Being the elusive, or rather, the exclusive lover of the Grand Duke's wife, Dekka; King of Thieves, had a reputation to live up to. But things were growing dangerous, more dangerous than the thief had realized, and his time in the capital was running out where a man as famous, dangerous and with such a hefty bounty as he could safely navigate undetected and unscathed. The letters were more than he could handle, and he had visited her again- despite knowing full well in his guts that it could cost him big this time- and well...
It seemed as if his luck was running out. He wasn't sure how it happened or how he had managed to get out of it, but he had a run in with the guards and had been chased like a dog all over the city, and by the time he finally had some reprieve, he collapsed against the side of a building in an alleyway, blood sputtering out from his lips as he clutched his bleeding gut and doubled over, vomiting blood onto the floor.
The guards had been merciless, but hopefully if he was to die too, a few of those fuckers had gone down from the fight. But if there hadn't been so many damn mordecai in the city they would have all paid. But as it turned out, even the lucky and famous 'King of Thieves' was feeling the effects of being a human, a mortal just like everyone else, and another cough of blood proved it as he keeled over, feeling as if he were hacking out his lung, or even his heart. And there he remained, slumped over, barely able to keep his head lifted as wounds all over his body were gushing blood.
And after a moment he found himself laughing. Well, he supposed if he were goign to die, it might as well be after he had a fun night bedding his queen.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen," A familiar voice would ring from the shadows and soon after a cloaked figure stepped from the shadows.
"I suppose it is now time for me to return a favor I owe you," She spoke as she removed her hood looking down at Dekka.
She reached out her hand, the ruby ring still on her finger, "Come on," She said softly as she put his arm over her shoulder and started to help him limp along to an abandoned building, then down star before she gave a bookshelf a push revealing a tunnel.
"Come on, stay with me, I don't think I could carry your fat ass."
The loss of blood made the King of Thieves dizzy and over come with a cooling fever. His body felt as heavy as lead, and he barely registered the familiar voice. But once he did, a smile cracked across his lips as green eyes barely managed to crack open and he stared up at the cloaked woman before him.
"Don't sound too happy to see me, Vangie," he told her with a grunt, and despite his predicament, a chuckle. Though as she removed her hood, he found his vision wavering, so he barely fought it when she moved to help him. But pain stung him, electrifying him from the gushing wounds and elicited another cough of blood before he was stumbling off with the help of Evangeline to even he didn't know where. Though he tried to take in as much details as he could, he was about ready to collapse again when her last jab of words met his ears.
And he faintly laughed again.
"I'll stay the night, but you might have to do all of the work," he joked, still as coy as ever, even when he was there, half dead in her arms.
Once out of the tunnel, which led them out of the city Evangaline led him to a small cabin, one that if you didn't know it was there you would have probably missed it as it was surrounded by trees, and was camouflaged to look like them.
Once inside Evanglaine led Dekka to the bed.
"Okay thiefy," She said simply shaking her head. Even on the brink of death his mind was in the gutter.
"Now to get you stitched back up," she started to speak.
"No, thats too slow, we'll cartelize the wounds, more painful, but faster," She continued to speak to herself as she delicately removed his clothing. She frowned, the wounds were bad.
"How did you get yourself into this one?" She asked as she moved to a shelf with bottles of all shapes with different colored liquids of all sorts.
Each step he took he was in agonizing pain. And he could feel the warm blood oozing from his gashes mingle with his sweat. By the time they made it to where ever it was she had taken him, he was too far gone, nearly slipping away into the unconscious, but even as he lay there, eyes closed, he still wore a smile, and between his teeth was seeping blood.
"Just one night with her..." he whispered, before it appeared as if he were gone.
"She must be a real special lady then," Evangaline said, dropping her gaze a little as she plucked a bottle from the shelf. She removed the cork and slowly poured the strange, almost glowing liquid into his mouth while propping his head up on her lap.
It would be a long process, but he would be okay, she had treated worse, she had been treated for worse. Or course, when she was being treated she was home, with a lot more supplies. Once she was satisfied with the amount of the liquid he had she moved back to the shelf, rubbing her temples with a sigh, it was going to be a long night.
She got to work though. The liquid would keep him alive, if just teetering on the edge, it would also keep him in a state that would make him all but appear dead even if he were healthy and strong. She got to work, burning the wounds, mixing liquids and applying them here and there. By the time she was done she was thoroughly exhausted. She curled up in a chair and before too long was asleep herself.
He felt into a fit of burning nightmares. Faces who were there but unclear, and the silent sounds of the death toll looming over head. At first he thought he was flying, taken to wings with the birds, but then he was roof hopping, leaping from here to there with effortless grace. He felt powerful, like a panther, seeing the world from the tops of the buildings but he could not stop- he could not stop his running, for if he did, the fire's of the world would catch up to him- and would burn him alive for his sins.
Dekka woke up with a jerk, his body slicked with sweat and his green eyes wild and wide. His chest was heaving with breath, and he felt himself ache all over. And as he began to look around, all he could see were shadows, nothing was clear. And so in his daze, he attempted to stand, but he dind't get very fall as he fell clean over on useless legs, landing with a heavy thud upon his face.
Evangaline woke up with a start as she heard the thud. She gave the the room a quick sweep over the room seeing Dekka on the floor.
"Silly thiefy," She spoke as she stood, stretching. She walked to his side, helping him back up onto the bed.
But Dekka would be hard to move. He was over six feet tall and couldn't help the much smaller woman lift him, so if she were to try, it would take a lot of effort, and the King of Thieves, hardly obliging as he swore up a storm.
It took Evaganline all she was worth to get him up on the bed, and when she finally managed to pull him up she toppled over and he fell on top of her. She looked up at Dekka, "Gods you are heavy, I can't breath," She spoke pushing up with all she was worth.
Dekka groaned, but being on the bed was sobbering.
"You could have just left me on the floor," he quipped, and forced himself to smile before he used what effort he had left to roll off of her and onto his back, groaning as he rake a hand through his dark red hair.
Evangaline took a deep breath.
"So you can catch pneumonia? No," She spoke, as she continued to lay in the bed, lifting Dekka had zapped her energy, he weighed a ton.
"You need to lose weight."
"Sorry, Vangie," he told her with a playful smirk. "I ain't about to lose any of this weight any time soon. Last time I checked, the ladies adored the muscles."
Evangaline turned on her side, looking at Dekka with a smirk.
"Your bound to lose some of it while you recover from the ass beating you took. It was a close one by the way, you truly almost died," She spoke, the smirk on her face quickly fading. She stood up quickly, adjusting the clothing.
"And last time I checked, women also detest the dead, which you almost were, and if I left you lying on the floor or in the alley you would be," She added, her voice sounding distant, almost cold.
"Yeah but at least if I were dead, I'd be one.sexy dead guy." Though Dekka was smiling, pain over came him as he coughed out some blood that had collected in his throat. It came out mixed with a bit of flem, which was decidedly NOT sexy.
"Yeah, so sexy," Evangaline spoke, her voice ridden with sarcasm as she passed him a bowl.
"Try to keep it off my bed please, that is nasty," She spoke before turning her back to him heading to her shelf to look over her bottles.
Dekka had managed to cough that out all over the floor before the bowl was offered to him. And when it was, he took it weakly, and managed to spit out any excess into it before setting it aside and collapsing onto the bed.
Evangaline sighed rubbing her temple before pulled a small bottle with shimmering blue liquid in it. She moved to the bed, avoiding the blood that was splattered there and sat on the edge, pulling his head into her lap. She pulled the cork out of the bottle and held it to his lips.
"Here, drink slowly."
Dekka didn't bother to ask what it was, but soon choked on the flavor soon after wards, some of the blue liquid sputtering onto his 'nurse'. Wiping off the excess from his lips on the back of his hand, he made a face and looked up at her.
"You trying to fucking kill me?" he grumbled. "That drink was foul!"
"Only as foul as you are dear," Evangaline replied dully before taking back the empty bottle. The bottle was expensive too, one of the best healing potions money could buy. She turned to him, placing a hand on her hip.
"I have to go out for some supplies, you need to stay, preferably in the bed, and not leave this cabin, got it?" She stated before turning to the door.
Dekka groaned through a hand that now draped over his face.
"And where do you expect me to fucking go?"
But then he peeked through his fingers at her and asked skeptically, "And where are you heading off to?"
"I expect you not to go a damn place because I am not going to be dragging you back here, I'll just let you die, and where I am going doesn't matter because you can't go," She said with her hand on her hip.
"Sounds like a woman's logic," Dekka told her through a smile, but he didn't bother to get up or move. Not that he could. He felt like shit.
"Well, you going to fucking get going or just watch me groan? Cause I might end up giving you some more blood and puke to clean if you want to watch."
"I was just making sure you weren't going to kill over or anything," Evangaline said before turning and walking out of the door. She was gone for most of the day, not returning until the sun hung low in the sky.
By the time Evangeline returned, Dekka had fallen back asleep, snoring lightly on the make shift bed, but awoke at the sound of someone approaching. He must not have been too out of it, for he had a blade in his hand and pointed it at her way.
"Who's there?" But upon seeing who it was, he flashed her a toothy grin.
"What took you so long? I was fucking bored out of my mind here waiting for ya."
But in truth, he slept through most of it.
Evangaline looked at him like he was stupid.
"Oh really? I heard you snoring," she spoke as she pulled a pack off her back. First she moved to her shelf, placing more bottles onto it before pulling out bread and tossing it at Dekka.
"Here, eat some."
"Yeah, so bored I fuckin' fell asleep," he told her, setting the weapon aside before he caught the offered bread. He gave her a wry grin before taking a bite into the thing.
"This all you got?" he asked through a mouthful. "Maybe I ought to help you steal some more. Maybe a nice, juicy cut of steak or lamb."
And his stomach rumbled loudly at the thought.
"No, we have stew, remember? So I have no reason to steal more than that," Evangaline spoke, spinning the ruby ring still stuck on her finger, a habit she had picked up when annoyed.
"And I doubt you slept from boredom. Your injured, your weak. You were beaten an inch from your demise, and if I hadn't found you when I did, you would be dead. Over what? Some lay? I hope it and she were worth it, considering she obviously doesn't care too much about you considering she has done nothing to help you," Evangaline scolded.
Dekka only smiled, and as she spoke, that smile grew and grew.
"Oh, it was worth it," he told her, with a wink. "Each and every thrust."
And as he observed her, he had to ask, "Why? You jealous you weren't first?"
"Excuse me?" Evangaline spoke, raising an eyebrow, her eyes instantly shooting daggers.
"I am not jealous, I am infuriated at your ignorance. And once you are well enough to walk I want you to leave. I can't have someone so reckless and selfish around me, I don't have a death wish, unlike you. And a good lay isn't worth my life, I like to live to fuck another day, which means staying the hell away from you. Everytime I get near you one of us is close to getting killed," Evangeline replied as she turned her back to him, setting a bag on a small table.
In spite of himself and the situation, Dekka couldn't help but laugh.
"Then why did you fucking rescue me? Seems to me like you enjoy this little rendez-vous between the two of us enough to risk your neck anyways. Or maybe.." he said, eyeing the back of her. "You just get off with someone as dangerous as me."
"Wrong again, I owed you, you saved my ass last time so now I am saving yours. Don't expect this again. You go fuck that bitch next time and get left on the streets to die, your on your own, good luck," Evangeline spoke, her words growing colder and more frustrated by the second.
She quickly turned on her heels to face him.
"You know what, since it is so clear you are well enough to run that fucking mouth of yours why don't you just drag your ungrateful ass out the door huh?"
When she'd turn to face him, she'd see quite the large smile growing across his face.
"Because it's much more interesting to sit here as an invalid, watching you grow annoyed."
Evangeline marched forward, grabbing Dekka by the arm and started yanking with all she was worth. She was infuriated which only added to her strength as she pulled him towards the door. She wasn't going to put up with his mouth, she wasn't in the mood for it at all.
When Evangeline would try to drag him, she wouldn't get too terribly far, for the 'invalid' had enough strength and sense to laugh at her and wrap his arms around her, and draw her close to him in a forceful embrace, one of which would knock the pair over, imbalance them and taking them both to the floor.
"And here I thought you wanted to have a little fun. Can't I at least repay your kindness in a round of sex?"
"No, go fuck yourself," Evangeline spoke as she started to fight against Dekka trying to fight and struggle to get out from under his heaven form.
"What's the fun in that? You know fuckings always fun when there's two or more to share," he told her, leering her form and trying to keep a firm grasp on it without, somehow, being too suffocating about it.
Evangeline pushed with all of her might against Dekka's chest, not seeming to be going for the idea, if anything finding the idea more distasteful with each passing moment.
"I.. Can't.. breathe... Dekka.... get off," Evangeline choked out from underneath the mans weight. She had used a lot of her energy stores of getting him to the hide out and she honestly hadn't built back up the energy to continue to fight. She was tired and wanted to sleep.
Seeing how Evangeline wasn't about to actually throw him out, he finally desisted and chuckled as he leaned back, watching her, but not saying a word.
"So how much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything, think of it as a favor repaid, but if your looking for something to do, you can get the fuck off of me and get this damn ring off my finger," Evangeline spoke with an almost growl as she lifted up her hand to display the ring Dekka had put on her finger the last time they had seen each other.
Dekka kindly removed himself from her, but he paused when he caught sight of he ring.
And that's when he laughed- loudly, and in her face.
"Still got that piece of baggage around to remind you of me, eh?"
"Oh, don't flatter yourself hun, the only reason its still on my finger is because I can't get it off and its not worth cutting my finger off, though it be tempting," Evangeline growled as she sat up slowly. She took several full chestfuls of air, trying to make up for the lack of air she had had when Dekka had been on top of her.
Dekka smirked.
"Why not keep it? I'm sure it's the most expensive memento you ever owned."
"Because I don't want it, just like I didn't want to ring you wear around your neck," Evangeline spat out bitterly.
If Dekka was taken back by the remark, it happened so briefly that it only marred his smirk for but a second.
"I doubt it would fit on your finger. The ruby suits you. It glistens like a jewel of fucking blood."
"This thing obviously doesn't fit either, considering it doesn't come off!," Evangeline spoke as she all but violently yanked at the stupid ring, desperately trying to get it off her finger. It was a constant reminder of the beginnings of the feelings she had started feeling for Dekka before she left. The reminder of why she had left in the first place.
In the moment she had to get the ring off, it burnt worse than iron against her skin.
Dekka smirked, his eyes laughing.
"Perhaps it's not meant to."
Evangeline kicked at Dekka hard, as hard as she could. She just wanted him to shut up. She was tired of hearing his cocky, arrogant voice. It was worse than nails against a chalk board, it was grating her nerves.
Dekka's smile flashed a moment, then...
"Fuck."
Her foot had connected.
"What was that fucking for?" He backed away, for now, and gave her a dangerous glare.
Evangeline stood quickly, heading for the door quickly, all but running. She didn't care about his glare or him, or the hide out, she could find other.
She couldn't take him then though, he was stirring her anger and she refused to take it, she hoped she had hurt him.
Dekka snorted as he watched her fleeing form. He didn't know what that was all about. Maybe it was her time of the month? With a roll of his eyes, he returned to the bed in the room and just lay there.
She'd be back.
They always came back.
Evangeline walked for hours before finally wearing herself down. She sat heavily on a rock. She didn't understand hour dekka could take everything so lightly. Oh, he knew that the person he held dearest was safe. She on the other hand had found our grave news. Her aunt and uncle were in mage camps. She had managed to save her young cousins but there wasn't much she could do beyond that. Her aunt and uncle's suffering weighed on her like a ton. It pushed her to places she never thought she would be doing things she had never thought she would do.
She sighed, contemplating going back or not.
While she contemplated returning, though injured, the King of Thieves was growing bored. And if anything could be said about him, it was that he could always find what he wanted. So when he found her, he made no noise at all, just simply watched her as he leaned against a tree. Night was fast approaching, the entire world turned to dark shadows while the skies still were hued in the fading blue of the day. But there he stood, green eyes watching her- seeing what she'd do.
The hair on the back of Evangelines neck stood on end. She threw up the hood on her cloak making her edges become fuzzy against the darkening shadows.
Her mismatched eyes scanned the area. She knew someone was watching her, she just had to manage to spoke them. She could feel her heart begin to pump. She could tell it wasn't a mordecai, she could always tell when they were drawing near. It still could be a soldier though, her palms began to itch in anticipation as her sharp eyes narrowed as they scanned the shadows, looking for anything that stood out.
And that's when he tossed an acorn at her head. Remaining hidden in the shadows, he grinned and waited for her response.
Evangeline caught the acorn and without a second though threw it back in the direction it came as hard as she could. She then headed in the direction herself, a woman on a mission. She was still filled with anger from Dekka and his display earlier.
Dekka caught the acorn, and could feel the heat of anger behind it. His lips split open into a toothy grin, and tossed the acorn at her chest, aiming for her cleavage.
The acorn bounced off Evangeline's chest just a half an inch off its intended target. Her eyes narrowed as she picked out Dekka's form.
"I am going to finish you off for the guards because you clearly don't know when to leave well enough alone," She spoke, her voice calm, like the stillness before a storm.
"Is that an attempt to seduce me?" he quipped, eyes glittering in the dark.
Fire shot up from Evangaline's hands, "No," She spoke simply, saying nothing else as she moved closer.
"I see," he said, the flames barely catching to his eyes at this distance. "Seems you just want to cut out the chase and get right down to the sex." ANd here, he opened his arms, as if inviting her in. "Well, I'm not a man to ignore the desires of a woman..."
With that Evangeline hurled a fire ball at Dekka.
She had nothing to say to the man. She was stressed out, she had so much pressure pushing from all sides. She had family in the mage camps, undergoing horrible atrocities, she had the expectation from the rest of her family, she was a known mage in Connloath, just to name a few things.
Dekka was no fool, and side stepped the fire ball, but only barely, as it smashed into the tree beside him.
"Aiming to start a fire?" he asked, plainly.
"It wouldn't hurt, maybe you would get caught in it," Evangeling replied crossing her arms. Then she had the idea. She could definitely move fast than Dekka, so if she made it back to the cabin she could simply lock him out.
"Wouldn't hurt to who?" he asked, still wearing his smug smirk.
"Wouldn't hurt me and thats all that matters," Evangeline spoke before making a mad dash past Dekka, back towards the cabin.
Dekka only smiled, not even bothering to make chase. Let her run. He simply walked after her. No use straining his injuries.
It didn't take Evangeline long at all to make it back to the cabin, she was fast and nimble, something the Dekka wouldn't be for a while. As soon as she entered the cabin she started to barricade it. Doors, windows, even the chimney. She wanted Dekka to go away. She had done her duty. She had saved his life, thats all she said she would do.
Dekka took his sweet old time in returning, and he could tell, even from a distance, that something had been modified to her little cabin. As he approached, he grinned at the wood blocking the windows and moved over to the door and tried the nob. It couldn't be opened. This made him grin.
With a hand in his pocket, he rose his other one and gently knocked.
"So.. how long did it take you to board all of this up?"
"Can you not take a hint?" Evangeline spoke simply. Was he really that dense in the head. She was over whatever had happened the last time they had ran together. She wasn't going to let that spark of emotion return. He was not the type of man you let yourself have feelings for.
"Hint? You mean this challenge I see before me?"
He tossed his head back in a laugh. "Evangeline, what were you expecting? Don't I owe you something now anyway? You did save my life..." he said playfully, and leaned against the boarded door.
"Leaving me alone would be payment enough," Evangeline spoke as she sat on her bed in the cabin. One she hadn't been able to enjoy since she had brought Dekka back from the city. She almost regretted saving him. He was such a pain.
"Really?" He smirked and folded his arms across his chest. "I could think of a few other payments that would be more fun."
"Oh really now?" Evangeline asked simply, leaning her head back with her eyes closed. She figured his first suggestion would be something sexual. It always was with Dekka.
"Yep." he said, continuing to lean casually against the door. And despite what she expected to say, he did not elaborate. But he was grinning- and that was probably evident in the tone of his voice- even though he only said just one word.
"Well what are your 'few other payments' ?" Evangeline replied mockingly, lowering her voice and mimicking Dekka's as well as making fun of his voice as best she could. She doubted that anything he could or would come up with would grab her attention.
Dekka simply went quiet as he smiled, the entire air about him just oozing with his smugness.
"Do I really have to say?" Considering, it was, to him, anyway (and evidently her)- a very obvious answer.
"You said a few, I can only think of one thing you would offer," Evangeline replied crossing her arms. If Dekka was trying to talk his way back in he wasn't doing a very good job. She couldn't deny his skill, but she had no interest in it.
"You're just not thinking creatively. Just keep at it. It'll come."
"Why would I want to be the one who has to be doing the thinking when your the one who wants to come back inside?" Evangeline spoke as she stood, silently moving to the door. She didn't touch the door though, she hadn't made up her mind one way or another, if she was going to let him in or if she wasn't.
Dekka's grin grew larger.
"I thought you liked a challenge."
"Why should I do all the work when it is you who wish to get back into where I am at?" Evangeline replied cooly.
"Hrm... perhaps I've got you confused with another girl. One who's clever... and thinks boarding out a thief will do anything. And a fire mage... I mean, I'd hate to think what would happen to this pretty little wood cabin..."
"I dare you to try to burn this pretty little wood cabin down. Do you think this clever woman would not protect her pretty little wood cabin from fire when she knew she would be bringing home a asshole of a fire Mage?" Evangeline replied crossing her arms though Demka couldn't see her.
Dekka gave a laugh.
"I wouldn't burn it down. It's not worth the effort. Besides, thieves protect their own, don't you agree?"
"One moment your alluding to trying to burn down my home and the next your saying thieves protect each other?" Evangeline asked leaning her back against the door with a slight thud.
"Your really trying to pull all the stops aren't you? Why don't you just go hobble back to your girlfriend? Maybe she can save you now?"
"Well it'd be hard to hobble, considering she's on the other side of this door. I guess I could knock." And he grinned and waited for how she would respond to that.
"You might need to hobble your way to the outhouse cause I hear a lot of shit flying out of your mouth," Evangeline replied coldly. They both knew his last statement was bull crap. Or was he so dense he didn't get the reference, she shook her head.
Dekka smirked at her statement.
"I guess I could just stay out here until you're ready to come out and apologize..." he went on, turning his back to the cabin and moving to sit in the grass.
She'd have to come out eventually! That, or he'd probably end up driving her nuts while she was trapped inside.
"Apologize?!" Evangeline aske, she could feel her blood instantly start to boil. She also knew that was what Dekka wanted. Why was he doing this. Why couldn't he just leave. Or let her just leave.
"Why? Why won't you just leave. I'm sure the letter woman is worried about her little pet."
Dekka grew silent at that, nodding his head though she couldn't see it.
"But I can't leave just yet," he went on to tell her in a casual tone. "The fun's only just begun. Besides.... I think I owe you one. It's not every day an assassin would want to save someone's life rather than kill them. Unless you're looking after the bounty on my head." And this last thing he stated amusedly. But he knew better. Evangeline wasn't that petty. Or , at least he did not believe she was.
"I was never an assassin, the term was bounty hunter from a long line of bounty hunters, a long line of knowing what was wrong and right, what was black and white, until I came here that is. This place is a land of grays," Evangeline sighed heavily.
"I told you I was returning a favor from when you saved me before. You could have left me in the town before, where I probably would have been killed, but you brought me to the outskirts, so I did the same for you. So as I said, go find your master, stray dogs get killed."
Dekka smirked.
"No one owns this King, Vangie," he told her quite smugly. "Besides, I rather like it here. It has a nice atmosphere.. nice people."
"I swear your head consist of a solid chunk of metal," Evangeline then shook her head and prayed the pervert took her words how she meant them instead of the more gutter interpretation they could have. He said no one owned him, but Evangeline could tell different. The mysterious woman might not have owned all of him, but she could tell she owned the most valuable part of any man.
Dekka smirked.
"If anything, that metal would be gold."
He was a thief after all, proud of his reputation and liked to believe that was his first and only love.
But it seemed Evangeline knew different.
Evangeline sighed deeply.
"Why do you always try to put up the facade?" She asked her tone different, no longer frustrated, but something else, something calm and knowing. She had seen behind the mask once, so she knew the difference.
"I have grown to know you well enough to see behind it and know the difference. I know you have to be feeling something, I know you have a heart even though you try to guard it well," Evangeline spoke slowly.
Dekka gave a laugh.
"Is that why you barred me out? Afraid I'm some thief with a heart? Or that I'm going to try to steal yours?"
And even as he spoke it, it was then he had to wonder...
As much as Evangeline continued to talk about his 'mystery' lover... he had to wonder...
Was she started to fall for his charms, too?
He was well aware he was a shameless flirt and left a trail of broken hearts whereever he went, but hey, at least those romances, no matter how brief, were extra steamy.
But he and Evangeline...
Well, he seemed to owe her one now, despite her claiming they were even. Call it a thief's code or something, but now, as he studied the door, he began to wonder what Vangie's true intentions were.
Evangeline let out a chuckle.
"No, I barred you out because you are an arrogant egotistical asshole. That's why I barred you out. And trust me, I know better than to let some guy who is no good for anyone's emotional state, and who clearly has given his heart to someone else, have my heart," Evangeline replied leaning her head back heavily against the door.
Dekka smiled at such a response.
"I said steal. It's a non-consensual thing."
"The thing is, I wouldn't give you the opportunity," Evangeline replied, a smirk on her face. Yes this man was cocky, egotistical, and one of the most arrogant people she would ever meet.
"Vangie... who are you kidding? Did you forget you're talking to the King of Thieves? I don't need to be given the opportunity. A true thief always finds a way to get what he wants."
"Dekka, who are you kidding, I know you well enough to keep just the right amount of distance," she spoke as she turned the ruby ring still firmly stuck on her finger from there last adventure.
"Funny how that is.... yet here we are, just a foot away from one another- and the only thing keeping me from claiming you is this barred door..." And even that, he wagered, he could find a way to get into. But hell, this was kind of fun, and he always enjoyed pulling Evangeline's strings.
"You think a door is the only thing that's keeping you from 'claiming me'? I think you give yourself too much credit Dekka," Evangeline replied crossing her arms, before slowly moving to her feet.
"Is it that, or just you denying giving me credit where credit is due?"
"Do you think I would be naive enough to tell you either way?" Evangeline replied as she stared at the door thinking about his words. What that truly all that was keeping him from her, a door. Was she that weak?
Dekka just chuckled and said, "We'll see."
And he went silent for a good long while.
Finally Evangeline opened the door. She stood in front of it though, blocking the path.
"You sound so cocky, but here you are, still outside the cabin."
Dekka didn't move. He was lounging comfortably against the side of the cabin door as he peered up at the sky.
"It's fucking lovely out here. Why don't you have a seat?"
"I don't think I will move. You see, I don't trust you. For all I know, if I move you will dive into my house and lock me out," Evangeline replied crossing her arms and popping her hip out slightly.
"plus I see it everyday."
Dekka smirked.
"I have no intentions of stealing your home."
"You think simply saying that is going to make me believe it? If so you are a silly man. Your a thief, and thieves lie," Evangeline replied raising an eyebrow at Dekka. Did he really think she would be that easy to fool?
"Thieves don't lie, cheaters do," he corrected her, smuggly.
"Well you are that too, just not the king of it," Evangeline smarted back with a chuckle.
Dekka smirked but didn't bother to glance her way.
"You should come sit with me. Or on me. I could show you a proper apology for making you upset."
Evangeline made her way towards Dekka, sitting in his lap. She wondered what exactly he thought he was going to do to give her a 'proper apology'. She was sure it was something that would get on her nerves though.
Dekka's grin grew two time's it size when she actually obliged him. And his eyes looked her over with a hungry leer.
"I thought you were angry with me," he went on, moving a hand to brush her hair from her face.
"I am angry with you," Evangeline replied looking Dekka directly face to face. If he tried anything funny she wasn't afraid to castrait him.
"You know what they say is the best cure for an angry woman?" Dekka asked her, oh so suavely.
"I am sure you are about to inform me," Evangeline replied raising an eyebrow in a fashion that was almost a warning. She knew where his mind stayed, and she had a good idea of where he was about to go.
One didn't have to be a scholar to know what Dekka was up to. What else would a woman want when she sat on a man's lap? And what else would he ask for? So he gave her a grin, a very smug one before he leaned forward, lips finding her neck and hands finding her body.
Evangeline felt a shiver run up her spine as she felt Dekka's lips on her neck. She knew she wouldn't let it go any further than where they were at though. She pulled away from him, her hands pushing against Dekka's chest, putting space between there bodies.
"I wouldn't consider that an apology."
"Of course not," he told her with a smirk. "The apology is in my pants." Because they were currently very tented at the moment, and she might have been able to feel that excitement.
Evangeline shook her head before moving to stand. She wasn't going to help him get his jollies off, she wasn't in the mood, she had too many things on her mind, too many things to do. Since she had gotten there so many things had changed. It wasn't like the first time they had met.
"What? Would you rather I use my fingers?" he told her with a grin. "Come on, Vangie. We both know it'll help alleviate your tension."
"I said no, okay!" Evangeline snapped, recoiling from Dekka as if he might have the plague.
"Your disgusting," She added as a end note as she turned her back on Dekka heading in the house. She didn't lock him out though. She left the door open. Dekka was still injured and she still owed him until he was fully healed.
Instead of following, he just grinned and stayed where he was. He looked back up at the sky. Yep, it was definitely a lovely day!
Evangeline went into the cabin, relieved when Dekka didn't follow, at least she didn't have to beat him off with a stick. She found herself curled up in the small bed.
The bed wasn't exactly comfortable, wasn't exactly warm, but it was a bed none the less. She wondered about her aunt, and how she doubt she even had a bed to lay in. How could she even consider getting her jollies with her aunt was being tortured to death, or starving to death. Especially with a man like Dekka, someone so shallow and self absorbed ninety-nine percent of the time.
It was nearly an hour before he joined her inside, and the injured thief still had a small hobble in his step. But he kept himself as tall as he could, for despite the fact he could have been beaten to death, they hadn't beaten him of his pride. Seeing her on the bed, he moved to take a chair and dropped himself into it, releasing an exhausted sigh.
"If you can keep yourself calm, and your hands to yourself for the most part you can join me," Evangeline spoke softly, half asleep.
"Guess I'll stay right here then," he said with a smirk.
Evangeline frowned slightly, she had more motive then just being nice. She was a bit cold and she knew how warm Dekka always stayed. She let out a deep sigh, why did he have to be such an ass. She turned her head, looking towards the fire place, she would have to go collect wood. She dragged herself from the bed.
Dekka lifted a brow and shifted where he laid back in the chair.
"Where are you going?"
"Wood, it's cold, and fire has to have something to burn," Evangeline replied as she turned to look at Dekka for a moment before turning back to the door.
"You know I could always help you. I'm indebted to you anyway," Dekka said as he gave a stretch.
"Help me how?" Evangeline asked as she turned around to face Dekka.
"I might be banged up, but I'm not completely useless. I can bring in some wood, even light the fire," he suggested with a smirk.
"No," Evangeline replied simply.
"You're still healing, you're not a nimble or fast and your power is fire, not to mention you don't know these woods as well as me, something happens you will end up burning down the whole god damn forest. How about when I bring the wood to start and tend to the fire," She replied, adding an explanation to her quick answer.
Then she felt the numbing feeling that had grown so familiar. She moved rather quickly back into the cabin and frantically started throwing things into a bag.
"Mordecai are coming, we have to leave now," She spoke not even looking his way as she rolled up the blanket on the bed and threw the bag over her shoulders.
"Lets go."
Dekka only shrugged. He knew Connlaoth well enough. Woods were woods, and he could navigate well on his own (though at night it was always easier...) But when she mentioned the mordecai, he stiffened a bit and turned to look at the door.
"If they're comin', how do you know we can fuckin' out run 'em?"
"We don't have another option. They will search this cabin, so we can't stay here. I do have a plan though, so come on," Evangeline replied as she walked out of the door and towards a dense section of trees. The trees were tall and cast a dark shade even during the mid day. She walked in between two rather ancient trees. The actual solid trunk of the tree started only chest high, below that was what seemed to be tightly knitted bundles of roots.
Evangeline ducked down low, moving a couple of the seemingly unmovable roots and slipped into a oblivion of darkness.
Dekka followed after her, eyes studying the forest. So far he saw no men, but he knew Vangie had an ability to sense their magic negating foes, but he was surprised when she lead him to a tree, and cocked his head to one side as she disappeared within. He simply chuckled before moving to follow after her, his eyes scanning the area but once before disappearing 'down the rabbit hole'.
"You think I wouldn't have a plan for when they came searching the woods?" Evangeline spoke as she made the steep dissent into the dark unknown.
Dekka smirked.
"Clever girl..." And moved down with her into the darkness.
"One would almost say I learned from the best," Evangeline spoke with a chuckle as the tunnel finally leveled out.
"Don't get too far behind, this tunnel branches off, would hate for you to get lost."
"I should be fine," he told her. "Did you forget already who's following you?"
"Oh how could I? The supposed king of thieves. The man who nearly got himself killed for a booty call. The man who can only hobble now. The man who can't tell ring size and got a ring stuck on my finger," Evangeline replied as she continued her way through the twist and turns. Her fae heritage aiding her vision in the pitch blackness.
Dekka laughed.
"It's not my fault your fingers are too fat. Besides, that thing is worth a lot of money. Haven't you figured out how to get it off by now?"
Evangeline stopped suddenly. She turned slightly on her heels, facing Dekka. My fingers are not fat you ass," she spoke giving Dekka a slight push.
"And no, I've tried everything but chopping off my finger and its firmly stuck," she added as she turned back to continue down the dark tunnel.
Dekka chuckled again and continued to follow her.
"Just think of it as a permanent memento! Not every woman is so lucky as to have such a thing from me."
"I wouldn't call it luck sugar tits," Evangeline spoke as the incline started to grow steep. Indicating they were about to break to the surface.
"I don't know why I brought you with me, I could so have left you in the cabin. You ass would have been grass," she started before she brushed aside a curtain of moss and weeds. She had to blink several times for her eyes to adjust to the light. A dark smile curling on her lips. The little corner of the forest that few people let alone soldiers would enter. The cursed white woods, the place where people said the things that went bump in the night came from.
Dekka stepped in behind her. It was too dark to see, so as he stepped forward, he lifted a hand up to start a small fire from his finger to see, but the mordecai appeared to be too close.
"Damn..." He whispered, then turned to her. "So what is this place anyway? You come here often?"
"This is a place the Mordecai won't venture into, so you will have time to heal," Evangeline spoke as she walked out of the tiny opening out into the open. The woods didn't look scary, and she had never had any issue, she didn't understand why everyone seemed so scared of the place.
"The cursed white woods."
"Cursed, huh? So is that why you brought me here?" He asked, his eyes, very slowly, adjusting to the dark.
"Not because its cursed, the curse is just what keeps the guards away," Evangeline said with a chuckle.
Dekka gave a bigger smirk.
"Guess whoever named it mustve been clever. If anything this place should be called the dark woods. I can barely see a fucking thing!"
Evangeline laughed again.
"I forget your human sometimes and can't see like I can," She spoke, her tone seeming very amused.
She walked up to a tree, inspecting the bark, it was white.
"We need to make a camp and rest for a while."
"Yeah, I know its hard to believe that I ain't a God or something, but I'd like to think I make a pretty fucking good specimen as a man." And he grinned at her then nodded at her suggestion. "Alright, give me some time to adjust and I can help." And just as he moved forward, his foot caught on a tree root and he fell flat on his face and swore.
Evangeline laughed as she looked down at Dekka.
"Oh, watch out for the roots," She spoke as she bent down to look at Dekka.
Finally she reached down and offered Dekka a hand.
"Here, let me guide you, I can't have you killing yourself."
"And all this time I thought you wanted to get rid of me."
"I got to keep you alive for bait in case something tries to come get us," Evangeline laughed as she grabbed Dekka by his arm and started pulling on him.
"Oh? What? So you can fuckin' feed me to it?" he went on, presuming there were more beasts here than men.
"Ding ding ding, you got it sugar lips, too bad there isn't a prize," Evangeline replied laughing.
Dekka smirked.
"That's what you think..." And he leaned in close to her as if to steal a kiss, but ended up oogling her breasts instead.
"Paint a picture, it would last longer," Evangeline spoke as she stood up and started to look around to decide where she wanted to set up a small camp.
OOC: lol- photography wasn't invented back then XD
-----
Dekka lifted his gaze.
"I'm hardly an artist. If I were to draw them, they'd be a pair of uneven circles with equally uneven nipples standing erect." And his eyes moved to follow hers now as he moved along, and rubbed at his nose a little- it was still smarting, after all. Falling on one's face was neither glamorous or comfy.
OOC: Oopsy, I'll fix it XD
"So are you trying to say that my breasts are uneven?" Evangeline asked, not truly paying attention to the conversation. She figured the more Dekka talked the more out of the way he would be.
She found a little area under a Cedar tree, the pines on the ground would help keep them warm and the scent seemed to be helping keep the bugs away. It was flat enough, and the tree would both help guard them from the elements as well as hide them from anything that would be lurking around.
She started to roll out the blankets that she had grabbed for the both of them.
Dekka hobbled over to where she was, though he tried to hide the limp as he moved to grab a blanket to help her set their make shift bedding up.
"It seems our little walk took more out of you than you would care to admit," Evangeline spoke as she made some final adjustments to the blankets before getting herself comfortable in them, leaving just enough space for Dekka.
"If that's what you want to assume," he said with a smirk, and moved to sit beside her. "So how should we keep watch?In shifts? You never know if those mordecai might start to get bold. There is a fancy fucking price on my head after all."
"I'm more worried about staying warm and not getting the shakes and dying, we can't start a fire and we are well hide not to mention it will get darker. So come here and he'll I'll let you get away with taking a couple of feels," Evangeline spoke in a whisper laughing slightly as she moved closer to him. No shy about ignoring his personal space.
"Hey don't worry, they have no way to track us. Even if they do find the tunnels they will most likely get lost in them."
Dekka smirked and just stared at her, not obliging her just yet.
"Oh? Are you giving me permission?"
"Damn it Dekka stop being such an ass, I could have easily left you for dead twice now, I think you owe me," she spoke, her tone losing some of it humor.
Dekka smirked.
"So... you're asking for sex?"
And he tilted his head as his grin grew at his retort.
"And don't worry, I'm in no real position to take advantage. But, well... if you'd feel so inclined.." he went on, his eyes roaming over her body. "I wouldn't fight back."
"Oh I am sure you wouldn't!" Evangeline replied turning her back to Dekka, pulling the blankets tightly around her body, leaving only a fraction for him.
Dekka smirked.
"You know it'll be awfully hard to keep you warm when you're hogging all of the blanket.." he went on.
"Well right now they are doing a better Jo than you are," Evangeline retorted
"So I guess we're back to your invitation from earlier..." And he grinned at her for the longest time before settling down beside her and nestling in close. He didn't get much of the blanket, but he wasn't one to complain about that sort of thing. And though he was tired, he didn't close his eyes just yet and listened to the sounds of the forest.
Evangeline released more of the blanket for him, though by the amount of warmth that flowed from him, he didn't need it as much as herself. She curled up into a ball, only her back close to Dekka. She had her arms wrapped around her legs that were tightly tucked to her chest. She was trying to conserve as much as her heat as possible. Unlike Dekka she hadn't been raised in the cold, and her heritage wasn't particularly built for it either. It didn't take long before she was softly shivering, even with the blankets and the slight heat she was getting from Dekka. She doubted she would get any sleep that night.
Feeling her shiver, he wrapped an arm around her then nestled in closer.
Evangeline was quickly surrounded with a bit a warmth as Dekka wrapped an arm around her, and though she wouldn't admit it if you asked her, she thought it was nice. Dekka was most definitely a good man to snuggle with. In the distance an odd sound broke the silence, something between a howl and a screech. Whatever was in the woods that was the cause of the terrifying stories was out and lurking.
Dekka tensed at the sound, but said not a word, trying to see if he could hear such a sound again-
or perhaps any other noise indicating that such a beast that made it might approach.
"Just stay quiet," Evangeline whispered.
"As long as you stay quiet they will pass," she spoke again, half asleep.
"They?" he whispered, but didn't dare say anymore.
Evangeline didn't say anything, simply drifted off to sleep. She didn't seem exactly worried about whatever was lurking in the darkness.
Where as she could fall asleep easy, for him it was not so. With his injuries, his exertion from the run, and being in unfamiliar territory, it took him a lot longer to drift off. It also didn't help he was nestled in close with a very attractive woman, but even still, two hours of his mind racing, he too, finally drifted off into a restless sleep.
Evangeline heard birds chirping as morning dawned. She lets of a slightly yawn, they had survived the wraiths that drifted through the forest at night. One could stumble upon a wraith during the day but it was much less likely to happen. Most were nocturnal creatures and prefered night to hunt down there victims. She turned her head to look at Dekka.
His arms were wrapped around her, and they fit well and snug together. But he did not stir- which was not quite like him. It seemed he actually had his guard down, and was sleeping- drooling a little with his mouth open-
And something else.
Perhaps he was a bit too hot.... for some time in the night, he had succumbed to a fever.
Though Evangeline was comfortable, well as comfortable as one could be lying on the ground in a wraith infested forest, she could feel how hot Dekka was against her back, and knew he had a fever. She turned in his arms, chuckling at the drool that ha ran down his cheek. She knew he needed the rest and was glad he was actually getting it. She sat up slowly, moving his arms from around her and tucking him in with the blankets before she started to dig through her bag.
Even when she left him, he did not stir, though he did make a noise as he slept, and his brows furrowed, as if whatever dreams he dreamed of were unpleasant.
Evangeline pulled a potion out of her bag, she would have to work on getting Dekka's fever down. She knew that if she didn't get it down he would be all but useless and knew getting him out of the forest would be all but impossible. She placed the small bottle to his lips.
"Come on," she spoke softly.
The words were enough to rouse him, but rather than do as she expected, he moved in such a way that his nose bumped into the bottle, and soon he was sneezing out the potion.
"What the fucking hell-" he stammered, waking up suddenly and wiping off the goop that was running down from his nose.
"Your running a fever and I was trying to give you some medicine to bring it down with out shaking you awake, but you moved and it went in your nose, I should have just woke your ass up," Evangeline said crossing her arms clearly upset over it.
Dekka peered up at her, making a face as he continued to try to wipe the medicine off with the back of his hand.
"You can say that again." Though he paused, before adding, "Hey.. how do I know that wasn't poison? Fuck, and it's up my nose still!" And he tried to blow his nose loudly, in hopes to get out frm his nostrils what he could.
"Why poison you when I could have just smothered you in your sleep, hey, or even better, have left you to die after the guard nearly beat you to death? Do you not remember that?" Evangeline asked, her hands flailing around as she spoke.
OOC: Flailing? Like a muppet flail? :D
-----
At that remark, Dekka smirked.
"No- maybe you should refresh my memory."
OC:like someone talking with there hands, that, i think, is the best word to describe it XD
~_~_~_~
Evangeline slapped Dekka, "Does that refresh your memory at all?" She asked.
Dekka swore. He wouldn't have cared, really, but the remains of the medicine inside his nose made it sting when he inhaled in reaction to the slap.
"Ah... yeah, and I think it stings," he told her dryly.
"Good asshole," She spoke as she crossed her arms as she looked at Dekka harshly. Still, even though she was angry with him, she couldn't help but feel bad for him, he had been through a lot after all.
"So tell me about the woman you risked so much for?" She spoke after a long silence.
Dekka quirked a brow.
"I thought you didn't care to know?"
Though he was about to ask if she was jealous- he let that thought go. He couldn't be an asshole to her forever. Well he could.. but....
He decided, at least on that note, he'd be nice...
For now.
"Well, its obvious that you care great deals over her considering you would risk your life. Since I saved yours I think I should know who you were ready to sacrifice yourself for," She spoke, trying her hardest to be nice to Dekka.
At that, Dekka's lips cracked open into a dark, toothy smile as he simply replied, "The Grand Duchess of Connlaoth."
And he spoke it as if it were common knowledge. Though in such a tone, one might just as easily presume he's being an asshole.
Evangeline raised an eyebrow, she studied Dekka carefully.
"Well that would explain why there is such a high price on your head," she spoke, not sure if he was lying or if it was so outrageous that it was something he couldn't be making up.
Dekka snorted.
"And just like that, you wound me more than those city guards," he went on, a hand over his heart. "I thought you fucking knew me better than that, Vangie." He gave a mock-ish sneer. "To think my hard earned reputation is only second to a fame of a lover."
"And you are okay with sharing her with the Grand Duke?" Evangeline asked slowly.
"Honestly, I didn't take you as the sharing type, well not when you actually cared for someone like you obviously care for her," She continued for looking away, letting it sink in.
Dekka gave a smirk.
"You seem to know me so well, Vangie. I'm touched."
"Well if your okay with another man fucking your woman thats your prerogative," Evangeline said with a shrug, not seeming to be fazed by Dekka's sarcasm.
He didn't like her remark, or how she seemed to concentrate on that little detail. It felt sharper than the slap she gave him, and he just gave her a dark look, but his smirk never dropped.
"He's not fucking mine," Dekka reassured her. "I'm fucking his."
"By the look in your eyes you need to keep telling yourself that one because you don't believe that line either," Evangeline said with a flat tone.
Dekka just laughed.
"The look in my eyes? I didn't think you were a fan."
"I have seen enough of you to know that your little smirk can hide a lot of what is going on beneath the surface," Evangeline spoke simply, ignoring Dekka. She knew she had struck a nerve somewhere beneath his charming smile so he would no doubt try to strike back like any wounded animal. She started to gather things back into her pack silently.
"You really think you know me that well?" At that, his smirk grew genuine. "I'm touched, Vangie. And here I thought you truly loathed me. I didn't know you had fallen in love."
"Fallen in love?" She asked, still not looking at Dekka as she continued to stuff things into her pack.
"You clearly don't know me well enough if thats what you think," She added, not seeming to be fazed by his words.
Dekka said nothing, but his eyes glittered with mirth. He enjoyed pulling her strings. This was ten times more fun than her pulling his own!
"Is that why you saved me then? Since you love me so much? I never thought I'd be rescued by an admirer before. I'm honored. This is my fucking first time for this. Should we consummate it with a hand shake, fuck or kiss?"
Evangeline turned and looked Dekka straight in the eyes.
"What if I said I did fall in love with you, and that is why I gave you back your stupid ring, thats why I haven't tried that hard to get this stupid ring off, and that is why I saved you when the woman you love was going to let you die while snuggled up in the arms of the Grand Duke? Probably sucking his dick, telling him how much she loved him?" Evangeline spoke, her voice emotionless.
That actually made him laugh.
"I'd tell you that sounds like the fucking Vangie I know! Always so full of whimsical, fucking class! Though to be honest..." he went on, leaning in close. "I already knew all of that." And he gave her a knowing look.
"Well then you clearly don't know me at all, if you would even bother to believe that," She said as she once again turned her back to Dekka.
"Or I know you more than you know yourself?" he asked, challenging her, though still carrying that ever arrogantly playful tone of his.
"Or your just so arrogant that is what you have made yourself believe. Just like how you've made yourself believe the grand dutchess loves you," she spoke, aiming her blow below the belt.
Though he felt the low blow- he wasn't about to let Evangeline win this little fight.
"Oh, you wound me. Maybe you should kiss my fucking lips to make my heart feel better."
"I don't care about your heart. I was repaying a favor, now that favor is repayed. I'll get you out of this forest and then, well then you are on your own and I will wash my hands of you and you can go back the the Grand dutchess and get yourself killed for a woman who clearly only uses you for a booty call."
And again, Dekka laughed, a genuine laugh. He could feel it in his belly- and it kind of hurt. Damn his injuries. Smirking, he looked over at her and flashed her a toothy grin.
"Aww, Vangie, don't be like that. You know as well as I do we'll fucking cross paths again. It's only destiny."
"I'll avoid you like I avoid death, which is something I do very well. I am actually thinking that I should have just let you die in the streets," Evangeline asked, her emotions unreadable.
He snorted.
"If that were true you would have done it."
Though it was said in a sneer and a jest, he went quiet for a moment before looking away and then adding, "Thank you.. by the way."
Evangeline looked over at Dekka then looked down. She looked exhausted and worn. The war was taxing.
"You are welcome Dekka," She spoke, looking down at her bag with a deep sigh.
"See...you can't hate me that much," he poked at her, which appeared to be some sort of act to lighten the mood.
"Oh I can Dekka, and a part of me does hate your very presence, but that doesn't matter," She spoke slowly, still looking down at her bag. She rubbed her face before looking over at Dekka. She reached out and touched his forehead with the back of her hand.
"You still feel warm."
"Part of you?" His mouth split open into a toothy grin. "Maybe the heats for you?" he teased."The part of you that hates that you love me."
"Is that what you want to hear Dekka? Something else that is going to feed your ego? If you knew me as well as you think, you would know I would never let myself fall for someone like you. You are no good for me, just another attachment that would definitely get me killed. Not to mention you are a womanizer who would never love me, would never be faithful, and most importantly, whose heart belongs to another. I would be a fool to let myself fall for a man like you, and I am no fool," She spoke coolly, looking him directly in the eye.
"But sometimes we have no choice who our heart picks." And he looked her in the eyes, most serious when he spoke it.
She might not admit she is no fool, but her actions spoke louder than her words-
and she wouldn't be the only fool standing here- after all, what sort of love life did he have? Sure it could give him fame- but what about all of the fights,t he danger? Sure he reveled in it- but he certainly wasn't getting any younger, and these things, certainly no easier.
And here, he took her arm suddenly.
"If there was no other woman..." he went on. "Do you even think we could keep up this dance?"
It was perhaps due to the fact he had such a ... stressful other relationship, he looked forward to this once in a while run ins with Vangie. Sure, it didn't seem like something serious- but in a world full of thieves, her type seemed to make more sense than the woman whom his heart ached for.
Evangeline looked at Dekka, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her lips, a spark of fire dancing in her eyes, still, she looked sad.
"There will always be another women Dekka, so the world, nor us will ever know. As you said, sometimes we have no choice who our heart picks," She spoke looking him directly in the eyes.
His eyes never left her, a hand raising to cup her cheek. Perhaps it was brought on out of fever, out of need, but he said nothing, and leaned forward and kissed her- and kissed her with need.
For a short moments Evangeline kissed back. Her lips melting against his, her heart and her head in a savage war against one another. The kiss stole her breath, made her body tingle, made her want to lay in his arms and forget the rest of the world. She wouldn't though. She wouldn't admit she was in love and she couldn't let what was happening happen.
So it took all the strength she had, she pulled away. She turned her back to Dekka, if he saw her face she knew that he would know without a doubt she was in love with the horrible, despicable, egotistical, arrogant man. If he say the pain that pulling away from him caused, or the hint of tears that gathered in her eyes.
"No Dekka," She spoke, her voice husky and dark.
She would haven to wean herself off the man, she just didn't know how.
"No?" he looked over at her, and it didn't take a genius to sense how heavy and tense the air was between them. That only drove him to move forward all the more.
"But you kissed back..." he said, breath on her neck.
Evangeline shivered. Of course he wouldn't just let it go, he had to keep pushing, he always had to push everything to there limits and then beyond. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You know why Dekka," She said simply, not daring to turn around and face him, knowing she would melt.
He just kissed at her shoulder, then again, lips moving to her neck, slowly. So he was hot with fever, that never stopped him from wanting to get with a girl.
"Dekka! No" Evangeline said pulling away. She turned, facing Dekka.
"We had our fun but I'm not that person anymore. I've changed! I am in the middle of a war and not because I am fucking the grand duchess but because I am trying to save my family. How easily you forget."
"Fun is just fun, Vangie," he told her, staring at her back. "Would it fucking hurt you if we just had some sex? I mean real, fucking sex, not just that heated stuff on the roof of that building."
"I can't right now okay, sex wouldn't just be sex for me. I am too vulnerable, too open. Not to mention. I am not some fucking booty call. If you want a fucking piece of ass go back to your bitch and have her tend to your wounds and nurse you back to health when you were on the brink of death!" Evangeline spoke, growing frustrated as she moved away from Dekka. She put her head in her hands. She took a deep unsteady breath.
As she moved away, he grabbed her by her arm and forced her to look his way. He could see in her expression how it tormented her so. But somehow, that only aided him to do it anyway, as he moved forward to kiss her again.
"It wouldn't just be sex.." he growled. "Let me show you how a man makes love."
Because, fuck - he needed it, and even if he knew Evangeline was no Kathryn- he did have some feelings for her and he could at least pay her back with his body- show her how a real man takes care of a lady. After that...
Well if she wanted to forget him- well.. he supposed she could.
Evangeline joined the kiss for a few moments, once again melting against Dekka. Still she pulled away, but not far, she placed her forehead against his.
"I don't know Dekka," She said softly, she was finding it harder and harder to fight against his charms and will.
"What does your body say?" he asked, peering into her face. "Sometimes you just have to listen to that..." And he stroked her cheek. "Would you deny your lips a drink if you were thirsty? Think of it as a drink we both need."
"I would not drink if what was offered was poison," She whispered huskily back. She wanted Dekka, but most women did. He knew what he was doing simply because he had lots of practice. She leaned into his touch slightly, closing her eyes.
He moved a hand to brush her hair from her face.
"Some poisons won't kill you," he growled before claiming her lips, hands finding her body and feasting on it. Gods, it felt so good to touch her. He needed this moment so badly, he could burst.
Evangeline let her hands roam over his form gently, keeping in mind he was still injured and rather delicate. She would enjoy the moment, she would enjoy him and what he was offering her and then she would get him out of the cursed forest and disappear. He was too much for her poor little heart to handle.
His kisses scorched across her skin like a fire as he tasted her flesh. Hands moved over her, tugging her clothing and working at whatever buttons and strings he had to do to remove them. But his lips never once stopped kissing, and the fever he had seemed over powered by the fever of his loins.
Evangeline moved her hands along with his undoing buttons and loosening strings and yanking clothing off so she could feel her skin against his. His kisses were intoxicating, and his touch even more so.
Once he felt her shirt come open, he pushed it open revealing her breasts, which he hungrily devoured, taking one breath into his mouth and nursed on it- then used his large hand to fondle the other. As he did so, he began to guide her down onto the ground- and he hiked up her shirt and now let his hands wander up and down her thighs as his erection was more than evident in the front of his tight pants.
Gods he needed her. But he'd take his time- even if he wanted to do her like an animal.
Evangeline's back arched as she pressed herself against him, this was definitely different then the time before. He was taking his time, taking his time to tease her and make her want him more than she already did, to the point she was practically begging for him.
For over an hour he pleased her until both would fall into an exhausted heap. Sweat dripped down his body, and if he were feverish before, it was hardly noticeable at this point for he had become feverish after making love. His long hair was slick and suctioned to his body, his braid- beginning to come lose as he lay there before her, nestled in close with an arm draped over her. It felt so good, and he needed a fuck like that.
And he knew he shouldn't. But he couldn't help himself. He was attracted to Evangeline- there was no denying that. But was she really just a fuck toy? A woman he wanted to seduce when he wasn't chasing after the Grand Duchess's skirt?
It would be far easier to pursue Evangeline, that was for sure- and he actually liked hte fact she 'hated' him. It made breaking her all the more fun- and the sex after wards...
Well, he was sure to both of them it was more than satisfying.
Kissing at her neck, he released a satisfied sigh.
"We should do this more often."
Evangeline was satisfied, that was undeniable, but inside, inside she was a wreck, an absolute mess. She had a hurricane of emotions roaring in her head, and they could be read on her face. No matter how satisfied she was, how good the sex was, it only managed to magnified the roar of emotions she felt.
She didn't say anything to his remark, finding that silence would probably better than telling him no or saying anything else that would ruin his mood.
He noticed her expression.. and the silence....
It would be a lie for him to say it did not tie a knot in his gut, but he played it off with a cool smile and smoothed her hair back from her face. But he said nothing, and moved to kiss at her shoulder, thinking back to what just happened- and the time before. Yes, he seduced her... but they both had wanted this.
Then why was even HE feeling guilty? Even after such incredible sex?
"I don't think we should do this again," Evangeline spoke softly, breaking the silence.
"It was amazing, but I can't do this anymore," She continued, she herself didn't even sound like she believed what she was saying. She looked at him, letting out a deep sigh.
"Ill help you get out of this forest, and make sure your better, but after that I don't think I can see you anymore," She added.
Dekka was quiet, evidently thinking over what she said as his green eyes moved. Then he gave her one of his smirks.
"You think it'd be that easy? Unless you leave Connlaoth, I have a feeling we'll see one another again."
"Well if I see you I will turn the other way and walk away. We aren't good for each other Dekka," Evangeline spoke looking away from Dekka. He might think she was kidding, but she wasn't. After she found the remaining of her family there she had all intentions of leaving.
And at that- he laughed.
"All women say that."
Even the one he loved.
"I mean it Dekka," She spoke, her voice stern and serious.
She let out a deep sigh, he didn't understand how serious she was. She planned on leaving Connloath as soon as she could find the rest of her family, which would make never seeing him again easier, though still not easy. It was something so bittersweet.
"Just like you meant it right before we fucked?" He moved forward, grabbing for her hand. "Come on, Vangie. You shouldn't be angry over this. It was mutual- and we both fucking needed it."
"I am not angry Dekka, I just, I can't do this again," Evangeline said as she sat up and pulled away. She frowned, sitting up, looking down at Dekka. His words seeming to hurt her and it was clear on her face.
"What does piss me off is that you think i'm some how joking and you aren't taking me seriously. I can leave you in this damn forest," She spoke crossing her arms.
At that, Dekka peered up at her, noting the expression as he just remained on the ground and sighed.
"But then all of your hard work would go to waste.." he mused, closing his eyes tiredly.
"Well you are going to go out and get yourself hurt or even killed again next time you have a withdrawal and need a piece of ass from your sweet heart," Evangeline said with a deep sigh pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You suggesting I find easier prey?" he said, leering her.
"I don't care what you do, that is your choice," Evangeline said shaking her head.
"Such strong and poetic words, Vangie. Maybe I should just tag along with you. We could turn this game into something a bit more kinky."
"You know what Dekka, you can find your own way out of this damn forest. Hope you don't run into any wraiths while you hobble along. I hope she is worth everything you are, you life and soul, because that is what you will have to give up to have her. How will you feel when she starts having the Duke's babies instead of yours, or when she calls out his name instead of yours, she will love him, she doesn't love you, she will never love you. She is using you as much as you are using her, as much as you use me, as much as you use every woman you come into contact with. You will die a lonely death, no one to love you, no children, it will be like you never existed. You fame will fade, and a bigger badder thief will come along, and not even your name will be remembered," Evangeline spat out in anger and disgust.
Despite the sting in her voice, he laughed. And he laughed from his belly, even if the laugh was dry.
"We can't let all.of your hard work go to waste. Perhaps I should stop being a prick and just let you rescue me. After all,this story's not going to have a happy ending. You said so yourself." And well, he knew it as well as she. He played adangerous game. He.might as well be drinking poison.
Evangeline's face turned stoic as she looked down at Dekka.
"Dekka, save yourself. I am done. As you said we had our fun, and I am smart enough to know that was all I am for you. Just like that is all you are for the Grand Duchess. I am going to leave now, I have more important things to do than baby sit you. I came here for my family and I still have work to do. I repaid my debt, I owe you nothing else," She spoke turning on her heels.
As she moved to leave he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, where he kissed her hard on the mouth.
"This might be a fling, but I still care for.you, Vangie. Remember me as I was before, and not this weak sod you see.me as now."
Evangeline was stunned, she had just expected to make her leave, and for him to let her.
"I need someone who can care for me more than a man like you could ever manage," She spoke, her eyes dropping to the ground before she pulled a charm off from around her neck and placed it around Dekka's.
"This will keep the wraiths away, just don't travel at night," She said softly before once again turning to leave.
And once again he took her hand and pulled her back to him as he kissed her again, and slipped the necklace back on her.
"You have more reasons to live than I. And the King of thieves will not be killed now. Not when the stories about to get good."
"Dekka, take the damn charm," She said sternly as she slipped the charm back off and tossed it at Dekka.
"Think of it as a way to remember me," She said as she once again pulled away.
But he didn't let her go and pulled her back , smirking as he held her close and dropped the charm into her cleavage.
"Whoops, seems Ive lost it."
"A pain in my ass up till the very end I see," She said with a sigh. She didn't try to fight him this time. If he wanted to get himself killed she knew she couldn't do anything about it, he was too hard headed.
With his hand still holding her's, he kept her close, but pulled her closer but stopped just before it appeared as though he might kiss her, but simply stared into her eyes and gently brushed her hair from her face.
"Dekka, let me go," Evangeline whispered softly.
She looked away, Dekka was a heart breaker, there was definitely no denying that.
And that's when he kissed her, really kissed her good as both hands cupped her face.
Evangeline enjoyed the kiss, but then pulled away, if she let him Dekka would just keep it up and never let her go.
"Bye Dekka."
"Goodbye," And this time he didn't hold her back.
It was hard for Evangeline to walk away, though she would never admit it. It made her heart hurt, but she didn't turn around, and didn't look back. She had to stay focused on her family. Dekka, he was a distraction that would take her down a path that would just lead to death or more heart ache.