"Don't let it bother you." The high, shrill voice of a woman nearby rang through Bella's ears, her thoughts broken by the annoyance it caused.
"Nothing's bothering me." Her response was blunt, just as she liked it. No questions asked and usually a conversation killer, the best way to lose a persons interest, act boring, moody and disinterested.
"Um, yes it is. Your eyebrow is twitching." My what, is what? She rubbed her temples in the hopes to stem the headache this girl was causing. She hated people, but she hated observant girls more, it was as if they were looking into her heart. She hated it.
Standing up she excused herself, exiting the brothel, ridding the smells of sex and strong perfume, to be consumed by smoke and the mild stench of a nearby drainage system. She was free for the rest of the night, having taken the evening off, no appointments made, she had made sure of that.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her expensive looking corset dress was tied taught against her slender frame, accentuating her waist and chest. The deep green material contrasted well with her hair which was braided in a simple plait, the gold leaf detailing scattered around the lower half of the gown; down to the hem. The split in the dress revealed black stockings, at the top a garter held a considerable dagger, for her self defence and perhaps another's.
Leaning against a nearby wall she pondered upon her evening. Perhaps a night at the local bar? Maybe draw in some more patrons?
She knew she shouldn't have agreed to have had the night off, she was already bored.
The young man was walking down a street he didn't know, but that didn't bother him since he wasn't even paying attention to his surroundings. He was practically walking right against the buildings while he whispered to his ring, activating it's enchantment that made it glow just enough for him to read easily.
This is quite fascinating. he thought to himself, but then walked right into someone. "Oh I am so sorry." he blurted out before he actually took a look at the woman he just ran into. His mouth dropped open a little bit, because he found her to be quite attractive but realized he was staring.
"I, um wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked trying to keep eye contact a minimum. For he didn't want her to notice his blushing as easily.
The gentleman that bumped into her was a rude awakening from her thoughts, but it was upon turning her gaze onto him that she considered her options here. Words weren't great for her, especially in natural conversation. Usually men didn't care if they had hurt her, all they wanted to hear was her corset being unstrung.
"You're lost." She kicked herself inwardly, her voice groggy but her response abrupt and matter-of-fact. "I mean, I'm fine." Good save. She mentally patted herself on the back for managing a whole four words, boy she was talkative today. With awkward silence slowly coming to the surface, her mouth opened by itself as words tumbled out clumsily.
"Um, Bella. My name, it's Bella." Why am I introducing myself again!? Maybe there was something about this certain individual.
He barely registered anything she said to him, but when he finally realized he was starting again he quickly cleared his throat. "Um, my name is uh...oh Atreus." he said quickly, then bowed quickly in his typical way of greeting. I hope I wasn't to obvious with my staring..
"So uh, what are you doing this evening?" he caught himself asking, then immediately started wondering what had gotten into him with this woman. "Oh, you don't have to actually answer me. I don't want to seem as intrusive." he added, almost to quickly to be understandable.
Bella was used to the staring, as much as she hated to say it, most men gawked at her first chance they got, especially when they thought she wasn't looking. But the way he did it, out of awkwardness and nonchalance, it was...different, she wasn't sure what to make of it.
Soon she had a name to the face, and wasn't sure what to do when he bowed. Was she meant to reciprocate or simply stand and stare? Common courtesy was as foreign to her as the lands outside of Adela, she thrived on her profession, being as time consuming as it was.
His curiosity astounded her, maybe because she was always limited to the questions she asked, especially when she had so many whirling around in her head; secretly she was always curious. Her fingers toyed with a stray strand of her sea green hair, plying on it between two fingers.
"This evening?" She hadn't even realized she had responded until her hand unexpectedly retreated to her mouth, catching herself after she had spoken. Usually she would be in the brothel, earning her pay, doing things this man probably didn't even believe she did. He was too nice, far too nice for this side of Ketra.
"I've taken the evening off from work." At least she wasn't lying to him, well apart from her name. But then, she lied to everyone about that. She offered the tiniest of smiles, to hopefully offer some form of kindness on her part.
"Must be nice being able to have time off, although I suppose I was doing the same thing. Well except for studying, but I always do that." he replied with a smile of his own. But that smiled increased two-fold when what he thought was a grand idea came to him.
"So uh, what did you plan to do this evening you have free?" he asked trying as hard as he could to seem like he was just making idle chatter, but failing somewhat. Hoping she would say nothing in particular, even though he had no idea why he wanted to keep talking to this woman. Since he talked to only those who had business with, or had items that he needed.
She knew she shouldn't start connecting with someone, especially a man, it would all crumble down as soon as he found out what she was. It always did, or they used it to their advantage. But, was she aloud one night of freedom? One night as Shiya, not Bella. One night. She told herself firmly, repeating it in her head until she thought it had sunk in.
"I'm not doing anything really. Why? Want to escort a lady around town?" Her voice was laced with that feminine purr, a smirk tugging at one corner of her lips. As she stepped forward, the split in her dress opened upon exposed leg. She nudged her head in a particular direction, encouraging him to follow her.
"I'll show you some of the finest in Ketra." She flicked her hair behind her, walking ahead her stride slow.
"More like accompany a lady around town." he quickly corrected with a nervous chuckle, then turned to follow her.
"So where are we going? I'm not all that familiar with the places here, don't tend to spend much time out. Other than the stolls I take of course." he rambled out as he fumbled with the bag strapped across his shoulder, trying to put the book he was reading away. After he finished that he whispered into his ring again, which caused it to start glowing in alternating colors.
"If I may, what exactly do you do as a profession? If I would guess I would have to go with...a bard. Not entirely sure why though, you just seem like one." he said as he continued his unusual rambling, all the while hoping that the small light show would be even slightly entertaining to Bella.
She offered a warm smile at his response, hopefully easing him somewhat of his nervousness.
"I'm not exactly sure. I usually go to the local tavern here." She held her hands behind her, moving in a particular grace. She couldn't help but watch in some kind of awe at his ring, the colours catching in her eyes as it lit up. "It's so pretty." She liked things like this, small little pleasures.
The question had caught her off guard, maybe because for a moment she had forgotten she was a courtesan; a whore. When he said 'a Bard' she had to stem a little chuckle making its way up her throat. She had never considered herself more than what she was right now, and the fact she didn't look around town, didn't look and take into consideration how she was dressed, it made her feel light hearted.
"Ah! Well, you may just have to wait and see! I'm a lady full of surprises." She gave a small little wink and a chuckle, her eyes alternating from his face to the ring of glowing colours.
"Full of surprises eh, and uh can you help me take this ring off?" he asked sheepishly after failing to do so himself, the turning his hands towards her to show some fresh and unpleasant looking scars. "I have a bit of a problem doing finesse things, since...well that doesn't matter."
"You can have the ring, consider it a gift. I caught how much it captured your attention, and don't worry I have plenty more. All you have to do to activate it is will it to, but I like to whisper to it." he quickly added, trying to change the subject. "Oh and what is the tavern called? I might have to go to it, if it seems like a nice place." he quickly added.
The question was strange, but she had had much stranger requests. Gesturing to his hands she held out her own. "May I?" She didn't wait long for a response, her hands gentle and soft clasping onto his own. She toyed with ring carefully, taking care not to hurt him. The scarring was a mixture of old and new, and Bella too had her own small scars across her wrists and along the back of her hands. They were faint enough to not be seen by the less observant eyes.
She tugged gingerly on the ring, twisting it as it slowly rose over the knuckle. Her face was fixed on the task at hand, her brow furrowed with concentration.
"Ah, got it!" She grinned proud as the ring slipped off into her palm.
When he mentioned about her keeping the ring she looked at him wide eyed a wash of gratitude coming over her face. She offered a more dazzling smile than the last. "Thank you, I haven't been given a gift before." The last part was more like a whisper. She quickly changed the subject to the Tavern.
"The Giggling Thief, it's the best in the town! I'll take you, come on." Bella started striding forward, toward the Tavern.
"The Giggling Theif? Are we going to have to worry about giggling thieves while we're there?" he asked with a laugh, catching up with the women he was accompanying. Hoping she would notice him stepping closer to her, mainly so he could keep her on the edge of his vision so he could stare at the stars as they walked to the tavern, but then something caught his eye.
"Oh look at that! There's a shooting star!" he said putting his hand out to nudge her shoulder to get her attention, but when he looked over he saw that he didn't hit the shoulder. His eyes opened in fear as he realized that he was now slightly groping Bella, he quickly pulled his hand back and tried to stammer out an apology but couldn't get anything out past "I didn't mean to.."
She chuckled. "The Lady who owns the Tavern, she has a...sparkling personality." She had to think of the right word to use, the woman being someone you either found extremely annoying or enjoyed her company. For Bella, it was the latter.
She managed to just about catch the 'shooting star; in his sentence before all things registered downwind. Her eyes averted from the skies, down to her chest, then back at Atreus, but it wasn't a look of disgust, which to most would shock people and then for those who noticed small little things like that, may have actually guessed her profession.
"That's what they all say." She smirked and teased him a little bit, before quickly picking up her sentence. "It's fine, at least you're one of those honest gentlemen." She smiled at him, to show that she forgave him, the tavern now coming into site, its big wooden door able to fit a two of Bella through.
Atreus didn't even register any of what Bella was saying or doing, all he did was stand there his hand partially pulled back and that look still on his face. "I, I, I, I didn't mean t-to do that. I am so sorry!" he finally managed to blurt out long after she already brushed off the whole incident and was walking towards the tavern.
"Hey wait up!" he yelled towards her and ran to catch up, but a few steps behind her this time. "Uh, what were you saying back there? I didn't quite catch any of it?"
She didn't quite catch his response as it tapered out into the crowd, until he caught up to her.
"Nothing of interest." She kept it simple so that she didn't have to explain herself all over again.
Upon approaching the tavern they went through the large wooden doors, large being an understatement. The inside was warmed by an intense fireplace lit with kindling and logs, the tables more like wooden benches, the seats spread out. At the head was the bar, behind stood a generous sized woman, with curly ginger hair and eyes so blue, they felt like the sea.
She had a billowing laugh, deep enough to be a man's, as she chuckled along with some patrons. Bella waved at the woman, catching her eye as she waved back.
"That's Arnolde, and yes...it is a he." She waited a little for a reaction before continuing. "Oh but, he likes to be called a she." She nodded in remembrance, gesturing for Atreus to come over towards the bar.
"Oh this place is pretty crowded." he said as they entered the tavern, trying to sound calm but failing somewhat. He followed Bella no more than a step or two behind her to the bar, and tried to not seem like he was about to freak. He tried for what seemed like forever, but was really just 10 minutes, to stay calm and talk to the man behind the counter who for some reason wanted to be called a woman but he just couldn't do it.
"Uh, c-can we go somewhere in here that isn't quite as uh..occupied." he practically begged Bella, eyes darting back and forth looking almost like a wild animal. "I don't know how much longer I can stay near all these people..."
She saw the fright in his eyes, her reflection flashing back as her face was awash with worry. There was a few rooms upstairs, a small gesture to Arnolde and they were heading for the stairs.
"There should be some rooms up here." She checked one of the doors, it was locked the sound of muffled noises behind the door made her turn to the next. With a small twist it opened upon a simple room, a chair and desk in the corner, a bay window across the far wall. In the centre was a four poster bed, with off white drapery cascading down it. The floor was wooden as her heels made a familiar clicking noise, the wood similar to that of The Randy Peach.
She closed the door behind them, blocking out the noise from the lower floor. She took to the bad and sat down, her eyes sorry. "I didn't know crowds made you feel uncomfortable, you should have told me." Her voice was gentle, above a whisper but enough to be soothing.
He was beyond relieved by the time they went upstairs, and even more so when she found an unoccupied room. By the time he sat down in the chair he was back to his normal self, shrugging off her apology.
"Ah, it's nothing to serious. I was just expecting there to be fewer people here than there was. There's no need to worry about me." he replied to her nonchalantly, taking off his bag then smiling mischievously as he brought up his hand and whispered into another ring and pointing his finger at her so it could work it's magic. Which it did in just few moments afterwards, gently lifting her from the bed just so slightly.
She gave a breathless gasp as she levitated off the bed her eyes flicking between Atreus and the gap between her and the bed.
"Amazing!" She admired the magic, and once it stopped she waltzed over to Atreus. Her face suddenly solemn and a mix of guilt. "Atreus..." His name trailed off her tongue.
"I have something to tell you." The room suddenly became very silent.
"Well I hope that it isn't that you hate me or something." he said with a quick laugh, "I'm sorry, I should be taking this a bit more seriously. What is it? And don't worry, I can take it." he added with a warm, if small, smile.
All the while hoping he wasn't right to some degree with his joke.
It took her a moment to register everything, the tension for her answer hanging in the air. She fidgeted slightly in front of Atreus, her nervous nature foreign to her. Why was she nervous? She never was nervous in front of patrons. Then it clicked, she wasn't Bella here she was Shiya.
Her mind raced as she realized today couldn't go on anymore, she wasn't allowed to make friendships or relationships, she had to leave, forget tonight and return to work where she could please men in the best way she knew possible.
"Thank you for tonight, Atreus." She grabbed her dress and made for the door.
It took him just a couple moments just to realize what was going on, and before he realized what he was doing he was gently holding onto her arm.
"Wait for just a moment, please. If you feel uncomfortable telling me whatever this is, maybe I can make it easier by sharing something with you first." he told her, showing her the palms of his hands again. "Now these aren't the only ones, but they are best example so to speak. I was on my way back from a trip to Hyoite, I have a colleague there, and on my way back through Connlaoth I was stopped by some Mordecai. It just so happened to be that I exited out of a teleport right in the middle of a group of them, and we all know the stories of those individuals and I'm afraid I can confirm them. Although in retrospect, I have to say I got the best possible outcome out of a shortly lived torture session."
The gentle grip on her arm seized her and she looked helplessly into his eyes. She knew she shouldn't stay a moment longer, everything told her to open the door and just run, run back to The Randy Peach, run back to the rooms that were too big and fancy for their own good.
But she didn't.
She listened to him intently, her eyes tender, her ears concentrated on every word that slipped past his lips. Maybe it was the look that was awash his face or maybe it was that she could relate to some degree. She took his hands and squeezed them gently in reassurance, looking up at him in earnest.
"Atreus...I'm not a Bard." Her response was breathless, her eyes now averted to the floor, staring at the cracks between floorboards. She breathed in deeply, readying herself, telling someone wasn't knew, many men knew what she was but why was it so difficult all of a sudden. She could leave right now, forget about it, he would never find her anyways even if he decided to come to the brothel. There were many women there, many more prettier and alluring.
She was speechless now, her mouth dry, the words stuck in her throat.
He just stood there, waiting for her to say something. But after a few moments of the continued awkward silence he did the only thing he could think of doing, and embraced her into a hug. Gently patting Bella's shoulder as he did so.
"It's fine if you don't want to say it, we can just leave it be and come back to it later. Or maybe not at all, it doesn't matter." he said to her, trying to be as soothing as he could be. Which wasn't that well given he was not entirely sure what exactly he was trying to accomplish in the first place.
The embrace was a surprise, a pleasant one. The warmth emanating from him made it soothing and comfortable, her eyes heavy lidded as she accepted the hug.
"It's more complicated than that." She muffled into his shoulder, her voice meek.
She stepped back, a small smile across her face. New-found determination rose up from within her, her posture jagged and tense. "I work primarily at night..." Her voice had a hint of shakiness to it, her eyes trying to hard to focus on Atreus' face, but ducking to the floor every now and then.
It was then that it clicked. Bella was never excellent at explaining herself, more so she was a show and tell type person, but in these circumstances that was impossible. Her mind buzzed with thoughts that could make her more at ease, the fact was she wanted to tell him, she did, but the question that came next totally contradicted her current thoughts.
"Have you ever been to a brothel?"
He just stood there, completely dumbfounded. Wondering why exactly did she just ask him if he had ever been to a brothel. "Uhh n-no, I've never been to a brothel before." he said, still pretty confused about why she asked him that.
But after a few minutes that confusion turned into curiosity. "Why are you asking if I've been in a brothel?" he asked, not putting the two together. "Seems like a fairly strange thing to ask someone."
His reply spoke volumes to her, and it was all she needed to end the night here. He was too nice to be dragged down by her. She gave one last parting smile, the small hint of sadness behind it as she forced herself to now move.
"Goodbye Atreus." She left the room abruptly, walking briskly down the stairs of the bar, her eyes fixated at the floor until she finally reached the bar giant door. She couldn't help herself, she turned to look back, only for a second before her hands grasped the handle and exited the bar into the bustling night.
He was hurt by the sudden departure, which was strange to him, until he realized he was starting to enjoy her presence. And it was at that moment he decided to say to hell with his nature, and went down the stairs after her, getting half way across the main room as Bella was opening the door. So Atreus decided to activate the ring that could cause people to float and used it on her as she was just a few steps out into the streets, going to her before the enchantment wore off.
"Okay now I don't know what you think is so bad that it makes you run away, but I can assure you that it will not be the most horrifying thing I have ever heard." he bluntly said to her, arms crossed across his chest. All the while wondering why this was such a big deal to him, but going through with it since there was no turning back now.
She was shocked at his approach, her heart hammered in her chest from the brisk pace she had set herself. He was serious now, not the happy go lucky Atreus she had met originally, no this was different, he was really serious about this.
"Just forget about me, please, you'll regret it otherwise." Her voice was firm now, someone could mistake it for anger, but she made sure to offer the smallest traces of a smile afterwards.
She held onto her dress tightly, her chest heaving gently as her breath returned to normal, her eyes now looking into Atreus'. It was then she realized that perhaps the only way for him to forget, was for him to know, to be drawn away from her. She breathed in and held it, her mind dizzying as her thoughts clouded her. It was what she said next that could impact incredibly on the whole situation.
"I'm a whore."
He stood there for a few moments just staring at her, trying to discern if she was telling the truth or just coming up with some sort of excuse. But then it all clicked, the question about the brothel finally made sense to him and he knew she was telling the truth.
It was then that something he knew she wasn't expecting would happen, did happen. He started to laugh. "That's it? Really? Here I was expecting something at least a little bit more exotic." he said jokingly as he looped his arm around hers and started to walk down the street with her. "Although in all honesty, that isn't the worst thing I've heard. I once met a former colleague who ended up being a crazed cultist looking to use me for a sacrifice. That was rather unpleasant."
Everything blurred then, his response was so unexpected she felt herself go slightly nauseous after all the worrying. The relief that swept over was climatic and even though she didn't here what Atreus said afterwards, the reaction to her confession kept repeating in her head.
"You know, I must return to work soon." She looked down at the floor, enjoying this evening knowing full well she was Shiya tonight, innocent and fun, nothing like the Bella she would be the moment she set back into the whorehouse.
"I probably won't see you again for a while." She rarely stepped outside of the brothel, it catered for all her needs and although she worked strictly at night, there were those that requested to see her in the day; if the price was right. The only way he'd be able to see her sooner was if he was a paying customer, but she soon dismissed the thought from her head.
They were now coming back towards The Randy Peach, a couple of men slipping in through the door, their pockets full with coin. Sighing she turned to Atreus, her face a wash of relief. "Thank you." The gratitude behind it was grand, if only he knew by how much.
"I don't mind I'm usually having to do something anyway, but if you do have free time maybe we could spend another evening walking around and talking." he said as they made it back to The Randy Peach, just offering a nod to her thanks.
"Until next time m'lady." he said with a grand bow and brought her hand up to his face and kissed it. Then he proceeded to walk down to the street to his own abode, but that ended abruptly as he quickly turned around and head back the way they came.
"I forgot my bag at the tavern!" he said to her as he ran back, hoping it was still there. And laughing at himself for letting all this happen.
The kiss was of course, nothing she hadn't experienced before, but perhaps it was the gentleness behind it that caused her cheeks to heat ever so slightly. She smiled back at him before he headed off, a small aching feeling spreading throughout her body.
She was about to head in when she heard him shout, quickly peering back out she shouted back.
"Should I come with you!?" She spoke through small bursts of laughter.
He stopped just for a moment to consider it, then turned back to smile at her.
"Why not? It's always nice to have company." he said to her, walking back to meet her. Then continued on back towards The Giggling Thief, but only in a brisk walk.
"You aren't what I would expect for a courtesan you know." he remarked to her as they entered the tavern with a teasing smile. "And I say that because first I'd expect one to not be as ashamed of their profession. Then secondly, well you just don't seem like someone who would work like that. Not that I'm judging you any of course."
She beamed, and quickly ran to catch him up, careful not to trip on her dress. She stood close to him, feeling at ease as they continued to walk.
His questions were obvious, she wasn't at all like most of the Courtesans. A lot of them simply did their job because they loved pleasure, or because they had no other choice. Bella's was more of the latter, she needed money and now she couldn't escape the business. She wouldn't be lying if a part of her did enjoy the sex involved, but the majority was more for need than want.
"That, you see, I've not really been a Courtesan for very long, perhaps a year or so. I don't draw in a lot of patrons compared to the other girls, but because I have fairer rates the men who can't afford the other girls go for the next best thing: me." She realized she was rambling, and turned her head away quickly pointing to the tavern.
"Hey look, we're here. Lets find your bag." She rushed ahead slightly.
"Is that so? Well if I may be so bold, I would be quite the regular. If things weren't quite the way they are of course, uhh not meaning that things can't-actually nevermind it isn't important." he said with as real of a laugh as he could manage to her as they headed back up the stairs. He hoped he did well enough to make it seem like it was just a joke that went wrong, since he didn't want to make things to awkward between them.
It was at that time though that they made it back to the room, and it seemed like the world just wanted to dampen his spirits. The bag was nowhere to be found in the room. "Oh just wonderful..." he mumbled to himself, sitting down in the chair with his face in his hands.
She couldn't help the little laugh that followed and the small heat rising to her cheeks again ever so slightly.
"You couldn't handle it." She teased him, trying to make him feel at ease that she wasn't perturbed by comments like that, no matter how awkward he thought they were. She cocked her eyebrow and gave a small wink, slapping him playfully on the arm and laughing a little bit more.
Once they reached the room and the bag was no where in sight, she quickly scanned everywhere. Looking under the bed, under the covers, everywhere it could have fit or gone. She went over to Atreus and knelt down to his level.
"Hey, we'll get it. Did it have anything of value in there?"
"It's only valuable if you understand the book I had. And if you did well, yes it is quite valuable indeed." he said trying to calm down. "Luckily enough for us, I highly doubt that the person who took the bag has any knowledge about the language of an extinct race of elves. So at least we have that going for us."
As he looked up, a grin widened across his face as something just clicked in his mind. "I thought you had to get back to work, why did you decide to come along with me?" he asked with a sly grin, thinking he just stumbled across something. "Decide that spending more time with me would be more interesting?"
She nodded, patting his shoulder. "It's fine we'll find it somehow." She tried to reassure him, racking her brain of where it could have gone or who could have taken it.
At his question she let out and inaudible 'Huh?' her eyes wide with realization. Why had she come with him? "I can leave if you want?" She teased, and smirked as she gave the room another once over, double checking for the book.
"I'm sorry that I have too much of your attention." She winked and quickly gestured to leaving the room.
"It might be worth asking some people in the tavern f they saw anyone."
"We might as well, it's not like it will hurt us to ask." he said as he followed her out of the room.
"Oh and you do have to much of my attention, but I think it's more of a bad thing for you and not me." he said with a chuckle. Asking patrons who weren't in larger groups, leaving that to Bella. But unfortunately he had no luck finding anyone who knew where his bag was, so he went to look for her to see if she had any luck.
Now she blushed, the redness hitting her cheeks quickly and her face turning away as she hurried off to ask small groups if they had seen a bag of sorts.
She returned to Atreus, smiling as she may have found something. "One person did say they saw a man, with a brown cloak on stroll out of the door in a hurry soon after we had left." It was the only thing they had to go on, but they had no idea where this man could be or what he looked like apart from a brown cloak.
Sighing she looked slightly defeated. "I'm sorry about your bag." She felt some part of it was her fault for bringing them here, scanning the tavern she decided they should both leave and try to sought the streets.
He just waved off her apology, as he made his way to the door. "No need to apologize, it's not like you knew it was going to happen." he said to her. "Which way should we go though? Actually, I have an idea..." He looked up and down both sides of the street then, shrugged and just started heading to his right.
"Hope I made the right choice!" he called out to her as he continued on his way.
She followed into step behind him, staying close so she didn't lose him through the crowds. Although she was due for some appointments in the next couple of hours, she shrugged off the fact she needs to get ready. Grimacing at the thought that her first patron would be a new pompous and oversized Lord; she quickly dismissed such thoughts and continued with the task at hand.
"Maybe we should-, hey look, over there!" She pointed to a man with a similar appearance to what she had heard; all the while he was pick pocketing a vulnerable elderly lady.
Smiled as he spotted the man who was the suspected thief. "What's our plan? Do we just go over and demand it, or just take it by force?" he asked Bella, mouthing something to himself rubbing his index finger and thumb together. After a few seconds small sparks started to shoot out from his hand, only noticeable to the most aware of people.
"I think we should just take it back, but it's up to you." he said with a smile growing.
Her eyes darted from the suspected thief to Atreus. Her heart hammered in her chest as she realized the situation. Sure, she had never been a violent brawl, but she had dealt with bad customers and in her experience these things ended in someone getting hurt.
"We should be careful about this." Her face was a mixture of determination and apprehension but she tried to take it all in her stride.
"Okay how should we do this then? I highly doubt that our "friend" will just willingly hand over the bag." he said to her, still prepared to just shoot a lightning bolt at the thief. Not that he wanted to seriously hurt the person, just do enough to stun them so he could get his bag.
"Well actually I may have a plan." he said, with a sly grin as he turned to look at her.
"Hmmm you're right." She brought a finger up to her lips, in deep thought she considered their possibilities. They could of course trying to jump in, but with Bella's limited combat abilities and the attention of crowds if Atreus were to use magic may just be too much. It was then she caught the look on his face and how his eyes fell on her.
She shook her hands out in front of her. "H-Hey, whoa...are you actually considering what I think you might be?" The look on her face was priceless, and probably for Atreus, hilarious.
He couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "You don't actually have to do anything. Just get him into a room by yourself, rob him, then get out. I can even help you so you won't be in any danger." he told her. He then took a few moments, and some help with her, to get a ring and his necklace off and gave them to her.
"The ring will make you levitate, and the necklace can make you invisible and silent if you want it to. After all, can't have anything happen to you all because of me." he said to her with a smile and a quick wink. "Ready?"
"Oh." She was relieved, somewhat. It wasn't like she hadn't done something like this before, she had seduced all sorts of men from Lords to pickpockets, this would be no different, she'd just have to approach it like she would if she was on the prowl for patrons. Of course she had a few nifty items to aid her.
"Ready." She took in a deep breath and then exhaled going up to the man just before he had finished pickpocketing the woman. She gave one of those looks, the sexy look, her eyelashes hugging her cheeks as she looked him up and down, smiling slightly before drawing him away, back to The Randy Peach to which she knew best.
As he stepped in she drew him into one of the unoccupied rooms, hoping that somewhere close behind was Atreus. Her heart pounded against her chest, wanting to escape, but she held her nerves as the man gave her an almost lecherous look, his guard down and attention on her it was only a matter of time before she could grab the book that was poking slightly out of his pocket and be done with this mess.
Atreus was indeed nearby as she went about to get his book back. He was waiting patiently in the main room of The Randy Peach, sipping on some wine and politely refusing the company of various different women.
"I hope she hurries up." he mumbled to himself, after a few more glasses. Getting rather intoxicated, and restless.
Okay so maybe her plan was faltering ever so slightly, her hands disobeyed her and shook ever so slightly as she tried her best to stay in the act, appearing like the whore she is. It was as he approached, the smell of alcohol clung onto his breath as his hand found it's way to her waist. It was then she took the opportune moment, wrenching the book free from his pocket and running for the door.
She could hear him behind her, and as she willed the necklace to aid her in her escape the man attempted to grab her from behind. She struggled to free herself, his grip strong, and it wasn't until her leg met his groin that he briskly let her go, collapsing to the floor.
She ran out of the door in a flurry of adrenaline and fear, the invisibility having finally worked without her knowing. She grabbed Atreus' hand and dragged him from the main room, up some stairs and into another room, which then lead to another, and another until finally they were in a room painted red and black, the décor was very abstract with gold foil paintings across the walls and a black bed squarely placed in the middle of the room. Of course, this was Bella's room.
"I-I think...w-we're safe h-here." She said through heaving breaths as the invisibility slowly wore off. She still clung to Atreus' hand, her grip firm and her hand clammy from the whole situation.
He wasn't even registering what was going on, all he knew was that he was being pulled by something and dragged through multiple rooms. He didn't even register who's voice it was until Bella's invisibility started to wear off.
"Oh! Why that's great! Where are we?" he said, slurring a few of the words. Then he looked at his empty hand. "Hey, where's my wine?"
As he finished the question he started to check his pockets for some reason, but then noticed she was holding onto her hand quite tightly. He then looked at her with a very confused expression on his face.
He was drunk. Of course, the best idea while she was grabbing his precious book was for him to drink excessively. She let go of his hand and pulled the book out from where the garter was holding it.
"Here." She passed it over to him, her breathing finally starting to return to normal. Even though her eyebrow twitched in mild annoyance she knew she couldn't let him stumble home in this state.
"Maybe...you should stay here tonight?" Of course she made it a question but she knew really he had no choice. Now she just needed to find somewhere else for her to sleep. Sighing she couldn't believe how this evening had panned out...and dawn wasn't even close.
"No no, I couldn't possibly ask you to let me stay." he said as he started to get up, but ended up just stumbling into her and knew she was right. But he couldn't possibly sleep in the bed, where would she sleep after all? So he just sat back down in the chair, and smiled at her.
"I guess I'll stay, but I'll just sleep in this chair. I couldn't possibly do anything else." he said to her as he tried to look in his pockets again for his glass of wine.
She couldn't help but chuckle lightly, he was certainly making light of the situation. It was funny, usually her room was only used for two purposes, work and sleep, but in this case it was neither of those, it was like having a sleepover, with a grown man, who was drunk, in her room. She walked over to him and teased him slightly.
"You do realize, you'll have to turn away so I can undress." She gave her own sly grin now, a little bit of revenge was sweet after all. After the ordeal she went through, the least he could take was some of her revenge.
She walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a small bottle of red wine, popping the cork out of it and pouring two glasses. She stepped back over and handed him one. "I guess we better end the night with a bang!" She downed the glass with graceful expertise, and before Atreus could blink it was gone. Wiping the mouth with the back of her hand, she hiccuped quietly, realizing the wine was a lot stronger than she had remembered.
That's when he started to blush, he completely forgot about the whole fact that they would have to change eventually. Trying to act as if this was all nothing to him, but honestly he had hardly ever talked to a woman before outside of colleagues. Let alone spend the night with someone he just met.
"You know, you are the first woman I've slept with." he said, not realizing the implications of what he said. Until a few seconds later, and he started to blush even more. "I didn't mean it like well you know, I was meaning it as literaly sleeping with someone. Not saying I wouldn't like to, oh dammit! I'm just going to stop talking." he stammered out, so fast it took just a few seconds.
She saw the redness slowly rise onto his cheeks and wasn't sure if it was because he was embarrassed or it was just the alcohol. Standing in front of him, she folded her arms over, empty glass still in hand.
It was as he spoke, she realized he was nervous at the prospect of sleeping in the same room. Although it was evident his experience with women was...well nil, she couldn't help but torment him ever so slightly, maybe it was the alcohol coaxing her to do it.
She drew closer to him, her eyes heavy and the slight smell of her perfume coming through, a sweet floral scent. "You do realise..." She took a moment to smirk ever so slightly. "I do expect payment for my services." She swung back, humming to herself lightly as she placed the empty glass on the nearby cabinet, trying her very best not to burst out laughing.
His mouth almost hit the floor with her last statement. Partially because he was still slightly entranced by her perfume, but he broke out of the stupor soon enough. Even more embarrassed than before.
"I w-wasn't meaning it like that! I was just...I mean...oh I don't even know!" he said as he put his face in his hands. Almost wishing he could just die so this whole scene would just end.
His mouth was agape and even though the alcohol had made his mind foggy, he wasn't naive to the situation. Maybe she should drop it here and now, and leave it as is? Or maybe she could have some more fun and perhaps tip him over the edge. She pondered the possibilities, of course in the end she could say she was just kidding, but what if he thought she was being serious?
"Oh? Not mildly interested?" She turned her head behind her, shooting him a quick wink before unbuttoning her corset slightly, revealing a small amount of cleavage.
"Shouldn't you be turning around, or did you really want to watch?" Again she had that sly grin on her face, evidently tormenting him, making his thoughts writhe through his head on what she would do next, all before her hand came up ready to pop open another hook.
He was still trying to gather his senses as she started to unbutton her corset. Which of course set all his progress back to where he began. It was then of course that he should indeed not be staring at her while she was undressing, but he did turn to face away from her if slowly.
"I can't say I don't have any interest, but uhh I'm not entirely comfortable with that idea. After all, I've enjoyed our evening so far and I feel like it would dull that enjoyment." he said to her, sobering up enough to actually realize what he was saying before he said it.
She chuckled lightly as she realised the joke must come to an end. She didn't want to feel like she was only here for one thing, and one thing only. She walked over to him, and smiled.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything indecent." She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, before walking back over to the bed to sit on it, sighing as she started to comb out her hair.
"I'll take the room next door, if it makes you feel more comfortable? It gets cold at night, I won't have you sleeping on a chair." She turned to him as she continued to brush the long strands, turning into soft silk as they untangled through the bristles.
"There is no way I am going to make you sleep in another room. So I am going to sleep in this chair, unless you want to share the bed." he said with a laugh, glad that she was done tormenting him.
He then walked over in front of Bella, bent down so his eyes were level with his. He flashed her a large heart-felt smile and leaned in and hugged her. It didn't last long, but when he was done he squeezed her hand and went back to the chair. Then tried to get himself comfortable, which did take him quite a few minutes.
She pouted at how stubborn he was, folding her arms in mock defeat, but the hug certainly took her by surprise. And it was then she hoped the blush didn't show on her cheeks as her face felt very hot. He was close enough to smell his scent, a mixture of muskiness, smoke and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. She didn't know why she was reacting like this or what draw her to him, but perhaps she'd find out soon enough.
As he went back into the chair and his face turned away, she resumed on getting undressed. The corset was the hard part, she popped open the hooks and loosened the ties at the back so she could slip out of the dress with ease, leaving her with nothing more than her garter with the dagger still in it and some underwear.
She slipped into the covers of her bed, familiar softness a pleasure for her aching body. She held the covers to her and snuggled deeper into the pillow.
"You'll get cold y'know." Her voice was muffled slightly by the intrusion of the pillow, but even so she was right, the nights here grew cold, almost unbearable.
He decided to have some fun of his own with her remark about it being cold at night.
"You know, if you want me to sleep in the bed with you. Just ask, it'll make things so much easier." he said to her, trying to keep a smile off his face and not laugh. He failed miserably, and couldn't help but burst into laughter about this entire situation.
"Oh like you would actually even think of someone like me being in a bed with you. Even if it were just to sleep." he said with a small self-deprecating grin and a wink to her.
Oh, so now he was trying to do it to her huh? Bella would soon sort that out, she knew his nervous nature, he couldn't deal with the fact he was even sleeping in the same room with her, let alone in the same bed.
"Okay then, why don't you come on over if you're that eager." She made sure to exaggerate certain words in the sentence, making sure ever so slightly that the smallest hint of bare flesh was on show. If he can deal it, she might as well go along with it, for her revenge was much sweeter.
Even though she couldn't see his face and he couldn't see hers, she assumed his smile would soon be gone and he'd be curling up in the chair counting his blessings. After all, he was in the same room as a woman, who was pretty much naked, with only a bed sheet between her and total embarrassment.
Oh, it was going to be a long night.
The one thing that she didn't realize was, Atreus loved contests. And he knew this was a contest of wills, and he was willing to do whatever it took to win. So with nothing more than a grin he walked over to the bed and lied down. Taking great care to seem like he was confident in what he was doing, even though he was far from it.
"I was fine in the chair, but I could tell that you were lonely over here. Only reason why I came over." he said with the a grin that nearly took his entire face. Still acting as if it was nothing that he was laying on a bed that a nearly naked woman was sharing with him, hoping that he just won.
Okay, so she had to admit, he had guts, and she had underestimated him. But unlike Atreus, she wasn't nervous in situations like these in fact he'd have to pull something totally out of the blue to make this a true contest.
She smirked into her pillow and turned around to face him, careful to make sure the sheets kept her covered and she gave one of those smiles that could just melt a man's heart. She took a finger and slowly, languidly stroked his arm. With contact made she knew it'd make him nervous, his heart rate would probably increase and he'd give in, admit defeat, realise she was the supreme winner and they'd get some shut eye.
But of course she had to just take it a step further; just to make sure. "You know, being fully clothed isn't actually a good way to stay warm. Body heat is." She purred under her breath, as her eyes caught his for just that second before she smirked and looked away. Oh, she would break him alright.
He did indeed lose some of his bluster at her newest challenge, but he was past the point of no return. So he stood back up, undoing the strip of material he used as a belt and taking off his robes. He of course then quickly went back to the bed, so she could see as little as possible.
"Everyone knows that, I just forgot." he said as he rested one of his hands on her waist. Trying to get her to admit defeat. He just had to win, he was a wizard after all.
Okay so maybe it was the alcohol, it HAD to be the alcohol that made him put his hand on her bare waist. She could feel his hand resting gingerly in the dip of her waist, and she would be lying if all of a sudden she felt that the room was getting too hot. Honestly she didn't have much to say right now, her heartbeat had sped up and her hands became clammy once again from the situation.
She was ready to see how far he'd really go, surely he would give up once she got too close to him, he'd never been this close to a woman, right? Maybe he'd cave soon, or fall asleep from the evenings ordeal.
She edged closer to him, their bodies inches away from each other as she felt the heat between them. Her hands raked up his bare chest and landed to where she could feel his heart beat, the pace rapid.
"Nervous are we?" She looked up at him, through long lashes.
He knew she thought it was just the alcohol that was making him so bold, but he was just being as stubborn as a person could possibly be. He wasn't going to back down, but he wasn't quite sure how he was going to one-up her this go around. So he tried to just bide his time.
"No, not one bit." he blatantly lied with a smile, knowing she knew that he was but he wasn't going to give her that satisfaction. "You seem pretty nervous too. I would think you'd be use to this."
"You couldn't take it if-..." She cut herself off prematurely, snickering as she continued to drag her fingernails with gentle strokes up and down his chest. She knew he was waiting, waiting for her to turn over and leave him cold without her presence so close to him.
And she was nervous for many other reasons, mainly because it wasn't like a usual job, where she'd literally be there for pleasure and that's that. No, this was more like chemistry, stubbornness and anticipation all in one, something that for some reason made her insides swirl with excitement, she didn't know what would happen next or if anything would happen at all, that was the beauty of it, the suspense.
"You really don't get it." She looked up at him, her face a mix of innocence and allure all in one, and that pout still on her lips, every now and again turning into a smirk. Although he may not understand what she meant by that, she knew too well, her hair pooled over the pillow cascading down her back and some over her shoulder as she edged even closer.
"Well you could try to explain it to me. You have my fullest attention after all." he said smiling still, and drapes his arm over waist. Letting his arm rest against her back, still trying to get her to admit defeat in their battle of wills.
Although he had to admit that he was becoming more and more comfortable. Which was foreign to him, he couldn't normally even keep a conversation going with a woman. Let alone lay in a bed with one while they were both practically naked. It was exciting.
As he drew closer still their bodies brushed ever so briefly for a second. She almost jumped at the contact, the very fact her hands on his chest were the only thing keeping her from pressing against him made the anticipation electrifying. She was wide eyed now, the moonlight pooled through the window cascading over her face, causing her eyes to glisten. As she moved the covers moved too, revealing more moonlight illuminated flesh, her bare back welcomed the company of his hand.
"It's just...this situation, you do realise..." Again she tapered off, her voice faltering for the first time in a long time. She was practically whispering now, the pace of her heartbeat was frantic at times and slowed at others. It was when the tension in Atreus' body ebbed away she began to feel almost at home in such a predicament. She let her leg brush up against his, as her eyes shied away from his.
"I'm not very good at explaining..." Of course it was a petty excuse, in her head everything was crystal clear, but her mouth didn't seem to want it to be so.
"It's fine. I can understand extinct languages after all, any explanation will suffice." he replied, gaining even more confidence. Enough to brush some of her hair back, getting a better view of her in the moonlight. Enjoying this more than just a simple contest of wills.
"If you want, you can try to explain what you want to say through actions or hand gestures. It might make it easier." he added as he ran his hand up and down her back.
She couldn't help but smile at his reassurance. Everything he did, he did with gentleness, it was...comfortable and in his own way it just made him more interesting. As he brushed her hair back it made her look up at him again. "It's just...this, the situation, it feels nice."
She bit back a blush as her cheeks threatened to warm, she had forgotten about the fact this all started because both were equally stubborn, but now it was evidently something more. Her body threatened to move closer, the stroking on her back soothing her as she couldn't help but try to gauge his thoughts from his face.
If he were to look at Bella ever so carefully he'd notice how her nose was rounded at the tip, and that are eyelashes were unusually but beautifully long, and that her lips were full and ever so slightly parted. So many small things made that moment so much more intense and exhilarating, it was just set on who would make the next move.
"It is nice isn't it? But I think we'll both agree that the real question is who will make the first move?" he couldn't help but ask with a grin. Studying her face seeing if he could figure out her intentions, and noticed how stunning she looked in the moonlight.
He lied there for just a moment before resting his forehead against her's, then inched his lips towards her. "I'll let you do it." he whispered to her then moved away laughing, enjoying himself just a bit to much.
He was getting bold, more bold than she had first intended. The contact of his forehead on hers and the closeness of him made her feel like inching back; but she didn't. As he spoke she felt his breath on her skin giving her goosebumps down her arms and as he inched in closer their lips tenderly close he moved back laughing.
She let go of the breath she hadn't even known she was holding and gave one of her annoyed pouts. The expectation, the excitement, everything ran through her and to exact her revenge there was only one thing she could do to make him stop laughing. Leaning in, she placed her lips gently upon his, the softness and caress making her body come into contact with his. The kiss was tender, and her lips shook gingerly from the whole situation, not from being nervous but from the predicament itself.
She pulled back then, barely an inch to carefully look at him, her body still pressed up against his. She wasn't sure what to say, or whether she should say anything at all.
He was just as speechless as she was. He didn't really expect her to actually go as far as to kiss him. He just lied there, staring back at her, mouth open in astonishment at first but quickly growing into a smile. Then he leaned forward and returned the kiss, as gently as she kissed him. But he couldn't help but laugh as he moved away just an inch or so.
"So how much is that going to cost me?" he asked teasingly, as he wrapped his arm around her waist again. Just wanting to have a conversation going again, so he could keep his mind off the thoughts that were starting to pop up.
Everything was eerily quiet. She was thinking that perhaps she shouldn't of kissed him, his hesitance overwhelming him. Although he kissed her back there was the smallest hint of hesitance and it brought her to the conclusion that perhaps they should just stop here. Although she would be lying if she wasn't intensely curious to explore the boundaries and limits of Atreus, but she didn't want to be prudent unless he of course, made the move.
"Consider it...a gift." Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her an envisage of her natural beauty as she stayed teasingly close to Atreus.
"Well that doesn't seem quite fair to me, after all I just gave you a ring." he said to her with a smile as he sensed something was off. And as they lied there, he kept staring at her. Trying to discern if he could figure out what wasn't quite right. He couldn't though, so he went with the next best thing.
"I'm sorry if I feel like I'm being obtrusive, but is something wrong? You seem a little more timid than you just were." he said, trying to sound as gentle as he could. Giving her hand a small squeeze and flashing her a small warm heart.
She laughed slightly, teasing him some more. "Oh I'm sorry, did you want something more than a kiss?" She winked at him and the closeness between the two was skin on skin. She battered her eyelashes and gave him the look that screamed for attention. She had perfected such a look over the years, using it to easily get what she wants.
"Are you not nervous at our...closeness?" She let their noses bump together deliberately to show as an example, her body curved into his perfectly leaving little to his imagination.
"Hey don't turn this around on me, but to answer your question. I didn't at first, but I'm fine with just talking to you still." he said to her, ignoring her last question. Instead he used her movement to kiss her again, answering it with actions instead of words. Smiling at her as he inched away again, throwing his own wink at her.
"And out of the two of us, I'm starting to think that you want something more than a kiss." he added, running his hand along the side of her body idely. His smile growing with every second.
She chuckled lightly until he kissed her again. This time, she relished it, melting into the kiss as her eyes closed and warmth of his closeness was comforting and exciting. All too soon Atreus broke away.
"Well then, we both better move away from each other then, before we can't help ourselves." She teased, making a move to edge away from him, her skin peeling from his and all of this is in order to tease him, the sly grin back on her face. Bella had to admit she was tempted say 'What if I do? instead to see how he'd react but instead she had chosen another response. She lay there looking at him intently, of course, she was hoping he'd pull her back to him, already missing the warmth he provided.
He frowned slightly, disappointed that she moved away from him. But instead of just pulling her against him again, he just edged his way back against her. He couldn't deny it any longer, the contest of wills was far gone out of their minds. He just wanted to enjoy the moment he was having with Bella.
"Hey, speak for yourself on that. I can control myself just fine thank you very much." he said to her with a grin, teasing her right back for her attempt at moving away.
The absence of his warmth was short-lived as he moved to her again, she couldn't help the small laugh escape her. "You just can't keep away can you?" She gave him a seductive glance as she leaned in closer and deliberately pressed herself up against him, her hands finding his long black hair and stroking it through her fingers.
"You know, control doesn't last very long some times. Especially in these kind of situations." She threw him another one of her quick winks, her chest against his so their heartbeats thumped in unison. She just couldn't help herself, the sexual tension between the two was too hard to not tease and torment about.
"I'm confident in my willpower. What about you?" he asked, not missing a beat. And he was being honest at least, he knew he could keep this going for quite a while before he started to crack. Although how long that actually meant was a big mystery to him, and knew that it might not be as long as he would like to think it is.
Maybe he was just a little wrong about thinking the battles of wills was over. It was going to be a long, and interesting night.
"Control might as well be my middle name." Her hands moved back to his chest, feeling the textures of his body, the small bumps and dips that made exploring it that much more exciting. She leaned over to his ear and couldn't help but whisper, an attempt to push him over the edge. "You see, small things like this, will really test you." She made sure that her body was flush against his.
She just couldn't help herself, this was too much fun, too exhilarating. Pulling back and giving a small kiss on the tip of his nose she smiled that sly grin once more. She wouldn't lie to herself, perhaps she wanted to see what would happen when his willpower depleted, or perhaps what he said was true, maybe he could resist her for the whole evening.
He was just as willing as he to see who would be pushed over first. So as she ran her hands moved across her chest, his own hands were running along the side of her body and down to her thighs. Trying to also not have his plan backfire and help her wittle his own willpower away.
"Is that so? Not much of a test then really." he said, his own sly grin appearing on his face and locking his eyes with her's.
Her face was flushed now, a mixture of the heat and the moment. The closeness of everything, the intimacy of it all, everything was slow and languid, both of them taking time to explore, taking their time to test each others limits.
Her fingernails raked gently down his chest, as she squirmed against him, only fractions of material separating both of them. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening and her lips ready to welcome his. Her heartbeat was in her ears, she swore it threatened to let him hear it, her chest against his it was more likely he could feel it.
"Atreus..." She said his name breathlessly, with that sexy, heavy lidded look, biting down on her bottom lip only to let it go moments after. He had to give in sooner or later, all the while she was very aware of his hand on her thigh.
"Yes?" he asked as he leaned forward, resting his forehead on her's again. Forgetting all about the silly little contest that brought them here, and just enjoyed the moment. Knowing all to well that he was on the limits of his willpower, and of course her looking at him seductively wasn't helping him any.
He suddenly kissed her, letting all the tension that was built up out with it. Enjoying ever second of it. Then as he reluctantly moved away he couldn't help but grin again. "So what was it you wanted to say?"
There was something about the way he spoke now that made her insides dance, her body welcomed his touch and her gaze allured him into the kiss. She closed her eyes, this kiss more eager than others, if only by a slight amount. Her mouth moved against his and she felt herself innately melding against him. When they broke apart, she was left the slightest bit breathless, her eyes opened slowly looking onto a grinning Atreus.
"I shouldn't be enticing you." She shared a small grin of her own, her lips threatening to kiss his again, but teasing him as she hovered an inch or so away, her eyes glancing from his lips to his eyes and back again. Her legs fidgeted as she brought them up and then back down, trying to stem away the excitement this whole situation gave her.
Who said you're enticing me? Maybe I'm the one enticing you." he said, his grin widening. Trying to continue to ignore her attempts to break his will as he continued his own. It was then that a realization hit him.
"Are we doing this just to test each other, or is something actually going on between us?" he asked her, trying to see if he can figure out her thoughts before she actually said anything.
She pursed her lips. "Oh, am I not enticing enough?" She smirked, her hands circling around his back to continue her ministrations there, her fingers dancing up and down.
She blushed then, and that really should have given him all the evidence he needed to conclude the answer to the whole scenario. As realisation hit her, she was now able to pin-point the feeling growing in her stomach, butterflies. Which lead her to believe that yes she did have feelings intermixed inside her for Atreus, but her mouth betrayed her as she opened it to speak but couldn't get the words out.
Instead, she showed him. Like he said, sometimes it was easier to show through actions and gestures, and so, this time she kissed him, passionately.
Before he could say anything, or really prepare himself for anything he found himself in a kiss. Which surprised him, mainly because of the intensity behind it, but his surprise quickly melted away and he kissed her back just as passionately. His grip on her tightening slightly.
"I think I will take that as a yes." he said as they finally pulled away from each other. A very large smile erupting across his face, and his eyes seeming to sparkle just a little bit more than before.
She shared a smile of her own, her eyes lighting up as she met his. She didn't care if it was by spontaneous chance these two had met, but the connection between felt like months of getting to know each other. She could feel his eagerness and her own too, and for the first time ever she kissed out of love.
"I wasn't sure...how to say it." She admitted, burying her face into the crook of his neck as she left small, gentle kisses there. Her breath was hot and her voice shook slightly from the sensations he was giving her as her heart felt like it was going to burst. She was never nervous in acts of affection, but perhaps, she never had properly displayed them. All of her patrons had been for money, not out of affection. This is why this moment felt so much more intense, and yet all there was going between was bare skin on skin and eager kisses.
Her hands roamed him, tracing the dip where his spine lay on his back, to cross over his waist and back onto his chest, his skin was surprisingly soft. She stayed close to him, the damp, cold air of the evening reaching its peak, and they knew nothing of it.
He didn't really know what to say at that moment, or even what to do. He was completely lost in himself trying to figure out why he was feeling this way to someone he just met, trying to come up with a reason other than the obvious. But he couldn't deny it, he started to fall for her. It didn't even seem strange to him, or lessened at all given her profession. So all he could do is smile at her and kiss her on the nose gently.
"I think I've fallen for you Bella." he said locking his gaze with her's again, and letting his smile grow even more at that moment.
His response reciprocated everything she felt and more, her insides twisted and flopped and it was in that moment she just wanted to be with him, for the night not to end. It was still young however and she let her eyes flicker over his face, and exposed chest.
"You're being very modest for someone who groped me when we first met." She swallowed down a laugh, although the smirk on her face told her she was amused. She then sat up, the covers draping precariously over her chest as she held them in place with one hand looking down at Atreus.
"You know...we both can't keep teasing all night." She said it so quietly she wouldn't blame Atreus if he hadn't of heard her. Her eyes looked down now, while the blush seeped back into her cheeks, make her have this natural radiance as the moonlight cascade over her face.
"Maybe that was a sign of what was to come?" he more asked than said while he failed to hold back his own laugh. Taking that moment to remember how the had met, and laughing even more at how crazy it was. Wizard and whore fall in love after the wizard walks into her. What I wonderful story that would be.
It was then his turn to blush, for he did indeed hear her although barely. "Uh can you say that one more time a bit louder? I just want to make sure the "we both can't be teasing all night" was what I actually did hear." he said becoming just a little nervous again at the implications.
She froze and could feel his eyes on her, maybe she should just crawl to her side of the bed and curl up in embarrassment. She laid back down and turned away from him, her bare back revealed to him as she hugged the pillow.
"I-It was nothing." She muffled into the pillow, and even though he may think she was trying to sleep, she was wide awake, her eyes open staring at the far wall.
He knew instantly that she was lying. Which hurt him more than a little, but all he did was move closer to her. Wrapping his arm around her waist again, being as gentle as he could be.
"What is it? You can tell me." he said, barely above a whisper. Trying to see if he could get her to open to him a little, and he was honestly curious about what she said. He just had to know.
As he drew closer to her, the warmth returned and she couldn't help but welcome it. His chest against her back felt reassuring and comfortable and she found herself relaxing into him.
"I just, you and me...in this situation..." The sentence tapered out as she inhaled and exhaled, her breathing slightly erratic as she racked her brain for what to say. She was never good with words, this Atreus must have gathered by now, and as she curled her legs up, she felt the covers shift. Slowly more skin was becoming more exposed, whether she intended it to tempt him, or it was purely an accident Atreus could work it out for himself.
"We're both practically...naked, in a bed...alone." Her response was quiet and muffled slightly by the pillow, she was finding it difficult phrasing things and just hoped Atreus got the hint.
"Oh. Oh! N-now I get what you...that could lead to...but only if you...oh my." was all he could stammer out before he shoved his own face into a pillow. Feeling embarrassed mainly for not realizing that sooner, and partially because the idea appealed to him. Not that he would go through with it, well maybe he would. But that'd all depend on circumstance.
It was also then that he started to piece things together and started to wonder what exactly was on purpose and what was an accident. He quickly decided that it didn't matter though, and just pulled her closer to him and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
"S-See! That's why I didn't want to say anything." She pouted slightly, her expression rather humorous but...cute. She buried herself more into the covers, hiding the bare skin that was there before, now only her neck and face exposed. The room was silent for a while, perhaps unbearably so, but to break that silence he pulled her flush against him and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.
Her hand touched where he had just kissed her and she couldn't help but gaze back ever so slightly and blush at how the moonlight accentuated him, making him seem much more handsome than she first assumed.
"M-Maybe...we should j-just sleep?" She managed to stammer out her sentence, of course she was only implying that they sleep, hence why it was a question. She felt out of her depth and even though she was nervous and red in the face, she still couldn't deny that this whole ordeal was rather exciting.
"Whatever you want, I'm fine with." he said as he grabbed her hand and intertwined his fingers with her's. It probably wasn't anything big to her, but it was just something he had always wanted to do. So even though she couldn't see, he had a smile so large it was threatening to take up his entire face.
"This is the best evening I've had in a very very long time." he thought to himself, or at least he thought so. For he actually said it out loud, not evening realizing he did so.
Inwardly she wanted him to make a move, although the battle of wills had long since ended, there was her stubborn side who didn't want to let this moment go so soon. As he grabbed her hand she held onto it, giving it a squeeze to show him she felt the intimacy in it.
After he spoke, she couldn't help but have a smile that consumed her on her face. She was never used to this, she was always seen as an object, nothing more, but here she felt like a person, like Shiya. Shiya. She felt like she should tell him her true name, just because Bella was her whore self, not actually her. She brought their interlocked hands up to her chest, resting so he could feel her heartbeat.
"My name...it's Shiya. Bella is just an alias as my time as a whore." She hoped he'd understand, she didn't intend to lie to him, and he was the only one who knew of her true name.
"Shiya..hmm that's a pretty name. Quite fitting considering." he said with a small laugh. Then he turned her over so she was laying her back, and leaned over and kissed her again. Not going any farther, but not backing up any, just holding himself with one arm that was stretched to her opposite side.
"So are you sure you just want to go to sleep?" he asked her with a slightly devilish look in his eyes.
All the flattery had made her face as red as the painted walls, thank goodness she was turned away from him so he couldn't see her face right now. It was until she was lying on her back and that he kissed her that she stared wide eyed at him, covering her hands over her face gingerly.
"I-I'm, just don't l-look at my f-face." Her voice shook with embarrassment, as the covers threatened to fall below her chest, revealing the dignity she had kept covered until now. She could feel him above her and even through her embarrassment she managed to reach out to him briskly, her arms wrapping around her neck as she kissed him deeply; the answer to his question.
"Why can't I look at your face?" he started to ask, but was cut off abruptly by her pulling him into a kiss. Enjoying every second of it, but also slowly losing all the confidence he had gained thus far. He honestly had no idea what he was doing, this was all so new to him it was starting to overwhelm him. He wasn't going to let her down though so he went along with it, learning as he was doing. A trial by fire, and that seemed slightly appropriate given the situation.
Although the kiss was heated and left her breathless once more, she noticed that the intensity wasn't the same. He was thinking too much, he was nervous, the whole situation screamed volumes, heck, even Shiya was nervous. She pulled back, looking at him, a mixture of worry and questioning in her eyes. She knew what she wanted, but it wasn't just about her after all, she slowly released him, slinking back into the embrace of the covers instead of Atreus'.
She wasn't sure what to say in this moment, her lips were slightly swollen from the kissing, and the contact on both parts had stirred feelings in both of them, she was just hoping, hoping he'd say something. She took her hand and brushed some stray hair from his face, able to see it more clearly now.
He saw the look in her eyes. He knew she was wondering what was going on in his mind. So with a self-deprecating laugh and a small smile he decided he would just tell her.
"I um...well to be frank about it. I have no idea what I'm doing." he told her with a shrug and a sheepish grin. He leaned down and kissed her again, gently as if it was an apology about his inexperience.
She smiled back at him, her hands caressing his face. "Not a lot of people do." She tried to reassure him, pulling him into an embrace, her hands threading around him, squeezing him tight to her as she buried her head into his familiar scent.
"It's only me after all." Her voice was muffled against him, like someone trying to talk through a yawn. She felt herself ease against him, the embrace comforting. It was then a plan struck in her head, perhaps something that might overwhelm him, but even so she pondered it and it was as if her mouth knew what she was thinking as it blurted out her exact thoughts.
"What if you were to see me?" Of course it was phrased as innocently as possible, by that she meant if Atreus were to see her naked would it ebb away some of that nervousness? She suddenly thought against it, her cheeks somehow heating even more. "Actually, forget it, I never meant to say it, not that...I mean-" She cut herself off before she said too much.
"I know it's only you, but well..that doesn't really change things. Uh not because it is you! I just..don't know what I'm trying to say." he said and was laying back down beside her when she offered to let him see her. He couldn't lie, he wouldn't mind seeing her. He wouldn't say that out loud, mainly because he was to shy to actually do so. But he couldn't help but tease her from her own nervousness.
"What if I were to say yes?" he asked her with a sly grin. Curious as to what her reaction would be.
"T-Then I'd s-show you." Oh boy, her butterflies were a jumbled mess when it came to anticipation, even if he was teasing her. She toyed with her fingers, picking at her fingernails and bit on her bottom lip, all subconsciously. Anyone could tell she was pondering, and in short, she looked quite ravishing doing so. The way she laid, and how her hair pooled around her head, over the pillows, it all added to the effects.
Of course the room was only lit by the moonlight so even if she were to, she would be silhouetted against it, only the briefest details being shown. With the covers draped precariously on her, she gripped them waiting to see how he would respond indefinitely.
"Well go ahead, I don't think you will." he said, knowing all to well that this was either going to go one of two ways. Either she will falter and back down from the challenge, or he was about to see something he has never seen before. He couldn't say that either idea sounded unpleasant, but the latter did sound a little more appealing if a lot more nerve-racking.
But before she could actually do anything, he turned his body to face her and pulled her close to him again. Embracing her in a bear hug.
She pouted at his response, mockingly putting out her tongue like a little child, before she couldn't help but give a nervous laugh. She had dropped herself in it this time, although she did have a choice, she could tease him and leave it all to his imagination, but she'd much prefer to tease him slowly, languidly almost cruelly.
She was enveloped in a consuming embrace, something she had grown very fond of this evening with Atreus. The moonlight had ducked out of the cover of the clouds, making the room that slightly more brighter, her eyes dancing in its light.
"Fine." She reluctantly released herself from his embrace, coming to kneel on the bed all the while making sure the covers kept everything invisible to him. Her eyes were heavy, and her breathing hoarse as she let her hair drape over her back, everything behind her completely bare, only the front of her was covered.
"What if...I do it slowly." She slipped the cover off one shoulder, and then gently the other, clinging it between her breasts with one of her hands, the silk sheet sticking to her form. She then looked up at him, she didn't care if he could see the blush on her face and the fact the covers left little to the imagination, she spoke carefully, making sure every word sunk in. "Maybe, I should just sit here, like this, till you fall asleep." That sly grin was back.
"I didn't actually expect you do it it." he said quietly, staring at her with his mouth open in anticipation. He didn't even know what he was suppose to do right then. Was he to just sit there and watch? Was he suppose to just lean over and do it himself? He was nervous and excited to the point of thoughtlessness.
Then she came up with the teasing offer of just sitting there until he fell asleep. That's when his own idea came into fruition. "Why sit there by yourself, when you can lay down beside me?" he asked patting the spot right beside him, grinning all the while.
"I don't have to then." She mocked him, watching his gaze rake over her body. She could tell he wasn't sure on what to, his actions told her so, but everyone had to start somewhere, even if it was bit by bit, and she had to admit, she did get some kicks out of teasing him.
His comment receive a small smirk from her, both of them at heads on seeing how far each of them could go, all the while the moment being full of that intensity Shiya enjoyed.
"What if I don't?" She let a little more of the sheet slide from her, not enough to expose her, but enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat in anticipation. Nerves weren't playing a massive part for her now, but more the actual moment itself, Atreus put her at ease and with how things were panning out, you say she was very curious.
"I'll be really sad." he said, with an over-exaggerated pout that turned into a grin rather quickly. Because as he was saying that he was moving to get into the best position to do something he knew she wouldn't expect. Springing at her with surprising agility which ended up with him tackling her. Landing on top of her, and pinning her arms down.
"Or I'll do that." he added to his previous statement, with a large almost devilish grin.
It definitely took her by surprise alright, she let out a small yelp as she flailed for the covers, somehow finding that they landed between them, still just managing to conceal her even if it was by the smallest inch. Her arms however were free of the material and gripped beneath his hands, Atreus on the other hand, was pretty much exposed, his bare chest and lean back all hers to gaze at.
After registering the situation, she chuckled lightly, then shared a grin of her own. "Now what?" She was enticing him on purpose, even though he claimed he didn't know what to do, he was doing a damn good job at surprising her. She let her leg come out of the silk sheet, the material now between her legs while one of them was exposed. She used it to brush against his hip ever so gently, the faintest of touches, that would send just about anyone over the edge.
"I didn't plan that far ahead. What would you like to happen?" he asked, not missing a beat. But not being able to stop admiring how alluring she looked right now, and then even more as one of her legs came out from under the covers. He did let go of her arms, and took his under and around her. Pulling her close to him again, into a kiss on the nose.
At his question she smirked seductively, her fingers tracing his face again, the contour of his jaw all the way along to his lips. "I asked you first." She winked, her leg still coming up to graze against his hip, ever so slightly hooking around it ever now and again. She liked the mental torment he was experiencing right now, it gave her a shrill of excitement.
"Maybe we should just stay as we are? But you..." She leaned forward, close enough so her lips barely brushed against his ear. "Wouldn't like that." She finished her sentence, her breath hot on his skin.
"Why wouldn't I like it?" he whispered back, hurt a little at that statement. So he decided to take his revenge on her, hooking is arm around her leg as she brought it up to graze his hip. Then moving down to kiss her passionately again, but just for a few seconds before pulling away and grinning at her again.
"I would of kept going, but you wouldn't like it." he said with a teasing laugh.
The kiss was short-lived to her dismay, but his hand hooked around her leg tormented her insides, making her grow impatient and demanding. He used her words back on her, and she pouted then, mocking him, as if she were admitting defeat.
"You're too scared, Atreus." His name lingered on her lips with a purr as she guided the hand holding her leg up her thighs, past her hips and to her waist, the covers edging over slightly, revealing part of her flat stomach. "Perhaps, I should just keep you here." She teased, the sensation of him so close making her head dizzy with excitement.
He didn't even respond to what she said, just going back to proving her otherwise with action. pulling her up to him again, kissing her but not backing away this time. While also subtly starting to move the cover away. Surprising himself, and surely her, with how bold he was being right then.
"Are you sure I'm scared?" he asked after he evntually pulled away. Still less than an inch away from her, grinning the entire time.
She felt the silk sheet edge off her skin, brushing over her as it did. It was like he was teasing her, doing it slowly and carefully, revealing the hidden flesh beneath it before she was exposed beneath him, her body pressed to his concealing her despite the cover having now gone.
The kiss made her breath heavy and she gasped as she realized this whole situation really was quite stimulating. She could only shake her head gingerly as he spoke, herself leaning back in, kissing him this time with a hidden passion, her tongue gently tracing his lips, while her hands roamed down his back, both of her legs brushed up against him and the only materials that left her from being completely stark was her underwear and garter.
He held her close to him, as he returned her kiss with just as much passion as she was giving him, but it was then that a rather evil idea came to him. So he kept kissing Shiya, letting his hands gently roam her body. Letting her get more excited, and then he started his plan. Pulling away from her suddenly, with possibly the most sinister smile a person could have growing on his face.
"Goodnight." he said feigning a yawn as he lied down on his back, not even breaking eye contact with her. Wearing a smile of total victory.
She couldn't help but gasp into the kiss, very conscious of the fact his hands wandered precariously, almost teasingly close to areas that were most sensitive to touch. Her hands threaded in his hair, gripping onto his locks gently but at the same time roughly, her face was hot from the moment and when he pulled away she let her breath escape her eyes opening upon Atreus.
It was then he laid down, leaving her hot and heavy, her breathing erratic and her frame exposed. She took the covers and pulled them against herself, not sure what to make of the situation. Had he had enough? Too nervous? Tired? She lay down next to him, not sure what to do, until she edged closer to him, kissing his arm tenderly. She looked up at him then, her own evil plan in motion, could he really resist?
"Tired, are we?" She winked playfully, before she too, laid on her back, edging away from him, the covers draped back over her.
"Oh you know it." he replied to her question, he remark think with sarcasm. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her back to him, laughing at their playful teasing. Letting his free hand gently roam around her waist and legs.
Done with his teasing, he leaned over and kissed here again. It was gentle at first but then he couldn't help himself and let some passion go into it, but he didn't let it live that long and moved away from her just an inch. "I'm done with teasing you now. How about you?"
She could have slapped him, gently and playfully of course, but she allowed the smile to cross over her lips as she laughed into the kiss. The kiss was short, but not like the last when he broke away so abruptly. She let their noses bump as he spoke and at his question she couldn't help but let her blush return, stronger now.
"I might have to tease just the smallest bit." She winked, showing her true intentions to his question. It was at this closeness she couldn't help herself kiss him again, his presence just too overwhelming for her to not kiss him, to not touch him. Her fingers danced along his chest once more, as her mouth fused against his, her hair draping over both of them, tickling the sensitive skin.
It was his turn to laugh into the kiss. How long was this game of their's going to last after all? He didn't really mind though, none of this could of happened and he would of been more than contempt with that evening. But since he could he pulled her even closer to him, making sure they couldn't be anything less than full contact with each other.
"Well can we get your portion of teasing over then? It is getting a bit boring." he said, trying to pretend to be bored. But he failed miserably considering he just couldn't stop smiling, so he just rest his forehead on her's and brushed their noses idly.
She scoffed, as she broke away from the kiss, giving him a pout, telling him that she was only messing with him. The contact with both of them was obscured by the cover Shiya was still holding onto, her front covered while her back lay bare to Atreus.
She pulled back from him, a small smirk on her face as she made sure she was in his vision. It was then she let go of the cover, although it had already happened once before, this time was different, this time he could see her. The cover pooled aside, lying absently while her hand still grasped, yet the other came up to her lips, innocently as she blushed deeply.
"Told you I'd tease you just a little bit." Her voice was quiet and eyes averted from Atreus', despite her stealing a glance quickly here and there.
"T-that you did, w-which isn't uh very fair this time." he managed to stammer out as he too started to blush heavily. He couldn't help but stare at her, she looked ravishing like that. Even if she were fully clothed she would look amazing, but well given the circumstance it just helped her.
He couldn't take it anymore. He pulled her close to him again, enveloping her in kisses and running his hands over every inch of her now. Feeling every curve, and bump. Losing himself in the moment.
As he stared she looked away, her hands coming to cover up her breasts and she brought her legs up, so she was small. It was then she was pulled close, almost unexpectedly so. The kisses were urgent this time, like he couldn't wait, his hands growing more curious as they roamed over her body.
She groaned into the kiss as she found herself fixed against him, her hands finding that familiar spot in his hair so she could tenderly grab the onyx strands to keep from losing herself entirely in the moment. She found her tongue stroking his as he quickly learned to kiss, timid at first but the moment spurred urgency and her laboured breathing came fast as her eyes were heavy lidded watching him with every ministration.
He wasn't even paying attention to what he was doing at that point, he was lost in the moment completely. But soon he started to gain his senses back ever so slightly, just enough to think that maybe he was being to forward. So he stopped for just a moment, pulling away from her. But that just gave him a better view of her, which then also caused all thoughts of apologizing to fly away. She instead he went back to kissing and caressing her, trying to remove her carter but not doing a very good job at it.
She helped him, in order to ease his nervousness, she could feel his struggling and took his hand where her garter was. She stopped kissing him then, her breathing heavy, her eyes fluttering open as she relished in the moment. She squeezed his hand in reassurance.
"We don't...have to...you know?" She said through laboured breaths, her lips still close to his as her free hand came to caress his face, her thumb drawing over his cheek. She smiled at him, giving him a gentle peck on his lips as she reluctantly pulled back.
"I do but..d-do you want to?" he asked her, thinking that maybe he was being to bold with his advances. He didn't want to pressure her into anything after all, but he kept his hand where she led it. Slowly removing her garter as he awaited her response. His excitement growing with each passing second.
She kissed him then, hard. Both of her hands coming up to cup his face, angling it so she had better access. She hoped that would be all he'd need to confirm her answer, and as her hands moved down his chest she allowed herself to be cautious and tactile to every bump and dip in his body, becoming familiar with him.
Once the garter was removed they were both only left each with one item of clothing separating them from full out exposure. The moonlight dipped back behind the clouds as darkness enveloped the room, and a cool breeze made its way through the window, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin.
She had started to kiss him just as he removed her garter, so he decided to just toss it aside. Wrapping his arms around her, but letting his hands move all across her body. Letting himself get familiar with every inch of her body as she did the same with his.
But it wasn't quite right to him, and it was then that he realized that they were still in their underwear. So he started to fix that small issue by hooking a couple of fingers into her's and pulling them down slowly. Being a tease yet again, but for all the right reasons.
She blushed at his impulsiveness, finding her hands drifting above the line of the cloth that hid his evident arousal, her fingers stroking the line of his hip bone, teasing him as he did so to her.
"You don't seem...new to this." Her underwear slowly slid down her legs, kicking it off as it reached her feet. She was exposed to him now, lying on the bed, her body bare and stretched out in front of him for his own personal view. She reached up for his own, her finger finding the hem and with a quick movement removing it swiftly, her face was heated but she didn't care, she felt his eyes on her with every movement she made, no matter how insignificant.
He last some of his confidence at her statement. "Well um..I was just doing what seemed obvious. I'm well...I don't know what I'm doing now." he said, some of his nervousness coming back. But he tried to push them away as he moved to kiss her again, and letting his hands roam across her now fully naked body. He still couldn't help though as he shrunk back just ever so slightly, hoping that she'd take the lead at that point.
"You're doing fine." She emphasised her statement as she moaned into the kiss, letting him roam once again over her body. It was then she took his hand and placed it on slowly moved it up over her stomach and onto the curve of her breast, squeezing his hand as she did so in reassurance and to show him what she wanted.
"Like...this." She said between kisses as everything became more heated, more intense. His hand was hot and she felt every motion of it, as her eyes battered watching him under long eyelashes, gauging his reaction.
His heartbeat started to race as she guided his hand up to her breast, and it started to race even more as he gentle squeezed and massaged it. But moving his hand away shortly after because he was starting to feel embarrassed again, letting it roam along her thigh instead. Slowly moving from the outside to the inside.
"Are you just saying I'm doing fine to make me feel better?" he asked jokingly between the kisses. Trying to lessen his nervousness.
"No." She pulled back, holding onto his face now with both of her hands, her eyes full of questions and uncertainty. She pulled him into an embrace, snuggling into his chest, relishing in the warmth.
"Maybe we should just stay like this tonight." She could feel his heartbeat against hers, throbbing erratically, like it was about to burst. She knew he was nervous and perhaps that was all she needed to make him understand they could progress slowly, why do it all in one night?
"After all...we have more than tonight." She smiled into him, nuzzling her head against him as she closed her eyes, enjoying the closeness.
The last thing she said to him spoke volumes to him. After all it really only meant one of two things, and he was pretty certain he wasn't a client. His smile grew more and more, as he pushed her away from him just enough to look her in the eyes.
"By 'we have more than tonight' does that mean...?" he asked but his voice trailed off before he could finish his question, pulling her into another kiss and burying his face into the nape of her neck. The smile on his face growing even more.
She nodded as he came to kiss her, taking it unexpectedly and her smile grew. "Maybe, you could be the reason I get out of this line of work." She stroked his hair as he rested there, both against each other in a comforting embrace. Maybe now she could start a new life, start something more than just being a whore.
She had always wanted to be like those other girls, who went to market and dressed in pretty garments, not something cheap she had to make look good. She drew him back and kissed him again, enjoying the moment.
He loved the idea of helping her, but he didn't want to be the only reason why. Not because he thought he was being used, never that. But he could tell that she would be happier given something else to do, and not just swept off her feet and carried away.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but what if I were to offer you another job? I only ask this partially because I doubt you'd like the idea of me sweeping you off your feet, and the other portion because I don't like that idea. And don't get me wrong! I don't think you're just trying to use me to get out of here, I just wouldn't be comfortable if I knew that you didn't like the idea of being saved." he said to her as he moved away from her just enough to see her whole face. Hoping that he didn't offend her any with what he just said.
She looked at Atreus, her face still red slightly from the moments, her hair ruffled into a frizzy mess. She listened to what he had to say intently, and when the offer of another job came up she couldn't help but let her smile grow.
"What kind of job?" She was curious now, her face like a puppy who knew it was feeding time, she wanted to know everything that could potentially kick off her new life.
"The kind with me." he said simply with a smile. "I don't know how magically inclined you are, or if you are at all. But that doesn't matter, I have a lot of things. Most of which take up time from me studying tomes, or enchanting pieces of jewelry that merchants seem to love to buy for their spouses. You'd be more or less my partner, and if that doesn't appeal to you I'm certain we can find something else."
He tried to read her expression as he let her consider his proposition, but couldn't help himself and ran his fingers through her frizzled hair. Trying to straighten it as much as he could.
"I'll definitely take you up on that!" She beamed, jumping into him, wrapping him in an embrace as they both almost tumbled off the bed. She had always been curious about magic and enchantment, never finding she could do any of it until earlier today when she had turned invisible without even her knowledge. She pulled back to look at his face, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
"I hope I can be of some help." Of course she had to shoot him a wink then, showing that she meant it in more ways than one.
"Oh I'm sure you will be. After all we have more than just a business part of life to look after." he said, wrapping his arms around waist again. Staring into her eyes, along with the occasional glace at her body, thinking about how interesting their future was going to be now.
"And before I forget. If you do are magically inclined you're going to have to grow a beard." he said, not being able to resist making a joke at that moment. A huge smile erupting across his face.
She nodded at his comment feeling herself growing hot again, that thing he did to her insides, she felt like she was getting addicted. Of course, they'd progress slowly, after all it was a learning progress for him and even her, she was usually all done in one night, while he had never slept with a woman let alone be with one naked.
At his comment she burst out laughing, knowing the joke from his smile and looked up at him, smiling as her laugh tapered out. "I'm quite the interesting woman once you get to know me." She raked her hands up his chest, almost like a tease again but not quite. Instead she pulled him down for another brisk kiss, showing her appreciation.
"Well I do think we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other." he said after her kiss. Holding her close to him, not really wanting to say anything but knowing he probably should.
She can start the conversation up again, he was just going to enjoy the moment. After all, she probably had plenty of questions to ask anyway.
She nodded into his embrace, her head nuzzling into his chest, enjoying the familiar warmth he gave. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, in fact it was totally the opposite, she lied there against him for minutes not saying a word, just enjoying everything as the seconds rolled by.
It was then sunlight started to pool through the window, the surprised of dawn having come so quickly. She reluctantly pulled back, looking at him. "Perhaps we should get dressed." She gestured to the awakening of dawn outside of her window, unfortunately a new day meant new surprises, but it also meant that Atreus and Shiya had spent their first night together.
He groaned in protest of the sun rising, rolling onto his side. "Can't we just go to sleep now and do that later?" he said with a small laugh. He was just kidding with that statement, even though he was quite tired.
"What are our plans for today? I'm not going to dress for nothing after all." he added with another small laugh and a quick wink to her.
She chuckled as he evidently wasn't prepared to get ready for the day. Despite it being early, the streets slowly become a bustling mass of crowds selling anything from pendants to food, the rush was grand and these streets were infamous for pickpockets.
"I don't know, I don't really have any." She admitted, standing up from the bed stretching, her arms above her head. She let out a yawn and brushed out the tangles from her hair, making it a little more presentable.
"Uh, do you see my clothing over there?" he asked her as he was sitting up in the bed, rubbing his eyes. "I don't remember if it was that side or the other I was at when I took off my robes."
Now all he had to do was think of something to do that day. Maybe they could settle her in his apartment, or just stroll around the city again. Well maybe I should get dressed before making plans. he thought to himself as he leaned over his side of the bed, trying to locate his clothing.
She peered at the end of the bed, spotting his robes discarded in a pile on the floor. "Got them." She held them out to him, allowing him to take them with ease, her own clothing would be afresh. Opening her wardrobe doors she pulled out a simple dress, a gold coloured one with a lace overlay and intricate frills around the hem. She turned just before putting it on.
"And here I thought, you'd want me to stay like this all day." She showed off her naked form for one last time with a chuckle, before slipping into the dress with ease, finding a piece of underwear and putting that on underneath.
"Now then, what to do today?" She was questioning herself, racking her brain for something to do as she brought a finger to her lips and tapped it there.
"Oh thank you." he said as he took them from her, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek in thanks. Then quickly put his clothing on, mainly because it didn't take very long to put robes on after all. Underwear, then robes, then his belt. How he loved wearing such simple attire sometimes.
"I would want you to stay like that, but then we couldn't really go into public. But I think I can wait until after the day is over to see you like that again." he said with a grin as he leaned against the wall. Watching her dress idly but not really paying any attention, since he was still trying to think of something to do that day.
She came over to him and have him a kiss on the tip of his nose, smiling as she did so. "Can I not see your place?" She knew she was being slightly forward with the question, but she was interested and curious to see where he lived and how he lived, after all there was a relationship between them now.
"I'm just curious." She added pulling him up from the bed as she grasped his hands, eager to get outside and to breathe the early morning air.
"I don't know if you'd like it. I live a very...disorganized life so to say. But if you really want to see it, let's go." he said as he smiled and linked his arm with hers, guiding her out of the building and into the streets. Then after he discerned which way it was back to his apartments, well it was more two apartments that he had renovated into one.
"My apartments, well more like apartments, is just a few streets away from the market square. So if you want to go there to shop it is a very short walk, and like I said it is rather disorganized. I hope that isn't an issue." he went on as they walked to his place, casually strolling so they could take in all the sights, scents, and sounds of the street.
She nodded in eagerness, scent of the dewy fresh morning air welcoming to her senses. Once he said apartments she looked at him wide-eyed. "Apartments?" She emphasised the 's' at the end, making sure she heard him right.
As they strolled leisurely through the streets, the smells of freshly cooked bread and all sorts of bakers goods were in the air. "I can't wait to see it." She was excited, the smallest of things pleasing even if he said it was disorganized.
"Yes apartments, but only if you think about it a certain way. I've rented out two apartments, but I was able to make them more like one. Gives me more space for the different things I need space for." he explained to her as they continued their strole.
"Oh there's the building, on the corner at the end of the street." he pointed out as they finally made it to the street. He picked up the pace slightly then, eager to show her his, and now their, apartment.
She gave a nod in understanding and as they reached his home, she sped ahead, like a little child eager to see something interesting. She twirled around to face him as he caught up, grinning, her excitement evident.
"C'mon, hurry up!" She joked around, coming up to tug on his arm and bring him closer.
"Oh you act like you've never been here before." he said to her as she pulled his arm. Using that movement to drape his arm across her back, guiding her up the stairs. When they reached the door, he fished out the keys and unlocked the door.
The only words that could describe the inside of the apartment were 'disaster area'. Books, scrolls, magical instruments, and almost any other conceivable thing were scattered about. "I told you it was a mess." was all he could say with a sheepish grin.
She looked around, her eyes scanning absolutely everything, taking in the mixed smells of old paper and wood. The mess wasn't as bad as she first assumed but even so, she couldn't help but deny it was slightly everywhere. She turned around and smiled at him.
"It's a home." The mess made it feel homely, something personal to Atreus, and that was all she needed to move further inside, examining everything as her fingertips brushed against certain objects.
"I suppose you're right." he said smiling as she wandered around, brushing against objects. As he stood there in the door, leaning against its frame an idea popped into his head.
"So um..if you'd like...I have more than just a single bedroom..you know if you want to stay..and have some privacy." he mumbled, hoping it'd be loud enough for her to hear. Hoping that she'd say yes to the proposition, so he wouldn't of just made a fool of himself by being so forward.
The question caught her somewhat off guard, as she turned around to face Atreus she was beaming and nodded eagerly at his request. "Of course I want to stay!" She jumped at him then, enveloping him in a tight hug, happiness overwhelming her. She nuzzled into his neck taking in his familiar scent.
When she pulled back she gave him a small smirk. "Although, I don't think we'd need separate rooms." She winked playfully at him before adding onto her sentence. "Unless of course, you want to?" Again with that smirk, she taunted and teased him, giving him a little peck on his nose.
He was really glad that she said yes, not really letting the teasing comments to do anything more than make it strangely even better. "You know, if you keep being sarcastic, I may have to do something about it." he remarked with a peck on her cheek as he moved away from her, trying to find a couple clean chairs for them to sit in.
But when that failed he cleaned off the least two cluttered and pulled them out. Motioning for her to sit in one. "Now about your portion of the rent." he said, failing to keep the smallest outburst of a laugh from coming out.
"Oh really?" She teased as she pushed herself against him, her eyes looking into his. She pulled away soon after regarding the mess with sceptical eyes.
As he mentioned about the rent she gave him a pout, knowing full well it was a joke as she sat down. "You know, I could help you clean this place up." She grinned, thinking the place would look even more stunning with all the clutter and mess gone.
"If you clean it though, I'll lose track of everything." A flash of worry quickly coming on, and leaving his face. He wasn't lying either, that's why everything looked so disorganized. If he really moved anything significantly he would lose track.
"Maybe we could do something other than clean." he said with a small grin. Grabbing her hand and giving it a small squeeze.
The worried look in his eyes made her seize from picking up anything. Ah, so he's the disorganized mess kind of man. She thought to herself, a finger upon her pursed lips.
At his comment she couldn't help but tease him further, of course it put all of the fun into their new-found relationship. "Oh? Like walk around the market outside?" The tone of her voice and the look in her eyes told her all he needed to know from her statement. She released his hand and began to wander the house, peering into different cabinets and rooms.
"That's exactly what I was meaning. How did you know?" A grin growing on his face as he moved to wrap his arms around her as she went through the cabinets. Pulling her close and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "In fact if you want, we could go to the market. I need to get some things, and you would probably like to get some things too."
At that moment though another idea sprang to his mind. "Or we could see if you're magically inclined. All up to you."
She smiled as he reciprocated, the tender kiss making her stomach flutter with butterflies. She ceased looking through all the cabinets to turn to him.
"Hmmm, well how would we go about seeing if I were magically inclined?"
"Oh it's rather simple...sort of. I'll teach you a simple incantation. Like a simple light illusion, or something along those lines, and you'll try to cast it. That's the first test at least. Think you can handle it?" he explained to her, keeping his eyes locked with hers. A small smile tugging at his lips.
He then moved away to gather a few tomes, and various other things that would be required for the tests. Placing them out on one of the few clean table remaining. "Ready?"
She nodded her head hesitantly. All through her life she had never considered herself magically inclined, in fact she had never considered magic at all. As Atreus gathered a few items for the session, she sat back down, feeling that if she didn't her legs would start to shake out of nervousness.
As he placed them on a table, she moved forward, her hands brushing over the tomes. "Ready."
"Okay, well it's rather simple." he said as he started to teach her the magical incantations and proper hand gestures. Going through it multiple times slowly, and even doing it himself to show her what to expect. A simple ball of light.
After about an hour of going through the process he was confident that she knew what to do. "Okay, now go ahead and try. Don't worry if things don't turn out the same or if nothing happens at all."
She was fairly confident with the incantation, is was just her ability to execute it. She sucked in a breath, holding it and began to hold out her hands, then she felt that slight tingling sensation in her fingertips and before she knew it the smallest ball of light formed, growing into nothing more than the size of a fingernail.
"I did it!" She interrupted the incantation as the light vanished and she beamed at Atreus.
"I just knew you could!" he exclaimed as the small ball of light came to life. Before it even went out he was enveloping her in a great hug and a bombardment of kisses. He did notice after a couple seconds that he lifted her completely out of the chair, so with a shrug he put her back down gently.
"Sorry about that, I guess I was excited." he apologized, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh and another thing, we're just going to practice that spell until you can cast it without the added things. Shouldn't be longer than a week at most."
His reaction was unexpected but pleasant, she laughed as her hands came up to encircle him reciprocating the hug.
"It's fine, I just wasn't expecting to get something on my first go." She smiled, looking down at her hands then back at him. So she did have a mild magical potential, it was all she needed to want to try over and over again.
"I know how you feel. I was the same way when I first succeeded." he said to her, a large grin still on his face. "Oh and would you like to go to the market with me? There are a few things I'd like to get, and I'm certain we'd find something that would catch your eye."
With that he stood up and went into another room, coming out a few minutes later with a new set of robes. Although it wouldn't look like that to the common observer, for only the swirling pattern was slightly different. "You can stay of course, get more comfortable here. Since well, it is as much your home as mine now."
"Of course, and I don't know, things are difficult when it comes to catching my eye." She winked at him, and soon after embracing him into a brief hug and chaste kiss.
Once he had changed and they both walked into the street the market was at full peak, people haggling over trivial items such as bread. "What did you want to get?" She said to him as she wandered past multiple stalls, glancing at their inventory.
"You'll see shortly." was all he would say, flashing her a sly grin. As he guided them through the market, they made a turn down one of the streets and went along it for a while. Eventually they stopped in front of a rather unimpressive building.
"Go on in." he said to her, nudging her towards the door. A huge smile taking over his face. "If you want I'll even tell you what's awaiting you inside before you go in."
She gave him a confused look, wondering what on earth he had planned. The building was rather plain, it merged in with the rest of the buildings around the area and she just looked at him with question. "You better not be planning something to cunning." She gave him a small smirk.
"I also like to be surprised." She spoke softly, before stepping through the doors into the unknown.
"Depends on what you call cunning." he said right before they went in. Covering her eyes at the last second so she couldn't immediately see, and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Here we are, one of the finest clothiers in all of Ketra! Or at least that's what I've been told by a very trustworthy person." he proclaimed, moving his fingers away from her eyes. And in all honesty he would of doubted that claim if he didn't see the elderly woman working on a dress right then.
Wow, that looks amazing! I'm glad I didn't make myself seem like a fool right now. he said to himself as he looked at Shiya, nodding his head towards the old woman. "Go ahead, see if she has anything you like. And if not I'm sure something could be arranged."
She giggled lightly as he lead her in, darkness enveloping her vision as she was curious to know what he had planned. It was when his hand was removed that she looked on, her vision adjusting back to the lighting.
She looked on wide eyed, what seemed like hundreds of garbs scattered around the room, full of colour and vibrancy. The old woman was at work on another one, a scarlet dress, just finishing up the gold appliqué design on it. She was speechless as she walked forward, her hands tracing some of the garments, the material of a high quality, soft between her fingers.
She turned back to Atreus with a huge grin on her face. "I-I can't choose one of these." She exaggerated, fanning her arms out. "There's too many to choose from!" She held up one against herself, a gold dress with cream lace detailing cascading down it, the hem containing delicate pearl beads. But it was the scarlet one that caught her eye, the one the woman was working on.
"Who said you have to choose one? I'm certain we can get two or three without to much of a hassle." He moved to another side of the room, not really paying much attention to the dresses other than the color. After glancing at a few he saw one that he thought looked nice, a white one with what looked like blue beads throughout it.
Not being able to help himself, he put it up against him and turned so she could see him. "What do you think? I must say I think I look rather nice in it," Unable to hold it back, he burst out into laughter at his poor joke.
She looked at him and laughed. "It goes with your eyes." She doubled over in laughter as she held her stomach, stemming the pain. It was then she saw the old lady finishing up on the dress, getting ready to hang it out with the others.
"Atreus, what do you think of this one?" She pointed at the red one with the delicate gold appliqué detailing on it. The colour was spectacular and the hand crafted work was like art. Shiya praised the lady of her gowns and couldn't help herself to looking through more.
"I don't know. Think it would go with my eyes too?" he asked, moving over to actually look at it. Not being able to resist making another joke, and when he got there, he had to agree it was indeed a beautiful dress. "Oh, I really like it."
He then took a few moments standing there, talking to the old woman while Shiya looked at the other dresses. It wasn't long though before he came over to her, a huge smile on his face and with that dress draped over his arm. "You can pick another three if you want. I think I was able to get quite the deal today."
"Three!?" She looked at him in mock horror as she couldn't begin to fathom how expensive these dresses were. Back when she had travelled to Connlaoth, the dresses had been extortionate. "Atreus, I can't. Why are you buying me these?" She was happy, there was no doubt about that, but she worried for his finances, after all Shiya wasn't exactly rich either.
Even so, she grabbed the dress from him and went through to the back. Taking a little while until she emerged again, with the dress on. "How does it look?" She smiled at him as she gave him a small twirl.
"You look amazing." he said to her as she appeared again, truly meaning it too. "And don't worry about how I'm paying for these. I've had a few not so small favors, and I decided that we would call in one of them. Sure I had to pay a little as well, but it is definitely not as bad as you probably think it is. And as to why...I don't really know. I just wanted to do this for you."
With that, he walked over and looped his arm with hers and walked around the room with her. "Now, are you sure you don't want to get at least another one? There are a lot of choices here after all."
"Why thank you Sir Atreus." She curtsied in amusement and made her way around the room with him, steadily observing all the other dresses.
"Maybe I'll just pick one more." She found a deep burgundy one, although it was rather plain on the skirting, the detail lied on the basque top, swirls of cream silk wound around the corset, making it look noble and eloquent. "This one." She grabbed it out, a smile upon her face as she felt the material.
"That one does look nice." he said as she grabbed the burgundy one. But at that moment one caught his attention that he really couldn't help but look at. It was a smoky grey color, with small obsidian beads all along it.
"Oh what do you think of this one?" He held it out across his arms, so she could get a good look at it. "I think it would look very nice on you."
She looked at him with a glint in her eyes, some times she just couldn't help herself but tease him a little bit, it was even more exciting when he couldn't do a thing about it.
"Oh, it is so pretty." She walked over to him, before leaning towards his ear. "But I can tell you where it would look much better." She glanced once at the floor before smirking and then taking the dress from him, having made her decision on which dresses she wanted.
"Is there anywhere else you'd like to go today?" She wandered around, acting like her little statement had never happened.
"What do you mean 'where it could look much better'?" he asked her, not catching her eyes glancing at the floor. He was still pondering on what she meant while she asked him if there was anything else he needed.
"Well, I guess I should get some things for dinner. You can head back to the apartment if you want, since it shouldn't take me long." Stretching as they exited the building. He looped his arm with hers again as they walked back towards the general direction of the market and their home.
She rolled her eyes absently, proceeding to wave a hand in front of herself. "It doesn't matter." She scoffed, as she nodded to his suggestion and they walked out of the shop.
She had almost forgotten about the heat outside, fanning herself with her free hand as beads of sweat soon began to form on her brow. "I'll wait there for you then." She smiled at him as she separated their arms, walking off in the general direction of his place.
"Okay, I won't be long." he called out to her as they walked their respective destinations. It took him roughly half an hour before he walked back into the apartment. Carrying a basket with various vegetables, some bread, and a decent sized chunk of venison.
"So would you like a stew or something else?" he asked as he placed the basket down. Going around to gather various things like pots, a small spit, knives, forks, and other things used to make food.
She spent her time trying on her new purchases, looking at herself in the mirror as she wandered around the house curious about all sorts of bits and bobs. She decided to settle on the grey one that he liked so much, the dress clung ravishingly to her form.
She moved over to him, observing what he had, before continuing her daily, occasional teasing advances on Atreus. "Something else?" She asked as she stood perhaps a little too close to Atreus as she looked on nonchalant. She couldn't help herself, some times it was great that he was oblivious, it just made everything that much more fun.
"Um..I don't really have any ideas. Is there anything you would like?" he asked her, not catching her advance for what it was. As he went off to clean the table, he tried to think of something nice to make for them to eat. It took him just a few seconds though to remember, he can't cook worth a damn. So with a self deprecating chuckle, he turned to face Shiya.
"Do you know how to cook? I don't really know how to do much..." He rubbed the back of his head and flashed her a sheepish grin and a shrug. Hoping he wouldn't get teased more than usual for this.
She sighed with mock defeat, realizing perhaps he really wasn't interested in her current advances, instead she played tactical and stayed with the topic of discussion.
"You're lucky I know how to cook." She threw him a wink and began preparing the meat first. After everything was prepared and cooking away in a pot she sat down, fanning herself with one of her hands.
"Today is certainly warm." Small beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, her hair now pulled up into a ponytail.
"It is a pretty warm day. I wonder what tonight will be like..." A grin growing on his face. He knew it would probably stay warm through the night, and he wasn't completely oblivious to her advances after all. He just liked to pretend to be, made things more interesting.
"So, what are we going to have to eat?" he asked her, trying to change the subject before she thought to hard about what he just said.
She smirked at his gesture, and couldn't help but tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, sighing innocently, pretending it hadn't phased her. "I was thinking of just simply stewing down everything, a nice and hearty dinner." Standing up, she stirred the concoction, the smell of flavours intermixing.
Shiya left it be, popping the lid back on leaving it to simmer.
Atreus couldn't help but smile at the spectacle he was witnessing. Shiya standing over the pot, stirring the stew she was making just seemed strangely adorable to him. He wasn't quite sure why, nor was he going to question it. As he watched her he remembered that he hadn't written anything down in his journal for a few days.
So as she continued to watch the stew he got up and went looking for his journal. After a few minutes he found it, then sat back down where he was. Keeping it close to his chest as he wrote, making sure she couldn't see.
She caught him writing in her peripheral vision, the sound of pen upon paper strangely pleasant in the silent room. "Whatcha writing?" She waltzed over curious as he wrote intently, concentration etched in his features.
"I hope it's nothing too bad about me." She winked, curiosity consuming her as she tried to sneak a peek.
"If it is, you aren't going to know about it." he teased as he moved the book so she couldn't see the pages unless she took it from him, sticking his tongue out at her for good measure. He wasn't really writing anything about her at that point, but what was the fun of it all if he didn't tease her? But with that he went back to writing, throwing quick glances her way to make sure she wasn't about to attack him.
Oh, he was asking for it. As he continued to write she sneaked over to him, switching her charm on. "But dearest Atreus, do you really want to hide things from me?" She gave the briefest of touches on his arm with her fingernail, giving a heavy look under her lashes.
It was in that moment she jumped at him, reaching for the journal, scrambling to know what he was writing.
He cried out in surprise at her attack, managing to keep his journal out of her reach and surprisingly from ruining what he just wrote. It was back to their little game again it seemed, so he wrapped his free arm around her as she jumped. Holding her closely and practically immobilizing her.
"Ah, ah ,ah. I told her you weren't going to figure out what it is." he said to her with a grin and a quick kiss on the nose.
She was stuck as his arm wrapped around her and she yelped out as he pulled her close, kicking playfully for release.
"Butttttt, I'm curioussss." She couldn't help but stop her wriggling and smile innocently at him as he kissed her nose. Looking down at his lips for a second, she leant in and gave him a tender, lingering kiss.
"Please?" She opened her eyes as she had pulled back barely an inch.
"Well....no." he said with a sly grin, giving her a quick kiss and quickly moving back. He didn't want to be bit or anything like that after all.
"Maybe after I'm done you can read it though, maybe." he did say finally, although he wasn't going to let her anyway. He wanted to have some fun with her anyway.
She did consider giving up, seeing if maybe she could sneak a peek when he was sleeping, but then where was the excitement in that? If he wanted to hide something, she'd play her own game to try and persuade him.
She slipped onto his lap, one leg either side of his as she face him. "Why do I get the feeling you won't let me when you're done." She toyed with the sleeve of his robe, running the hem between her fingers. "I'll reward you...handsomely." She never took her eyes from his sleeve, a small smirk threatening to play upon her lips.
He smiled as she slid into his lap, keeping enough sense to toss the book on a table far enough out of reach. He gently ran his hand up her thighs, resting his hands on her hips. "Well, maybe I'll think about it a little harder now, considering." He couldn't help but chuckle as he leaned forward to kiss her gently, but quickly back away.
"Besides, I don't think you could do to much more that would be a real incentive." he teased as he leaned back into the chair again.
She scowled lightly as the book was tossed aside her plan of reaching for it long gone. She noticed the presence of his hands running up her thighs then landing on her hips, and smirked at his advances.
"Oh really?" She leant forward herself giving him a lingering kiss before pulling back and sliding off his lap. A playful glint in her eyes as she hummed to herself menacingly, acting like the whole scenario wasn't happening.
He couldn't help but laugh at her, he knew she was just trying to get to the book. So it didn't surprise him when she backed away, trying to act nonchalantly. It didn't bother him any, well not in any bad ways at least.
"Well of course. What exactly could you do to reward me." he said with a smirk, getting more comfortable in the chair.
His sentence was almost like a challenge and she was always one to accept it, turning to face him she put on this look that screamed alluring and somehow, in a swift movement of loosening a few of her bindings, she let the dress she was wearing slide down ever so slightly, hanging off her shoulders.
"It depends what kind of reward you want." She gave that playful glare, the constant challenge between the two of them making the room increasingly hot, all the while she never forgot about that book.
He just sat there with the smirk still on his face, never letting his eyes gaze away from her face. Considering what she was trying to do he couldn't afford to avert his gaze. So he feigned a yawn and stretched, pretending that this was nothing to special.
"I thought I already made the point that you couldn't possibly give me anything I already have, or would want." He couldn't help but chuckle a little and wink at her, this was almost to enjoyable to him at this point.
She gave a pout at his statement, her distraction obviously not working enough for him to be swayed. Oh she'd prove him wrong, and thank God it was hot because she might have just regretted this if it were cold.
Letting the material slide off of her completely she was left in nothing more than some sheer undergarments, the dress pooling around her feet. "I'm fairly sure there is something you...want." She let the last words trail off her lips, lingering in the air as she stared him down with an intensity and uncanny confidence.
Well, this wasn't completely unexpected. He still couldn't help but feel like it was getting a lot warmer in the room at that moment. It took most of his willpower right then to not give in to her offer...considering he really wanted to take her up on it.
"I, uh have no i-idea what you are talking about." he managed to stutter out after clearing his throat out a few times, and after a few moments of moving around uncomfortably in his chair.
The way he spoke told her all she needed to know, he was struggling. He was trying so hard to resist that at any second, at even the lightest touch, it could all tip him over the edge. She turned, her back facing him, nonchalantly wandering the room, examining certain object and things as if everything was normal and prim.
Then she looked at him. "I think you know exactly what I am talking about." She tried her hardest to suppress a giggle, the whole situation quite humorous having started over a journal. She wandered over to her garments on the floor and picked them up.
"Guess I better get dressed then?" It was a question, purely directed at him.
"Well, maybe not quite yet. I want to see if you'd, uh, make a nice painting." he said as she went to get her clothing. Trying to make a small joke out of the situation, but of course he was indeed wanting her 'offer'. He wouldn't directly admit to it though.
"In fact, why don't you do some poses. I might learn how to paint, just for you." he added, with a chuckle.
She was trying to distinguish whether he was being serious or toying with her, of course she was impressed, any other man would be jumping at the chance to bed a lady of her form and beauty. But her and Atreus' relationship was different, they both enjoyed the torment in waiting, and equally loved the tenderness behind the means.
"If you were to paint me, how would you like me?" She held the dress to her, the fabric draping gingerly over her body. She wasn't afraid of being exposed in front of him, it was the sheer fact she was just biding her time, waiting for him.
"I'm not sure, I'm not a painter after all. Just a lowly wizard." he said with a grin, biding his own time. It helped that the situation was getting to be so crazy he couldn't help but laugh at it.
He really did want to bed her right then, considering it was her and she was quite amazing in his opinion. But he wouldn't, the game had began and he was going to win this time. Nothing would change his mind...well almost nothing.
She scoffed at his response finding herself chuckling with the whole situation. "You know you want to give in to your inhibitions grand wizard." She smirked playfully before wandering the room some more.
She wanted to make him writhe with her sensual teasing, and her fingers delicately traced the bare skin exposed from her side, past her hip and down to her thigh, stroking it nonchalantly as she hummed to herself. She found the same hand dancing upon a beautiful, well crafted pendant upon one of the side tables, taking it gently she held it up, admiring it.
"So pretty..." She said breathlessly staring at the intricate detailing upon it.
"That may be true, but I highly doubt I'd be able to make you as beautiful with paint as you are in person." he said with a chuckle, figuring he might as well also compliment her. He meant it too, and he started to think maybe he should actually compliment her more. Oh well, he would start doing that after their little game was over.
After his small mental decision he focused back on her, watching her obviously try to break him down. Eventually she picked up a pendant he was suppose to work on for the dress maker they actually visited earlier that day. Oh well, he'll start that tomorrow.
"It is quite beautiful isn't it?" he asked her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, knowing he surprised her with how silently he just was. Crossing the room in the near complete silence.
She jumped slightly as he came up behind her, his touch welcoming and the anticipation electrifying. "It is. Did you make it?" She could tell it was still a work in progress but even so, the intricacies and the hand-crafted work was exquisite, even she did not have the ability to make anything quite as beautiful.
She turned her head slightly, catching him at a glance. "You know, the closer you are to me, the more you'll want to give up that journal." She winked playfully, one of her hands coming to enveloped his and with a gentle squeeze she leaned back into him, relishing in his warmth.
He couldn't help but chuckle at her question, it seemed preposterous to him that she would think he could make jewelry. Then again it wouldn't be very surprising he thought, but he couldn't. "No, I'm not quite that talented sadly."
He didn't even bother giving her a verbal responce. He just kissed her on the cheek and then swept her off her feet, holding her easily enough. He just flashed her a quick smile as he took her back to the chair with him, sitting down like nothing was even happening at that moment.
She yelped suddenly as he swept her up, making her laugh and wrap her hands around his neck, the dress now sliding from her body. She sat down with him, on his lap, naked and at his disposal. She chuckled affectionately as she curled up to him, nestling her head into the crook of his neck and closing her eyes.
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"
"And I'm certain there will be many more" he said as he lifted up her chin to kiss her quickly, then dropped his arms down around her waist. It took him just a few moments though to let one of his hands to start gliding up and down one of her thighs idly though.
"So, is there anything in particular you would like to do right now?" he asked her with a smirk, trying very hard to keep himself from bursting into laughter.
"Right now?" She smiled and placed her finger upon her lips as if she were in deep thought. Of course, there could be a vast amount of things that they could do right now, but in this moment in time, there was only one thing that popped to the forefront of Shiya's mind.
"How about you let me have a peek at that journal?" She traced her finger down his jawline, her eyes heavy and the words dripping from her mouth seductively. She made sure fidget ever so slightly, taking special in making sure her naked form was known to him, as she pressed herself against him.
He couldn't help but laugh finally. She still wanted to see what is in his damn journal, even though it had nothing more than a catalog of what he was doing really. He wouldn't let her know it was nothing important though, it'd be more fun that way.
"What is your obbsesion with my journal?" he asked her, holding her away from him just enough so he could look her in the eyes. He couldn't help but also flash her a very large grin as well.
"It's not an obsession." She gave a small pout and proceeded to slide off of his lap, flicking her hair so it all trailed down her back. "I just like to know what you are thinking." And of course a journal was the best way around that. In a way she was just teasing, finding an excuse more modest than wanting him.
"I can't believe your self control." She flashed him a grin of her own, walking away from him now stepping through a door to which she hoped was one of the bedrooms.
"It is indeed an obsession...or an excuse." He flashed her a sly wink then, going of a hunch that this is indeed more than her just wanting to look at his journal.
"Oh don't worry, my self control is more of a facade than anything else." he said as he followed her to what was indeed the master bedroom. He took the movement to the bedroom to also slide his robes off, might as well get to the same level she was after all.
"Ahhh so you're struggling." She smiled, turning to face him now walking backwards until her back came in contact with the a wall. She noticed his robes were off and couldn't help but remember the other night they had shared, they had come so close but were both so shy, she felt renewed confidence having known Atreus for a little while now, gauging his habits, moving in with him, she had no reason to be shy.
"I just came in here to change into some garments to sleep in." She spoke sarcastically, a sly smirk playing on her lips as her eyes told him to come closer.
"I was doing the same, obviously." He said without missing a beat, his remark dripping with sarcasm as well. He took that small exchange to get close enough to wrap his arms around her hips, pulling her close to him. He didn't lean in to kiss her yet though, he just looked her in the eyes and smiled at her. Almost inviting her to make the real first move, just for the fun of it.
"So, should we start getting dressed for when we decide to go to sleep now, or maybe a bit later?"
And this is why she loved him, he latched onto her coy sarcasm quickly taking it all in his stride; there was something so genuine about that that made her insides swell.
"Why? What's going to happen now?" She teased, she was trying gauge how he felt, her hands falling upon his chest the feeling of his heartbeat comforting. "You know you don't want me to get dressed." She spoke matter-of-factly, looking up at him before moving in closer, her lips mere millimetres from his. "Maybe I'll just tease you all night." She spoke quietely but seductively, her eyes looking up at his before going back down to his lips, before she moved him and gave him a small, lingering kiss.
"Yes I don't want you to be dressed, in fact I think we can both agree that we can both me a little more undressed." He couldn't help give her a slightly devilish smirk before he started to run his hand along her side, circling one of her breasts playfully with a finger.
"Besides, I don't think you really want to just tease all night anyway." He flashed her another wink then.
She offered a nod in agreement, feeling the heat rise to her face a mixture of his brief ministrations and the excitement of the moment causing her head to dizzy with euphoria. "When did you get so bold?" She gave him her own wink then, liking the newfound confidence Atreus had found within himself.
She raked her nails gently down his chest to where his remaining undergarment lay, the simple bit of linen the only thing left upon his body. Her fingers hooked around the material slowly, dancing along his hip bone, tickling and stroking there. As she leaned in for a kiss, she gave the material a quick tug as they fell to the floor.
"Well, being around you more is making it less..awkward for me." he said as he leaned in to kiss her, to shortly find out he was now lacking underwear. He couldn't help but laugh as he quickly proceeded to do the same to her. After all, it wasn't quite fair if he was the only completely nude one.
"So, what is the next step of your plan?" he asked as he kissed her again, letting his hand gently envelope the breast her toyed with shortly before.
"My plan, eh?" She held his hand and pulled him towards the bed so that he was now sitting on it, she followed slowly sliding onto his lap, teasing him with every touch. She kissed his neck tenderly, leading gentle traces up to his ear before playfully biting it. "This is your plan too, you're the one playing along." She whispered in his ear, before coming back to face him.
She kissed him passionately then, letting the intensity burn through into the kiss as she found herself moaning into it. Her body pressed against his and as she broke the kiss unexpectedly she gave a coy smirk. "Perhaps I should stop here, let you wait until tomorrow night."
He couldn't help but chuckle for just a moment before she kissed him passionately. He happily returned it, even though he didn't get to throw out his smartass remark. He let his hands roam down to her hips, holding onto them fairly tightly. It was then though, that the typical teasing commenced yet again.
"I know you won't do that. After all, you were the one who started the sexual advances back in the dress shop if I remember correctly." he said to her, glancing down just for a moment to..accentuate that there was also another he was really hoping she wouldn't do that.
"Good sir! I do believe you reciprocated." She chuckled, writhing on his lap, grinding herself against him. They both somehow moved further onto the bed, enough to lie down. She trailed kisses down from his lips and down his chest, some gentle, some eager, before moving back up to his lips again, never wanting to be parted from them for too long.
His grip on her hips told her of his eagerness and she smiled down at him before bumping her nose to his. "If you want me that badly..." She emphasised by rubbing herself against him then, with slow laguid movements to tip him over the edge; and almost herself. "You better do something about it." Her voice had grown to just above a whisper, sexy and alluring as her eyes look down into his and her mouth found his again.
"You are very demanding on a person with very little experience." he couldn't help but say with a chuckle. He did lean back then though, laying onto the bed instead of sitting on it. Which of course afforded him a wonderful view of her atop of him, he could get use to this.
"In fact, I think you should be the one who does something about it." He blew her a kiss then, just to be sure she knew he was being difficult on purpose.
She gave him a look full of rigid intensity as she pouted. "Maybe I won't now." And stubbornly slid off of him, if he wanted to joke Shiya would take it to the next level. "And here I was trying to seduce you with my charm." She scoffed jokingly, but couldn't help the smile grow on her face as she grabbed a pillow and wacked him with it.
"This is for not succumbing to my charm." She gave a mock evil laugh, before it turned into real laughter.
"I did, I just don't know what I'm doing!" he yelled, even though it was muffled by the pillow. Atreus wasn't going to stand for being hit by a pillow! So he sprung up with surprising agility and grabbed her by the arms, quickly tossing her onto the bed then pinning her down. He didn't any farther though, just kept her arms pinned above her head, smiling at her triumphantly.
"Don't hit me with pillows if you don't want some consequences!" he said, not being able to keep himself from laughing at all from his ridiculous proclamation.
She gave a small yelp and began laughing as he pinned her down, the whole situation rather amusing. Her chest heaved slightly, as she began to speak. "You don't need to know what to do." She wrapped her legs around him to pull him closer so she could speak to him more intimately. "You just do it."
She released him and chuckled, realizing perhaps he may need more time, after all it was all about fun and pleasure at the same time right? "So, about those consequences?" With a playful wink, she gave him an alluring look, wanting for him to kiss her.
"These kind of consequences." He then did indeed kiss her, while also letting his hand run all the way up her inner thigh. This had to be the most forward he had been to this point, and honestly he had no idea why he was doing it. He broke off the kiss fairly quickly though and just gave her a slightly evil grin, still letting his hand gently brush against her though.
She let out a gasp as she felt his hand there. His touch a welcomed bliss, as she arched her back slightly, moaning in euphoric pleasure. He hoped he could feel her renewed eagerness, the heat in the room was almost unbareable and she just wanted to thread her hands through his hair and request for more.
For a man who claimed to have no idea what he was doing, his touch was of those that were experienced. Writhing and stretching out her legs as shivers ran all the way down to her toes she spoke softly. "And here I thought...you didn't know what you were doing?" Her voice was breathless, as she let her head fall back, relishing in his ministrations.
His eyes opened slightly in surprise at what she said, and he started to blush slightly. He also stopped his teasing and pulled his hand back just far enough away to not be making contact with her.
"I r-really don't know what I'm doing. This is the right kind of thing to do...right?"
She looked up at him as he stopped, a small amount of guilt tracing over her as she looked to be the only one enjoying herself. "Of course, you shouldn't be nervous, it's just me." She sat up and offered him a tender smile before giving him a small, lingering kiss.
"We'll take it slow." She whispered between their lips as she gently kissed his nose and pulled him into an embrace.
Her reassurance did make him feel a lot more confident in what he was doing then. So instead of letting her pull him into an embrace, he just put a single finger on her lips, flashing her a quick wink before he started to kiss her passionately. He let his hand go back to pleasuring her at that moment too, and after a few moments he reluctantly pulled out of the kiss.
"I've actually been more of a trial by fire type." he said, his eyes almost seeming to sparkle with mischief.
He was a lot better than she had initially given him credit for, her heart hammered with intensity as his ministrations resumed, finding it hard to focus on the kiss as she gasped and moaned, writhed and fidgeted.
"Trial...by fire?" Her hands danced down to his arousal, of course it was unfair if only he was doing all the work. Slowly and sensually she began to move her hand painfully, teasingly slow.
He couldn't help but become tense when her hand moved down around his arousal, and he had to force himself to calm down. His leg also started to fidget now, just slightly as she of course was teasing him again.
"Yes, a trial by,,fire." he said as he flashed a grin, and his ministrations picked up speed ever so slightly.
She smiled at his reaction of the new sensation, relishing in the fact she had control over his own pleasure as he did to hers. She continued to move her hand in languid movements, picking up her pace for a second, before slowing, her ministrations continued like this teasing him and tempting him.
She found her other hand gripping the pillow behind her, her iron grip keeping her senses intact, enjoying the moment as she felt the warmth settling in the pit of her stomach, her building to climax settling in. Small beads of sweat formed on her forehead as hair began to stick there and all she could do was writhe beneath him, completely at his mercy.