it won't bother you too much." she said with a smile. Though he wanted to do this again - or so it seemed - she didn't want him paying for everything if it wasn't a date. It just didn't seem fair. And even if it was.. She didn't want him to feel obligated to pay the tab again and again.
Charlotte walked with him to the front of the store and got in line. She glanced at the arrangement of candies and popcorn and the cooler of drinks. Her gaze flickered quickly to him and she raised a brow. "Want anything else?" she asked as they waited behind an older woman with her child who were renting Tron.
Alec glanced mildly at her when she began her movement, but it was later when he realized what she was doing. His eyes widened in surprise as she crawled across the bed, pants abandoned on the other side of the room. Her long, toned legs were entirely exposed, and he couldn't help but stare at her as she moved to the chair where her jeans hung off of the chair. She looked victorious, but so suddenly deflated.
He could've blushed, but thankfully she didn't look up at him. For a long moment he couldn't take his eyes off of her. He had the urge to touch her, to run his hand over her bare skin and see if she was just as soft as her hands were, as her cheek had been. His focus was lost and he had to tear himself away, slipping the watch off of his wrist so he could begin preparing himself for bed.
"No, cell towers are more recent." he frowned and looked up at her again before swallowing. "I think the telephone was only recently invented." he added rawly. He took a sip of his water to clear his throat and balled up his socks. He figured he could leave his pants on at least until she was back in bed, so he wouldn't humiliate both of them entirely. He pulled at the collar of his black shirt and cleared his throat, trying to calm himself. As collected as he may have seen, he hardly was. Without looking at her he removed his shirt, laying back on the bed and kicking his feet under the covers.
"I think tomorrow is our best bet." he saod as she moved back over to him and crawled beneath the covers. He balled up the shirt and dropped it to the floor as well, figuring there wasn't much he felt like doing with it now.
Charlotte gave his hand an easy squeeze before releasing. She handed the kind woman behind the counter a ten dollar bill after answering the "cash or credit" question that usually followed ringing up. She glanced sideways at Warren and smiled to herself."Just one night." she said, the woman punching in the due date and handing it back over to her. She scanned the receipt quickly and dropped the change back into her purse. "Thanks." she told the woman, taking his hand and giving a gentle tug.
"We wouldn't want that ice cream to melt, would we?" she teased as they headed out the door. "Do you want to drive home?" she asked, swinging the plastic bag lightly from her curved index finger. "Or should I?"
Her blue-green eyes watched him curiously. They ventured over the planes of his face, his defined jaw. She bit back her smile at his tied back waves of hair. She never thought she could love longer hair on a guy, but something about the way he wore it was... Sexy, she guessed. The thought lit her face with red.
Alec smiled wryly at her. He looked up, watching her gaze. Her fingers were so warm as he laced his own through them. He gently led her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. His lips pressed warmly against her knuckles, her soft skin beneath his lips drove him to insanity.
That was all he would allow. He refused to kiss her.. Not when he knew what it could lead to, what she could tempt him with. His eyes moved up as he pulled back slightly.
"Of all the people I could be trapped in another century with.. I'm glad it's you." he murmured with a slight smile.
She chuckled softly and shook her head. "I think I have a pretty good idea. It was sort of a safe place. I think that's how I'll forever remember it." she replied. That was - of course - unless he gave her a better reason to remember it. The blush that crossed her face was so reddening she thought she might die of embaressment at the thoughts that ran through her head. She ducked in the car in an attempt to hide her face."A chauffeur?" she teased as best she could as he climbed into the passenger seat beside her. "Is that all I am to you now?" she teased quietly, a low chuckle slipping between her slightly parted lips.
She started up the car after putting the DVD down in the back seat to keep it out of the way. She backed slowly out of the parking space and shifted gears. The rumbling of the engine thrilled her. It was a beautiful car, and he was an added bonus, someone so sweet and generous. She drove down the street, headed to his house.
The warm brush of her body against his was something that he couldn't resist. She was trying to get him to take her soul. He was so sure of it that his insides ached. How he wanted to take her into his arms and show her what he wanted, tell her things that would make her scream and fling herself away from him. She'd think it was all his fault, why they were here. He could never tell her about his Demonic ways. She'd only hate him, like Claire had.
He wouldn't let her end up like the body in the alley.
As she touched him, so delecately and slowly, he was sure that her fingers moving along his muscled chest had to be a dream. He shut his eyes and exhaled softly, listening to her talk. She had such a beautiful voice, something he could listen to for hours while he lulled himself to sleep. He came to realize that these actions of hers were a gift, some sort of pleasure few people would ever be allowed to experience, and he hoped that he could experience it for a very long time.
"Well, dinner and a movie wouldn't be a proper date for you now would it?" he smiled. "No, no. Maybe we'll have to go to the peir arcade and play a few of those zombie shooter games." he chuckled. "The closest we can get to werewolf fighting without the actual werewolves." he said with an easy grin.
His gaze ran over her face. She was so close to his lips and he was so tempted. One kiss wouldn't hurt, would it? He leaned closer down past her forehead so he was eye to eye with her, his fingers curling under her chin and his thumb brusing her fuller bottom lip. She was so beautiful it made him ache. He wanted to ask her for permission, but couldn't find words, so he stared at her there a long while, seeing if she'd pull away from him.
Charlotte shut off the car and stepped out of the driver's side, her hands slipping into her pockets to warm them up in the cool of the night. She stepped around the car and looked up at him with a small smile. "Is it unlocked?" she asked as she held the door the the apartment building open for him. "The apartment, I mean. Do you want me to take anything?"
She didn't want him to think that he was going to have to do all the work. "Do you want me to take something?" she offered, biting her bottom lip in quiet concern. "I can, I mean, half of the stuff is mine, you don't have to take all of it." She was rambling, she did when she got nervous or over thought things. The thoughts of earlier came flooding back and brought along butterflies that floated around in her stomach. She was going to be alone with Warren in his apartment. Maybe she should've offered hers.
Alec's heart began pounding when she kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her as her soft, slender legs wrapped around his torso. His arms were so suddenly pulling her against his bare chest, craving her more than he'd desired anything in his entire life. He had to fight back the urge to do something crazy.
His lips were hot against hers, not as gentle as their first kiss had been. It was a passionate one, and he kissed her harder than he had before. The things he desired mixed in his head; her, her soul, her lips. She still tasted like watermelon, so sweet and foreign, something he hadn't expected to feel on his lips the first time. He was tempted to do something insane, to roll over with her on top of him and just hold her there. He could have willingly kissed her all night, just holding her there with his hands running over the soft skin of her legs or arms. She was beautiful, she was so lovely.
And then he felt the tugging start. She was drifting slowly toward him and he so badly wanted to stay. He didn't want to keep her here, not when it could lead to him sucking the soul out of her. He tentatively pulled away from her.
Charlotte's fingers clasped around the shiny silver key. She pulled it from the others, the clinking sound echoing in her ears as she kept up with him. She remembered the apartment number, that was something she'd been sure to recall. It'd been the number she'd been so glad to see when she'd followed Alec and Tabitha back to the apartment.She slipped the key into the lock and turned the knob, pushing the door open for him and gesturing for him to go ahead of her. "I wouldn't want to get in your way." she said with a smile. She was honestly afraid to look around. She didn't want to see the bloodied shirt he'd been ridded of, something that'd spark the memories of the night before in her mind and send her spiraling into a wave of hysteria or crying that she couldn't explain to him. No. That was Tabitha's job.
Alec's fingers gently brushed up and down her arm as she settled back down on his chest. His arm snaked under her and wrapped around her waist as she laid on him. There was something infuriating about the not being able to kiss her for as long as he desired, but he didn't mind when she was resting like this. He licked his lips and a shiver shot down his spine.
Watermelon.
His eyes shut and a smile graced his lips. "Yes." he agreed, his fingers slowly moving along, taking in the feeling of her skin. "We should get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow, especially if we're going to be dealing with the supernatural." he murmured.
With his arms wrapped around her warm body and his mind wrapped up in her Lilac shampoo, his breathing began slowing. He wasn't sure how he was able to do it, for her light touch made his lips ache for another kiss, but he managed to let himself go. The silence of the room along with the darkness of the night lulled him to sleep beside her.
Charlotte followed after Warren curiously. She scanned his apartment, clean and neat as it had been when she'd been there earlier. She was able to admire the decor of his room as she strolled along. She followed him into the kitchen, her gaze catching in notebook before she stepped into the room."So you really are a lab rat, huh?" she asked playfully, looking over her shoulder at the notebook that rested on the coffee table covered in scribbles. "I guess I shouldn't have doubted Kizzy." she teased softly.
She set to work unpacking the ice cream. She pulled it out and folded the brown paper bag, setting it down on the table. She opened up the top and grimaced, nodding. "I think that's the best idea." she replied. She placed it in the freezer and turned, smiling at him. "Should we wait a bit or start the movie now?" she asked him curiously.
Alec was dreaming happily. It was nice, he and Tabitha standing there, taking. And then the words slipped through his lips. Those three words he'd never thought he'd ever say to anyone.
I'm a demon.
She stared at him in horror and disgust. She screamed at him, she cried, she yelled, she swore. She was enraged, she called him every name in the book and then some. She pulled back her fist and hit him hard in the stomach. That hit jolted him awake, and he found that he had been hit, or more like kicked. He sleepily sat up, rubbing his stomach where she'd managed to kick him fairly hard.
"Ow." he groaned and looked over at her, eyes widening just in time to see her fall off the bed, her sheets wrapping around her as she yanked them off, tumbling down. He couldn't hide the laugh as he crawled across the bed and grinned at her. "Are you okay?" he laughed, his hands reaching down and tugging the sheets away from her. She looked beautiful with her wild tangles of hair in her face, her slender legs tangled in the sheets.
Charlotte walked over and sat down beside him. She took his hand and smiled. "You're hardly just a lab rat." she whispered and pressed a kiss on his cheek shyly, looking away from him and to the DVD case."Well," she said thoughtfully. "My friends showed me the movie as a sort of pick me up. It was aimed at making me feel better, and I ended up laughing and feeling much better. Since then it's been my favorite movie, always made me smile.." she glanced sideways at him. "Not that I need another reason." she added quietly, unsure if he would hear.
"And John Kransinski and Maya Rudolph." she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's sweet." she added.
He laughed quietly and stretched, his back arching slightly as he let out a soft groan. His eyes followed after her, slow and curious while she made her way across the room to where her jeans were slung over the back of the chair. He rolled onto his side and picked up the black cotton tee shirt he'd discarded before bed. He yanked it over his head and ran his fingers through his hair, scratching at the fresh stubble that was prickling at his jaw. "Hm." he muttered quietly.
Alec nodded and got to his feet, pulling on his socks. "I'm hungry." he agreed, nodding his head. "Shall we go see if our friend downstairs has anything for breakfast?"
Of course he knew as well as anyone the eggs here were to die for, and he'd end up paying it off later when the man demanded he pay his tab in six years. "I think I head that there was good coffee, too." he offered. "If you drink coffee, that is?" he asked curiously, walking over to her.
She was adorable when she rubbed her eyes in that way, the sleepiness evident on her face. He smiled slightly and ran his fingers over her cheek, tucking a few strands of dark hair behind her ear. "Should we go?"
Charlotte smiled and looked up at him, her fingers slowly trailing over his strong hands. She leaned back, her head tilting up slightly to let herself thing over what exactly it had been those years ago when she watched the movie first with her friends. "You're not prying." she promised."I think that it was about tenth grade." she mused quietly, her brows furrowed slightly and she looked up to him. "And I broke up with my first boyfriend. He cheated on me with Jessica Johnson." she said, her voice laced with venom. "He was a horrible person. And then I was all upset and my friends got together and made me watch the movie." she said with a soft laugh. "It wasn't bad. I really loved it."
"Sorry if that's not what you were looking for." she added wryly.
Alec let out a laugh and shook his head, a grin flashing across her head. "I didn't want to admit my addiction." he sad lightly, smiling when she touched him and her lips pressed against his cheek.
He walked with her out of the room and into the hallway, walking slowly down with her along. "Maybe we can head to a store out in the city afterwords. It turns out my great grandfather has a tab here." he said thoughtfully. "Maybe we can see if he has a tab anywhere else." he said with a soft chuckle. "Find you a dress or something." he teased lightly
He brought Tabitha downstairs where the man was standing behind the counter. He pulled out her chair and sat down beside her, smiling warmly at the man. "Two cups of coffee." he ordered, rubbing his chin slightly.
Charlotte's face reddened at his light kiss and a smile danced across her lips. "It all led up to this, right?" she asked with a smile, snuggling close into him.The movie flickered on and she rested her head on his shoulder. As the scene opened up with the rather awkwardly funny intimate moment between the two main characters, she squirmed slightly next to him, forgetting the first moment of the movie. It cut away quickly, however after some comical conversation.
"It gets better." she whispered after Maya Rudolph came back on screen with an enormous stomach, looking about nine months pregnant and talking with her co-star.
He let out a quiet laugh and smiled. "Well, the church is a good idea." he said with a nod. "I think we'll be alright. Maybe we can search around for some weapons around while we're out. Right? I mean.. I'm not sure how well we'll be able to find them, but who knows." he said with a shrug.
Alec's gaze flickered up to the man behind the counter. "I'll have the same. We must've worked up an appetite." he flashed the man a cocky grin and looked over to her. "I know you're more than willing to speak for yourself." he said, lowering his voice. "But we do have to keep low on the radar. I hate to tell you that but.. We may have to tone it down." he whispered quietly.
He glanced up when the man returned with their coffee. He grimaced at the purely black liquid and the milk in the bottle before them. He picked up the milk and splashed a bit in his mug. "Are you sure you're ready to search for her?" he didn't want to risk her doing anything she wasn't ready for.
She felt his lips against her warm skin and her heart lept and missed three beats before diving into a far too fast sprint in her chest. She looked up at him and smiled, her fingers caressing his hand. The redness of her cheeks almost matched the pink of the sweater Tabitha had loaned her for the party."We should go get it." she said with an easy smile. "I'm sure that it'll be all nice now." she said happily. "Which will just add to the deliciousness."
Charlotte reluctantly moved out of his hold and took his hands, standing up from the couch while the movie about the odd couple's misadventures to find a place to live played along in the background. She let her hands slip from his so he could get out himself and removed the white sweater that hung over the pink, feeling a bit warm especially with his warm embrace wrapped around her during the movie.
He chuckled softly, kicking her foot gently as he brought the coffee to his lips and gently blew on it as he had when he sprayed the antiseptic on her wounds. "Well." he said thoughtfully, his brows furrowed. "I have to give an explanation for why you're so hungry." he teased. "And outspoken." he nudged her playfully.
Alec tipped the coffee back into his mouth and winced at the heat, but swallowed easily. The plates were set in front of them soon after and he looked over at her from the corner of his eye.
"You were?" he asked with a grin. "Well, good." he said simply. "Then we'll figure something out and we'll get going."
He picked up his fork and dug it into the egg, taking a large bite to assert his dominance - at least, to the man behind the counter- and grinned slightly. "Put these on my tab." he added with a warm grin to the man who was wiping down the counter at the other end.
Charlotte watched as Warren rose rather quickly and moved himself away from her. She let a frown flicker across her lips as he moved to the kitchen. Did she do something wrong? Had she gone too far with her comments, with her happiness of just being with him? Maybe it wasn't a date, maybe she was just being delusional.She moved after him slowly, her eyes moving around the room. Her fingers trailed over the counter tops, the table, the back of the couch. She felt herself aching slightly. She worried he was upset with her, and yet, scolded herself for thinking such things. He would make it obvious if he didn't want her around. He.. He wouldn't lead her on like that. That much she was sure of.
She gave herself a reassuring push and went into the kitchen. "Do you want me to get bowls and spoons?" she asked quietly a she moved behind him, her gaze shifting to the floor shyly, going back into her shell.
Alec watched her in amused silence. He ate his dinner and chuckled, giving the man behind the counter apologetic glances whenever he grumbled. He leaned close to Tabitha half way through and chuckled, murmuring in her ear; "Have you ever heard of lady like, my dear?"
He pulled back and brought the coffee to his lips, placing his cleaned off plate on the counter and dabbed at his lips with a napkin. He gave a thankful grin to the man who was leaning back behind the counter, watching them suspiciously.
"Maybe," Alec began, his gaze moving over to Tabitha, avoiding the man who was watching them so seriously from across the bar. "Maybe we should head to the dress shop, my dear. I'm sure that the dresses you were hoping to purchase the other day are ready by now, hm?" he replied, his fingers smoothing the black fabric that hugged his chest. "We should be going, we wouldn't want to keep in the way of this fine man." he gesture the to bartender. "Not when he as more customers he'll be tending to when we go."
Charlotte looked up into Warren's dark eyes, her own widening in surprise as his fingers led her chin upward. She stared at his face, so beautifully sculpted. Her face was in seconds aflame from his proximity. He moved closer to her and she was sure he could hear the way her heart thundered in her ears, her blood pulsing beneath her pale skin.His hands were so warm on her sides. She moved slowly closer, one of her hands pressing gently against his chest. Her fingers curled into the red fabric of his sweater as he moved even closer to her. His lips brushed softly against her neck and she couldn't breathe for a long moment.
"This..." she whispered softly, her breath catching in her throat at his kisses. Her eyes shut for a moment as his lips explored her skin. He was so surprising. She was glad she hadn't grabbed the dishes, for now she was certain she would have let them slip from her hands and clatter to the floor. He was so surprising, so.. Sweet. "This is more than okay."
She was so sure her voice was lost along with the soft, pleasurable whimper that followed. It was the same sound that'd he'd managed to draw from her lips while they danced at the Phi Alpha party earlier that night. Her fingers that weren't curled into his shirt slipped slowly over his strong shoulders and over his neck, searching. Her thumb caressed his chiseled jaw. She loved this feeling, the heat of the room, of the moment, clouded her mind and made her desire his lips on her own once again.
Alec looked up at her and flashed a grin. "What?" he murmured, standing up. His fingers slipped beneath her chin and his other arm pulled her closer. He leaned in closer to her and smiled, his lips brushing by her ear. "You don't like being stuck with me hear?" he teased in a cocky way before letting go of her and withdrawing, his hand slipping to the small of her back. "I will, my dear, don't worry."
His eyes ventured over her and he smiled. His memory flickered back to the other night when she scrambled across the room, forgetting her pants. His mind filled with things he shouldn't be thinking of; the curve of her hips, the length of her beautiful, toned legs. He wondered how soft they would be beneath the palms of his hands.
He had to shake away the thoughts before he looked back at her. "To the dress shop, then?" he glanced over his shoulder at the man behind the counter who'd looked rather disgusted by the way Tabitha acted. "If you don't mind, sir, we hope to stay a bit longer than usual." he smiled. The man gave him a shrug and he looked down to Tabitha. "On to the dress shop then?" he asked curiously, his fingers moving to brush a strand of dark hair from her face.
With his hand on the small of her back he walked her slowly to the door. He moved away only to hold it open. "Ladies first." he smiled, earning a scoffing laugh from the man behind them.
Charlotte's fingers loosened from his red sweater and moved up around his neck. She held tightly to him, gently pressing against his chest as he offer her. She wrapped her legs around her waist and toyed with the hair at the back of his neck while he kissed over his neck. She allowed herself to melt against him just once.His lips were as warm as his hands as they held her waist. She couldn't help but kiss him back. It wasn't as soft and gentle as it'd been on the beach, no, it was much different than that. The heat of the room was suffocating, but as he kissed her she lost whatever was on her mind, any concern about the proximity was lost.
She was lost in the smell of his cologne and the feeling of his muscled arms around her. His fingers found the skin beneath her sweater and she allowed an audible gasp, but didn't break away until he did.
So suddenly he was gone and she stared up at him, her lips aching from the absence. She stared after him almost in a daze, blinking as the reality of what'd just occurred settled heavily on her shoulders and she couldn't shake the trembling of her hands. Her legs hung over the counter, absent from where they'd been wrapped around him, to her horror.
"You have a cat?" Charlotte asked. A faint smile flickered absently across her lips. She smiled weakly at the cat and slowly slipped off of the counter. "You're bleeding." she said quickly. She slipped off of the counter and frowned at the wound. "Does your cat usually scratch?"
Alec groaned audibly, but refrained from crying out when she hit him. He gently nudged her back, obviously unwilling to raise his hand to a woman.
"I'm enjoying this thoroughly." he said quietly, smirking down at her. "But I think I'll enjoy it even more when I get to see you, miss Tabitha, in a dress. A frilly, girly, formfitting dress." he grinned wickedly. He couldn't help but sound thrilled at the thought.
His arm was linked with hers - to his surprise - and he brought her closer to him. He let out a quiet laugh at her question and shook his head.
"Though I'd prefer to see you teeter around in high heels, I think something could be arranged." he mused thoughtfully. "We'll just let the women decide." he grinned at her and opened the door, leading her into a dress shop with fine clothes.
Charlotte laughed softly, shaking her head. "Finding a cat one morning on the hood of the car and taking it in. That's so adorable, even if the cat sort of acts like a demon." she laughed teasingly and looked up at him. She was tempted to give him a playful nudge but she was sure that another touch from him would probably send her system into some sort of overdrive."And how dare he try to steal your bacon." she added with a laugh. "Doesn't he know that bacon is the best of all foods that could be provided?" she teased.
Figuring it was better for her to distract herself, she turned around to grab the bowls from the cabinate. She rose to her tip toes to reach them, her arms extending up as she picked out two of them, her sweater riding up slightly, exposing the soft skin of her back. She returned to her feet and picked up two spoons where he'd told her they were earlier before turning around to face him with a slight smile.
"Should we get to that ice cream?" Charlotte asked. She brushed her blonde waves over her shoulder and looked up at him. She couldn't help but bite her lip when she thought over how she'd kissed him a few moments ago.
Alec could've laughed out loud when he looked around the shop at the pastel dresses that filled the space that was vacant. He grinned down at Tabitha and nodded, following her gaze to the dress. He swallowed, his eyes widening slightly when he saw the gauzy material, imagining what she'd look like in that dress.
He was pulled out of his trance when the young blonde woman came up to them. He watched her gaze trail over him and he couldn't help but feel a bit of the smugness that he always used to feel when a beautiful young lady would cast a glance his way. He, however, wasn't as much smug as he was entertained. She was probably one of the women he'd pick up later, or.. He picked up in his past. He couldn't be sure though.
"Well, ma'am, as you can see, my dear Tabitha and I are a little out of style." he gestured to their clothes. "We need a bit of a fix. She'd love to try on that lovely number over there." he pointed to the black gauzy dress she'd had her eyes on. "And I'd love to see your finest collection of suits." he flashed her his stunning smile.
The woman gestured for a few others, and a young redheaded woman came to his side and smiled, obviously excited about the fact that she'd be the one dressing him. She pulled him one way and he looked to Tabitha, giving her a wicked grin. "Make her look like a lady, ma'am, if you would? I'll see you soon my dear." he tossed a wink in her direction.
She leaned back against the counter. He walked over and she stared after him, watching him and red tinting her cheeks as she watched after him. She felt almost off for watching after him, but looked quickly away, distracting herself with a spoon when he came back.Charlotte couldn't help but follow his hands with her eyes as he moved by her. She watched his arm slip by her waist and almost wanted him to touch her again, but he didn't, and she was quick to push the desire away. She glanced over at the open container of ice cream and smiled at the bring pink color that taunted her.
"I'll just take two scoops, for now." she said, glancing into the other room. The movie was still playing in the background, but for once she didn't care that she he'd missed a good portion of her movie.
Especially not after what had just happened between them.
Alec was stripped down to his boxers by the ladies and quickly attacked. They went over him with tape measures and rattled out sizes for the other few helpers to fetch. He was prodded this way and that, a few ladies letting out giggles at his bare muscled chest. He wasn't surprised, they probably hadn't seen many unclothed men standing in their undergarments.
"Here you are sir." one of them handed him a pair of grey pinstriped pants that he willingly pulled on. A nicely pressed white button down followed and a matching grey pinstriped vest with silver buttons was placed over him. He smiled warmly at the ladies as they brought him the jacket and cuffed his sleeves for him, helping him button up the pinstriped jacket that followed.
"About done?" Alec asked curiously.
A woman next to him scoffed. "Not even close." she smiled and straightened out a nice black tie against his chest, then slipping a white folded handkerchief into his breast pocket. They gave him a pair of nicely shined nice shoes and took it upon themselves to finish him off.
When he was presentable, his hair slicked back and not a wrinkle in sight, he was led out to the waiting area. He smelled of cologne and mints, which he had been giving by the lovely ladies who'd worked on him. He sat with his new hat in his lap, hands folded. Now all he had to do was wait.
She followed him back to the couch, avoiding the cat that had been watching so vigilantly from the kitchen. She took her usual seat beside him and left a bit of air between them. She was sure that she could easily sink back into her place beside him. But it was him she was concerned about; she didn't want him to freak out about it, especially after what'd happened."We can rewind if you want." she offered. Part of her wanted to, for it would mean more time spent with Warren, but part of him didn't want to force him into watching a DVD he wasn't loving. "We don't have to if you don't like the plot." she said with a slight smile.
Charlotte picked up her ice cream and smiled. She took a spoonful of the hot pink ice cream and slipped it between her lips, shutting her eyes to savor the flavor. She shivered at the cold that filled her warm body and looked up at him. Her cheeks tinted slightly when she realized how she'd acted, the muffled groan that slipped between her lips as she savored it. She forgot all of her misgivings when the cat scampered out from beneath the couch and darted quickly to the other room, his bedroom, to be exact. The fact that she knew that made her curse silently.
Alec waited in silence for her to be revealed to him once more. He expected to look like the women in the shop, innocent and beautiful, but what he found left him breathless. The snug, gauzy materials made his eyes widen to the point where he thought they might pop out of their sockets. He swallowed hard as his gaze traveled slowly up her long, exposed legs, up and up and up, all the way to her angelic face that was painted with makeup, but still had it's natural beauty about it.
"T-Tabitha." he stuttered. He never stuttered over the appearance of a woman. It was one of the things he could manage to do rather well, speak smoothly to females, but now.. Now he was at a loss.
Though the dress wasn't nearly as tight as the rest in the shop looked, it was enough for his primitive male instincts to take in. He was so quick to look over her curves that he couldn't stop himself from almost leering. The lust fluttered in the pit of his stomach, and he had to take a breath to put it to the back of his mind.
He slowly rose, straightening himself and smoothing the creases from his jacket and pants. He placed the hat on the chair and moved forward. "You look.. Entirely different.." he murmured quietly. She was still Tabitha, though. This took his breath away just as she had the night before, with her kiss, or when she was laying in bed with him, lacking her pants, more concerned with comfort than with what might come of it. He cleared his throat, straightening his tie.
"You look beautiful, my dear." he said in a hushed tone, his fingers slipping beneath her chin and gently tilting her face up to look at him.
Charlotte reddened at the way he looked at her, sure now that she'd done something wrong, something that humiliated her in a way she hated herself for, but she was able to quickly push the thought away. A shy smile flickered across her lips when he spoke again."Well, the movie's nearly over." he said with a nod, glancing over his way. She felt herself frown when he shifted away, and yet she relaxed that much more. "I'd like to see what you have to show me, so rewinding twenty minutes or so might not be the best idea." she said with a light laugh.
Her mind raced, wondering what he could want to show her. The way he'd looked at her, she hadn't been looked at that way by a man before, she was sure of it. She tried to focus on the movie, the actors on the screen. She would give raw laughs, but she thought she sounded more distant than she did entertained. Her gaze would flick to him this way and that, and she had to force herself to think. She took another bite of her ice cream and swallowed, the cold sending chills down her spine.
She missed his embrace, yet was so thankful for the space. She was scared by how badly she wanted him to touch her, to hold her in his arms. She blushed at how needy she felt at the moment, how horrible it was. He must've thought she was terribly clingy.
Alec licked his lips, obviously tempted to kiss her there and then. He stared at her, his hand dropped to his side as she spoke, but all he could do was watch her lips move. A woman, the young blonde who'd greeted them when they entered, cleared her throat in an attempt to get his attention re focused on her, and the way she batted her eyelashes, but he seemed unphased.
"We'll just put this on your tab, Mr. Penn?" she asked with a smile, looking over him curiously. He nodded quickly and flashed a grin at the woman.
"Yes, indeed, we should be going." he said slowly, his eyes moving back to Tabitha. "Thank you so much, ladies." he said, his hand moving to the small of her back as he headed for the door. "It really has been a pleasure."
With a flick of his wrist he moved his hat to his head and fitted it snugly atop his skull. His gaze moved to her as he opened the door. He swallowed hard again, an attempt to refocus on the task at hand. "We should really be getting to church, right love? Talk with the minister and all. Thank you again ladies." he smiled and walked out the door, his arm possessively wrapped around her waist. With the men in this era, he didn't want them getting any ideas. Once they were outside he looked down at her. He took her hand and walked with her slowly, his gaze stuck to the pavement. If he looked at those red lips again, he was sure he'd kiss her there and then, there would be no stopping him, and he wasn't sure she wanted that from him.
Charlotte stood and followed him slowly into the other room, the bowl in her hands. She leaned against the counter a few inches from him and glanced up. "I don't have to be home at a set time." she said thoughtfully, a smile flicking across her lips as she rinsed off her bowl when he was finished. "Maybe one, at the very latest?" she offered, slipping the bowl where he'd put his.
She glanced up at him and smiled wryly. "You said it wasn't too far of a walk, right?" she asked, glancing back at the afghan he'd pointed to. She almost shivered thinking about the chilly air outside, but she was more than sure that it would be warm with him near. She smiled at the thought, though it did make her wonder what it was he wanted to show her. "Should we go?" she asked curiously, arching her brows.
Alec's eyes widened slightly at her touch. He had to try - with everything in him - to keep himself in check. She looked so tempting. Not that she hadn't before, he'd always been tempted by her, but the fact that she was in such close proximity and her lips were painted with such a color, he couldn't help but wonder if she still had the taste of watermelon on her lips.
"I think it'll be fine." he murmured, his arm wrapping smoothly around her waist. "I know what you're thinking, Tabitha, and I know it's a scary idea to have to depend on someone we don't know in a situation like this, but we have to try." he said surely. "We have to get back where you're safe." he smiled slightly and brushed his hand over her cheek. "We're going to be fine." he promised her, his hand dropping away from her face and slowly slipping into her own.
His hat in one hand, and his other hand slipped into hers, he felt a bit more assured. He'd been pretty much barred from the church in the past, but it would happen a few days from now, if he recalled correctly. Something about attempting to seduce a nun and killing her. Or tempting her with the devil. He couldn't remember exactly.
"Let's go." Alec murmured, walking her up the steps of the church and opening one of the large doors.
Charlotte smiled up at him, gently tugging the afghan around her shoulders a bit tighter. She stepped out into the cool night air, the wind rustling her blonde waves as she moved slowly along, stepping around the chair. Her gaze moved to the sky where the moon hung illuminated in the air, stars sprinkled across the sky."It's beautiful out here." she murmured, moving to the chair. She looked down and found the cat sitting on her seat, looking up at her. She let out a soft laugh and smiled.
"I think someone's a bit jealous I'm taking up your time." she pointed out. Her fingers brushed through Nemesis' dark, soft fur, gently scratching behind his silky ears. She smiled, animals had always intrigued her, and the cat was no different.
"Is picking him up a bad idea?" she looked up to Warren.
Alec let out a soft laugh, his hand never leaving the small of her back. He wasn't surprised, for it wasn't the first time he'd seen this reaction from someone seeing the magnificent church. A pang of sadness hit him hard. It was the church he and Claire had discussed, when they were young lovers, marrying in.
He shook the thought away in disgust.
"Yes, the priests here may be superstitious. They might think witches are work of the devil." he mused, almost cringing at the word. "We should do a bit of searching before outright asking."
Charlotte's face reddened when he suggested the second option. She allowed her fingers to caress the cat's head a moment longer before she looked up to him, biting back the shy smile that was pulling at her lips. "I wouldn't want to impose myself on you.." she trailed.
It was - truthfully - one of the things she wanted most. She wanted to sit with him and feel the closeness and the warmth of his embrace. She blushed just thinking about his warm arms around her, his lips against her skin. His lips were always so soft, his kiss loving and warm. She desired nothing more than another one, though of course, she wouldn't be willing to push him any further than she had already in the previous hour.
Alec swallowed as he watched Claire's mother being led away by the priest. Though he could still here the women gossiping, he pretended and he didn't look their way as he muttered; "Lot of busy bodies around these parts." The statement earned him a glare.
The guilt overwhelmed him. He couldn't deal with the idea of his killing Claire being so fresh, so close to him. If he had to see the innocent angelic face of her sister, he was so sure that would be it, that would break him. He was far too sure of that.
"We should." he agreed, taking her hand. "If I remember correctly, the stairs are this way." he said. He took her hand in his and slowly led her along the carpeted isles as they walked away from the pews and toward the monistary.
Charlotte let out a quiet laugh and shook her head, walking over to him. "Well, if you think you can do a better job than an afghan, how can I say no?" she teased, sounding almost coy. "I wouldn't want to freeze to death." she said lightly, trying to switch to an almost joking tone.She was attempting to sound less nervous than she really was, but she was kidding herself. He had her shaking under whatever exterior she managed to keep. With a determined look, she moved even closer to him, glancing down at his position. She swallowed and settled by him the best way she could figure, and looked up at him. She was sure he could see her cheeks burning because of his touch. She wondered if he were just too polite to be cocky about it. She looked up at him and gave the faintest of grins.
"Well, well." she murmured softly, her cheek resting against the sweater covering his shoulder. "Looks like you were right." she said quietly, looking up at him. "You really can keep me warmer than that afghan could."
Alec looked up at Tabitha while she stood in front of him. He stared, a pit in his stomach forming slowly as she spoke. The last thing he wanted was to confront his former self. Then - knowning how he was when he was in this era - he might end up embaressing himself. Or hurting Tabitha worse than he had already.
"Are you sure we should do that?" he asked uneasily. "Isn't there a general rule where you don't mess with what happens in the past because it can drastically change the future?" he frowned slightly. "Claire died." The words hurt him more than he could express. He hated thinking of her dead. "She died, and thought it's sad and miserable, it happened for a reason. Call it God's will, fate, Karma, whatever you need to, but I'm sure I - he - copes with it. He has to move on eventually, right?"
He was sure it sounded heartless, but what else did he have to say? Yeah, lets go running to my past self and confront him about the soul he sucked out of the girl he loved? No. He wasn't that person, and he wouldn't confront it again.
"Why don't we just focus on this for now. One thing at a time, hm?" Alec offered. He moved past her on the stairs and sighed, shaking his head. He knew he wouldn't be able to get himself out of this one easily, especially not with Tabitha prodding at it. He walked with her slowlt upstairs and looked around at the glass ceiling where they'd been just days before. "Wow."
Charlotte lay on her side awhile, smiling as she listened to what he had to say. She watched his lips moving, her face growing redder and redder as he continued his speech. Never had she had someone be so blunt and upfront with her. It was so nice not to play those stupid games - waiting to call, waiting till this date to do that. It was silly, in her opinion."I'd like to do this again too. Soon." she agreed. The air was bitter, it whipped around her hair a bit but she hardly noticed. He was doing a better job than he knew of keeping her warm. She wondered if she'd ever be cold again.
She listened to him intently as he spoke. He liked her. And he was going to call. So it was a date, then. Charlotte's heart skipped a beat. She'd spent far too much time waiting for the phone calls of people who.. Who really didn't matter. Distantly, Nemisis' growl pulled her from her thoughts.
"Warren." she whispered into the cool night air. Her hand reached out and gently pressed to his chest. "I like you too. A lot. And.. And I'm glad you're not one of those other guys. You're sweet and genuine and smart and.. And.." she was rambling. She hated it when she did that. "And life's too short." she whispered.
With those words of encouragement, her fingers slowly curled themselves into the fabric of his shirt and she kissed him. She pressed her lips to his, her face burning bright red with the shyness that radiated through her. But his lips were warm and soft, and it felt right. Now or never, she reminded herself as she shifted slightly closer. She wasn't planning to do anything crazy. Or she hadn't been. She just figured.. If he liked her, well, he deserved to know that she felt the same.
Alec looked down at Tabitha in mild surprise. He blinked twice, trying his best to process what had just happrned. Her hands were cool on his chest, and his mind was wondering vaugely if all of her skin felt that way. Being the man he'd been in his youth - around this time, no less - he was being driven mad by everything she did, and the last thing he wanted to do was mess things up between them. His impure thoughts were maddening, and her dres was most definately not helping him out.
He wanted to tell her that his ancestor wasn't a good man. That he'd get them killed.. Or worse, let him live. The last thing he'd been was a god man, and he could almost gaurentee that he wouldn't want their help. At this stage of the game, he'd gone through hell to get to where he was; drinking, drugs, sex, money, gambling, suicide attempts.. He'd basically been to hell and back, and the twenties were one of those trips to hell.
"Look." he said, glaring down at her. She was so damn sure of herself it was unnerving. "I highly doubt someone like him needs any help from us. That witch.. She said something about us monsters going back to where we came from." he said, shaking his head, his dark eyes covered momentarily by their lids. "Does that really sound like 'go help Alec's almost non-existant family?'" he said, shaking his head. "No, my dear, it really doesn't." he said with a slight sigh.
He glanced at her rather determined expression and grimaced. She was so tempting, and he knew she must know how he drove him to the edge of insanity with that gauzy form fitting dress and that ruby red lipstick of hers.
"God doesn't exist in my mind." he said coldly. And being a demon, he had figured long ago that God would never will anything or anyone to eternal damnation. He was supposed to be forgiving and loving, and the man was anything but. "If you want to go and see what he did with his life, then I'll show you." he said coldly. "But you're not going to like it." he muttered under his breath and looked down to her, her fingers curled so innocently into the fabric of his newly purchased suit. "Can I go now?" he asked bitterly.
A ragged gasp of surprise, almost inaudible, escaped her lips. She shut her eyes as his lips touched down to her neck and she felt herself trembling. She had never experienced any of these feelings before, and when he moved himself over her, she could feel her heart hammering in her chest.His lips were hot against her cool skin, and though she was sure her body was on fire, she could feel her body moving as shivers shot down her spine. Her hands slipped up his chest, her breathing hitching as she found the back of his neck, one of her hands toying in his hair. She couldn't process much more than what might be happening, and then the whimper of pleasure that passed between her lips.
Don't get in over your head here... she scolded herself until the thoughts were fuzzy and gone.
Distantly she thought she heard the hissing of the cat, but it was so far off that she was sure it was a mistake. Little did she know the animal was creeping slowly up on them, obviously unwilling to share at the moment. He clawed his way up onto the chair and hopped onto the table. He slowly shifted his weight onto his back paws and prepared himself for the pounce he was more than ready to make, claws extended.
Alec gave a heavy sigh, shaking his head as she distanced herself both physically and verbally. He frowned slightly at her, his brows furrowing. He moved slowly toward her, obvious regret flickering across his face.
"Tabitha.." he trailed, but he couldn't form the words 'I'm sorry' as much as he wanted to. Because the last thing he was - that he would ever be - was sorry that he was keeping her from himself. "Let's go." he said quietly, brushing past her.
He made his way slowly up the steps. They didn't creak or fall through like they had when they'd been here before. His leg still ached from being torn when he went through the stairs, but he ignored the pain easily. He moved slowly up and up until he came upon the landing to the opening where Warren had been attacked earlier that week. Only a few days ago. It was hard to believe that where they stood now, it would be years from then. He stopped short and looked around, his eyes widening as he studied the enormous glass roof, the stained windows here and there. To see them broken had been beautiful, but to see them together? Magnificent.
Charlotte shivered beneath his hands. She felt him brushing over her ribs and slowly past to where the edge of her white and pink dotted bra. Her breath caught in her throat and she was terrified. She'd never gone any further than this, though she hadn't admitted it to anyone - not that they'd asked. And yet.. She wasn't so scared as to thing things would change much if they did go any further. She shut her eyes, promising herself that if anything happened that she didn't want, she'd manage to stop him, and herself.
She was so consumed in the idea that she hadn't realized Nemisis had attacked him until he was pulling away. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him, red faced, her midriff exposed.
"Oh." she whispered softly, not really lost, but more surprised by how it was all actually happening. She swallowed and nodded, knowing his absence would give her a moment to collect her thoughts. She cleared her throat and looked at him with a weak smile. "Y-Yeah. You don't want that to get infected." she said softly.
Alec ignored her nudge and kept his eyes on the windows. He strode slowly through the room and to the large wall of windows. He stared out at the world of his past, and let himself hate what he was for the millionth time.
"What?" he asked when he heard her gasp, turning around. "Find something--"
His eyes widened in surprise at the hollow in the floor. He frowned and walked slowly over to her, peering over her shoulder. "What... What is that?" he asked with a frown, scratching at his stubble in slight confusion. "Is that.. Is that what I think it is?" he asked with a frown.
Charlotte nodded, adjusting her sweater and moving slowly out of the chair. She was almost grateful for Nemisis' little interruption. She cleared her throat, smoothing out the pink fabric and giving a quick, sure nod. "I don't doubt that you could do anything less." She meant to sound coy but it came out shaky and nervous. She let out a soft curse and smiled.
"Shall we?" Charlotte gestured to the door, slowly taking a step toward the entry way. It seemed that this kept happening to them, and she would've found it funny - had she not been scared to death of what she might get herself into with Warren.
Alec swallowed hard and looked at her. She wanted to be honest, which he knew would mean he would have to be honest too. He couldn't tell her what he was. Or... Maybe he could. The way she spoke... Maybe she was a demon too. Maybe she wouldn't hate him, and he could actually live to care about someone that would understand what he was - what he was going through.
"Alright." he slipped his hands in his pockets. "We should go then." he said, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
He eyed the book in her hands and frowned. "Come on then." he added. He made his way slowly, his fingers curling around her free wrist. "We should go, before anyone finds us snooping around up here." he added. This new found hope was enough for him. At least.. For now it was.
Charlotte felt herself aching, her skin was on fire from his touch, and the blush that had exploded under her skin. She was sure that she could've been burned by how hot his mouth was against her neck, and his venturing hand over her abdomen. It scared her senseless how much she wanted and enjoyed it."There's not much in there?" she asked. "Maybe Alec and Tabitha used some." she mused to what was supposed to be herself. "Oh well, we'll just have to make due with what we have. Why don't you sit down?" she asked.
She pulled out a kitchen chair and moved beside it. "It'll probably be easier for you. Especially if the antiseptic stings."
Alec sat back on the bed where he'd been lounging, his brows arching. Finally she'd decided she wanted to speak. He nodded slowly as she began as a child's fairytale. It must have made it easier to get through, and even better, it would be easier for him to understand. He studied her closely as her lips moved. He watched closely and paused when she did, when she turned.
Different at fifteen.
Maybe she was something other than a demon.
But as the story unraveled so did his idea. His eyes widened here and there as she spoke. A pit formed in his stomach. And then she said it. He stared at her, a mixture of horror and disgust - more toward himself than her really - built up inside of him. He had to clear his throat to get the lump out of the way. Surely now she would hate him, and he could never tell her what he really was. It would get him killed. He was facing the painful idea; he was in a relationship with the enemy, with a woman who wanted him dead.
"We can go find one." he said, standing slowly. He picked up the suit jacket he'd tossed onto the chair and cleared his throat. "I have to - uh - go." he muttered uncomfortably. "I need some air." he mumbled, walking out the door.
Charlotte dabbed away the blood with a warm paper towel. She picked up the antiseptic and shook the can. She couldn't help it when her eyes wandered over his chest and felt her face warm instantly."Y-yesterday?" she tensed when he asked. She had to avoid his gaze to stop the rush of guilt filled her stomach. He would hate her if she told him, and Tabitha would kill her. She had to keep her mouth shut.
"Warren.." she trailed off quietly, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I think... Maybe.. That's something that you should talk to Tabitha about." she said quietly, frowning.
Alec walked down the street and tilted his head to the sky. It wasn't her fault she was who she was, just like it wasn't his fault that he was a demon. A sigh escaped his lips as the reality crashed heavily on his shoulders. He was in love - or maybe not so much in love, but he cared about her at a level he hadn't since Claire, even more than that - about a woman who's sole purpose in life was to kill him.
What a day this was turning out to be.
He walked aimlessly for a long while. He ended up back in the pub they were staying above. Then man new him well enough to slip him a bit of food. He sat there a long while, needing desperately to get drunk, like the old days, and yet these days were too old for him to do so. He sat sipping some water, wondering if they'd be able to find that demon at one of those underground parties they used to throw. He wrinkled his nose and sighed.
Charlotte bit back the 'no' that was burning at her lips and nodded. He couldn't be kept in the dark. It wasn't right to keep him in the dark. Not about something like this."Fine." she said quietly. "But I think you need to sit down." she whispered. Her hand ran up his arm and over his shoulder, gently pushing him back into the chair. "And you can't... Can't be mad. Okay? Not at yourself, or anyone else. There was... There was no way..." she trailed and shook her head, preparing herself. She pulled out the chair across from him and took his hands.
"Yesterday at the church... We were attacked." she said softly, giving his hands a squeeze. She dropped her gaze away. "There was a huge wolf. A-A werewolf. It lunged at us and you blocked it from me." she said, her eyes prickling with tears. "But it bit you. It bit your shoulder... And you fought it off but there was just so much blood.." she whispered. "You were dying.. Or I thought you were.." she swallowed hard. "And I called Tabitha, but from the looks of them when they got there, they'd met with one too. But neither of them were bitten. And then.." she trailed. Her hand slipped up his arm and rested on the crescent shape. She shut her eyes to fight back the sob building in her throat. Though she told him not to blame anyone, she blamed herself. She had to. There was no way. If she'd known what to do.. If she'd called earlier... "And then the wound healed." she said quietly. "And we took you home. There were other things... Things after and what not..." she trailed, leaving out their kiss for reasons she herself couldn't explain. "But.. Their not as important."
She hanged her head and looked up once through her dampened lashes at him, her hands holding onto his tightly. Hopefully he would know what it meant.
Alec sat at the pub for a long while with his hands in his lap. He sighed and shook his head before heading back upstairs. On his way up he headed past a pink, frilled woman. In his mind she had no face, and he had no doubt that Tabitha would never in her life wear something like that. He sulked along up to the room without complaint.
"Have to keep her away from the old place.." he mumbled to himself as he headed up to the landing. "...they might kill her.." he mumbled. His former self had been involved in much violence, which was of course, something he did not want to relive, or have her around to see.
Wait.
He turned around, his brows furrowed as he looked down the stairs at the woman that was walking down. That dress. He knew that dress. It couldn't be... No. It had to be a mistake. He slowly made his way back down after the woman, blinking. It couldn't be. He had to be delusional. But of course, he had to check now, didn't he?
Charlotte stared up at him, afraid he might be angry with her, with himself, with what had happened. She bit her lip, his movements were slow, and it made her ache with worry. His fingers were so warm when they slid up and around her neck, they made her shiver.When he finally spoke it was unnerving. He was worried about her. Not about himself, not about what had happened, but the first thing he'd asked was pertaining to her safety. It made her ache. She wanted to say it didn't matter, that he should be more concerned with himself, but the way he looked at her, the intensity in his eyes... She knew.
"No." she whispered, her voice raw. "No. You saved me." she said quietly.
Slowly, she rose to her feet. She felt her hands trembling slightly and they made their way slowly up to his face. She placed her hands on either side of his face, biting her lip. "I'm okay." she said quietly. "But I need to know if you are, too."
Half way down the stairs, Alec had stopped himself. He managed to make his way back up to the room by talking himself out of it. Tabitha was probably waiting inside to go. He opened the door and found her to be gone. After a small search, he found the note and cursed beneath his breath. With her black dress discarded, he realized it had been her on the stairs that he'd walked past.
Shit. he thought to himself. She thinks she's going to do this alone?
In moments he had grabbed his hat and slammed the door behind him. He had to go after her! He couldn't live with himself knowing that she was going along without him, she might get herself killed. Or meet him. Even worse. He let out a soft curse and exited the pub, stopping short when he reached the corner and saw her up ahead.
With himself.
The past Alec had been more than content, walking down the street on his way to one of the nights he spent out with his friends. That was all interrupted when he bumped into a ravishing young woman in her pink frilled dress. One that he'd seen before, but couldn't very well place.
"Pardon me, madame. My fault entirely." he said with a grin, tipping the hat that sat atop his head. "I do hope I didn't hurt you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I injured such a young beauty."
Charlotte frowned, her hands clasped in front of her. Her gaze settling on the floor. She swallowed and felt a pit forming in her stomach. She felt embarrassed and guilty for being one of the reasons he had to force himself to be controlled. She bit her lip and tried her best to find the words she needed. "Warren.." she trailed. It had to be easier than this. She tried her best to put how she felt into thoughts. Putting them into words was harder.
"I agreed to go on a date with you because I like you. Really... Really like you, I guess." she mumbled the last part. "Things happened last night. Things that I can't explain. My whole world has been turned upside down." she swallowed, wringing her hands. "But you're still you. And I have no reason to think that.. That you would ever do something to hurt someone that you care about. Anyone. I.." she sighed and shook her head. "The only thing I'm scared of is how you'll act when you're a... Wolf." she said quietly. "But you're not the kind of person to do something like those two did. At least I don't think you are--" she cut herself off.
"I'm rationalizing." she whispered.
Past-Alec frowned, his brows furrowing. He stumbled back at her shove and blinked. This was something he'd dealt with before with women, but never with one he didn't know.
"Wait, Miss!" he frowned and walked after her, his future self stalking behind him. "Miss," he caught up with her easily and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Miss, please." he stopped her. "Forgive me if I seem so forward, but.. What exactly did I do to make you so very livid?"
Even past-Alec had to admit, she was stunning when she was livid. Little did he know, his former self lurked behind in an alleyway a few yards off. He cursed himself for being so stupid for letting her slip past.
Charlotte's hand rested unmovingly against his chest his heart was hammering just as fast as hers was when he moved closer the lack of space between them could've been suffocating, but she found it more intoxicating than anything else. "I want to do whatever I can." she whispered, her breathing hitched ever so slightly. "I want to help you, and do whatever I can." she breathed. "I do."
It was happening so fast, but it didn't feel like she'd met him yesterday. It was okay for her to want to do this.. Because he wanted her in a way she could feel, feel right under the palm of their hands. And she knew it wasn't a risk that she'd take back any time soon.
Past-Alec gave a slight laugh and straightened himself. "Well it would seem an unlucky man has gotten himself into some hot water with you, hasn't he? The poor ass. He's quite unlucky to lose such a fetching woman." he smiled charmingly.
He sighed heavily. "Her death has really gotten around, hasn't it?" he mused quietly. "Damn. Gossip travels fast around here." he gave her a weak smile. "That's all the ladies around here do is gossip." he muttered and shook his head.
"My name?" he arched a brow. Most everyone knew his name. "Alec Penn, at your service, Madame." he smiled and took her hand, placing a kiss to it in a well-to-do fashion. "Might I have the pleasure of knowing yours?"
Charlotte shivered at the sensations he made shoot down her spine with his lips pressing against her skin. She had to stop herself from letting out her soft, pleasurable sounds to keep herself in check. "I'd like to see it." she said softly when he pulled away. "I... I know this is going to be a hard thing for you, and something that I'm going to have to deal with. And.. Knowing more about you, and what you'll be going through.. I think it will be for the best."
She was sure that it was going to be terrifying. Warren, the man that she was growing closer with by the second, was a werewolf. A living, breathing, werewolf. And as scared as she was.. She had to be strong, and she had to do whatever she could to help Warren with this. It was a terrifying thought, to become something so different than you were for so long.
Alec - who would now be referred to as Penn to make things easier - gave a laugh. "Well, Miss Tabitha, it's a pleasure to meet you." he smiled warmly. "You can call me whatever you please." he said with a grin.
He ran a hand down his torso to smooth his wrinkled vest and gave a smile. "Do you have any plans for the evening?" he asked. "A beautiful woman like yourself out on your own without an escort is a terrible thing, and I wouldn't want to have you going around on your own." he said, giving a soft 'tsk' in dismay.
Penn smiled at her in his charming way and ran his fingers smoothly through his hair before fixing his hat atop his head. "If you'd like, you could come along with me." he said with a grin. "A few of my friends are having a party, and we'd be delighted if you'd come along. There are never enough beautiful young ladies to grace us with their presence." he smiled coyly at her.
Charlotte nodded to his question. With all the revelations and kisses she'd gone through, being in his bedroom was something she didn't need. She was flustered enough as it was. "I'll wait." she murmured as he kissed her knuckles and left the room. She moved herself onto the couch to wait. Her gaze dropped to her pink painted toe-nails that peeked out of her open-toed wedges. She raked her fingers through her hair and squinted at the digital clock. She frowned at the time, and how quickly it'd gone, but the night's length wasn't something she minded in the least.
Her thoughts were pulled back by Nemesis. The cat hissed from his bedroom, and after a bit of mumbling and what sounded to be rummaging, the cat scampered out of the room. He was light on his feet as he'd ever been. Quite the cat, she thought.
Charlotte's mind strayed once again to Warren. Warren. Who she was apparently dating, not that she was upset about that at all. Who was a werewolf. It was all so surreal. The next thing she knew, Alec would be a vampire and Tabitha would be some sort of witch, and she'd be stuck in some horror film. She blinked away the thought and sighed.
(xD well, it does make it easier!)
Penn smiled, his hand settling gently over her arm a moment before slipping back to his side. "Well, I'll have you back at a reasonable hour then." he chuckled. "Maybe I can help you find your friend at the party. It's a lovely affair. We shall. " he lied fairly smoothly as they walked off.
Alec stalked after, staying close behind his demonic old self. He was sure that he wouldn't be 'getting her home at a reasonable hour' at all. It was sickening to think of, but knowing his old self, he might try and take advantage of her. He shuddered at the thought.
The walk wasn't a long one. Penn lead Tabitha along with ease, his conversationalist ways keeping words moving slowly past his lips. "So, my darling Tabitha." he smiled at her as they rounded a corner. "Who did you say you were looking for?" he asked.
They came to a large side door in a dark alleyway, the light fading away with the desperate final rays of the sun. He nodded to a man standing by who moved closer, trying to get a look at Tabitha.
"She's with me, Reginald." he nodded and was allowed past, opening the door for her. "Ladies first." he smiled.
Charlotte adjusted herself when he returned, crossing one leg over the other. She peered at the handwriting throughout the book and gave a slight smile. It was obviously an intricate, personal text for Warren, one that she was happy to stop and listen about. She looked up at him when his hand covered hers. "You don't have to be alone in this." she promised, giving his hand the smallest of squeezes. "I'm going to be here for you. And I know Tabitha and Alec will too." she smiled warmly. They all cared for him, and none wanted to have Warren do this alone. That much she was sure of.
"I promise." she murmured. Her gaze traveled back to the book and she looked up expectantly to him.
Penn took her by the hand and led her down into the room. It was a smoky place, men with cigars sat at tables here and there, music in the backgrounds played from somewhere far off. Almost everyone there was a demon, and they were all happily disguised, though a few young ones iris' were still red.
"Come along." he leaned close and murmured into her ear. "Why don't we get you something to drink?"
He led her through people; drunken flirts, well-to-do men who leered, women and men of power. He strolled to the makeshift bar and gave the tender a few bills. Receiving the moonshine, he handed one to her.
"Drink up, love." he grinned and took a large swig.
Alec sulked out by the door. When the man's back was turned, he strolled over and smiled. "Pardon, Reginald." he said smoothly. "Remind me to tip you on the way out." he slipped through the door past the puzzled oaf and walked inside, his nose wrinkling at the smell. He lurked quietly around, waiting for his moment to seize Tabitha.
Charlotte's brows furrowed curiously. Her hand tightened in a protective way around Warrens. He would be in pain one month from yesterday. Her heart ached at the thought. He was going to be hurting in a way that was obviously unexplainable. She wondered vaguely if he could feel any of the animalistic traits that she was saying they experienced. She listened intently as he read aloud.Imprinting?
She'd read somewhere - in some teen romance novel - about imprinting. It was sort of... Well, love at first sight, as she recalled. No one else would matter in a certain aspect of emotion except the imprintee. It had seemed romantic at the time... But now she wondered if it was entirely that way at all. Her mind raced through the thoughts.
"Complications?" she murmured quietly, leaning closer and peering over his shoulder. The anxiety knotted itself in her stomach. She didn't think it could get any worse, really, but now there were complications with it? Her heart ached vaguely, and she hoped that it was nothing too dangerous.
Penn let out a soft laugh at her, shaking his head. He staggered back into the small enclosed pace and arched his brows. "I shouldn't be here? My dear, I'm a regular around here. You don't need to worry your pretty little head about me." he said with a slight grin.
"Though." he muttered, his glass falling to the floor with a clatter that wasn't audible over the music and people. "You seem eager to get out of here." he laughed quietly. He placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him. "I wouldn't mind that at all." he said with a slight grin.
His lips pressed against the side of her neck, the smell of moonshine - though he hadn't drank much it was fairly strong that evening - lingered on his breath. "Mmmm.. I know them well." he muttered. "Does it matter?"
While Penn was sitting around, getting ready to introduce Tabitha, Alec was lurking about in the back. He headed back to the other room to keep out of the way and bumped straight into something - someone. He looked up and blinked in surprise at the woman that stood before him, her long reddish hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and her eyes glinted with something that was close to delight when she saw him.
"Alec." she said with a smile, the sort of smile a lioness would give to a sickly zebra. "It's lovely to see you again." she said, her tone was sultry, almost flirtatious. "It's been a few days." she smiled. "I heard you finally did away with Claire."
He nodded slowly. "Finally. It's delightful to see you as well, Evriel." he said quietly.
"Eve, darling. You should know that better than anyone." she said with her usual smile. Her lips were painted crimson with lipstick. A shout from behind her made her sigh. "We'll have to catch up later." she smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek, chuckling as she walked off. He blinked in surprise and slowly stepped back.
Charlotte looked over at the text, her brows furrowed. She shook her head and let out a sigh. It was another disappointment and another worry. "What could it--"She was cut off by the pain that radiated through her legs. She let out a wordless cry, tears springing to her eyes in surprise, but quickly fading away. She swatted the cat away, and it lept off of the couch. She groaned and looked down at her bloodied legs and sighed. "Cats.." she muttered under her breath.
Charlotte's gaze drifted over to him. She frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked curiously, her eyes widening when she saw his legs. "O-Oh my god." she whispered softly, the words hardly escaping her lips. "Oh... Oh god..." she murmered again, quieter, under her breath. "Can.. Can that get worse?" she asked softly, horrified.
Penn let out a quiet groan of defeat. His pleasure would have to wait until later, and he would be sure that he had a shot at it. Since Claire died, he had the sympathy going for him; he had a plethora of women that he could have, but Tabitha was something he wanted to have, something he had to chase after.
"Fine." he muttered under his breath, drawing away. "Forgive me for being so forward. I... Must have misunderstood." he shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. "Lets go." he said, straightening himself and walking from the alcove. The mixed signals were something unusual. He wasn't used to well.. Rejection.
He took her by the hand and walked through the people. He pushed his way past a pair of demons who were getting a bit touchy in the middle of his path, and other people who were happily drinking the moonshine he'd had in his hands. His lips curved in a slight scowl as he thought of his unlucky attempt at getting Tabitha to leave with him, and sighed. Maybe after talking with Evriel, things would be better.
"Through here." he directed and knocked at the door. Distantly, a 'come in' could be heard, and he pushed the large wooden door open. She sat on an audiman, a large, black one, a few others sat scattered on curved couches and armchairs. They all smoked cigars, except for the one woman who sat with a long cigarette holder between her fingers.
"Welcome back, Alec." she purred. "Who's your friend?" she looked to Tabitha.
Charlotte gripped onto his hand, her eyes wide. Her heart thrummed loudly in her chest. A slow breath escaped her lips and she bit her lip, hesitant. "Th-The book.." she said softly, looking up at him. "It said.. It said this was a complication; or we think this is the complication..." she swallowed. Her head throbbed with the idea, and she wasn't sure how to ask him the next part. "That... Does that mean that... You imprinted on me?" she whispered, her voice couldn't have been more than a breath.
Her face reddened as she squeezed his hand. It wasn't an impossibility. When he was on the brink of death he'd kissed her; an it wasn't just any kiss, it was something more... She'd felt a tug, something strong. Maybe she was just overreacting. Maybe it was just something that she was just making up in her mind.
Evriel gave her usual, sultry smile and let out a soft laugh that built in her throat. "And what are you here for, darling?" she smiled.
Penn gave a soft laugh and moved over to her, both of them kissing each other on the cheek. "She's here to see the owner." Penn replied with a laugh, shaking his head. "So I told her I'd bring her."
"Well, she's come to the right place." the redhead replied. She rose slowly, her long legs unfolding from each other. She walked toward her in her tight fitting black dress and extended a hand to her. "Evriel Montgomery, at your service, my darling. I'm the owner of this fine establishment." she flashed her a smile from behind her crimson lipstick. "What can I help you with?" she asked.
Alec lurked around by the door. He waited impatiently for either his former self to slip out, or better yet, for Tabitha to. He let out a soft huff and grimaced. Why was it taking so long? What was she doing in there?
Charlotte looked away from him, her hands trembling. She hadn't wanted to tell him about it, she didn't want to believe that she was actually doing this, but she had to. Inhaling slowly, she looked up at him and nodded, obviously anxious."You were dying. Tabitha was on her way and you were dying." she began quietly. "We.. I was trying hard as I could to slow the bleeding. There was so much blood. I couldn't stop it." she swallowed. "And while I was sitting there, hysterical, trying to stay calm for you... You kissed me." she mumbled, embarrassedly. "I.. I didn't know how to tell you." she finished quietly.
Her gaze fell to the floor. She couldn't look at him. Her fingers danced over the blood on her jeans and brushed at it, trying to busy themselves and hide the shakiness of her hands.
Penn arched his brows in surprise at the answer. A few of the other men in the room looked up. Evriel tensed, her fingers curling and her hand dropping to her side.
"Boys," she prompted in a sugar sweet tone, looking over her shoulder at the men. "Be dears, leave us three for a bit?" she asked.
They rose and shuffled out. All but Penn, Tabitha, and Evriel stood in the room. The demon moved herself back to her seat and picked up her glass of moonshine. She looked over Tabitha suspiciously, eyes narrowing in a dangerous way.
"It would seem," she began ominously. "That you've found her." she mused with a devilish smile.
Her gaze flickered to him, and almost instantly she found his dark eyes stating back at her. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, her mouth going dry. She tried to remember what she wanted that night, but honestly her memory was gone. It had been too terrifying. "I think so." she nodded slowly. "I-I mean, it's all sort of fuzzy.. The hysteria of the moment." she mumbled, rationalizing. "I didn't.. Stop you. Or pull away until Tabitha came." she said shyly.
Her gaze darted back away from him. She looked around for Nemesis, but the cat was nowhere to be found. Her eyes flickered back to him, as if waiting for judgement.
Evriel pursed her lips, giving a nod. "You've come along way then." she said, swallowing the alcohol that made even the demonic leader wince. "I see." she mused softly, looking to Penn. "Alec, you don't think that that woman... Gene, I believe it was, would be of service, do you?"
He scoffed and shook his head. "Hardly." he replied. "I suggest the woman that lives a few miles from the church. I don't recall her name..."
Evriel pursed her lips. "Mm.. I suppose she'll do." she frowned and looked to Tabitha. "You don't belong here, dear. Though you do make a good show of fitting in."
"Very." Penn chimed, earning a glare from Evriel.
The woman took a pen and wrote the address on a slip of paper. She held it out to Tabitha. "She'll help you."
Charlotte smiled weakly at him. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be happy, relieved, upset.. Or if she was supposed to feel anything at all. But for some reason, her heart hammered. Her hand reached for his fee hand and her fingers threaded themselves through his. "Okay." she said, taking a shaking, deep breath. "What do we do now?" she asked softly. "I mean.." she trailed. "Are you okay with this?" she asked.
Personally, she felt selfish for how much relief she had wash over her. It wasn't that she wasn't happy he'd imprinted on her.. She just couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if it had been anyone else.
Evriel looked to Penn as he rose. He moved after Tabitha, obviously lusting after the girl. Her eyes narrowed in disgust.
"One more thing, dear," she called after her. "Don't make any life altering changes for anyone here, Hm?" she looked pointedly at Penn, and his gaze flickered between them. "I wouldn't want you making anything happen that could be cause for drastic change." she stated.
Her fingers scraped through her red hair. "Now get out of my sight." she dismissed.
Alec stood outside anxiously. He lurked in the shadows hopefully, waiting for Tabitha to step out. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, straightened his tie, adjusted his jacket. He didn't want her to hate him.
Charlotte looked up at him and felt her lower lip trembling. She wrapped her arms around his torso and shut her eyes, her face pressing against his shoulder. She took in a slow breath, though it was tremulous and uneven. "I thought that.. Maybe you wouldn't like the idea of this." she mumbled quietly. "I mean.. Even before this imprint, this whole disaster, I knew that I had these feelings for you. I just didn't know if you did too." she rambled. "I don't want this to be forced." she said quietly. "I don't want to be a burden."
Her arms slowly unwound from his torso, a new blush fresh on her face. She gave a wry smile, her hands slipping away from his muscled torso. "Sorry." she mumbled.
Penn smiled when she hugged him, his arms holding her against him longer than he should have. He let out a soft chuckle and smile.
"My offer stands." he chuckled softly. "If before you go you're feeling lonely, I'd love to take you out." he smiled. He paused and pecked her lips. "Goodnight." he grinned and headed to the bar.
As soon as Penn was out of the way, Alec stepped out. He wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her into the same alcove she'd shoved Penn into earlier.
Charlotte shut her eyes, her breathing uneven. She felt her heart hammering in her chest as his lips brushed by her own. The desire to have him was so sudden - so overwhelming - that she was sure her head was spinning. She only managed a smile - and an anxious one at that - when he pulled away from her.She glanced up and allowed a soft smile to play upon her lips. "I'm just glad that you're the one that has to protect me." she murmured.
She tangled her fingers in his and felt a blush dance across her cheeks. She pressed a kiss to his hand, his lips brushing warmly against his knuckles. She managed a smile and raised her eyes to his.
"Thank you, Warren."
Alec's eyes widened in surprise at her embrace. He couldn't fight the smile that sprang to his lips as he arms wrapped warmly around her waist, pulling her close into his chest. He shut his eyes and let himself get lost in the vague scent of Lilacs that lingered on her skin. That is, until she pulled back and slapped his arm.
"Ow!" he hissed, his eyes snapping open at the pain. "Okay, okay, shut up a second." he snapped.
He grabbed her hands and pressed her against the wall, his chest brushing against hers, his hands sliding to her hips as he held her in place. He had to keep her quiet, and he had to make her listen. Plus... The distance from her now was enough to make his head spin. The atmosphere reminded him of his old self, and the desires she sparked in him.
"Look." he whispered harshly. "Like you said, this place is crawling with demons. You shouldn't be here. Not alone, and not with him." he growled, shooting an angry glare at Penn out of the corner of his eye. His grip tightened then loosened as he looked back to her, a soft sigh on his lips. "You don't disgust me." he said surely, his thumbs gently running in circles on her hips. "It was a lot to take in." he said with a frown. "I needed time. Trust me, I hardly hate you, Tabitha." he said the last part quietly, almost hoping she wouldn't hear.
Charlotte moved slowly beside him and gently snuggled herself into his side. She could've shivered as his touch, but was somehow able to restrain herself. It was a hard to believe she had that much self restraint at the moment."I think I could stay a bit longer." she said with a smile, leaning her head against his shoulder and looking down at the book. "Especially for something as important as this." she decided.
She smiled and warmly pressed against his side. She felt her cheeks and ears reddening and warming, and peered at the book curiously, smiling much more relaxed than she had been moments before.
Alec's eyes widened in surprise at her sudden movements. He kissed her softly, making sure that he was being careful with her. In such a dark, enclosed space he was sure he would lose himself in her scent and the sound of her heart beat drowned out the music and laughter.
Her teeth gently tugged on his lower lip and he couldn't fight the moan that slipped past his mouth, his hands slipping over her hips and caressing her sides. He wanted her, wanted her in a way he couldn't put into words for the moment.
"Tabitha." he said, his voice husky when she pulled away from him. "We should get out of here." he said quietly. "If you need to go get something done.. I think now's the time." he muttered.
He had an urgent need to get her out of here. Maybe it was the lust, but he knew he wanted her out of there.
Charlotte nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw the picture that Warren was so obviously trying to hide. She pressed her face into his shoulder for a moment and let out a soft sigh. She knew what he was going to look like, and she knew that she was going to have to stay away from him for the duration of the full moon. Or at least, she thought the full moon seemed reasonable. That had been the night when Warren was attacked. A pang of sadness hit her.She shut her eyes and she could see the beast that had lunged at them. She could feel him struggling against her while she was pressed to the wall, hear his grunts of pain when the wolf sank it fangs into his shoulder. She shuddered slightly at the thought. She wouldn't let Warren do that to anyone, ever. Or at least, she had to try to keep him from doing it. She could tell that he was the type of person that would re-live that over and over.
His words drew her back from her nightmare and she blinked in surprise. "In the middle of New York?" she asked slowly. She sighed and shook her head. "Maybe upstate?"
Alec let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. He caught her wrist and leaned close to her ear. "I doubt I'll ever be able to relax around you." he said in a husky way.
He nodded to the address on the paper and started walking out with her. "We'll be able to get everything done in one night." he said with an easy laugh. "I think this will be a very good night indeed." he said. Not that it wasn't already. That kiss had made his head spin enough to keep him from feeling the tug of her soul. He was coming close to the exit when a man came up behind him and grabbed him roughly by the shoulder.
He spun around quickly, his teeth gritted. The man was familiar, a demon working for Evriel. "Come with me." he demanded, his eyes narrow. "Evriel would like a word."
Alec shook his head and looked to Tabitha. "I'll meet you outside." he promised and kissed her cheek. "I'll be right out."
Charlotte relaxed a bit when Warren shut the book. She let out a quiet sigh and shut her eyes momentarily. She glanced up at him in confusion when he moved, and her brows furrowed when the key fell out."Paradise?" she asked softly when his lips moved, the key slipping in his palm from the book. Her eyes widened in the slightest, realization hitting her slightly.
"Did.. Did your father leave you something?" she asked, looking up at him.
Alec gave a soft chuckle and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll go with it." he promised. "Just get out of here." he nudged her toward the door and headed back along to where Evriel was waiting. He stepped inside, looking over his shoulder at her with a slight frown before heading inside. He looked up at the woman who sat before him and couldn't help his eyes as they traveled over her. It'd taken almost a century of chasing her before his past self even got a chance with her, and it had been worth it at the time.
"Alec." she said sternly. "I know exactly what you're up to." he snapped.
He kept his expression neutral. "What could you possibly mean, darling?" he asked smoothly, walking toward her.
"You and that wretched woman. I know that you have a thing for her." she pointed a manicured finger at him.
"You're not jealous, are you?" he grinned at her.
"Remember where you stand." she hissed. "I just had to inform you of the meeting tomorrow." she added, looking to her nails. "One you're not to miss. Understood?"
He nodded. "Of course, my dear."
Charlotte frowned and watched after him. She frowned thoughtfully, deciding to leave him be for the time he went to the other room, not wanting to seem bothersome or pry. It wasn't until she heard his voice that she decided to go after him. She slipped herself off of the couch and headed over to the door."Warren?" she called after him, though her voice was more timid than she'd hoped it would be. "Warren?" she called again, unsure. "Is everything okay?"
She walked slowly up to the door and pressed her hand slowly to the door. She gently pushed the door open and peeked around the door. She frowned and slowly took a step inside and looked up at him curiously.
While Alec sat chattering with Evriel, Penn made his way outside. He walked out the heavy door and handed a bit of cash to Reginald - as he always did - and took in a sharp breath. His heart stopped when he looked up.
Tabitha stood so perfectly in the moonlight, shrouded almost entirely by darkness. He stepped daringly closer. She looked magnificent - irresistible. He couldn't contain himself as he moved even closer.
"Tabitha?" he asked the darkness, needing to know if that was her.
Charlotte frowned slightly, moving slowly over to the foot of the bed and taking a seat beside him. Her brows furrowed in the slightest as she peered at the picture frame clasped in his hands, and the key that dangled uselessly, suspended in the air from the string of material it had been found on. She frowned and studied the image, her brows furrowing in the slightest bit of confusion. She shook her head."Paradise." the word slipped off her lips so easily she almost didn't believe she'd spoken it. "Paradise." she murmured again - braver this time than the last. "What is it about paradise--" she began, but made the mistake of looking up.
Her eyes grew wide at the tears that brimmed on his lids. She wasn't used to seeing man cry; she'd only seen her father cry once, when her grandmother passed at age seven. She felt her heart aching painfully and looped her arms around him. "Warren." she whispered softly, a more soothing tone than her voice had been in a long while. "I'm so sorry."
For a moment - a single, heartwrenching moment - he had Claire back in his arms. Regret filled him with spite, and he pulled Tabitha closer to him. He didn't question her; she was giving him exactly what he wanted, and he wouldn't ruin it for himself by asking questions. She smilled faintly of lavander, which made his heart ache, but he pushed the thought away. A smile tugged at his lips when he kissed her. His hands slid to her hips - lower than Alec would ever dare, and he gently led her backwards against the wall of the building beside her.
"Maybe we should get out of here." he growled softly, nipping at her lower lip, his hands exploring the curves of her body as he kissed her more intesely this time, his lips rougher than they should have been.
Little did he know; the actual Alec was just getting out with Evriel. She'd been easy enough to deal with. He headed from the smoke-filled place, stopped once or twice by some. He placed his hat on his head and adjusted it before stepping out into the cool night.
Charlotte wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her face settled gently against the crook of his neck, and her eyes shut for a moment. She could have cried out in anguish for how sad it was to think that it was all really hitting him now. She could have let out a sigh when he slipped from her grasp, but she said nothing more on the matter."I couldn't have left." she replied, waving away the comment. "I can't see you like this." she took hold of his hands and got up from the bed. "I hate seeing anyone in such a state." she murmured softly.
From her lips escaped the soft, breathy sound of disappointment. She frowned slightly and looked up at him, managing a smile. "Don't think that. This date was perfect." she promised, her cheeks flushing a rosy red color at the very thought. "Even if it did end the way it did." she added, her fingers tangling into his.
"If you think so, we should go."
He let out a lustful sound, almost a growl as his hands found her hips once again. His mind was bleary with her kiss and her words were confusing him.
"Ancestor?" he muttered, tugging her gently back into the alleyway. "There's an exit this way." he added. "We can get back to someplace I know." he smiled lazily, a grin on his lips. He was about to lean in for another kiss when he heard a voice - one he knew sounded like his own - calling.
"Tabitha?" Alec was calling, wandering down toward them. "Tabitha!?"
Penn let out a disgusted sound. He looked down to her and tugged on her arm. "Come on, love, let's get you out of here." he added with a shake of his head. "Away from that man."
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"You didn't have to do that." she replied, walking out of the of the grocery shop with him. A smile graced her lips as she slipped by him and walked slowly into the store, slipping her hand into her free one.
"The sweet things, huh?" she asked, blushing slightly at his comment and pressing a sweet kiss to his cheek. "Well, I suppose you deserve something sweet in life, right?" she asked with a soft laugh. Her eyes glinted with laughter as she walked him into the store. "What sort of movies do you like?" she asked curiously.
He laughed quietly and leaned back against the headboard. His eyes ran over the drawing for a long moment before he nodded in agreement. "I suppose that's a good way to blow off steam." he said thoughtfully, taking a bite of his pasta. "I mean, it's better than doing something stupid, like fighting or getting into trouble." Alec reasoned with a slight shrug.
He swallowed hard after she asked and gave a slightly contemplative look. "Well, I don't think looking for the witch would do much good." he said, a frown flicking across his lips and tugging viciously at the corners at his mouth. "I mean, as far as we know, she's probably still back in the present with Warren and Charlotte." he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not that it would be a bad idea just.. Maybe we'd have a bit more luck researching some spells or something." he replied. "Maybe if we check the archives.." he mused aloud.
Alec's gaze shifted uneasily to her. He wasn't sure how he felt about her getting more involved about being drawn in further into the chaos that was his life. She'd already had to deal with witches and werewolves. He wasn't sure he'd be up for her doing much more.