It was a night like any other and the cigar smoke billowed up lazily from the ashes as a large hand dashed it out at last remaining tufts of ash hanging from it into the small crystal tray and leaned the half smoked cigar leaning against the dipped side to keep it from rolling off and burning the hardwood floors. Up and out the smoke clouded into the evening air. The city always looked beautiful by star light. And if there was anyone that could appreciate beauty, it was Jude Armand.
The smoke danced until complete dissipation, and a cool wind fluttered the curtains of the slightly opened balcony door. He sat on his terrace of his townhouse, a parting gift from an old acquaintance of quiet repute and one he thought of in that moment. Enjoying the view on the second floor of his three-floor home wasn't something he did often. But he felt on a night like this, with the way the stars were blanketed out over the city as it held in its quiet tension, he couldn't afford to miss it.
There was something about the air that gave him a sense of calm. A new client would be coming tonight, as the message sent by courier stated. A friend of a friend, one that shall not be named, was sending another prospective client by the name of Lilia Thames, or so the note stated as well. He carefully folded the note, following its familiar creases and tucked it away underneath the ashtray. A new client mean new expectations. Though he couldn't say those were quite on his part; he was just going through the motions. And there would be the same old questions, trepidations, and even fears. But if all went well, and there was little worry that it wouldn't, well...that remained to be seen.
The same thoughts ran through his head as to the strings attached to any new client and just what they entailed as far as he was concerned. Her husband no doubt was in a position of some import. And he obviously wasn't taking care of business, or else he'd be out of business. That was usually how the story went. Of course there was more to it than that. He wasn't afraid to pull in a certain favor if he needed it now and again. That and it always helped to collect a little dirt and dust from time to time.
If one was paying attention, they would be amazed at all the secrets and stories that could be amassed from the noble families of this great and powerful land. Of course power was only as useful as one's will to use it. And there was little the same rich and powerful wouldn't do to keep those secrets locked away. It helped to keep his collection as discreet as possible; people didn't like others knowing things about them that they wouldn't readily tell the local Churchman. And there of course, were always others who were more than willing to get their hands on particular pieces of information and would pay a high price for it. But Jude could never be sure just how much he wanted to sell it for.
The time piece in his hand opened with a click as he checked the time. It was getting nearer eleven o'clock, the time the note said Miss Thames would be arriving. Jude didn't waste much more time in closing the time piece and putting it away and grabbing what items he'"d taken out with him on the balcony, closing the door, and putting each back where it belonged and dashing out the cigar. It didn't take long for him to get ready, a quick rinse and clean clothes, fresh and pressed trousers with a starched shirt and polished boots, soon completed by a simple doublet with gold-inlaid buttons.
He stared into his mirror and raised each brow, time and again, testing which look seemed better suited, but he supposed it was much too soon for a smoulder. Those could be reserved for later dates. For now, he returned downstairs to the foyer, awaiting the chime of the bell to signal the arrival of his guest.
Jude Armand, male courtesan, played at games well. Or so she heard. But everything now was a dangerous game since the start of the war. Not only was one of the Free Folk's inside sources at great risk, but it seemed a man, probably ignorant to what information he might posses, could expose Renna Cartiste for what she truly was. It wasn't like Renna's powers were obvious, but if anyone captured or decoded any of her secret messages she sent out from each nobleman's home she had stayed, then she could be hanged for siding with the enemy. Or beheaded.
So for today, Jinai was going to play pretend. The dress she wore was extravagant, and the woman she stole it from would (hopefully) not miss it, since it was no longer 'a la mode'. But with a few alterations, it worked wonders on her, a ruffling red dress that was embroidered in chains of silvers and dotted with lines of real diamonds that dazzled as they captured the sun. A veil was swathed over her head, exposing only her green eyes and little else, for a decorative hood blended into a fashionable hat was fastened over top of her hair, so the only indication of her hair color were the dark blonde brows she possessed.
Jude Armand...
She repeated the name inside her head so as to commit it to memory. She was a 'new client' for him; a lady of means, and a lady of money, and she practiced playing pretend for this role for a solid week. Then again, if any sense of doubt was plotted, she had an armory of stories to use against him. Besides, not everyone knew the secrets of the well- to- do. And she knew they had quite a number of them. It seemed Renna was always too pleased to share with her that sort of intel with a giggle or two. The girl was cute, innocent even, and it seemed the war was hardly affecting her. Did she not realize how much in danger she was? Then again, the same could be said about Jinai Rinstgate. But then again, she cared little for herself.
As the carriage approached, she gestured towards Mursh, her 'valet' so he could slow. The bay horses paused outside the door, and Mursch came around to the side, opening the door to let Jinai out. Stepping outside, her green eyes instantly went up towards the large window here she saw the silouhette of a man above. It seems he was waiting for her.
Good. Perhaps they could get down to business quickly.
The sound of horse hooves clop-clopping on city pavement was enough to signal her arrival. By carriage no less, he thought, how extravagant. But he couldn't help his smirk. It wasn't uncommon for newcomers to want to show off their wealth and status even in the dead of night. It was nothing on his part to complain, money was money after all and those that came here usually owed their visitation to some degree of unhappiness or dissatisfaction in their lives. Money could apparently only buy so much. And it was not his place to remark or make reply.
He peered through the curtain nearest the window and saw a woman exit from the carriage and approach his door. He brushed a hand through his hair and cleared his throat, straightening his collar before approaching the door as well. The bell chimed and he waited approximately ten seconds as usual before opening the door.
He peered at the lady, lovely as she was and gave a gracious bow of his head. "Ms. Thames, I presume," he greeted with a warm smile. "Please, come in."
At her name, 'Lilia Thames' rose her head. Her green eyes took him in with scrutiny before she nodded and replied, "And you're Jude Armand, the entertainment?" A subtle sparkle glossed across her eyes as she turned away from him and began to look around the manor. She supposed this place was as good as any. But my oh my, he had a flare of extravagance here. He must have a lot of patrons. ANd that sent even more ideas inside her head. Oh the dirt she might be able to uncover here. Then, turning back to him, she gave an impatient sigh.
"Will you show me around or not? The hours of night are quickly waning. Or are your expertise elsewhere that you prefer just looking?"
Jude chuckled at her impatience and gave a nod. "The night is young and long," he replied. "And there is plenty of time to look around. Follow me." He lead her inside and then peered at her valet. "I'm afraid your valet will have to wait outside. House rules, no exceptions. I can provide all the help you'll need. Now, sir if you please," he waited for Mursch to depart before closing the door behind him.
Jinai gave a look towards Mursh before he nodded and stepped away, the door closing before him. With him gone, Jinai smiled easily, though Jude would only be able to see it through her eyes as she turned around and nodded towards Jude.
"Lead the way."
He gave a smirk when he back was turned, one that quickly faded as he turned to lead the way through the foyer. His house was quite large, even for this part of the capital, and it seemed he was more well off than most upper-class families that occupied this area. But construction was far more tight-knit to be effectively residential and there were more quiet shops around than one might expect.
The foyer was lavish with a chaise lounge and a sofa surrounding a fireplace and a drinking cabinet in the corner. The stairs rose up to the second floor, curving around with a maple bannister and hardwood floors tracing up all the way. Ornate paintings were strategically placed to add to the décor, most of them of some natural landscape and one of an evening view of Reajh which resided at the top of the stairs.
Jude moved toward a door at the side of the foyer and opened it for her, allowing her to go through. It was a reading room, lined with all manner of books and tomes of a private and public collection. "The kitchens lead just through there in a roundabout fashion. I don't have many servants as you can imagine. Just a chamber maid and two cooks, one for breakfast and dinner. They've all gone home as of now, but I don't think that should be too much of an issue. Please, would you mind a bottle of wine? I have quite an assortment. I think I know just the right one for the occasion."
He led her into the kitchens and opened a small wine cabinet beside the pantry and found a small, round bottle with ornate letters on it, an import of some sort and pulled too glasses from the rafters. He held the glasses in his hand and moved through another door that led back to a back staircase, smaller and obviously mostly used by the servants. "Let me show you upstairs," he said with a small smile. "But please, go on, tell me a little about yourself. What are your interests? What brought you here? And how may I help you?"
Jinai took in the place with wonder. So if she wanted to whore herself out to nobleman and ladies, she could have all of this? He was living like a prince, and a part o fher got pinched with envy. So when he asked about the whine,s he had just the sort of plan in place to play up her roll. She turned her nose to the air and looked him over.
"How would you know what wine is appropriate? We've but met."
Then at his inquiry, she let her frown deepen.
"What else would bring a woman of my standing here? I seek a companion elsewhere I can not. And I've heard... good things about you." She eyed him suspiciously. "Though are you really here to hear about my sad story? I'm pretty sure my kind are one in the same. The husband is useless, has about ten other women on the side, and there's no other escape but to seek the same." And she turned from him, finding herself more convincingly flustered than she'd like. Then again, the genuine rosy cheeks would help lend a more truthful face to her role.
jude walked up the stairs calmly and let her speak on as he did so. He occasionally turned around to face her and gave her a knowing glance when they reached the second floor. He gave the right nods here and there as he led her into the second foyer above that opened to the balcony and overlooked the city. "I know only this particular bottle has a ripe flavor to it, best appreciated before midnight. The rumor is that it is magically fermented in serendipity with inly the sweetest grapes. I think, considering the time of night, it'd be a nice treat to enjoy. And perhaps establish a new client. But we'll get to that."
He gestured for her to have a seat if she pleased on the lounge and proceeded to twist the corkscrew into the stopper. He smiled at her question. "You would be surprised," he chuckled. "But each one is different. And if you wanted a distraction, it is the height of fashion for ladies these days to take up crochet or perhaps even some game I heard called golf." He turned to look at her and uncorked the wine bottle with a pop, smoke emerging from the lid. "People come here for many reasons," He replied thoughtfully, with just the hint of a coy smirk. "They come for company, certainly. Sometimes all they want is an open ear. Both are important facets of my vocation. And I don't mind at all. Please go on. What kind of work does your husband do?"
"I'd rather not speak about my husband." She said shortly, but had taken the seat he suggested, her eyes on the wine bottle before she looked up at him. Her face was still hidden, her eyes the only thign visible beneath her veil and wrap before she gave an uneasy sigh. She didn't know why, but the moment she met him, his presence irritated her. It would be interesting if she had to bed him. But for now, she had to find a way to get him to trust her, or at least play this part out until she knew if Jude knew what everyone thought he might know about Renna...
There was a strange air about his new guest. But if it irritated him or put him off, he did not show it. While it wasn't uncommon for potential clients to get nervous or antsy on the first meeting, there was something in her body language that signalled to Jude she was putting him on. But the qquestioned remained: why?
Jude poured her a glass an offered it for her to take if she so desired. He gave a smile and sat down across from her. "Very well," he went on. "Perhaps we should get down to why you're really here then. Take off that veil so that I may speak to you frankly, face to face. Now tell me what are your likes and dislikes? Are there certain anamolies I should be aware of?" He narrowed his eyes at her and gave a tilt of his head.
Was this how all courtesan's were? Sadly, Jinai just assumed this meeting would be a quick romp in bed and a few hasty after math pillow talk as she shifted uneasily in her chair. Take off her veil? She supposed that was a start; and being as they weren't anywhere in public so others could see her face, she slowly lifted a hand to remove it.
"Do all men like you simply like to... talk?" though she didn't want to sound irritated, she did. Then again, she could play that up in her role, could she not?
Jude gave a smile at her words, and it craftily touched his eyes but he gave no warmth by it. Some clients expected as much from the first meeting, but this was but an introduction. And by her hasty irritation, cleverly veiled as was her face, Jude remained in tune with her every word. He smiled and took a sip from his glass and leaned back, crossing his legs. He eyes her a little and recognized the nose of her face but made no show of it.
"Sensitively prudent when choosing a wine and yet quick to skip to baser subjects. We only just met," he muttered without a smile. "Is there something wrong with getting to know you before we make this official? And to answer your question, no, not all men do. Frankly because there aren't many like me."
Yes, she decided she didn't much like this man. With his frilly house and wine and 'talking', she shifted again uncomfortably as he looked at her, unveiled and smoothed a hand down her skirts. Hopefully, most of the sweat would be wiped away.
"Yes, I am aware of your qualifications, though I hadn't expected some of them to be... true."
Or rather, she hadn't come to realize what they entailed. She'd have to ensure she stuck to whatever story she was making up on the fly as she lifted her wine glass to her lips and sipped at her leisure.
"And there's nothing wrong with it." She paused, feeling her brow twitch a little as she added, in honesty. "Just a bit unexpected."
Gods, she'd better not ruin this. The look on his face... he was so passive and calm.
SHe wanted to punch it in.
OOC: Looooooooooooooooooool
I dunno why it amuses me that she somehow hates him for what he is, even though she has no good reason to XD
[Cause he knows she's up to something and purposefully giving her the ring around. XD I'd hate his guts too.]
Jude took a long drink from his glass and said nothing for the longest moment, letting his eyes assess her. Suddenly he put it down and stood up from the opposite sofa, walking around the table toward her. "Then perhaps it's time we got to something that you do expect." He held out his hand to her. "You want to do business, then let's do business."
Jinai stared at his hand for a moment before rising and making a face.
"I don't think we're quite at that stage in our game," she told him with a frown. "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself first."
Jude narrowed his eyes at her and rested his hand. "I am a man for hire," he said simply. "I am paid to accompany others, to serve as catalysts of coversation, and anything else I may be asked to do. I know at least four different languages and am educated on the current politics and events and histories past. I grew up in the east and found a better place here in the capital. What more do you want to know?"
Jinai took his narrowed gaze as a challenge and glared back.
"We could start off by how many other 'patrons' you have. And... What your specialties might be? I heard a lot of men in your position actually prefer dogs." And she was letting her anger get the better of her. But she could remain calm. It was all part of the.guise anyways, or so she'd say to herself.
He gave a smirk and tilted his head. It quickly disappeared. "Now that, my dear lady, would be telling. I wouldn't be at liberty to say anyway," he answered quickly. "As for my specialties, I'll do anything you want me to do, within a few considerations. I do have standards. But bestiality is far too messy and there are barnyards for such practices. My specications include me being just shy of six feet, the result of good breeding, and am mid-weight for a man of my stature. I'm flexible, fit and well-endowed. And it's not really my style but if it's yours, kinks are extra," he replied unfazed. "Anything else?"
The fact that he was unphased grated on her nerves and she tried to hide back an eye twitch.
Then again, she needed to compose her temper. Why was she so upset anyways? This was a game, she needed to start stepping it up. Then again, formalities were a necessity for this role...
She still visibly frowned as she looked at him.
"You state the obvious, I meant to ask more... in depth questions. Then again, perhaps you know enough about depth?"
He successfully resisted the urge to laugh in her face at the tension he could readily see growing in her eyes. But he cooled down and took another sip of his own wine. He softened his expression but did not smile and sat down on the armrest of the lounge. "I know enough about depth as I need," he replied, guaging her. "But ask and you shall receive. I'll do my best to answer. What is it that you want to know?" He crossed his arms over his chest, to represent a non-antagonistic front and relaxed his shoulders, watching her a little out of the corner of his eye. Yes from a profile's view she did seem a little more familiar. Though wanted posters didn't do her much justice.
She didn't like the way he was staring, nor the way he carried his nonchalance. Never before had she wanted to abandon a mission more. But then again, Renna's life was at stake. That alone cooled her off as she sighed.
"Forgive my temper. I have been quite soured lately," she admitted, and it would play both as an in character role, and out. She was still aching over the loss of her brother, and for those who had died during the fall...
and ever since the war, she had been stretched every which way, and with her face plastered all over town (thanks to that idiot, Torak, who gave her hell when she was mourning- that ignorant, selfish buffoon...), she barely had a moments reprieve. Part of her was crawling beneath her skin. She should have left her veil on. Then agian, if she had to sleep wiht the enemy, he'd be seeing more than her face.
She drew in a careful breath, calming herself before she exhaled, looking him over with her green eyes.
"I'm looking for a confident." she said. "Someone I can trust... someone that can sate those needs when my husband is away."
She felt so dirty saying those words. If she had ever calmed down long enough to get married, certaintly she'd never pull a heist like this. Why else get married? Then again, wiht the rich, it was all politics. Perhaps it paid to be poor. Then again..
jealousy was still mounting at the wealth sparkling all around her.
Seriously, he just beds noble women and he has a fucking palace for a house.
Some men had all the luck.
Jude sat there on the armrest, letting his eyes drift to the the floor as he listened and nodded. He shrugged slightly, narrowing his eyes when he finally looked back up at her. "It's all right," he shrugged. "It's not unusual for first-timers to grow anxious. But that's the name of the job."
He stood up and relaxed his arms once more. "Then perhaps I can fulfill what you're looking for. Discretion is everything after all. Shall we talk business?" Something in her stance bothered him, but he did his best not to show it. With her face plastered all over town, he knew there was more to her story than she was letting on. He could only treat this as nothing more than business, and see where it lead from there.
[His house is not that big, lol. He doesn't live in a mansion. It's just a townhouse, tall but narrowly built. it just happens to be a really nice townhouse.]
Jinai frowned as the conversation went back to business. For once,s he didn't feel like having sex, and felt uncomfortable. What was it about this man that kept her steely inside? She looked him over, then away, thinking about how he was to use her for money, and she, to use him for information. Perhaps it was that...
That they were both on the same level, in some strange way..
and were both just 'using' the other. In most of her scenarios, only one side was using the other...
or it was a mutual game of play.
"Got any stronger drinks?" she found herself asking. Wine just wasn't going to be enough to get through this.
Jude smiled at her for once. But where he as going through the motions, he sensed a growing tension in her and that in itself made him unsettled. But he took a breath and gave a smile and moved toward the liquor cabinet beside them.
"Of couse," he said. He pulled out fresh glasses and several decanters of different alcohols. "What's your poison?" He poured her requested drink and handed it over to her. He frowned, looking at her eyes.
"We don't have to get started right away," he said. "Perhaps we should discuss more of what it is that brought you here. You mentioned a need that your husband could not satisfy." He felt his stomach grow cold and his eyes grew discerning as if he could peel away her flesh just by looking at her. "You came to me because you need something. Something only I can provide."
They went over this a dozen times.
He likes those that are playful, just use your charm and you'll be fine.
She remembered Renna's words clearly with a frown, and she was only frowning because of the memory it stirred. She had been so coy back then, so why was it that when she was in his presence, she wanted to have nothing to do with this man?
Narrowing her gaze, she sighed. It was time to play the playful cat, not the feisty one as she afforded Jude a grin.
"Well, my husband has many lovers, it seems a wife was simply not enough. I couldnt produce him an heir, so he's been... working elsewhere. And he beats me ripe hard for it. Let's just say... I'm looking for a means to escape and be free of that life..." and she looked him over contemplatively for a moment before gesturing," Why don't you take off your clothes so I can inspect what you say? You claim to be well endowed, having a body fit for a God, or whatever it is others make claims about you. Surely, you would not be shy with me now, if I were to remain as a client of yours. And you will forgive me for wanting to inspect the goods, first?"
She raised her drink to her lips, raising a brow at him to see if he'd meet with her challenge before taking in a good, long, burning gulp of her drink.
Jude had made no mention of it, but the desire to play games had long since burnt out, and his face remained the same placid façade it had always been. He was beginning to irk from the sheer fact that his guest had managed to fool him thus far, but had yet to make her point of it. He wasn't sure he was prepared to know what it was she truly wanted, but her body language and lack of eye contact - save for now - made a point that it wasn't something he was going to like.
His smirk came and went as she missed the point of his question; if it wasn't obvious already that he was a little more than familiar with her face. He watched her take her drink and his eyes flashed a little as he watched the liquid course past her lips. She drank the hard stuff like nobody's business - and it certainly wasn't his. But he knew plenty of people that drank like that; it was a habit readily developed by an equally hard life. Everyone had their poison.
He straightened and took another sip of his wine before reaching for the buttons of his shirt. He removed the gilded clasps that held his collar together and carefully unbuttoned it. But before he pulled it off, he gestured to her. "One article in exchange for one of yours," he said, his eyes becoming hard, accepting her challenge. He gestured to her shawl and the shoulder straps of her dress. He then pulled the shirt tails from out of his pants and slipped his shirt off.
She noted the change in his demeanor, more so now than before; and didn't let her own subtle gaze remove from his as she simply obliged, shrugging off the shawl, and letting it fall to the ground with no finesse.
Jude furrowed his brow and smirked a little as he watched the shawl flutter to the ground. He took a seat and removed his freshly oiled boots, setting them aside and eyeing her in silence for a moment. He stepped in and moved around her, reaching for the ties of her dress, and pulled the knot loose with a deft hand.
She considered telling him off, that if he were to remove his boots that next, for her, ought to be her shoes, but something stirred within her; a wild attraction she should do well to ignore. But the danger tantalized her, and before she knew it... Her clothing fell to the ground.
What was she doing? Something about his look and words from earlier sent a coldness that settled into her belly. No, this was too dangerous. He was sifting her out, breaking through her guise with his mere looks and a sharp eye for detail.
Maybe they should have sent someone else...
For now, Jinai's hands smoothed across the perfection of his bare chest, those green eyes of hers averting his as her hands traveled south, and soon his pants dropped to the floor, joining her pile of skirts.
No words could pass through his lips. He pursed them with some passing tension and his eyes glittered with their flecks of gold in the dull and dim lighting of the room. He was ready to tear through her, this stranger that dare invade his home. But he fought with his mind where most fought with hands and blades and weapons of bloody brutality.
He stayed silent, like a sentinel when she touched him and smoothed her hands across his chest. His breath caught, but it was just a natural reaction to such a motion, he told himself. When he felt his pants pool around his ankles, a chill passed through him. He reached up and brushed his hands across her cheeks, moving what hair remained out of the way.
He didn't meet her eyes, but he watched her look away long enough. Before he knew leaned in and pecked at her lips, nipping at her bottom lip, testing the waters, tasting the tinting just upon their soft roundness a few times here and there.
She came here for answers, but what was going on was sin. She had to remind herself she was another person as her lips naturally reacted to his kiss by deepening it, her body leaning into his as she gasped through their kiss, her body and lips pressing tighter to him as her hands roamed all over his body.
Damn him for his good smell, his rich taste, his handsome face. Damn him for pissing her off and putting her into heat.
But it was just a game... Just a game... And as she felt the rising swell of his sex against her legs, she opened eagerly for him from where she stood, breaking his lips only to turn the angle of her face, and to breath before diving into another long, hard kiss.
A soft breath of a moan escaped him as his lips tasted hers. She had a spice to her, that lingered on his tongue as he ran it across hers, feeling the warm hollows of her mouth. She was a lot better at this than he expected and it raised another question of doubt that she was really the lady she claimed to be. Even the most 'social' of his clients were made timid around him. But damn, was it a relief to finally have someone who knew what the hell they were doing.
Jude turned his hands down her side, feeling his sex grow powerful with need, feeling along her inner thigh. His wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his palms into the heat of her flesh and down her rear, lifting her legs up onto his hips. But he did not enter her, he waited, merely brushing the length of him across her sex and moved away from the foyer, holding her upon his hips as his legs moved toward the stairs, stepping carefully up to his room on the third floor.
He paused just at the door, pushing it softly ajar with one hand, while pressing her back against the wall, shifting himself underneath her. His eyes stared at her for a time before he kissed her hotly and powerfully and entered his bedroom.
[M for M things]
OOC: All the matures
--------------
Her thighs clung tightly around his waist, and with his sex so close to her as she were jostled up the stairs, he'd be able to tell how slick and wet she had become. She was in heat, and needed sex now more than ever, and the moment they entered his room, her lips and hands were all ove rhim wildly.
"Fuck me," she begged, her voice husky when she broke a kiss, only to smash her lips against his for another one. Her hands gripped into his hair. "I want you to make me scream."
Well, this wasn't exactly how this situation was to pan out, but something about Jude Armand drove her crazy, and despite not liking him at all, something about his presence got under her skin, riled her up to no end and she found herself completely at the mercy of her basic desires around him.
Maybe he was a mage as well, one that could seduce women by his mere presence, either way, as she kissed him, she found herself in a heated high and shoved her tongue deeply inside his mouth, tongue wrestling with his, hands gripping and feeling all over his body.
Gods... he'd better give her everything she needed.
She was a paying customer, after all!
His own state wasn't any better off as she grabbed him and pulled him and made his lips sore all over. It was all part of the job wasn't it? He was just going through the motions and this was just another client. But that didn't stop him from tearing at her lips with a hunger of his own.
"As you wish," he groaned against her lips. All ready a dampness had enveloped his skin, the result of the close proximity of their shared body heat and a pleased shiver coursed through him when he felt the heat of her sex. He teased her, brushing the tip of it just before it, tantaling her for a time, sinking his teeth into her lips at the same time.
It wasn't magic, to bear such a forbidden thing in a land that relished only money and might. To make himself all the more vulnerable to the people he associated with. Jude would never give his enemies the satisfaction. But for now, he might make a momentary exception.
He curled his back enough to drop his mouth to her chest, sucking on her left breast. He wasted no more time and lifted her body up to meet his, sitting up on his knees, as he slammed into her, a powerful thrust that went in deeply, so that she could feel every inch of him.
Her lips broke his the moment he slipped inside her as she gasped for breath, clinging to him and moaning into his ear loudly. Lips moved the nurse up his neck, hands smoothing across his back as she took in and let her body drink everyinch of him. He wasn't lying when he proclaimed to be well endowed, but that wasn't what drove her crazy. Fingernails scraped and dug into his skin, so did her teeth as she moved with intense need and frustration.
"Come on," she growled against his lips. "I said I wanted to scream."
A laugh excaped him and Jude just couldn't help but be amused by her demand. He groaned at the feel of her teeth. It wasn't the first time and it certainly wasn't going to be the last to have his body suffer such abuse. But if that's what she wanted, that's what she wanted. And in her growing frustration, Jude pulled out completely before ramming back into her hard. He repeated the process until he got into a rhythm, pistoning into her like a powerful machine.
Eyes fluttering, they hung low and she felt his body move in and out of her. Panting, she pressed herself closely, digging in her nails as she released a deep throated moan. But she refused to scream, even as it was evident within each deep throated moan there was the edge of a scream, she kept holding back and gripped onto him tighter, both inside and out.
Jude peered at her and made a face, despite knowing she was on the edge of a scream with each moan. He shifted his hip, to better allow each thrust to explore her body, seeking each sweet spot, moving harder, making each thrust more potent. "Why hold back?" he whsipered to her, wondering if she was resisting her screams to spite him or herself. "Don't fight it..."
Jinai had started out growling at him but it quickly turned into a deep throated moan.
"N-no," she managed to growl, gripping onto him as she planted. "It won't be that easy."
Or rather, she felt as if she couldn't let him win this. She wanted him to collapse into a pathetic heap after this. It would make drugging him all the easier. Then she could get down to her real business her. But damn him if he wasn't skilled. Thankfully, she had many skills of her own...
"Nothing worth doing ever is," he grunted with a soft laugh. Her expressions told him he was hitting the right spots. And if that wasn't enough, her moans made him want to hear her scream all the more. He shifted himself above her and leaned up on his knees, pulling her hips up closer to his but only her hips, so they were skin to skin, heat to heat and moved with greater ferocity, faster, hungrier than ever before.
Their bodies were so close she felt all aspects of his sex slapping against her as he dove in even deeper and harder than before. Stealing a look at his face, she growled again before giving away to half gasps and screams but continued to refuse to full out screaming in ecstasy and bliss, though insides the fires were building up as powerful and potently hot as a volcano, and her face was red and her breath becoming raspy. No, he'd have to try... harder.
Jude smiled and gripped her hips with large steady hands, twisting her hips roughly this way and that and thrusted harder and faster, not even near his own peak yet, but then, this wasn't about him, was it? He didn't want to say a word, and let his body do all the talking, moving through her powerful ease, like a hot knife through butter and pulled her hips up as tight as he could to him until they were one.
It was more than she could take as she felt the girth of his length fill her up again and again. Perhaps it was because they should have waited for this step, or that she shouldn't be letting herself become so intoxicated in the simple act of making love, but whatever it was Jude Armand had done to her, he was doing something right, in that he knew the right angles, the right timing, the right cues to push her body further and further to the edge.
Damn him for making this an art form. Damn him for getting her to need. And she gripped him tightly, threw her head back as her lips tore away from him as she bucked wildly beneath him so that their bodies slapped together and she road out the incredible feeling that was about to break through.
And then it came, hot sweet ectasy and she wasn't able to keep her voice back as she screamed out, her moans carrying well into the night time air, all the way down to where Mursh was now blushing at her claims.
Oh the things she was screaming, his name.. to the Gods, (and she wasn't even a religious woman), and now she collapsed beneath him, her sex incredibly hot and pulsating around his member as she was feeding off the sensations of the end of her climax.
Then with a sigh, she lay there in a heap, blonde hair a mess about her before she looked up at him. Was that a smirk? Growling, she sat up suddenly, so her face was mere inches from his.
"Is that all you've got?"
And it was challenge, how long could this charade go on for? How long could he really make her scream. And god damn... women pay for this? She'd have to figure out what she was doing wrong, for jealousy still heated her and riled up her already flushed body as her lips crashed against his as she moaned, her sex gripping his tightly, ready for more.
He was covered in a slick layer of sweat and hiss heart was pounding when at last she came and he felt himself enveloped in a rush of velvet. He was yet to be spent, but indeed, she'd worn him more than he expected. Her smirk...damn it was infuriating and he peered at her eye to eye when she challenged him again. He would have thought she'd learned her lesson the first time.
But this game she was playing was getting more and more dangerous. And that just made it all the more fun. She was here not for sex, that much was clear, but there was more going here than just sex. It was a powerplay.
He held her sides softly, gripping the moistness of her flesh, as he adjusted his seating beneath her, his hands shifting down and smoothing against her hips and thighs. "I was just getting warmed up," he chuckled. His hips were undulating beneath hers, moaning softly. "You have been badly neglected, I see. You might need some overtime."
Jinai grit her teeth, feeling his sex work within her, stroking her deep inside and pressing against the most sensitive parts of her on the outside. Her breath hitched as she stared at him in a daze, only to smirk a moment later.
"Are you even available to work that long? Into the morning, I mean," she said, twisting her fingers into his hair as she guided his lips to hers, though as she went to kiss him, she paused and laughed, tilting her head away from his at the last minute and guided him towards her neck. It felt rather exhilarating to be able to tell this man what to do...
Perhaps there was something to gain from this role after all.....
But then again, the looks he had been giving her, the way he challenged her right back...
Did he know something was up? Doubt was always there, lingering heavily in the air between them, always unspoken but ever present.
Even still... perhaps it was that unknown factor that helped make her so sensitive all over, and extra accepting of the affections he was affording her. Well, she'd take him for what he was worth. The sex was good at least, and if he didn't pass out after this, well...
there were plenty of drugs she could use to handle that aspect. Though she knew she should have used them early on, slipped them into his drink....
Something about her original plan had changed- not that she had a full-set plan to begin with...
that was never her style..
But even as they fucked..
she tried to stay focused...
Someone's life was on the line here. If she didn't find out what she needed to...
Renna Cartiste could die.
Ironically, the reminder only sent her in a frenzy as her teeth met to his neck, hands gripping all over his body as she turned around, ordered him to get to it as they began to fuck like dogs.
Jude lost himself to the rhythm of the task. She demanded much and he gave and gave until she was more than satisfied. His body hurt where she pulled at him, bit and pressed him, but still he made no complaint, only worked at her discretion. He moved behind her as she directed, guiding her body in tune with his, moved here and there, made small adjustments or suggestions that would feel exponentially better. He even came once or twice of his own volition.
Jude peered down at her and panted hard himself. "You had enough yet?" he smirked down at her, sweat dripping from his nose and brow and hair. "You know, you're much more attractive than your portrait would lead on."
The sex could about well killed her, and so her screams made it sound as such as her voice tore out into the night. She just about collapsed beneath him, soaked in sweat and sex as she panted hard, her heart drumming so fast it nearly suffocated her ears. Her breath was nearly suffocating her too, and she could use a damn drink of water, but at his words, she blinked at him, not sure what he meant.
"So you've seen my portrait before?" But naturally, she had to play it up. She was a lady. Clearly he meant he had seen her picture at her manor... or... was it elsewhere?
"I... I do not recall ever seeing you inside my home," she said, blinking prettily as she attempted to smooth some of her sweat slicked hair from her face.
He better NOT be calling her bluff, cause... Gods be damn, she was too exhausted now to properly fight back. So if that was the case.. who was duping who?
Jude's eyes glittered in the gloom of early morning as he moved off of her at last. "I knew I knew your face from somewhere," he replied with an exhausted sigh. He wiped the sweat from his brow and got up from the bed, walking over naked to a small table beside the window. He opened the window, ever so slightly enough to let in a breeze of cool air and the curtains fluttered like tendrils of moonlight.
He then fixed a glass of water, putting his back to her, pouring it from the jug and taking a long drink for himself and poured one for his guest. "No, not your house though," he replied. "I think I may know the artist. I appreciate fine art myself and he showed me your portrait - well a sketch of it really - one he'd used to practice your image. Like I said, he did you little justice."
His eyes grinned as well as his lips, which were red and sore from all the biting, as he handed her the glass. "He couldn't get your eyes right..."
This was beginning to go south fast, and when Jude approached, Jinai's mind was frantic and a fury hit her like a storm. Rising off the bed, she punched the water glass clean out of his hand, sending it to the ground as it smashed into a thousand pieces.
"Tell me what the hell you're getting on about or I'll cut your little throat," she said, her eyes wild as she slipped a small blade out from beneath her clothing, which (thankfully) had been discarded close by to where she just had her little tantrum.
[How did she get the knife from her clothing if they left them downstairs? XD I'll excuse this error in continunuity.]
Jude quirked a brow at her and watched as the glass flew from his hand and he saw her alarmed all of a sudden with the flash of a blade presented before him. He frowned at her and then bit into his bottom lip as he peered up at her once more. "I could ask you the same question, 'Lady,'" he said softly, moving away from her and back toward the armoir where he pulled out a pair of trousers and slipped into them, tying the knot at his waist with irritated hands.
He looked more annoyed than alarmed, but if he really was afraid, he didn't show it. "To make a point of it," he went on. "I recognize you from your posters. They're all over the city... I could call the guard if I wanted to, but that would do little to answer the little question as to why you're here." He said that as he produced a shirt from his own wardrobe and threw it at her to cover herself, at least until she could get her regular clothes back.
OOC: Oh yeah XD whoops
looooooool
3 floors down XD
I'll blame the cupcakes
THAT I RUINED ;_;
and baked when posting that
*sad days*
We can just say she saw a blade of his maybe and took it? Or maybe she had a piece of clothing on still by the time they made it up the steps and it had a piece of weapon? *shrug*
XD you coulda PMed me so I could fix it
ah well>_>
MOVING ALONG XD
---------------
It was then it clicked and she cursed beneath her breath.
"If you knew, why didn't you say something," she said through a growl, dropping the blade only when he seemed unaffected. She stared at hte shirt, then glared back over at him. She wasn't about to answer any of his questions. What sort of game was he playing anyway!?
And ugh, the fact he KNEW her from the drawings....
Shit. She'd have to get the hell out of here a lot sooner than she thought. To think a man like him...
wiat...
who was he to her anyway!? A man like him...
Boy was this one really getting on her bad list... and she'd add his name a million times over, but for now..
She waited, holding her breath as she clenched her hands into fists, glaring his way.
OOC: And now I sleep XD
Befre I make more mistakes >_>
and typos XD
[I wanted to see you squirm. 8|... Well, I was just thinking it'd be a random letter opener. That seems legit enough of to me. And have a goodnight.]
The letter opener was tossed to the side and Jude released an audible breath of relief as he looked at her with widened eyes. They relaxed, if only slightly as he stepped around her. He moved carefully around the glass she'd knocked out of his hand and grabbed the extra glass he had, drinking some more water and then looked up at her. "Because," he answered. "I was more curious as to why a wanted woman would show up at my house of all places, in one of the most well-guarded citites in all of Connlaoth, and at the recommendation of a client no less. I was far more curious than alarmed. Now tell me, what are you doing here?" He peered at her and the knife on the floor.
Ooc: pffffff, you WOULD want to see me squirm u_u
Jinai made a face. He just had to rub it in her face, didn't he? She stared at him for a time, also cursing she broke the drinking glass as she scowled. Damn was her throat parched, and damn, now she was in quite the predicament.
"You know they say curiosity killed the cat," she replied bitterly, voice still scratching from all her screams and pants but moments before.
Jude frowned at her, and carefully stepped over the glass mess she'd made between them. "Here," he offered the entire pitcher and stood beside her. "Indeed it did kill the cat. Good thing I never liked cats." He moved around her and took the shirt before setting it on her shoulders, to give some sense of dignity.
"But curiosity may lead to quite remarkable discoveries," he said with a laugh. "Just how long did you think you could fool me? Admittedly, you were very good."
Jinai visibly flinched when the man came nearer to her, and she reared back but moments after he placed the shirt over her shoulders. Modesty was the last thing on her mind, and dignity had gone out the window the moment she let herself get caught up in the moment. Even still, she managed to catch the shirt with a curse and glared down at the water offered before looking up angrily into his eyes.
"Yeah, well, discover this,"s he said, taking the entire pitcher of water and tossing it onto his face, before she moved away from him in attempts to flee. Stumbling to get the shirt on, she was cursing the steps she was nearly tripping over as she was half nakedly rushing down them. Why did he have to have three levels to his house?
And then the situation got worse...
for in her quickness to leave, Jinai had tripped over her own two feet, and began to fall, and twisted the knee she had busted up barely half a year earlier when she had run into Tenran. A sharp pain went up her side as she slammed into the side wall of one of the landings, not even half way through her attempt to escape. Though even through the pain,s he tried to push herself up to keep going, but gasped at the immense pain as her legs went out and she completely collapsed onto the ground.
OOC: So much fail XD
The water thrown in his face did wonders to wash the smile from his face. It shocked him for a meremsecond as she went rushing out of the room and down the stairs. He rushed after her, leaping down the steps in twos. But he paused behind her when he saw he suddenly trip over herself on the landing.
"Are you all right?" he said instinctively. He rushed to her side, even as she tried to get up again whnn her legs gave out. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around her. "That's what you get trying to run down stairs. Quit your panicking! I told you! I'm not calling the guards, but I might if you don't quit your fussing," he growled as he lifted her up from the ground. "Relax!"
Gods, was he...
what was he doing!?
Jinai tried to fight it, her hand going to his chest in attempts to push away, and whens he did, she fell against the opposing wall but turned to face him, bracing herself as she cast a glare his way.
"Why aren't you going to call the guards?" she asked, backing away suspiciously. "They're probably on their way already, knowing your types," she hissed. Yet even as she spoke it, she felt like a fool. The only redeeming thing in that moment was he looked pretty off-put by the water she had splashed on him.
Too bad it made him look more attractive.
DAMN HIM! DAMN THIS MISSION! DAMN IT ALL!
Jinai knew at some point her luck would run out, and the hell that would start today. Too bad for her, she was losing face in front of this man, this enemy, and if anything,s he couldn't give him any of the reason as to why she was there. For if he knew...
Renna would be in more danger than before.
"Stop!" he growled. Jude wasn't one to easily get angry, but he her fussing was making this far more difficult than it had to be. Her knee looked badly bruised and despite all the pushing she was pressing against his chest, he grabbed her wrists and shoved them aside before pulled her up into his arms.
"Relax! At least let me check your leg!"
Jinai was taken by surprise the moment he grabbed onto her arms, and instinctively, jerked a knee clean into his crotch- forgetting, only momentarily, how much her legs had hurt her as she cried out in pain and doubled over on the floor.
Realizing how much pain he might be in and joining her, she remained on the floor, face pressed against the wood and felt herself begin to cry.
She had repressed too much so far in her life...
and now too much was at stake for her to be captured now. And she was NOT about to look like a weakling in his presence. No, she had to get out of here, and now? Now her legs felt all but worthless as she tried to get back onto her feet in attempts to, yet again find some means to escape.
This was about life or death, about uncovering secrets, and keeping them, too. And now her position was compromised as she reached for the banister of the stairs.
Only two more floors to go....
She could make it, right?
Legs be damned, she was resourceful enough to use the banister, and swung her leg over and let herself fly down to the second floor, but nearly fell off the side as she gripped it with a gasp. This idea seemed a lot smarter when she first started it, and now was precariously positioned on the banister at the lowest level landing. And she paused a moment to jerk her head up, seeing if Jude was following.
OOC: Yes... this post amused me greatly XD
Jinai and the epic fail escape!
The breath came out of him when she kneed him hard in the groin. He doubled over and held his most valuable assets until the pain subsided. He looked up at her and crawled to his feet as she clung to his bannister. He stepped quickly to the next landing and stood in the doorway. He stared at her for a moment and was about to take a step toward her when there was a sudden knock at his door. A quite unexpected one at that. He peered at her curiously before turning toward the stairs. He waited as the knock came again, expecting it to be the valet, but another voice arrived that made his eyes widen.
"City guard!" the voice called. "Open the door! Someone complained of a disturbance, sir. Open the door!"
Jinai stared at Jude for a long moment in surprise before her face wrinkled angrily.
"I knew it," she growled, unreasonably. "I knew you called the guards." And she gripped on more tighter tot he banister, for a moment finding strength as she swung her leg over and let herself fly down to the bottom. All she had to do was get her things and get the hell out of there.
The landing was painful, and she bared the pain as best she could, but her leg would never be the same. Damn Torak for framing her. Damn Tenran for busting her leg. Damn Jude Armand for selling her out. DAMN MEN. Damn them ALL.
Now with her clothing in sight,s he could get to her drugs, her weapons and...
with a quick spin, she was heading straight for her source of hope, her crutch... when suddenly she found herself knocking over a nearby large vase, a rather expensive and rare, priceless vase that wobbled a moment as Jinai gasped, watching it fall and SMASH into thousands of pieces upon the floor.
Jude watched her for a moment as the knocking continued. He immediately rushed back to the second floor and down toward her just in time to watch her try and collect her things. "Stop!" he hissed. "I swear I didn't!" he said as she did so. "How could I have called the guards when we were upstairs having sex? Stop for a moment and think! And you'll owe me for that fucking vase!" He quickly moved toward her and tried to get her to stop moving and making so much noise. "Stop! Please! I'm begging you!" Jude pleaded.
"The hell I owe you anything!" she spat, and was quick to grab her things, rummaged through them and within seconds, produced a small knife, that of which was pointing towards him now as she began to back away..
"Just stay right where you fuckin' are," she warned, just as her ass hit into another vase.. knocking it over and smashing it- it's debris joining that of the first vase in an array of dust and sharp shards of painted clay.
It was at the sounds the guards from the front door shouted again.
"If you don't open up, we'll ram the door open on the count of three! One...."
"Shit."
"Two.."
Her mind was in a whirl, how the hell were they to get out of this one.!?
ad at the last count, she thought of something awful, and threw herself at Jude so they both toppled tot he floor as she began to have 'pretend sex' witht he courtesan the very moment the guards stormed inside.
Jude was in a panic and his mind was moving fast just when the guards threatened to break down the door. His eyes flashed back to the knife in her hand and just when he though she was going to lunge at him, he aave a yelp when she tossed him to the floor. The door broke and Jude's wide eyes turned back to Jinai in sheer confusion at watching her start moaning outloud. He was quick to catch on and his arms immediately went around her and he smashed his lips over hers, as he heard the guards storm up the stairs.
Jude kissed her hotly, turning his head to block the view of the guards. Part of his mind was on the guards, the other on the knife, another on making it believable. So he even pulled his pants down half off his ass as he moved over her.
"Ansgar's beard!" the sargeant cried out at the act he saw. Jude perked his head up, throwing his body weight all over her, to not only keep her down, but keep them from seeing her face. He looked over at the guard.
"Is there a problem?" Jude asked.
"I apologize, sir. But there was a report of a disturbance. There were loud noises and woman screaming..." Jude just smirked at the officer and gave a shrug, giving Jinai a good hump as a signal for her to squeal. The guards seemed to understand, blushing deeply as a result and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to bother you two... We'll see ourselves out."
Jinai gave a moan, but it was forced, one acted well over the years to mask the pain she was feeling from their sudden predicament and the extreme use of her recently reinjured limbs. So the moment the guards were gone, Jinai was swearing up a storm at the pain, and only then she realized...
"Wait, you could have just turned me in," and she loosened the grip on her blade, whcih.. she hadn't foolishly lost, and had kept well within her grip. She narrowed her eyes upon his suspiciously.
"What's your game?"
Cause she knew hers, and if she had to, the man would become a eunuch if it came down to it. And not a very pretty one.
Jude sat up and looked at her with narrow eyes. "Yes, I could have," he grumbled. "But I didn't! Now will you please calm down!?" His hand instincticely reached for the wrist that held the knife and held it away from him. "I think I'm starting to figure out why you're really here... You want my book... Well I'll tell you now, you're not going to get it... But if you're wondering whether I know something you don't... I do. I might be willing to work a trade. Are you familiar with the name Renna Cartiste?"
Jinai stared at Jude and tried to keep her face indifferent, but it was a hard feat to do.
"What about her? Another courtesan like yourself? What are you getting at? Going to reference me to one of your friends?"
"Hmm," he pursed his lips. "I don't share clients. But I know what makes Renna Cartiste special...and I also know there are some other people who suspect it. There are plenty of people willing to pay for that information. But I might be willing to give it to you instead. Renna is in danger."
Jinai stared at Jude for a long time.
"So you're close acquaintances with her then?"
Never mind all of the giggling words Renna told her about Jude. She tried to play this off with nonchalance, but Jinai had lost a lot of humility that day before him, and it would be difficult for her to save face, even now.
"Not exactly," Jude said with a frown. "But I know of her. And what she's about to get into. But the information I know is that someone else knows about Renna's little gift too. I have some pity for the poor girl. She deserves better. But time is running short."
Jinai narrowed her gaze.
"And what exactly do you know?" Then she paused to look him over. "And why do you care? A man living in a place like this... why would you even bother with the war? It obviously doesn't affect you."
Unless he was some mage with powers of seduction... but she wasn't about to go there. Cause she hated him. But the sex was good.
Considering they were still in a rather compromising position, Jude couldn't really get away from her. But the question indeed made him squirm. Like she, he was an expert of many masks, those learned over extended years of practice. But his expression only hardened.
"Honestly," he replied. "I couldn't give a damn about the war. If men wanna kill each other over something stupid, so be it. But Renna is another matter altogether. Let's just say it's personal." His body grew tense, his mind lost in thought for a moment and his eyes grew almost glossy with whatever thought lingered on him. If he was on the verge of tears, he quickly blinked them away.
"I'll tell you more if you would get off me and put that knife away. I know Renna's little gift has her funneling out pieces of information certain interested parties wouldn't want others to know. I'm not sure exactly how she does it, but I know she's a mage. And sooner or later, someone is going to find out."
Jinai's eyes narrowed upon him poisonously before she drew the blade away and moved to step off of him.
"Tell me everything you know and start at the beginning," she began, before offering him a dark smirk. "We have all night, so don't spare me any juicy details."
Where she was grinning, Jude only frowned at her. She got off him and pulled his pants up once more and peered at the mess she'd made and cursing at the fact. He moved away from her and toward a closet in the corner and pulled out a broom.
He swept carefully and peered back at Jinai for a second. "I can tell you that I saw Renna at a party in Falkenrath once, it was her introduction so to speak. But that was the extent of our acquaintance," he said as he swept, pushing the debris to the side and away toward the wall. "But her name came up once when I had a client a few months ago... They said their husband was an official in the war department or something of that nature, wishing to acquire a sweet young asset of his own. The client was obviously livid about the whole subject, which is why she came to me in the first place. In any case, she said she had seen the young girl doing something strange and unusual with a small manor rat. Almost looked like she was talking to it. Either the girl was off her wire, or she hoped to the devils she was a mage. At least to humiliate her husband. The woman was drunk of course, of her own choice. But you'd be amazed at the truth that comes out with a little liquid courage." He laughed and set the broom off to the side. "She went on to complain about her husband, a Sir Arther Christy, and said he was one of the higher ups, did a lot of work behind closed doors n such. Well, I found some of those colleagues. And now that Renna's for sale, they've been looking at her too."
Jinai remained quiet to digest what he was saying, but instead of inquiring into what he was proposing, she asked something else.
"So you hardly know the young courtesan?" She kept her eyes upon the shards of vase he was sweeping.
Jude finished brushing the shards of the ruined vases off to the side and carefully placed the broom off in the corner, dusting his hands off. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before answering. "Not personally," he said decisively, before taking a seat on the couch again. "No doubt she probably knows of me, or at least my reputation. Reputation is just about everything in this line of work. But her, not much more than word of mouth. Though, I would like to get better acquainted with her if I could. Then again, maybe it would be better if she were not to associate with me."
Jinai stared at him for a long while, thinking over her words carefully before accusing, "Yet you accuse her of being a mage." She said it almost thoughtfully, a little bit bitterly, and avoided his gaze all together. She stared around the room, at all the money his 'charms' and 'reputation' brought in.
"Seems to me you might be full of shit. You've got plenty of acquaintances and friends as far as I've heard." And she idly played with a hanging marble from some expensive looking and delicate statue beside her, resting on the mantle.
The green of his own eyes burned and he leaned back. He really could have cared less about what she thought. She was the one that came here, not the other way around and he would be just as happy to throw her out the window if that was what she wanted. "Perhaps," he replied. "Perhaps I'm not. And put her life on the line more than it all ready is. Do you really want to take that gamble? Then again, you can barely walk and you throw yourself down a flight of stairs. Maybe I overestimated you...and there's nothing you care to do to help Renna. Then so be it. I didn't even get into the real juicy details."
Jinai stopped playing with the statue, the brass ball falling off as she did. She glanced over at him meanly.
"And what are these other 'juicy' details," she inquired, not letting her green eyes leave his.
"I don't need to know her personally to know the truth of my eyes and ears. She's been very busy as of late with all these functions that wretched aunt of hers drags her too. I saw her, Miss 'Thames'. With my own two eyes. That little gift of hers. And out of the corner of my eye, I'm certain someone else saw her too. A shadow moved hastily away and disappeared before I could get a better look. But she...was none the wiser," Jude said as he peered at her intently. He even smirked a little. But it quickly faded as he remembered the wine on the table. He needed a drink, a good one at that and took the opportunity to take the whole bottle and bring it too his lips. He drank heartily before setting it down.
"I've been busy of late, trying to pin down just who might be."
The way he worded it made her eyes narrow on him with suspicion, but that didn't stop her from approaching with a generous sway of her hips.
"And just why are you," she began to say, grabbing up the wine bottle and drinking down a hearty swig. She wiped her lips off on the back of her hand. "Looking?"
It made her wonder just who was in his book... And what.
He looked at her a moment before taking the bottle himself drinking a hearty swallow. "To protect her," he answered simply. "If need be. And to protect myself, insurance. I find out who they are, I can find out all the dirt that follows their slimy trail." He peered at her as she came closer, raising a single brow.
"And which 'her' are you trying to protect?" she asked, snagging the wine from him again, and taking in a long drink. "You mentioned you barely know Renna..." And her eyes challenged him. Clearly he couldn't care enough about 'just another courtesan' out of the 'goodness of his heart'. Considering, that'd be the LAST thing she'd buy from him.
Jude glared at her and gave an unsteady breath. "Renna," he growled and watched her chug the wine like it was nothing at all. "I told you, my reasons were personal. Why should I explain myself to you? Why did you even come here if not to find out what my true intentions were? A wanted woman, risking her very life to come here. I can tell you don't have much to lose, but she does. Why else did you come here?"
Jinai held the wine bottle down, but at his question, merely stared at him before swallowing. Then she held it back up to her lips, taking in some more.
"I don't know you. You have to explain everything to me, or I'll find a way to get that pretty face of yours on wanted posters, too." Then she grinned, more playfully this time then sinister to see she was making him angry. Good. A man as rich as him SHOULD be angry.
She looked away from him just then, her green eyes listlessly traipsing around his house.
"So you mean to tell me some expensive male whore actually cares about other people, even those who have no real relation to his own, or no real acquaintance?" She held the wine bottle back to her lips, but paused to raise her brows at him, waiting for an answer expectantly, and also in timely nonchalance.
She did have all night to pull questions from him....
Though she wondered how upset he'd be when he wouldn't get any of that coin?
She was getting on his nerves but if there was any man who could keep his cool under pressure it was Jude Armand. He kept his frown and watched the bottle leave her lips and the moisture linger there as she spoke. He smirked a little and let it quickly fade before the took the bottle himself and took another, smaller swig, setting it aside.
"I know it may be hard to believe and I'm not asking you to believe it," Jude said, not wanting to give it all away. But he knew she'd be as stubborn and persistent as he was. That actually made him smirk and watched her lips again. "Renna just...she reminds me of someone I once knew. And I'd hate to see someone so young and innocent get hurt over careless people with little more intention other than helping themselves. I'm not saying I'm innocent of that. But this is different."
"Oh, she reminds you of someone?" Jinai goaded. "How convenient." And she reached for the bottle of wine he set aside. It was good stuff, and she wasn't drunk enough to survive this.
Jude sat up and turned to eye her. "I'm sorry if that answer doesn't satisfy you," he said with a forced grin. But his eyes turned solemn suddenly and he turned them down toward the glasses he'd left on table. "Renna reminds me of my sister," he admitted with only minor hesitation. "I haven't seen her in eight years. But when I look at Renna, the same smiles, the same attitude. She was five years old when they took her away. I don't know where she is. Maybe I think if I can help someone like Renna, maybe it would make a difference. But maybe it doesn't, after all, and I'll never know what happened to her."
Jinai just stared at Jude, and well, laughed.
"And you expect me to buy that bull shit? Come on, I'm sure you've got a better story you can come up with than that," she said, snaking up the bottle of wine and stealing more for herself, then she offered it over to him. "Maybe you just need more to drink."
Jude stared at the bottle and then back at her. "I wish I was," he said blankly, eyes half-lidded. "I wish it was all just a figment of my imagination." His eyes burned and he stared at wine, before taking a sip for himself, giving it back to her. "But I wouldn't expect you to understand something like that. You'll see me as you want to see me. Besides, what have you lost? Do you know what it's like to watch your mother raped and murdered in front of you by Mordecai? To see your sister dragged away and never see her again?"
Jinai grew silent at his words, and swallowed them down with an acidic zing. If she had to guess, he didn't seem to be lying by the way he was speaking- then again, he could be a good actor. She turned away, idly brushing off dust that wasn't there on his shirt she was wearing.
"I don't care much for my family, and what family I did care for is dead."
"I cared for mine," Jude said, staring at her with hard eyes. "I still do, though they're gone now. But what's in the past is in the past, and now I'm worried for Renna." He laughed a little, though it was obviously forced, if in a sad attempt to lighten the mood and he frowned again before peering back at her. "So what are you doing here then? What do you want?"
Jinai could sense the tension, feel his pain, and it made her sour to her stomach. She turned away, to hide her face as blonde hair fell over her eyes. Remaining quiet for a moment, eyes glued to the bottle of wine, she simply answered, "To protect Renna from you, and any other miserable toad out there who thinks he's clever enough to take advantage of her- and expose her for whatever they believe she might be." After a while, she hesitated, threading a hand through her hair and pulling stray hairs of blonde from her face before glancing over at him absently. "The information you have is rather sensitive. Having it fall into the wrong hands could have her hang." Then, as she studied his face, her own a mask of ice, she added, "And I'll do anything to find that little book you have and see it either destroyed, or used against those who deserve it. So I guess we can either do this the easy way, or the hard way." And she smirked, though it was forced and no longer really playful.
"It's your choice, big boy. What sort of deal can we strike?"
Her words and her tone made him feel like a cornered rat and he turned to her immediately with a soured face. A peculiar smirk played on his lips for a moment before he spoke. "I'm afraid that's not an option," he said. "That book is mine. Insurance you know. But I wouldn't mind striking a deal for certain aspects of its content if you help me find the other person who spied on Renna. Whether you believe my intentions are pure or not, I want to help her."
Jinai stared at Jude for a moment, her eyes flicking to look him over but once before those green eye snapped back to him.
"And just what makes you think I'd be able to help? Unless I really do look better than my pictures," she said in a cold flirt as she pushed up her shoulders, letting just one sleeve fall off and expose a bit more of her cleavage, but her eyes never left his. "Have you forgotten I'm a wanted criminal?"
"Oh I never lie about beauty, darling," Jude said, unamused and his eyes grew colder, eying her skin as if he could freeze it by mere eyesight. "But it was your play to deal, so let's deal. We've already established that you have little to lose. You risked prison enter the city. How you entered the city so well-protected in a time of war also indicates resourcefulness. But exactly how resourceful remains to be seen. You can help. I see it in the way you try to steel your expression in ice. But the real question is are you willing? I think because you're a wanted criminal makes you exactly what I need."
Jinai gave a pretty bat of her long, panted lashes.
"I only play the most dangerous games." ANd she forced another sour grin. "So you're aiming to make this worth my while? You're telling me this might benefit Renna?"
She'd cut him if it winds up he was now using her to turn Renna in, and the threat was there in her eyes as she kept that fake smile upon her lips.
"I wouldn't say no to such... a proposition." Then she paused, barking out a laugh. "And here I only came for sex and a book... looks like I'm in for yet another mission."
She seemed only to live for those things, but here she was making a mockery of herself, and she didn't know why. Perhaps she felt bitter that a man like him was conducting it, asking HER to risk her neck. Normally it was those of poverty, those who would eat off the streets that begged for her help, those of the Free Folk, at 'Home'- so she naturally obliged. They suffered, she suffered..
and despite his story- what real suffering had he gone through?
Though she had seen the pain in his eyes and her expression faded as she turned away, her own memories peaking through, memories that she had a hard time digesting.
She didn't need to be thinking of Havanlaar at a time like this...
of all of the blood shed, the death... and all that she lost in one grave moment. Her brother had been a fool, and died a fool- so why were her eyes glossing over with fresh tears?
"Yes," he answered solemnly. "I can bargain and barter with the rest of them. But my offer is simple. I could give you choice cuts of information in exchange for your help. I wouldn't even offer it if it wasn't valuable. And you wouldn't be the only one taking a risk." He saw her tears glimmer in her eyes and he took the sleeve of the shirt he'd discarded on the ground and reached up to blot her eyes, pulling away the paint of her lashes. "I wouldn't offer if I believed it wouldn't benefit Renna."
He pulled the sleeve away and peered at her eyes, saying nothing.
Jinai tensed and jerked away from him at his gesture, not realizing what he was doing until after the fact. She frowned bitterly and turned away from him, wiping at her eyes and muttering, "I think I got some vase dust in my eyes."
Lame excuse, but hey, it could be true?
Then after composing herself, she looked at him.
"So what exactly are you wanting me to do?" She was giving him a sneer, but might as well hear him out.
"I think I have a few leads that could lead to some solid clues. Recall the other patron I spoke of ealier? She is throwing a ball in a few evenings, a charity benefit for the orphans and widows of fallen soldiers, or some other nonsense, but many of her friends and delegates will be there, including her husband as his officials - even his office," he said. Jude crossed his legs and reached across the small side table to produce a cigar and clipped it before chewing on the end. It followed a match he carefully flipped in his hand as he took the cigar out and looked at Jinai once more.
"You could come as my patron, the Lady Thames or whatever name you choose for yourself, and infiltrate this event without raising major suspicion. Despite your face being plastered all around town, most nobles are too drunk or wrapped in their own lives to pay proper attention to the goings on around them, aside from industry and trade. But just to be safe, there are ways to alter your appearance enough if you'd like, change your hair color or lenses for your eyes. In the mean time you may stay here in my home as a temporary abode if it pleases you, though a hotel may be more suitable to keep the ruse of a lady of high society. You have the right bone structure and attitude for it after all. I can take care of your paint and wardrobe as well. The plan is to infiltrate the ball and see what information can be weaned from the Lady Thalia and her associates. And as a bonus, perhaps even her husband's office."
Jinai gave a soured smile, digesting all that he said. Was he really going to offer help, and his home for her? She hadn't the type of money to perform that sort of game of pretend, and she stared him over as he lit up his cigar.
"I might look the part, but I'm still a girl from the streets. The inbred, high society crowd might easily sniff me out." Though she chewed over the idea of a guise.
"I do not have such money to waste on costumes or ways to make myself appear much at pretend than I am today." Then she looked him over, still warm from the wine.
"And why offer this all to me? I could have killed you..."
Though with a knife or letter cutter was not her style. Perhaps a bow and arrow, or some poison, but Jinai wasn't comfortable using a blade. She wasn't sure why, it just wasn't how she worked. Perhaps the other methods suited her for when she absolutely had to kill, which was few and far between, and those methods allowed her some distance from the kill.
After all, if she placed the drug in someone's drink and they drank it', it's not HER fault they were thirsty and didn't protect themselves from people like her. Same with an arrow, it's not HER fault they stepped into the path line and it sunk in, true.
Jude stared at her with curious eyes for a moment before taking a puff on the cigar. "The same could be said for yourself," Jude replied calmly. The smoke wafted softly upward. "But I guess I figure if you wanted to kill me, you would have done so already. I presented no weapon to you, nor armor."
He took a long drag on the cigar before placing the end of it on a crystal tray and giving a flick to the ashes. "I can provide for you," he said resolutely. "I offer my home and a full wardrobe and I can assist in helping you learn to act like a proper lady if you agree." He gave a small laugh and looked her over once more. "I used to be a farm boy at one point or another, believe it or now."
"You'll have to forgive me," Jinai said, batting her eyes as she grit her teeth. "It's a little hard to let this sink in. I'm still not sure if I heard this right, you want to provide for me?" she repeated, twisting a finger into her ear as if to clear it out. "Clearly I didn't hear that right. Perhaps some of that simple farm boy mentality is rooted deeper than you know. And here, your proposition sounds like a proposal... or an alliance."
Almost like a marriage alliance. She wrinkled her nose.
Jude laughed outloud and held his stomach as he peered at her once more. "Maybe it is, maybe it is," he repeated with a small smile. "An alliance would be a more accurate term for what I've just described. And if providing for what needs are required then so be it. Money is not rellly an object. It is an offer which you retain the choice to refuse. So what'll it be? Of course, we'll need some time to practice, and establish your backstory, but it won't be impossible.
Jinai gave him a bitter smile, though behind it lay a real one she had a hard time suppressing.
"So, we're partners in crime?" she said, eyeing him over again before leaning forward and plucking his cigar from his lips. SHe took in a drag and expelled the smoke through her nose.
"I suppose it might work," she said, then grinned at him more genuinely. "Especially since the sex will be pretty good." Then she took teh cigar and flicked the ash playfully onto his fancy shoes.
Jude stared at the shoes on the floor that'd she'd taken the liberty of throwing ash on. Apart of him burned at the gall, for they were high quality boots, and the other at the way she took a drag on his cigar. It was a good brand, cultivated right here in the homeland, though he had a preference for Adelan cigars a little more.
"Good to know that's an incentive," he said. "I suppose it would be one form restitution since I had the feeling you had no intention of really paying me. And you weren't half bad yourself, Miss..."
Jinai jutted out her chin, keeping her nose high in the air as she nursed on his cigar again.
"Whatever gave you that idea? Perhaps if we get drunk, you'll forget about all of those silly details." And then at his last statement, her grin grew wider as more smoke burned out from her nose.
'I never forget things like that. Especially when you just admitted that you had no money," he laughed as she smoked away. "Besides if you think about it, it's almost like I'm paying you for sex."
Jinai smirked at his words, but said nothing, letting the cigar smoke waft between them before she handed it back to him.
"Got any more things to drink?"
This plan might be easier if she got drunk over it, had sex with him again, then passed out. Of course, for all she knew, she'd wake up somewhere else ad this never happened. It seemed more like a dream anyways. Maybe she was drugged? Though if that were the case.. this was some strange drug indeed.
Jude watched her idle, curious eyes as she smoked. He evntually took the cigar back and gave a long drag to it before he set it into the ashtray once more. At her request he pointed back to the glasses she hadn't finished. He stood up and walked across from her and poured more bourbon into the glass and handed it back to her.
He looked at her curiously again as he gave it to her. "Do you like to eat? I'm pretty hungry myself, let's go down to the kitchen," he offered.
Jinai picked up the bourbon and gave it a sniff. It burned her nose. Yep, that'd do. She knocked it back and then at his suggestion of food, she laughed.
"Food is a luxury in my line of work. Let's just get good and drunk, fuck, then tomorrow morning I can wake up and you can rehash this idea all over to me again," and she gave him a bigger, knowing grin. She was pretty tired all over from their sex earlier, but now she was feeling more complacent and free, and the fact she could have this rich courtesan to do her bidding, it made her feel giddy and bold...
and well, the alcohol also helped with that as she stepped nearer towards him, a hand gingerly smoothing against the front of his clothing. Fueled by the bubbles of alcohol, she more boldly looked him over now. She hadn't the chance to really do this before, but he was quite nice to look at, nice to hold, and... as she learned from earlier, a very good lay.
Her eyes then flicked to him a her fingers stopped short at the hem near his pants, and her question was all in her eyes as the drunken and playful glint shined bright as the moon.
"I see luxury is something you're going to have to get used to," he said with a smile as she came nearer to him. He let her touch him, quite liking the feel of her hands on him as he stepped in.
His hands reached down and felt along her hips and waist, drifting the bottom of the shirt up here and there before letting it drop. "And you know what else goes good together? Food and sex," he said with a chuckle. "Bring down the bourbon. And then we fuck."
Jinai quirked a brow at him, her grin growing.
"Renna was right about you," she said, eyeing him over before moving away to snatch up the bottle then looping her arm into his. "Lead the way."
"Renna spoke of me?" he said curiously, taking her arm gently in his. He led her downstairs again to the foyer and through the kitchen where there stood an oven gone cold and a pile of wood beside it. The pantry was in the corner beside the wine cabinet as well and there hung pots and pans overhead a cutting table.
"Pheasant sounds perfectly good to me. How about you? Maybe quail would be better. Go ahead and have a seat. Tell me, what did Renna say about me?" he said as he leaned down and took a few kindlings pieces by the over and threw them inside, lighting another match beside it to get it going then pulling down the pieces of bird to cut and gathering the necessary spices around the kitchen.
"As much as you'd like to believe she's innocent, I'll have you know little Renna Cartiste listens into all of the gossip, even about you. If I wasn't so sure about her feelings for another boy, I'd swear she was sweet on you." She looked Jude over, but hten at the idea of quail, she wrinkled her nose.
"Wouldn't you prefer to eat something like chocolate? I mean.. you were going to eat it off my body, weren't you?" she said, finding a bottle of cooking wine and fondling it after she had set her bourbon down beside it.
"This is just an appetizer and the cake is for dessert. It's in an ice cooler below," Jude said with a chuckle. "We'll get to the eating it off each other. I haven't eaten since afternoon honestly."
He worked quickly, and chopped it into small slices, as he rolled it into the spices and when the fire was hot enough, he threw it on the pan and began roasting them.
"Renna sounds like a doll," he laughed a little. "But every woman says they're sweet on me. It's not that unusual. Say would you mind grabbing the cake. It's in the box right at the bottom of the pantry."
Jinai had managed to make herself at home, admiring the marble table tops inside his kitchen. She liked them so much she took a seat right here upon the table, crossing one long leg across the other. Wearing only his shirt afforded little coverage as she smirked over towards him from wehre she appeared quite comfortable.
"Maybe I'll get it later," and she lazily watched him work at the food, growing suddenly tired as she turned away, fighting back a yawn as she continued to peer curiously around his kitchen.
"So all of this is yours?" she said with a half smirk. "Maybe I'm in the wrong line of work." And her smirk grew greyer as she looked down past her feet, her gaze hidden behind pale lashes. "Too bad rich men won't pay this sort of money for any old whore they meet."
Jude finished up the birds at a high flame and quickly served them on plates before turning them over to her side. He placed them beside her and got out the utensils with expert ease. He cooked in his down time and if there was part of the house he liked more than the bedroom, it was the kitchen.
"I do all right," he said solemnly. "But your right...the rich don't really know the value of what they have. Not evenaa good woman. But then again, I'd be out of business if they did. Here taste this." He cut a piece with a fork a held it out to her. "Good? So so?" He watched her for a moment, eyeing the way the shirt hung off her shoulders. "I'll get the cake," he murmed after a few seconds.
Jinai wasn't about to admit how exhausted she was, or that she could fall asleep right there on the table. Hoping the cooked bird might perk her up, she took it in,a nd felt as if she could cry over how savory it was.
"And to think I ate shit before all of this," she said with a smirk, her eye lids hanging low. She was still warm from the alcohol,a nd nodding slowly when he went to get the cake...
but in that short moment when he'd return, he'd find her asleep.
[Sleep! The ultimate ****block!]
Jude did return with the cake and when he saw her fast asleep on the table, he let out a hearty laugh and set everything aside. He left her there for the duration of his meal as he ate and watched her sleep. Morning was not long from here, but a few hours of real shut eye wouldn't hurt. So after he cleaned up the plates and put the cake away, Jude gathered her in his arms and took her back upstairs to lay down on his bed. He supposed it wouldn't be too much trouble, they'd already shared it once before.
After all that happened this night he could use some shut eye himself. He laid her down on one side of the bed, then cleaned up the room and gathered what clothes were strewn about and returned them to his chambers before climbing in beside her at last.
OOC: I know, it made me lol XD
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Jinai slept soundlessly, and somehow, easily even in this strange place. So when she was nestled into his bed, she murmured in her sleep, speaking of nothing really before then nestling in against his side as she sighed contentedly, and slept for hours and hours, well into the next morning. So when she awoke in his manor, she shot up suddenly as she swore.
"FUCK!" and half the beds sheets fell from her body as she stood there, hair a mess, make up half smeared down her face, and his shirt on her half falling off her.
Jude awoke at the shock of her swear with his own wavy hair mussed and pressed against his head in awkward angles. He turned over and looked up at her with narrow eyes. "What's the matter? You wanna fuck? So early in the morning?"
Seeing Jude Armand, she almost fell of the bed when she gasped. She stared at him, gaping like a fish.
"Gods... what the hell happened!?" and she winced, the hang over hitting her like a ton of bricks.
Jude pushed back his disheveled hair and gave her a smirk as she was rubbing at his head. He ver drank more than he could handle and rarely got handovers to begin with. "We fucked like rabbits," he mused plainly, running fingers through his hair and brushing it out of his face. "I jest. We talked, ate and you drank and got tired. Nothing happened well nothing before bed."
Jinai made a face.
"You say nothing happened, but here I woke up in your bed," she said, staring at him suspiciously from where she still stood upon the bed.
Jude chuckled at her, amused by her sudden alarm. "You're in my bed because I put you in my bed. You fell asleep in the kitchen so I brought you up here. I could have left you on the sofa, but you're a guest in my home, that would have been rude." He sighed and looked at the window, a soft wind pouring through and making the curtains flutter. "I don't imagine that bourbon made your head feel any better. Good morning to you too, by the way."
Jinai gasped and turned red faced at his explanation, which ironically, she believed.
" I just fell asleep?" And she was still gaping until his smart ass hello. She narrowed her gaze."You drugged me! I knew that chicken was too savory to be real. And you probably used my own drugs against me!" Which reminded her of her bag as she looked around. "Where are my things?!"
"In a safe place, relax," Jude explained as he climbed out of bed. "Besides if you weren't hung over, you'd remember that I ate the bird and you just a mere bite. It must have been good. It knocked you out," he laughed. He got up and reached for a robe from the armoire and handed it to her if she wanted to put it on. "I smell breakfast. The morning maid must be here. C'mon. We can talk more then."
Jinai eyed him suspiciously. " How about we get my bag, first?"
Jude smirked and frowned. "Very well," he said and moved toward the nighstand where he produced her small bag and all the effects within. "Don't worry it's all there."
Snatching the bag, she searched quickly inside before feeling satisfied enough, then she peered over towards him. "So... You were talking about breakfast?" She was absolutely famished and a sudden loud growl from her stomach gave her away. She stood there, staring a moment, flushed before opening her lips to explain, when her stomach growled even louder.
He gave a soft laugh and reached for her arm, placing it over his forearm and lead her back downstairs, heading downstairs and into the kitchens. The morning maid had left the room to clean the back, most likely in the service staircase. She had left a plate of fresh waffle cakes on the table as per Jude'srequest.
Jinai glared at his big head. She supposed it matched his ego. Morning 'grumps' aside, the smell of food was heavenly. Spotting the waffles, she felt her mouth water.
"What the hell are.these?"
[Jude doesn't have a big head.]
"Waffle cakes I suppose they're called," Jude answered. He pulled out a seat for her and served her a plate. He sat across from her and pulled out a small bowl of honey and another of syrup on the side. "Try one. Elka is quite the cook." Offering her a fork, he also took one for himself and crunched one side of it as he used the fork to split a piece.
Ooc: I know that, but my character is being difficult and childish XP
Jinai looked down at the food before taking a seat and helping herself to some. They were crispy, but also melted into her mouth as they sucked in the honey, and soon she devoured three of them before melting contently into her chair.
[Just like her writer! D<]
Jude sat back and took his own time to enjoy his meal. Before he was done with one, he saw Jinai devour three before she was content. Jude smiled and laughed a little. "You ARE a lady," he said with playful sarcasm. "But don't do that at the party."
OOC: I have no idea what you're talking about XD
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Jinai continued to lounge in her chair, and did so in a most unladylike fashion as she peeked one eye over at him.
"You going to stop me if I do?" she challenged with a smirk. "And I'm no lady right now. Besides.." her eyes looked him over before she smirked again. "You ought to know that by now." And she lifted up her glass, downing it's entirety. She needed water,a nd lots of it.
"Excuse my laspe in memory. I don't know too many ladies with so...voracious an appetite," Jude laughed and smirked as he finished his meal and took a cup of his own water and took a sip. He paused and shoved the glass over to her. "I forgot you were you overly thirsty," he smiled at her. "I hope that's enough to sate you. And no I wouldn't stop you, but it wouldn't make you very convincing. We'd have to work on whipping you into proper shape."
Jinai took a cautious sip of his water, looking him over as she did so.
"So how do you expect to whip me into a lady?" and her question came just as she settled into crossing one leg over the other.
"First, we'll start with the cosmetics," Jude said as he leaned against the table and crossed his own legs. His foot trapaised across hers a little before he leaned forward. "You have to look the part. We'll visit the tailor shop today, and the local hairdresser, get your hair trimmed and a possible dye if you want. Then we'll work on the mannerisms."
Jinai lifted just a single brow at his suggestion.
"So I suppose my looks aren't enough to persuade the upper class?"
Jude laughed again and gathered the plates to put in the basin. "Darling, I wouldn't have bothered if I thought your looks wouldn't catch their attention. But they're not enough," Jude said thoughtfully. "Hopefully with the right paint and prep, we can change that. And perhaps enough to keep other people from recognizing you."
Jinai smirked. The comment boosted her ego, and made her feel almost as warm and bubbled as the after effects of wine. Too bad she had a headache.
"So I suppose you've already got a grand plan for me?" she said, looking him over. It was definitely different, to deal with a man, let alone some high class courtesan, who was planning to help her infiltrate a high class party to get intel. And as far as she could tell... he wasn't a mage. Though it begged the question still, so she directly asked, "Are you a mage?"
Because what he said last night, it was still hard to believe.
"I have some useful ideas, but grand plans really go in so far as to our willingness to take risks. I think it'd be smart to play it safe first before we just straight on into fire," he chuckled as he washed the dishes in the small basin. But at her question he turned back and peered at her curiously. "What made you believe I was a mage?" he asked back, unsure if he ought to answer her question just yet.
She thought over his question and couldn't help herself but smile coyly.
"Last night." Her eyes sparkled in silent laughter, before she added a few seconds later as she looked away, drawing in a careful breath and taking in his home again (which was still far too ritzy for her to believe). "And your willingness to be so.... helpful. It still is hard for me to believe, though perhaps I just have little faith left in men."
Or women.
Jude quirked a brow at her and cross his arms over his chest. "Well, that's a sentiment we share," he said with a small grin. "But if you really want to know, no I'm not a mage... I heard stories that my grandmother was, and she could make things grow. Which is why my family became farmers. My mother had a small dosage of it, but me and my sister are relatively normal. I think if I had any magic, I would have known by now."
He took a drink of water by the basin before setting that aside. "I believe Elka's drawn enough water up from the pump outside. It's time for a bath," he said as he pushed up from the counter.
Jinai grew quiet at the story, her cup of water resting at her lips. Then as he rose to leave, she smirked, thinking it over.
"Make things grow." It made sense for a man like Jude.
Nodding, she rose to her feet and followed quietly after, her eyes glowing at the prospect to properly bathe. She didn't want to admit it, but it made her giddy to think she was going to bathe in a rich man's tub. Just another notch she could add to her list of things she had gotten to do with her knew life with the Free Folk.
Perhaps becoming 'wanted' had it's perks....
The morning maid went primarily unseen in her movement. Jude preferred it that way for the most part and paid her well to do so as she cleaned up what remained of the night before. The buckets were strategically placed at the bottom of the stairs on a pole to carry two large pails of water. Jude bent down to carry the pole on his shoulders, his arms holding it and balancing it as he walked upstairs.
Though it wasn't an invitation, he knew Jinai was following him and a small smirk played on his lips but he said nothing. He moved across the opposite end of the upper sitting room and toward the washroom where he carefully opened the door before setting the buckets down.
As he stood in the door way, he turned to look at Jinai with a raised brow. "I have only one tub, I could go first. Or would you?"
"That would be rude of me to go first, though, ungentlemanly of you to take it. Perhaps we could share?" she said, her smirk reaching her eyes as a hand softly touched his chest before she brushed past him to enter into the bathing room.
It was a presumptuous idea and Jude gave a small smile before he followed her, carrying the buckets inside and setting them beside the tub. "If you say so," he murmured. "What the lady wants, the lady gets." He poured in the water, it was a cooling warmth that billowed up in light steam and the soap and brushes all conveniently placed on the side. "After you."
Shrugging off her clothes, they crumpled at her feet as she kept her back to him and let one foot after the other settle into the bath. The water's temperature was just right,a nd so was the generous size of the bath before she sunk into the waters with a sigh and reclined herself against the porcelain wall, her lashes lowering over her green eyes as she stared out, lost deeply in her thoughts as she took in all the detail of his bathing room.
There were endless rows of exotic oils and soaps and shampoos, and mahogany carved cupboards and carvings crawling all along the wall. A sink was set off to one side, and a few plush rugs neatly decorated the floor. So was this the sort of life the rich lived? She smiled at the thought, though it was a sad one. She could get used to this. Too bad she had a gut feeling, this would all come with a price.
Jude watched her out of the corner of his eye as the shirt he'd lent her fell to the ground like little more than a silken blanket. He turned his back to her as she got into the tub and he put the buckets away outside of the room before closing the door and turned to join her in the tub.
He waited a moment, looking at her as if in hesitation before dropping his pants and hanging them on the side. Exposed he finally slipped onto his end of the tub and looked at her curiously. "What's your name?" he asked softly. "I mean your real one. I'd understand if you don't want to give it. But I've told you quite a bit about myself. Perhaps...it wouldn't be too much trouble?" He reached for a small bottle of oils and pulled the cork off, pouring a small amount into his cupped palms and drenching his hair with a dip in the water before applying it to himself.
Jinai was just enjoying soaking in the waters when he joined her, though at his question, she looked away and grew quiet. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, or more like a finality that she wasn't about to give up what he asked, she spoke.
"Jinai."
Then, even more so, she gave it fully.
"Jinai Rinstgate."
Jude looked at her thoughtfully as he ran his hands through his hair. He sat up and motioned for her to turn around and lean against him while he poured more oils into his hands. "That's a nice name," he commented as he poured water over her hair and gently rubbed the oils in it. "It's unique, I like it."
Obeying, Jinai leaned against him and closed her eyes as he wet her hair and let herself enjoy the moment as he massaged the oils into her hair. It lulled her, so as he commented about her name, she said nothing for a good long while before remarking, "I suppose it's better than Jude."
He let the oils work into a gently lather as he bundled it into his large hands and massaged her scalp. He chuckled at her comment. "I suppose so," he said. "But it works for the both of us. You certainly weren't complaining when you were screaming it to the high heavens." He moved over and pull more oils into his hands that he gently rubbed over her shoulders and arms.
She smirked at his reply.
"Of course not, you were fucking my brains out." ANd she let out a contented sigh before adding, "Although, I'm quite the talented actress. I've had enough fucks to know what I like, and I have to say.. I was impressed. Though it wasn't difficult to get me to cum for you. You did get me rather agitated before hand, and I think a fucking would have been the only thing to sate that sort of scratch."
"Hmm, is that so? Agitation seems to heighten sensation for you then?" he asked softly as he ran his hands down her shoulders and arms and slip then around her waist, rubbing oils across her stomach and up toward her chest, cupping her breasts and splaying over them until they were slick. Jude had leaned back and laid her against his front as he massaged her skin, looking over her shoulder. "You were quite the actress indeed. You had me fooled and I can smell out a rat a mile away," he laughed. "But that's why you're perfect for this. At least for the time being." He reached across and took another bottle, pouring a white soap into his palms before lathering that over her chest once more. "How did you learn to act so well?"
His hands were skilled as they worked over her body. It was evident he knew how to please a woman, in any small way, and part of that sank deeper than it ought to. So she grew quiet yet again before answering his question softly, "By studying others from afar." She didn't think it was that difficult. Just watch how others work and you can quickly find the methods to their madness.
"How practical," he smirked and leaned in to kiss her neck a little, softly and hotly, tasting the sweetness of the oils. He licked his lips and proceeded to massage her lower belly, hands slipping briefly across her hips and dangerously close toward the softness that resided between her legs. "You must be a very fast learner. I like that," he said as he leaned his arm forward a little more and massaged the inside of her thighs. "Then we should probably decide on your identity then. Your name, your origin, your family. Lilia Thames is quite good, but maybe you'd like to try something different."
Trying something different was what this evening was all about, right? Though she was feeling lulled and heated by his ministrations, even her heat couldn't suppress the shiver that broke out across her skin.
"Well.." she began slowly, eyes staring distantly through the oil glasses resting beside the tub. "I'm your creation, perhaps you ought to name me?"
"I'd probably give something you'd readily hate, though not intentionally," he said in genuine laughter. He felt her shiver and was pleased. His hands grew bolder and while one massaged the outside of her leg, the other slipped in gently toward her heat and caressed her there softly, brushing against her most sensitive areas before moving outward again. "Let's see something as elegant and regal as you. Perhaps a Jeanne or a Jeanette. Ysolda perhaps? Hmm, I don't know. Give me something to work with." He leaned forward and kissed her neck a little more, lips lingering up toward her ear, and pulling her lobe into his lips a little.
Jinai laughed at his words, but leaned her body in towards his attentions. Since they hadn't bathed the night before, he'd be able to feel she was still slick with the remnants of their sex that hadn't washed away, and apparently the waters weren't strong enough to do so as he put her in heat. But she restrained from acting upon it, and replying to any of his questions, allowing herself to become lazy and to be lead by it. And the more she resisted the obvious attentions, the more her body burned with the fire he stroked. Though she knew she wouldn't have to do much in her part to get him ready, for she could feel his cock, bold and hard, pressing against her back.
"Why don't we start with the history, first?"
"Okay," he replied. He smiled long enough to turn his head the other way and switched his hands from their focus points, pulling her up further into his lap. "Okay, how about this. You came from a wealthy family that grew rich in seafaring trade to the east. You were of small prominence which is why your family name is of little renown but you wish to expand trade toward the western provinces and make connections with more nobles in the capitol to achieve this goal. You were an only child. Or maybe you had a few siblings but they died young. You needed someone who show you around the city so someone recommended me to you and that was how we were acquainted. How does that sound?"
She remained quiet, taking in his false story idea with a grain of salt.. though her mind was elsewhere. She shifted her weight upon his lap, pulling his cock between her legs as she began to stroke it as it rested between the lips of her sex, though not in it, and since it was quite impressive in size, it was sticking out, seemingly from her own body, by a few inches as she gripped onto it nice and tight. She could feel it swell and react to her touch; her own smile twitching just the same as her sex lightly pulsated against it, so that it would nurse on it lightly while her hand stroked the other side.
Still, having but one other free hand, she reached beneath them still, to where his balls were hidden from sight and lightly massaged them as she leaned in just the right angle for easier access.
"So a woman who's new to wealth and power?" she said, her lashes hanging low as she slowly began to stroke the long length of his cock, the other side growing moist and hot from her eager sex. And she did these attentions very slow and very deliberate. Might as well make him squirm.
Jude had trained his body, learned to control himself around the attentions of his lovers. Nobody liked a loose cannon now did they. He was a professional that prized himself on his cool demeanor and physical attributes and skill as a lover. But he couldn't hide the fact that his breath hitched audibly whens he grabbed his long hard cock and held it like a vice within her hands. He laughed, or tried to anyway, as she sat on his belly. His hands remained on her hips as she pulled and massaged his massive cock. He moaned softly, for her hands were strong and skillful.
"Precisely," he replied, clearing his throat. "You're a new player on the scene. You're ambitious, shrewd, cunning, and not afraid to take what you want when you see it. You know you have to be smart for this kind of powerplay, and you're just the woman the scene has been waiting for. You're hungry, so to speak." He grunted with some effort, feeling his powerful length swell even further under her ministrations and the sensation of her hands on his balls sent a soft moan emerging from his throat. His hands gripped her hips even tighter. "You're not easily intimidated. But nor are you presumptuous. You know just what to do...and how to do it right."
Jinai loved to hear him speak, and to hear him moan; and in so many ways, his story was just right.
Even still, he should be rewarded for such efforts, and two fingers moved down to the most sensitive part near the tip of his cock and she massaged it lightly, before gripping her hand around it again and stroking what length wasn't hidden beneath her own warming sex.
"I suppose I could pretend to be new at this game," she said, grinning subtly as she arched her back and guided his cock up against her, and slowly began to grind her sex along it's length while still tending to the other side with her hand- and not just massaging him, but herself as well as her breathing began to grow more and more shallow.
His breath hitched again and he leaned up against her, moaning as she massaged the tip of the cock. He tried to suppress his next shivers as she began to grind against it, slathering it with the lips of her sex. The knowledge she was in control was fairly frustrating. He took his lips to her shoulder, where she was slick with oils and kissed her softly there, until his mouth trailed up to her ear. He sank his teeth gently into her lobe before sucking on it and pulling it.
"Pretending seems to be what you're good at...among other things," he growled. But a smile touched his lips anyway, one he couldn't help as his hands moved hips, trying to adjust her to receive him, but all it made him doing in the end was leaning back, moaning in pleasure as she pulled and massaged with her own skillful hands. He turned his head the other way across her shoulder. "Though how would you say you are qualified in terms of social skills?"
When he tried to adjust himself for entry, Jinai simply kept her body at an angle so he could not; and by now, her one hand was cupped along his length and pressing him up against her tightly so as she moved her hips, the length of his sex was stroking hers and hitting the most sensitive flesh over and over again, causing her blood to become intoxicated and heated. And the heel of her palm helped to guide the reddened, swollen end of his hungered sex, so that on occasion, she'd let the tip taste the dip inside her soft velvet, skin of her sex, but never, ever let him have full entry before she'd move her body to stroke her sex against the length of his again.
"That depends.." she said in a panted breath. "How many men am I fucking?"
His body quivered underneath hers, and his lips pressed against the soft flesh of her should. "How many men?" he repeated, panting behind her. "I never mentioned that as a stipulation of our alliance. But I suppose as many or as little as you like. I think....." He shivered and moaned softly when he felt the heat of her sex so close yet so far away.
"The real challenge would be the women most likely, not the men," he said. Jude wrapped his arms around her waist and allowed her to moved him as she pleased. "Making them believe you are indeed a lady. And deserving of their respect. Once you get that, their husbands will be that much easier to sift through."
Jinai smirked at his words, noting his body language and how he quivered for her. Though she was a cruel woman to him, where most men she'd just give it up quick and easy, here, she continued to torment the male courtesan until he'd beg her for it.
Jude was trembling like a fragile branch in storm force winds underneath her. She was cruel indeed and his arms wrapped tighter around her. he muffled his moans against her shoulder, leaning against her back. But he wasn't about to give her the satisfaction so easily. "Damn you," he growled.
Jinai grinned so wide, he'd be able to see it, even at his angle.
"Damn me for what?" she said,and let his entire length suddenly slip up inside her, but just as quickly as her sex gobbled him up, she slipped it out. With it now slick from her body, she continued to rub her clit all over it with a cat-like grin.
Jude sucked in a vicious breath when she gave him entry and just as easily took it away. "Damn you because I know what you're trying to do," he panted in her ear. He forced a laugh and gripped her sides tighter. "But that's not going to happen." He groaned raggedly and let his nails dig into her skin. "Besides, you torment yourself as much as you torment me. You want it as much as I do."
Jinai smirked and continued to slide against him in long, hungered motions as her head leaned back and her cheek met to his.
"What makes you think that?" she said, smoothing a hand against his other cheek as she cupped it almost sweetly, and as she tried to look at him, most of her face was hidden behind hair.
"Because you wouldn't continue to tease me if you didn't," came his ragged reply. When her cheek came against his, he grinned and angled his head over his should to kiss her lips, expertly moving through the fan of her hair and biting her bottom with light pressure.
Jinai grinned as they kissed. Both of their bodies were begging for the other, yet here they played in the bath tub, kissing instead of fucking, and her hand teasing either, yet still, there was no entry.
"Perhaps you don't know me well enough," she said, her hand ghosting over his cock. "I only live to tease.." and a moment later he'd find her hands over his as she guided them to her sex, and let just the tip of three of his fingers taste her.
"Then we understand each other a little more with every stroke," he said., he grinned wider himself and kissed her a little more,? sucking on her lips when she slipped his hand inside of her. He gave a soft breath and gently massaged the softness within. "I live only to please," he growledaa little as he slipped in the rest of his fingers and sought out her most sensitive parts.
His fingers were just about all swallowed inside her, so when he spoke about living to please, she stared off at the ceiling while fighting off a moan.
"Then cram it all in," she said, her hand itching over his. "All of it."
"But that wouldn't do well enough to tease you," He chuckled as he gently massaged her. She was so soft underneath and pulled his hand out then grabbed his turgid cock, adjusting her enough to allow him entry for she was slick and wet enough to do so with ease, pushing himself completely inside.
Her moist, hot body enveloped him, and her mind became clouded and still with heat. Her entire body was flushed as she tried to control herself from screaming. But after a moment of composing herself, she opened her eyes with a half lidded grin.
"I meant your hand," she said huskily, her fingers moving down to roll a thumb and finger over her clit. "Though I suppose your cock will do.. though perhaps if we try hard enough, both might serve to sate me?" And she grinned at him, wondering if he was up for the challenge. She had two men in her at once before, and with Jude's massive erection nearly filling her up, she wondered if his entire hand might squeeze in there, too.
Then after a moment, she added, "And whatever happened to that cake?" Her grin grew wider. "I like my cake with strawberries."
"That is quite a precarious position," Jude laughed over her shoulder. "But I don't want to tear you in half. However maybe I could manage a few fingers as well." He obliged her and felt a few inches within her softness. He gently undulated his hips underneath her and rubbed his thumb along her clit as he braved a few more fingers within her.
"We can try the cake tonight," he murmured against her. "But we'll have to buy stawberries. I'm afraid I'm all out."
Jinai grew quiet, her breath becoming husky as she was breathing hard as he fucked her. Her pace quickened at the mention they'd be at it again, and waters began to splash around them as their hips met.
"Maybe we can fuck at the market, too?" A playful challenge as it was, but hey, she was always up for new things. And Gods.. with his length within her and his fingers moving within as well, she was finding the tables turning as she was becoming more and more at his mercy as she melted back against him.
"Gods... no wonder women pay for you.." she murmured through a smirk, her face and breasts red as they bounced while they fucked, and they glistened sweetly with the oil he had slicked all over her skin.
Yes... this alliance she might grow to love.
Jude moved his hips with a little more force, a little faster until water came up and splashed over the rim of the tub. His hand worked faster, but gentler, slipping his thum within at long last. He moaned with her, panting into her ear as he worked.
"Perhaps..." he grinned. "If you play your cards right." He moved faster and managed to slip the rest of his hand within her, feeling her pulsate and quiver around his member.
"Women pay to have a good time. You're lucky...you're getting me for free. Well, almost," he grunted against her.
Play time was over and it was time to start really fucking, and she commanded him to go in at her at all angles until the poor bath was empty of waters, most of it on the floor and now,she commanded him to stand as she wrapped her legs around him, both dripping wet as her lips met hungrily to his, tongue shoving in deep.
"To.. to the balcony. Let's fuck against the rail." and her teeth dug into his lips,t hen neck, then ear as she breathed against him.
"And if you're lucky, we'll do this every damn time we meet," she purred.
Jude obliged her in every which way, soaking from the water, the sex and the oils he'd glistened across her skin. He was more than willing to play along with her so when she wanted to go out against the rail, he grunted and nearly came at the suggestion.
He nearly slipped climbingout of the tub, soaking wet and dripping water as he yanked the door open toward the second foyer, nearly tripping as he made it to the balcony at last, pushing her hard against the railing.
"You mean if YOU'RE lucky," he laughed against her lips.
Jinai laughed as he fucked her, a beautiful sound, one that was genuine before it was merged into a deep throated moan.
"But I haven't even came yet," she told him, batting her eyes prettily. "Though I've been so very close when you had both your cock and hand inside me." And at that, her grin split across her face, her green eyes sparkling.
"Then perhaps we can rectify that little problem," He breathed huskily against her and thrusted hard and at all sorts of angles within her. He had a greater range of motion while standing and slipped his hand just below her leg to massage her clit once more in small gentle circles.
"I'd stick a lamppost inside you, but it might get limp with envy," he groaned. He kissed her hard them, biting at her lips. "We've got to get to the market soon. We've got a lot of work to do, and places to be before the day is done."
Jinai moaned as he fucked her, breasts bouncing hard with each move.
"We'll get there when we get there," she spoke between pants, her breaths becoming more shallow as he continued to hit her just int he right spot over and over again.
Jude smiled before closing in for another passionate kiss, growing breathless against her as he thrusted in and out of her harder and wrapped his arm around her waist, shoving her hips closer to his.
His balcony railing hurt, as did her sex from all of his ramming and cramming, but the wind against her naked body and the sounds of birds and trees around her sent a thrill through her as her eyes fluttered closed. She couldn't take it any more as she suddenly clung onto him desperately and screamed out his name.
"G-Gods.. Jude.." and she arched her back as she screamed, the inner walls of her sex exploding in pure, raw heated ectasy before she melted into a heap against him,completely exhausted by their sex.
Jude's heart was nearly beating out of his chest when she came. He followed soon after, spreading her with a scorching warmth from his member. He held her against him, leaning against her shoulder. He looked at her from out the corner of his eye.
"I think we need another bath," he panted. He kissed her cheek before long and laughed a little. "We need to get to the market, before one of my neighbors sees us out here."
Jinai lazily agreed, and after another playful bath, the pair of them were dressed and ready for the market. Though Jinai took her sweet time, admiring the mirror at his vanity as she brushed her hair.
"So how is it like?" she asked suddenly, staring at him through the reflection. "To live like this, I mean."
Jude fixed the collar of his long shirt before throwing a waistcoat over his shoulders and buttoning that up. "Like this? Hmm, it's quite nice," he replied.
He had provided her with another dress, one from an old client that had instructed him to provide her with gowns and found a sensible one suitable for afternoon travel. He stood behind her in the mirror, standing over and gathering some of her hair in a small knot and he put a clip into her hair and pulled it elegantly out from her face.
"It's comfortable," he added. "And I'm usually never bored. But enough talk. Let's get to the market."
Jinai stared at him for a moment before turning around.
"Aren't we forgetting something?" she said. She raised her brows expectantly.
"I think you're forgetting you're escorting a wanted criminal," she reminded, strolling on up to him as she grinned. "I need to go get my veil." Then she brushed pasted him to get it, not realizing, as she fastened it, that it hardly matched the beautiful new dress Jude had afforded her.
He made a soured face at her and he almost laughed at her as she put the veil around her face. "No, no, no, that won't do. You've got to at least have the shawl," Jude said as he turned to find her shawl and draped it around her shoulders. "Perhaps it might be better around your waist. Gods we've got a lot of work to do," he said. He waved his hands and opened the door. "Nobody will stare this early in the morning,"
Jinai gave a yawn. "If anyone is awake this early," she murmured and nodded for him to lead the way. "And what do you mean we've got a lot of work?"
"We've got a lot of ground to cover to make you all the more convincing," he said quickly. "Let's be off. The market's just a few blocks down the street." With that they were out the door. He helped her down the stairs and looked out on the street. All was quiet for the time, thankfully most of his neighbors were barely rising by this time, doing their own routines, setting up shop.
His house was one of the few actual residences squashed between the buildings of small shops and bakeries that stirred some in the early morning. More shops were present in a more open market down the southern street and empty carts were parked along the side.
Jude was on alert as he casually led Jinai down the street, looking all around him at the closed windows and curtains and the dawn coloring the sky a light blue and pink over the thickened clouds over the city skyline. His destination was the tailor shop called Ramsey's, owned by a petite woman that always took joy in measuring Jude for a new suit. But she was just as skilled in dress-making as tailoring men's clothes, so Jude knew he could thrust her for an endeavor of this size.
"Ramsey's is just up this way," Jude said, pointing around the corner as they walked. He peered at her from the corner of his eye and gave her a smirk. "It's owned by a tiny thing named Sal Ramsey, the misses who inherited the business after her husband passed. He was also Sal Ramsey, for Salazar. She's Sally. She's a nice lady but not quite used to working with women. For me, I think she'll make an exception. Just be nice, courteous and I suppose the Lady Thames will do for now. Speaking of class...where is that valet of yours that showed up last night? Where did he run off too?"
Jinai smirked.
"I wasn't meant to still be here come the morning," she informed him as they strolled casually down the street, arm in arm. "He had.. other things to attend to."
And she would leave it at that.
Her eyes scanned the area casually, on high alert as he was, but she played it off as an admirer simply taking in the vendors beginning to rise, and as Jude informed her about Ramsey's, she raised a single brow.
"So how long is this going to take exactly?"
She had never been in a tailor shop before- never really had a need, so she was curious as to what she ought to expect. Most of her clothing was sewn herself, or others helped her to piece it together.
"I expect a few hours at least. Have patience. You have to look the part," Jude replied calmly. "She has to take accurate measurements of nearly every part of you and while I might be inclined to give my own estimated evaluation, she doesn't need to know ALL your intimate details." He gave her a coy smile as the show came into view.
They crossed the street and were nearly upon the shop. "You can try on a few choice gowns you like and as soon as she has a general idea about what you like, we can leave and expect the dresses by tomorrow night or the night after. Then we'll go and see about fixing that blonde mess. Even with the clip, it's in dire need of a trim. Oh and remember one last thing: Try to have fun."
"A few hours!?" Jinai couldn't believe this. "What the hell am I going to be doing for a few hours?" Then at his little statement about measurements, she stepped on his foot.
"In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not a woman who is used to wearing gowns, in fact, as much as you'd find it hard to believe, before yesterday, I only wore a gown one other time before."
And that was how she had gotten her face on wanted posters everywhere...
She still had to repay Torak for that one. The asshole...
And she also owed him for being such a jerk to her when she was in mourning. Him in that white mask still gave her nightmares. She was just happy she never had to see that jerk again.
He gave an uncomfortable grunt when she stepped on his foot - not to mention scuffing his boot - and growled as he jerked her toward him a little. "Violence isn't always a solution," he replied through grit teeth. "Though it 's certainly only momentarily satisfying." He loosened his grip on her arm and peered at her face throught the veil. "I think I'm intuitive enought to figure that out, regardless. And that's fine. I understand if it makes you uncomfortable in any way or if it's a bit much but it's all apart of the role I have asked you to play. I gave you plenty of opportunity to refuse..." Soon theywwere upon the shop's entrance and Jude looked at her curiously, the coy smile wiped from his face. "Besides I meant a few hours outdoors total. I did promise you a strawberry cake. That is if you still want it of course. If you don't, this is your last chance to back out. And I never saw you."
Jinai shrugged at all of his comments, growing silent.
"I've come this far, I'm not backing out now." And she noted the tailor shop as they approached. "I'll just become more immersed into my role as a high class bitch." Then she gestured forward, "Lead the way." And as they walked forward, she added, "And by the way... I might want some chocolates, too."
Jude stood behimd her and he couldn't help his playful grin, but something else saw something in her nonchalant visage that made him make a small mental. As if the very idea of wearing gowns was momentarily appaling, before she settled down. Whatever it was, he might ask her about it later if there was an opportunity.
He opened the door for her and smirked at her comment as she passed through and the he soon followed. The small woman was sitting a desk running a thread through a thick piece of fabric when she took notice of Jude and immediately stood. "Oh, Jude! How nice to see you again!" she squealed before jumping up and pulling his neck down to hug him fiercely. He laughed and kissed both of her cheeks before straightening and gesturing to Jinai.
"It certainly is lovely to see you again, Sal," he said with a small nod. "I'd like you to meet Lady Lilia Thames. She's new in town and wanted to know the best tailorshop in town, so naturally, I brought her here. We have a large order for you today."
'Lilia Thames' raised a single brow, chin held high as she took in this 'Sal' woman. It was evident she had a passion for her work; and even more so by the quality of dresses that consumed the place. Jinai felt almost consumed by the mere presence of such dresses, and had to use all of her will power to stave off a gape.
The dresses were beautiful..a nd if she never had a dream to wear dresses before, a part of her was hungry to try it- and giddy for more. To think.. she'd be wearing just a few of these dresses...
Pulled from her day dream,s he smiled politely over at Sal and gave a slight bow of her head.
"It's nice to finally meet you. Armand has told me a lot about you."
Sal gave a smile to the young woman. She took a step back and gave her a once over before turning to look at Jude with an approving grin. "Well come in and let me show you to the changing rooms in the back. We'll get your measurements and have you try on a few choice gowns then," Sal said with a generous smile, leading Jinai by the elbow.
Jude gave her a nod to take her away while he sat down in the waiting room, crossing his legs and peering at the sample sketches that Sal had made out for guests. "I know the drill," he said, giving a sly smirk.
"Oh he's a doll," she commented as she led her away. "How did you come to know Mr. Armand? A friend of a friend I suppose."
"It's a long story and I'd rather not bore you with the details," Jinai began, turning around so Sal could help her with her dress, smirking all the while. "And I suppose he's sweet enough..." she gave a dry chuckle. "Certainly a better companion than most."
Sal gave an airy laugh at her comment. She helped the lady shimmy out of her dress and carefully set that aside. "Sweet is certainly a choice word to describe Jude Armand," Sal remarked. "Most women wouldn't use that to describe him. But then again, he's been nothing but a darling since I've know him. He helped me keep my husband's business after he passed - Ansgar rest his soul - when the taxman came and tried to take it away. Sal had never been good with numbers. That's why he made fine clothes for a living. Oh I don't know how Jude did it, but I'm just glad he did." Sal motioned for her to face her. "All right, now the veil,. Don't be shy dear. Friends of Jude are friends of mine."
Jinai hesitated before lifting her veil. Her cheeks were flushed, though not out of embarrassment. So Jude cared enough to.save this little shop? She was curious as to why. But perhaps she could inquire later.
Sal took the blush as little more than cold feet as she took the liberty to take the veil off herself. She gasped a little at the sight and her eyes widened. "My you're even more beautiful than I would have guessed!" she exclaimed and her smile relaxed.
She took out her measuring tape and proceeded to measure her bust and upper torso. "Well I'm just glad to hear that Mr. Armand is treating you well. He's a real gentleman. Not like those other so called gentlemen that are beasts in disguise, running women ragged in those whorehouses and using soldiery as an excuse to bully people into giving them whatever they want. Hmph! Well, don't be bothered by my nonsense dear. Tell me more about yourself! What brings you to Reajh? Business or pleasure?"
By the time they were done, Sal had a piece of paper filled with all notes and measurements and stepped out, grabbing a few gowns before immediately ducking back in. "I hope these are suitable, dear," the older woman said as she tossed them over for her to try on.
Jinai tensed when the woman gasped, eyes flickering around as if expecting her to call her out on her identity-
and then she'd ring Jude Armand's neck. But what she said wasn't expected, and Jinai found herself staring stupidly at the tailor. She was so caught off guard by the woman's comment, she almost didn't catch most of what she was saying.
"Yeah, you can find a lot of dogs in Connlaoth.." she muttered, and just silently obeyed the woman, lifting her arm here or there for her to get the appropriate measurements. Then as the gowns were presented, Jinai stared at them, feeling overwhelmed again. How did a woman get in or out of there things? She was attempting to slip into an ivory dress, considering the other colors were just too... feminine for her, but she wasn't quite sure if she had the thing on properly or not.
And for all she knew.. while she was being distracted by putting on dresses, her male companion might be ratting her out!
[LOL! Jinai is so paranoid!]
Indeed Jude had vacated the waiting room as Sal was stuffing Jinai into that dress. By the time the little woman was ushering her out, Jude was just coming through the door again and stuffed something into his jacket pocket as he came in. He looked up and saw Jinai in that dress. He wrinkled his nose and raised a brow at her.
"The fit is a little tight," he observed and stood along the side looking her up and down. "And probably not your color. But the design is quite intriguing. Darling, Sal, this might look better if you alter the base colors into something more earthy?"
Sal looked a little astonished at his choices and gave a look over to Jinai. "I-I suppose I could make some adjustments," she said and looked up to her model. "What do you think?"
OOC: I can't entirely blame her XD
Clearly if he's being nice, HE HAS TO HAVE SOME ULTERIOR MOTIVE DX
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Jinai shot Jude a look.
"Something in cream and dark greens," she stated matter of factly. "Though do you have anything in dark blue? Or black... and something a little.. sleeker? I know the styles are normally with more weight but..."
Shit. What were the style anyways? She looked to the other dresses..
Yeah, frills and diamonds. Two things Jinai never had to think about until today.
[But of course! Nobody can be THAT nice without wanting something in return]
Jude gave her a raised browed look at her choices and gave a suitable nod. "That would work fine Miss Ramsey!" he said with approving smile. "Sleeker would be better. There is no need to hide the lady's figure under a mile of taffeta. We'll take five dresses in varying dark shades. Loose the frills, but keep the trim. There is a lovely function the Lady will be attending in three nights and what better than a dress that will turn heads."
Sal perked up and wiped her brow. "Well, it'll be quite an undertaking but not impossible," she said. She suddenly smiled and put her hands on her hips. "But I'll do it! Come darling, let's get you out of that dress!" When they were back, Jude kept that clever half-grin on his face and winked at Jinai.
"Shall we head down to the hair dresser?" he said, looking at her warily, wondering if this was too much for her.
Jinai, was in fact, swimming over everything that was going on, but she kept her face like an ace. At Jude's wink, however, she narrowed her gaze and raised her chin higher.
"Perhaps. But I thought your hair looked lovely," she said, turning the conversation back to him with playful subtleness. Then she hooked arms with him. "Lead the way."
Jude's smirk half-faded when she took his arm and at last he led them out of the tailor shop. "With your hands yanking out every last strand, I'm suprised it lasted this long," he quipped. But the hair dresser's was soon visible down the block and he gave a soft knock to the glass where a heavyset man appeared with an awkward glass eye.
"Oi Mr. Armand," the man addressed him. "I didn't expect you until next week. And who's this lovely creature?"
"Mr. Osgood, allow me to introduce you to Lady Lilia Thames," Jude said, opening the door for her. "Lady Thames, this is Mr. Osmond Osgood. And he's going to take excellent care of you."
Once they were inside, the small man looked up and Jinai and gave an approving nod. "I don't usually do women, but my wife isn't in at the moment, I supose my hands will be just as suitable," he said with a grin. "Come dear perhaps just a little off the top, eh?"
Jinai cut him a look, but actually blushed at the comment. She didn't need to be reminded how good their sex was. Since well, it was pretty amazing- but so was sex she had with other men.. and other women. So his couldn't have been much more remarkable, especially against that one threesome....
Even still, she smirked.
"You're just lucky you have any hair at all," she reminded him, and soon they were at their destination, and once the man looked her over and inquired about her hair,s he simply turned to glance at Jude, then back to Mr. Osgood.
"Yes, that should suffice."
Again Jude took a seat in the waiting section when Osgood took Jinai to a seat and presented her before a mirror and inspected her from side to side. He could only see her through one eye and he leaned in close while his glass eye as his other eye inspected her locks. "Hmm, these are quite damaged," he said with a frown. "But we'll take care of you. Do NOT worry." Jude soon joined them as he stood behind her in the mirror as Osgood took fresh oils and rubbed them through her hair and spritzed it with water. Soon came a quick set of shears that went about evening the ends of her hair.
As the loose ends fell away, piling heavily on the floor, Jinai held her breath, inwardly figuring out ways to kill Jude if the man cut all of her hair off, and was surprised when her hair felt lighter, and appeared.. much more tamed then before. She almost didn't recognize herself as she made a face at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were more easily visible now, her low hanging bangs now tamed and framing her green eyes.
[I'm just loling at all of Jinai's inward thoughts. XD She's supposed to be relaxing getting a makeover and whatever and she's just all "I'mma kill this bastard!"]
Jude widened his eyes as he gradually saw the transformation before him and when at last he turned her around, the smirk on his face was surprisingly genuine. "I knew you would be in good hands," he said in approval. "I didn't think you could do women's hair Osmond. But I like to be proven wrong. Well lady, how do you feel? Better? Lighter? Wrathful?" He smiled wider and held out a hand to help her out of the hair. He paid the man and turned to Jinai, stepping in closely. "I don't think you'll have any trouble fitting right in," he said with a small smile. "Nobody would even recognize you. C'mon we have a market to get to."
OOC: THen expect many lols to come XP
-------
Jinai could have clocked him clean across the face. But instead, she forced a smile, though it still appeared incredulous before she nodded towards the Osmond.
"Thank you. You've done lovely work. I must admit, I have been traveling for quite sometime and haven't had the chance to do a thing with my hair. It feels refreshing and I can sense the life coming back to it again." Then wtih a sweet smile, she turned around as she rose to her feet, giving Jude a knowing, underlying look before she gestured towards the door. "Shall we?"
Jude took her arm and opened the door for her, waving farewell to the fat man with the glass eye and led her down the street again to the market. "Don't lay it on so thick," he said through a forced smile of his own. "Besides, you should be thanking me. I'm doing you a favor."
Jinai could have chewed him out. Her patience was wearing thin, but instead, she chewed on the inside of her mouth and simply inquired, "Where are we going now?"
This day was too tiring for her. She felt irritable and overly exhausted. She seriously could sleep for days. This sort of facade was exhausting; as was her paranoia against Jude Armand.
Jude bite his lip at her words and gestured to the market. "I know I'm asking a lot from what you're used to...but remember this is not for me or for you this for Renna. So take a breath and try to relax. I'm not your enemy," he said to her, frowning as he did so. He stepped over to a series of produce stands and a bakery nearby. "You have to at least make an effort to trust me."
Jinai turned towards him, her eyes meeting his flatly as she smiled sourly.
"I know. I don't do this for you, or for myself," she told him through her teeth, cutting into him with her eyes before turning away. "Besides, I don't trust anyone so easily. Ally or not..."
Jude's frown deepened, but he gave a soft smile anyway. "I can respect that," he said. "I'm sorry if all this is unexpected. But I'm not here to hurt you or Renna...I hope you can respect that too." Jude gently led her to toward the bakery and peered at her strangely, as if trying to see through her veneer. "Let's get some tea and biscuits."
The bakery doubled as a cafe and served freshly brewed tea and some stronger more robust drink labeled as kaffe. Jude opened the chair for her and sat before her looking at her again. "What happened to you? Why did you come here looking to protect Renna?"
As they were seated and Jude inquired about Renna again,s he kicked his leg and said between her teeth, "This is not a discussion for in public." And she forced her lashes to bat prettily at him before she turned towards the waitress inquired what they'd like.
"My friends buying, so giving me your strongest drink." She smirked, then grinned over at Jude, raising her eyes at him expectantly and cooly waiting for him to order his own food as she crossed her leg, one over the other.
Jude narrowed his eyes at her as he looked her over. There came the cold smiles again, the forced grins as she played it off. He gave a small grin of his own as he ordered a kaffe and a small bagel. "Thank you," he nodded to the woman and gave her a grin before slipping her a coin.
But his smile faded as he peered back at Jinai and her cool smile. "Such a sore kick and tone of voice tells me it's more personal than I imagined," he said softly just between them.
Jinai pretended to smile again as she leaned in, a hand resting against her chin.
"I hardly know you, so stop trying to pry," she told him bluntly, and with a forced sweetness, then leaned back into her chair and sighed, closing her eyes.
"Besides, I had a long day," she added, a bit more loudly. Really, what was his problem? No one else was so ever so pushy, and the only person she ever really trusted with any intimate details about herself was dead.
And she wasn't about to look fora replacement in him.
Jude gave her a knowing grin and folded his hands one over the other on the table. "Fair enough," he replied with a coy smile. "In your own time or not at all... I get it. But I was just wondering that it might be easier to work together if we knew each other a little better." He opened his jacket a little and peeked at the paper he had inside of it before slipping it back inside.
Jinai narrowed her gaze at him.
"What are you looking at? What's that in your pocket?"
Jude smiled at her and stuffed it back in his jacket. But the smile was short lived when their drinks and his bagel arrived. He took a sip and 'ahh'ed at the strength of it. "If you must know," he said. "I went to collect your posters while you were being fitted."
Jinai kept her eyes hard as she glared at him and asked carefully, the steam from their drinks rising between them, "Why...."
Jude trained his eyes on her like a hawk to prey. "Shouldn't I have?" he asked, testing the waters. "Why not?"
Jinai narrowed her gaze even more.
"Because no one asked for you to..."
"I didn't ask for a spy to come into my home either." he said with a narrower gaze. "But I'm trying to make this work...like I said, for the sake of our mutual friend. I know you don't trust me, or convinced that I genuinely give a damn...but I do. I may be what I am, but I'm not heartless. Not without reason."
Jinai kept her gaze coldly upon him and after a time of chewing over her words, spat out, "Everyone has a price. You seem to know that very well, considering your profession..." she began. "You must think I'm a fool if I'd be your ally after only one day of knowing you. We're working together, but that's it. But don't think for a second I actually trust you. If I so easily trusted, I wouldn't be alive today." Then she rose from her table. "Excuse me. I need to piss." And she headed out the door.
Jude chewed on his tongue when she departed the room and he stayed seated for a time. Finally he stood up and moved toward the counter of the bakery and purchased a small chocolate cake before exiting the building himself. He peered over to the alley where he suspected she was doing her business when he felt a hand along his shouldaand propmtly spin him around. Before he knew it, a fist came flying into his face and he promplty fell to the ground. Jude held his face as he climbed to his feet and he saw the stout but heavily built man before him. "Remember me?" he said with a grim espression.
"Brolis! How lovely of you to call on me," Jude said smugly. "How can I help you on this fine day?"
"Cut the shit, pretty boy," Brolis growled, stepping in close. He was about four inches shorter than Jude, but no less angry. "This isn't a social call. The book, where is it?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about...and if you had half a brain in that thick skull of your...you know I have enough on you to make sure I never do." Jude countered. Even as he rubbed his sore cheek. Brolis growled and frustratedly took a step back though everything in him wanted to throttle Jude for his words. But the cut his punch gave to his lip and the bruise on his cheek would have to suffice. The man huffed and pointed a finger in his face. "You say one word...and I'll skin your face off myself and wipe my ass with it. This isn't the last you've seen of me." With that Brolis turned his back and disappeared into the forming crowd.
"Seems you're good at making friends," came Jinai's voice from the roof top, and if he were to look up, he'd be able to catch just the side of her lounging carelessly upon the thatch.
"Indeed. But he's just a little sore on the count that I've got a bigger...handle than he does," Jude said as he smirked at her from below. "And you're quite good at finding yourself in remarkable places. Do you always piss on the roof?"
Jinai lazily rolled onto her side, resting a hand against her cheek as she stared down at him.
"Only when I went to piss ontop of someone I don't like." She then notice the cake, now smashed on the ground and looked from the cake, then over to Jude, and suddenly she laughed, and laughed and laughed so much that she lost her balance, falling clean off the side of the roof.
Jude only just then noticed the cake and frowned. But her laughter became so infectious that he couldn't help but laugh too as he checked his clothes and saw at least that the chocolate got on his leg and not his ass. "Well, it's still good at least," he said, picking up the crushed box. He walked over to Jinai and knelt beside her as she laughed.
He quirked a brow at her before laughing again himself. "Oh quit it! The Jokes over!" he growled with mild irritation, but even he couldn't wipe the smile from his face.
Jinai simply lay on the ground, still laughing as she stared up at the sky. her eyes were obviously dialated when she looked at him, wearing the same grin and her cheeks a little flushed. ANd nearby her, and empty vial of the drug she had taken lay. She admired the cake on him.
"I think it looks good on you," she said, giving him a hungered once over. She picked herself off the ground and walked clean up to him, wiping some frosting off on her finger as she smeared it across his lips before diving into them with a deep and hungered kiss. She pressed himclean up against the building just then and began to tear at his clothes.
"Let's fuck," she told him hastily, lips moving down to nurse at his neck as she breathed the words out hotly,"Right here, right now." And her hands moved down to stroke over his crotch.
She surprised him with her sudden hunger, after all the disdain she'd shown him at lunch. But as she started tearing off his clothes he looked at her a moment, pushing her off to keep her a breath away. He noticed the vial on the ground and frowned at her. "Why don't I take you back to the house? We've spent enough time outside, don't you think?" he grunted, kissing her back.
Jinai laughed before he kissed her, then laughed through the kiss.
"What's wrong with right here?" she said, beginning to pluck the strings of his pants open.
"Because I don't find a brick wall very arousing," Jude grunted, though he couldn't say he didn't admire the deftness of her hand along his crotch. His hand came down and took her wrist to pause her advances. "And you obviously took something to bring you to this. What did you take?"
Jinai looked up at him with a laugh.
"Why? Do you think you need some to get it... up?" she said, and pointed with a single finger towards the sky.
"Nonsense," Jude growled as she laughed. "I don't have that problem. But I just I'm a little concerned that you're even more overzealous than usual. What was it?"
"As if you'd know what my normal iis," she said with a smirk, dropping to her knees before him as she opened up his pants and reached inside to find out if he was telling her the truth.. or not.
Damn was this escalating fast and for once Jude wasn't sure he wanted to go through with it, not like this at least. As she dropped to her knees, Jude immediatley dropped down as well and pulled her hands away from him. "Just shut up," he growled. "Just shut up and kiss me!" He kissed her hard, shoving his tongue into her mouth.
Jinai's breath was stolen away, primarily because his lips were suddenly sealed over hers and his tongue shoved between her cheeks. She wrestled against him for breath before panting, "Why are you kissing me? Got something to hide?" she said with a laugh, and suddenly grew light headed seeing spots as she collapsed suddenly against his shoulder, laughing uncontrollably so.
Jude moaned against her as they kissed until she just slumped against him. He laughed to, if only to keep her at bay as his hand reached down to put his member back into his pants and seal them back up. "Back alleys aren't particularly sexy," he said and turned his head toward her. "Let's just get to the house, we can fuck later. Besides, the longer the wait, the sweeter the taste, don't you think?" He put an arm around her waist and threw her over his shoulder befor standing and starting back through the market. Halfway through he stopped by the strawberry stand and picked out a bundle to take home before taking to the street.
Being carried around like a sack of potatoes offered a different view on life..
Like Jude Armand's ass. She was smirking and laughign as she admired it, and as he bought the berries, she perked up and pointed to a banana.
"Get one of those yellow things,too."
Jude stopped by the bananas and viewed them for a moment. "Okay, but just one!" he grumbled as she giggled like a maniac. He barely had enough room in his other hand to carry it. He quickly paid the main, balancing strangely as he held her weight on him and promptly smacked her ass because of it.
Soon they were on their way and he put her down when they got to the house. He held her against him and looked at her with a narrow hawk-eyed gaze. He opened the door and shoved her inside. "You could have at least waited to take that when we got here!" he growled in mild irritation.
By the time they made it to his place, Jinai was lulled into contentment. Once she was set down, her legs gave out and..
she completely passed out on the ground at his feet.
"Gods be damned!" Jude cursed and tossed the cake and everything else at the foot of the door and plucked her up from the ground as she was completely limp from the ground. He closed the door with one hand and finally cradled her into his arms as he led her back up stairs to his bedroom. When he got there, he tossed her on the bed, standing over her and just staring at her with daggers.
Jinai wouldn't awaken until the sun began to set and the room she was laying in was cast in a pink glow. The day had been rather uneventful, but unfortunately for Jude, one of his clients decided to visit him just as Jinai was waking up - and she had a massive hang over as the front bell was rung.
Sitting up, she gripped onto her head with a groan, then realized, with a gasp, she was in some strange place. Panic set in as she looked around before it finally sunk in what had happened with her and Jude.
And all she could think of was...
"Shit.. did we have sex.. again?" She needed to stop making this a habit,and it was only then she remembered she needed to take her 'day after' elixir. She needed to get herself pregnant with some male courtesan's child. So fumbling out of bed, she nearly tripped over her own two feet as she tried to look around for her bag.
Jinai's bag was placed carefully on the nightstand where Jude figure she'd go batshit for finding it again. He was busy in the kitchen putting away the produce he'd purchased for the day and going over his finances on just how much this little adventure was going to cost him, or so he estimated, so he was naturally stressed out when the caller he wasn't expected rang on the bell of his door.
He cursed and moved from his study downstairs to answer the door, dressed frumpily in his day old shirt and as soon as he opened the door, the woman on the other side flew at him, planting her lips firmly onto his and releasing a soft moan. Jude pulled away and took a step back, lip tint smeared across his lips. He licked his lips and gave a soft pout. "Lady Amelia! I wasn't expecting you this evening!" he said with a small smile. But his eyes were unamused.
She still didn't seem to clue in on his irritation and allowed herself inside, moving past his shoulder and cleverly closing the door behind her as she smirked. "Oh, what's not sexy about unexpected visitors?" she smirked at him as she went at him again, grabbing at his collar and kissing him hungrily! Jude resisted, or tried to as she pushed him back up toward the stairs and he tried to maintain his balance.
"Lady, please! Now is really NOT a good time -" She cut him off short again as she pulled at his clothes and tried to lead him back up to his bed room, but when she burst through the doors, Jude fell back against the wall and she eventually turned her attention to someone else that happened to be there. Her face suddenly turned red and she turned back to Jude before promptly slapping him across the face.
"You didn't tell me you were busy," she growled and turned her head back to Jinai. "And who is this hussy?"
Jude reached for his guest and promptly grabbed her by the shoulders. "I tried to tell you! Calm down!" he growled and turned her toward the door. "I think you should leave." She slapped him again, harder this time and did depart, turning her eyes as if she could set Jinai ablaze with them.
"I hope you don't expect me to come back any time soon," she huffed and promptly departed the building.
Jude held his sore cheek and glared at Jinai. "I hope you're happy."
His room was in a dissarray, because for some reason, she hadn't spotted her bag sitting there, obviously placed upon the table until about tow seconds before the pair waltzed in. She was face deep in her bag when she lifted her head up to witness the pair going at it, and she froze when the other woman looked at her.
A peculiar series of emotions rushed through her,a nd as the other woman tossed a hissy fit, Jinai only gave a coy grin in return before leaning herself sultryly against the side of the bed. Once the woman was gone, her grin broadened as she looked at Jude as if she was the kitten that had just gotten the cream.
"She seemed nice. I guess she's not into threesomes?"
Jude rubbed his face again and glared at her. "Not particularly. And certainly not when you're dress is half torn and acting like you fucked my brains out, which is what she generally likes to do," he grumbled. "But don't feel too bad about it. She unfortunately underpays." Though he knew she probably didn't give a damn.
He wiped his face off and stepped over to her bag before dumping it's contents onto the bed. "There, maybe you'll find what you're looking for." He kept his glare on her after turning his eyes around the room that she tore from top to bottom.
Jinai shrugged. "For all I remember, we did." And at his mention that the woman was about to do just that, her smile faltered.
"Sorry your friends are no fun," she siad with another casual shrug, but when he dumped her bag onto the bed, her eyes went wide.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!? Do you want a black eye?" she spat at him, then began to quickly scoop up all of her belongings, though many vials began to topple onto the floor, rolling underneath the bed, the dresser, the desk.. the vanity.
Cursing,s he dropped to her knees and began to scramble around in attempts to pick them all up. Though one o them rolled so far underneath the bed, she couldn't reach it.
"SHIT!"
Naturally it was the vial she was looking for, so with her ass sticking out,s he tried to reach further and further beneath the bed and once she failed to reach it, she slipped out and cursed again, turning towards him and jabbing a hard finger into his chest.
"Your'e getting that.Now move your bed, or get down on all fours and start reaching."
Jude smirked and laughed, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched her gather all her things in sheer frustration. He only messed her things because she messed his up. After about a minute of amusement when she poked her hand into his chest he frowned at her and stepped out of the way for a minute. "How about...no," he said and smiled a little. "Get it yourself! It's not that far it!"
"I just tried!" she growled between her teeth. "Get it before I kick you in the balls. I need it!" she said, glaringly.
Jude rolled his eyes and gave a smart sigh. "Don't get your thong in a twist," he grumbled and pushed her back a tad or two. Dropping down onto is stomach he moved toward the bed and eventually found the vial in which she sought, clutching it curiously in hand. "What's this? Another drug?" He tossed it to her and gave a smirk.
Jinai hadn't expected him to toss the vial at her,a nd it smacked her in the nose and rolled back under the bed, causing her to cursed and then stomp angrily on his foot.
"GOD DAMN IT, JUDE! I NEED THAT GOD DAMN VIAL UNBROKEN!"
Jude was getting tired of getting smacked around today and grabbed her by the arms as he pushed her aside for a moment. "Relax!" he said went around the bed and promptly dropped to his belly once more, and pulled out the vial. "Don't you hit me again! Here! And hold it FIMRLY!"
"You threw it at my face!" she shouted angrily. "Just hurry up and get it!"
She wasn't about to make any promises about not hitting him. She was pissed and exceptionally moody.
Jude was growing increasingly irritated and looked up at her when at last he grabbed it and stood up. He clutched it in one hand before grabbing a pillow and throwing it at her face, keeping the vial for himself. "You need to relax!"
Jinai gasped when he hit her then began swearing up a storm. Then she lunged at him.
"Just give me the damn vial!!!!"
Jude kept his grip on the vial, all without crushing it when she lunged at him, throwing him onto the bed. "Get off of me!" he growled at her, fighting with her and struggling with her atop him. "I'll not give it, till you learn to behave like a normal person!"
"Normal?! What does a courtesan know about being normal?!" And she continued to reach for it. "Now just give me the gods damn vial! I don't want to get pregnant!!!!"
At her words, Jude instantly relented, though his hand remained clutched over the vial. He stared at her for a moment and then looked at the vial. "Better take it fast. I don't need any brats either," he grumbled and shoved the vial against her chest. He stared at her for a moment, leaning up on his elbows. "I hope you have a lot of those."
Jinai scowled and snatched the vial away, popping off the top.
"No," she sneered. "I was only supposed to stay for the night." She knocked the vial back, making a bitter face. "This little acquaintance, or alliance, or whatever you want to call it was not suppose to happen. So I'm a little unprepared in my inventory."
Jude raised a brow and looked away with an indifferent shrug. He was glad to know she was resourceful enough to look after herself in such a manner; it certainly saved him half the trouble. Cutting his eyes back to her he frowned a little. "Then I guess we should refrain from having anymore sex. But it was certainly good while it lasted."
Jinai cut him a look.
"You get enough anyway. Besides, I need to leave tomorrow to meet up with Renna."
Jude raised a brow at her. "Leaving so soon?" he gave her a smirk and sat up before her. "Fine," hesaid, putting his hands on her thighs and rubbing her skin there for a moment. "But just be back before the ball the night after that. And don't get yourself caught. You're still wanted. There's only so much I can do to peel your plastered face from the city walls." Jude looked her in eye for a moment, his expression relaxed. Before she could protest, Jude quickly leaned up and took her lips in his, kissing her hotly but briefly while be could and grinned all the more for it. "A kiss for the road. Why don't you just leave now?"
The kiss was unexpected, but then again, so was her fist to his face.
"Stop it with the fake flattery, Jude. I know I'm in your way of customers." And she shoved away from him and went to gather her things. She wasn't about to stick around anyways. This place was just... it was just too strange for her. And she was always upset here.
If it weren't for Renna... well, Jude would just have one less girl, now wouldn't he? The idea made her inwardly frown as she continued to gather up her things without bothering to give Jude anymore attention. She wanted to be out of here as fast as possible- he didn't need to tell her twice she wasn't wanted. Besides, there was plenty of things she needed to do.
Jude Armand not being on that list.
Though the cake would have been a nice dessert, she supposed he was going to just use it on that other paying hussy.
The punch to the face was certainly unexpected and Jude held his jaw once more for that night watching her scurry off of him trying to collect her things. He quickly swung himself to the edge of the bed and looked at her strangely. "Hey! Where are you going?" he asked, but instead got the ice of her cold shoulder.
"C'mon, you don't have to go," he said, standing beside her. "I was just making a suggestion. You sounded so eager to leave on your own, but I'm not forcing you out. You're not in the way. I wasn't expecting a caller. Stop it. Stop, please."
Jude put his hands on her shoulders then slid them down to her waist and leaned in to kiss her deeply. "You don't have to go," he breathed. He tightened his arms around her and kissed her again. "Stay."
When he turned her around and began to touch her, she visibly flinched and her eyes went wide. Did he want another punch to the face? Or a boot to his nuts? But before she had a chance to think of or act upon her impulse, suddenly, his lips sealed over hers. And then his arms had gotten around her and his breath sent a shiver to her skin.
For a moment,s he remained, awkward and tense within his arms before pushing away.
"Look, just.. just stop."
"Then stay," he breathed again and kissed her cheek. He did loosen his grip on her but didn't fully let her go. He looked her eye to eye. "I don't want you to leave. I want you....to stay." he added in a second afterward.
"Why do you have to go? What did I do ?"
What was with all of his kissing? Was he getting sweet on her after just a few fucks? She felt uncomfortable, and squirmed beneath his kisses, even as she blushed.
And it was when their eyes met she stilled, and his words warmed her, but in the same breath made her feel uneasy.
Those words..
They had been repeated to her too many times by her brother. So many nights when he had nightmares.. afraid who would find out what he was. Afraid he'd be taken away to the church. Afraid his family would hate him.
Thinking about her brother struck a cord deep within her. And she felt suffocate dnad had to get away. So at his words, she looked away from him as she pushed away, breaking from his hold.
"I just have to leave..."
What did she have to explain to him?
Jude chewed on his lip for a time, looking at her imploringly as she mulled over his words. They were genuine in the least and he felt confused by her sudden change in mood. "Don't go, please," he said solemnly. "I really mean it." He knew she'd probably leave anyway, but he hoped his words were not going unheeded. He chewed his lip for a moment longer before leaning in for a final kiss.
This time as he leaned in, her hand went over his lips.
"Save those for paying customers," she said, then turned her back to him as she scooped up her bag and headed for the door.
He couldn't help a smirk when her hand came up against his lips. He pulled her hand away and watched her go. "Well just know...if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me." Jude stepped down after her, but made no further efforts to stop her. "Stay safe," he added with a playful but genuine smirk.
Jinai only gave him one glance over her shoulder before she headed out the door. The iron gate squealed shut, closing the door on the Armand Estate, but even still, she stole but one glance back to the estate before disappearing into the street. Thank god it was night time. She felt odd in the clothes she had to wear and began to make her way towards the winding, back alleys, though even here she was feeling mildly uncomfortable.
She hadn't gotten high in months, yet she had done so yesterday;a nd she felt the familiar hunger to do so again. Renna could wait,a nd Jude Armand could fuck all the other girls for all she cared. She needed to just be in her own skin for this night- lest her game of pretend suffocate her.
Jude gave a sigh as he watched her walk out the door and slumped against the rail with a loud groan. She was free to leave any time she wanted, that much he'd made clear and if she wanted to return, his door - or maybe a window - would be left open for her. But he himself almost couldn't stand the stifling air of his own home and he proceeded to go out himself. There was a nice pub not far from his house and this was a nice night to just get away, from everyone and everything.
He surprised himself as he finished cleaning up the mess she'd made of his room. He had plenty of people he could make an evening visitation to, but he didn't feel like fucking. That mood was long gone. The house was becoming stiflingly hot and so he opened up at least his bedroom window after he finally dressed and went out of the door toward the pub.
He found the pub not far around the corner and slipped in for a drink. It was going to be a long night indeed.
The colors were indescribable- sparkling, unclear, then crisp and interlocking; weaving and diving and scattering across the candle's glow. She had no idea how it ended up this way, or why she had even agreed; but the whores could never pass up free drugs; and Jinai never wanted to (entirely) get high without a companion. And the girls showed her things she would not forget, and lead her to do things she might regret.
And it was only the cold air that was partially sobering as Jinai found herself ontop of a building, her clothing half falling off and the world appearing in an odd haze.
Yet there she was, the tips of her boots hanging over the edge of the building as she looked out at the world.
"Wouldn't it be great to fly?" she said, her hands swimming before her, trailing in multiple layers of lethargy. She turned her hand around, just as the trail formed back into itself, and then turned it around again- her hands duplicating in and out of itself, puckering and moving like the open lips of her sex.
And how the colors bubbled at the edges, ribboning in so many hues...
and she suddenly felt like dancing as she moved freely against the edge-
and then it came..
the fall-
witht he stars above her twinkling-
and the world below her coming fast.
And when she hit the ground, it was loud-
and Jinai's world went black.
He didn't want to get drunk, just enough to get a buzz, not bring himself to get drunk alone. It was a stressful night for all of them and the noise of the pub had begun to get too much, especially when a pack of soldiers came in and decided they wanted to have a good time with a couple of girls they brought in with them. Even in a time of war, it was obvious even soldiers would still find a bitch if they wanted it bad enough.
He slipped out of the back, into the alley and proceeded to walk home, his hands tucked into his pockets, as the chill air wrapped around him. His face was warm from the few shots of whiskey he had and his head swilled just a little. But a strange sound from around the corner drew him back to reality. He paused at the body on the ground, still and motionless and he felt his heart leap into his throat for a minute.
Creeping closer, Jude knelt beside the body and carefully turned it over. "Shit!" he growled. "Gods, what is the matter with you?" But the words fell on deaf ears as he saw the blood pouring form her forehead and much of her face. He cursed again before gathering her up into his arms and holding her against him as he ran back toward his house.
The street was empty, quiet and he made sure to look around in the darkest corner before he opened the door and slipped inside. "Don't be dead, goddammit," he whispered as he brought her into his bedroom once again, laying her softly on the bed, and rummaging through a drawer for a bowl and rushing for the pitcher, filling it with water and preparing some elixirs he'd had stashed away underneath his armoire.
Luck was a strange creature; and showed it's face numerous times to the bleeding blonde laying in his bed. Though for a brief moment that night, she had felt herself flying... tasted the winds, the colors before slipping into a deep sleep. Her breathing was shallow, but she was still there- and no matter what he might do; Jinai remained fast asleep.
He'd long since removed the confines of her torn and filthy clothes, rolling her out of them and gently cleaned the massive gash along her forehead. He'd pressed his ear against her breast, listening for a heartbeat and was relieved to find that it was still there. Most of the blood he found on her face had come from it and at least she would suffer little more than a bruise. Or so he hoped. He was surprised to find that she survived such a fall, but something was telling him her body was accustomed to such abuse.
He cleaned her up as best he could and the water in the bowl was crimson by the time he was through. He poured salves and small dabs of one of his elixirs across her wounds. He stayed beside her, watching her as she slumbered, almost angry enough to want to hit her himself, but he stayed his hand.
Three days and three nights she slept. Only breathing.
She had long since missed her meeting with Renna, and the girl grew worried, but not entirely so. She knew Jinai- and the woman was quite busy. Despite having her face plastered all over the town, she had faith that she could do no wrong and no harm could come to her.
Though three days was a long time in the care of a busy and well to do courtesan; so when she awoken in themiddle of the night- the world dark around her; she sat up suddenly, her head pounding, her body ,sweaty but clean; and the sheets falling off of her body.
Where the hell was she!? What was going on!?
[Three days of no bathroom breaks xD]
Jude Armand didn't always need to bring his business home with him and whatever the occasion called for it, it was his job to be ready. He made sure Jinai was locked safely away from prying eyes when he went off to a dinner or lunch with a client. This particular evening was no different as Jude was returning home, the carriage dropping him off just a block away as he walked the rest of the way toward his house.
He entered quietly and closed the door softly behind him, locking up before he ascended the stairs to dress for the night. The day had been long and he was sore from the cramped space of the carriage, it certainly forced him to think creatively but his back was taut and his chest ached just a little. It would be a while before he did that again that was for sure.
He came quietly into the room just as Jinai awoke once more and he turned, putting his jacket away in an armoire and gave her a small smirk. "Good to see you're awake," he said softly, fixing the collar of his shirt, taking off that ridiculous neckwrap that his client asked him to wear and putting that aside. "How are you feeling?" His eyes drifted toward the light sweat that glistened from her flesh by the moonlight that flowed through the window.
Taking one look at Jude, she stared at him with wild and wide eyes.
And the only thing she could think ot do in that moment- was to suddnely punch him-
in the face.
"What the fuck is going on!?" she said, leaping from the bed, only to trip on the blankets and of course, fall directly into Jude Armand's arms.
OOC: I HAD TO POST THIS FOR LULZ
DX
also I'm just mean
He should have seen this coming a mile away, and thankfully...he did. So when she launched herself at him, he was fully prepared to jump out of the way and let her face collide with the wall when she slumped against him. He supported her and held her naked form close to him.
"What the hell's the matter with you!?" he growled at her, frowning as he held her against him and righted her. "You were an invalid for three days, you idiot! I found you face down on the floor, your face was all bloodied up!"
Her entire body felt weak and tingly all over, and she was seeing spots. And despite the room seeming to spin,s he caught his words and turned towards him, exclaiming, "What!?"
"Your head," he held her with one hand and gestured toward her forehead and pointed to it. "I stitched you up. I don't know what happened to you. Maybe you fell from a building or something, I don't know." He supported her until he led her back to bed. "What did you think happened? Nevermind. Let me get you something to eat, please."
Jinai paled and felt herself begin to sweat. Shaking her head, she muttered, "I.. I don't remember."
For in that moment, she couldn't remember a damn thing, and that frightened her. Shit.
The only thing she could think of was she blacked out from her drugs...
again.
And at the very idea, she felt herself begin to shake, as a few unfelt tears slid down her cheeks.
Jude frowned when he saw tears forming in her eyes. He didn't hesitate to wipe them from her face, though he was wary that she could swing at him again at any time. "Don't cry," he murmured. He lifted her up into his arms after placing one of his shirts around her again, at least to give her a semblance of decency before taking her back downstairs toward the kitchen.
"Don't cry, let me fix you something to eat. I don't have anything particularly filling, but I guess this smashed cake will have to do. It's all right," he said. He put her beside the counter and got some plates and the cake before setting it down on the table. Cutting some slices he set them beside her and joined her with a seat of his own on the counter. "Please, try and eat something."
Don't cry? Unfortunately, that was all she could.do. Even as he sat her before the.table, she simply sat.there, wide eyed and in tears. Though her face was unwrinkled, for still these tears were ones she could not feel, Jinai felt too overwhelmed that she had no idea what to do with herself. And then at the sight of.the cake, she turned away and vomited.
To hear her retch, Jude sighed and pushed the plates away, seeing her puke the contents of her stomach into the basin beside her. "Hey! Hey! It'll be all right!" he said. When she was done, he grabbed a towel and wiped her mouth with it. He didn't say anything more and just drew her into his arms and held her, even if she tried to fight him.
Jinai couldn't fight him even if she wanted to. She was shaking lightly in his arms, the warmth of his body, the strngth of his arms was a welcoming feeling after going so long without. Though she could never get used to this, for now she allowed herself but one moment to simply cry.
He didn't have clue what more he could do for her to still her sobbing body. But it seemed this was enough for now. He held her snugly to him and rubbed a hand across her back, like he would a child. Jude didn't dare question what came over her and just lightly pressed his lips to her forehead.
The kiss drew her back to reality as she pushed him away suddenly, doubled over across his lap as she clutched on painfully to her stomach.
"Gods, it feels as if someone kicked my insides a thousand times over,"s he groaned, and as her brows furrowed, she felt the thread from her stitches and lifted a hand to touch them. She half expected to find blood whens he looked back down at her fingers, but instead, grew silent as she stared down at her hand.
Jude leaned back against the pots above his head as he watched her. His eyes were softened when she inspected herself. He was afaid to touch her almost and carefully put a hand on her back. "You were bruised up all over pretty bad. I gave you some elixis I had, some on your skin and a salve to soothe your muscles. I'm never too wholly unprepared." He took his hand off her back and just watched her.
At his words, her gaze softened, and it almost appeared as if she were about to break. She blinked back a few tears as she released a long sigh.
"You should have left me there," she muttered. It was only a matter of time before this happened again, and someone less kindly might have found her.
At her words, Jude gave a soft laugh and he leaned off to the side to look at her face. "Yeah I shold have," he said. He gave a soft smile but it slowly faded. "But I didn't. I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear. But I don't think I could have." He watched her eyes and provided her the towel he'd wiped her mouth with. "Do you...remember anything?"
Jinai still felt sick, but at his question, her eyes grew distant as she tried to recollect what happened.
"I just took some drugs and blacked out," she muttered. He really didn't need to know more than that. "I probably mixed ones I shouldn't have."
I thought I was flying. And the idea, that fragmented memory sent a chill through her. If she was foolish enough to do that now, to fall back into her old habits, who's to say she wouldn't again? She had promised herself to cut back.. to stop; and had kept away from her drugs since her brother's death...
but here she was,knocking them back again as she always had been the day her brother had initially left. A shiver drew herback to the present, and she readjusted the meager clothing on her to keep herself warm.
"It's .. it's cold in here," she stated flatly, her eyes flickering around the room, but never meeting to his.
Jude noticed the flightiness in her and lifted her from his lap, enough to slide from the counter and turned over to the side, getting a glass of water. "It's warmer in the foyer. I can light a fire. Here, drink please. If you're not gonna eat, please drink." Jude lifted her again in his arms and took her into the next room, before setting her down on a couch. He didn't question her actions as he bent low and threw some logs into the fireplace before lighting it.
Jinai was nearly choking over the waters, her throat was so dry; and then she shivered again and doubled over, clutching her stomach once she drank it all down.
"Damn, I really have to piss." Though even she knew her legs were useless. Maybe she could just pee on his couch....
OOC: Just.. lol. Maybe she was holding it for three days |8*
"Gods woman," Jude shook his head and rushed to her. "HOLD IT!" He grabbed her and lifted her up, rushing her toward the water closet in the back, which was complete enough to house a proper seat and a bucket underneath and emptied out regularly. He set her ass down on the seat, thankful he didn't have to bother with any pants and stood back, closing the door behind him. "You couldn't have told me that sooner... Gods!"
Jinai sighed as she relieved herself, and even long after, lay wilted upon the chamber pot. She felt so ill and thought she was going to retch again, but after a moment, it passed as she sighed.
Yeah.. he should have just let her int he damn alleyway. She felt like Hell now and had a feeling it might only get worse.
Jude tried not to listen to the sounds she was making on the otherside, and leaned against the side of the door, waiting for her to be done. He couldn't imagine what all those drugs were doing to her system. No doubt being awake and drinking water was such a shock to her system. He frowned and wondered what caused her to use so much in one sitting anyway.
"There's some paper to clean yourself on the side," he said through the door.
It was almost twenty minutes later before Jinai managed to finish. She had retched again and her system was completely empty by then, and as she attempted to stand,s he pushed the door open but had to lean against it to keep herself righted. And she was covered in sweat and trembling. She was malnourished, sure, but her body was also fighting off the repercussions of her drugs.
"I think I need to lay down.." she said, then suddenly turned around, thankfully making it back tot he chamber pot, as she vomited again.
Jude made a face when she went back into the closet again to empty out her guts. Thankfully he had plenty of those pots in the cellar. He'd gotten around to taking one out again and setting it in the foyer. He didn't know how much a small woman could puke, but he was beginning to get an idea. He helped her out of the closet once she was done and led her back to the couch.
"Just lay down," he commanded and pointed to the pot beside her. "And if you need to puke again, it's right there. While you were in there, I took the opportunity to bring you more water, and some left over rice and bread. It's not much, but it's better than cake." He set the food down on the table and sat at on it, across from her.
"Why did you...well, I guess it's none of my business. But, why? Why take so many?" he asked softly. He knew she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of an answer and so he simply got up and went back to stirring the logs in the fire, spreading warmth throughout the room.
Jinai felt so sick. Everything irritated her, and she was about to actually answer Jude when he walked away. So she closed her lips and looked down at the table, to the bread and food with a frown.
[Jinai is so self-defeating sometimes. She could have just spoken to his back. Not like he's out of ear shot. But then again she's Jinai! 8D]
Jude stirred the flames and then glanced back at her, pouring a glass of water for himself and taking a drink. He was silent and only afforded her one more look before sitting down on the opposite couch.
OOC: She's also self destructive XD
----------
Jinai shuffled uncomfortably. She still felt wretched, but at least she was beginning to feel better.
Then, after a moment she considered, as she peered up at him, "Did we miss the ball?" Or whatever that event was he was trying to primp her up for. It felt as if she had been asleep for years yet she still felt exhausted.
Jude kept his eyes on the fireplace and sipped his water delicately. "Hmm, no, it's tomorrow night. I picked up your dresses. But..." he paused and looked down for a moment. "I'm starting to have my doubts. I mean, if you don't want to do this anymore, I understand. With the way things are going, I'm wondering if you're in any condition to move forward regardless."
He was quiet again when he looked up and finally did look at her. "I received a note from Renna I think, asking about you. I have it right here." He produced the paper from his pocket and handed it to her. "She was worried I guess."
Jinai blinked, then looked down at the paper. She grew silent a moment, thinking back to their plan, back to Renna's fate, and why she was actually here. And if before, Jude Armand's actions hadn't proved his innocence in all of this, the fact he nursed her back to health spoke volumes more.
She didn't bother opening the letter.
"I'll be fine. We can still do it." she said, staring over at the fire.
Jude took another drink before setting the glass down and looked at her. "Good," he said. He sat up a little more and crossed his legs. "You know, the night you left...I just want you to know that...I didn't mean to give the impression that I wanted you to leave. It's actually...kind of nice to have you here. It's refreshing."
Jinai made a face at his words before looking over at him quizzically.
"Why? You that bored?"
OOC: lol, she's so nice
Jude smirked at her and played with the rim of his glass. "It's that," he countered. "Your attitude. It's nice to be around a woman with more to her than just her money. Not to mention it's nice to have actually fucked a woman closer to my age."
Jinai blinked, but even in her condition she couldn't help but smirk.
"Money isn't everything.." she began to say. "And some say sex would be everything." she looked him over. "You still owe me that cake.."
"Do you have any idea how many old hags want me to ride them ragged? Gods, it's a good thing I charge so much or I'd never be able to get over it. But you do have a point. Money isn't everything. Though admittedly, it's a nice bonus," Jude said. He put the water down and got up. He needed a stronger drink for such a conversation and poured himself a glass of whiskey, taking a drink. He took a seat again where he was and raised a brow at her.
"Oh yeah? I wasn't sure if it was the sight of me or the cake that made you puke your guts out. Maybe it was both. Besides you smell like puke and you need to eat something." He gestured toward the bread. "You should at least try."
Jinai stared at him for a moment, unable to hide the small smirk on her lips.
"I bet those women love it,"s he said, still smirking as she looked away from him, studying the fire.
Jude was quiet and took another drink of the whiskey. She was still clad in the thin cloth of his shirt and it hung nicely on her body and he gave her a small smirk. "Oh I know they did. I made sure of it," he said back. He sat up and looked at her. "It's their way of escape from their daily lives, to receive some sort of satisfaction where they can't find it anywhere else. But then they go back and forget about me and write me off as a business expense." He took another drink.
"Why do you escape?" he asked softly.
"I doubt they'd forget about you or they wouldn't come back," she stated simply,a nd reached for her water. Taking a drink,s he looked at him as he asked his question. Wasn't he a nosy one. She made a face and looked away.
"It's not any story like Renna's, so I doubt you'd be interested. If you're looking for some other girl to rescue, I can find you them,they're a dime a dozen in these sorts of times." Then her eyes flickered over him before she turned away, smiling without depth as she looked back towards the fire. It was more of a mean smile, really...
Why did she escape? She had a family that couldn't care less about her- and three older brothers who faired the same. Her only reprieve was her relationship with Retkin...
and now he was gone; not just gone.... but dead. And the anger, the fear, the sorrow that came bubbling up through her about the massacre at Havanlaar made her eyes sparkle with tears.
She was chewing on her thumbnail as she blinked back some tears, keeping her face as averted of his best as she could.
"I'm not looking to rescue anyone," Jude replied. "But you're wrong if you think I wouldn't be interested." He took a drink of the whiskey, before offering it to her. "We all need a release sometime... I guess it just eats away at us..." He turned his eyes away for a moment, looking solemn. He turned his eyes at her again and frowned.
Jinai forced a cold grin, still not looking at him.
"Yeah.. and sometimes with drugs you can fly."
And then she grew quiet again.
Jude returned a small forced grin of his own. But it soon turned into a gentle smirk and he leaned forward, crawling on his knees and leaning beside her hips. "I bet that must have felt good, while it lasted," he said softly. "I wonder if that cake is any good." He took another sip of the whiskey, knocking back the rest.
Jinai looked downat the man perched beside her,a nd smirked herself. Then she grabbed onto his hair as if she was about to rip it out, but then just let it loose and fall and brush through her fingers.
"It did." she said,t hen glanced away. "Which makes it hard to stop."
Jude winced a little at the force of the hair pull which forced him to look at her. He gave her a soft grin and lookeda cross her face. "You don't have to stop," Jude replied softly. "But if you did...perhaps you could find a suitable...substitute for the rush of a high." He turned a little and gave her a small grin that gently faded. He reached for her hand and kissed her palm then wrist.
Jinai stared at Jude for a while, watching him kiss at her wrist and hand. She felt strangly calm, and even something stirring deeper within..
a longing for something she had lost so long ago...
Her lips twitched in their smirk.
"You know, I puked on my hand..." and she paused to add, her smirk growing. "Both of them."
OOC: She's so charming XD
Jude coughed and turned his head away then he looked at her with mischievious eyes. "You also puked in my basin and and the goddamned closet." Jude stood up anyway and wiped his mouth, cleaning it off with the water from the pitcher and bring it over to dump over her, hands and face included. "You could use a little cooling off."
Jinai just sat there, shocked he just did that but only grinned throught he water running off her face. She reclined back on the couch.
"You say I'm the one who needs to cool off, but you're the one getting an erection from your invalid guest."
Jude laughed and shook his head. He took a cloth he'd brought with him from the table and sat beside her, on the water soaked couch and wiped at her hands and mouth. "Yeah, you need some cooling off. You're sizzling through my shirt," he quipped. "And I don't have an erection. That's just a trick of the light. Great, now my pants are all wet."
Jinai rolled her eyes and batted his hand away when he tried to wipe her mouth.
Then at his comment about his pants, she smirked. "Looks like you pissed yourself."
"Nonsense," he growled playfully and snuck in a few wipes from her lips. "Let me get your lips!" He tried to dodge her hands and swooped around them.
"What the hell are you doing?" she said, quickly growing angry as she clocked his jaw. "Get the hell away from me with that. I'm not bed ridden. Besides, that little clothe is going to do shit against the smell." And she smirked darkly at him, pushing herself further away ont he couch. "You're going to have to draw me a bath." Thenshe added, with a cutting look. "A private bath."
Meaning, No Judes Alllowed!
[That last line was THIS close to being anti-Semitic. But it was hilarious nonetheless.]
Jude lowered a single disappointed brow at their break of play and he threw the cloth off to the side. "Very well," he said simply and stood, reaching down to grab her by the waist and throw her over his shoulder, taking her upstairs. He dumped her into the tub before leaving to pull out water from the pump. Five minutes later he returned and stood beside her, taking the shirt off of her. "The water's in the fire place, heating up. It'll just be a few minutes."
OOC: pfff
No lions allowed, either 8D
----------
Jinai struggled against him.
"I can take care of myself," she spat. She was as prickly as a cat, and didn't like this whole being treated like she was some helpless child. She was weak, but not leg or armless. She gave Jude a cutting look as she stood there, now naked, and her arms folded angrily over her chest.
"So you expect me to just wait here, naked, so you can stare at me and jerk off while we wait for the water to heat up?"
"Of course not. You're going to get your fat ass in the tub and wait for the water to heat up," he gave her a smirk and departed, returning a few minutes later with the hot water. "And I don't have to jerk off, certainly, not with you around." He poured the water and soon left the room quietly, closing the door behind him. He'd left the shirt hanging on the hook beside some towels and he returned downstairs to clean up.
Rolling her eyes, Jinai was thankful to have a moment alone as she slipped into the waters. She still felt like shit,but the warm bath helped immensely. She'd have to see what she could take to get to functioning better, but perhaps after she bathed, she could try to eat something.
At least for now,t he nausea was wearing away, but she still felt slightly feverish and chilled, despite the bath, and as she lay there, enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the bath..
she fell asleep.
After Jude had finished, he was too tired to do much else and soon returned upstairs to retire for the night. He checked the bed and was thankful at least that she didn't piss herself or puke on the sheets. They were in need of a washing anyway, but could do with one more night. Jude undressed and redressed into some night clothes before retiring for the night. She wasn't the only one completely exhausted.
she woke up an hour later with a crick in her neck. Groaning, she rubbed at it and pulled herself out of the bath and dried herself off- but was too exhausted to dress, so she wrapped her towel around herself, stumbled into Jude's room, and dropped down beside him. She was half nestled against him as she fell back to sleep, wondering how her luck changed for her to meet someone like Jude Armand...
but in the same breath,s he still feared her luck was about to run out.
Nothing in life was free,a nd nothing ever came easy-
and her dreams reminded her of that as she lay there, tossing and turning in fits as she slept.
Jude's tired eyes awoke at the tossing and turning. He'd been sleeping on his side, facing out the window and turned over a little, watching her sleep fitfully. "Can't you stay still?" he groaned, turning over, still half-asleep.
Sighing, Jinai went still at his statement, a hand draped over her forehead as she stared up at the ceiling.
"I guess not," she said. "I'm having racing dreams and my head feels as if it's about to explode."
Somehow she was laying opposite of Jude, her butt up against him nad one of her legs draped across his belly, and one of her arms, draped off the other end of the bed.
"You should have left me int hat ally," she groaned, taking a pillow and burying it over her face. "I feel like shit."
"This bed has got to be at least twice as comfortable as an alley floor," Jude argued, still half-asleep. "You should have eaten that food I offered you." He gave a sigh and let her leg drape over him like an awkward blanket. "Woulda made you tired...."
Jinai groaned and clutched her belly.
"No thanks. I wouldn't have been able to keep it down." Sighing, she stared up at the ceiling, restlessly wriggling her toes.
Jude now opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling then looked at her, eyes half-lidded in annoyance. "Well, what then?" he huffed. "You wanna have sex?"
Jinai paused a moment in mid-toe curl and sucked in her lips a moment to hide her smirk.
"No." But there was a playful air to her reply before she sighed.
"I can't sleep." she said, rolling over so she was on her belly, her face half pressed into the bed. She idly played with the blankets. "And to think, these are probably the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on in my entire life." And she laughed at that.
"Well this bed is the most comfortable," Jude said, rolling his eyes. He turned is head over to her. "Well, what are we gonna do then? I can't sleep if you're just going to be tossing and turning." He huffed and turned over on his side, propping his head up on a pillow, then looking up to her. "I'm pretty sure you don't want to talk."
At his comment, she suddenly put her foot on his face; then a moment later, was curling her toes into whatever crevice on his face she could.
"Maybe I'll just do t his all night," she said with a smirk, her arms now folded in front of her on the bed, cheek resting against them and her hair.... a lazy, pretty mess over her face.
"Hey! "Jude growled when her foot came again his face. "Hey! Quit it!" He grabbed her foot and shoved it out of his face. "You obviously don't feel bad enough to keep me up all night. I'm tired, y'know!" He slumped back against the pillows, his arms above his head, but not without casting a few glares her way.
She smirked into her arm and started prodding his butt with her toes, instead.
"That's enough! What are you? Five?" Jude jerked up and turned toward her in a flash. He grabbed her leg and slide her toward him so that it draped over his waist. Arms locked over her thighs to keep them in place. "What's the matter with you?"
"If you think I'm a child, does that make you a pedophile?" She smirked, but didn't put up a fight when he tried to restrain her.
"I knew you were going to say that," Jude remarked. "Nobody could mistake you for a child." He pulled her legs sheer up against his hips and he shifted himself over her. "But your attitude certainly makes one a glutton for punishment."
She smirked at him lazily. "And what are you going to do about it?"
Jude relaxed his glare but only half-grinned. "Maybe I have half a mind to wear you out," he replied, leering down at her. "But I wouldn't want to break anything on someone so poor in constitution."
"Is that all courtesans want is sex?" She gave him another lazy smile as she stretched her body against him." And I think you're forgetting a more important detail...."
Jude actually gave a soft chuckle. "I'd love to, but I AM tired. Not to mention, I don't think you have anymore of those potion things to keep your oven empty," Jude remarked with a shrug.
Rolling her eyes, Jinai simply replied,"That didn't stop you before you were aware I even had any..." Butthen she adjusted herself so she could see him better. "How did you become a courtesan anyway?"
"I just kind of fell into it," Jude replied with a sigh, not wanting to go into detail. He ground his hips against her a little, more for play than for business and glared at her again. "You should tell me who makes it for you. I could use a little philter of it for a lot of my clients. It's a much better idea."
"I've fallen a lot and I'm not that lucky," she said, looking him over. Then at his last statement, she shrugged. "It's not hard to acquire if you've got the right resources. I'm sure you could ask any of your female courtesan friends for a bottle..."
"I'll keep it in mind," he smirked and looked down at her. "You fell and were lucky enough to be found by me. Though you say you still shoulda been left in that alley. It could be worse." Jude frowned a little, but quickly turned it up. "Y'know you mentioned missing important detail...mind filling me in?"
Jinai smirked, her smile more genuine... Sweet. "You already figured it out."
"Oh well in that case, allow me to claim my prize," Jude smirked, leaning down and kissing her lightly.
Despite knowing she shouldn't, Jinai smiled through the kiss, her heart fluttering lightly at the attention.
"I thought you were upset I'm keeping you up..." She said, peering up at him.
Ooc: and another short post as I wait for the bus x.x
Jude gave thoughtful hum as he went in for another kiss, turning his head the other way. "I am," he admitted. "But I'll get over it. We'll just have to work on ways to make you tired."
The second kiss was broken through her laugh.
"Tired? Now, you've got me all worried about this new event... how's a girl to rest after that? And the fact I've just slept for... what did you say, three days?" She shook her head, looking him over as she grinned.
"You know, we've hardly had the time to go over any of the intricacies of what I should know. Then again, I've been told I'm quite clever, so maybe I could just wing it. It worked on you... after all," she was saying, drawing a hand down his chest. "And look how great this situation turned out." Her sarcasm was sweet, as she smirked at him, raising two brows as she gave a smug grin.
Jude gave her a sleepy grin and roll of his eyes that was visible even underneath his eye lids. Admittedly he didn't even know if they were gonna make it this far, but her mere mention of it did raise his spirits. A bit.
"Winging it of course will only get you so far," Jude said. "And provided you didn't turn dead and cold in my bed, I didn't have much time to prepare formal training. But I think we can manage tomorrow before the event."
Jude gave her a soft sigh and laughed a little. "Oh sure, you quite successfully pulled the wool over my eyes. And I do admit this is a nice position having you under me... But, darling I've had a long day and you're going to keep me up all night if we don't think of something. What do you want, a massage? The cake?" He laughed a little and gave a tired grin. "Both?"
Jinai's eyes danced at the suggestion.
"All three?" she replied, looking smug.
Jude grinned. He gave a small groan and looked at her quizically. "Maybe my tired ears have decieved me, but I think I heard you suggest all three? I think I only said two things. What mysterious third thing were you hinting at? And if it's what I think it is, my only question to you is: do you want to eat cake in this lovely comfortable bed or in the kitchen?"
Jinai laughed and took up a pillow, smashing it into his face before holding it over her own head to keep it between the pair as her arms hugged around it.
"What I meant was, you can fuck my brains out now if you want-" then she paused, lips stretching into a left ward smirk, "That is, if you're careful as hell. I don't have any more of that potion... so you'll have to keep yourself in check if you want to have fun."
Jude laughed himself and laid down on the pillow she placed between them. "What an intriguing idea," he smiled down at her. "Now would probably be a good idea to tell you that it is unprofessional in my line of duty to go without protection. And I am a professional, so I do have...protection, but it probably won't feel as good without it. The potion is much more useful."
"Now as the lady you get to choose the order of said events, sex, a massage, cake or cake, sex, massage or some hybrid combination of all three? And you still didn't answer my question: The bed or the kitchen?"
Jinai rolled her eyes, which she doubt he could see from where she lay hidden beneath the pillow.
"You're a courtesan, be creative. And why confine yourself to just one place?"
And at the idea of 'protection' she had made a face, again,something he couldn't see. She knew too well what that meant and preferred just to go without.
"Then kitchen it is," he grinned and shoved the pillow off of her. "C'mon. What do'you think I'm gonna do? Carry you?" He slid off the bed and stretched up high before opening the door. "If there's any cake left, then bedroom. Then maybe the terrace."
Jinai stretched lazily across the bed before turning over onto her belly, blonde hair falling over her face.
"But I thought courtesans did whatever the woman wanted?"
Why the hell COULDN'T he carry her? Wasn't she the invalid?
[He thought she didn't want her to carry her anymore! damn woman!]
Jude rolled his eyes and stalked back to her. He groaned and leaned against the bedposts. "Then make up your mind, woman!" he grumbled and leaned over her, pulling her up from underneath the shoulders.
OOC: >:3
bwahahaha
---------
Jinai smirked.
"You're doing it wrong." And she tilted her head up at him. "Isn't the man supposed to carry the woman in his arms, cradling her with his arms at her back and under her legs?" She gave him a playfully incredulous look. "Besides, wouldn't you want my first time to be romantic?"
And her eyes sparkled, enjoying laying it on thick.
[PFFFFFFFFT!]
Jude rolled his eyes and just laughed. "I'll make sure your THIRD time is as romantic as a chocolate cake," he gave a playful growl and turned her over in his arms. "You're really not going to make this easy are you?" He took her out of the room downstairs and used her ass to push open the kitchen door before setting her on the stool. The cake was still there and half-squashed as it was but perfectly edible.
"I meant my first time being carried off by a man, not how many times we've had sex."
"I carried you down earlier tonight! Oh it doesn't matter, we're here now and there's cake," Jude sighed and took a seat beside her. and opened the box. Beside it was a small bin of utensils and he pulled out a spoon from the batch. "Oh damn, I nearly forgot the strawberries!" And he quickly rose to get them. He put them beside the cake before moving to stand beside Jinai instead. He took her from the stool and sat her up on the counter.
Jinai smirked, staring down at the cake as she was set beside it as she put her finger in it-
"Is it still edible?"
then put that finger coated in cake icing into his ear.
Jude made a face at wiped at his ear. "Unless you're gonna lick that out, I wouldn't know! I've only had a few tastes of it! It was good when I bought it" Jude took a few fingers of the icing and ran it across her cheek before slipping them into his own mouth. He gave a nod of approval before going in for seconds, scooping some into the spoon and tasting it slowly. "It's a little stale, but it doesn't affect it as much as I assumed it would."
Jinai smirked, and ignored the icing on her cheek as if it wasn't there as she dipped her finger intot he icing again, then moved her hand forward,a nd drew half a mustache beneath his nose.
"You know... most Connlaothian men have beards.. I thought it was the latest fashion.." she said, drawing in the other half to eh mustache, then a goatee as she smirked at her handy work. It was a bit sloppy, but he looked ridiculous,a nd it amused her greatly.
He laughed and nipped at her finger before she drew it away. He licked his own fingers and a little at the mustache on his upper lips. "I make my own fashion darling. But I never much liked beards, they get in the way and make a woman's face all red when I kiss them the way I do." He smirked at her and proceeded to draw small designs on her face, as if it was war paint, in addition with a beard and 'stache. He leaned in and licked the frosting from her cheek where he'd first marked her. "Much better. I'm sure you look much better with facial hair than I do."
Jinai laughed and crossed one leg over the other, tapping it lightly in thought before she scooped up a handful of chocolate cake, and smashed it into his face. Smearing it down, she grinned at the chocolate cake globs that formed a beard.
"You've got a point, but I dunno... that beard looks delicious on you," she said, leaning in. Her lips twitched as she leered him, barely a breath away as if she was about to kiss him, before she took more cake- and dropped it into his pants.
Jude held his breath and closed his eyes when the cake suddenly came smashing into his face...then pretty soon his pants as well. "Goddammit!" he grumbled, but couldn't help his own laughter in the process. He took the cake and smashed it against her breasts, smearing it all around and underneath. "How do you like that!?"
Jinai only laughed, shaking her head because she couldn't respond before taking her cake filled hands and scrubbing it thoroughly through his golden mane.
"HA!.. looks like you've gone brunette!" she laughed, then proceeded to grip into his hair as she lifted the rest of the cake, then smashed his entire face into it as she grinned, watching the cake pieces and icing ooze off his face and plop back onto the platter ina mess.
"Why you little!" Jude scrapped off the cake from his face and immediately lunged forward to tackle her, taking her to the countertops and smooshing the cake all over her neck and body and shoving some in her mouth. "How does it taste!" But it wasn't long before he crawled on top of her and caught her lips with his own, kissing her hotly and looking up to the strawberries across from them. He picked one up and scraped the chocolate off her skin before taking a bite for himself. "Hmmm! Delicious!"
Jinai laughed and simply grabbed a handful of strawberries, dropping a few on the floor int he process, before throwing them all at his head.
"Hey!" Jude growled at her and pressed his body down. "You're wasting food!" He tried to grab her arms and pin her down. His grip slipped and he fell on her belly to belly. He kissed her harder then, the taste of strawberries still tingling on his lips.
Jinai only laughed some more, but her breath was stolen by another kiss, this one tingling her all over and heating her up as sweltering hot as the sun. Her hands smoothed down his body, cake everywhere, and strawberries still tumbling around as she hooked her legs around his hips, kicking over the plate, before she growled softly nad pulled her lips away.
"And you're wasting kisses," she told him smugly. "I'd think you, of all people, would know what these sort of activities can lead to..."
And she hadn't any more elixir left. She'd be damned if she was going to let Jude impregnate her...
yet, despite the obvious risk, her hips were grinding against his as her lips smashed to his lips.
Jude kissed her hotly and groaned a litle at the sensation of her hips rolling against his. He laughed despite her words and gave a moan-like sound of understanding. He nodded and bit her lips a little throught the kiss.
"Oh I know. Brats, babies, and sometimes a damn good time," he gave her a smirk. Thank goodness he still had his pants on, covered in cake as they were and turned his lips down to her neck, eating the chocolate he'd smeared there.
"I'll be careful, as long as you're careful," he growled against her skin.
"You'd better be careful," she said, a hand still clinging to his hair, the other gripping to his shirt as she moaned while he ate at her neck. "I'm not the one who has a canon in my pants..." she reminded through a grin. "I just stroke it to see if it'll explode."
He laughed against her skin and continued the path of his lips on her skin. Her moan drove him crazy, but he did his best not to show it (though with little success from his lower half). Still jude lapped at the chocolate and brought his lips to where the chocolate was splayed along her chest. "You will not and it won't!" he growled in return. "I have exceptional self control!" Then continued to kiss at the chocolate.
"And do be careful with my hair! I don't want any missing patches!"
Jinai gave a hearty pull and laugh as she pulled his face off of her, and leaned forward to smash her lips against his. Her hands were gripping onto both sides of his face now as she breathed hotly once her lips finally released his.
"Well, let's see how exceptional it is," she began, hands fumbling around blindly to unbutton his pants.
He grunted with some small agony as she pulled his hair harder. Figures! A moan escaped him when she kissed him hard and he tasted her mouth sweetly. Gods she smelled good, at least from all the chocolate.
But when her hands fumbled with his pants, Jude smiled coyly and grabbed her hands from their fumbling. "I thought the shirt came first," he breathed raggedly. A hand released a wrist and felt down toward the heat between her legs, massaging her softly as his lips came crashing into lips once more.
Jinai smirked.
"I only need one part of you.." she began to explain when his own hands slipped inside her dress as her legs opened willingly for him, her eyes fluttering closed as she held onto him tightly, kissing him with need.
[Since when did she get a dress? Wasn't she just naked out of the tub?]
Jude grinned through her kiss, massaging her slowly before taking further liberties and slipping a few ingers within, testing her warmth and listening to her moans. He kissed her hotly, mixing sweet chocolate. He pulled away briefly to catch his breath and turn his head the other way before asking, "And just what might that be?"
OOC: Whoops XD
Just ignore that part XP Which I'm sure you already did! XP
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jinai gasped when his fingers slipped inside her, her sex already hot and slick and easy for him to dip into and penetrate. And although his fingers were no where near the size of his member, it still stimulated her and made her breath hitch.
So at his question, she couldn't respond, because she had nearly forgotten he had many other aspects about him that she might need as she merely smiled in reply, but said nothing as she softly moaned beneath his attentions.
Jude kissed her softly, against the breath of her moan as he stimulated her. It pleased him to know that he pleased her, though why it mattered, he couldn't say in that moment. He smirked nonetheless and busied his other hand with slipping his evening shirt over his head, removing his hand for but a moment before slipping it back into her a little deeper, and letting it drop onto the floor. Next came his trousers, though they were a little harder to remove in the current position they were in.
Jinai was in her own world, the pleasure building within her like a well stroked fire; though as she realized he was struggling with his pants, she smirked and leaned up- and expertly helped pluck the last two remaining buttons open.
"There..."s he said, and used her hands to help loosen his pants as they dropped from his waist; but halted on something that made Jinai grin.
"Your cocks in the way.." she said, grabbing onto it as she helped jostling the pants off of it as they dropped suddenly to the floor, and her grin grew wider.
He hadn't realized it before she grabbed onto his manhood and helped him slip out of the remainder of his trousers. Admittedly, he jumped a little at so bold a gesture, but it was not unwelcomed. His smirk grew as he slipped his hand from her, and massaged the softened skin at the inside of her thigh. He looked at her and then her hand, then back to her with a raised brow. "You can let go of it now."
Jinai smirked, her thumb moving to massage at the sensitive side of his skin near the tip.
"I could let it go, but who knows what sort of trouble it would find.."s he told him as she leaned forward, her tongue licking at the chocolate icing coating his neck.
At last it was his turn to tremble at her mercy. His eyelids fell halfway and his breath hitched. He shuddered visibly beneath her ministrations and eventually moaned when she licked at his neck. It had always been a sensitive spot for him and he shivered. "I haven't the faintest idea what sort of trouble that could be," he chuckled, tilting his head to nurse at her own neck.
Jinai kept at it, tongue and lips tasting his flesh covered in icing as her hands continued to massage his sex.
"You taste pretty good," she spoke hotly into his ear as she nibbled on it. "And you feel pretty hard..." And to emphasize her point, she gripped onto his cock more firmly as she grinned against his ear.
He couldn't believe all the shivers that were coursing over his body like crazy. They zapped through his body like whips of lightning and he opened his neck a little more for her to taste, groaning softly as she continued the ministrations of her hand his thick cock. He became a little breathless and goose bumps appeared up along his arms and the back of his neck. "...hmmm," was all he was able to mutter. When he found his words he opened his mouth and took teeth to her shoulder a little. "Well, if you're trying to make me squirm...it's working..."
Jinai laughed softly through closed lips. Then she took a tongue down his neck and chest where she began to suck at the icing on his chest until she was no longer tasting the chocolate, but the warmth of his flesh.
"You'd think a courtesan knew how to keep his cool.." she spoke, breath splaying hotly against his skin as she kissed down lower.
Jude shivered at her attention and curled his body upwards, allowing her to explore his body. Most clients wasted little time in foreplay and wanted little more than to get down to the dirty. Not that he minded necessarily, but it was nice for once to feel lips upon him from someone who knew what the hell they were doing. "My cool IS kept," he growled, biting into her shoulder a little deeper before turning his head up to down at her with lazy eyes.
Jinai only smiled, glancing up once through her hair before continuing to press her lips lower and lower, until she paused at the base of his member, and rested her face beside it, releasing a hesitant, hot breath against it's base before she lapped her tongue slowly along the length of it, her hands now smoothing at the skin where his hips met to his thighs.
Yes, his cool was certainly kept....until now.
"What are you doing!?" Jude cried with minor alarm, but his eyes were too half-lidded and caught in a haze of pleasure to stop her. He panted softly at the sensation of her tongue on his large girth and he shivered even more, as if he was caught in a snow storm. "There's no cake down there," he said, smirking.
Jinai glanced up at him, smirking like a cat.
"Oh isn't there?" she said, her tongue lapping at the end of it before she suddenly reached over, and took a handful of what was left of the cake,a nd then gripped onto his member, and began to jerk him off- using the cake as lube.
Bending down, her tongue licked the top of it as she smirked, then suddenly, she took the entire thing into her mouth.
Yup, the cool was now officially gone, and Jude was now putty in her hands...and mouth as it were. Though she couldn't swallow all of him, what she did was enough to make him arch his back and he squirmed underneath her. Watching her head bob on him with each hard suck alone was enough to make his eyes water. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his hands gripped at her head, pulling her hair to the rhythm of her movement. "Geeze!" he croaked, panting hard. "Remind me...ugh, to return the favor! Don't stop....right there."
Jinai had hardly done a thing- considering they had just gotten started as she sucked long nad hard on his member, taking in the taste of cake and his flesh as she swallowed against him several times before pulling away, and beginning to lick at the remains of chocolate until he was almost, just about.. clean. Not that she was about to stop there, but a little bit of tongue lapping near the end of his member, keeping just that part inside her mouth, she hoped was enough to make him squirm even more.
His blood was set ablaze, rushing through his body like a torrent of rain in a hurricane. He curled his back and hardened his abdomen, squirming even more as she sucked his cock. Every sensation compounded on the last. From the cleaning, to the nursing on his sensitive tip. Watching her made stole his breath away, and his eye-lids hung low, as a deep moan erupted from his throat. It was almost too much to bear. Gods, she was good at this. He moaned loudly until he lost his breath, and with it, part of his momentary sanity. "Damn you," he growled.
Jinai had taken his member into his mouth when he swore at her, and she laughed, her mouth vibrating against his member before she pulled her head away and smirked up at him like a cat, then very playfully, nibbled at the end of it, gently so, before sucking and kissing it lightly.
She was hardly done tormenting him, yet. After all, she loved to test the limits...
He had yet to cum, and though his body wanted to, he wasn't about to give her the satisfaction. It was a long night after all and he leaned up on his elbows. "Are you finished yet? By the time you're - DONE! - you're gonna be all dry," he complained as she went down on him again. "Ansgar's balls! Woman!" His eyes rolled back again and he almost choked on his own saliva.
Jinai laughed at his last comment and simply laid now on her belly, feet kickly lightly behind her as she grinned at him.
"What? Don't you like it?" she said, her lips still but an inch away from his sensitive flesh as she gave him a pout. "You'd think most men would adore the idea of having a woman laying on their bed and willingly licking cake off their cock." And then with a shrug, she rolled over so she was laying on her back. "Maybe all of those stories about you were false?" And she tilted her head back to look at him upside down wth a grin.
Jude gave her a smirk and he sat up. "Except we aren't on my bed. We're in the kitchen, on the countertops and you're going to fall off if you're not careful," Jude replied with a panting smile of his own. He bit his lip and crawled over to her, leaning over her so that his head was the opposite direction of hers and he kissed her anyway, licking at the chocolate that remained on his lips.
"The stories are true, darling," he whispered. "All of them. But I certainly did enjoy it...and they don't all do it as well as you do." He kissed her again and bit down onto her lip. "But I want you. Badly." He slid down from the counter tops and joined her on the floor, his hands all over her as he kissed her with increasing force. His hand came down once more toward her sex and felt her slickness and positioned himself behind her, teasing entry with his moistened tip. He embraced her from behind, kissing at her neck. "Let me have you."
With all of this attention, Jinai felt like a queen, and her entire body was heated. She smiled and peered over her shoulder at him as he poked at her entry. Oh, how she knew he wanted inside her; and the way he admitted he wanted her, made it all the more enticing, and for just those few seconds, she reveled in the feeling of having this man completely at her mercy as a hand came up to smooth up the sides of his cheek, then into his hair.
"Then why don't you take me?" she told him, her lids hanging low as she was barely able to steal a glance back towards him- their bodies not even inches apart; and the hunger for one another hanging tensely in the air.
Such a feeling was rare for Jude, though pleasure was his business. But to feel an unbridled want for another, a fire stoked within him as he stood there behind her. His face came down by her neck, sucking on her skin and kissing her softly. A chill visibly coursed through him as she spoke and he turned his head up to her ear lobe, biting it with a satisfied grin.
At her words his arm went around her waist and lowered his hips enough to where his sex slid easily into hers, and moved with need, pressing her against the counter. He knew he had to be careful, but for that moment that thought was out of mind.
From where he was positioned behind her, she could feel every inch of him moving inside her, and each thrust was more unique than before, for this time instead of the sex coming from the heat of the moment, their foreplay had been long and drawn out,a nd now it was as though his body was tasting her, long and sweetly, drinking of her with need like a fine wine, and she? Well, she merely remained at whatever angle felt best, and also, for the moment, forgetting about any reason to be careful as he moved inside her and she begged him for more.
He hungered for her indeed, but instead of moving with nothing but need to sate himself, Jude took her slowly but by long and powerful strokes, holding her hips flush to his. He wanted her more than he'd wanted another in a long time. And what good was sex without desire and he worked to give her as much pleasure as himself. Before long her turned her around and came at her from the front, leaning her over, crawling over her and the messed countertop until their bodies were one.
It had been too long since Jinai had been with a man who really, truly tried to sate her. Most men only assumed they had magic in their wands, but in the end, it was always nothing more than a fun ride; and Jinai, normally never sated. Thankfully she had other ways to sate her needs...
But this was different, and as he turned her around, her hands smoothed and raked all across his flesh, her body melting beneath his at the indescribable feeling of making love. Perhaps she could assume it was because it was in his profession, and he had to know the ins and outs of a woman, and know just the right spots; but by the Gods, the feeling was incredible, and Jinai's eyes fluttered closed as she clung to him tightly, uncaring if he could hear her whimper or moan loudly beneath him because...
Gods be damned, this was some of the best sex she'd had in her life; and if her soaking wet sex didn't speak volumes as he easily moved in and out of her, the deep throated moans and nails digging into his flesh,a nd hot, wordless kisses, would.
Jude was moving in ways he hadn't in a long time and turning at angles that felt just as good for him as he hoped for her. It was his profession indeed, but skill only went so far and it was equally important to stoke a fire before it went up into a hellish blaze. But that blaze took to his skin as he sweat heavily and hard over her, panting with each thrust. His body as much as his mind wondered at the mystery of the woman beneath him and she was an intoxicating thought. He drove onward in the knowledge that he pleased her, her nails digging into his flesh enough that he knew she broke skin for it began to sting as it the salt of sweat lingered into the wound.
Sweat and chocolate.
Her hands smoothed all over him, knowing full well she was mixing the cake with his sweat. Her legs clung tightly around his waist as she leaned back, opening herself to a deeper angle for him to take her, and at the sheer pleasure of his member diving in hard and deep, her eyes rolled back into her head as she shuddered and closed them tightly, her breath becoming shallow as she was coming nearer and nearer to her peak-
And then it happened, and she forgot to breath, and for a split second she was arched beneath him, her body poised in a writhe as she held on fast to him, her lips falling away from a crashing kiss as her screams went deep throated as she called his names out to the heaven, again and again and again.
Hot, sweet ectasy...
It was all that existed in that moment, and another form of connection between he and her as her sex nursed against his in the afterglow of the moment, her inner muscles having been spasming non-stop for a good few minutes solid from her orgasm.
Gods...
She lay in a heap beneath him, never having felt so sated in all of her life, especially after just one orgasm as she closed her eyes and reveled in the after math, in the glow.
It was a rare moment, when catching the sunrise after the rain, where the world turned to gold, and it felt like a dream. That moment felt like a dream to her... too perfect for words as she kept her eyes closed and simply breathed.
His voice caught in his throat at the sensation of her own climax, the warmth of her sent shivers through him and after those few minutes he did pull out at the last minute, feeling himself release. "Gods," he whispered. He lay over her, head resting on her chest, sweating hard and lungs breathless.
Jude kissed her forehead, lips sore and raw. He gave her a soft smile, genuine, and he even laughed a little. "Feel better?" he asked with a whisper.
When his warmth leaked onto her belly, she squirmed a little underneath him before peering up at him through her mess of blonde hair. Her entire face had blotches of red all over it,a nd was glistening from sweat on the corners of her cheeks. Even still, she smirked up at him at his comment and nestled in beneath him before sighing.
"Just a little," she admitted, her voice raspy. Then she added, raising a single, tired brow, "Did you just make a mess all over me?" And she wasn't talking about the cake...
Jude made a soured face at her. "A little," he said with a wry grin. "Sorry about that." He laughed and smiled at her, wiping his thumbs at her cheeks. He turned his head over toward the smashed cake and saw that it was more than half obliterated. "Damn, weren't you hungry? Look at your hair it's a mess. I bet half that cake is in my hair now..." His eyes lingered over her for a moment before he brushed the hair out of her face. His grin softened in that moment of silence. "There's still some left if you want to take this back up to the bedroom," he said. His eyes were still tired but he didn't care to move off her. "But you might not be able to walk for a while afterward. I hope you don't mind."
There was something about the simple moment, the way he looked at her, moved her hair from her face that made her heart flutter softly. Her cheeks, already pink, heated a bit at the notion before she simply smiled and turned away from him and closed her eyes.
"I think I'm done with the cake.." she said, her grin growing a bit. "For now."
"Then let me take you to bed," Jude whispered when he climbed off her at last. He saw the mess he'd made on her belly was bigger than he anticipated and blushed in embarrassment. He carefully wiped it off and blushed even more but said nothing further on the matter. "Come," he murmured and scooped her up from the counter after picking up his filthy clothes and throwing them over his shoulder. He limped back upstairs, almost tripping here and there before finally making it up to his room where he laid her down on the cooled sheets of the bed. He busied himself with putting his pants into a basket for cleaning before plopping down beside her. He turned to her and grinned a little. "How are you feeling?"
Jinai could have fallen asleep the moment she hit the sheets. She was tired, and it seemed she was almost completely over her drug induced hang over. It was his voice that drew her back to the present as she opened her gaze to look at him, smirking only once before she closed them again.
"Exhausted..."
And she added after a while. "You really know how to tire a woman out."
And then her breathing grew softer, as she drifted off to sleep, uncaring she still had the remnants of his mess on her.. and the cake.
They'd both need baths in the morning but it didn't really matter. Jude just smiled at her response and felt his own eyelids grow heavier by the second. "Your not the only one," he whispered before he leaned back and turned on his side again, finally falling asleep himself.
Jinai had awoken several hours before him, the morning winds fluttering through her hair and the robe she ahd taken of him to wear to make herself modest. She was still covered in him, in cake, and in sweat, but the morning felt nice, and the warming light of the rising sun was something she never got to ever see. Being most of her work was in the night, to see the world cast in such a yellow, golden glow....
It made her feel as if the world was perfect, and she stared off over the gardens, and the small portion of the city his place was nestled within.
It all seemed perfect here....
A place away from everything else.
Yet here she was, staring off and thinking of how many ways she could escape, and get away from him. One might say she has cold feet, her mind growing restless at the prospects of what was to come.
They shared but one night of passion, and clearly were bound to share many more...
The robe had fallen off her shoulder, and she fixed it and readjusted her weight, leaning against the railing and contemplating just letting herself fall, or letting hte vial in her hand drop and break on the cobblestone below.
She felt herself itch for that familiar high, something to take her back tot hat moment before the roof top fall...
but something kept her grounded, even as her fingers sweated and itched over the bottle...
She still hungered for it, especially as the memories of her brother returned...
and how she never had a chance to properly mourn him....
What was she doing here? This wasn't a place a girl like her found herself..
It was a palace of luxury, a palace of sin; yet somehow she had come into association with the man living here...
and somehow was feeling humbled by this place- his little palace hidden behind an iron gate.
Her thumb stroked around the cork...
And the idea still whirled around inside her head...
To get high, or not...?
When the bed cooled from the absence of her body, Jude awoke then, feeling more rested then he had in a long time. It was a little suspicious, her not being beside him, but he'd never made any attempts to chain her there. And he knew there was enough on her at risk that she likely wouldn't care to draw more attention to herself than she had to.
He rose from bed, for the dawn was coming but it was still long before his maid was to come and start her rounds. So he got started on the cleaning early and drew his own bath, cleaning himself thoroughly before rising again and getting dressed. He even poured in fresh water for his wanted guest when he found her again. His house was quite large after all.
But it wasn't long before he did. And he watched her curiously from the door of the balcony as he fixed the cuffs of his shirt. Jude's expression was solemn as did so, eyes lingering to the bottle she held in her hand and the way she lingered over the edge. "You don't have to, you know," was all he said, watching her. Whether he meant the ledge or the bottle, couldn't be determined.
Jinai heard his voice and smiled, but the warmth was lacking in her eyes. She continued to stare down, past the bottle and towards the cold cobblestone walk below.
"Yes, but then I'd get all messy," she said, turning from the balcony as she walked on past him, the vial momentarily gone, as she had hidden it away in just one simple motion of her arm. And his robe was half hanging from her body as she smirked up at him, the same coy look she gave to most men, the same coy smile that was a mask she wore each time she played, and as her fingers tip toed across his chest, she moved past him.
"I see you've drawn me a bath..." she said, not even bothering to care that she was naked now,t he robe carelessly left in her wake as she made her way towards the tub and examined it a moment. Her body still itched for more,a nd it was easier to just play off the usual scenario with him. She just needed a little sip- one little sip wouldn't hurt...
Jude watched her stride passed him with idle eyes and though he caught her grin and eyed her motions, he did not smile back. Once the cuffs were fixed, Jude followed her back to the wash room and lingered in the door way.
"What good would that do?" Jude asked with a shrug as he watched her hands fiddle with the bottle.
She had thought she had hidden it from his sight, but it seemed his eyes were on it like a hawk. Forcing a smile his way, she turned her back towards him as she slipped into the tub.
"We've got a long day ahead of us, don't we?" she said, leaning her head back to rest on the porcelain lip, while flicking the cork open with a thumb.
Jude gave a forced grin of his own and he stepped in behind her, sitting on the edge of the tub and before she could toss it back, his hand clasped around hers. "Precisely," he replied. "Which is why I think it'd be best if you saved it for after, don't you think? I need you to be in the best of mind. Please."
Jinai stared back at him, giving him a bitter smile before releasing her grip on the vial.
"I suppose you're right,"s he said, turning away from him with an inward scowl, and just let herself soak, eyes ignoring how the water became soiled and floated with little dots of left over chocolate cake.
Jude grasped the vial in one handaand recorked it. "Thank you," he said softly and put the vial in his pocket. "Consider it the prize at the end of the finish line. Make it through the night with success," he gave a small smirk but it quickly faded. "We can get started in the kitchen once you're through with your bath."
Jinai lifted her brows at him, noting hte pocket he slipped the vial into before reclining back into the bath, both feet now resting over the other edge.
"Oh? And just what else can the kitchen possibly offer to me that it hasn't given to me last night?" she asked playfully.
He was near the door when she spoke to him. He raised a brow at her and gave a smirk of his own. He hummed for a momen, giving her a once over as he hunge up the robe on the hook by the door. "Tableside manner," he chuckled and then closed the door behind him.
Jinai rolled her eyes and waited until after he left, then leaned over to see if she had her other vial- even though she knew she left it in the room. Cursing beneath her breath,s he slapped a hand across the water and bit into her thumb nail.. then finally conceded to scrubbing herself down. A moment later, she was dressed in a simple silk robe and made her way down towards the kitchen, looking at Jude expectantly.
"So what's the plan?" Clearly they had a lot to do today, so might as well get started...
Jude didn't waste any time setting the table and he was done by the time she'd come down. He'd put the vial away in case the itch came on her too soon. No doubt she had another set in her bag but he felt no need to confiscate her items and when she appeared he opened the chair for her and invited her to sit down.
"This is the dinner set. All your utensils laid out according to meal and dessert and dish," Jude explained as he stood beside her. "Don't worry, it's not as hard as it looks. The basics are that each set of utensils starts from the outside in. The first meal is the appetizer so you would choose the outmost fork and knife, them move in, so on and so forth. Between each meal is the fingerbowl, used to clean your hands. Slurping loudly and smearing cake in people's hair is generally frowned upon. But for you we can make a few exceptions."
Jinai lifted upt he finger bowl,a nd at Jude's last statement, grinned by jutting out her chin, just a little bit so to rub that smirk in his face.
"I hope they give me a lot of water.." she said, looking Jude over before setting the dish down. "So.." she began, sighing as she took a seat. "What else you got?"
It was a long and tedious morning and Jude did his best to keep his patience as he went over and reviewed the better part of dinner etiquette, general topics of conversation, the ins and outs of current fashion, politics and brief but detailed summaries on who the primary guests of all Lady Christy's friends were, their vocations, land holdings, political views, favoritisms if any what roles they played in the ensuing conflict, if they bothered to get involved at all. Most nobles loved to stick their noses in the lives of others, as long as it did little to interrupt theirs.
They went over and over it until Jude was confident Jinai had it up, down, left, right, inside and out. And by the end of the afternoon, Jude was left sitting in his armchair with a half-smoked cigar in one hand, a drink in the other, his collar disheveled rung with a sweat stain and his sleeves frumpled and rolled up. He looked up at her with tired eyes. "I really hope you got all that," he grumbled.
It had been, indeed, a lot to take in, and as Jude settled into a chair, Jinai moved to a chaise not too far from him to collapse herself. She raked a hand through her hair and laid out on her back, turning back to him as she sighed, blowing her bangs from her face(or what was left of them).
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," she said, stretching out her legs over top of the back side of the lounge. "And when I mean ready, ready for a nap." She sighed again through a smile but shrugged it away as she stared up at the ceiling, realizing that; after this moment, she would be one step closer to finding her way inside the lion's den...
Inside a place her kind had never been to before...
Jude sighed at her comment but said nothing. He took a long drag from the cigar, letting the ashes burn before he opened his lips and puffed the smoke out into the shape of an 'O'. He dashed the ashes into the trade beside him before taking the drink of his whiskey and got up, unwrinkling the sleeves of his shirt.
"The benefit is in two hours. There's not much more time to waste, we'd be get ready then and get there early. At least then we can scope out the people as they come in," Jude said as he set the glass down. He moved over toward her and looked her over for a moment, his eyes lingering on hers before he held out a hand. "Come on, I've got your dresses in another room in the back."
Jinai blinked and looked up at his offered hand before taking it.
"She got ALL of then done already?"Shaking her head in disbelief, she smirked and stood now, and hooked arms with Jude.
"You seemed to be quite busy while I slept..."
"I promise I didn't get into too much trouble," he quipped. "And Sal has been in the business most of her life. She's a small shop, but she's the only one I go to for a reason. Simply, she's the best."
He clutched her arm against him and quirked a brow at her. He gave her a smug grin, but it turned more curious than conceited and he led her down to his study where he kept her gowns in another armoire stashed in the rear of the room. He showed her inside and opened the closet, revealing the covered gowns and pulled out a few from the cupboard.
He laid them out across the desk. They were elegant of design, sleek, and not overly frilled in places it counted. They were of earthen tones as Jude had suggested, greens and soft browns and some blacks, and even dark reds there and there, though there was still a variety - as much a variety as Sal could manage. "You have quite a selection here," he said, scratching his head. "But don't take too much time."
Jinai stared at the dresses in wonder, her fingers traipsing over the air above them. They were all beautiful, but they were still apart of another world. Turning to Jude, she gave a gave shy smile, since she was still impressed that despite all that's happened... This was somehow going to work. It had to....
"I wouldnt know which one to wear..." She said, her finger brushing across a crushed velvet dress, even as her eyes sheepishly avoided his. This was all so very.exciting, and it was hard for Jinai to keep her cool, but even as. Her expression and pose spoke of her cool confidence, the twinkle in her green eyes might have given her true enthusiasm away... Which is why she was avoiding his gaze.
He hadn't caught her enthusiasm. But that didn't stop Jude from grinning a little in the hopes to see it. He sighed a little when he didn't but he went forth anyway and pulled some of them apart for her to further examine. "That's all right," he said with a smirk. "That's what I'm here for. Let's get you undressed and try some on!"
He gave her a once over and went about unfurling the first dress, a scarlet colored number with a swirling ruffling starting from the waist and coming down toward the bottom of the skirt. It was contrasted by a deep indigo and almost seemed to glitter to the careful eye. "Well, you'll have to take your clothes off to fit these on."
"A part of me wonders if you're helping me go through all of these plans just to watch me undress," but in a simple motion, she had shrugged her clothes off as they dropped carelessly to the ground. Now in nothing more than the simple under garment (whom who host so eloquently bought for her), she peered over at Jude and gave a cool smirk. "Too bad we both know that's not why we're here."
Approaching him, she held his gaze until she glanced down at the dresses.
"The dark green one... We'll.try.that one first."
It was the one with the least amount of frills....
Jude simply quirked a brow at her when her clothes came to the floor. He graciously picked them up and hung it on the armoire door and picked the dress she indicated. Turning it over, he moved through the under portions of the skirt before helping it slip over hear head.
He turned her to look in the full length mirror and stood behind her, arms cross over her chest. He did not smile, but his eyes wondered at her for a moment. "How does it feel on you? Too tight? Too loose? Too foreign?"
"Everything's foreign when you're used to leather and grime," she said wtih a shrug, and scratched at her arm. "My skin feels funny." She wasn't used to bathing this much, after all, and her skin, unused to the soaps. Peering over at Jude, she realized he had meant the dress and she took a moment to pause and observe herself.
"Let's try another one. What about that brown one over there? Or the one in red?"
Jude looked her over in the mirror. "The green suits you. It really is your color, but we can try the others. The brown is more of a chocolate, it might be too dark, but we'll see." Jude helped her out of the dress and pulled the brown one over her head, knotting it in the back a little.
"Did you ever think you'd ever get to wear one of these? Maybe I should let you borrow one of my suits."
Slipping the dark brown dress on, Jinai rolled her eyes as she shimmied into it, trying to get it to fall across her waist,a nd not exactly sure what to expect. But as she looked down, she swore out, "Holy shit, this thing makes my boobs look like giant water melons! They're fucking huge!"
OOC: lol
Jude raised his other brow at her comment and smirked, just a little. "Well, that's is the point," he commented as he turned to her side and peered at her breasts. He reached down and pressed them together a little, rearranging them their position to look plump without falling out of the dress. "That's better. Much lovelier now."
Jinai tried to keep a more serious and almost annoyed face by Jude's primping of her chest, but she ended up laughing anyway and bent over to examine the other dresses. "Well if.that's that case, which of these dresses will show the most? Might as well keep the men at this event distracted from my face by showing off the girls."
Jude laughed with her and pulled out an earthen gown, and another of a deeper darker crimson holding one on each arm. "If that's your aim, then I'd go with the dark red one. Nothing makes a man want to tear a woman out of a dress more than a rich red. I should know," he laughed and set them aside to help pull her out of the one she presently wore. "But your breasts certainly look nice enough without anything covering them."
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"Any man would say that." She gave him a once over, then a smirk. "The red one it is. Come on, let's see how it looks." And she worked at letting the other dress drop to her feet.
"No, no, I mean it," he said with a smirk. "They're among the finest I've ever seen. I told you most of my clients were older women. When you're rich and growing older, it's very easy to let yourself go. But yours are beautiful breasts attached to an equally breathtaking woman." He helped her into the new dress and pulled it up her shoulders and slipped it over her arms. Tightening the ties in the back, Jude peered over her shoulder and smiled at her reflection. "See, I told you!" Her breasts looking as if they were about to pop out of the dress.
Jinai kept a cool gaze as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was still not completely tamed yet for the day, so it hide one of her green eyes behind it. She looked at herself in the dress for a good long while before replying, "So.. if I bend over in this thing, am I going to give everyone an eyeful?" It certainly seemed as if she would!
"Er, yes. That would be one way to put it," Jude remarked and moved to collect the dresses from the floor, setting them back into the pile. "That they'd come popping out would be another way to put it."
Jinai quirked a brow at his statement as she looked at Jude through the mirror.
"So women knowingly wear these things in high society, knowing they're about ready to burst from the dress at any wrong move?"
Tilting her head, she examined herself a bit more thoroughly in the dress with a frown as she smoothed her hands down her hips.
"I suppose this dress does promote good posture.." she moved a bit uneasily in her spot. "And my back is hurting already.." and it ws then she turned around to face him.
"Alright, so what's next? Hair, make up, face?" And then, the more important question, "And you still need to brief me on what there is to expect. As a new lady, coming out into society... I will have to know a few things that I wasn't taught since I was unconscious." A minor detail, really...
"Well, honestly, most women don't go around parading in such gowns as these. Most women older than thirty or thereabouts prefer more modest dresses that don't reveal so much. But remember, we're trying to make a statement and we want people to remember your presence, though perhaps not your face," he remarked and nodded to the rest of her statement.
"Yes, we've got to put on your face, at least convincingly enough that no one will think you're a wanted criminal. I'm sorry, I haven't got dirt and grime as apart of my painter's palette." Laughing he moved through the drawers and pulled out a small case he lifted from one of his clients and moved over to dab some water and oil into the lip tint before applying it to her face. "There's plenty to know," he said as he worked, quietly and patiently. "And I went over most of it in the kitchen, but I guess we could do a quick brush over.
"The ball is being hosted by Lady Thalia Christy and her husband Arthur Christy. He was the man I told you about a few days ago, the one that worked for the War offices and expressed interest in Renna. Among the guests will be his colleagues and their wives. No doubt rumours spread like wildfire among the nobility, and his colleagues have also set their eyes on purchasing the womanhood of young Renna. Our task is to sneak into Mr. Christy's office and rummage through his belongings, like any good thief, meanwhile looking out for any particular items relating to our friend Renna, and we should probably look through Mrs. Christy's belongings as well. Documents, diary entries, letters, anything and everything.
"Expect a reserved welcome. You'll most likely be treated with a cold shoulder by most of the older ladies and their own private circles. The younger ones might be less secure, but they stand by their older patrons for guidance and gossip. A few of my clients will be there, and when they see you on my arm, they'll be more than curious as to who you are. If you introduce yourself right, carry yourself with enough grace and poise, they'll most likely not see you as the black sheep you are. Of course the men will be a little bit easier to fool as they're small, male brains will likely be distracted by your breasts and no small amount of your charm. Speaking of which...I think I should provide a shawl to keep you somewhat modest at least. Ladies most likely won't take well to the look of a harlot looking to dig her claws into one of their husbands."
"Well, as 'Miss Lilia Thames', I would want to be coy, but perhaps subtly so? Coming out into public with..." and here she paused to allow her eyes to fawn over his body, taking in every rich detail that made him Jude Armand, before letting her green eyes meet back to his. "A well-known courtesan, makes a statement in it's own right about the type of girl I am to pretend to be, does it not? So,... wouldn't we want to make the women a little uncertain, and the men a bit.. interested?"
Jude gave a nod as he painted her face lightly and subtly. "You do raise a point," he remarked. "And perhaps that would be the better way to present ourselves. And it would make them all the more curious as to how a woman such as yourself came to know someone like me. But we also want them to know you're not to be trifled with. You're more than capable of thinking for yourself and defending yourself. Men like a challenge and the women would certainly feel uncertain about themselves. That stems back to what we discussed...in the bath." When he was done he stepped back and let her examine his work in the mirror.
Turning back around, she followed his gaze to where he was looking at her, and in turn, looked at herself as she let her eyes examine the way her lips looked lush beneath the paint, her lashes, darker and framing her face, almost in a mysterious, cat like manner, and her cheeks; a subtle glow of color that helped bring the entire ensemble together. The only thing that seemed to be missing was...
"So what about diamonds?" she said, turning towards him with a grin. "Women love diamonds and I feel as if Miss Thames might be the sort of woman to flaunt a juicy jewel or two..." nd her eyes scanned across his body, before she turned around to look up into his eyes. "Don't you agree? We can't have a woman of status be without her lovely trinkets."
Jude smirked at her for a moment, eyes lingering on the empty space of her neck. "I think I may have something for you. A woman of your complexion would only require the finest," he remarked and excused himself to go back up to his room. He found a small bag of gems collected from past lovers and forgotten from trysts and rendevouses. When he returned he set them on a downy cloth and spread them out for her to see. "Diamonds and jades and some rubies," he muttered. "Earrings, necklaces and pendants. Pick whichever you prefer."
Jinai looked down at the array of glistening jewels laid across the clothe. After some time of picking through them with her eyes, she plucked up a glittering, diamond necklace with, at it's center, the juiciest jewel of them all. It hung heavily in her hand as she looked down at the jewel, then up at Jude.
"Perhaps this one. And some sort of earring to match?"
And it didn't take long to find something to accent it, and her hair, as her hair was done up in spiraling curls and strung through with a matching hair piece to get her length; which meant status. Lifting her head up towards the mirror, she stared back at the woman there- and she didn't recognize the face that was looking back.
Red lips, curled hair, and heavily painted lashes with a fat, sparkling jewel of green resting just between the plump peaks of her boobs. Taking herself in, she gave a subtle, leftward tugging smirk before lifting her gaze to stare back at Jude Armand in the mirror.
"I think we've found ourselves Miss Thames."
"Lady Thames," Jude corrected, smiling at her choices that hung on her neck and the glittering gems on her ears. "But I agree, I think we've found her after all. How does it feel?" he asked softly, standing a little closer in the mirror. "To wear all that?"
Keeping her lips softly pressed together in a subtle smile, she took a good look at herself in the mirror and answered, "Powerful." and she stroked a few fingers across the jewels. To think what a few diamonds could do....
Jude grinned a little wider and sought her green eyes in her reflection. "It suits you," he commented. "Now that you're ready. It's my turn to get dressed." He smirked and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "You can help me if you want, find something to complement you."
Having been still distracted by her own reflection, Jinai's eyes now refocused themselves onto Jude. She stated at him for a time before eplyinge, "Black." And her grin grew. "I think you might look rather dashing in black. And what other bettter color to compliment this red dress?" And her smile now was as catty as ever.
He did not grin back - though he wanted to - but instead quirked a brow at her and tilted his head. "White," he countered. "But considering my profession, even I couldn't keep a straight face. But black sounds just a sensual as red. I like your taste." He winked at her and pulled a few quilted doublets and jackets and trousers from the armoire and stood beside the desk. "A lady averts her gaze," Jude smirked as he pulled up the cloth of his shirt up and over his head.
Jinai never lost her cool.smile, nor did she avert her gaze, so at his.comment, she rose a single brow, but simply continued to stare at him.
"Don't let the dress and jewels fool you, Jude Armand. For I am no lady, and my eyes will look as they please."
"I promise to remember that. And I appreciate your honesty," Jude said as he dropped the shirt on the desk and smirked at her a little. But he turned around and dropped his pants without reservation, after removing his boots and sorting through the clothing, finding matching trousers. Despite being little more than a simple color, black could be extraordinarily accessorized and added to and soon he found a sleek pair of trousers that came with a black embroidered vest, embroidered in a light gold.
Jinai had already mentally inserted herself into her.role, and as she took a seat upon the nearest chaise, she took Jude Armand in like a fine wine, and did nothing to.hide it.in her rich gaze. He looked more than just handsome, and the way Jinai's eyes were groping him were proof of that.
Jude felt her eyes upon him, ghosting up his back as he pulled his trousers up, his shirt back on and tucking it in. Turning his head, he peered back at her raised a brow. He didn't know why, but he felt himself sweat a little beneath her scrutiny. "Can I help you find something you're looking for?" he quipped, tucking his shirt in and slipping the vest over his shoulders.
At his question, Jinai's lips.stretched into a.smirk.
"Nothing you.haven't already hidden away." Smoothing her hands down her dress, she rose from the lounge. "So what time is the ball? I'd hate to be late."
"Soon," Jude replied simply and slipped the jacket over his shoulders. The boots were last to follow but once they were on, he stood and walked over to her, smoothing the lapels of his jacket and folding the collar of his shirt just right. He pushed his hair back and peered at her. "Oh right the shawl!" He immediately rummaged through the armoire and pulled out the shawl that he draped over her shoulders and opened the door for her to follow through.
"We'll leave now. No use in waiting around. Are you ready to head into the lion's den?"
Drawing the shawl loose around her shoulder, Jinai stepped forward, heels clicking against the floor.
"Of course," and the very idea of the danger sent s thrill through her as her eyes sparkled. This was the sort of.thing Jinai lived for. The danger, the unknown, the risks.... And just like every other task that had been set before her, Jinai was as cool and refined as a dark wine.
"Shall we be off?" And she held out a braceleted hand expectantly.
"Yes," Jude said with a nod. He slipped a silver cigar case into his breast pocket and pulled her hand closer toward his as he headed for the door. Night was already falling and the porch lamps were lit. After locking the door, the carriage Lady Christy had provided for him was already waiting in the street and as they neared it, Jude opened the door and allowed Jinai entry first. Then the wheels creaked as they made down the road once more.
Jude sat in the corner and looked at Jinai. "Lady Thames," he addressed her and reached into his other breastpocket, pulling out another smaller case, similar to that of his cigars and handed it to her. "I believe you forgot this. You may need it." He discreetly opened it, revealing a small lock-picking kit inside. "You left this in your bag. It seemed like something you could use. Take one, two, three, or leave the case with me...or place it where most women keep their jewels." Indicating between her breasts.
Glancing down through painted lashes, Jinai counted the tools before lifting her gaze and plucking the small.tool.kit from him. Her eyes never leaving his, she tucked it away.
"You seem always prepared. Are all courtesans so willing to become spies?"
"I would hope so. It's quite exhilarating...and almost better than sex. Well, maybe a little more," he smirked at her. "But if we're going to be snooping in places where we're not welcome, it never hurts to have back up equipment. I've only been in the Christy home but once, but the layout shouldn't be too difficult. And who knows, we might even get to dance. Oh the horror... Wait, can you even dance?"
"Well, if its better than sex, no wonder Renna was quite willing to jump right in. Then again, her sorts of.magics do put her at an advantage..." And as she turned to Jude, she smirked. "Though I would have assumed you're new to this game... But now I'm not so sure..." And she gave him a once over, but at his inquiry if she could dance, she tossed her head back in a laugh. "I think the dancing I do is hardly the sort appropriate for Lady Thames. No, no..." She approached Jude and smoothed a hand down his suit. "Perhaps Lady Thames is easily fatigued, so dancing might be out of the question." Though the sparkle in her eyes helped aid the curious mystery that, if in fact such a lady were restricted from.dancing, whatever would she be able to.do with a courtesan?
Jude caught the glint in her eyes that made him smirk and he shrugged. "Perhaps," he said. "But it won't be difficult to teach you on the fly. Just follow my lead and lean your body close to mine. We've practiced that part enough, I think. The rest will be a cakewalk."
"Cake walk... that reminds me..." she said, drawing her eyes over his form again before her green eyes matched his playfully. "What sort of event did you say this was again?" And then glancing towards the clock, "And shouldn't we be going?" And her eyes went back to him, "Unless our plan is to be fashionably late?" And she raised her brows at him expectantly.
He met her eyes and lingered on hers for a moment. "It is a charity ball. A benefit for the widows and orphans of the war. Seems almost ironic doesn't it?" He lit up a cigar and passed it off to her. "Though...if you had something in mind, I suppose they could excuse a mild truancy."
"A charity ball?" Jinai said with a laugh. "For the orphans of war?" SHaking her head, Jinai looked Jude over, contemplating what he said with a bated breath. Once she released it, she turned around and sauntered on over towards the window to where she peered down towards the courtyard below.
"The upper class... are things always so... excessive?" she said, studying the decadence of his own place, and knowing full well she'd be entering into a place unlike any other, a place even more high class than the jealousy spurned from this simple, meager apartment for the well to do courtesan partner in crime she was now friends with.
[I thought they were in the carriage?]
"Yes, in a mnnner of speaking." he replied looking at her for a time. "When you have money, it's very difficult NOT to flaunt it. And don't think I haven't noticed...the way you've looked at my own home. But excessive....is a kind word compared to them."
OOC: omgerd, you're right D:
I dunno HOW I misread that. For some reason, I read the carriage part as them looking at it but not entering it >_>;
----------
Jinai raised a brow at his comment about her looks.
"And just how am I looking at your home?" she said, leaning back in her seat, smirking; and amused.
OOC: short post is short . brains are brains and.. mine are slowly deflating XD
"Like you want to burn it down and live it at the same time," Jude remarked, taking another long drag on his cigar. He dashed he ashes out the window. "It's kind of hard to miss when you also look at me like you want to scratch my eyes out."
Jinai gave him a once over.
"And why not? Not all of us can be so lucky in life."
"I suppose not," Jude replied with no small ounce of bitterness. "But don't think it was just handed to me. I worked for everything I have. I didn't just wake up one day with a house and fine clothes. Even a courtesan pays his dues, not all of them pretty ones. And I suppose I'll still have dues to pay in years to come."
Jinai gave a shallow smile in return before glancing out the window.
"We all have dues to pay," she said, watching as the world rolled on past. It would be a good hour before they'd arrive at the manorx and only when it rolled into view did her hands begin to.sweat. Thankfully, Jude had offered her a pair of gloves, that of which she slipped on befor turning to him.
"Looks like its show time."
The moment grew bittersweet and Jude noticed her fidgeting with her hands for a split second. The gloves come on as the manor came upon them. Jude reached across and grasped her hand. "Indeed it is," he said, plastering on his smile just as the door opened and he helped her out of the carriage. He fixed her hand on his arm and already music could be heard pouring out of the front double doors.
The manor was massive with pillars and a sprawling garden and pond to the rear of the building came up before them. The house was three or four times the size of Jude's house and it seemed easy to get lost in. As guests came in one by one, each presenting their invitation to the valet at the door, Jude smiled up at the challenge before them. He held Jinai's arm close to his and led them through the doors, presenting both of their invitations and walked into the foyer.
"Into the belly of the beast," he said, smiling at her. "Now smile."
Jinai almost stepped on his oiled boots as she paused to inform him through a.smile, "I am smiling." And she tooka sturdier grip upon his arm. And as her eyes met to his, she smirked back and repeated, "Into the belly of the beast..."
Jude was familiar with these faces, though they seemed foreign to him both at the same time. He didn't know these people but it wasn't difficult to start to come to terms with the fact that all the men and women here began to look the same, each trying to prove something, trying to impress the right people, trying to have the best dress, more extravagant jewelry, each laughing at pointless jokes even in the face of a war this benefit was supposed to be a charity for.
"You can relax your lips for a moment. Just take in the sites. I'll look for the hostess meanwhile. Relax a little, enjoy yourself," he murmured to her, smiling and nodding to people who did the same to him, though it was all with nonchalance.
"You tell me.to relax and enjoy myself, but I don't know how one would 'enjoy'. A little point in the right direction might help," Jinai said through her teeth. "I think you're forgetting who I really am..." Perhaps she was getting cold feet, but this place was overwhelming, and she wasn't exactly sure the looks she was receiving were good or not...
"It's all right," Jude said and patted her arm. "We'll get some drinks and just stick to ourselves for the moment. Take a breath, pretend your whispering something in my ear. Look here's some wine, not strong enough I know, but it's something. Liquor must be something comfortable and familiar." He took a glass from a passing server and handed it off to the woman on his arm.
Jinai took the drink and gave Jude a short look.
"I get my kicks off of opiates, not booze," she told him shortly before turning away. Her eyes fixated upon a group of women in the corner. They easily spotted the fresh blood, and did not so much as offer her a smile when they caught her gaze, rather, they more openly scrutinized her with their looks. Jinai coolly smiled back and took a sip of her wine.
"This is going to be a long night."
"And you'll get your kicks if you can get through the nights. I think I've seen evidence enough of your habit," Jude whispered to her. "But the wine will get your to loosen up a bit. Just a bit. Gods...here comes Thalia Christy."
"Mr. Armand! Darling! I'm so happy to see that you came!" came a high-pitched cry from across the hall and there was a dark-haired beauty, though perhaps that phrase would have been more applicable in her youth. Still she was well constructed for a woman in her forties and she swept in with a more than appreciative kiss to both of his cheeks. "I'm glad you found the time," she said, smiling and only momentarily gave the time of day to the woman on his arm. "And who, might I ask, is this lovely lady...accompanying you."
"This, Lady Christy, is Lady Lilia Thames," Jude said, introducing Jinai and being more than gracious in his presentation.
Ah, so this was Lady Christy. Interesting... Jinai's eyes hid nothing as she took the other woman in, and was all cool smiles at their introduction.
"Ah, Lady Christy, its so good to be able to.finally meet you. Jude has told.me so much about you and once I heard about this benefit, I just knew I had to attend. To think of all the families affected by the war. My heart does go out to.them, truthfully."
Jude awaited with biting anticipation the first words to leapt from Jinai's mouth to the woman that hosted this event. Lady Thalia Christy was not as uptight was most women of her stature; her husband was an important man, respected in his field and she did all a Connlaothian wife was expected to did and nothing thus far to sully her reputation. She was just like all the others. But everything hung the balance of this one moment, that Jude felt himself softly release a breath when the words came cooly from "Lady Thames'" lips.
Lady Thalia obviously was not expecting so ready in introduction and she simply smiled and turned her eyes back to Jude, a glint of quiet approval within them, that made Jude smile and nod. "Did he now? Mr. Armand didn't soil my image I hope. He is quite the flatterer. But I'm sure he was no less sincere. It is a pleasure to welcome you, Lady Thames," Thalia said with a bow of her head. "And I believe you've truly made the statement for this event. Organizing this function was the least I could do to help the widows and orphans of the ongoing strife. It's a dreadful thing really."
"Lilia and I met of a mutual acquaintance. You know Lady Sarah Ashburn, and how sickly she's been of late. Well, she couldn't make it, but insisted I bring along, this young acquaintance. She is new to Reajh after all; had come a long way. And what better way to enter our wonderful capital but to a legendary ball held by none other than yourself, Lady Christy," Jude interlude gently.
"Oh, how lovely," Thalia commented then turned her attention back to Jinai. "So you're new to Reajh? Traveling anywhere is far too risky. But I assure you, you're in good hands with Mr. Armand, Lady Thames." She gave Jinai a knowing grin and gave a cheeky smile. "And that is an interesting surname you have. From where does your family hail? And what brings you to our fine city? Surely it couldn't have just been my benefit."
Jude swallowed, taking a sip of the wine and turned his eyes to the woman on his arm. Damn Ansgar to the fires of the Thunderblacks if she couldn't remember what they discussed. He met her eyes for a moment and nodded to her, knowing she could do it - well hoping against his better judgment. But they were already within the heart of the beast; there was no going back now.
Jinai smiled proudly when the question was presented, not even losing her cool or needing to turn to Mr. Armand for support as she informed her, "I assure you, at first, my reputation would be of little consequence, but being as my family has been quite ambitious for a time, we've risen up on good fortunes through trade. But we're established far North, in the duchy of Allar, and since these unfortunate circumstances has been occuring, well.. it helped to fuel profits for our family that were already maturing into something great before. The result is what you see before you, a family built on the recent wealth of trade." And she bowed her head slightly to Lady Christy before glancing to Jude, then back to the woman who seemed to be running the whole show. Little did she know...
"So if my name does not register, I take no offense. This is.. more or less, my first time in the capital, as predominantly I've been kept away in Allar during these times of change. But it is said it is not wise to remain stagnant, so I hungered for the type of company this sort of banquet keeps. And... more or less my family's connections allowed for me to find a suitable escort." And her green eyes went more acknowledging of Jude in that moment, but only in a petty way as she took him in like a scrap of meat before turning her gaze casually to Lady Christy.
"Your husband is quite a well to do and respected man. I hope that the events this evening do not keep him too preoccupied so that I might be able to meet him."
Jude had been watching her, waiting anxiously but keeping his outward cool, and when she spoke so expertly, even with as little practice as she'd had, he couldn't help but smile wide. Against his better judgment, pride swelled a little in his chest and he even chuckled a little when that part of the conversation passed. He even was happy at the trained look in her eye, as if she truly was a lady of means with an eye for fine company.
"I'm sure my husband would equally love to meet you dear," replied Thalia who smiled in approval of Jinai's explanation. "But I'm afraid Arthur is a bit preoccupied with the minor duke of Galvery. Men's business to be sure. I'll be sure to introduce you though dear. Please, though, enjoy yourselves! Dinner will be served shortly and then dancing. It was so lovely to meet you, Lady Thames. Mr. Armand, always lovely to see you." She smiled knowingly at him and then departed into the crowd.
Jude nodded and turned his eyes back to Jinai. "You're no so bad after all."
At his words Jinai stepped on his foot, but made no notice of it in her eyes as they swept the crowd.
"One could say the same for you." She said coolly, but playfully.
He made a grunt of discomfort and just smirked at her. "Grr, save the temper for the bedroom, milady. You'll need it," he chuckled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Let's go grab a table, and enjoy ourselves for the moment. We won't have a prime opportunity to sneak upstairs until after the dancing anyway, where the guests will most likely be escorted outside."
Jinai turned to.observe Jude after he kissed her.
"Outside? What sorts of.things will the guests do then?"
"For outdoor games most likely. Hide and Seek, Ribbon-pinning. Foxhunt. Children's games with an adult flair. You never know with Thalia Christy. She likes to surprise her guests. Why? Anxious being outside would be cause for concern?" he asked, more seriously. "It will be the gardens, the pond. Not the street."
"No," she began, tempted to step on his foot again. "I just... Wasn't expecting that." Smirking, she turned to Jude. "You were escorting me...?" And she raised her brows at him expectantly.
"My apologies," he said, smiling sweetly and offering her his arm. He took her to the nearest table, one nestled in the corner and with the perfect view of the door way as the guests filed in. He pulled out the chair for her and helped push her in once she was seated. Once the guests were parting and Jude took his seat beside her, Jude set his glass down and pointed across the hall at a large balding man with a horrid tan, buggy eyes, and a heavyset build. "There's Arthur Christy," Jude remarked, pointing him out. "A slob to look at, but the man's a brilliant tactician, or so I've heard. Works under one of generals in the war department. But my guess is, he's got his hands a little dirtier than he'd want anyone to know, or what he'd be forbidden to tell others. But he's the one that put a bid in on Renna, and many more of his circle are filtering in through the door."
Jinai turned to observe the man with mild interest, and where it was applicable, she tried to.digest the details of his friends.
"I feel almost bad for Renna. But a job is a job..." She gave Lord Christy a once over. "I wonder if he'd be game for an affair..."
Jude shrugged and leaned back in his chair, peering at Jinai out of the corner of his eye. "Well, that is the reason he was looking to buy Renna," he commented. "Apparently his beautiful wife isn't young enough for his appetite. But curious that you should mention it. Were you looking to fit the bill?" He quirked an eyebrow at he and smirked just a little, but it was cool forcefully playful.
Jinai kept her eyes latched upon Lord Christy.
"It would help us get closer to his little secrets..." Not to mention, attentions away from Renna.
"Well, don't think I didn't give it any thought. Apparently, I don't have the right stuff for his tastes. But...it might work in your favor, if that is your aim. I hear dreadful things from Lady Christy however. He's a bit selfish when it comes to lovemaking, it would seem," Jude remarked, looking at Arthur Christy as well. "But just remember, we're not here to start affairs or break up marriages. Discretion is everything. I'm sure you don't have a problem with that. We're here to find out who was at that party those many months ago and make sure Renna's secret stays that way."
Jinai's head was.swimming with ideas as she appeared as if she were not listening to Jude at all before she spoke.
"I wonder what they'll be serving for dinner. I'm famished."
Jude rolled his eyes at the comment and took another sip of wine. "The waiters are coming around," Jude replied coldly and gestured for one of them to come over. They were served a stew with fresh bread and a garden salad and a chocolate crème pie for desert. They were served the main course within a few minutes after the guests were finally seated.
The main guests were seated at the great, long.table in the dining room while lesser guests of lesser acquaintance remained in the more private side tables on the balcony. Though Jinai was grateful for their private table, a part of her itched to be a part of the main entourage.
The Christy's were quite the prominent figures, and though the night was still young, Jinai was crawling beneath her mask to get this show under way...
Jude saw her getting antsy, well, subtly of course and reached across, prodding her hand. "Fine," he nudged her. "The dancing will begin soon! You can make your move on poor unsuspecting Christy soon after. In the meantime, eat something!"
Jinai tore her eyes from Lord Christy and smirked over at her companion.
"So how are we to do this? Am I going in it alone, or am I to be the bait? The distraction to leave the door open for a certain man to make entry where he ought naught?"
"We'll dance together first," Jude replied. "Get you in close enough to smell him. Then switch off partners when the time is right. No doubt Lord Christy would want to impress some new blood coming to his wife's benefit. Then you finesse him with your natural charm, and if the window of opportunity presents itself, a certain man will make his way upstairs and get what we came here for. I have complete confidence in you."
Jinai's smirk grew smug.
"And... do you have the necessary supplies?" she asked, her eyes taking him in like a fine wine. He really did look rather handsome in black, and the danger of their situation... made her quite ready to breed. If Lord Christy wasn't interested in seduction, surely her and Jude could sneak off somewhere for a poke....
[Jinai has weird fetishes. xD]
He returned her smile and met her gaze. "You should know me a little better than that. I'm always prepared, darling," Jude replied and leaned in close to kiss her cheek again. His hand reached discreetly toward her and reached into her chest to, slip the case out from between her breasts and discreetly slip it into his sleeve, like an expert card player. His lips gently left her cheek and he smirked at her again. "I'll give them back. I promise."
Jinai's lips twitched into a smirk.
"But if you steal my tools... whatever will I use?" she told him with a subtle pout.
OOC: She just likes danger |8*
Jude kept the case between them, leaning in close. Jude hardly ever wore cologne as it were, only a soft mist of a scent that enhanced his natural smell, but he liked the perfume he'd purchase for her and she smelled intoxicating. "I'm just borrowing a few," he murmured. He took a few picks out from the case and leaned in again, kissing her other cheek, letting his lips linger there, and slipped the case back in its nestled resting place. "And you're resourceful, aren't you? I'm sure you would have thought of something."
Jinai kept herself leaned forward near to him. As it were, she enjoyed his scent as much as he was enjoying hers, and the smile she wore, cool as it ever was, remained gracing her lips.
"I do have pins in my hair.." she began to say, lifting her wine glass to her lips.
"You don't say," Jude laughed, tucking the picks into a hidden compartment in his sleeve and he smirked amusedly. "I think you just want an excuse to put your hair down." Though he only ate a few bites, dinner was coming to a close and soon his plate was taken away and the music for dancing began. "Would you care for a dance? To get your feet acquainted with this particular style."
Jinai's eyes hadn't once left Jude Armand. Something about him, in this light, in this moment, held her captive. Perhaps it was the intimacy of their secluded dining spot, or the fact all around them, her mask could be taken away and she, fully exposed for a fraud. But it was still too early for that, and the danger, still just a rumbling purr.
No, perhaps it was something else.
Or maybe Jinai Ringstgate was just horny. Either way, she enjoyed his company quite well in that moment, taking him in with a subtle nod.
"Perhaps dancing might be nice. As you put it, my feet have to become acquainted, so who am I to forbid it such a chance to gain knowledge of a waltz?"
Jude bit his lip a little, looking at her and gave her a subtle nod before standing up and reaching for her hand. "Then no reason for delay. Nothing to worry about, just follow my footsteps. It'll soon be like second nature," Jude said as he lead her out to the dance floor. Formal dancing was very different than the more lively jigs that ignited taverns and brothels during the night.
He parted through the forming crowd and affixed her hands into the proper positions and he dropped his hand to her waist. His eyes scanned the crowd behind her before turning back to hers and admiring the green that swirled within them. "You have beautiful eyes, y'know," he commented. "I'm sure plenty of people tell you that."
At his compliment, Jinai raised her brows.
"Perhaps, but some could say the same for your eyes. We both share the same color." she noted with a smirk.
"Similar colors, and I admire the minute differences between them. Yours are much deeper, richer. I could get lost in them for hours," he laughed as he led her in the dance. "I mean it. Not just trying to flatter you, though admittedly, it doesn't hurt."
Jinai felt her cheeks heat at his statement, and her heart, flutter just subtly, despite her efforts to try to repress it. Her smile,s he could not hide, but kept it subtle, and not fully realized as she numbly moved along with him in the dance, and, after some time observing his face, didn't realize she mis-stepped as she stomped on his foot.
"Well, good looks can't fix broken graces," she said as she held onto him, trying to resettle herself before glancing around, hoping no one saw her little folly.
"Nothing is broken that can't be mended," Jude replied, only grunting from the stomp and gracefully twirled her around to keep her from stepping on him again. "Just feel my rhythm. One, two, step. Left right, back, left, right, forward. Don't look at my feet. Just look at me. I got you."
At the twirl, Jinai felt the rush of movement from the other wise confining dance and grinned. Once her hands reunited with his, her smirk grew as her eyes remained latched to his.
"I suppose there are worse things to look at.."
"Oh-ho-ho-ho really!?" Jude laughed. "Are you saying I'm ugly? Or not the worst looking guy at the ball? Or I completely misunderstood your response." He laughed anyway and moved through the crowd more easily. "I am pretty good-looking aren't I?"
Jinai was charmed by his response. It was fun to make him a bit flustered, even if it were for show. But she tried to concentrate on what he said, she was learning to dance, and despite their little flirtations, she was picking up the strides quite well.
"A vain man might say it," she informed him, the same cool smirk upon her lips, and as it were, those green eyes never leaving his.
"But of course," Jude chuckled, moving her more easily in each step. "I am what I am, I've never tried to hide it. But how nice of you not to notice." He replied playfully and peered down at her feet. "Very good. You're a fast learner! Intelligent and beautiful! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to turn me on. But then again...you don't even have to try."
Jinai's smile grew at his statement, though her smile paused in it's growth at his last.
"Whoever said I'd be here to impress you?" she said bitingly, batting her eyes with a pretty flare before glancing around. "I think you are mistaking the mask I wear for something else.." and she avoided his gaze all together, and most definitely on purpose. Besides, she wasn't really here to seduce him. That much they both knew would be too easy.
"Now I know better than that. I was joking, my lady," Jude assured her. "Just trying to keep your spirits up and stress at bay. That's what a joke does. I'm more than aware of the risks."
Jinai forced a smile at his statement. She was no fool. She knew Jude was captivated by her, in one form or another. Either way, it was what it was what it was.
"Stress?" she said, giving a playful quirk of her brow. "Whoever said I was stressed? I might need to inform you that I've been in worse places than this."
"Sure, sure," Jude frowned a little. "Of that I have no doubt. Look alive, Lord Christy is coming this way." As they moved on the dancefloor, they passed by the Christys, Jude smiling a little and looking to see if Arthur was looking their way.
Unfortunately, Lord Christy was not. He seemed to be enjoying himself with his wife on his arm, so as they passed, Jinai only sighed as they continued to dance.
"Perhaps I'm not as striking as you claim. The man hardly lifted his gaze from his wife," she muttered.
"Fuck," Jude cursed and peered over at them again. "That's because her lips are moving the gossipy wench. Look at him and keep looking until he looks at you. Persistence, darling."
Jinai frowned but quickly turned it into a soured smile.
"We were dancing, anyway," she muttered. Besides, she didn't need Jude to tell her twice. "Besides, it's best not to stare." She forced another grin and looked away, at the other guests, her mind contemplative as she tried to focus on the dance, and other such things. There were other ways to get a man to notice a girl, after all.
Jude gave a resignated sigh but nodded in agreement. He instead turned his gaze back to her and readjusted his grip on her waist, hugging her close. "I'm sure you'll catch him. Of that I have no doubt." Jude turned his head to get a better look at her. "You're doing great."
Jinai looked into his gaze as they were pulled closer, but remained silent as a blush burned at her cheeks.
"The night is young," she finally said after a time, her gaze never once leaving his. "And I'm sure, many things to learn."
"True. But my confidence in you is not misplaced. You can learn anything you set your mind to," Jude replied with a genuine grin. "I have an idea. When the next song begins, we'll trade partners. I'll distract Thalia Christy and you put your charms on Arthur. Or maybe we could bump into them."
"Would that not make us seem too eager?" she said with a tilt of her head. "Perhaps after another song or two... besides.." She said, pulling herself in even closer to her partner as she smiled. "You still have to teach me all the right steps."
"Oh right," Jude nodded and grinned a little more at her. "You're doing very well so far. How did you learn to become so light on your feet?"
"A lot of practice sneaking around," she said with a proud smirk.
"You must sneak around for a living," Jude chuckled. "Whatever you've been sneaking for, it's been doing you a lot of good." He laughed again and sought her eyes. But his expression changed a little And he smiled all the same. "Let's hope your feet are even lighter," he said just as the music began to pick up and the steps turned into small jumps. "Just stay with me. You're doing great."
Jinai was a bit startled by the next dance move, but this time, she focused more on the steps than on Jude Armand's face, and after a time, she was finally getting it, and dancing as beautifully as the rest.
"How many more dance steps must I learn? I'm afraid I don't know how well I can remember all of these, and we've only had two dances.."
"Nothing is difficult if you think of it simply," Jude explained. "Two skips to the left, turn left. Two skips to the right, then turn right. And repeat." He counted in tune with the song and guided Jinai's feet with her own. After a few more minutes, the music began to slow into something sweeping and much more relaxed. Partners began to step closer to each other and the rhythm relaxed in Jude's feet as well. "Lovely. You only stepped on my foot once! That's progess."
And that's when her heels purposely crunched over his foot again. Her eyes danced at his reaction.
"Ooops, that's two." And then another step.. "Make that three," she said as she stepped in close, keeping her chin up high, and a soft, playful smirk drawn across her lips.
"Ouch! Why you little witch," Jude seethed through clenched teeth. Yer he was smiling and trying not to burst out in laughter. Instead he quickly leaned in and kissed her on the lips, pulling away after a few seconds. "Pfft! You brought it on yourself."
"Should you really be kissing your companion so openly?" Jinai asked, not bothering to look at the other dancers as she raised her brows at him expectantly. "I know I'm irresistible, but really, Jude Armand, you need to control those lips. What if someone gets the wrong idea? You could blow our cover with a kiss." Though she smiled at him anyways.
"Perhaps," Jude replied with a grin. "But I am your escort. And I think more people would think something was wrong if I didn't kiss you.. I enjoy your company and people would think no less of you if you enjoy'd mine. Do you? Enjoy my company that is?"
Jinai couldn't hide her smile, so she did not as she looked back into Jude Armand's eyes at his question and raised a single brow, slowly.
"What a bold question," she remarked. "But I'd be lying if I didn't say yes. You are," she said, taking a step in a bit closer so she could speak more lowly, "After all, my master in this spider web we're weaving. And I'd be lying even more if I didn't say I enjoyed this entire scenario. It's interesting being in this place, like being in another world. I suppose this sort of thing you could say, I thrive upon."
Not that she had much else to live for.
His expression softened as they moved slowly across the dance floor and he held her close to him with his arm at her waist. "Then I guess I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this either. The thrill of the forbidden, venturing into the unknown. The risk, the danger, it's exciting. We're not as different as we might think I guess." He smiled at her even wider.
Jinai would have shaken her head, but she remained composed as her eyes sparkled at his comment.
"And here I never would have guessed that," she said sarcastically, but in no way unplayful as they continued to dance. "Though most in your position only get a few chances at real play, so I wouldn't have believed you if you tried to say it was all for Renna. Besides.." she jutted her chin out just a bit more. "I see the way you look at me. I never thought a courtesan's love life could be so boring. Do I really add that much flavor to your meal?"
"You're right. Part of it's for Renna. The other is for the sheer thrill of course. It's as equally as exciting as sex; perhaps even more so, but I digress." Jude shook his head a little and gave a shrug. "You think you're my only cup of tea? I have plenty of business of course. I wouldn't be so well off if I didn't. But I'm a professional. Aaaand I would be lying if I said I didn't like you. You entice my curiosity. Mysterious, evasive, beautiful, dangerous, broken. But make no assumption that I'm trying to fix or save you. I...just enjoy your company. You're different."
Well, Jude admitting most of what he did wasn't entirely what she had expected to encounter during her dancing lessons. Either way, she kept her smile worn tight, but said nothing. She supposed it was no surprise he enjoyed her company- too many did. And she supposed at the end of the night, it would mean nothing, like all the rest. She was, after all, just something different.
Jude moved a hand from her waist however and raised it to fix a stray hair from her face and he tucked it behind her ear and went back to holding her. He softened his expression and looked at her eyes for a time. "Would it be so bad if I asked you to tell me about yourself sometime? The real you?" he asked with a small sweet smirk. "You don't have to of course. And not all at once, right away. Maybe someday if you ever decide to: I'm just saying I'd love to hear it."
The request, being odd, made her uncomfortable. So she responded in the only way she could as she laughed.
"If.you're looking for secrets you'll be sorely surprised. There ain't much past the surface. You already know my.biggest secret, though its odd..." She paused as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. "My face is plastered all over Reajh, yet I'm able to waltz right into a noble party. Not that I'm doubting your skills to conceal... This just feels... Too unreal."
"I know it's a lot to ask," Jude nodded to her. "Not today. Maybe not even tomorrow. Just maybe someday." He smiled anyway and just continued to dance. He frowned a little at her words, but nodded nonetheless. "I know it sounds too good to be true. But, I did have a few urchins pull most of your posters down in this part of town. The rich rarely deviate from other rich people." He looked her in the eye for another moment.
"But...it's not about learning secrets. I just want to know you. Like how a person gets to know another person. But like I said. It's all right. You don't have too. I like you for you. Let's just dance then. This is a beautiful song."
Jinai felt uncomfortable by his words. Most men were easy to read, and the night was easy to clean up after. But it seemed the more time she spent with him, he was growing.. soft on her, attached. And she wasn't quite sure she liked it. She forced a smile and looked away, staring at the other people dancing.
"I could tell you all you wanted, but I don't think you'd be so impressed..."
Or was that the thing? She didn't know, and she felt awkward suddenly when her boots met to another's... Lord Christy's. And as she feebly apologized, their gaze's met and she watched Lord Christy take a fancy over her. ANd in that moment, it was shitty but it happened- she got cold feet, and excused herself suddenly as she moved off the dance floor.
Of course it was too good to be true and Jude saw her face for a moment when she bumped into Lord Christy and vanished from the crowd. It was a look of panic but Arthur had only a brief moment to look at her. "It's the climate. It made her sick," Jude said with a bow. "If you would excuse me, Lord Christy." Jude followed gracefully after her, seeing where she lingered. Jude approached her carefully. "Are you all right?" he asked. "Look just forget I said anything. Let's just get through the night. For Renna."
"What? You.think I had a moment's hesitation because of you?" Jinai had enough time to recompose herself as she laughed. The same coolness as always was.present as she took up a goblet.of.wine to sip.
"The time wasn't right," she admitted, hoping that was a valid.enough.of.an excuse for.him. "The games we play are all about timing," she said as her.gaze met to his. "For now, the seed was planted. A mysterious new woman has run into him."And she lifted her wine goblet again. "And here come the Christy's to check on her...."
"It doesn't matter if it was me," Jude sighed, taking his seat beside her. But there wasn't much time to say anything when the Chisty's finally approached them. He looked up at the pair and gave a wave of his hand. "It's all right. She's feeling much better now."
"You gave us a start, dear," Thalia said, concern in her voice as she hung on Arthur's arm. "But I'm glad to see you're all right. And just look who I found just wandering the dancefloor. Lady Thames, this is my husband, Arthur. He's been eager to meet you."
Jude was left forgotten as Jinai worked her magics on the Christy's. It seemed both were charmed and taken by her, and curiously so with a.'concern' for her condition. But all people must wear a mask, and the Christy's wore theirs well, for the seed had been planted, and Lord Christy hardly missed a beat. Lady Thames was... 'refreshing', and Jude Armand would not be the only man to think so. And after Lord Christy promised her a slow dance after Lady Thames were to.recover, the pair left. Even then, Jinai ignored Jude Armand as her fingers idly twisted over the jewels above her chest.
Jude may have been ignored, but he was watching and paying attention, carefully noting Jinai's mannerisms, how she spoke, what she enunciated and where she could use some work. When the Christy's were gone, he'd drank two glasses of wine and he was still watching his companion. He was impressed fairly so and wouldn't dare spoil the moment with words. Especially words he knew she would purposefully ignore.
The silence, ironically enough, left her crest fallen. For after some time of.no.words, her fingers tightened over the.jewels before she turned to him.
"I suppose that went well..." She said coolly, her eyes noticing his glasses. Great, he was drunk already. "Maybe its time we broaden our horizons... See how deep we.can go into the lion's den." And she picked up her own wine, giving a questionable glance towards his. "Guess the wine is good." She said.a bit smartly as she smirked, then looked down towards her wine as she sipped.
Thankfully Jude was not drunk and he peered at her with warm eyes. Still he said nothing, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs, holding his wine glass in one hand. He swirled it and took a sip before setting it back on the table. He wasn't sure what to say really, after all that had been said on the dancefloor. She seemed to have recovered from it mostly and he still gave her a genuine grin.
"Perhaps. It seems the Christy's are distracted enough," he said. Another sip. He turned is gaze back to her and smiled a little. "Were you interested in exploring the upper floors? The guests will be filing out soon." He sat up and played with the rim of his glass. "And, before I forget, you were great. Shall we go upstairs then?"
Jinai avoided his gaze altogether as she thought over what he said.
"Perhaps.." she said after.a.time. "If we're quick about it. Don't forget Lord Christy requested a dance." And she fully intended to.exploit that.
[Such a child.]
Jude gave a shrug, and took another sip of his wine. "Then perhaps it would be more efficient if you stayed behind then," he quickly suggested. "Well, the song will be over soon, so off I go. Into the heart of danger." He promptly stood from the table and gently leaned down to kiss her cheek before pushing his chair in and walking through the parted guests.
Ooc: but the night is so young XD
---------
Jinai was surprised he.was.so.willing to abandon her, and was left for a moment alone before she pursued and pinched his arm none too gently before taking it and speaking lowly, through grit teeth,"Who said anything about you doing this alone? These songs are way to long that I can spare a few for some adventure..." And she set her jaw and looked at him.challenignly as she leaned her body.against his. "Lead the way."
[LIKE A FIDDLE!]
Jude gave a grunt of surprise when the fist came colliding with his arm at Jinai's pursuit. He cut his eyes to her hald-liddedly and he couldn't help his smug grin. She may have challenged him, but he leaned his face in close to hers as if he were about to kiss her and said, "I knew you couldn't resist!" Then he turned and grabbed her hand, pulling her through the crowd and upstairs when eyes were averted from them.
At his reply, Jinai was actually stunned into embarrassed silence. She felt like an ass, and in a way, she was actually stunned that he was right. Her lips twitched into a partial grin in return as she remained silent as he lead the way. If any were to catch them, They might easily assume what a lady might be doing with such a companion...
Ooc: guess she's not TOO difficult to play XD
The servants were the eyes and ears of any house hold and even in an event such as this one where their activity was doubled or tripled. But a quick bribe here and a discreet step there and soon the covert pair were upstairs to the second floor. Jude pulled Jinai in a hallway and caught his breath for a moment. "I swear my heart is racing a hundred miles an hour," he whispered. Then he pointed out down the corridor. "I think his office is just down there. Let's go."
Jinai said nothing as they moved along, though she wore a grin. He wasn't the only one excited.. and if she wasn't careful, she'd waste these energies.on him rather than Lord Christy. So she remained quiet and followed him deeper into the lion's den.
Jude casually walked toward the door after a servant passed and tested the knob. When it didn't move, he knelt beside it and plucked the two picks he had in his sleeve and examined the lock. He listened carefully, over the roar of his heart pounding in his ears. He at last heard the successful click of the lock retreating and he opened the door, quick to slip inside.
Unfortunately, there was another servant who was walking by, and Jinai wise enough to hear them as she closed the door as quickly and silently as she could, though she remained still in the hall, and Jude was now in the darkness of the room.
As the servant passed, she smiled over at.them and gave them a once over. She had to think quickly and simply asked,"Are you up.for some fun?" But the female servant was not, and was surprised another girl had just hit on her and turned tail to run. Well, that's one way to get rid of her...
Jude had heard nothing of what went on outside when the door closed behind them. The room was darkened save for an oil lamp that was turned down low. Jude lit it and another, one in each corner of the room until they had sufficient lighting and began his search in the desk. "Start somewhere," he began. "Anywhere."
With the girl gone, Jinai held her breath for a few beats to listen for more intruders, before turning around and staring down at the door. She grasped onto the handle, held her breath, before disappearing inside.
And at first her eyes weren't adjusted to the darkness, but after blinking, she made out a form capped in the faint yellow lamp light.
"Jude?" Her voice came out in but a whisper. "See anything useful?" And as her eyes scanned the dark, she realized, this room was enormous- and in that instant, she was suddenly overwhelmed.
Shit- where were they even to begin!?
"The desk is a prime choice," Jude replied to her with a harsh whisper. "You take the other drawers on the other side." He was still rifling through the first one, careful of messing the papers too much, but after some quick scanning he only had a frown to show for it. "Nothing yet."
Jinai took the desk in and with some hesitation, then moved forward and began to open the drawers on the other side.
"What sorts of things do you think we ought to be looking for?" she said, gingerly leafing through some paper work. But this drawer seemed to be full of bills.
"I told you," Jude said once more. "Letters, diary pages. But the reciepts might yield something, keep looking. Check for any tickets for recent travel, or perhaps invitations to that party he saw Renna at. Or maybe a business transaction for the offer he made Renna's aunt. Anything. I'm going to look for a journal of some kind." So far the drawers he rummaged through held nothing. He huffed in mild frustration and knelt to inspect the bottome drawer. This one was mostly empty. Or so it would appear from this angle and Jude notice an unusual space in the crease and placed his finger on it. "A false bottom," he muttered before prying it open with a pick. And underneath he found a key. "I wonder what you open."
"There are receipts for a lot of things.." Jinai muttered, not really wanting to dig through all of these, so once Jude found something interesting, she abandoned her mission to peer over his shoulder.
"That is rather interesting..." and her eyes peered around the room. "Do you think the lock it fits into might be hidden inside this room?" And she noted a locked chest on a dresser on the other side of the room. "Do you think it might fit into that?" she said, pointing over to it.
Jude hadn't noticed the dresser on the other side of the room and nodded to her. The desk apparently would have nothing more important and he moved toward the dresser, testing the lock first before trying the key. He heard a very soft click and grinned at Jinai. "You're a genius," he remarked and carefully opening it up. Inside was a small book, brown and leatherbound with a soft touch from having been opened several times and then some. Also within was a bundle of letters and a busines ledger. "Look through everything. Grab the letters."
Genius? She hardly thought so. She just happened to spot the chest first. Maybe Jude was just too easily impressed? The idea made her smirk, but they had to focus on business, so she followed his lead and began to poke through things.
"Are we aiming to take these with us? What if he decides to check this diary out after the party?" she said, flipping through a few letters.
"I'm quite aware of the possibility," Jude replied as he searched though the diary for any prominent entries. "Which is why we will only take what we need. Time is running short regardless and I can hear the music downstairs begin to reach it's crescendo."
Jinai bit her lip. Despite wanting to dig her paws deeper into this pile of information, she knew Lord Christy would be seeking out that dance...
"I should go.." she whispered, but then spotted something on a page. "Wait! Go back a page! I think I saw something.." she said, then moved her hand forward to turn the page back herself. "Look.. right here." She smirked, feeling quite proud she was able to find it. "Looks like he was quite impressed with Renna for quite sometime..." and she indicated this by tapping a finger over the date.
Jude turned back a page and scanned the entry. "My, Lord Chisty's a dirty little bastard isn't he," he remarked, quirking a brow. "Just your luck. Well, this is good. It goes back a few months." He carefully ripped it out and soon turned a few more entries in before finding what he was looking for. The latest entries that mentioned another ball and event where he might find the young courtesan again. "There," he murmured and rolled the papers and placed them in his jacket. He turned to Jinai, "Go on if you must. I want to stay here a bit longer. Arthur would be looking for you. Don't worry, I'm sure you've all you needed to impress him. Just keep him downstairs." He quickly leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Knock 'em dead!"
Jinai felt awkward by the kiss, but smiled anyways as she stood there for a moment, feeling dumb.
"Dead? I thought we wanted to keep him alive?" she said, and moved towards the door, hesitating for a moment as a thought lingered inside her mind, but never reached her tongue.
It almost sounded as if she said 'Good Luck'- but if she did, whatever it was she whispered was muffled over by the click of the closing door.
Making her way down stairs, she was surprised to find herself nearly running into Lord Christy himself.
"Ah, Lady Thames!" the man said brightly. "The dancing is almost over.." and he looked around, his brows furrowingbefore returning to her. "Where is Jude?"
Jinai only smiled.
"Preoccupied," she said with a shrug. "Not all wine can agree with a man." And Lord Christy laughed at that.
"So, are you still game for a dance? The next one is nice and slow, and I promise I'll be gentle."
Jinai smirked and took his arm. "I'd be delighted."
Anything to buy Jude more time. They were getting close to finding all they would need. Renna's life was onthe line anyways... she had to think of that.
Jude was working as quickly as he could to be as thorough as he could and started to go through the letters that Arthur had bundled, reading them one by one. Many of them had to do with miscellaneous details, business deals, sick relatives, nieces and nephews, suspicion of his wife's infidelity, letters to generals and other dukes of trade interests. But one letter, the last entry mentioned a curious name, one Jude had recognized only under the initials J. R. W. But here it seemed the name was expanded. "Jarret Willow. But no middle name. Shit," was all he mused as he rolled the letter up and put that in his pocket as well. A few other items went with it before Jude heard footsteps nearing the door. Quickly he placed everything back into the box and locked the chest, finding a hiding place just as the door opened.
Jude did not hear the intruder in the office as he clung to the window sills edge. He just clung to the edge, praying for dear life they'd go away sooner than later.
The dance went well, perhaps a bit too well, and Jinai, hadn't quite got a reins on their situation until it was too late.
"Here, we can do it in my study.." he told her, kissing her neck. It had been so long since he had tasted the flesh of a young woman, and he was rock hard and ready for her.
Jinai was sweating bullets, but played it off coolly. It seems Lord Christy was far too easy of a catch. Jinai wore the right dress, said the right things... and danced just the right way to appease him.
"Gods.." he said, kissing her all over as they spilled in through the door. "I wish I could fuck you all night," he whimpered, face buried within her neck,a nd then her chest as his hands worked at loosening her corset.
"If you weren't here, I'd oblige," she told him hotly through kisses, enjoying the dangers of the situation ten fold. For the thrill of the moment was too good to pass by, and soon Lord Christy had her pinned up against the book shelf, her skirts hefted up as they began to fuck.
Jinai let out a moan as Lord Christy bucked into her, then gasped when she noticed Jude int he shadows. Shit.. he was still here?!
"What's wrong?" Lord Christy began to say, but Jinai forced his face back into her breasts.
"J-just a book in my back," she reassured him with a smile, stealing a quick glance Jude's way. Really.. he needed to find a better hiding place than that! Even she could see his boots beneath the curtain and his eyes peaking out to watch the pair fuck. Really, he needed to stop watching the show and get the hell out of there!
And as Lord Christy went back to work, feeling up his prize, his sex continued to pound into her, as books began to fall off the shelf.
Well... at least Lord Christy still had some pep...
Then again, Jinai did beg him to show her all he's got....
A woman's crying moans were the last thing he expected to hear in a time like this. But after a few seconds,the voices were undoubtedly familiar. Damn Jinai, you really do get around, Jude thought, smirking a little and soon finding himself, peeking out from behind the curtain. But he immediately slipped back when Jinai forced Arthur's attention back on her.
Though it was risky, he knew she was actually giving him time to slip out. The door was conveniently slightly ajar. Thankfully, Jude was much less voyueristic than most of the people he entertained and soon he quietly slipped from behind the curtain, quickly ducking underneath the desk. By then, Christy had moved her from the bookshelf to the desk and though Jude was under it, he could hear the wood creaking from their activity. There was no more time to waste and though they were close, Jude crawled out on all fours from under the desk and he crawled for the door, only watching them for a slip second longer before quietly closing the door. Jude saw no one else on the floor and after waiting almost thirty seconds Jude knocked on the door of the study and he raised the pitch of his voice, "Lord Christy. Your wife is looking for you. She is coming up to the second floor." Then Jude quickly bolted from the hall, back the way they came, calmly striding back to the crowd of guests.
When Lord Christy returned, he was a bit disheveled and was smoothing his hair back into place. He looked around, a bit red faced, for his wife, and was.. confused to see her standing on the balcony, enjoying some conversations with her guests.
Of course, his moment was cut short, Jinai was left in the study by herself, to where she remained seated on top the desk, half dressed, her heels clicking against the side as she simply waited for Jude to return.
Jude had waited for the moment when he saw Lord Christy again arrive at his wife's side as the guests began to file outside into the gardens. Only then did he move discreetly back upstairs and back to Arthur's study. He only quietly knocked on the door before coming in as the servants too were directed outside to bring drinks to the guests. Jude saw Jinai sitting on the desk and gave her a raised brow and a smirk, quietly closing the door behind him. "You all right?" he asked.
Jinai shrugged at his question.
"I dunno, you heard most of it," she said with a playful grin. "Though unfortunately a servant interrupted us, so he had to finish prematurely..." She tilted her head to one side, studying Jude a moment before asking, "We'll have to get one of those vials..."
She was not about to get pregnant from Lord Christy. He might have been handsome in his youth, but she was not someone that ought to be a mother. Not now. Not ever.
"Also, I think I might need to visit the lady's room to ... freshen up."
Sex wasn't exactly the most cleanest of activities...
And then she eyed him over..
"So what else did you find?" s he said, stepping off the desk ad working at fixing her dress, but she had to turn around and ask him, "You'll have to help me repin my hair and lace up this dress.. I swear he was trying to tear it off of me."
Jude stepped across the room after a second of thought and reached forward to help repin her hair and fix her dress. "Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't mean to take so long, there was just so much to look through. And I didn't anticipate he'd come and take you here!"
Jude was gentle and expertly repinned her hair, brushing back a few stray strands of hair. "I'll tell you more about it later. Let's take care of you first." After fixing her hair, he relaced her corset and peered over her shoulder. "Well, we've done what we've needed to do. Maybe now would be a good time to get out of here, and we can visit an apothecary to get more of that elixer on the way back."
Turning back to Jude, she smirked.
"Yeah, sounds like a good idea. We don't need Lady Christy finding out."
And then as she stepped forward to leave, she gave pause as she realized something..
"You know.. if they find out something is missing... Lord Christy will know I was in here unattended.."
She hesitated ina smile and looked up at him as she brushed her hair aside.
"We.. might want to think about making copies of what we found and try to sneak them back in here to ensure he can't point fingers at who might have stolen his information... just saying it's something we might want to think about."
Then she paused to consider... "Unless he becomes smart enough to pin my face to those wanted posters.." And here she gave Jude a look over before heading towards the door. There she paused nad looked at him again, her arm out. "You coming?"
"You may have a point. I think I'll pick up something from the apothecary too," he said, smirked at her and soon followed her through to the door, taking her arm, after turning down the lamps until they were out. "After you, milady." He opened the door and closed it softly behind them, relocking it as he did so.
He took her arm and hurried them downstairs.
"Do you think we ought to do a proper goodbye? Or can we just get the hell out of here?" Jinai asked quietly as they walked swiftly down the hall.
"I think a hasty exit is in order. There's no need to bring more attention to ourselves than necessary. Here, look like someone just punched you in the stomach," Jude repled. At they rounded the corner, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pressing her face into his chest, as they came upon a servant. "Oh dear me! Poor thing!" Jude replied. "Excuse me dear. It seems a bad spot of liquor has spoiled the lady's appetite. Would you please inform Lady Christy that we had a wonderful time at the benefit, but that the Lady Thames isn't feeling well. I'm sure she'll understand." Jude reached into his pocket and gave the young girl a gold coin, a smile before departing for the front door. "Some fresh air will do you good, my Lady. There, there."
Once the pair were outside, Jinai lifted her head before she shook it.
"So patronizing," she teased. "So where should we go next? Any apothecary open at this hour?"
Jude kept his arm around her and held her close as they ventured out into the evening. Despite the musk that surrounded her, she still smelled good. "I know you have your connections as I have mine," Jude remarked. "I know someone who can help us out. And will probably have that something you need."
"Good," she said, making a bitter face. "I'll feel more at ease once I know I've gotten that down." And she paused a moment to observe him but remained quiet as they got into the carriage. "How long will it take us to get there?"
Jude climbed in beside her and closed the door and the carriage began down the street. "Not very long. It's just a few blocks down that way, and we make a turn." Jude sat back in the seat and watched the street lights and buildings go by until he suddenly signaled to the driver. "Please, stop here," he called out and the carriage abruptly stopped. "We have to walk the rest of the way. It's not, shall we say, open on the street. Her name's Renee. That's what she calls herself and she deals mostly with the higher ladies. I only remembered her when you mentioned asking my fellow courtesan friends about who could supply your little potion." He helped her out of the carriage and walked out with her on his arm, into the darkness of an alley. It was relatively clean as were most things in this part of the city, and he turned to a door that opened up to it.
He knocked three times, then two, then three again before a small old lady came to the door. She was a perky thing and peeked out from the visor screen at eye-level. "Can I help you, Mr. Armand? You didn't tell me you were coming so late. Who's the broad?"
"Sorry, Renee," Jude said with a humble nod. "We're looking a few a few things. I remember Nina told me about you one time. We've got a lady here who doesn't need any unwanted baggage if you know what I mean."
"I know what ya mean. It's been a long time since you've come by. Normally, it's just the ladies. You've got money?"
Jude nodded and rolled his eyes. After a few clicks and locks, the door was open and he welcomed Jinai to step inside first.
The place was a lot more quaint than Jude's place, but rich and lush just as well. Her eyes scanned the area before she glanced over at Renee with a smirk.
"Thanks for the night call. I was... A bit.unprepared for an evening party."
The old lady waved her hand at Jinai and simply shrugged. "Oh, don't worry about the details. I have to sleep sometime. So how many you need, dear? Oh, never mind that too," Renee went on and moved forward toward a counter she used to formulate her concoctions. Alembics and poultices and other alchemical equipment sat boiling. "Here, this should hold you for a while." She pulled out a small satchel, filled with several vials and handed it over to her. Then she looked up at Jude. "Is that all?"
"I need something of a transparencer, got a few items that need copying. Got anything for that?"
"Do you know who you're talking to?" Renee rolled her eyes and took a few minutes to rummage through her things before producing what she needed. It was a small box and she set it in his hands. "Remember, soak the paper in water first! Then just a droplet should do, then let it hang dry for fifteen minutes before setting it on what you want to copy. Got it?"
"Got it," Jude grinned at her, though she seemed more than irritated and handed her most of the gold in his pocket. "That enough."
"Does an owl hoot!? Now shoo with both of ya! I've had a long night."
"So have we." But she showed them to the door and Jude and Jinai were back on the street. He looked at her and the pouch in her hand. "Do you want to walk back or take the carriage? It's not that far from here. We can cut through the alley. But I guess ladies don't walk, when they can ride."
"We'll.take the carriage," she said with a smirk, and took in the place's details for herself... For future reference. A woman like Renee was good to have noted for her location...
And so as she stepped into the carriage, she sighed and sifted through the vials. Taking one out, she popped the cork and downed it before melting back tiredly into the carriage bench. It had been a long night...
It was a long night indeed and Jude was just as tired as she was when at last they came to the front of his house. He paid the driver with what coin he had left in his bag and prodded Jinai to come out of the carriage. "We're here. Wake up," he whispered. But with little response, Jude instead helped pull her from the seat and pulled her up into his arms and climbed the front steps.
She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep until she felt herself being pulled into Jude's arms. Releasing a tired breath, Jinai nestled into him before making a curious noise. It felt nice where she was, comfortable, and it was a feeling in which did not want to wake up.from... A contentness and sense of comfort she hadn't felt since her brother. And it seemed Jude Armand was inadvertently filling the open void.
He softly closed and locked the door behind him before plucking her up from the couch and taking her upstairs. He kept her items balanced between them until he made ut up to his room where he gently laid her on her side. She looked nice while she slept and Jude held a small smile on his face. But it was but a passing thought before he put everything away and focused then on loosening the knots of her dress. He eventually plucked it open enough and worked gently with his hands to peel her out of it, leaving her invery little. The same went with the jewels. Jude gave a sigh and moved toward his side of the bed, giving a momentary view of the moon at it's height. When he was undressed and in more comfortable evening pants, he just laid back on the bed, staring at the cieling a few minutes before moving over and pulling Jinai close to him and drifting off.
When she woke up, she.was surprised to be cradled in Jude's arms. It was warm there and it felt nice, and she was in no hurry to leave the bed where in most cases after a.one night stand she was.quick to leave. Though in this instance she hadn't a one night stand with him and ... Though what was she to think of this relationship? Now that she was.mended, she supposed this would be the last time she'd wake up like this in his bed...
It wasn't long before dawn's light came pouring through the curtains. Though it was still quite early in the morning, Jude had few intentions of getting up so early. But movement at his side made his eyes open and he turned his head to see Jinai beside him still. He gave her a small smile. "Hi," he murmured. "It's nice to see you decided to stick around. It's very cold early in the morning. How are you feeling? Still dizzy from the fall?"
Jinai looked up at him, and at his questions, she sighed and buried her face into the pillow.
"Ask me again when it's afternoon," she said, wriggling back into the bed. It was too warm and comfortable for her here to get up just yet. And she wasn't ready to answer his fifty questions- even if he only asked her but two (though really one..)
"Best idea I've heard all day," Jude sighed and turned over on his belly and peered at her just the corner of his eye. His leg reached across from underneath the covers and ran his foot across her leg.
Keeping her face buried in the pillow, she grumbled and pushed his foot away. She really just wanted to sleep, not play footsie with her bed mate.
Jude could take a hint and poked her side instead. "Okay, okay," he muttered and bunched thee pillow underneath his head, closing his eyes once more.
Jinai sighed once she was left alone for a while, but now that she was awake...
she was getting antsy.. and couldn't get back to sleep, no matter how hard she tried.
And after a moment, she randomly felt like kicking Jude's leg.
Might as well...
So she did.
Unlike her Jude had gone back to sleep and was startled from the kick. "Hey! What was that for?" he grumbled at her. He pushed her leg with his foot. "I thought you wanted to sleep!"
Reburying her face back into the pillow, she only ended up kicking Jude again.
OOC: lol, so mature are my characters |8*
Jude quickly turned over and grabbed his pillow and slammed it over her face. He laid back down and nudged her with his leg again. He rolled over, pulling the blankets with them. "Ahh nice and cozy!"
He wouldn't be nice and cozy for long, as Jinai took a firm hold on the blankets, and yanked them clean off of him, and in doing so, she kicked off of Jude, practically kicking him off the bed in the process to retrieve her blanket prize.
Jude gave a yelp when not only did she pull the blankets from him, kicked him off. "Damn you," he growled and instead threw himself at her, rolling over her so they were bundled in the blanket together.
"Ack!" Jinai wriggled beneath him once his weight was crushing her. "Jude! Get the hell off me!"
Jude rolled so he was laying on his back, though they remained bundled together. "Arww you nice and cozy now!?"
"No!" she said shortly, still wriggling inside the blanket. "Not since you just trapped me inside the blankets!" And she tried wriggling again, but she was pretty stuck. "Move the hell off the blankets Jude so I can get out!" And she hit him with her ass in hopes it'd hurry him up.
"Fine!" Jude growled and released her from the bundle, letting the blankets fall loose and he just grabbed his pillow and bunched it under his head. Still he was smirking at her and closed his eyes to go back to sleep. "No fun at all."
....
.................
........
After some time of Jinai wriggling her way out of the confines of her blankets, she moved to nestle back intot he bed...
But not really...
For a second later after she was silent..
WHACK
She hit Jude square across the face with her pillow.
"That's what you get for thinking you could trap the famous Jinai Rinstgate," she said with a smirk. "There's a high price on my head for a reason."
Never mind that reason was an idiot named Torak.
He took the smack with the pillow with no small amount of grace. He just chuckled and puffed his hair out of his face, brushing his waves backaand just smiling at her.
"I would never dream of trapping you," he replied. "I just thought I'd share my body heat."
"That's what they all say," she said with a grin, before smashing her pillow over his face and letting it lay there for a second before she scooted over and rested her head ontop of the pillow that was still resting ontop of his face.
"Hrm.. kind of lumpy.." she said while staring up at the ceiling in thought.
Jude's laughter was muffled beneath the pillow and he suddenly wrapped her within his arms and legs, holding her close to him. He wiggled his head out from underneath her. "Oh yeah! Well I'm not 'they'." Jude grabbed her stomach and breasts and let his hands roam all over her.
It was unusual for her to get that way, and it had been, perhaps years that it had happened, but the moment his hands were upon her, she let out a yelp and began to screech and laugh like crazy- for every second his hands were all over her, she, herself had become unreasonably ticklish.
"J-JUDE!" she shouted, her legs kicking around violently as she wriggled around in his arms.
"S-stop that before I - I... I step on your balls!" And another laugh barked out. "YOU ASS!" And more giggles sent her into a frenzy she seemed unable to escape.
"GODS STOP OR I'LL PISS ALL OVER YOUR BED!"
and sadly, it was a very, VERY real threat.
[Jinia has NO class! LOL xD]
Jude knew better than to NOT take her threat seriously and as she wiggled in his arms, threatening to pee herself, he did let her go and slapped her ass. "Go piss! And I'll get keep this warm bed all to myself in the meantime."
Ooc: hey! You have NO idea how cruel it is when you're being tickled relentlessly with NO escape! Sometimes threats of pee are the only way! Or..violence if that fails. l8*
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Thankful to be able to finally breath, Jinai lay there a moment as she caught her breath. She was red in the face and her lungs ached. Then, after a minute she sat up and smoothed her hair away from her face.
"I think I will," and with as much class as she could muster, she strolled out of the room. And when she returned she had a pitcher of water... That of which, upon returning to bed, she promptly dumped all over his head.
Jude sat up abruptly in bed and gasped. "HEY!" he howled as the water was dumped on his bed. He was awake now if anything and abruptly stood. He lunged after her and began tickling her furiously once more! He heard the pitcher drop to the floor at some point as he lifted her from the ground. "Throwin' some water on me!" he cried out, laughing.
She hadn't entirely expected the tickle attack, (though partially she did), as she let out a shriek when his hands were all over her!
"Jude!" She shouted, once again wriggling beneath his mercy, "S-stop!" And between laughs and squirms she added, "And who said it.was.water?!" Which jokingly implied it was piss.
"It doesn't matter! I need a bath anyway!" Jude growled playfully. He placed her back on the bed and crawled over her, kissing her neck. "Beg for mercy! Beg! Say I'm the best!" But he refused to give her such mercy and only pressed his hands further along her ribs.
It was cruel. Jude Armand was a cruel, cruel man, and not many ever saw this side of her. After all, it had been years that it.ever happened, that someone got close.enough to her to trigger a tickle fit. Pretty much every touch or almost touch set her off and she was.howling.
"Jude!" She screamed. She couldn't believe him and was not.about to fall prey to his demands! So her.efforts got more violent as she attempted to.kick him away so.she could at.least breathe!
Jude only relented when she was gasping for breathe and he released her and rolled off to the side on the dry side of the bed. "Well maybe you didn't concede to my demand, but victory is mine. And that is that," he remarked with no small amount of satisfaction. He was smiling at her and grabbed a pillow, propping it behind his head and laying back.
The second she caught her breath, she was all.over.him.with pillow smacks, pinches and kicks.
"You ass!" she called him, being sure.to give the side of his leg an extra pinch. "Try that again and I'll kick you.in the balls!" Yet in spite of herself.... She was smiling.
Ooc: its hard to.type on my.phone and snuggle my cat at.the same time. MY LIFE IS SO HARD
Jude tried to evade her with his arms and defended his head with his arms as she assaulted him. It was his turn to lose his breath from laughter and tried to catch her arms, to make her pause. But it was to little avail. "Yeah right! Besides you started it!" he barked and snuck in surreptitious kisses when her face came close enough to his, mere pecks, but it made his laughter come forth all the more.
Jinai gasped when he had the AUDACITY to blame her.
"As if I.started it, Jude! You decided to tickle ME, remember?!" She shook her head and made faces at his kisses. "Besides, I was TRYING to sleep!" (Kind of)
He was growing red in the face from laughter and just when he was about to catch his breath, she spoke. He giggled and bashed her face with the pillow from beneath his head. "Oh-ho, yeah!? I remember very clearly you KICKING me! And growing angry when I won! And now that you've gotten your breath, I think I ought to tickle you again!" He leapt for her once more, running his hands furiously along her sides.
Unfortunately for Jude, as.humorous as.the situation was, Jinai's leg shot out in her moment of 'being tickled panic' and she kicked.him... hard....right between the legs.
[xD]
Jude doubled over and gave a gasp, holding his manhood, relenting on his assault and face growing somewhat pale. "Pfffffffffffffffffffffffft!" he growled at her. "Cheap shot."
Jinai lay on her back side, face red and chest.rising quickly as she worked on catching her.breath.
"No.." she said.between pants. "It's not." And she turned to him with a grin, her face half covered in her blonde hair. "Not since.it.was.in self.defense!"
"CHEAP!" Jude said, making a face at her, when at last the pain in his groin subsided and he laid beside her, peering at her eye-to-eye. "So you still wanna go to sleep? Part of the bed's wet, no thanks to you." He laughed and brushed a stray hair out of her face. "That was assault, by the way. Clear intended assault." He stuck his tongue out at her.
Jinai smirked proudly back at him as she lay.there, the hair he brushed aside.falling back into her face.
"Not.unless you want to fuck first," she said, giving him a.knowing look.
"Oh? Sorry, I forgot. All women kick men in the nuts when they wanna fuck," he laughed. "But sure, I'd love to. But I have to ask one question, if you don't mind. I'm just curious. How was it? With uh, Christy?"
Jinai was.all.smug faced... That was until.her jaw.dropped at.the.mention of Lord Christy.
"Why would you ask.that? Jealous he.didn't want you?" she.said, mockingly.
Jude rolled his eyes. "Right. I always dream of fucking some fat prick with a wallet bigger than his intelligence. No, I mean compared to me. Was it any good?" He knew the risk of asking such a question, but he couldn't help himself.
Jinai still.could not believe what he was asking.
"He was pretty good," she had.to.admit. "He had a lot of energy for his age. It felt good to have him.try.to fuck my brains out." And she stared at Jude thoughtfully. Maybe she could leave out the part she had been mostly fantasizing Lord Christy was Jude... Jude had a big enough ego anyway... And a big enough house.
"Then again, I rather like the idea of fucking someone at a place and time I shouldn't. The thrill makes the sex better than something... More private." She figured that admittance might not be something Jude would want to hear as she patted his cheek playfully patronizingly. "Don't worry, our sex was good or I wouldn't be asking for more. Maybe next time we can do it somewhere more... Dangerous and I can show you what I mean."
He only laughed in response to her claims, and he leaned closer to her face, smiling down at her as he did so. "And you don't think I wasn't thinking about it when we were up there. It was unfortunate the odds weren't in my favor," he replied. "But I'm sure I understand what you mean." He bit his lip a little, eying her lips and grinning all the more. "I guess that just means I'll have to try harder. Can't have some crusty old bastard as serious competition."
At his words, Jinai laughed.
"If.you would have offered, we would have been at it all night and probably would have destroyed Lord Christy's study. Which.." she began to say, tip.toeing her fingers up his chest. "Would have ruined our initial.mission." And the smile she now.wore implied she wouldnt have.minded. "But Lord Christy has probably spent years of his life waiting for that fuck. He was like a teenager, unrelenting in his pursuit to fuck me raw." She jut her.chin out. "Why.do you ask? Do you think you can top it?"
"I assure you Lord Christy gets a lot more action than he lets on. Or so I've heard. But I guess I'm impressed for someone who only lasted a minute and a half," he replied quietly. Her hands send subtle chills up his spine and he smiled even more. He leaned in closer to her, his face barely a few inches from her. "I just want to make sure I give you a fuck you won't soon forget." He pressed his mouth possessively to her, a kiss alive with electricity.
Jinai was taken by his sudden hunger and wrapped her arms around him as she kissed him hotly back, fingers raking through his hair.
"I don't know.." she.growled as she dug her teeth into his lip and her fingernails into his back. "That first time fucked was pretty good..."
Jude managed a chuckle mid-kiss and licked and pulled on her lips even as she bit his. "I guess the first time we fucked was just rotten eggs then?" he laughed. "He didn't even let you finish. Don't forget I was listening." His hands were all over, kissing her with an unknown hunger.
Jinai moaned at his words.
"And here I.almost forgot that..." She said, hooking her legs around him. "It made the fuck feel all the better knowing you were there... Watching and listening..." By now she was dragging her lips and teeth against his ear. And her hands were smoothing down his back.
"And I knew you were wishing," she said through a hot and.soft breath into his.ear. "That that was you."
Her touch electrified his skin and he turned his head to nurse at her neck soflty, tasting her skin and lovinf every inch of her. "Hmmm, least now I don't mave to wish since I have the real thing in front of me. But a fantasy certainly is...titillating," Jude whispered back to her. He moaned from the sensation of her breath in his ear, shivering as his hands gripped down at her hips and tugged and pulled at the gown that she'd slept in, pushing it up and away from her.
She wasn't wearing much before and now she was practically in nothing as her hands roamed over his own night garments and working lazily at.tugging them off.
"That's only if you promise to behave," she corrected him. "You think I'll just let you fuck me if I know you plan to.exploit my.weakness?"
For she had many of them... her ticklishness aside.
Jude only smirked at her and sunk his teeth tantalizinly into her bottom lip. "I'll behave. Enough," he murmured. "But where's the fun in that? And I have no intention of exploiting your weaknesses. My intentions are purely innocent, I assure you." But even he couldn't keep a straight face at that. It was worth a try.
Despite how their bodies were already aligning for a fuck, at his expression, she gave him a knee to the gut. And watching him become lightly winded, made her smirk.
"You're a terrible liar," she said, letting her legs fall open after his pants were tossed away.
"Sometimes I just," he breathed against her lips her the kissed her, "can't," another kiss, longer," help myself," one more, hotter. Jude rested his belly against hers lightly, still mostly carrying himself above her. He let his sex prod against hers, though made no effort for entry just yet. He was enjoying the anticipation and the banter that only made the smile on his face spread all the wider.
Jinai moaned through his kisses, her eyes half lidded, and her hair a mess all around her.
"Well," she said, kissing him back. "You'd better learn to be wiser.." she said, taking her teeth to his throat as her mouth crept up to his ear. "Or else I'll knee you in the balls again."
And though her threat was real, she purred it out seductively and rubbed her bare leg against his.
It was his turn to feel vulnerable against her. And while it was a sensation he normally tore away from, he didn't feel so inclined to do so now. Pleasant chills coursed through him at the pressure of her teeth and he gave a breathy moan. Her skin was divine,cool and yet warm to the touch. He tilted his head and kissed her throat, tongue lapping at the skin there before he rested his weight on her a little more, feeling the tip of his sex slip into hers tantalizingly. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," he murmured before slipping within her completely.
Her eyes opened a bit wider when the tip of his sex pressed against her, then instantly her eyes shut tightly as he slipped all the way in. Her screamed moan could not be contained as she gripped onto him, legs and arms both holding him tight, as did her sex.
It was easy to become lost in her. She made him quiver all over and his breath came in quick, short gasps as he moved within her. Jude kissed her roughly, hungrily, but couldn't help a sudden laugh as his head turned to whisper in her ear. "I didn't I could get you to scream so soon," he murmured, moving a deeper within her.
At his words, she felt dizzy and hot as she growled and raked her nails down his back side.
"Neither did I," she admitted with a smirk, keeping her sex clenched and her body angled so he could fuck her good and deep.
"Gods.." her eyes fluttered closed as she ached and whined beneath him. "Gods.. Lord Christy doesn't know how to finish- leaving a girl too vulnerable for the next man..."
Jude groaned and grunted, loving the way she felt around him. It was almost too easy to fall into his own ecstasy, but her own moans drove him harder in her, wanting to please her, wanting to satisfy her where Lord Christy had failed. "I'll be sure to finish what he started," he grunted with effort. "Gods, Jinai..." He crashed his lips into her, as his hips moved, undulating and exploring the deepness of her sex, where it pleased her most, where it made her eyes roll back into her head so far she might see her own brain.
It was too good to be true, and as riled up as she had become before hand; her body was extra tight and extra ready to be satisfied. Just about everything he did drove her crazy, as finger nails and teeth scraped against him, and breaths would hitch deep inside her throat, and moans would come out in purrs. And she held on tight for the ride, enjoying every ounce of him trying to please her. And before she knew it, her eyes closed and mind went white hot in pleasure as she screamed out his name in agonizing ecstasy, against and again and again.
Jude was drowning, powerful conflicting sensations coming at him all at once. From the feeling of her nails drawing blood, the sting of sweat flowing into his wounds, and the insurmountable ecstasy that suddenly swept him away. The feeling of her velvet ecstasy made hum suddenly shudder and he came hard, pulling out at the last second after feeling her sex nurse on him. His heart was racing, his head pounding and his throat hoarse. "Ansgar's balls," was all be was able to mutter. "Gods..."
She was still reveling in the sensation and the after glow of their sex. So she lay beneath him, unmoving, just raking a hand half through her hair as her eyes stared up at the ceiling half-liddedly. Her body was soaked, not only in her own sweat, but his; and their sex, which her body couldn't quite contain as it leaked out and moistened the sheets between her legs.
Not that she cared. It was pure bliss she was feeling, her entire body warmed and sated by it as she continued to stare up past him, past the ceiling, past the skies to a place of content. If she were to die now it'd be ok. She felt so holy satisfied that nothing could ruin that moment for her as she finally closed her eyes, a smile now drawn across her lips.
Jude's hair was plastered against his forehead as he laid there, his head on her breasts. When he found the strength, he rolled off her and laid on his side next her. He just watched her, saying nothing as he did so, for he was content to just bask in her warmth. Jude took a hand used it to brush her hair out of her face as he did once before, hoping this time it'd stay back. He took her in his arms, coaxing her to lay against him as he laid on his back. It was his turn to stare at the cieling.
Words weren't necessary for that moment. It was perfect, lest she admit it, and was something her heart had yearned for for quite some time. She had a hollow spot to fill, and would never have thought she'd find her other, better half in a courtesan. For now, she wasn't worried about those details, just that she felt so content and this moment, just too perfect for words as she nestled in beside him and closed her eyes, taking in the scents of his musk and their sex as she sighed contentedly. If she were one to confess on feelings, she might have been foolish enough to believe this was love, but even she was not stupid enough to mutter that.
Sleep lay heavy on his eyelids and sun came a little stronger than it had in moments before. But he fought against it and felt his hand come across her shoulder, hugging her. It felt right, though he couldn't explain why. He wanted to comfort her, something he felt she sorely needed, though he himself could simply pass it off as something out of habit. Clients came to him for emotional stimulation as much as physical. But that was business. Here were was no money involved. In fact, he spent a great deal of money on her. And yet somehow, that didn't matter. He liked the way she filled the gap between his chest and his arm. Almost as if she...fit.
Sleep came like heaven, with the rays of the afternoon light filtering in through the windows like gold when she finally did awake. Jude was still sleeping soundly beside her as she sat up and observed him.
He was handsome, rich, a good lay, but something about this felt too surreal for her to just accept it for what it was. So after a long while of simply staring at him, she slipped discretely out of his bed and sought her clothing in the other room. With the letters and diary pages secured, there was little use for Jude Armand anymore. And they already fucked....
So once she was dressed, she took the letters and left. Not so much as a giving him a single goodbye as she disappeared from his life, perhaps forever, but who knew? What evidence was to be found in the letters had to be used discretely, and you never knew when she'd have to become Lady Thames once again.
OOC:
This is the end of this thread. The next chapter in this story picks up here (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=15505.msg154431#msg154431)!