It wasn’t difficult for Jude to fall back into his usual routine.
Heading back to Reajh was the greatest difficulty he could have managed since that woman had taken his only means of transportation. He looked the beggar, haggard and old, and disheveled, once he made his way back to the city, having hitched a ride, and walked most of the way. The roads were not easy to travel by, with soldiers using them or stopping people that were trying to use them, usually to siphon what goods that could be spared for their soldiers, before letting the travelers go on.
But Jude Armand was a survivor and once he was back in the city, he stayed within darkness until he saw the familiar building of his town house. He paid Elsa good money to keep the place clean, though she only had to come in, in the mornings, and furthermore he paid her not to ask questions if he was away for any extended period of time. If anyone came asking questions, she was to say only that Jude Armand was on vacation in Uthlyn and there was no telling when he would be back, save that it was soon. People were always ripe with curiosity.
She let him in, in the early hours of dawn, and did not ask where he had been or why he looked like he had the devil beat out of him. Jude cleaned up, shaved and tossed his clothes into the fireplace. The coming weeks felt odd, but familiar and soon Jude was dining and drinking and entertaining just as he had been before Jinai had come into his life.
Though he had realized it before, it seemed to sink into home so much more now after the fires at Breakpoint. Jinai could take care of herself, she’d always taken care of herself long before she had met Jude Armand. He could only do so much, and in fact that wasn’t much at all. He hadn’t thought about her, or at least tried not too. People wondered where he had went, and what became of Lord Christy. Through the grapevine, Jude learned he was back with his wife, though hadn’t said a word of what happened at the church, too ashamed to mention his affair and the humiliation of letting go of valuable state secrets.
The mages of Breakpoint had been safely escorted out by Asher’s men, and some of them fell in with the ranks of the guerrilla forces. They were safe from being sold. And among them was captured a certain big-nosed sow. But that was another matter altogether.
It had been a long time since then, about a month had passed and Jude was back to collected secrets just as he had always done. He had had a long day, and ready to turn in for the night. The townhouse was quiet, and it was easier to remember that he lived all alone in that big house. It wasn’t mansion sized, Jude never thought he needed something that large, but even the three storied townhouse seemed bigger than he remembered it as he climbed up the stairs and retired to his bedroom.
He left his clothes draped across the wardrobe and his sheets loosely covering his body. The room was thick with heat, with humidity and the double glass doors to his balcony were left slightly ajar, to let the evening breeze pass through. He stared at the ceiling, trying to empty his mind before falling asleep.
The months that passed were not numbered, nor did she even know how long it had been since she had left Jude Armand by the stream just hours from Breakpoint after the great port city bombing. She knew little of the aftermath, news trickling in slowly to the bigger cities. Not that it would have mattered months ago.
For months ago she should have been dead. Lord Ansgar knows she tried, but funny how fate worked; and it never seemed Jinai could do enough to ever kill herself. Something always stopped her- be it not enough drugs, or a certain someone always around. It was ironic she even had a rescuer, considering how aloof she made herself, and kept her heart far away from the reach of others.
So it was perhaps the only reason she appeared on his balcony, the morning light warming behind her and brightning her hair, her world in gold,all the while her silouhette was muffled by the soft, moving drapes in Jude's room. But she didn't stir, only peered into his house- hesitant to make the first step forward, cautious of stepping in. Were it another time, she would have appeared in his arms as he slept- to be there whe he first opened his eyes for a hello...; but now, now she knew not how to speak to him, how to approach, and it had been this way for many weeks.
She had known Jude Armand was back- and he was back int he city far longer than she- though when she had returned it had been for... other plans; but now, now all she could think about was what had happened, what had been left behind- and what had died.
Had they died? Was it over? She wasn't sure, and she wasn't even sure she wanted to know. Life would be so much easier to just watch him like a ghost. Maybe that's why she wanted to die. She knew she'd hurt him, had hurt him- but now?
Now she wanted to somehow try it all over again.
Jude found that he couldn't sleep and he noticed the figure in the window in the early morning gloom. At first he was alarmed and reached for the dagger he had been sleeping with underneath his pillow, but as he slowly sat up, he knew that figure anywhere. He just stared in the darkness, and eventually found his feet on the cold hardwood floors, his hand having relaxed around the hilt of the dagger and leaving it in its resting spot.
Jude stood from the bed, slowly sauntering over to the open window. Perhaps it was just a trick of his eyes, for when he moved the curtains, he saw no one there. Perhaps it was just the folds in his drapes that had tricked his mind into thinking he had seen what he wanted to see and he gave a small frown of disappointment, not having seen the shape that had slipped into bedroom and stayed hidden in the shadows.
He crawled back toward the bed and curled up, pulling the sheets over his shoulders.
For hours she watched him lay, for hours she watched him sleep, before she herself moving to sit at the foot of his bed. Though when he began to stir, she felt herself growing fearful, and silently made her way for the door.
Jude turned his eyes to the shape attempting to make an exit and he opened them widely to view her more clearly in the dark. "You're leaving so soon?" he said softly. "You didn't even say hello." He gave her a smile and propped the pillow up behind his head.
Jinai tensed to a halt by the door. For a long moment, she contemplated bolting clean out of there, but instead, just wore a smile he couldn't see as she kept her back to him.
"When did I ever say hello?"
"Well, that's what I mean," Jude remarked, watching her shape in the darkness. "You're going to leave without even saying hello, let alone goodbye. I would hope that maybe I deserved at least that much."
Jinai continued to stare at the door knob- not certain what she should do, but then she made up her mind and opened the door.
"Let me try this again."
And she walked out the door.
But a moment later, there was a gentle knock coming from behind it before she opened it, and she stood there, peering back at him, a half forced smile on her face.
"Hello." her voice came out meek and cracked as she forced her smile a bit and looked at him, but it was evident in her eyes she appeared uncertain and lacked the confidence she once possessed as she stood, arms folded lightly before her as she remained at the foot of his bed. She hadn't bothered to close the door.
He didn't know what to make of her stepping out so easily. When she came back, however, he beamed at her and nodded softly. "Hello, Jinai. Good morning," he murmured. "Aren't you going to come in. You're than welcome to. You're always welcome here."
At his response, she couldn't help but release a breathy laugh as she smiled, a bit more genuinely.
"I wouldn't think you'd want to see me again."
And despite his offer, she remained standing at the foot of the bed.
Jude's smile turned softer at the corners and he pursed his lips. "Now why wouldn't I want to see you again?" His lips turned crooked. "I always like to see your face. To see your eyes light up when you smile."
It was at those words her eyes did light up before pain filled them as she cast them aside and looked down at the floor.
"You were always foolish to look for me again. Did you know you were mumbling my name last night?" Her cheeks rosied a bit as she let her eyes blindly trace the rug on his floor.
"I.. I thought you had seen me, but I realized it was only a dream."
Jude's smile was small and sweet. "I was dreaming you'd come back to me in the night. I always have the same fantasy. You come in through my window, the night air is cool and you slip out of your clothes and crawl into my bed. and drap yourself across me on a summer night. I always like the thought of waking up beside you... But the empty window stays empty and my bed as cold as the night before," he murmured, smirking at her.
"So I didn't look this time. I figured in your own time...if you wanted to...you'd take me up on my off and visit me here in the city. I'm glad you did. Perhaps I could treat you some tea."
"Tea?" she twisted her face at the suggestion, but smiled anyway. "No.. but I wouldn't mind finding myself back in your bed. It does look... awfully cold," she said, moving to the side of it as her fingers lightly walked across the edge.
"Oh it's very cold," Jude said, his smile widening. "It's almost arctic." He sat up and parted the sheets inviting her to lay beside him. "You're always welcome beside me..."
Smiling, she slipped into the blankets with him,a nd with one hand beneath her cheek, she peered over at him from where she lay, nestled in beside him.
"You look like shit," she told him, cracking a smile. "I think your hair's turning grey..." And she reached forward to brush some pieces out from his face. "Or maybe it's just the lighting.." she added, flattening her lips. "You need to sleep more." She could tell he wasn't.
"You just want to get me riled up and upset. You're hair's turning gray with all that running around you do. I'm as sturdy as a colt!" He smirked, puffing out his chest and flexing his muscles. Relaxing down beside her, his smile faded a little. "It's hard to sleep when the woman I want beside me isn't there..."
Jinai smacked him.
"Just, stop moving the bed sheets! You're letting out the heat!"
"Oh yeah?" Jude was suddenly upon her tickling her furiously and letting out more heat than before. He soon relented and took the blankets for himself. "See how you like those cookies."
Jinai let out a yelp and was punching and kicking for him to stop.
"J-JUDE!" she shouted, hair a mess now over her face before she punched him in the gut. "You're awful."
And before he could retort, she leaned forward to kiss him on the lips.
"I'm sorry I disappeared," she whispered to him, and hesitated a moment before lifting her green eyes to him as she nestled in close.
"I... I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to do. I.... I didn't even want to believe I was pregnant."
The kiss was electric and brought heat to his face and lips where there previously was none. Jude smiled through her lips and tossed the blanket back over them. His eyes turned solemn and he frowned. "You should have told me," he murmured. "You can tell me anything." He wrapped an arm around her waist and held her.
"What was there to tell?" She told him through a forced smile. "I was in denial..."
Jude frowned and leaned his head against hers. "I'm just glad you're alive. That you're here with me now. I missed you...gods how I missed you." He didn't smile though he wanted to. "Jinai...you crazy woman...where would I be without you..."
"I don't know," she told him, her eyes threatening to tear up. "But I know I'd be dead without you." Though at the thought, she cast her eyes away shamefully. "I... I was really messed up after... after Breakpoint." Her lips trembled as she smiled. She wasnt sure if she should tell him she tried to kill herself. What good would it do except to make him more angry? More upset at her?
And unwillingly, a few tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I never... never realized how important you had been in my life."
Jude could feel his eyes growing hot at the words she said. His eyes burned and he blinked tears away. "I can't imagine where you'd gone, what you did. I can only cherish you now by my side." His arms wrapped tighter around her and he hugged her to his chest as if he would never let her go again.
Jinai melted int him, hot tears wetting his chest as she took in his familiar smell, his famliar touch, is familiar warmth.
"Gods.. Jude, I'm so sorry," she sobbed against him. She was so afraid of this moment, yet here he was- inviting her right back into his arms as if nothing, nothing happened at all.
"You're too good to me," she whispered after a time and kept herself pressed closely to him. "I don't deserve this." She really didn't. She had done so many things against him, so many selfish, stupid things.
"Maybe not. But then suddenly life would be fair and giving us our just desserts," Jude murmured. He ran his fingers through her, brushing it away from her face as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Then again, a big-nosed hog certainly got what he had coming to him." And put her head underneath his chin.
Jinai almost thought he had meant her and nearly missed the gender. Blinkingly, she peered up at him.
"What do you mean?"
Jude almost smiled wickedly, but the frustration of everything compiled to make his lips into little more than a wry grin. "That bastard Vesrik...The Grand Duke's visor...he isn't going to be hurting anymore women, not without remembering his humiliation. He should have known it would have caught up to him sooner or later."
Jinai's face twisted in confusion as she lifted her head.
"What do you mean? Did you..." and here her voice lowered. "Did you do something to him?"
Jude's expression turned solemn. "Asher's men found him trying to escape Breakpoint. After you left me, one of his scouts caught up with me and led me to Asher. In addition to helping me get back to Reajh, he thought I'd like meet face to face with Vesrik, in a manner of speaking, I did wear a mask. To put it simply, Jinai, I beat the bastard within an inch of his life and treated his puny manhood to a dip in some boiling oil. Doused it in fact. If he recovers, he'll forever be at quarter-mast and likely it'll be shriveled up than it all ready was"
Jinai stared at Jude for a long moment in disbelief.
"You did that?" her lips curled into the smallest of smiles. "ANd here I didn't think you much of a man for vengeance or fighting.."
Jude raised his brows and his expression was innocent. "That wasn't vengeance. That was justice... I couldn't bear the thought of what he did to you... I... Death was too good for him. And the law... He's the Grand Duke's visor, who would've believed me? Who would've care? Nobody."
"That's because who he assaulted was a nobody- Lady THames... doesn't even exist, and I... I'm wanted throughout the city."
"But I cared Jinai," he said, holding her against his chest. "I cared so I punished him. Because I can't stand the thought of you hurt, or in pain. I love you..."
At his words, she found herself merely staring him, before she broke down and cried.
"Gods, Jude, I'm so sorry..." ANd she couldn't even tell him why.
At her tears, Jude actually chuckled and pressed his head down to her, kissing her forehead and down toward eer tearing eyes. "Oh don't cry. Why? Why are you crying? Please. You're going to make me cry!" Jude brushed her hair back and held her to his chest.
"Because I'm an idiot,"s he said through choked sobs. "After Breakpoint, I didn't want to live anymore." Ad she closed her eyes, letting Jude just deduce what she meant from there.
Jude knew exactly what she meant and his eyes widened a little at the thought. He let go of her for a moment to look at her more clearly. It was as if he was seeing her in a new light. He said nothing and the silence itself was deafening. The only noise that came was the rustling of the sheets as he laid more comfortably beside her, coaxing her nestle in against him and lay on his chest.
Jinai just clung to him, laying close and quiet- except for the soft sobs that would escape from her lips.
"I'm sorry for being so stupid," she told him after a long moment of quiet. And she trembled. "I don't even know how I'm still even alive."
"Shhhh, quiet now," Jude murmured. He held her gently to him like she was a piece of glass. "You don't have to speak anymore of it if you don't want. You don't have to apologize for anything. I love you just as you are." He kissed her cheek and let his hand traced along her jaw and combed hair behind her ear.
"But... how?" she spoke after a time, tears clinging to her eyes. "I'm a mess, I don't care about anyone- not even myself..." She closed her eyes and sighed hotly against him. "The only one I ever cared abut is dead." Then she paused, shifting awkwardly beside him. "Besides you."
Jude sighed and turned his head down to her. "Neither did I until you came along," Jude remarked, brushed his hands down her back. "Now I can weave you further into my graces and then skin you and turn you into a winter coat. I do that to all my victims." He tried to make light of the matter, laughing and kissing her brow. "Jinai, we all have flaws. It just so happens, you're in love with somebody so perfect in mind and body. I mean I am a god you know."
Jinai pinched his arm and smiled up at him through tears.
"Don't joke about it, Jude!"
"I suppose that's what I get for my blasphemy," he chuckled. "I know...we aren't perfect, Jinai," he murmured softly. "I know we only hurt ourselves sometimes. But I forgive you and I hope you forgive me. And all I ask that you don't love me despite my flaws...but that you'll love me because of them."
Jinai pinched his arm again- then his ass.
"Of course," and her lips trembled in a smile before she leaned forward to kiss him softly, then deeper and deeper still as she cupped his cheeks and cried.
"Now that's more like it," he mumbled against her lips. Her kiss was intoxicating, just like he remembered it. "Hmmmm," he moaned softly, rolling over her and letting his hands rediscover the finer points of her body.
"Jude.." she breathed his name, tasted his lips, felt all over his body blindly as she closed her eyes tight. It had been ages since she enjoyed a man, and the last time was with Jude- so many, many months ago.
"Yeah?" he murmured, though he knew it wasn't a question. He leaned over her, turning his lips this way and that, kissing her chin and down toward her throat where he nursed there for a time. "Jinai... How I missed you... You still feel wonderful. You always feel wonderful," he whispered, and continued to kiss up along the other side of her throat and back to her lips.
When their lips met again she wrapped her arms around him and leaned in close.
"As do you." She leaned her forehead against his, and kept her eyes lightly closed. "I missed you too."
Jude devoured her, kissing her passionately, wrapping her in his embrace and resting his body down on her. He wanted her so, he relished her touch, he moans, her voice and her laugh. For now he just wanted to make her scream.
If anyone knew how to light her fire, it was Jude Armand. SHe hadn't come expecting sex, but her legs wrapped eagerly around his, and her body ached for him. Her kisses were equally hungered as she clung desperately to him as if he were the last being alive.
"Make love to me, Jude," she told him between breaths and kisses.
He whimpered beneath her kisses, his body melting into hers. He shivered harshly, his breath shuddering. "I want you...but...but just give me a minute," he moaned against her lips, kissing her and pulling on her lips, as he got up from the bed. He left the room for a few minutes before, he returned, laying down beside her and leaning back over her once again, coaxing her legs back around him.
"Did you leave just to keep me wanting?" she said, hungered as her lips met to his and limbs clung around him. "You know it's been months,"s he reminded him, teeth biting and tugging softly at his lips.
"Hmm, something like that," Jude murmured, groaning, feeling his body grow heated. He grew hard at the prospect of making love to her again, and she would feel him, if a little muted with the sheathe he had covered his member with. He kissed her hotly, his hands running down her sides. "How did you ever go so long without coming back to me? Months...that's horrible."
Her smile faltered at his question.
"I... I had a lot of recovering to do," she murmured, hesitant now in her kisses.
"You weren't the only one," he murmured, kissing her again, tilting his head and deepening their oscillations, tasting the hollows of her mouth. "You still taste as sweet as I remember you..."
Jinai whimpered at his kiss, at his words, but after a time, something felt unfamiliar about him as her eyes suddenly opened.
"Jude?" she paused, pushing from him with one hand on her chest as she looked into his eyes. "Are you wearing a sheath?"
Jude held himself above her and chewed on his lip thoughtfully for a moment. "...I am," he huffed, a little ashamedly. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
"You have sheep skin on your dick, of course I'm going to notice," she laughed and kissed his cheek. "Are you afraid?" she whispered against him, near to his ear.
Jude whimpered a little, adjusting himself over her. "A little," he admitted. "Yeah. I...I might forget to pull out, or you might forget to have your little potion on hand. It's...just in case really. They're...thin really, not too much of a difference."
Jinai smirked.
"You know what's ironic? You're the only one I've fucked that ever thought to use one." ANd she sealed her lips over his, and coaxed him to slip deep inside her warmth.
Jude had been sure she would have asked him to remove it, or that it ruined the moment altogether, but when she invited him into her warmth, his mouth was suddenly agape. He gasped at the sensation of her sex. It was just like he remembered it, but better because they were closer now rather than apart, after all they'd been through and even with the sheath, the sensation was no less intense. Slowly, he moved within her, coaxing her thighs to tighten around him. "It doesn't feel any different?" he asked, tentative, and shy for Jude Armand.
"What does it matter so long as your inside me?" And her cheeks flushed as she gave him a wry grin. "But if you want me to be honest, it does feel a bit strange." But to quell any doubt, she gripped onto his cock with her sex and moaned. "God... Jude, I never thought we'd do this again."
Jude had never been the kind of man that thought he needed any kind of reassurance. But to know that he pleased Jinai was all the reassurance he needed. He groaned loudly into her ear. He felt the heat of her sex, intense even through the sheath and he began to pound harder into her, recalling the angles she favored most, turning his hips this way, and that. "Good," he laughed. "I was afraid you were going to make me work hard."
Jinai gave him a smug grin as she felt him work into her.
"Who says you won't?"
"We just came together again. You would torture your lover to try and please you?" he playfully pouted. He wrapped his arms underneath her shoulders and moved deeply and powerfully, kissing the skin of her neck softly.
Jinai closed her eyes and enjoyed the attentions, the feelings and writhed at the sensations.
"Of course I would," she told him with a smirk. "And you wouldnt want it any other way."
"No, I just want you to swoon in my arms and let me be your knight in shining bedsheets," he snickered, kissing along her neck and relishing in her smell and dragging his teeth along her neck, like she was prey, vulnerable and he wanted to take advantage of her vulnerability. "A succulent morsel, ripe for the picking."
. "I don't think I know how to swoon," she told.him.through a laugh and moaned at the attentions. "But whatever you're doing sure feels good." And she clung to him him tight, burying her face into his neck. He smelled so good. He smelled like Jude, and she melted at.the idea they were finally united once again.
He remembered what it was like, all their times making love before. Jude felt that this moment in particular was different. It seemed more powerful than before and nothing like fucking the other women that had melted at his bedside. This one mattered, this one was what he had yearned for nights on end.
He moved more vigorously then, kissing back up to her mouth, wanting to feel her breath flush to his skin, and his body showed her just how much he missed her.
"Gods.." Her eyes fluttered closed, her body rocked by his as she felt herself become carried away by the sensations of heat, love and need. Although she hadn't come to him thinking they'd reunite again this way, but she supposed it only made sense- it was a rarity when they weren't making love.
But this time was different, this time she felt something from him that was new- and it wasn't the sheath.
The intensity of the moment was mind-boggling. It never did take long for Jinai to get Jude to beg for her; he wasn't the begging kind of man. But soon he was sweating, hard as daylight broke throught the sky like fire peels through ice. There few ways Jude knew to express himself, where it wasn't with his words, it was with his body. He loved Jinai, even through the torment she caused him, even when she pushed him away. And when he rocked along with her at an increasingly intense pace, he knew he was speaking a language they could both understand.
The sounds and songs she made went well into the morning hours, and it wasn't until it was the afternoon did she lay nestled against him, sated and breathing warmly. A hand rested over his bare chest, her face buried into his neck as her blonde hair lay in a mess across his body. She smiled contently, her voice a bit hoarse from her songs; but she didn't care. She was in heaven, and could be blissfully unaware of all else.
Jude was stretched out beside her, the sheath having proved effective in it's use. It was certainly better than risking more children that neither of them were in no condition to care for. He slowly turned to Jinai, splayed out on his side and gave her a smirk. "Still great," he commented teasingly. "I was worried you'd have gotten a little rusty."
She punched his arm.
"Quiet, Jude! You're ruining the moment!"
"Okay, okay!"Jude smirked and rubbed his hand down her spine. "So I'll let you soak up the moment. This extremely lovely, sensual moment." He purred against her, his hand running along her skin.
Jinai lazily closed her eyes.
"I don't think you're trying to do that, either," she told him through a grin. "Keep touching me like that and you'll have to remedy the fire you're making."
"Think I won't..? I'll put out your fire...with kerosene," Jude smirked and kissed her deeply for a good long moment. "I don't imagine you slept much either did you? You could use an extra work out."
Jinai smirked and with her eyes still closed, playfully punched Jude in the gut.
"Ouch...don't hit me. I only tease you," Jude playfully pouted.
Jinai smirked and nestled in against him, before rubbing her bare feet against his leg.
"I hit. I tease," she told him, jutting out her chin and grinning.
"You're feet are like roughly hewn porcelain," Jude murmured, letting his own leg rub against hers. His hair was always finely trimmed, though he never grew excessive body hair anyway. But Jude always liked to keep himself looking good, even for Jinai.
Jinai smirked and dug her toes into his calves.
"Oh really? Well your legs are like silk," she teased. "Soft as a baby's bottom. And your ass, ripe for a squeeze," and she gave that ass of his a good hard grip, her grin widening wickedly.
"I may have lost a little weight after our stint at Breakpoint. It took me a while to gain it back. I knew I had to keep my body good if you were going to come back," he smirked, taking her other hand and plastering it to the other cheek.
Jinai didn't have to say anything else and simply leaned forward and kissed him soft.
His hands ran down her back, digging into her skin and gripping the skin of her back. Her lips tasted wonderful, sweet, like candy as he tilted his head into hers.
At the feel of his hands across her body, she sighed contentedly and leaned in to kiss him some more.
"You know I joke about it, but.." she said through a half growl as her lips worked down his neck, hands smoothing up his back. "You have a really nice body. Soft skin.. firm muscles..."
"Did you ever think you'd end up with a guy like me?" Jude mused loudly. "I mean, I'm not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but I mean it's kind of my job to look good. I was just curious if you ever thought you could love someone like me?" His breath came softly as she explore the hollows of his neck.
Jinai laughed at his words and slowly shook her head.
"No." And her fingers lightly traced down his arm. "But I never thought I could love at all."
Jude smirked playfully, "Neither did I. The fact that you're here in my arms without a hefty sum of gold at your side is a miracle really. But that's okay. I can make exceptions for someone like you. Nose and everything."
Speaking of noses, she flicked his as she made a face.
"If anything, you should be paying me to stick around." And she smirked at the thought. "Maybe I'd stop by more often."
"So I can drain all my money? No thank you," he murmured and kissed the tip of her nose. "You know what, in the room across the hall, I just bought a new easel and paints, oils and acrylics. Would you like to see them?"
"Paints?" She made a face. "Do you know how to paint?" Her face furrowed at the idea. Wouldn't that be something- she never saw him as any sort of artist, unless you counted how well he did in bed. But that was almost magic.
"Hmm, I've dabbled a little," Jude snickered and sat up, kissing her cheek. "I wouldn't call myself a master painter or anything, but I'd like the chance to practice, wouldn't you? You could paint my ass, you'd love that."
"What?" Jinai's expression went flat? "Me? Paint?" SHe wrinkled her nose. "Never been curious, never wanted to learn. I'm not exactly... the artistic type." She reminded him with a bit of a cringe.
Jude frowned a little. "That's a shame. Might have been a little more exciting than just regular ol' sex. Not that sex with you is boring. But, I don't mind trying new things." He gave her a wink and leaned forward to kissing her softly on the lips.
"What?" she pulled away from his kiss, making a face. "What does painting have to do with sex?"
But then her mind quickly figured it out as her eyes went wide. "Oh..." Then her eyes narrowed with more realization.. "Oh..."
Grinning from ear to ear, she leered him. "You never said anything about body painting..." And she threw the covers off her naked form and easily slipped outof hte bed.
He laughed, "Well, what did you think I was talking about?" He immediately jumped out of bed and followed after her, grabbing her ass and walking along behind her, as he kissed her neck. "Right through here!" He opened the door across the hall and there were a few paintings here and there, and a tarp spread across the floor. They were mostly unfinished, messy, and some were started paintings of an interpretation of Jinai (the nose was certainly evident), and he pointed out to the jars. "See? Paint...every color you could imagine."
Jinai's giggles and run promptly halted the moment she stepped into the room, and once her eyes fell upon the messy canvas's, she couldn't help but wonder..
"Jude...?" She approached one, blinking at it as she reached out and touched the rough, unfinished paint. She drew her hand back.
Jude stood back, lingering by the door. He folded his hands behind his back and leaned against the wall. "What do you think?" he murmured, seemingly shy and sheepish. "They're terrible I know, but they're not finished."
The paintings were crude, but it was evident what he captured in the few strokes that were there. The look, a glance, the subtle life in her eyes- the shade beneath her bangs.
Turning around, she stared at Jude.
"How?" she said, furrowing her brows. "These.. look like me." She sad, turning back to them, eyes wavering, reading, darting, sweeping before she glanced back to him. "I've never seen these before. When did you paint them?"
"Only just a few months ago," he murmured. He dropped his head like a small child and blushed a little. "When I came back to Reajh, I moved some stuff around. I thought about taking up drinking, but that's an expensive habit. My first week back, I bought some fine cigars, and walked by a paint store, and thought about taking up a new hobby. I know they're not very good, but I paint mostly from memory and just see what I can make. You were on my mind a lot...as you can see."
She couldn't believe what he said.
"From memory?" Staring back at the painting her eyes searched around and she picked up one smaller one and snorted.
"I don't know.. my nose isn't big enough in this one," she said, holding it up to her face and comparing. The painted nose actually may have looked a bit too big, but she was smiling- that was, until something across the room caught her eye.
"What's that over there?" and she strolled over towards something hidden beneath a heavy clothe. "Don't tell me you have sme strange painting hidden under here.."Yet when she yanked the clothe aside, she was surprised to find the beginnings of a clay sculpture of herself.
"No, no just the paintings," Jude said, wandering into the room at last, clasping his arms behind is back. "No...Jinai, just paintings. Jinai, don't go.. Jinai-!" But it was too late before she unfurled the wrought sculpture, hewn and raw and clearly unfinished. He blushed hard then and buried his face in his hands. He finally found the gumption to look at her and he immediately strode over to the sculpture and tried to cover it back up with the cloth.
"That's nothing really. It's not finished. It'll probably never be!"
Jinai had a hand held over her mouth as Jude came along and attempted to cover it back up, but when he did, she lifted it back up to peek at the body.
"You know... I think you made my boobs way too big."
"I did not! They're perfectly proportionate," Jude said, defending his piece and lifting the cover of the sculpture. "The clay is still malleable. I can make them smaller." He grabbed the breasts of the sculpture and peeled them off a little, before fixing the breast until it seemed better. "There. Better?" he asked, his hands covered in a handful of clay. He practically cleaved them in half.
"Well now I look like a man! You'd think how much you grab them you'd at least get my boobs right!"
"I thought you weren't the artsy type?" he growled lightly, giving her a dull glare in the face of her criticism. He slapped a piece of clay in the middle of where her boobs used to be and he frowned. "There now you only have one breast." He threw his head back and laughed and shortly after he split the other pile of clay in his hand and threw it at her chest. "Now you have three boobs!"
Jinai was grinning and laughing as well. That was, until she had a third clay boob slapped onto her. Blinking, she stood there a moment before scooping off the extra breast and slapping the clay wad onto his ass.
"TThere, now you have a third boob for an ass!" And she gave a snort of a laugh at that.
Jude's eyes grew wide at the cold sensation on his behind. He jumped and peeled it off, then subsequently threw the glob onto her face, slapping both wads onto her cheeks. "There! Now you have a molding clay beard!"
And she wiped the clay beard off and slapped it on his nose.. and another part on his chin with a laugh as she worked swiftly at sculpting it.
"Now you have an ass on your chin!" she barked, and laughed that way clean in his face.
Jude tried keeping a straight face at the notion that was sculpting a butt on his chin. And more importantly that he let her. But soon he was sputtering and spitting in laughter. He scraped it off and used the clay to make his nose bigger. "Handsome bugger, aren't I?" he laughed. Taking more clay from the sculpture, he put them both on her cheeks and made them round and fat. "Good gods!"
Jinai snorted.
"Are you trying to put boobs on my cheeks?"
"Not at all Mrs. Armand, I am merely trying to give your face a more rounded look. It's all the rage you know," Jude snickered and drooped the clay to make them look more like jowles.
Jinai laughed and tried to push his hands away.
"More rounded, like boobs!" she childishly pressed, but blinked and looked up at him while trying to yank the clay from his fingers.
"And what do you mean Mrs. Armand?"
"Oh don't act like you forgot all ready. That botched wedding ceremony! It's not likely we're really married, I only tease at the thought. But if it went through technically this might be considered our honeymoon," Jude smirked as he slapped more clay onto her body.
Jinai gasped at the cold sensation of clay against her skin.
"Well it was a fake, so if you wanted to marry me, you might have to try again..." she told him, smearing off the clay from her and slapping it onto his belly, but remained close by as her hands slid down lower.
"You know, you might look good as a statue," she told him, grinning wistfully at the idea.
"Maybe so," he smirked. "I might give it some consideration... Would you? Marry me that is if we...didn't live the lives we lived? If we were regular people?" He leaned in closer to her, but not before taking her clay covered hands, grabbing her by the wrists and sliding them up along his body, toward his chest, then back down below toward his hips.
Jinai looked up into his eyes.
"Regular people?" she said, smirking and purposely avoiding the question as a subtle blush graced her cheeks.
"Y'know...people, concerned with the troubles of paying taxes and going to a daily job, or a trade and going to ...church," he laughed a little. He trained her hands to encircle his hips, guided her hands down them. Clay smeared all across his bodies and he leaned down into her, touched his hardened stomach to hers.
Jinai smirked, feeling her hands- now slick with clay, easily slide over his skin and coated him in it's texture. She found she rather liked the feeling, and slowly let her hands rise up along his sides again.
"You know, you're going to look like of those Serenian statues if we keep this up," she told him, lips close to his. "Perfect, hard as stone, even the color of it," she teased, leaning in and letting her lips tickle against his as her hands continued to move up, now smoothing along his back and coating it lightly in the slick clay.
"It's molding clay," Jude purred against her lips, almost whimpering. "It won't get hard until you put it in a kiln for a few hours. Oops...sorry if something is a little prematurely...um, hard." He smirked at her and reached back to grab some more clay, smearing it up along her back. "This is way better than that statue."
"That's because...." she began, taking his hand and guiding them to her breasts. "These clay boobs are real." And before he could retort she kissed him hotly, and with need.
"We might need to be careful if we have sex again. I'm as hot as a kiln," she told him through a purr.
Jude whimpered a little beneath the power of her kiss. "Gods..." he murmured, his knees buckling a little. His sex could feel her heat, as close as they were. His hips pressed close to hers and he was low enough to slide alongside her.
His clay covered hands slathered along her breasts, rounding them out at their tips. "Oh yeah? You need to be careful... I could split you in two," he teased, smirking against her lips.
She adored the feeling of his hands- slick and massaging over her breasts. It sent a shiver through her. ANd at his comment, her green eyes sparkled.
"I'd like to see you try."
"Thou shall not tempt a god..." He couldn't hold back his laughter from that and he let his hands continue to course down her arms before sliding back up to her face. He cupped her cheeks and slathered it there, then grabbed either side of her head and kissed her with all the yearning he could muster.
She moaned at his affections, letting his rock hard dick slide along the hot, slick slit of her sex. It felt wonderful as it massaged her, and time to time, just the tip of him began to prod her as she gasped at such a sensation to feel his naked sex against her own.
It had been far too long since they had come together like that. The heat of her sex made him quiver and quake. "There must be a god," he murmured. "Because you feel like heaven. Don't...don't stop." He whimpered against her lips, his hands, now sliding down to her hips and held her against him, moving along with her in teasing her. His lips hovered over hers, but he refrained from kissing her. The feel of her breath on his skin was all he needed to enter insanity.
Insanity wasn't the only thing he might be entering as their bodies moved in tune, and his dick slid along her as she moaned in pleasure. With her body tight against his, and their lips so close together- it was hard to tell what was real, what was almost;a nd how long she could hold back. She was hot as a volcano, her sex like liquid fire as she nearly enveloped him as his length stroked and stroked her until she whimpered, her will to restrain, breaking.
"Gods, fuck me, Jude. Fuck me hard."
"I want to...Gods..." he murmured, but still he didn't. He bit his lip and moving her back against the wall until her back hit a wet painting. Still he continued to tease until he heard her whimper, pleading, begging. "You feel so good, Jinai..." His lips finally kissed her, devouring her lips, chewing on them, pulling them with increasing hunger.
He was driving her crazy and her body was on fire. She craned her neck to one side and moaned.
"Gods.. Jude.." She held onto him tightly. "Do I have to beg?"
"It certainly wouldn't hurt," Jude breathed against her neck. He kissed her skin, sucking along her throat as he teased her, sliding in a little deeper than before, but sliding back out soon enough.
She gasped at feeling more of his length, her eyes fluttering closed and her back tensing against the painting.
"Gods.."s he murmured. "Keep this up, and I might just have to marry you,"s he breathed.
Jude laughed and turned to nurse at her neck the other way. "You know..you'll have to tell me when you're about to climax...I might not be able to hold the trigger afterward," he panted against her lips. He drove home, sinking into her heat with increasing intensity. He moaned loudly at being within her all the way and began to pump in and ou excrutiatingly slowly.
Jinai whimpered and moaned at length when she finally got what she wanted. And her sex quivered and tightened around him, gripping him fierce, like a glove.
"Wh.. why would I tell you that?" she said through pants and a smile as he peered at him through half-lids. "Then this.. this will end. And I want us to fuck forever."
"Oh I hate you sometimes y'know," Jude said with a playful smirk, fucking her slowly continuing to tease her even as she held him fierce. "You would make me forget to pull out for your own kicks."
She panted, her lips quivering with need.
"I... I can't help but be selfish," she whispered through a hot breath.
"Gods, Jude.. just fuck me," she whined, her eyes closing tighter as finger nails bit through his skin and any clay in between.
"But this..I thought you wanted this to go on forever," Jude pouted. But his grin turned wicked. "I could go on forever like this."
She smiled through a sigh at his words. "Gods.." And she couldn't take it anymore as her body melted into heaven as she slumped into a pile of contentment against the painting.
Jude focused more now on hitting all of her spots that made her quiver and moan the most, moving slower, powerfully. He kissed her, breathing hotly against her skin, biting on her lower lip as he kissed her deeply. There were moments when even he couldn't take it and began to move a little faster, but knew he wanted to keep her most at his mercy and moved slower once again.
She was more than at his mercy,s he was melting at his sin. Everything he did, every way he moved- she adored it, thrived in it, and moaned. She felt her fires rebuild and begin to rise, and her chest swelled as she began to heave with breath.
"Gods... Jude.." she buried her face against him and shivered as he teased her. It was beautiful, wonderful- and there was no cure. It was like a disease, and Jude Armand would remain her incurable love forever.
"Jinai...tell me you love me... Tell me you want me... Gods." He was whimpering at his own ministrations and felt his knees buckle beneath him. He caught himself just in time, and pressed his face into her shoulder as he began to move faster, holding her to the wall, steadying himself and holding her body as if it were the last thing grounding him to the earth.
Jinai cried out in pleasure. He drove into her like a knife, and the pleasure was immeasurable. And at his words, his request- it drove her wild. Hooking her legs around him she moaned.
"Gods Jude."
ANd her lips sealed to his before her eyes opened to peer into his.
"But you already know I do."
He was sweating heavily through the clay that covered the both of them. "I know..." he panted, "but I just want to hear you say it. J-Jinai...gods..." He groaned and moved them down to the floor, holding her legs around his hips until they sealed their bodies together and the movement was in unison. "I always want to hold you in my arms," he panted again. "I always want to be yours..."
Jinai looked at him when he spoke. His face, the heat, the pleasure, his words..
It was enough to make her eyes sparkle with tears as she kissed him fierce.
"But you know I love you," she told him through a moaned whine.
"But I'll say it again."
She panted.
"I love you."
She cupped his face.
"I will always be yours."
"Oh..Jinai!" he cried out, in a mix of emotion and pleasure and homed into her, growing furious, impassioned, kissing her as fiercely as he felt.
Now she moved with need, her own body as fierce as his as she clutched onto whatever she saw before she was seeing white and crying out in ecstasy as her body jerked forward and her sex spasmed with heat. It was heaven, in every sense of the word- and it was exactly where she wanted to be.
Jude groaned at her orgasm, his body shuddering with it. She should have warned him and it was nearly too late as he came, and he pulled out midway, clutching onto her tightly, desperately until he was through. "I-....I told you to warn me...." he panted, but he knew better than to blame her. "I know you were too busy screaming."
She felt his hot seed shoot into her, and then all over her as he pulled out and let his own orgasm rush across her body in a mess. She didn't care. Not in that moment, all she could do was pant and breath.
"Y-yeah," she told him after a time as she panted and tried to catch her breath. She licked her dry lips and smirked up at him. "But it sure as hell felt good."
When Jude melted into his exhaustion, he weakly held himself over her and smiled. "Though...we'll have to visit an apothecary, just to be sure," he commented idly. He laid his head down onto her breast, listening to her heartbeat, letting it soothe him, and it sounded in tune with his.
"Yeah... but later," she told him tiredly as she closed her eyes. "I just want to lay here and enjoy this."
Jude, exhausted to the bone leaned up and gently kissed her on the nose then her lips. "I kinda like the floor too," he said, rolling off of her and laying down on his side. He closed his eyes and sighed, relaxing on the tarp.
She smirked and nestled into him, sighing contentedly while breathing in his smells.
"So you know, I'll tease you forever about these paintings," she told him through a contented sigh. Then one eye peeked at him as she added, "And that attempt at a statue.."
"You wouldn't!" Jude pouted, this time a little more than before. "You know if my whole life was spent on that farm...I probably would have run away from home to become a famous painter. That would have been my dream."
Jinai peered up at him.
"And you think you could get famous off of paintings of me?" she said with a snort.
"No, not at all. I don't think I would have met you if I didn't become a prostitute, frankly. Some things do turn out for the better even if you don't see it right away," he murmured, closing his eyes briefly. "Those paintings came from dreams I had of you, sometimes. But with you here now, maybe I won't have to paint them...since I'd much rather have the real thing."
"What? Not going to try to paint me when you have the real thing here? Maybe then you can get my nose right," she told him with a smirk.
"Paint you... You want me to paint you? I"ll paint you!" Jude suddenly rolled over and took a set of paints he had on a table beside them and threw them on her, taking a few brushes and slathering them all over her back, holding her down with one arm as he tickled the brushes along her skin.
Jinai let out a yelp and cry before she was laughing uncontrollably.
"J...JUDE!!!!" she wailed, punching at his arm, hwich was a failed attempted as she bucked like a mule, frantically trying to get away- though her laughter made her weak, but hysterical.
Jude was merciless and ran the paint all over her, or as much of her body surface that he could cover. He laughed until he fell on his belly, landing on her and rolling off of her legs, unable to control his own laughter, and his belly hurt because of it.
Now slick and coated with clay and paint, Jinai too, collapsed onto the ground beside him- but not before pinching his arm- hard.
"You're a jerk," she told him, but kissed him anyway.
"And you're...statuesque," Jude smirked, grinning at her. "We should really take a bath and clean up for the day. It's already light out."
Jinai kissed him again, but tried to make it seem as if she did it to get him to shut up.
"Who siad I wanted a bath?" and she stretched out and admired the way her body was covered in paint. "Perhaps I should stay like this- after all, wouldn't it be ruining the canvas?"
Jude sat up and raised a brow at her. "If you fee comfortable enough with yourself to walk around like that then I'd be happy to have you on my arm," he smirked. "Though I'd be happier too if you decided not to stain my suit instead."
"So are you saying I'd be a stain on your suit?"
"More like a stain on my linens." he teased.
Jinai grinned. "Not if you aren't wearing them."
"For you? I'd keep them off all day. They're such an inconvenience then. Though you have to admit...undressing someone before sex is all apart of the thrill."
Jinai smirked and kissed at his neck before whispering into his ear, "You can say that again."
Jude shivered from the kiss and turned a smile to her. He bit his lip through a smile and he leaned in to kiss her painted neck, leaving splashes of red and yellow and blue all slathered across his cheek and lips.
"So, what were your plans today before I ruined your little secret?" she said, nestling in beside him and taking her painted fingers and giving him a blue-mixed mustache.
Jude helped her along by painting a red beard along her cheeks. "I was thinking of meeting Renna for lunch today. At this lovely little cafe just on the otherside of the market. Would you like to come?"
"Renna?" The name of their mutual courtesan friend raised a brow. "What's going on that you'd want to meet with her?"
"Oh, well we are friends aren't we?" Jude said playfully. "I can't have lung with her? Just a casual meeting between friends is all. We don't have anything going on, on the side." He winked at her, not that he thought she would believe that. "Besides, we meet up once in a while to exchange the latest gossip. Can't leave things to chance you know."
OOC: loool lung 8D
----
"Well, I already knew that much- but it only begs the question if the pair of you aren't trying to get into more trouble." And she gave Jude a suspicious once over.
"Well you know I'd never try to get into trouble, Jinai. It always just seems to fall into my lap," he murmured, leaning in and kissing her neck. He peered at her with half-lidded eyes. "Would you care to join us? The offer still stands. I'm sure she's worried about you."
"Well if you put it that way," she told him through a kiss. "But you have to clean me up, first." And her grin grew wider before she kissed him again.
"I don't mind at all. I have a tub filled with water, waiting just for you. Well, it was for me, but you get the idea. C'mere!" Jude grinned before standing up, and yanked her up over his shoulder, running downstairs.
Jinai let out a squeak.
"J-Jude!" but she was laughing anyhow.
"Dont' drop me! ANd watch my head!"
He didn't care that he made a mess, or spilled water everywhere when he threw her big butt into the tub. He soon joined her, at least enough to sit at the edge of the tub and just had his feet in the water. "Oh, I'm going to make you look fabulous. You'll be positively glowing!" And suddenly he was upon her, scrubbing her hair with bath oils and making them bubble up.
"Ack! JUDE!" JInai bristled, not certain she liked this sort of attention. She got away enough from his grasp and shook her hair out like a wet dog.
"Ugh, you got those oils in my eyes!"
Jude sat back and blew raspberries at her. "Sorry. I didn't realize you were so sensitive," he smirked at her and poured some oils into his hand from the rack of wash regiments and scrubbed it into his own hair. "Gah this feels nice. I was working all night and was too tired to bathe."
JInai rinsed off her face before making a face at Jude and splashing water towards his head.
"Hey, you're not finished. What about the rest of me?"
Jude pushed back the bubbles in his hair and smirked at Jinai. "Fine. I'll be gentle this time. I thought you liked it rough," he sneered at her and giggled as he moved back toward her, pouring more oils into his hand and taking her took her arms into his hands and ran them along her, gently scrubbing off the clay and paint. "You got paint in your teeth. They look like red blocks."
"It must've been when I was biting at your neck. You still have a painted beard," she informed him with a grin and went to polish away what paint she could from her teeth.
"I'll scrub it off before we leave," he said, and continued washing the paint and clay from her body until the water was multicolored. "After you it's my turn."
"What? Why?" She said, her grin widening. "I think you look rather sexy with a colored beard."
"Nonsense! Don't try to flatter me after criticizing my art," Jude stuck his tongue out at her. But he laughed nonetheless and scrubbed her underarms... "Do you need to borrow my razor?"
"What for?" she said with a laugh. "To shave off you beard?"
She lazily let him scrub her down some more before she grinned.
"Besides, as an artist, you need to learn to take some criticism."
"I better not quit my night job then," he laughed. "You're a little...stubbly." And snickered harshly.
Jinai gasped at his words and leaned back to shove her sopping wet foot on his face.
"Then get to working on it," she said with a laugh. "Besides," she said with a blush as she looked away. "I only ever really shaved for you.."
He laughed and tickled the bottom of her foot. "This isn't the first time a woman's asked me to shave them Though this is the first time, a good looking woman's asked me to shave them," he snicked as he got out his straight razor and the soap. "Then you can shave me. My face that is. I wouldn't trust anyone else with a straight razor around my dick."
Jinai laughed.
"Trust me I wouldn't cut up that jewel." And she stretched out her glistening wet leg for him as she relaxed back in the tub. "But I don't know if I'd trust me arund your face." She gave a laugh. "I've never shaved a man before."
Jude carefully slathered her leg with the soap after washing the paint and clay off and carefully scraped the edge across her skin. "Perhaps it might be a decent skill to learn. You never know what you might need to take a blade to someone's throat...and give them a real close shave...real close." He smirked and finished just behind her calf and up to her knee. "Trust me there's nothing to it."
Jinai watched him work, eyes following his as the blade scraped away the soap and left her legs gleaming and soft. Her eyes then went to his.
"And you'd trust me with a blade so close to your neck?"
"I'd trust you with my heart. That is more dear to me than my beard," he said with a small ounce of humor. "Of course I trust you. How could you even question such a thing."
Jinai stared at him for a while. Despite his joke, he had turned so serious. She only laughed in return.
"I don't know! I know I wouldn't trust me!"
"I'm thankful for that too," he smirked and switched legs. "Besides if you're that nervous about it, I'll do it myself. You can wash the paint from my face."
Jinai was still all smiles as it faded when she tilted her head at him.
"Do you really trust me that much?" She tilted her head the other waya d eyed him up.
"I suppose I could give it a try.." and she took her hand and gently stroked her hand against his stubble. "I do know your face rather well...." And she lifted her gaze from his chin and lips up to his green eyes.
"Almost well enough if I knew how to work with clay, I could sculpt your face blindly."
He was silent for the longest time. "Don't make me hold you to it," he murmured then leaned forward and kissed her. "But how about this, you shave one side of my face, then I'll shave the other. If you feel comfortable enough with the first side, I'll let you shave both." He had finished with her legs and cleaned the blade on the towle beside the tub. He scrubbed off the paint and clay and doused his face in the creamy soap. "You're turn." He calmly handed her the blade.
Jinai stared at the blade, then stared at Jude. Carefully, she picked herself up from the waters and sat near to him- not seeming to mind the fact she was naked, cold and wet. Her focus was on his face, where his jaw angled, where it met to his neck-
Then hesitantly, she took the razor to it and lightly scraped off one section of soap and scruff- then gently, softly, worked at removing another section with an expression so serious, and a look so calm- it was perhaps, a new sort of expression or look for Jinai.
Jude was perfectly still, like a stone statue as she carefully shaved his cheek. He didn't even breathe loudly before it was time enough to do so. "You're doing great, Jinai, see?" he murmured and gave her a smile with his eyes. "Just clean the blade off on the towel is all you have to do. Easy."
Wiping the blade, her eyes sparkled as she held it back up to him- and the gesture seemed to start off playful- as if she were goign to place it to his throat, but instead, too it ot his other cheek.
"Just hold still- I think I can get the rest of this."
"I'm holding still. Trust me, this isn't the first time I've had a blade pressed to my throat. But it is the first one that I've had sex with and pressed a blade to my skin," he smirked a little and held ever more still. "I can't have any nicks, remember that. I'm gorgeous."
Jinai paused after she had taken the razor to one section of his face and smirked.
"Are you saying you want to have sex again right now?"
"Just concentrate will ya?" he smirked and splashed a little bit of water at her. "Oh, and I forgot to shave your pits. You should do that after this."
"Maybe I should shave your pits," she threatened with a grin, and moved the razor over the last two places across his face and he inspected it with a subtle sparkle to her eyes.
"There, smooth as a baby's bottom."
"Baby's are not smooth. They're fat and full of wrinkles!" Jude quipped and glowered. "But you did some nice work." He felt along his cheeks and took the razor to shave his neck, carefully cutting at the scruff there.
Jinai smirked.
"And if we would have had a baby, it would have been the fattest and wrinkliest of them all."
Though she joked, her smile did not quite reach her eyes as she stared at him, green eyes hollowed and the subtle threat of tears ever present.
"If we had had a baby...they'd be the prettiest baby in all the damn country," he said and finished the last stroke of soap on his face. He saw her eyes and his expression was solemn. He said nothing as he reached forward and pulled her against his chest, hugging her gently to him.
Jinai felt numbed to his gesture as she shamefully blinked back tears.
"Yea but probably the worst cared for," she mocked, and tried to wipe back her tears, but they kept on coming. Gods- why did it still hurt?
"No. No, not at all. My father was never there for me when I was young. Why would I do the same to a child of my own. I would care for them, or I know someone who could keep them safe and in good hands. I would never leave them. I wouldn't leave you either," he murmured, holding her tighter.
The idea confused her. She never wanted children- not from him, not from anyone. But she was still mourning over her mistake. She didn't even know if the child was his-
But something in her gut told her it had been.
"I wouldn't challenge how you'd fair. You're too good to me," she muttered, shamefully looking away. "But I wouldn't be the best mother in the whole world." And her lips trembled as her frown deepened. "And a child would ruin both of our lives." Why would he make such promises at an idea that would wreck them both?
Still, Jude held her and brushed her hair from her face. "I never said I wanted a child, but I'm just saying I would be there for you... No matter what you decided. And you're wrong. I'm not too good to you. I'm exactly what you deserve."
His words were all it took for her to break. Her lips broke open, trembling before a gasp was released and she began to sob.
"But I don't deserve anything."
And it wasn't fair for anyone to fall for her- or she for them-
But it was what it was- and she found this love just could not go away. And though it hurt, she also knew it felt too good-
and that everything he said was right, even though everything he said confused the hell out of her when in the same breath, made complete sense.
"Yes you do," Jude said. There was no more to say as he pulled her as tight as he could into his arms.
Jinai sobbed into him. She had always battled with self-worth; the ranger and spy taking on anything to help 'the cause'- though never seeming to know how to feel in the end. It had always been for her brother. And now he was gone. And all that was left was her... and Jude.
"Er.. I'm sorry," she said, trying to brush away her tears. "I guess I'm still just as bad off as I always was."
"You have nothing to be be sorry for," he replied. "But it's not as bad as before. I'm here, Jinai. I'll always be here for you, don't forget that."
"Yeah well..." she laughed at herself and tried to brush back her tears as she shook her head. "We should probably get dressed. I thought Renna was waiting."
"I don't think she minds very much. It's Renna after all," he murmured, leaning down and kissing her forehead for good long moment. "But we should probably shave those pits first."
When that was done Jude helped Jinai out of the water and wrapped a towel around her. "What are you going to wear?"
"I guess just a towel," she said with a laugh. "Though I didn't consider you'd ruin my clothing by covering them with clay and paint." But her eyes sparkled, show casing she was not in the least bit upset about that. "Maybe I'll just wear something of yours."
"Thankfully I just ruined your regular skin," Jude remarked with a grin. "But you'd look awfully handsome in a suit, I wouldn't mind lending you something to wear." He kissed her temple and took a towel to drape around his waist.
[They were both naked remember?]
OOC: It took me a while to get what you were saying but.. OH YEAH
they were 8D
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Jinai smirked.
"I probably would." She jutted out her chin, as if to ask him to challenge her- even though he agreed. "Lead the way, sexy butt," and she slapped his ass and gestured for him to lead.
"Well you have to hold onto it first! What if someone stole it on our way downstairs?" he smirked at her and took both of her hands and planted them on either side of his behind, walking back upstairs to his room.
"Yeah, but what if you fart? Give me back my hands, Jude!" she said through a laugh and tried to pry her hands free.
"Hush your complaining woman." Jude guided her up the stairs and to his room before letting her go. "I still have a few of those dresses we had made for you, Lady Thames," he murmured. "But pick whatever suits your hearts content." And opened up his wardrobe.
Jinai brushed passed him, looking at his clothes.
"Dresses? I think I'd rather just stick with one of your suits," she said, and lifted up one white sleeves of a shirt and khaki colored slacks to match. "Maybe something simple like this. And I could wear my hair.." and she swept it up into her hands and turned to him as it gathered upon her head. "Up."
"Don't forget I'm a wanted woman."
Jude quirked a brow at her. "I didn't forget," he replied. He rummaged through his clothes and found a matching jacket. "Were you looking for facial hair too? We'll have to tie down your breasts as well if you were looking to disguise yourself as a man."
"A beard? Why? Do you think I'd look good with a beard?" she asked, accepting the jacket.
"It would certainly work better than lip tint," he smirked. "I have a few fake mustaches somewhere down in my office. We could take a look."
The idea laughed.
"Do I want to know why you own those? Do you fuck women who really have that sort of a fetish?'
Or maybe men
"Oh come off it," he smirked. "Sometimes a woman likes a little roleplay. It's fun sometimes, though admittedly I always prefer to be clean shaven. Regardless, putting on a fake beard or mustache isn't one of the brighter sides of my work. But for now they can come in handy. That and...you never know just when you need a proper disguise to get into places a man-for-hire isn't supposed to be."
Jinai rose a brow.
"And just how much sneaking have you been doing?" she asked, amused. "Got any more little black books?"
He smirked, amused. "I only need the one," he murmured. "But sneaking around is really just a way to occupy my time."
"Then I guess I haven't done my job yet..," she said, peering over his body appreciatively before she began to slip into his clothes. "So are you that bored that you like spying?"S he turned from him ad worked at her hair, pinning it up on top of her head before asking, "Do you have anything I can use to keep it up?" Maybe he had a hat or something, or a scarf. Maybe some hair pins- though seh wasn't sure. She frowned. "Still looks too feminine."
"Here let me try," Jude said, ignoring her other questions for the moment. He pulled her hair back, but left a few wisps in front and took a pen from a drawer and bundled it on her head and stuck it in there to keep it up. "I have a few hats you could pick from. I don't like them personally myself, but I think you'd look absolutely dashing."
She knew he avoided it- so she kept it at that and tried on one hat with a smirk.
"I think the nose helps. I could pull off being a pretty boy.. just like you." And she turned around to smile at him. "So where's my face hair?"
"This way," he muttered and pulled out two scraps of hair from a drawer and a bottle of adhesive to stick it to her face. "Just let me get a mirror."
Jinai took a moment to look at a few other misc. jars he had lined up on his dresser while he went to fetch a mirror for her mustache.
"Are these.. drugs?"s he asked, lifting one and staring at the bottle in thoughtful silence.
Jude returned with the mirror underneath his arm and he moved across to her, shrugging at the vials. "Those are my elixirs," he said. "I have to find a way to keep myself healthy somehow y'know."
She wasn't sure if she should tell.him, that since her attempted suicide with an overdose had forced her away from all.sorts of medicine- for she was warned and also feared the result. But now that she needed one for birth control... Perhaps it was best she didn't think about it. They weren't the same drugs. She had to keep telling herself that.
He saw her eyes and a shadow passed over his. Jude stepped forward and reached the vial in her hand, gently putting it back and pulling her away from his exilirs. "Don't listen to that familiar itch. Gods...Jinai. I know I can't make you do anything and I wouldn't want too...but I worry so much about you. That you're bad habit won't cause you to hurt yourself someday.... Perhaps beyond repair!" Jude's face turned red and he sat down on the bed and felt tears welling up in his eyes. He buried his face in his hands and tried swallow away the knot in his throat.
Jinai remained staring distantly passed the elixir's. She didn't say anything, she didn't know what to say. But her eyes, while looking at them, were staring through them.
"Yeah well.. they haven't gotten me yet."She muttered, feeling awkward since she knew she drew attention to something that made him upset.
"Let's just.. get this mustache on and meet with Renna." But when she turned around, she paused and felt a cold stone in her belly. Jude was in tears and all she could do was awkwardly stare.
If Jude had known the method with which she had an attempt on her own life, he would have been angry beyond all reason. Anger to rival the very wrath of God, himself. Jude wiped his eyes and felt himself grow cold, looking at Jinai with stony eyes. "Yeah," he agreed. "Let's." He applied the adhesive and carefully stuck the facial hair on her, then slipped the hat on her head. "There." It was his turn to get dressed and quickly threw on a suit of navy blue with gorgeous black boots to match and threw on an over coat. He gestured to the door. "After you."
Now both of them dressed as men (though one with an itchy upper lip) as Jinai scratched at the fake mustache, she remained uncharacteristically silent in their stroll.
Jude still walked beside Jinai and let his anger stem away. He had never been one to hold a grudge, not for such petty things at least. He would have held her hand if they weren't both dressed as men, but as it were, they didn't have long before they ended up at the little café down the street. "Ah, there's Renna. She's going to be happy to see you," he whispered with a forced smile.
Jinai just shrugged and the moment Jude walked into the door, Renna lifted her gaze and smiled at him, but made a face at the man next to him and gave a curious tilt of her head.
"Hello, Mr. Armand."s he said, and scooted over to allow them room. She wasn't expecting an extra guest.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cartriste!" Jude said, beaming as he leaned down and kissed Renna on both cheeks before turning to the man beside him. "I thought it'd be nice to bring an old friend along. Please let me introduce my friend Mr Ren Gates." Instictively, Jude pulled a chair out for Jinai and helped her sit down before taking a seat beside her. "I believe it's safe to say, you two have met before."
Renna made a face, and it took a moment but as the name sunk in- she gasped and backed up into her chair.
"J-JINAI!?" her eyes wavered at the realization but when Jinai flashed her that grin- even the mustache could't fool her as she threw her arms at her. "Oh, Jinai! I'm so glad to see you!" ANd as Renna clung onto Jinai in a hug, Jinai peered over at Jude to give him an inquisitive look.
But all Jinai would recieve was a warm smile and his eyes seemed almost shy looking at her. Renna was so forgiving, so loving, had so much warmth to her... Jude didn't know how she did it. When he saw Renna hugging her, he felt his own anger at Jinai slowly begin to fade, but he felt to awkward to say anything. So instead he turned his eyes down and pulled out a cigar from the cigar case in his pocket and fumbled with his matches.
"Careful, Renna, you'll knock off my mustache," Jinai grumbled.
But Renna still hugged her a few more moments before pulling away.
"Oh, I was so worried about you. Both of you. I'm glad to see you're back."
"Yes, well, me too,"s he said awkwardly, smoothing down her attire as she cleared her throat and peered over at Jude, then to the table. "So we're all here to meet for tea?"
"And crumpets. But I'm not allowed to have any. Renna says I'm getting fat," Jude smirked as he puffed on his cigar. "But I could go for a brandy. And you Mr. Gates?"
Jinai shot Jude a look and hesitated before looking back down at the table.
"His ass is getting big." Then she shook her head. "Just tea for me."
But how much she wanted alcohol. This felt so weird.
Jude peered at Jinai and puffed silently on his cigar for a while. "Um Renna. You know how things are for people like us. We can't ever be too careful. So...you wouldn't happen to have one of those little...failsafes on you at the moment would you? Just asking." Jude flicked his eyes to the mustached woman and relaxed, his hand slipped from the table when their drinks came and he reached for her thigh, patting her leg to let her know he hoped she would forgive him for carrying on so.
At the comment, Renna gasped and Jinai averted both their gazes, she even pushed Jude's hand away. She wasn't in the mood.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I do have one on me." She looked from Jude to Jinai before producing it from her purse and set it lightly on the table. "This one you only have to take a few sips and it-" but before Renna fnished her statement, Jinai just knocked it back and returned it to the table.
"Here, in case you want to use it to get a refill."
Jude gave a sigh at the gesture and calmly reached for his brandy. "Things couldn't be better," he smirked and took a sip. "So how are you Renna? How is your...very secret friend?" And he waggled his eyebrows knowingly.
Renna gave him a light kick.
"Jude." She shook her head. "He's just fine!" And she gave a dainty sip of her tea. "And I'd ask how your secret friend is fairing, but I see you're both back together, so I guess things are great!" Renna was beaming.
Jinai just looked at her tea.
"Yeah... great."
"So what are you two up to? Surely you've got some other sort of adventure planned. BUt you know how Jinai is. Always the adventurous one!"
"Actually, I think it's safe to say we're both on a bit of a break. We deserve it after all we've been through. Just a bit of peace and the like," Jude said thoughtfully, chewing a bit on his cigar. "But what's this I hear Renna. You've said you've been a busy little bee. You've been fooling around with the Captain of the City Guard. His wife tells me she knows he's got some woman on the side." He gave her a coy smile. "I'm sure you've got some juicy details, do I have to wine and dine you to get you to spill the beans."
Renna gave a coy smile in return.
"The captain and his brother. Seems the stresses of the war affects a lot of men. Even the married. But hey, it pays the bills and well... gets me some intel." She giggled at that. "But I'm sure you'd be too bored about that. What- after the beach party I heard you two just had.."
It was Jude's turn to blush and he stumbled on his words for a while. "Uh. Well. How in the hell did you hear about that?" he asked. Then looked over to Jinai. "We...we had fun. I remember. I had quite a good time." He frowned a little and took another long drag on his cigar. "Well I suppose that kind of info dribbles down the grapevine."
Renna giggled.
"You might be surprised, but I'm friends with a certain man named Asher.... and his.. acquaintance has told me alot."
Jude brightened a little, but he still looked at Jinai from the corner of his eye. "I shoulda know. All you lot know each other one way or so. I suppose he didn't tell you that he was having a little party of his own." Jude peered turned to Jinai and slowly pushed his drink in front of her. "You can have some of mind if you want."
Jinai was peering off in thought and didn't even notice and Renna went on.
"Oh trust me, Maudy told me all about it."
It was only at Maudy's name did Jinai look up.
"Maudy?" She shoulda known. She simply pushed the drink back to Jude. She was avoiding alcohol too and she already wasn't sure how well that elixir she knocked back would be handled on her stomach- but her stomach was already giving her problems due to her nerves.
"I guess your friends really know how to get around," Jude murmured and took his drink back, sipping it thoughtfully before sneaking a crumpet.
Renna slapped Jude's hand.
"No crumpets!" she giggled. "Didn't Jinai and I both say you were getting a big butt?"
"Ow!" Jude said, dropping the crumpet. "I am not! Besides it's just one!" And he reached for one yet again.
Jinai smirked and stopped Renna's hand from slapping Jude's again.
"Just let him eat it. He knows I like his big ass."
Jude cut his eyes to the bearded lady and he gave her a small smile and took one for himself. "Please, a spot of tea." A cup was poured for him and he put in one cube of sugar, sipping it a little with another bite of the crumpet.
"Why not add more sugar? It'll add to that big butt I love so much," she teased and tossed int another lump of sugar, just to harass him.
Jude gave a slight pause at watching her throw another clump of sugar into his tea. "Um..thank you," he said with some hesitation evident in his voice. He chewed on his lip and took a sip. "Of course, it's just a bit of sugar. I think that's enough though."
Jinai smirked and tossed a lump of sugar onto his lap before going back to her own tea.
"So it looks like you've been busy figuring out what we've been up to.. how about yourself, Renna? Anything new?"
Renna's smile dimpled her cheeks.
"Oh some things new here or there.."
and casually, she slipped a piece of paper over to Jude.
Jude idly brushed it off before turning to the note Renna set before him. He smirked and pulled it discreetly over into his hand before opening it in his lap. He gave a few giggles and reached out with his other hand and pulled Renna's hand into his own, kissing the top of it. "I knew I didn't have to wine and dine you," he murmured and let it go.
Jinai raised a brow and leaned in, just subtly closer to Jude.
"Passing notes?" she whispered, but when the woman came back to refill their tea, Jinai righted herself back in her chair, not realizing, long after the serving lady vanished, that her mustache was beginning to peel off.
Jude glanced at her from the side and sat straighter, folding the note and putting it into his pocket. "Thank you Renna," he smirked and then looked at Jinai. He stuck a finger into his mouth, popped it out before reaching across to wipe her exposed lip and discreetly stick the mustache back onto her lip. "Do be careful darling, wouldn't want people thinking you were wanted do you?" He smirked at Jinai and nodded at his breastpocket.
"Just the matter of a little Captain of the Guard we were discussing earlier. Seems he has a friend in trouble. Maybe our vacation is over then eh? Back to the beat."
Jinai touched a hand to her mustache before glancing around the room with a frown.
"And our meeting might be at an end too.. see those men over there? They've been watching us since we've come in.."
But before Jinai could clarify her suspicion, Renna cleared her throat.
"That's... because one of them is my client. If you'll excuse me, I shan't be rude. Let me go say hello. He and I have.... chess to play.. later." And with a smile, she tucked in her chair and strolled off.
Jinai shook her head.
"You whores," she said with a playful, thoughtful smile.
"It was nice seeing you again, Renna," he smiled and waved his cup to her as she got up to leave and leaning back in his chair, sitting more relaxed into his chair. He sipped his tea and even dashed a little bit of brandy into the tea to give it some kick. He offered some to Jinai. "As you please, Mr. Gates. You look like you need a bit of a kick. That and we can speak more on the matter of the note if you want. Vacation was nice while it lasted, but people like us can never really rest can we?"
Jinai furrowed her brow deeply- she looked like an old man as she sat there, slouched in her chair with her hands folded before her, but at the offer of tea and brandy, she waved it off.
"I'm.. cutting back. Let's just get out of here." IF anything she coudl use a meal, but she was starting to feel a bit queasy. Seemed the elixir was starting to work. Maybe she could just ignore it's side effects.
Jude nodded and knocked back the rest of the drink and swallowed it's fire. He stood and helped her up from the table, paying the bill and walking out of the café. "Shall we go back to the house? You look awful. Let me fix you something to eat."
"Must be this mustache glue getting to my head," she muttered, forcing a smile.
"I don't know if I could eat. But we had a long morning. Maybe I just need to sleep it off."
Jude could tell when she was faking it. He gave her a curt nod and walked with her down the street toward the familar townhouse and he opened the door, stepping aside to let "him" through.
Once they were back inside his home, she didn't waste any time peeling off the mustache wtih a face.
"Ouch! I think this glue ripped off my skin!"
"I must've put a little too much. Sorry. Here, this'll help take it off. I hope," Jude walked over to his decanters on the table and wet a handkerchief with some whiskey before using it to gently wipe the glue from her lips. "There, lemme take that beard off too." He peeled it from her cheeks and wiped them clean. "There. Good as new."
When the whisky touched her raw skin, Jinai yelped and socked Jude.
"What the hell!? You trying to piss me off!? Angsar's name, Jude, GOD!" And she cupped her face where it was burning, ears prickling with tears as she danced about in pain.
"It fucking hurts like hell!!"
Jude reared back and held his jaw. "Hey! I'm only trying to help. The alcohol thins the glue!" He scowled at her and threw the rag back at the table. "I've done it a dozen times. You take it off yourself then." And stalked to the kitchen fix breakfast.
"You could of warned me!" she scowled, and once he was gone, she grumbled and yelped and worked at peeling off the rest of the glue, before angrily throwing herself onto a couch to mope over the pain.
It didn't take him long to comeback with a tray full of scrambled eggs and sausage and toast and two cups of tea, well nonspiked tea, and cream and sugar. He set it on the table in his sitting room and set the plates out. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
Like a lump, Jinai remained curled up on the couch, not bothering to move when Jude came in or spoke. Though she appeared as if she was sleeping, she wasn't as her eyes stared listlessly into the back of the couch, her back to him, hand draped over her forehead, keeping most of her heavy bangs out of her face.
Jude frowned a little at the sight of his lover not stirring even at a proper meal. Jude took off his jacket and laid it off to the side and took the hat from her head. He didn't know what was the matter. Or how he could help, but he simply draped his jacket over her shoulder and ate his food quietly.
Most of the queasiness had passed, but she was feeling irritable now more than she ought to. She was back with Jude, they had another adventure- shouldn't she resume her life as normal.
"You don't have to apologize," she finally replied, her voice a bit cracked as she sighed. "I'm just tired. I think I might need to sleep this off."
Maybe it was just the affects of the drugs..s he didn't know, but she felt irritable beyond reason and hated the sensation.
Jude ate quietly and peered ate her over a sip of tea. "It's all right," he replied. "Just sleep. I can put away the food and you can eat later. It's all right." He smiled and got up to give her a pillow to rest her head on.
Jinai didn't move for a while. She didn't even sleep, and after hours of simply staring at the backs of her eyes lids, she finally moved herself from the couch and nestled onto his lap.
"I feel so numb, Jude," she told him as she settled her head onto his lap. "I want to be happy that we're back together, but I can't help but feel I've cheat you. And cheated myself."
Jude had long finished breakfast, and served himself another cup of tea, leaning back to read a novel he pulled off the shelf and when she at last got up to join him, Jude did not stir or make any move to ward her away. His hand came down to rest on her head. He was silent still and peered at her with a sidelong glance.
"Cheated me from what?" he asked softly, pushing hair from her face.
"I don't know. About a lot of things. I'm not good at any of this, I never was. But I just left you. God, it was hard. All of those other times it seemed just natural, but then- I don't know. I was scared. Unhappy.. afraid." She frowned and closed her eyes. "And I never said goodbye."
Even though she knew she was leaving to try to kill herself. Perhaps part of her still hoped she would fail. And right now, she was still thanking the Gods she had.
Jude ran this hands through her hair, tucking it behind her ear, his expression solemn. "So what do you recommend I do? Cast you out?" he asked. "Do you not think I'm not angry with you for running away from me? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. You asked me to stay with you so I did. And then you just up and left. I am angry Jinai. I'm not immune to emotion. But I also care for you. That's why I stayed with you when you needed me most. And above all I just wanted you to come back to me...when you were ready. You didn't cheat me. I wouldn't ever think that you did."
"Heh, then you and I have different views," she told him through a dry laugh. But it was a forced one, and her voice was strained and quiet as she spoke.
"I left because I couldn't deal with you, or anyone anymore. I thought it would better- easier if I just wasn't apart of anything. The closer you get to something, the harder it is when you lose it. I didn't want to be the reason I lost you- or anything and I just thought... I don't know what I thought. But it was stupid." She blinked back a few tears she didn't want there. Damn them for hurting her eyes. She angrily brushed away some hair from her face.
"I learned that early on. That when you opened yourself up you get hurt. And this time around Jude, I just couldn't handle it. We could have died countless times, yet something kept us going- and I always hoped that was a sign but after Breakpoint... I guess nothing made sense. I just... wanted out. Of everything. Including myself. I honestly wanted to die- and now...."
She frowned and stared through hot tears that began to rise and cloud her vision.
"And now I'll always hate myself for it- and all those times before. Because I was stupid- and now I have to live with that- and it's too deep a part of me Jude- so I hesitated when I was... better. I wasn't sure I should have come back. But I guess I wanted to know." And she turned towards him, her green eyes somber, but the clarity of tears was evident as her eyes sparkled.
"But I think I already got the answer- ones I was too foolish to see."
Jude's brows furrowed intently at the revelation of such a thing. Jude sat up further, his eyes reddened and the sides of his cheeks moist where tears had trailed down. "You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Jinai. But I've wanted you to know all this time that you don't have to. I should kill you for what you tried to do to yourself. That you could be that low and selfish...but that wouldn't make me feel better. I don't know what more I can say..."
He was silent once again, and he wiped his eyes and cheeks. He forced a smile of his own and said nothing more, just laid his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. But his hand never left her face, and in fact moved closer to her cheek, his thumb running along her cheek bone.
She cracked a smile, her own tears now trailing down her cheeks.
"So you hate me that much, huh?"
It was Jude's turn to smirk and he put a hand around her throat and gave a mild squeeze. "I want throw you out a window and watch your brains splatter on the cobblestone," he murmured sensually. But his grip loosened and he started to giggle instead.
"Is that something you tell all of your clients? No wonder you're so popular. And here I thought it was your hips."
"Oh yes. I'm a high priced lover because I like to dangle my clients by a noose and whip them into ecstacy. Because that would turn anyone on," he muttered and flashed his teeth in a forced smile. But the amusement was there in his expression.
Jinai elbowed him lightly before peering up at him through a glossy eyed smile.
"I'm sure you have all of your lovers swooning."
"Mmmaybe. One or two. I have some regulars but I like to mix it up. Y'know how it is," he said, relaxing into the couch. "What's it to you? Jealous much?"
She gave a snorted laugh.
"Maybe- though I guess it gives you enough...practice."
Jude's eyes blinked open and he jerked his head down to her. "Why? Do I need practice?"
She smirked, closed her eyes- and said nothing.
Jude leaned his head down toward her and kissed her lips in an upside down kiss. "You would just leave me hanging there," he growled.
Jinai grinned.
"Don't I always?"
"Only when you want to be exceptionally cruel to me," he murmured, just a breath away from her lips.
"But I thought that's why you loved me," she replied, her lips tickling his as she spoke.
"Then I'm obviously a glutton for punishment," Jude murmured as he pecked her lips softly against his.
"A glutton and a fool," she murmured and pressed her lips softly back as she cupped his face.
"Well, you like to hang around me. What does that say about you?" he muttered between kisses.
"Two gluttons," she said through a kiss. "Two fools." And gave him another kiss.
Jude breathed against her lips and brushed them with soft kisses. "Two fools with no one else who could put up with them."
Jinia chuckled against his lips as her arms came around him.
"Just shut up and kiss me."
"Hmm..." He chuckled and his lips stopped short of hers. "Nah. I don't think I'll kiss you. You might try to surgically remove my tongue with your.s"
She playfully bit his lip, giving it a light tug.
"Or I'll remove your lips with my teeth."
"Neh!" he growled. "I'd like to see you try!"
"Is that a challenge?" she said, flashing her teeth in a smile.
"Do I have to spell it out for you?" he muttered and curled his lips into his mouth to protect them.
She poked a finger into his belly with a smirk.
Jude shook his head fiercely and pushed her hands away.
She made a jab for his armpits.
"N-no! Noo!" he yelped and jumped up. "Get away!"
When he jumped, she grabbed his butt.
"No! Backyou crone!" he jumped up from the couch and ran for the stairs.
Too bad she had a firm grip on his ass, then his leg as she clung onto him with a laugh as she pulled him down to the ground.
"Just give me those lips before I pinch them off!" she threatened, crawling over his now strewn form.
Jude stumbled to the ground, nearly smashing into the table and rolling off to the side. He tried to use his arms to crawl away on his arms. "Noooooo!" he giggled, stilly trying to get away.
Jinai grabbed his arms, so if he wanted to crawl he'd have to turn into a worm as she pressed her body into his and grinned, her face but a few inches from his own.
Jude's stomach hurt from all the laughter and he only wiggled underneath Jinai like a serpent and he kept his lips shut between his teeth?
"Give it to me!" she said, prodding his armpits with a pointy finger. "Or I'll have you pissing your pants from laughter!"
Jude's lips burst out in his laughter and he laughed until he couldn't breathe.
And when he tried t breath- she kissed him- and didn't stop kissing, except to let him sneak in a breath or two, but kept on kissing as she peeled his clothing from his shoulder and began to kiss at his neck.
Jude's giggles melted away beneath her kisses and he moaned lightly. "I thought you just wanted my lips?" he murmured, quivering underneath her attention.
"That was a rouse," she murmured against his shoulder as a hand slid up beneath his shirt to smooth across his belly. "I wanted everything."
Jude's belly was lit ablaze at her touch. He always liked it when Jinai took it upon herself to explore his body; chills coursed his spine at the thought of it. He opened his neck for her, his hands fumbling with the jacket he gave her and pushing it from her shoulders. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."
Jinai smirked and moved to pluck open the buttons on his chest as her hand now smoothed across his perfect chest before kisses soon followed it's trail.
His breath hitched at her touch. "Gods," he whispered. "Jinai..." He shivered and bit his lip as she kissed him. "You're still wearing too many clothes."
"What? Never made love through your clothes before?"s he murmured against his skin and began to grind her hips against his growing erection.
"Of course," he growled, biting his lip, groaning a little. "I just prefer to be naked. ... Gods... You're going to make me ruin my trousers..." Not that he minded very much.
Jinai grinned and continued to move her hips.
"Why? You planning to explode inside your pants?"
Jude smirked, teeth sinking further into his lip. "I may not have that option." His hands reached up and parted the collar of her borrowed shirt, plucking the buttons and reaching down to remove the cover they used to hold down her breasts.
Jinai laughed and continued to kiss his exposed skin.
"What? Can't control yourself around me? And her I thought you were a man hired for his sexual abilities.."
"Even a man like me can only contain himself so much around a woman like you," he groaned. He tilted his head back until his hands peeled off the cloth of the cover and her shirt from her shoulder and sealed his hands around her breasts.
Jinai laughed and sealed a kiss over his lips.
"So we're blaming me for this now?"
He moaned, his breath leaving him for the moment. "Blame you? Never! You're an angel!"
"Tch," she silenced him with another kiss. "Maybe only to you."
"You've got the face of an angel...but you fuck like a devil. That much I can vouch for," Jude smirked, kissing her back, wrapping his arms around her and undulating his hips against hers.
She panted through rough kisses as she smiled.
"Only a fool in love would claim that,"s he murmured, now working her teeth into his neck and shoulder.
"Are you calling me a fool?" he muttered through heavy breaths. "Says the woman trying to eat me alive."
She laughed through a moan.
"Says the man trying to fuck me through his clothes." And she purred the words out as she jutted out her chin.
Jude was growing hungry and she'd able to feel him through his trousers. "You started it," he growled and dug his teeth into her breast, lightly sucking on it.
Jinai quirked a brow, her eyes closed, her smile widening.
"So what if I did?" she breathed into his ears. "Keep this up I'm going to get both our pants wet..."
Jude growled and took his teeth to her breast, then moving his lips around it, up to her neck. "I think I'm way ahead of you," breathed, biting along her skin.
Jinai laughed.
"Getting ahead of yourself?" she said, tilting her head back as she reveled in the attentions on her skin and let her fingers rake down his body as she grinned.
"Oh shut...up," he grumbled and kissed up along her neck and stopping just at her collarbone. He chewed there for a moment, lapping at her skin, pulling up the cloth of her shirt that was tucked into the trousers, and feeling up the small of her back.
Jinai laughed softly against his face, his ears...
"You might have to scrub these pants down really good when Im done wearing them....."s he told him, and guided his hand between her legs. And she was ready for him, hot- and wet, soaking through his pants she wore as she grinned and nibbled on his lips before kissing him, and slipping her tongue into his mouth to wrestle with his.
"I'm ready whenever you are," she whispered through a nibble on his lips.
"You want me to feel through the cloth or something?" he asked with a haggard breath. Jude laughed in her ear and just continued to kiss her. He held her hip instead and was content with just feeling her up for the moment.
"No!" She barked a laugh. "I want you to feel what I've done to your pants." And she growled and nibbled at his neck and ear. "I think I ruined your trousers.."
Jude growled at her. "You would ruin them. After I went out of my way to lend the to you," he laughed anf grabbed her lips to his, kissing her softly As a deft hand undid the buttons on her trousers.
She smiled and kissed him back.
"Too late now."
His heart was beating fast, pulse on fire as she kissed him now. It seemed no matter how many times they slept with each other, it was never enough. He always wanted her, more each time and devoured her lips. His hands slid behind her, shifting down her trousers and slipping in toward the rise of her behind.
As he was making quick work to remove her pants, she finally was grabbing onto his and in one motion- threw off his belt. It smacked into something before landing with a thud to the ground. Then she began to yank his trousers down in a few aggressive actions in between hasty, hungered, breaths and kisses.
Jude lifted his hips to give her easier access, helping her with one hand as he wriggled out of them. His groin ached painfully, eagerly and prodded against her. "I think you cracked my glass table," he laughed, though he hadn't really seen where the belt landed.
Jinai laughed and cupped his face, kissing him fierce.
"Just shut up and fuck me."
"Just get on and ride me goddammit!" he growled. He shuffled his hips, gripping hers and sinking her down onto him.
Jinai laughed but obeyed. She sunk over top of his sex, hers offering little resistance as he slipped into her fully and without hesitation, she was riding him like a stallion.
"Gods..." he choked. "Jinai..." Jude leaned his head back against the floor and his eyes rolled back into his head as she moved over him. "Oh..gods."
She wasn't about to go easy on him- and she knew Jude would't want her to. She was soaking wet long before this even started; Her body was on fire. She moved over him wildly, her sex stroking his as her breasts bounced with each time she moved over him with hungered need.
"Sorry, Mr. Armand,"she purred. "The Gods can't save you now." And she pinned his hands above his head and began to ride him harder.
"J-JINAI! M-Meeercy!" Jude crowed and choked on his words as they got caught in his throat. He moved deep inside her, sticking herself on his hardened member. Jude didn't want her to give him mercy and he fought her grip despite such, but his resistance was meager in comparison to the throes of sheer pleasure she was evoking with every stroke.
Her legs gripped into him, as if tightening around the saddled body of a horse. And each writhing rock over his erection buried so deep within her sent her into a melted moment of heaven. Sex was sex, but with Jude Armand- it was something beyond words and soon she was screaming as she found just the right angle and began to ride Jude wildly, so that he was hitting every single one of her sweet spots.
"Gods..."
This was ecstasy.
Jude clung to her when at last they had their passion. He had remembered, just in the knick of time to pull out and made a mess all over his trousers. "Gods, Jinai. I don't know if I can get up after this," he replied haggardly.
Jinai laughed through heavy pants as she laid beneath upon him.
"Think of it as a warm up. You know," she turned to him, giving him a toothy grin, her eyes hidden behind her hair. "For when we go at it again later."
[I'm pretty sure she was on top. XD]
"Later?!" he huffed, turning his eyes back to her, half lidded, and tired. "So you plan on sleeping over then?" He smirked at her and kissed her softly, lips trailing down her neck.
"Yeah, why not?" she murmured, smiling as she closed her eyes at his affections.
"Besides, it's not like I have a place to go back to anymore. You might be stuck with me."
Jude kissed her chin and leaned his head against hers. "I'd be happy to have you," he breathed against her. "I get to play host like I always wanted. And you'll have to suffer all my entertainment."
"Suffer your entertainment?" She laughed. "I think I already did."
Sitting up now, she peered down to admire him, uncaring that her hair was a mess as a hand smoothed across his chest.
"I still can't believe you waste all of this perfection on a girl like me," she said, her hand moving south, then up against towards his shoulder. Her green eyes met to his.
"How many hours a day to you waste trying to look handsome anyway." And seh flicked some of his blonde hair from his face as a subtle smirk cut dimples into her cheek.
Jude laughed and pulled the shirt back from her shoulders. He loved the way her hands felt across his chest, for many women admired him - men too - but to know that Jinai could appreciate even the finer carvings of his muscles, a schiver coursed through him.
"Hours? None! I roll out of bed this beautiful," he answered with a smile. "And you're not a waste. You're gorgeous...I can see why so many people try to sleep with you. I love your body, even the scars...even your generous nose."
"My generous nose?" she asked him, raising a single brow as she smirked and leaned forward to press her nose lightly to his. "Even when it gets in the way of our lips?"
Jude tried to stretch across the gap made my their combined nose lengths and he barely brushed hers, shortly before laughing. "Oh yeah, even when it strains my lips just to kiss you," he smirked at her. "I bet men would start wars just to touch theirs nose to yours."
Jinai suddenly pinched his nose between a fist full of fingers.
"You aiming to get a nose as large as mine? Just keeping talking that way," she jested, eyes sparkling.
"Goddammit," he said nasally and unleashed muffled sigh. He snapped his teeth at her and plucked her hand from his nose. "I could hide whole flintlock pistols up those nostrils without a guard noticing," he smirked. "Besides I think I need a bath after our antics and perhaps we should get down to that business of Renna's note.
Jinai pinched him.
"I'll shove a flint lock pistol up your nose," she told hm,a nd moved herself to become dead weight over him. "And what of the note? I think you'll have to brief me on the particulars."
She worried about Renna- she did a lot of spy work (and considering her powers, it only made sense) but she always worried about the girl. What if she were to get caught?
Jinai wasn't sure how she'd handle that-
Like with Jude, she hadn't meant to get close to anyone, but if she had gotten close to anyone else, it was her.
"Let me up and I'll show you." Jude smirked as he reached for his jacket. He pulled out the folded note which had been carefully tucked away and stuck it between his teeth, handing it to her and letting go once she grabbed it. "Read it if you dare. What I mean is we should probably clean up and go about seeing that bishop in need. He's likely doing things the Church wouldn't agree with."
"Why?" she asked, dangling the note precariously from her finger tips as she smirked. "The bishop coordinating some sort of orgy?"
"No..." Jude said carefully, his face turning slightly serious. "He's afraid for his life. And it doesn't seem Sir Ignus Ingmund, our illustrious Captain of the Guard, can see why. It does beg the question. Why would the Bishop of the city be afraid for his own life, with all his opulence in power...? Unless he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing."
The sparkle in Jinai's eyes ceased.
"That is interesting, but why would we care?"
Or Renna.. for that matter. She glanced down at the note with a frown.
"That is a very good question. We both know how reliable rumors are... But perhaps it might be worth sticking our noses into. Apparently the Bishop is quite big on preaching tolerance and sympathy for the "under dog" peculiar now in these warring times."
"A bishop supporting mages?"
She couldn't believe it- then again, the church at BreakPoint had done the same. She peered up at Jude with interest. "How can we be sure? Is this something Renna found out through spying?"
"I'm sure Renna must have been rummaging through his things one way or another. I told her not to bother herself too much about it. The last thing she needs is to get caught up in Church politics. So I told her I would look into it." He smiled, feeling rather clever and brave at his volunteering.
Jinai could have laughed.
"You look into it?" She looked him over. "What are you going to do, seduce the bishop?"
"Not everything relates back to sex, when it comes to me, y'know," Jude said with a sour expression. "Well, almost. I thought I might just talk to the man. Why would he have any reason to be concerned. And if there is a reason, perhaps I might be able to help him."
"Not to be offensive Jude, but you are what you are. Do you think a Bishop would open his secrets to you?" Of course, Jinai was not a religious woman by any means- for she had no idea how to tackle affairs tastefully inside a church. In fact, if anything- she would be the one to try sex, first.
"I'll be the judge of that, Jinai," he smirked at her and gestured for her to get off him. "Now I've got to get cleaned up before I see to it."
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"You have to clean me up to- and probably get your maid to clean both pairs of trousers."
Jude sighed, "Very well! " He wiggled out of his boots and trousers and walked over to her, plucking her from the ground and throwing her over his shoulder.
Jinai laughed as he was thrown over his shoulder.
"Aren't you afraid you're going to hurt yourself?" she asked and gave his ass a good slap.
"Only if you're asking for trouble," he said curtly and took her upstairs. He'd gotten into the practice of leaving fresh pails of water beside his wash room since he needed to bathe so often. He set Jinai down and proceded to strip of his jacket and shirt, throwing them to the floor. "Take up one of the buckets would you," he said, draining the tub.
Jinai obeyed, but she was lazy about it, and took some time to admire all the wares inside his bathing room once the baths were heated and filled.
"Man, you own a lot of oils,"s he said, picking up one bottle and looking at it. She read the lable, "Daffodil oil." She wrinkled her nose. "What the hell. Daffodil oil?" And seh picked up another. "Crocodile oil- man, this is so weird." PIcking up a third, she finally got one that made her smirk. "Ah, 'Scent'ual oil. Now we're talking. I bet you get a lot of use out of this one!"
"Wouldn't you like to know," he murmured with a grin. "Open it up. It smells quite good really. But my favorite one...is this one," He moved over to the dresser by the basin and plucked a glass bottle and uncorked it. He poured a little in his palm and moved over to her. "It's called Artimesia," he smirked and rubbed it over her wrist. He leaned his head down on it and gently blew. "It heats up when you apply air to it. "
The sensation not only his breath brought, but the warmth of the oil, made her skin prickle over. She stared at her wrist with a grin.
"And I bet you've done all sorts of fun things with this one."
She could only imagine.
"Oh, I can be quite creative if I must," he murmured, leaning in and lightly rubbing some of the left over oil on his hand over the skin of her throat, and blew over the base of her throat with the same light breath.
Jinai bared her teeth. The oils were certainly effective- and warming more than just the skin of her throat now.
"You might want to stop that unless you're ready for another round," she warned.
Jude moved in behind her and stroked his hands down along her belly. He smirked at her and turned around, dropping slowly until he was close enough toward the spot and gently blew on it. "A second round? I couldn't possibly know what you mean."
"A whore wouldn't," she replied with a smirk, and didn't bother to skirt around with what she meant- her ass pressing against his groin as she gently rubbed herself against him.
Jude's arms wrapped around her waist. He kissed her neck, feeling her back to his front, and the pressure she applied to his groin. "Whore? What whore?" he murmured. He gave a soft breath against the skin of her neck, kissing along her collar bone, and stepping in closer to her. "I'm a perfect gentleman."
"Yeah," she said, her eyes lids hanging low as she peered back at him through a clip of hair off her shoulder. "A perfect gentleman who knows how to fuck."
"Oohh fucking...eh? Is that what we're doing would lead to?" he murmured into her ear, pressing his groin against her ass. Still he touched her all over, dabbing a few more oil spots on her arms, behind her ear and gently blew.
Jinai shivered and dug her teeth into her lip.
"Y-yeah," she said huskily. "It might."
Jude leaned in and took his teeth to her earlobe, sucking on it and gently rubbing his now full erection against her sex, prodding her eagerly. "But I'm a gentleman," he murmured again, continuing his ministrations on her ear. "I would never dream of taking advantage of you. Not if you didn't already want to...what was it yo called it? To fuck?"
OOC: Sheesh, Jinai and Jude can't go anywhere 8D
The only are able to do one thing- then on occasion- fight for a cause :T
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Her body was now on fire- oils be damned and she moaned at the feeling of his erection prodding against her.
"Whoever said I'd mind?" she purred. She could see why he liked these things. It tingled and aroused her- making her feel as if she wasn't even in control. Not that she minded. She was ok with the end result- so long as it was sex.
[Frankly I don't know why they even get out of bed. ._.]
Jude shuddered harshly as he pushed her into position, moving in from behind her until his sex brushed against hers. "Oh I like to think I give what you want into consideration. You...you feel awfully flushed after all."
OOC: Kids these days!
-----
Jinai bit her lip. Flushed? If anything, she was on fire and the tip of Jude's sex prodding her made her whimper.
"God, Jude.." Her eyes fluttered close as she rocked her hips so that her sex kissed and lapped at his member as it massaged along her slit.
Frankly he loved watching her twitch and squirm and buck. To feel her heat so ready, made him bite his own lip. He rolled his hips along with hers, holding her waist as he felt his tip slip inside on occasion, made easier from the shared heat between them.
Each time he prodded her, she gasped and moaned. But it was just a poke, not even an inch deep was slipping into her. But it was stoking the fires and made her already hot sex now soaking. She quivered, her body tensing and hot, eagerly anticipating the full force of his sex-
But not begging him. No, she simply enjoyed it- and she was nearly ready to orgasm already, and they hadn't even fucked yet. And the only indication was how her breaths came in bursts, and how red her cheeks and body was becoming. Yes, she was more than ready to fuck- and it was at the edge of a moment so near to her peak that she gasped out.
"Gods, just fuck me- I can't take it anymore. Just slip it in, Jude. I need you." And each word was moaned through a hot, desperate breath.
His throat was dry, eyes half-lidded as he undulated his hips behind her. He could feel every quiver her body made through the sensitivity of their combined sexes. They were not connected not yet until at last she begged him. Jude didn't need to be told twice as he slipped in the rest of his length into her soaking sex, pumping hard behind her. "Gods...how I love you, Jinai... " he breathed haggardly. "Gods...!"
Jinai laughed at his confession, but it became swallowed in a moan.
"And somehow," she murmured, her body being slammed against his as he fucked her mercilessly. "I love you."
He didn't want it to end. If they had no other pressing matters, he would go on forever. Yet...even with the pressing matter that did loom ahead, Jude felt he was in no hurry to get their passion over with. Jude's hands held her hips, sealed them to his, his member pumping in and out of her, feeling along her slit, every muscle of her sex and treasuring her very warmth.
"Gods, I love this,"s he moaned through a strained breath. "God.. Jude.." She closed her eyes as tightly as she could as soon she was seeing colors beneath her lids as she screamed out his name again and again as his body rocked her into ecstasy.
There was no hope that Ansgar could save either of them now. Jude thrusted as hard as he could, seeing white before his eyes as he suddenly shuddered and pulled out at the last minute. He was flushed and sweating. "My maid isn't going to like this. More stuff to clean!"
Jinai laughed and laid in a heap upon the floor.
"I think you got most of it on my leg," she murmured through a smirk.
Jude ran a finger along a buttcheek and slapped it lightly. "Better on your leg than elswehere... Now let's wash that off," he smirked and stood, plucking her from the ground and slipping into the water.
"What? You mean like all over your walls or something?" she said with a laugh, lightly splashing bath water towards his face with a flick of her finger across it's surface.
"Or all over the kitchen like that little incident with the cake or the constant changing of my sheets. I know I pay her well...but sometimes I feel like I don't pay her enough," Jude murmured and started to soap up his hair and put a leg over the side of the tub. "Your turn to scrub me!"
"Pffft, do I look like your maid?"
"Yes. Yes you do," Jude gave a haughty tilt of his nose and scrubbed his hair.
ANd Jinai put her finger up that nose with a sudsy tip. "You missed a spot."
Jude blew out the bubbles from his nose and squinted at her. He washed his hair and rinsed, letting it lay messy on his head. He took some soap and rubbed it on a small wash cloth and instructed her to turn around before gently washing her back.
Jinai obeyed and lazily enjoyed the attentions. She gave a sleepy smile and yawn as she leaned forward in the bath, arms folded on top of one another and her cheek resting over them as she peered over towards the window.
"So what do you plan to do with me now that I'm back? I mean- besides sex."
"I suppose we could use the opportunity to bond like normal people. But that's boring. I just...I dunno. You never stay long enough for me to really think about things like that. Not that I haven't thought about it, but I suppose I'd like to cook for you sometime. Like a normal dinner, though I know how much fun we tend to have around food," Jude muttered with a small grin.
"Yeah, you wouldnt be able to cook something for us to eat so much as for us to wear," she said with a grin.
"Then I guess my only other option would be to ask you to tag along with me on my little meddlings, eh? Would be that be acceptable? It's certainly better than wasting food," Jude grinned at her, scrubbing behind his ears.
"I guess," she said, seeming not to have been listening to him as she puts a sudsy finger into his ear.
Jude made a face and shrugged. "My ears are kind've dirty," he admitted.
She put a finger in both his ears and smirked.
He grabbed her hand and gently swiveled them around before pulling them out and ducking his head back underwater to wash the suds away. "Thank you," he smiled.
"Don't thank me yet," she said with a grin. "I think you missed a spot." ANd she took his head and forced it back under the water with a laugh.
Jude flailed in the water when she shoved his head down again, and he shoved her hands off of him. He floundered and came back up for air with a gasp. "Are you crazy!?" he howled, half laughing, half
"What? You haven't figured that out yet?" Jinai asked through a laugh. She shook her wet bangs from her face and let a smug grin consume her lips as she leered him. "Besides, it's not like a little water was going to kill you." And she gave a single flick to the water, a few droplets splashing towards his face.
Jude gave her a knowing grin and stuck his tongue out at her. He brushed his hair back splashed more bubbles at her. "You certainly screamed like you were dying when we were at the beach."
"Does it look like we're at the beach?" she asked him smugly.
"No but I'm sure if we tried hard enough we could reenact that little scene," he smirked and went about washing the rest of him.
"Sure, you got some sand? Cause I'm pretty sure we haven't had enough sex already! I could go for around ten" she told him with a laugh, and mimicked him as she went to clean out the rest of her body, paying extra attention to her sex- which had been positively filthy- no small thanks to him.
He didn't say anything, just watched her clean herself while he was just about done. When he was, he stood up in the tub, water dripping from his form and shaking off his wet hair. A smirk later and he stepped out, grabbing a towel from the side and carefully drying off.
When she was done she joined him, waters spilled down her form and onto the floor as she picked up a second towel and wrapped herself in it and took a second to dry off her hair before wrapping the towel around it before she worked at drying off her body. And as she was bending over, working at her legs, she stole a smirk his way.
"So what have you been up to since I've been gone?" And her eyes danced a bit. "I mean, besides the painting."
And the sculpture the pair had ruined.
Jude gave her a grin and watched her with idle eyes as she bent over and gave him a show.Of course she expected him to look. "Oh getting into trouble here and there. Just trying to keep myself busy. After a brief stint with the Guard Captain's wife in an armoire, I became her shoulder to cry on. She confessed her husband was troubled and I asked Renna to see what she could uncover about the man. That's how this got snowballed into action. But...while you were gone, I've learned a few secrets here and there. Lord Christy hasn't been as particularly boisterous when it comes to parties anymore. I guess he didn't like being fooled into knowing he'd been throttled by a mysterious noblewoman named Lady Thames."
Jinai turned to Jude at such claims.
"Do you think he can remember anything about... the wedding?" Her hesitation was paused just long enough she didn't realize she was slightly blushing.
"If he does, trust me, he would be too embarrassed to come forward," Jude said adamantly. "His wife is trying to salvage what unsullied reputation they have left. While it's silent knowledge that spouses among the nobility stray from time to time, having it circulate more publically is more than humiliating, especially if a man can't even maintain his onn household. I've done what I could as well, to ensure no one knows about what happened at the church. Or the fact that we almost got married. I have a reputation to consider as well, y'know."
Jinai said nothing, her only response a short nod before her eyes went towards the window of the room, which she approached and took a moment to stare through the world around her rather than at it, while a towel loosely hugged her form.
Jude slipped on his clothes and watched her back for a time. "So besides trying to, er, off yourself...what else were you up to?" Jude asked tentively.
Recalling her time spent away from him made her smile a bit, but she still didn't turn his way.
"I ran into some... friends. We played catch up. It was the only thing I had going for me- and, well, it acutally put to rest something I messed up on a while ago. Not that I really felt all that guilty at the time, but it's ironic, when I was.... trying to get better, from trying to kill myself on drugs.... this old friend, who's lover I sort of slept with when I was high, well- after having not seen her for years I ran into her and she found me when I was pretty bad off and she sorta helped me get better."
She laughed weakly at the thought. "If I would have been her, I would have let me rot. Not only did I break her heart, but she broke the heart of hte guy I duped into bedding me. But I was reckless then- sex never meant anything. I always wantd to live in the moment- and hey- hte sex had been great. I only regretted it after I realized what they had, well, used to have. I never believe din love. But then I met you." An she timidly peered his way.
Jude had settled his shirt onto his shoulders as she told her story and his expression grew thoughtful. He knew Jinai had led a reckless life, that she had no aim or clear direction for herself, that she believed no one cared about her. He didn't know what to say, except that he knew what it was like not to have a care in the world escept for yourself, trying not to realize the loneliness of your own existence.
Jude approached her and leaned against the wall beside the window. "Me neither," he mumrued, reaching up to brush the hair from her face. "I always thought it was a petty excused used by people to stave off starvation for affection. But it turns out...kinda nice." He smirked at her and honked her nose a little.
Jinai faked a punch at his groin.
"Yeah.." she said, with a smirk. "I guess it is."
He took her hands and wrapped them around his waist, leaning in close to her and rubbing his hands down along the edge of her towel. "You're beautiful you know that," Jude murmured, his right hand lingering upward and pointing her chin up toward him. He leaned down and pecked her lips. "We should get going again. Of course...you'll need suitable clothes."
"What's wrong with my towel?" she jested with a grin. "Why? Did you say you still had some fancy dresses for me or something? Though, what sort of attire would be appropriate if I were following you around latched onto your arm? ANd should I.. you know.. find a way to hide my identity now that I'm back in the city?" She was still wanted- and if Lord Christy realized where she was, or Vesrik for that matter...
She dindt want to think on the consequences.
"I'll think of a clever disguise for my lovely seductress," he murmured. "And hopefully no need for mustache glue. Let's go stuff you into a dress and then I'll cover your face with a veil. That should do it. We are going to Church after all."
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"Are you sure you ought to trust me in a church?" she leered him playfully. "After all, that's one place we haven't had sex at yet..."
"I dunno if I can trust you with that," he murmured, and he kissed her neck. "I might even consider a quickie in the bellfry if you promise to be good."
Jinai smirked, leaning into the kisses.
"Why would I behave?" she told him, encircling her arms around him before stealing a kiss to his shoulder and neck.
"Hmm," he moaned a little at the kisses on his neck. "Because I asked you nicely?"
"And when did that matter?" she breathed against his neck, dragging her lips and teeth against his flesh.
"I had hoped you'd lend me a courtesy?"he murmured. His breath hitched under her ministrations and he chewed lightly on his bottom lip.
"I dunno.."s he said, her hands smoothing down his front, then down, lower, lower until her hands were brushing flatly against the front of his pants. "You're asking an awful lot."
"I think Ansgar would appeciate if you pronounced your worship in a church setting. You do scream an awful lot," Jude purred against her lips and kissed them in a light peck. His breath hitched at the location of her hand and his own slid down her wrist to press her aand further against his groin. "At this rate, we'll never leave the house."
Jinai leaned in to kiss him as she smiled through the kiss.
"I guess not."
ANd she pulled away, still smirking.
"So what sort of dresses do you have for me? And do I have to wear something in particular when going into a church?"
A towel or her normal attire probably would hardly due. She always saw men and women wearing such prudish garbs entering in and out of the church. She never really understood why. Not that she ever really attended church, and the one time she did, she found herself falling asleep in the balcony pews.
"I'm not much of a church going man myself," Jude murmured and he went to the vanity to muss through his hair. "I have a gown for you, something I can peel you out of in the confessional if you like. And a veil for your face will do."
"We might want to make sure my hair is covered, too. If you have some sort of hooded cloak, that might work nicely."
Though when Jude produced something for her- a white dress and cloak to match with an ivory veil, she blinked.
"You've got to be joking. Me in white?" She laughed. "We're going to get this thing so stained..."
"You'll be wearing a hat of course. A woman's cap will be enough. Don't fret. I'll make sure no one recognizes you. All we have to do is cover your big nose anyway."
And at that comment, she elbowed Jude in the gut.
"I can give you a big nose too, if you want, " she threatened.
He rubbed his abdomen. "The dress would certainly not be one people would expect you to show up in. Look just put it on before we miss evening Mass. I want to catch the bishop when everyone else is gone. What better way than to blend with the crowd."
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"Then we'd better get a move on it." And she was quick to fit herself into the dress- surprised it seemed a perfect fit. Though she had to wonder if Jude didn't have it around, knowing Jinai's measurements like the back of his hand.
Once he'd fixed his collar, Jude walked out into hallway and once Jinai joined him, he offered her his arm. He had given her the hat and veil and soon they were out the door.
It was a blustery day, and as the pair walked, Jinai growled as she fussed over her veil and hat.
"How do women wear these things," she growled. "Not only does it limit how well I can see your ass, but it's about ready to fly clean off my head."
Damn Connlaothian winds!
"It has a convenient chinstrap, thank the gods," Jude murmured, "We're going this way, so we shouldn't have too much gusto, shall we say." He smirked at her and clasped her hand in his as he set down the street.
Jinai was still scowling as she fussed over her hat. "Yeah but the chin strap feel weird."
Jude laughed and reached a hand under her veil to keep it from falling off. "It's fine," he muttered and pulled his arms around her as the passed block to block then the church came in sight.
Jinai still felt frumpy, but gave a light flick to the veil and just forgot about it as they strolled onward. Too many people would stare if she continued to fuss, and she leaned in closely to him to keep warm.
"So what are we to do inside the church?" she whispered. "I mean, I don't have to do any real praying, do I?" And she turned to him and arched a single brow inquisitively.
"Of course not," Jude said as he readjusted the veil over her face. "Just do your best to keep from falling asleep."
Jinai glowered but did her best to remain as 'a lady' perched on his arm, and when they entered the gilded doors of the church, she was in awe of how tall the vaulted ceilings could go as she crane dher neck up at them- her eyes catching sight of some half naked, patron saint in a billowing piece of sculpted clothe. Behind the saint's sculpture were tall, stained glass windows that shown through and cascaded their blue and gold light in a dancing array of colors that carouseled across the air. It was breath taking if anything, and Jinai found herself nearly tripping over her feet as they continued down through the pews.
People ushered in for the evening mass and Jude took his seat with Jinai more to the back. Music began as did the choir. Jude clutched Jinai's hand as they sat and he smile once the ceremony began.
Jinai moved awkwardly beside him, fussing over her white skirts and veil.
"No one else is wearing a veil." she whispered harshly, and the people sitting in front of them peered back curiously at the pair, but just as quickly, turned their attention away.
"I feel stupid."
"And I'm a whore. I feel stupider than you do," Jude purred and put his arm around her. He kissed at the woman in front of him, snickering as she blushed and turned her head back to the front.
Jinai promptly elbowed him in the gut.
"I thought you called it man for hire?"
"I...do," he murmured, resisting the urge to keep his hands permanently attached to her breasts. "But you can call me whatever you want."
"Shhh!" Someone off to the side of them said.
Jude flicked his tongue at them in an obscene gesture before turning back to watch as Bishop Cole DeShain began to read from the Psalms of St. Everard.
"Man, is it always this boring? The bishop's more boring than watching bricks dry. And I can vouch. I've done it before." But catching his gaze how he oogled her breasts, she jutted them.out, just enough so he could make out their form beneath her prudish garb.
Jude squeezed one discreetly, giggling. "Just hush," he laughed. "Endure for me. Please. " But his hand pressed down along her side and he smirked a little.
Jinai smirked. A few eyes had caught them and she heard the gasps. ANd the idea they were being singled out in a church made her horny. ANd slowly, her hand slipped like a snake and moved across his pants, stroking purposefully over his groin.
Oh Jude was still the Master of Cool, even with her hand on his pants. "Just don't attract attention," he mouthed to her. He kept her close, crossing his legs and sitting to keep others from seeing it as so obvious. He was thrilled to at the prospect of getting it on in the church and let his eyes linger out the confessional on the opposite end of the Church. "Watch what you're stroking you might get yourself into trouble."
Jinai gave him the devil's smile. She wasn't going to stop at stroking- no, she shoved her had hand down his pants to grip his eagerly growing cock.
Well, so much for playing it cool. Jude nearly jumped from his seat and made a sound as if he were punched in the stomach. He played it off however and made soft breaths at her ministrations. "Let go of that snake," he whispered a growl to her. "Or Ansgar will throw a bolt of lightning at us, so help me." He squeezed her painfully close to him. "We're in public for God's sake."
Jinai only smirked at his threat.
"I know.." she said, giving his growing erection a squeeze. "And in a church..." The last part was whispered, as she kept the drapery of her clothe sleeve hiding what she was doing over his pants.
"By the gods," he murmured, feeling her hand grope up and down and all over his groin. His eyes rolled back in his head a little, his heart pounding. "I know I'm damned all ready, but now this is going to make sure of it." His breath panted a little, biting his lowerlip.
"Too bad it wouldn't be appropriate for me to sit on your lap,"s he whispered, so only he could hear. "Or I'd fuck you right now." And she said that as he leaned in dangerously close to his ear, so that her lips tickled the outter lobe, softly, as she spoke.
"Yeah,' he whispered back breathlessly. "Too bad. But now I feel so dirty...I feel like I have to...make a confession." Though his lips only twitched, his eyes smiled at her and he discreetly moved her hand from his cock and slipped out from his end of the pew, making his way to the confessional on the otherside of the Church and slipped inside, closing the wooden door quietly.
Jinai waited only a few minutes before following after him. And consequentially, she slipped into the same confessional.
"Whoops, was this box take?" she said, smiling into the dark.
It took a lot of dignity and arrogance for those beside the confessional to ignore what they knew was going on inside the confessional. Jude smiled at her in the dark.
"Not at all," he whispered. "I suppose the Bishop is too busy to take my confession. I suppose you could stand in his place..." And he took her hand and shoved it into his pants.
Jinai grinned.
"Then what do you want to confess?"
And she promptly found out, and grinned as her hand reached down low enough into his pants that she massaged at his balls before drawing her hand forward and gripping his cock, her hand pumping over it as her teeth flashed white and smiling in the dark.
"My, my, you have been naughty.."s he told him, a finger tracing down his chest. "This might be... hard to assess. But I can feel it." She gripped his warm cock tightly. "Oh.. I can really feel it, and it aches to be punished."
Jude bit hard on his lip as she stroked him, massaged his manhood. "I beseech your mercy, and forgiveness for my sins," he murmured. "Please don't punish me too harshly." But his hands reached down and undid the clasps on his trousers, freeing himself from it's confines.
Jinai helped smooth his clothing away before she took his erection back into her hand and continued to grip it. STroking it lightly within her hand, she leered Jude from what she could make of him in the thin light htat cme in from the bottom of the door.
"No.. for such a sin, you need to be punished. Now, close your eyes. For you have shamed Ansgar and now must face the consequences."
Jude gasped lightly, her grip mercilessly tight around his member, it took all his will not to cum in that moment. He forced a frown, but couldn't help his smirked as he leaned back against the wall. "Very well," he muttered back. "I accept what my punishment due..." And closed his eyes.
Jinai let his throbbing member go, giving him a moment to control himself as she admired him in the darkness. Oh, wasn't this sinful? And she hesitated not to heft up her skirts, and turned her back to him so her ass was resting against him, and his dick was between her legs. She gripped him then, taking his length and then-...
guided it inside of her as she pressed her hands to the wall of the confessional and began to fuck.
Jude bit his lip to hold back a moan and breathed harshly through clenched teeth. "Gods," he whispered. "Don't scream whatever you do." All ready he was panting as he moved in rhythm behind her, fucking her hard despite their setting. He was flushed and breathless and he could feel his teeth beginning to draw blood.
Her moans grew louder.
"How am I to do that? You fuck like... ANSGAR!" she cried, eyes rolling into the back of he rhead. It was thrilling and dangerous and she was hot like a volcano, ready to explode at a moments notice, and she did, screaming into the back of a hand as she muffled it but didn't let it go at that. No she was goign to get more than one orgasm out of him. She was far too riled up not to have him get her multiple times and she moved around and shoved him against the wall and began to take him as the confession booth began to lightly thud as she fucked and fucked him.
Jude couldn't help himself from moaning. Sensations came from all over and he came when she nearly screamed the first time. He took off a sleeve of his jacket and shoved it into his mouth to keep from screaming just as she came around and mounted him again. "Fuck me hard goddammit," Jude begged, spitting out the sleeve and sitting down onto the confessional chair. He hummed lowly in his throat trying to keep from screaming loudly. His hands dug hard into the fabric of her dress, nearly tearing it off her.
Inside that little confessional booth that only, from time to time, gained some interest, was a scene giving off steam. But... Instead of the walls thudding lightly, now the chair was thumbing against it instead, in a steady, frantic rhythm that drove her up the wall.
The two 'whores' were at it like rabbits, moaning and fucking as hard as they could.
"Good Gods, can you fuck me out there on the pulpit?" she begged against him, her sex pulsating excitedly at the idea of him fucking her infront of a crowd.
The beat of the chair in tune with their body rhythm was music to his hears. Jude was panting hard, his shirt, pants, and tunic sticking to him mostly. He was doing his best to keep his voice down, but it was becoming more and more difficult. "I'd turn you to mush," he whispered haggardly. "But I really don't want to get kicked out of the church. Remember, we still have a job...gods...to do. Just another half hour, the mass is almost over. Gods...turn around again!"
She obeyed, turning around and bending over, coaxing Jude to get over her as well as the pair began to fuck like dogs. A low moan elicited from her throat, starting out as a low groan and building into something louder as she felt his dick slam into her deeply again and again.
They were both slicky and sticky as sweat clung to their clothes. Jude didn't want to take all the time it required to undress completely. He fucked her as deeply as he could, hitting as many points as possible with the way she moaned. Jude was panting breathing hard as he guided her hips against his.
She was soaking wet, and left little resistance except for the clenching of her sex against his in a feeble attempt to keep it inside her when he was pounding her hard.
"Ansgar's name, JUDE!" she screamed out, something that was loud enough to be heard through the confessional box as her finger nails dug into the floor and she braced herself as she came and wanted to go again, this time pushing Jude over and getting overtop of him, her dress beginning to slick with sweat as it clung to her body as she began to ride him like a horse.
Jude undulated his hips againsts as she rode him, bounce her hard before going slow and deep, then fatser again. His head leaned back against the confessional wall. "Jinai," he murmured. "We're damned for sure..." He leaned forward and stole a powerful kiss, his arms wrapping around her as he broke it to moan loudly against her lips.
Jinai rolled onto her side now, curling up infront of him as they had sex and spooned. At this angle, she found he was hitting so many places of intense pleasure she was almost ready to come the second his dick was crammed deep inside her.
"By the Gods... JUDE!" she cried out, pressing a hand down to feel her soaking wet sex as his cock moved in and out of her, sending a thrill through her like never before. "Gods.." she leaned back into him, nestling her face against his chin as her sex became tighter than ever as she began to buck, ass hitting against his body as she arched back and leaned into him- and at such an angle he kept nearly spilling out of her, but her sex would devour him again until she was breathing out sweet words of ecstasy.
This was heaven. And this was sin.
Jude was writhing beneath her, bucking as she was and striking as deep and as hard as he could within the small confines of the wooden box. It had become more than hot in there, but he didn't care. His blood was on fire, the angles she succumbed to, the pressure it placed on his sex had him melting against her, and he was completely at her mercy. He loved this woman, as teasing as she was, as coy, as insatiable. But he loved her all the same.
"Gods.." She couldn't take it any more. She was about to explode, and in the same breath, wanted to feel his hot seed inside her to drive her over the top.
"Cum with me, Jude," she moaned. "Let me feel your hot seed shoot inside me while we writhe in ecstasy."
Jude had been near his peak trying to hold off as long as he could and just when she asked, he burst, shuddering and curling his back into her as he did so. His arms clasped around her waist so tightly he could have squeezed the life out of her. "Gods, Jinai," he whimpered. "You feel so good...Gods.."
When she felt his release, she screamed out his name so loud, the only thing that saved them was the sudden crescendo of music being sung that managed to hide their sins. But one certain Bishop hadn't missed a beat. He saw Jude Armand go into the confessional, and right behind him, the veiled woman. Stepping in behind the box, he waited for their antics to calm before asking,
"This is a box of confession. Do you have sins you wish to confess?"
Jude flailed at the sudden voice that interruped them for the time. He dismounted from Jinai, pulling his trousers back up and buckling his belt. "Sorry Father," he said, smiling sheepishly. "I think you just had a first person audio of that sin. Forgive me Bishop, but don't you have a sermon to give?"
"Mass has been over for about fifteen minutes," the Bishop chuckled in surprisingly good humor. "But I felt it would have been rude to interrupt."
Jinai fumbled over her skirts, moving to stand near Jude as she felt the left overs of their sex escaping her womanhood as it dribbled down her leg. She winced. But to hear the humor in the Bishop's voice made her smirk.
"Yeah, it would have been a sin!"
Jude managed a sheepish, if nervous, smile, one so unlike him. The bishop's chuckle rumbled through the confession box and put Jude a little bit more at ease. "I'm happy to see you have a good sense of humor, Bishop DeShain," he said. "You're awfully at ease for a man who seems to fear for his life."
Bishop Cole DeShain gave Jude a solemn nod. "I must in these trying times. It's the least I could do. But who said I feared for my life.'
"It was a sentiment expressed to the Captain of the Guard apparently."
Cole's eyes opened further, staring at the face on the other side of the screen in shielded disbelief. "Who are you?"
"People who may be able to help you...if you are willing to listen," Jude said quietly.
"Help me?" The man seemed flabbergasted at such an idea. "And how do you think you could even help me?"
"Perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere else?" Jinai suggested.
Bishop Cole chewed on his lip for a small time before nodding to the pair of them. "I have somewhere private we may speak. Please, come with me. And...try not to make a mess." He gave them a smirk, particularly Jinai who looked rather flushed and departed from the priest's part of the box.
Jude snickered, and took a kerchief to wipe the mess from Jinai's legs, doing so as any proper gentleman would. He opened the door for her and allowed her to step up first, following the Bishop around the corridor and up the stairs to the offices above.
Jinai smirked, stealing a kiss from Jude before they left the confessional. Those who were left in the building stole a glance their way as they entered some back halls, and it was here she whispered into his ear, "Since no one is around... want to take me on the pulpit before we leave?" And she nibbled ever so lightly on his ear as she inquired.
Yep, she was horrible. But something about being naughty inside a church drove her mad.
Jude was warmed at the thought, but the flush he was wearing hid his blush well. "Perhaps, but I think we've had enough sex for the time being Jinai," he smirked at her and kissed her cheek chastely, the only chaste thing he had done the entire time they'd been in the church, short of holding hands.
"First let's hear what the good Bishop has to tell us."
Jinai smirked.
"They always say the best things in life are worth waiting for...."
And she moved to follow in line behind him. He could lead the way. He knew what he was doing anyway. If this were up to her, they'd just have sex and never leave the place.
Jude wasn't much In the way of a religious man, but thank Ansgar she wasn't in charge of this little interview. They were led up to the main office of the bishop. Cole Deshain was a modest man but the décor of his office left little to be desired. They were allowed plush chairs to sit in and there was a chaise lounge in the corner beside a large shelf and a desk in the corner.
Cole directed them to sit where they pleased while he sat down on the lounge. "Please, tell me. Who are you?" he asked, looking more to Jinai to Jude. After all, he'd heard enough in the confessional box to know who he was.
Jinai smirked.
"Is my identity really necessary?" she said, primping herself as she got comfortable in her chair.
The but the Bishop's face couldn't have been more serious. "I'm afraid so. You do look familiar though. Would you mind removing your veil...?"
Jinai quirked a brow and turned to Jude. She didn't think her identity would be necessary for this. She wondered if she should lie to the man or not.
The fear in his eyes were evident, no matter how much the priest tried to conceal it. He needed to know he could trust these two, whoever they were, they who claimed to know so much about his fears. And those fears had only been shared with a select few in confidence.
"If you cannot reveal who you are," he said resolutely, taking a deep breath. "Then I'm afraid we have nothing to discuss. And this was all simply a misunderstanding."
Jinai's face contorted beneath the veil and after a moment, she released an irritable sigh through the veil before moving a hand up to lift up the delicate fabrics of the veil and moved them up and over her head. Now with her face revealed, she quirked a brow at the Bishop and stated, "Rinstgate."
And she smoothed a hand down the skirts on her lap. "Jinai Rinstgate." Though she hardly doubt her name would mean anything, considering her wanted posters did not label her- but her face, if he knew of those posters, would be recognizable easily.
He would be lying to himself if he said that her face was beyond all familiarity. In fact, anyone who wasn't a shut-in would have recognized that face and his breath inhaled sharply, audibly. Yet there was no look of panic in his voice. "Well, Miss Rinstgate. I suppose saying you were famous around these parts would be putting it lightly," Bishop Cole said softly. He straightened in his chair.
"I hope you understand that whatever pretense -"
"I carry no pretense," the bishop cut him off abruptly. His eyes were solemn and his expression open. "I simply asked you both to reveal yourselves. I think I've heard enough about you to know who you were, Mr. Armand. My oaths to the Confessional keep me from revealing my sources of course, which I hope you understand."
Jude nodded.
"But you are the woman from the posters are you not, Miss Rinstgate? I hope you won't hold it against me if I seem to be exceedingly thorough... If what you say you've come here for is indeed true, then you must understand the pressure I must be feeling."
"We do, your Eminence," Jude said, feeling awkward to be addressing him so formally, for it was unnatural. "In fact, we'd like to know more about your troubles. We come in good faith. That I promise you if there's anyone you can trust. It's us."
Jinai kept her chin raised in cool confidence, never once loosing her pride as the man went on. But her smile did grow at Jude's humbling words.
"You can't trust anyone better than two whores in a church. But I've seen enough and know enough to tell you- we've got you back." For anyone supporting the mages now would always be seen as something worth sacrificing herself for. Even now, it was hard for her to shake that spirit for the cause, when she, in fact, had someone now worth living for. And it just so happened to be the whore beside her.
The bishop looked skeptical, but he couldn't help himself. He knew however, that a woman wanted by the very government, a terrorist against the state, wasn't likely to be running to authorities anytime soon. And if there was anyone with as much practice in discretion as Jude Armand...he supposed there were worse people in the world he could choose to trust.
"All right," he said quietly. "I trust, you'll use that word lightly in my church, if you will. While all people are welcome, I see no need to see you as anything lesser than those of my congregation." Cole visibly relaxed and even gave a small smile at the pair. "If you've come all this trouble to give you're aid to me...then the least I can do is at least explain the trouble I'm in. It is not every day that a man finds himself constantly looking over his shoulder. But when a man, even in my position, has felt our troubling times can be changed, if only people look to one another with tolerance and love - "
"Father...if you please, while I think I understand your formalities, perhaps it would be best if we cut right to the heart of the matter," Jude said, sitting up.
"Cut right to the heart..." Bishop Cole gave himself a morbid laugh. "That wouldn't be the first time I've heard that. But, perhaps you're right, and we ought to get to the point of it then. I confessed to the Captain of the City Guard that I feared for my life because some people here in the city don't take too kindly to some of my sermons that I've been giving as of late. They seem to think, I ought to take a harsher stand on the 'sinners, heretics' that are all mages and their heathen ways. But I don't agree with them. In fact, I think this whole war could have been avoided with a little tolerance and understanding..."
"Well it's a little too late for that isn't it?" Jude murmured with furrowed brows.
"It's never too late!" Cole said pointedly. "People kill each other because of what's different, because they're afraid, because they don't understand that not everyone ought to be alike and that's simply how Ansgar made us all! And a mage, even an unrepentant one, is just as deserving of God's love as the rest of the city's faithful masses."
Jinai watched and listened to the Bishop with a cool gaze, green eyes framed by those long bangs of hers, and her hair and face, still framed and hidden behind the swathing fabric of her hat and veil.
"I can see why others would be angered," she said with a cool smile. She moved to cross one leg over the other, becoming more comfortable within her chair. "But at least not all of us believe in such words from Ansgar." IN fact, she didn't even believe in Ansgar at all. Religion- it was a fool's outlet for security in a world full of animals and men.
"A point well understood," Bishop Cole said with a nod. "A man has every right to choose his faith as he pleases, or none at all. But certain factions within the Chuch don't take too kindly to my...sentiments. Or my ministry. And I've recieved warnings in one form or another. The last one I recieved was a fortnight ago, and I fear it was the last one I WOULD recieve. Already I can feel the pieces on the chess board moving against me...and I fear time may already be run out. Because you see...they know it isn't just my sermons, but...that I've been helping mages for the past several years. At first it was just a matter of offering them refuge in times like these. But...the more helped the more involved I've been in their affairs. I've helped quite a few get out of the country, even some privy to certain secrets others would not easily share among the Diocese and Church politics. They know now though..."
"Who knows?" Jude asked intently.
"The Order of St. Agratha... The Church's eyes, ears...and killing blade."
Jinai had been getting bored over the whole ordeal of revealing internal politics. Not that she wasn't interested, but there was something shiny on his desk and she began to fiddle with the little Ansgar shaped statue a bit-
But at the name of the organization, the small trinket fell from her hand and landed with a clatter at her feet.
"St. Agratha?" Her eyes went wide.
Bishop Cole's eyes swiveled toward her when she dropped the relic and he nodded to her. Jude noticed her and blinked. "Why do you sound so surprised?" he muttered.
Jinai cringed.
"No wonder you're in a lot of shit. Those fool don't mess around."
Cole nodded gravely, his expression grim. "That much is evident," he murmured. "Which is why I'm getting desperate and time is fastly running out."
"Then what do you propose we do? We should be getting you out of the city," Jude snapped, his eyes wide.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple, Mr. Armand. I can't just drop everything and leave. Over the years I've known too much, I've helped so many people, I've become an important point in the underground movement, helping the rebellion. But I know we must leave, which is why I'm glad to finally come across someone who is willing to help...at least. Come back tomorrow night, I must prepare the ground, tie up any loose ends and announce that I'm going on a Pastoral visit south of the capital to the town of Falspear. That's as far as I've thought, because I know other will easily come to suspicion if I leave too quickly... And if I don't leave soon enough, God I fear the worst."
"Falspear?" Jinai made a face. "But you'd go somewhere else, right?"
"Of course," Jude cut in, answering for the Bishop and the other man nodded.
"It's just a matter of finding a safe place for me to go. Without allowing the Order to find me."
Jinai frowned as she mulled it over.
"I've... got some friends. Though finding contacts isn't always easy. There's a place down south. A place called Home. You'd be welcome there, easily, though it's not permanent place to actually call your home. I take up residence there and to find new jobs where I can be helpful. I'm sure... even after I had.. disappeared for some time, they wouldn't turn down anyone I were to bring in who seeks help."
"Home?" Cole said with a blink. "I think I've heard of the name once or twice, but not much detail arose from it."
"What's 'Home?'" Jude remarked, remembering Jinai had mentioned it once or twice.
Jinai looked around, ever cautious. Even though they were alone did not mean they actually were. Lowering her voice, she continued, "It's a safe haven- a movement that started long before this war had begun. If anything, we can travel there to see if we can't get anymore answers for you- and a safe way out of this country."
Jude stared at her for a long time before he suddenly grinned. "I always knew you were clever," he said suddenly and his eyes gleamed with a knowing look, it was a look that he'd given her many times, but now, there was a new light to it. It was if he could see right through he clothing.
Cole cleared his throat, and straightened in his chair. "Well, if they can get me out of the city, then I'm up for it, Miss Rinstgate."
Jinai cut a glare Jude's way before turning her attentions back to the bishop.
"Well, I'll have to see what my accomplice has arranged. You'll have to forgive me as I came along... not wholly.. prepared."
Jude blinked at her then to the Bishop for a while and he gave him a cool smile. "I'm afraid I wasn't sure what to expect with coming here to meet with you, Your Grace. I didn't expect you to be so willing to cooperate so I too don't have anything set in stone just yet. But we'll return tomorrow night to discuss the arrangements we can make."
"Like hell we should wait that long," Jinai cut in. "Plan or no plan, things can be arranged. The important thing is to act quickly, and the time is now. I wouldn't wait any longer than this evening."A nd she moved to cross one leg over the other. "Word gets around too quickly, and if anyone saw my face..."
Or if anyone figure dout who Jude was fucking....
The Bishop would be more doomed than he already was.
Cole raised a hand a shook his head. "Please, I understand. Fortunately I have arrangements of my own almost in place, but we have to act now. That much you're right about. Come back later this evening and we will leave this place. I have to close down a few of my contacts, and prepare my things. Please. Thank you for your help. But perhaps it's time for you to leave."
Jinai frowned but said nothing, turning her gaze to Jude. She'd follow his lead, after all. This was his plan.
Jude nodded to him. "We'll come back later tonight. We'll get you out of the city, that much I can guarantee," he said with a bow of his head and reached over to him to take his hand. He shook it firmly and much needed relief seemed to seep into the bishop before he left go and Jude rose to help Jinai out of the room.
As the two walked down the hall, Jinai kept her voice low and in a hiss.
"So we got a plan? Or do you need me to pull more miracles from my ass."
"I don't know. I don't," he admitted. "I couldn't just say, forget it, we got nothing!"
JInai smirked.
"Just be glad you know a girl like me. Come on, let's head to the slums. I got a few people we can talk to. But hey.." ad here she paused and hit him lightly upon the arm. "Don't forget, you owe me sex on the pulpit." And with a wicked grin,s he continued to stroll forward yet again.
But Jude had more on his mind than just sex and the very idea of it now at a time like this almost made his stomach lose his lunch. Instead he took Jinai's arm in his and led them toward the door, his mind working, thinking in all the myriad ways they might be able to get him out of the city. All the while completely unaware of the man lingering up on one of the balcony pews and sitting, half shadowed.
Once they were outside, Jinai was talking away with seemingly no end. It wasn't until they got about twelve blocks away that she paused and took Jude roughly by the arm and peered up into his gaze.
"Hey, you haven't spoken a word since we left the church. Is something wrong?"
Jude shook his head, apparently snapping out of it. " Oh I was just thinking," he replied. "I just yhink it was a little odd, don't you that the Bishop ushered us out so quickly? I mean, he likely had something to take care of. I'll give him that much. But his eyes seemed more than a little panicked. Jinai, what do you know exactly of the Order of St. Agratha?"
"Well, to be fair, I'd be freaked out too, if I were him. ANd as far as I know, it's an order of the church you don't fuck with. Anyone that's ever really spoken of that order at all has somehow ended up dead. If they want you, they'll get you. It's as simple as that. But I don't know a whole lot more than the reputation about them on the street. Perhaps the bishop can enlighten us more about them when we meet up with him later?"
Jude's eyes hardened and his brows furrowed in thought at the revelation. The Church's secret eyes, ears, and when needed, her hands as well. A chill passed through him and he wondered if they shouldn't go back now. Instead he shook his head and gestured for them to continue on to their point of destination. "Yeah, we'll talk to him later on tonight."
"Where should we go now? We've got a lot of time to kill." And she doubted either was really in the mood for a fuck. What she wouldn't give for some opiates right about now.
Jude shook those pressing thoughts from his mind and allowed himself to smile at her. "Maybe we can visit some apothecary to hep prevent some small inconveniences, if you understand my meaning," he nodded to her.
Jinai's face went red as she frowned, but nodded at his words.
"Y-yeah. We probably should." She had almost forgotten about... that.
Jude reached down and took her hand in his gripping it tightly. "It'll be all right," he said, about nothing in particulat but the seriousness of his expression was present all the same. "Let's go there and we can get a drink, talk things over."
"Yeah," she said, following after him but seeming to drag her feet. "There's a lot we need to go over." She was sure.
Jude paused and turned back toward her. "Is something the matter?" he asked softly, as he gripped her other hand and stepped in close to her.
"What?" Jinai made a face. "No, I'm just getting impatient. Come on. Let's just get to the apothecary before it gets too late." And with a shake of her head, she began to head off down the street in the opposite direction- for surely a woman of her.. means would know every single apothecary in this city. It was her lively hood after all, or at least one all could presume it to be.
Jude admittedly had less experience in these matters than Jinai did, but he bristled at the thought of why she knew them so well. And what more she might collect than just a birth control sample. Jude's mind turned hard at the thought and he followed her, but not so blindly now as they weaved through tunnels and alleys.
Realizing she had gone the wrong way, she turned down one street, then another, slowly making her way in parallel to the direction they had just come. But Jinai was nervous, hands sweating, mouth drying out like cotton. She knew she risked triggering those cravings each time she took any sort of drug, but how was she to explain that to Jude? He'd be furious no doubt- considering their birth control methods really only had two reasonable solutions for a pair like them-
Well, maybe three, but what man could ever remember to pull out in time?
Jude pulled her back, stopping short, recognizing her franticness. "No," he said flatly and took her by the wrist. "I know where to go. Now that I remember that invitation," he murmured before he led them back down the street, down toward the most cosmopolitan section of the city.
"You think I don't know my way?" She snapped, but let him lead her. She didn't know what was wrong with her, but her mind and body felt warm and she- too anxious for her own good.
"And slow down, Jude! You're hurting my arm!"
Jude had relaxed but he didn't let her go and continued to lead the way down toward the Velain Hotel, one of the priciest hotels in the center of Reajh. "Relax," he said steadily. "We're almost there."
Jinai made a face.
"Why are we heading to this end of town?" If anything, the Apothecary on this side was almost TOO pricy, but they seemed to still be heading the wrong way.
"We're going to meet a friend of mine. A very dear friend of mine. I wouldn't be where I am today without her. She can give you what you need. And I trust her. In fact she might be able to helps us with the Bishop too," he said with a soft breath.
Jinai blinked, growing uncertain as she began to drag her feet.
"It's not one of your clients, is it?" Because well, that would just be... strange. And she was already feeling her skin prickle at the thought.
At that very notion, Jude barked a laugh. "God not!" he said, snickering at her. "She's a friend. Just trust me, Jinai. I've known her for at least half my life and she taught me more than you could know. We're almost to the hotel."
Just because Jude was laughing didn't mean she didn't want to drag her feet any less.
"Yeah but... why a hotel?" She shifted her gaze around, looking to the shadows, then back to Jude.
"Because she's in town for the weekend," Jude answered simply. "She had sent me a message a few days ago saying she would be in town and invited me to come along for a few drinks." The hotel was right across the street from where the stood and Jude squeezed her hand.
Jinai cringed, but reluctantly followed along. No use dragging her feet any longer. Just because she was feeling on the verge of a panic attack didnt' mean she couldn't still act cool. And it wasn't like her to get this way. Perhaps it was just an unfortunate side effect from trying to get off her drugs.
Jude would ground her if he could, and he was prepared to remain with her no matter what happened. They entered into the hotel and Jude asked the desk clerk to show him to Miss Hawthorne's suite up in the penthouse. They walked upstairs, Jude holding onto Jinai securely all the while they soon were taken to the door. Jude knocked sharply and smiled when it was opened. An older woman was apparent from the otherside and the lady-in-waiting ushered then. "Anita!" Jude said with a wide smile as he stepped through the anteroom and embraced a shorter, if older woman before him. She was dark-haired, not a gray in sight and possibly the most beautiful women he'd even seen in his life, and no less lovely even in her middle-age, clearly taking good care of herself.
"Please let me introduce you to my friend, Anita Hawthorne," Jude said to Jinai, who he kept close to him. "This...I'm sure she needs no introduction."
"Jinai. Jinai Rinstgate," Anita said with a knowing smile. "Anybody with half a brain could never mistake you for anybody else." And extended her hand to shake.
Jinai wasn't sure what to make of what was happening. Anita Hawthorne- the Anita Hawthorne. Jude's teacher? Mentor? And who knew what else. Taking her hand, she hesitated only briefly before giving it a few good shakes as she laughed.
"So are you the woman I have to thank for all of the good sex?"
No one ever said Jinai wasn't at least honest, if not, seemingly unfiltered in her comments as she smirked and looked the woman over. Well, at least she was a good looking broad. Unfortunately, she herself, knew she'd never look half that good when he were to reach that age. If she ever did...
Anita gave a silvery laugh at the comment and she reaised a brow as her eyes cut to Jude. He ran a hand through his hair and gave a sheepish smile. "Ahh, yes, you might say that. Jude here was one of the few that had a great deal of promise. And I'm glad to see it has done him so well," she replied with a widening grin all her own.
He met her gaze and there was a warm glow there that made him laugh just a little less nervously than before and he cleared his throat and straightened visibly. "Actually, Anita, we came here for more than a little chat. In fact, I was wondering if you happen to have any of your special serum with you," he asked, his expression a little more serious and Anita straightened, squaring her shoulders and her grey eyes were as hard as diamonds.
"Jude Armand!" she said, anger filling her eyes. "Do you mean to tell me -! After all I taught you!" It took a great deal of strength for the anger to leave her body, but it never left her eyes as she visibly forced herself not to strike him though it was obvious she wanted to. Instead she smiled graciously and touched his arm. "You're lucky you know me so well. And that I'm too much of a lady to hit you over the head as you deserve. And also that I do in fact have plenty of what you need. And the serum." Her eyes softened, giving him a once over, and she winked at him, gesturing him to follow her into the bedroom to retrieve a small vial from her luggage.
Jinai smirked.
"Hey, go easy on him. We were in the middle of mass." But she held back and let the pair of them go off. It wasn't her place to just follow, she was just here for the ride.
Jude opened the sliding door from the bedroom and produced a small vial of the necessary serum they came all the way across town for. He stepped in toward Jinai and handed it off to her. His expression was a little sheepish, if slightly embarrassed. "I should be more careful," he said quietly.
Jinai took the vial with a cool smirk.
While uncorking it, she said, "Yeah, well perhaps we should ask for more?" Before she knocked it back without a second thought.
Anita's serums were always particularly powerful ones and Jude knew she would probably need a good stiff drink to keep the jitters from getting the better of her. But Jude only smiled as he took the vial from her lips and the cork from the other hand and put it back.
Anita emerged from the room and offered a look to the pair, particularly at the way Jude eyed Jinai. She recognized that gleam in his eye, that warmth, and knew there was something more there than the simple exchange of money for carnal pleasure. "So," she said, walking into the room and over to the decanters to pour her guests proper drinks. "How did you to meet? I want to know all the gruesome details."
Jinai barked out a most obnoxious laugh.
"I tried too kill him but he stopped me!" A half lie, because well, as soon as the serum hit her belly her eyes dialated and she was seeing white. And she gave another obnoxious laugh and pat to his shoulder, only she missed and fell flat on her face on the ground.
[Don't know what's going on, but the serum isn't some kind of drug or hallucinogen. It'd just make her feel dizzy, as I assumed, but I dunno where you were going with it.]
Thankfully Jude knew it was coming and snatched her gracefully from the ground, plucking her up into his arms before carrying her over to the lounge and laid her down. "Oh, don't be too hard on her, Anita. She's just reacting to the normal way she knows with drugs. Though I think it's more mental than actuality. I know what you put in those serums," he laughed.
OOC: Since she's a druggie and trying to ween off, she's a bit more susceptible to the side effects, but could also presume she's nervous, so a brief dizzy spell and a misstep could land her on her face lol
>_>
<_<
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Jinai rubbed at her nose, then her temple, the dizzyness beginning to ware of rather quickly. Gritting her teeth, she too, was trying to laugh it off.
"Yeah... me and... drugs, sort of have a history. But can't say these birth controlling medicines have done this before!" ANd she gave a sniff at the subtle bleeding from her nose.
Jude fixed a pillow underneath her head to keep her head propped up and smirked at Anita. "She's such a charmer isn't she?" he said softly. Anita nodded with an amused grin and offered her a drink. Jude in turn aave the drink to Jinai.
"Actually those are some of the strongest serums money can buy," Anita explained. "Good for at least thirty days back to back...while on your back."
"No wonder it had a strong kick back!" She said, wiping at het mouth before accepting the drink. "I normally can't afford this stronger of a drug. Though that's good to know how much time we have to fuck before there are consequences. Which reminds me, Jude, you still owe me sex on the pulpit." And she intended to get it one way or another.
Jude made a face as he turned around and saw Anita laughing, clearly amused by the idea. "Jude, a perfect choir instructor. He'll make you sing in ways you didn't think was possible. As I'm sure you've already come to discover," she remarked, sipping graciously on her own glass of wine.
Jude managed not to blush and quirked a brow at Jinai. "I'll think about it. You just drink that brandy and I'll settle your nerves. I'll get us a case of that serum. In the meantime, Anita, we did have other pressing matters to discuss. Like the Bishop of Reajh, Cole Deshain."
"I don't know.." she smirked. "Sometimes I think he screams louder than I do." And she took the drink to her lips and knocked it back in a few large gulps, remaining warmed and quiet as the two began to speak of the bishop.
The color had drained away from Anita's face by the end of it and she pursed her pretty lips. "And just what do you plan to do? Surely you have to get him out of the city. He could be more vital than you know, Jude, surely you can see the advantages of keeping him alive and around."
Jude nodded. "I know. I've given that proper consideration but we are coming back later tonight. We need to act now, and yet I don't think any one of my contacts could be prepared without a little more than a few hours notice. They're coming for him. I have a bad feeling about all this. I came to you because I thought you could provide some input."
Anita wrinkled her delicate brow before peering over to Jinai. "She can help you more than I can. She is Free Folk after all. But I will send word, Jude, but that is all I can do. The carriage downstairs can take you back to the Cathedral."
Once the pair said their goodbyes and thanks to Anita, Jinai kept close to Jude's side as they began to make their way towards the carriage.
"I have a bad feeling about all of this," Jinai admitted, keeping close. But as they walked along, she felt the need to halt him, one hand on his arm, her eyes, avoiding his as they stared at the ground.
"Look just.... let's just be careful on this, okay? We're dealing with the church..."
And that was an enemy that even scared Jinai. And now that she and Jude were beginning to get knee deep in all of this...
She wasn't sure how they might get out of something like this. The church always put a bad taste in her mouth.
Jude had always hid his queasiness rather well. Yet even as Jinai stopped him and he nearly felt it burst through. He knew the face of the challenge that resided before them and the enemies they would make if they took this risk. For all they knew those enemies were already made with all they had done in the past. But what was more Jude didn't know if he could forgive himself if he didn't at least try. Of all things he knew he could give, effort was the least of them.
He peered at Jinai, placing a hand underneath her chin to look up at him and he gave her a confident smile, even if he didn't really feel it. "Don't worry. We'll be all right. I know what's ahead. But more may suffer if we don't do anything. In the meantime I've got your back and you've got mine, right?"
Jinai stared back into his eyes, her own wavering with uncertainty, and so much more.
"Yeah..." she forced herself to say and smile. But she had a feeling he had no idea what was ahead. Jinai was foolish in her own right for what paths she chose to trek...
But the church? This was crazy, and she was beginning to wish she hadn't given up on her drugs.
"Let's just hurry up,"s he muttered, pulling away from his hold. "The quicker we handle this the quicker it'll be over."
"Yes let's," Jude said with a nod. He helped her into the carriage as it sped down the street. He felt his stomach knotting tighter and tighter. He sat in silence, watching the dim street lights slowly ignite the evening. They couldn't get there fast enough.
As they neared the church, something caught her attention.
"Hey, hold up. Stop the carriage. Something's not right..."
Jude peered at Jinai with furrowed brows. "What's the matter?"
"Don't you see it?" She asked, pointing it out. "The other carriage out front of the church?"
"Yeah. So what? There are lots of carriages on the street."
"But at the church at such an hour?"
"Yes, even then. Many people like to confess their sins in the discretion of evening after the final mass. It's a church after all," Jude shrugged.
[It wouldn't make sense for Confessors to arrive using a carriage, just sayin. It's too obvious.]
OOC: I know XD I presumed Jinai is being overly paranoid
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Jinai released a hot breath.
"Well, they sure as shit ain't going in there for sex." She cut Jude a look. "Let's just be quick on this. Where are we parking this thing?"
[Oh okay! Just checking :U]
Jude frowned, inspecting the carriage for a few moments morre before the dirver parked across the road and Jude got out, helping Jinai down to the pavement. They crossed the street and entered into the massive double-oaken doors. It was eerily silent in the cathedral as they made their way toward the back of the requiary and the candleroom.
Jinai followed after, hissing through her teeth as she fussed over the veil on her face.
It was uncomfortably itchy- so was the dress, and she tried to discretely scratch herself as they walked around the place, keeping close to him.
"So where is everyone? Do the members of the church have the rest of the day off or somethin'?"
"I do not know," Jude replied honestly as he led them toward the rear of the church past the pulpit. "Perhaps they have retired for the evening or are cleaning up somewhere, but the less we are seen the better don't you think?" He didn't wait for her to answer when at last he found the office door where Bishop Cole had led them only hours earlier.
He was about to knock on it when he heard shuffling on the otherside of the door. He paused, fearing the worst, his heart beating wildly in his chest. But it was the briefest of pauses before he burst through the door and saw a dark-haired man standing over Bishop Cole's bloody body. The man was garbed in white robes over armor, dirtied with mud and stained with dots of blood. And Jude met his eyes but a moment, icy blue eyes staring back piercingly, before the masked man exchanged a bloody dagger for a clean one and lunged for Jude.
It was a good thing Jinai kept to the shadows, while Jude went head first into the fray. Fear gripped her, but only momentarily before she used her quick wit to grab a lit candelabra nearby and swung it at the on coming blade. Her presence caught the attacker off guard, and his bade clung against the candles, knocking a few over as hot wax dribbled down her arm and onto the floor. She felt the blade connect and when it hit the base fully on, she twisted the candle holder and felt the man's weapon give. But that did not stop Jinai from her second attack. Once the man was disarmed, she swung the flaming candles towards him, only a few going out in her fierceness, while the rest remain illuminating her face, making her appear both wicked and ethereal behind the cumbersome dress and veil.
It might have proven a more compelling distraction to those of lesser minds than he, but the Confessor was not moved. He growled when his dirk flew from his grasp, the blade clattering to the floor. When the candles flew at him again, he stepped back and pulled another blade from within the sleeve of his right wrist and slashed at the side of her bodice.
Jude had dove for the first dirk as soon as it was dropped and threw himself headlong at the assassin. But the man seemed to calculate the move before it could connect and sidestepped. Jude fell hard onto the ground, the dirk slipping from his hand. He felt something hard on his back, a knee and he cried out. A hand gripped his hair, pulling his head back, opening his neck to be properly slit.
Jinai felt the quick cut to her side with a grunt. But the moment of pain was ignored, for in seconds Jude was downed and his head thrust upwards. Not about to watch Jude die before her, the scout went frantic, grabbing onto the assassin's weapon wrist and bit down on it, hard. What she could make up for in strength and finesse, surely she could make up for with her sharp teeth!
He cried out and clubbed at her head with his other hand and shoved her off him. He growled viciously and set to attack her. Jude stared with wide eyes and scrambled for the dropped dirk, grasping it tightly and turning on their attacker. He jammed the knife into his arm and the shoved his back to the ground.
"You son of a bitch!" Jude muttered and punched him hard. But damn if the man wasn't strong and he grabbed Jude's wrist with a crushing grip, slamming his own fist into Jude's face, reeling backwards. The Confessor plucked the dagger from his arm, turning to Jinai with renewed vigor.
Oh hell no! There was no way in Angsar's ass she was going to have this creeper gut her here or now. Baring her teeth at him like some sort of animal, she balled her hands into fists and faked a left when she really moved right, and knocked over a post littered in priestly robes that began to crash over top of the blue-eyed killer. Taking a moment to back away, she grabbed onto Jude's wrist and gripped it tightly, giving it a jerk as she hissed, "RUN!" And she was practically dragging him out of the room, slamming the door behind them.
Jude's head was spinning from the blow. And he could barely register Jinai pulling him to his feet. The man was impossibly strong, for his body was clearly honed for this kind of action and the blow to his face was dizzying to say the least. He barely registered he was outside the room when his feet went stumbling down the stairs and he gripped onto Jinai until he could get them back underneath him. They were down the staircase and out into the Chapel proper when the crushing sound of wood breaking and that made Jude start pulling Jinai out the front door.
But once they made it...Jude stopped abruptly and turned around, then stared at Jinai with wide eyes. "He's not following us."
Jinai whirled around to face Jude, her eyes wild.
"What do you mean he's not following us!?" And she whirled around to see-
nothing in the dark halls.
"Shit!" Her eyes darted all around as she remained pressed near the building. "Where did that fucker go?"
Jude pulled her suddenly to him and ducked into the shadows, his hand went over her mouth and he held his breath. He could have sworn he saw a shadow jumping over them, from the rafters up through and open skylight and out onto the roof.
As Jude pulled her aside, she angrily breathed through his hand, just about ready to bite it so she could breath more comfortable (and complain) when she too, saw the figure.
"Shit," she hissed through his hand. Was he for fucking real? If he was up on the roof top.. (assuming it was him, and her gut had a feeling it was); he had more than a hawk's eye view of them. And that's when she got an idea- her falcon.
Tugging on Jude's arm, he hoped he'd release her- she was getting antsy and wanted to get the hell away from this place. Standing beside the church,- they were sitting ducks!
Jude did release her as the sound of boots moved lightly on the roof. "What are you thinking?" he asked softly, knowing she had something on her mind.
Jinai didn't bother to look at Jude, eyes on the sky.
"Feather'swing.. my falcon. She can track that bastard and we can see where he'll go."
"Good idea. Now where is your bird?" he asked sharply, listening as the boots moved quickly across the roof. Then a black figure jumped overhead them and landed on the opposing roof and continued to run across, alongside an alley way. "Come on he's getting away!" he whispered, pulling them down the alley, watching as the figure moved quickly.
Jinai lifted two fingers to her lips and gave a whistle, and a second later, her falcon was circling over head. She gave a second whistle, this one lower, and she watched as feathers wing circled over head then moved forward again.
"Come on. The man is going this way. Let's move."
And she didn't wait for Jude to reply as she dashed down the alley way then into the street.
The Confessor twitched at the sound of a whistle. He had almost thought someone had seen him. And perhaps they had if those two he happened upon had anything to do with it, he was sure. The nuisances would be taken care of shortly. As of now, however, he had to get out of the city. He heard ruffling and turned to observe a dark shape above him. What looked like a bird! And it was tailing him!
Jude quickly shadowed Jinai, following right behind her as they ducked from alley to alley, street to street, trying to follow Feather'swing against the black sky.
Feather'swing continued to soar over head, keeping an eye on the roof hopping figure below. Jinai kept just ahead of Jude, but when Feather'swing made a sharp turn, she followed him, and came to a dead end as she swore.
"Shit."
At the dead end, Jude noted a crate beside the wall and gestured to Jinai. " There!" he said and jumped onto it, helping pull her up as he headed over the alley wall. "Careful! Can't have you breaking your leg."
"Ha!" Jinai laughed in his face as he pulled her up onto the crate. "You should be worried about yourself. You've got a reputation to maintain with those hips." She told him with a smirk. And well, a reputation with something else...
"Bah!" Jude scoffed and squeezed her ass as she went by him. He vaulted over the wall and landed less than gracefully, but other wise intact and sped down the alley.
Jinai smirked as he fondled her, for despite the danger; they still had a chance to grope one another, for the second she was up and over the wall and running, she grabbed at his ass as they ran, too.
"Just be sure to be careful. I don't know what we're getting into, Jude. And I want you in one piece before the night."
"I think after what happened at the Church, I don't know how this night could get any worse," Jude muttered. And then he felt something sharp whizz past him, a sharp pain in his arm and he staggered backwards into a wall. He looked down at his arm and saw a small dart sticking out of it and his wound burned suddenly. "Jinai," he murured, shortly before he collasped on the ground.
Jinai nearly tripped over herself when she heard his voice, and when she spun around, she felt as if she hit a brick wall. Rushing to his side, she saw the dart and yanked it from his flesh. Her face wrinkled in anger.
"It's poisoned. Shit."
The black figure stood across the street, beside a tower steeple on a tall building and watched the two that had been giving chase in an alleyway. There was dim street lighting here, but he could make them out easily. A Confessor did not embark on a mission without being prepared and he put away the dart case and dart gun into his belt. He could not have hit the bird, that now lay perched elsewhere, and he ran off the roof and toward the city wall.
Jude gasped when she pulled the dart out of him, and he whimpered as the burning continued. "It stings...badly."
Jinai didn't waste any time. She put a hand up her skirts and felt around for the pouch that was well concealed behind her skirts. Then hefting the skirts back down, she fished around desperately for a vile. Figured, she only had one left. Popping open the cork, she placed it against his lips.
"Don't let any of this spill and drink it all. It's my last antidote for poison and you have got to take it all to make sure it works."
"I...I don't want any...drugs," Jude murmured feeling lethargic. But the stuff was already in his mouth, past his lips and he sputtered only a little as it slithered down his throat. He was growing more and more inert, his body trembling.
"Come on, not all drugs are bad!" she spat, wrinkling her nose angrily at him that he'd dare try to protest. This was between life and death! But thankfully, he took it down and she released an anxious sigh. "It'll taste bad but keep it down. Don't wretch." And then she noticed how he still appeared in pain. "How are you feeling? Can you stand?" And she peered around. Where did that man go? They should not linger here.. in case that man wanted to finish the job.
"I...I can try," he gasped. All the strength it took to stand made him lose balance against her and Jude nearly fell again. "The carriage! Anita's carriage."
Jude was heavy, and she only realized that now as it appeared as if she'd have to carry him. She grit her teeth, face flush with exhaustion as she tried to lead him down the alley way, one painful step at a time.
The carriage seemed a lot farther than it actually was when it rolled around the corner and to their end of the block. The driver pulled short of the alley and stepped off the backboard. "God, What happened?" he said as he came around the otherside of Jude and put his arm over his shoulder, helping him toward the carriage
Jinai grit her teeth, not wanting to tell the man more than he needed to know.
"Poison. We have to get him some place safe and quick!" she said, helping Jude step into the back.
The driver asked no more questions and jumped back onto the seat, tearing down the street. Jude meanwhile was writhing in the back, his body fighting to stay awake, alive, and breathing.
Jinai held onto Jude, cradling him in her arms from the carriage bench. She was full of worry, her heart hammer away inside her chest as she moved to gently brush his hair from his face as she squeezed his hand.
"Come on, Jude. Just hang in there. And whatever you do, don't throw up."
"Jinai...." he panted. "Am I going to die?" He couldn't help but ask the question, his skin growing clammy and cool to the touch.
Jinai grit her teeth at him.
"Not if I can help it," she told him, her eyes finally showing some threatening glints of tears. "Just stay with me, okay? And keep the potion down." She gave his hand a squeeze. "We're almost there. Just keep looking at me."
"I feel so hot...and yet I c-can't s-stop shaking," he panted, feeling as if we was going to be sick. He gripped her hand tightly, doing his best to keep the bile down. The carriage took a quick turn and he groaned at thw queasing motion. And suddenly it stopped and the driver opened the door to help pull them out. They were in front of a small deserted looking building that seemed as if no one lived there in ten years. It would do for now as it was quiet, secluded and had an apothecary living in the basement.
Seeing Jude's emotions clearly, she reached into her pouch again and drew out a second vile.
"Here," she told him gently, placing it into his hands. "If you drink this, it'll remove the taste from your mouth- keep the bile down." At least for now. It would also make him incredibly loopy, but it was better than risking his own life.
He was miserable. And that was an understatement. Jude groaned, barely conscious when she offered him the second vial and he took it without question. Anything that would numb the pain and the urge to puke. It burned down his throat and he clasped a hand over his mouth as if he was going to hurl, only to keep it down. And he relaxed soon afterward, his forehead beading with sweat.
"There, you'll feel better soon, trust me."
Better, but not well. Thankfully she always carried a surplus of her drugs with her, and now that they were infront of their destination, she proceeded to drag Jude clean out of the carriage.
"Just try to walk wiht me, okay? Keep awake as long as you can," And she grunted as she pulled him along, kicking in the door to what appeared to be some sort of abandoned home, and so it appeared that way even inside, that was, until Jinai flung the door open to the basement.
"Hey, Lloyd! You home?"
A serious of rattling pots and things later, and a mousy looking man poked his head up from where he was perched at the base of the stairs.
"Jinai?"
"Yeah, it's me. I need your help. We were attacked." And she helped pull Jude forward, "With poison." And once the man saw what was going on, he rushed up the stairs to help them. Though eh ahd a lanky frame, he was tall, and he and Jinai were more than able to help get Jude down the stairs. Once he was there, Jinai laid him across two chairs and proceeded to give Lloyd the low down. He inspected the area he was injected before frowning and looking at Jinai.
"You did the right thing wtih your antidote, but I'm afraid what he drank is even more potent than that. He'll need something more powerful if he's to live through the next hour."
Jinai's heart was nearly in her throat.
"Well what are you waiting for? Let's feed him the stuff!"
The world had placed his head inside a pot and proceeded to clang on the outside of it with a hammer mercilessly. He felt like he was set on fire and then immediately dunked into winter's icy water and for all of it, he felt as if he couldn't even scream. Every sound had a long, dragging echo followed behind it and it made the world feel smothering and distant at the same time. He suddenly found himself laughing, seeing Jinai's face looking all squishy and plump and he limply reached for her while being dragged into the building. "Hahah! You look so fat!"
And then he was laid across something and the pain returned. "Jinai... Why is there a duck poking my arm? A green one too. He's barking!"
Jinai rolled her eyes, but at least they had gotten him to drink the more potent stuff.
"Yeah, and there are unicorns burning out of my ass," she told Jude sarcastically. But turning away from him, she let the drugged man ly while she conversed with Lloyd, thanking him and talking softly, giving him a heads up- just in case the pair had been followed here. She didn't want to take any chances.
She shouldn't have said unicorns. She really shouldn't have. Jude's eyes turned starry and he gasped. "Wow...." he gasped as he saw before his eyes a beautiful valley before him and a herd of unicorns running through it. It was magical.
Those horse hooves were, in reality, clopping outside on the street and paused before the building. There were several seconds of silence before the horse clopped off down the street.
Jude gasped again as he saw one unicorn turn around and stand on it's hind legs, giggling before stamping the ground and running off into the sunset. "Jinai! The unicorns!"
Jinai couldnt believe this. Jude sounded like a nut job. But it was what it was and thankfully, he ought to live. He had been treated and all she could do now was wait. So after nudging him over the unicorn thing, she decided to mess withhim.
"No, Jude, the unicorns are all dead. But theres a lovely octopus on your head."
Jude screamed suddenly. And loudly too. "Get it off! Get it..off!" he howled as he felt tentacles wrapping around him and suddenly squeezing the life out of him. He turned blue in the face.
"Oh, sorry, I tried to get it off but it went inside your pants! Better hurry and get 'em off before it puts a tentacle up your butt!"
[whoops!]
"Don't say that! Now it'll get the idea!" he howled, panting and sweating hard. He fumbled with his jacket, peeling it off his shoulders. But he only struggled all the more when his clothes stuck to him. He tried to relax his breathing to little avail.
Jinai smirked and simply watched him freak out, but finally decided to be nice as she moved in closer to him and worked a cool rag across his flesh. Thankfully, the medicine he took wouldn't last all night, but the effects could be lengthy, but at least he'd feel no real pain.
It took a while, but eventually he calmed into a gentle delirium that gave way to something resembling sleep. He awoke some time later, groggy, but alive. "J-Jinai?" he murmured. "I-I had the most awful dreams."
The pair remained in the basement of the apothecary where Jinai remained tending to Jude as he slept. She constantly changed the cold rags over his body, so by the time he awoke, dark circles were under her eyes and wrinkles were drawn across her face. But seeing him awaken, she couldn't help herself but smile.
"Yeah, well if you were awake, you'd know you snore like the devil." She shook her head. "How are you feeling? Still wretched and whacked?"
Jude smiled, laughing softly as he sat up. He was undressed, with wet clothes placed all over his body and he shook his head. "I do NOT snore," he pouted. "I am a very sexy sleeper. I don't drool. I don't sleep crazily, and I definitely do NOT snore."
Jinai smirked. This was definitely her lover, alright, and at his refute, she leaned forward and used a single finger to remove the drool from his lips.
"Then what's that?" she asked, smartly as she smirked, appearing mere inches from his face.
"What?" he asked. Then his eyes peered down at her finger and he grabbed it abruptly and shoved her finger into her nose. He cackled. "That was yours! You just can't keep your hands off me. Or your lips for that matter." He smiled and tilted his head. "What happened to that pretty face of yours? You didn't sleep well I take it?"
"Jude!" she exclaimed, quite obviously displeased. Though despite her repulsion from his action, she wiped her finger against his cheek and laughed.
"Sleep? Not a wink." She eyed him over. "What about you?" And she observed his forehead, to where he still had a slight flush. "How are you feeling now? You barely slept that much yourself."
"I feel a little dizzy, but nothing too bad. I don't really remember much of what happened. There was a man in white. He was running away but I don't know why. I remember something stinging me. It really hurt and then I passed out and had some...really messed up dreams," Jude said, rubbing his head and frowning. Then suddenly his eyes widened as he peered at Jinai. "The Bishop! We were supposed to help him."
Jinai's frown deepened at his revelation.
"The bishop," she began carefully, gauging his reaction discretely. "We were too late." And she paused, before adding, to confirm it all, "He's dead."
And before he could become exasperated over the whole ordeal, her hand moved to grab onto his wrist. "And we could have been too. In fact you're lucky to be alive. The man in white... he poisoned you."
Jude dropped his gaze, gasping a little. "Ansgar's balls. That would certainly explain the stinging pain and memory loss," he said softly. He grabbed her hand in turn and squeezed it. "So he got away... Fuck!" His face grew heated and he was fuming. "Fuck! So it was all for nothing. We were this close! And it was all for shit! Goddamn!"
Jinai frowned.
"It wasn't like we hadn't tried. We were barely a few seconds too late. We heard the struggle, and then- well, there was the man. He seemed pretty well trained in what he was doing. We're lucky to be alive. That poison he used was fucking strong, Jude. You could have easily died."
Jude turned to her with a sickened look, not at her but at himself, like he had swallowed a bitter pill and was about to throw it up again. She was right. Gods be damned if she wasn't. But it still didn't make him feel any better. "Gods," he muttered, chewing on his lip and clenching his jaw. "I know...I know. But I can't help but feel shitty for all this. We could have been earlier...we could have done...something. I just feel like I could have tried harder..."
Jinai continued to frown.
"You can't keep blaming yourself. There are so many people who are suffering. If you feel guilty for them all, the guilt will just rot you." And she blanched and peered at the ground. It wasn't that she was heartless or felt any less guilty, in fact, she was saying a lot of this stuff in hopes to convince her own self as well. They couldn't save everyone, but she knew she always damn well tried.
Jude gripped her hand tightly, nodding curtly. He still felt heavy, but it would fade with time and rest. "I know...it doesn't make it any better though," Jude replied and brought her hand to his lips, kissing the palm of it softly.
Jinai frowned.
"I know. But we're just people. We can only do so much."
She was right, he thought, and his stomach soured, twisting and feeling cold. "That means we can't remain idle. We should return to his office at the earliest opportunity," he said softly. "Where are my clothes? I'm fit to walk on my own."
Jinai frowned.
"I'm not sure its wise to go back so soon. What if that assassin is waiting for us? We should lay low. He did get a good look at our faces," and at this, she realized she just might have jeopardized Jude's life. He did, after all, have quite the known face among the elite-
but perhaps that assassin would be foreign and not know Jude. She could only hope.
Jude shook his head. "I'm willing to risk that. I don't think the assassin would think we'd be foolish enough to go back. It seemed as though all he wanted was to get out of the city. He could be miles away by now," he said with confidence.
Jinai glared at him.
"We're not going back, Jude," she told him angrily. "You could have died!"
"And what then?" he asked. "Leave it at that? Don't you even want to know why he was killed? Or how that bastard got to him so fast? We should have asked more questions when we had the chance, but we can't now. The more time that goes by, we lose the opportunity to get in there without interference. I don't know if someone's found his body by now, but our chance to look into it gets slimmer and slimmer the longer we wait."
Jinai grit her teeth. She was at a loss of words for the moment before she turned away.
"I'll go back and check it myself. You should rest up here." And she turned away from him and moved towards the stairs.
"No! You're not going without me," Jude protested and hopped off the table, after her.
Jinai ignored him and moved up the stairs faster, hoping to leave the foolish man behind.
He had recovered surprisingly quickly after all that happened and grabbed her wrist. "We go together," he said harshly. "Together."
Jinai glared at him. She had barely made it up a few steps when he had grabbed her wrist. And she glared at him meanly before kissing him fiercely on the lips.
"Fine, we'll do it, together." The words sounded so strangely on her tongue. But she had a feeling he was going to be stubborn. She supposed she would have made him that way, after all, she had enough stubborness for them both.
The kiss caught him off guard and Jude trembled as he pulled away. "Together," he repeated breathily. "But I need my clothes. It's a little drafty in here."
It was then Jinai laughed in his face.
"Okay, but I was getting excited over the idea you'd go as is."
Jude's expression softened and he ran his hands along her arms. "Well, I don't want to tempt you," he said with a soft laugh and kissed her back once more.
"Just hurry up and get yourself ready. I'm not waiting for you." And without a second thought , she moved to scale the stairs again.
"Then point me to my clothes you careless shrew," Jude huffed, searching for them. He found a small pile and quickly dressed, soon vaulting up the stairs after her.
Jinai was already in the streets by the time Jude joined her, but she gestured for him to stay back so the pair could lurk within the shadows.
"Do you hear that?"
There were echoes of men coming from the direction of the church.
"Sounds like someone might have beat us to the scene of the crime. Come on," and she moved forward. "Might as well check out what we can."
"Shit. The place could be picked clean by now. I must have been out for hours. Shit," he muttered before running along through the shadows and across the street before relaxing his pace. "Just a few blocks that way if I remember. Hurry."
Soon the steeple of the chapel appeared, piercing the sky, and a contingent of city guard moving in around it. "How are we going to get in?" Jude asked harshly as they walked closer.
Jinai had remained silent, letting Jude mostly lead while she allowed her eyes to linger on the shadows. She felt as if someone were following them, but there were no signs of it. Once they got closer to the church, Jinai kept quiet still as she studied the scene from afar, but couldn't help but assure Jude with a smirk, "How we always get into trouble." And she gestured to the side ally. "Though the back door. Come on. I'm sure there's gotta be some low window or unoccupied door we could creep through."
Jude gave her a sidelong glance before smiling all his own and moving toward the side entrance in the alley beside them. "Look, there. The window!"
Jinai craned her neck, smirking that the window in question was actually open.
"I wonder if our killer left through there. It's curious as to why it's open."
And it made her wonder if it was a trap.
"We can consider that later. For now just be cautious and let's see what we can snoop around. Here." Jude bent down to lend a foothold with his hands hel her up. The coast was clear for the present moment and Jude slipped into the room beside her. "It looks like a washroom. Maybe this was how the bastard got in... But I don't know. He was fast. Too fast. And agile enough to find a more hidden entrance, less obvious. Shh! Someone's coming."
"Shit."
But that was the only words uttered, as Jinai held her breath and slipped into the shadows of a nearby drape, pulling Jude along with her as she tried to listen to who might have approached (or, she hoped, would simply walk on by..)
The boot steps coming their way were heavy and thudded against the stone floor with an authoritative click. Jude held his breath as they were loud enough to be right next to them. And soon they were in the washroom as well.
Jinai tensed, remaining as still and discrete as the shadows. And in that moment,s he dare not breath.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you're going to take a piss right now!? Put that thing back in your pants and get your ass back outside. The sergeant has had enough of your nonsense!" growled one voice.
"I really gotta go!"
"I don't care! Go in the alley!"
"Fine!"
The boots quickly left as they had arrived and Jude slowly released a soft breath as he peeked behind the drapes to see if he was gone. He stepped out and motioned Jinai to follow him before peeking out into the hallway and slipping toward the stairs.
Jinai moved behind him as quietly as she could. It seemed as if the way was clear, but she wasn't going to risk it, so she just kept her big mouth shut and followed.
Jude should have been surprised by Jinai's silence and refrainment of snappy commentary. But they didn't have much time before someone likely caught them snooping around. Jude hated to say it when he thought about all the time they wasted chasing after the killer of that poor old bishop.
He found the room, after listening to footsteps walking away and walked in slowly, holding his knows at the foul smell in the room and the rotting body on the floor. "Try the desk," he whispered nasally, walking over to it and checking one side of the drawers, while asking Jinai to check the other.
Pulling the drawer open, she began to rummage through it.
"I don't see nothing," she hissed. "At least not anything useful."
"There's got to be something," Jude hissed as he rummaged through more drawers. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to find. He supposed, whatever it was the Bishop had to hide, he would have done so thoroughly. And when he opened the bottom drawer, he felt something click that he hadn't meant to hit, and slowly opened it and inside he found a twine-bound stack of scrolls and letters.
"This must be it," he said and quickly took it, smashing the papers into his jacket, tucking it under his arm. "Let's get the hell out of here!"
"Thank God," Jinai said, releasing a breath as she moved close to his side, but then once they moved towards the door she threw a hand out to stop him.
"Wait."
A sound came, one she had just heard.
"They're coming back." And her eyes went to his before darting towards the window.
"I hope one of these are open, because we're not getting out through the door."
And she began to grope around, finding one that might have been loose and fumbling to look for a lock.
Jude's breath hitched, panicking and it was the longest second of his life watching Jinai fumble for a latch. "Fuck it," he growled and pulled her back before lunging his foot forward and breaking the glass with his boot. He stuck a candelabra through the rest of the glass before it was safe to climbe through.
"Go go go!" He practically shoved her out of it before he followed himself, landing well on two feet from the two story drop and disappearing down the alley.
She wasn't even sure how they got out of there with barely a scratch on them, but by the time they stopped running, Jinai's throat was sore and her voice, coarse as she groaned and paused beside an alley wall.
"Wait.. wait right here, Jude... I.. I need a minute to catch my breath."
Jude's feet burned and his legs and back ached from the sprinting. But he gave little thought to how he felt and instead put a hand on Jinai's back when she labored for breath. "That was a hard run. But we can't stick around for long."
"Y-yeah," she panted, working on catching her breath and wiping her sweat from her face. "But we need to lay low for a while. I'm not sure it's safe to go back to your place just yet."
"Right. I didn't think of that," Jude panted back. "But where can we go? Maybe back to your friends little flat? I don't think going to a whore house is the best idea."
Jinai shook her head.
"No, that'll put him in danger. We got to find another place." She looked him over. "Got any bright ideas?"
"I...I think I know a place. It's an old haunt and it can serve our purposes," he said and took her hand to lead her west down the street. After an hour of walking, they came to a tall building, and Jude wandered down the alley, where they came to a side door. He felt around the side of the stoo before finding what he sought and pulled out a smalll rusted key.
When he opened the door, it opened up to a small cottage looking room, with cloth covered furniture and an empty fireplace. "This could work fine," he said with a nod.
Jinai followed quietly, and observed the route, curious of where he'd lead her. Once they were inside, she peered around into the room full of dust and sheets.
"This looks like a house of ghosts. Who's place is this anyway?" She asked, stepping into the room.
"A small hideaway," Jude said at first. "Actually you could say it was one of the backrooms of one of Nina's brothels when she was first in business. I didn't work here, but I remember her telling me about the place. We'd, er, been here a few times. She keeps it around as a small haven for the poor in the city, so they can have a place to sleep during the winter time. She has a few people come around from time to time to clean it up."
Jinai raised her brows before smirking.
"Ah, so this is where you learned to fuck?"
Jude snorted and moved toward one of the sheet-covered chairs and pulled it off. "No, not here. I didn't work in this brothel. It was another one in the nicer area of the city. But...you could say she taught me how to fuck." He laughed and moved toward a small lounge sofa and cleared the cloth from that too. "You should light a fire by the hearth. Don't worry, it's connected to another chimney in the apartments above us, so the smoke won't signal where we are. It could be them just as much as us."
Jinai said nothing, only smirked at his response, because... well, that's what she meant! A brothel girl could only teach you so much, but Jinai knew how to read people... well, at least enough, and she saw the way the teacher reacted to her student and...
With a shrug about the fire, she went about helping.
"What? Afraid to get your pretty man hands all dirty?" she jested, finding a stash of logs and fed them into the hearth and soon, a fire was crackling inside.
"Nothing beats the smell of a fire," Jinai murmured, staring at the flames as they danced. Stepping away, she peered to Jude.
"So now what do we do? Stay here for the night? Or wait a few hours then make a break for it?"
"A man doesn't like to be questioned about his masculinity. Besides, you know how much of a man I am," he smirked at her and opened up his jacket, tossing it off to the side and setting the small stack of envelopes down on the table.
"I think we can lay low here for the rest of the day, perhaps the night even. I guess we could look through these letters, see what they say. They were hidden away in a drawer so they have to say something important," he said, sitting down.
"Maybe their love letters?" she jested, picking up a blanket and shaking out the dust. Which promptly had her coughing. Perhaps that was a bad idea. But she was a bit chilly. And there were so many clothes and unused things about.. surely no one would mind if she borrowed one for the night.
"Love letters? Maybe. Everybody's got dirty little secrets. But something tells me that I don't think the Bishop would've been killed because of them. There's got to be something more," he mumbled to himself in thought, spreading them out on the table. He clenched his eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling very tired. He saw Jinai across from him and reached over to pull her in against him.
"If you were a priest, a good one, not those rotten ones that steal money from the coffers and have affairs with members of the congregation, what would you hide away?"
Jinai smirked as she was pulled against him and settled herself onto his lap.
"A good priest?" she snorted. "My sex life." And her eyes sparkled at that. He was asking the wrong person for answers here!
Jude threw his head back and laughed. "You're so candid about that. It really must be good," he laughed.
"I dunno,"s he said with a casual shrug. "Maybe. But if the man ain't all about sex, I'm sure the letters were simply to harbor secrets against mages in some way. During these times, a man wouldn't be killed for having sex. But a man keeping mages would."
"That's what I was thinking," Jude said with a nod. "But he wouldn't be keeping them under his basement or something. That'd be too risky. He had to be a go between or something. A messenger or a supplier."
"All that stuff's dangerous. If you have any connection at all for protesting the government, you'll hang. The city guards are all testy. Just look at them funny and you'll hang."
But after a moment, she went quiet and smirked.
"So are we going to check out these letters, or keep guessing? Unless you're getting too distracted with me on your lap..."
Jude's eyes gleamed and exchanged between hers and the pile of letters in the background on the table and he reached up suddenly to squeeze her face cheeks together and wiggle her face. "You and your smart mouth. If you want sex, all you have to do is ask," Jude muttered before stealing a brief kiss.
And that's when she bit his lip, playfully at first, then harder.
"Don't smoosh my face. I ain't a dog."
That's when he moaned, an involuntary whimper at the bit and squeezed her face harder as he kissed her deeper and sucked on her lower lip. "We can make like dogs if you want," he murmured.
"Oh?" she found her teeth on his lips again before dragging her teeth, the lips across his lower lip, then moved to bite at his neck. "Only if it's rough like a dog, too."
Gods she could drive him crazy with the simplest caress. This time his own teeth sunk into his lips and he shivered heavily. "That's pretty rough. Rough as sandpaper?" he mumbled between kisses, opening his neck up to her.
"And hard as nails," she told him, breath hot against his ear. "Heavy, pounding, hammering nails," she went on, teeth sinking into his ear, them nibbling up the lobe.
It didn't take much to get him excited and Jude wound his arms around her, hands feeling down the small of her back to the rise of her ass. His mouth tasted of her skin, it was salty from sweat and yet sweet from her scent and it made him tremble with want and need. "Hot as a hearthfire?"
"Hotter than hell," she told him, lips meeting to his, nibbling and breathing hotly against his lips as she stared back at him through lowered lashes. And just as she did so, she directed one of his hands to smooth up her inner thigh, and towards her heat.
Jude's eyes flickered down to where she grabbed his hands. His breath hitched as he felt along her inner thigh. Her skin was remarkably smooth and soon his fingertips were dancing along the folds of her sex, groping it gently. His lips pressed against hers, his other hand pulling her head against his.
Jinai breathed a moan which expelled through her nose as their lips locked and his hands reached and touched her sex. And as his hands moved to explore she coaxed him onward, helping to guide a few fingers to dip into her moistening sex for a drink.
His fingers felt along her folds, slipping within her eagerly, They were light in their explorations and he moved them slowly and deeply within her. His lips hungered for hers and grew increasingly ravenous, his teeth grazing her lips, biting and pulling.
Soon her tongue was shoving into his mouth, her free hand now cupping his face as she moaned and rocked her hips to fuck his fingers. Then soon, her hand abandoned his and moved towards his pants, which she clumsily, but desperately, began to work open- and once she was successful, she breathed through a smile and kiss and slipped her hands inside his pants, chuckling happily to find his cock so eager within her grasp as she held onto it and felt slowly along it's length.
He gasped when she freed his member from it's confines. "Look what you did!" he murmured against her lips. "This is all your fault." He laughed, feigning indignance and he leaned in deeper to her, removing his hand from within her and guiding hers along his member. "What arou you giggling about? Is something funny?"
Her eyes sparkled as she bit into his lip and then kissed him, her eye lashes lowering.
"Maybe," she said, cupping his face as she continued to pump her hand along his rock hard shaft. "Just good to see it ain't broken- and is still excited to fuck me after all these years..."
Had they been together that long she could say years? It was strange how time seemed to pass, but with him- she enjoyed each second of it.
"Would you still love me if it was broken and could no longer please you? Would you still love me if we could never have sex again?" he said, half-jesting.
Jinai smiled as she kissed him, her eyes nearly closed.
"There you go with that love thing." And she moved from his lips to his neck again, then his ear, her hands still working his shaft. Her teeth grated along his ear lobe again as she told him huskily, "You still have fingers and a tongue, don't you?" And her lips smiled against his ear before she bit him. "You of all people should know there are other ways to fuck."
Jude laughed and squeezed her hands. Soft breaths escaped him as he kissed along her jaw. "I know I know, but think about it? If we never had sex again would you still love me?" he snickered. "A man takes pride in his favored instrument and I have a lot to be proud of," he laughed, smirking.
Jinai growled a little as she kissed at his throat.
"Why are you asking this now? I thought you wanted to fuck me like a dog?"
"Oh humor me," he murmured, kissing her softly and reaching between her legs once more, slipping fingers inside her once more. "I'll fuck you like any animal you want. I'm just curious is all. Or would you prefer not to think about it."
Jinai sunk her teeth into her lower lip.
"Why think about something that will never happen? And if it DOES happen, it would be sort of humorous. I mean.. wouldn't you be out of a job?" she teased, and squirmed against his ministrations. His fingers felt so good pressed inside her tight pussy.
Jude smiled. "I've been thinking of retiring soon anyway," he smirked. "Fine, I'll drop it for now. Now were we discussing something? Something about animals." He chuckled as he massaged her walls, pressing more fingers inside her and kissing at her throat."
"Retire?" she laughed through a breath. "Think you're getting too old to fuck? Is that what you're worried about? Thought I saw some grey hairs on you earlier anyway.." she jested, lips meeting to his as she moaned again. His fingers felt heavenly.
Jude sunk his hand in deeper into her and chewed on her bottom lip. "Well WE are getting old, but I can take my money and we can get out of Connlaoth, go away somewhere to a hideaway or travel the world or something," he offered as he kissed her with heated breath, moving his hips down and pressing his member against her the folds of her sex. "Would you run away with me?"
Jinai shivered at such an idea. Run away? She found herself smiling, lips to his lips. Wasn't running away what she always did?
"I don't think I ever had someone to run away with," she said, her breath growing more shallow as she opened her legs and used one hand to help guide his member closer to her sex, so that she could feel the tip of him prod her, as if giving her a kiss. She leaned her head back, eyes closing tightly as she released an even deeper throated moan while her other free hand now dug into his hair and gripped onto him tight.
Jude shuddered against her, feeling himself slip slowly inside her walls. His hand did not retreat however, continuing to massage her as he ushed in deeper. "We could go anywhere. I'd go anywhere with you," he muttered.
Jinai moaned. To feel his sex enter her, along with his fingers that now moved and massaged her, help pushing her sex open, made her even more slick and hot with need. Her velvety insides pulsated around him, tasting his fingers and his length as her hips urged him to enter her deeper, and quicker, and to- well, just to fuck.
"And I'd go with you anywhere," she breathed.
Jude whimpered in controlled motions, feeling himself become one with her and soon he was undulating his hips underneath hers. His hands vacated her sex, instead holding her hips and moving along in unison. He kissed along her neck, a free hand working her free of her shirt.
She helped him with the shirt, before picking the laces of his open as lips and finger nails dragged across his body. She loved how he fucked her, filling her completely, making her feel complete and she paused him only long enough to remove the rest of her clothes, and his, before she pinned him down and straddled his lap, and fucked him good herself.
The pegs on the sofa creaked and scraped the floor with the force of their motions. Jude writhed and bucked underneath her, moving his hips in rhythmic unison. He loved maing love to her, loved her desire, her fire, her passion. She was damaged goods in many ways, but he was hardly any better beneath his veneer of cool indifference. He felt at ease with her, little needed to be spoken, save for the language between their bodies.
A slick sweat coated him as he turned over on the couch, pinning her on her back and pumping his hips hungrily against hers.
"By the Gods, Jude," she moaned, writhing beneath him as they changed positions and he dominated over her, pumping into her like a machine. Her entire body seemed to flush, shining also with sweat, as her breasts bounced each time they fucked. "Gods, go faster! Faster!" she begged, fingers gripping into anything they could.
Jude sealed his lips over hers with a kiss, one that opened up with panting breaths as he did as she begged. He moved to his own pleasure, as much as hers, undulating his hips with increasing alacrity as he clutched her hips to his and moved with fervor.
She continued to beg until she was screaming his name, and though passion errupted through her, she was hardly spent, and was soon on her hands and knees and turning to Jude, "Come on. You said you'd do me like a dog."
He handled her hips like a sculptor molding clay, turning her expertly and gripping them until his fingers made white spaces in her flesh. He was slicked with sweat, dripping down his brow as he peered at Jinai. "You're insatiable, you know that?" he asked with a breathy laugh.
He leaned down, kissing down her back, dragging his nails down her hips until his body grew eager once more. Jude pressed his hardened member against her sex, teasing at first before sliding within.
When he laughed, so did she.
"Just shut up and fuck me. You know you love it," she growled and was soon moaning the second she felt him slip back inside her, going in deep.
Jude's entire body shuddered the second he was inside her. She was so slick from the first time around that he cut right into her like a fire rod melting through ice. The steam clouded his vision as he fucked her, gripping her tightly to him. "I do love it," he grunted. "But you're lucky I love you. You're putting me on overtime."
"Well, at least I ain't paying. I heard you were fucking expensive!" she quipped, somehow managing to joke as they fucked. But Gods, did he ever feel good. If anything could be said of their relationship, they at least always had great sex.
"Normally I would charge double," he growled, moving into her faster, with increased need. By the time they were done, Jude was sent ten times over, spawled on the couch and panting heavily in every effort to catch his breath.
Jude wasn't the only one thoroughly exhausted and draped across the couch like a rag doll. Jinai lay opposite of him, some of her leg still entangled around his, but the rest of her laid the other way as she tried to catch her breath. Her legs were open, exposing the sex that seeped out of her from all of the seed Jude had shot into her, and she hadn't a care in the world that it was soaking the couch beneath them.
"Gods.." she panted, keeping her eyes closed as she smiled. "You're too good of a fuck."
Jude laughed and sat up on his elbows, moving carefully down to kneel by her side and letting his hand smooth down her inner thigh. "If I retire, we could do this every day. And just think, you wouldn't have to share me with anyone else," he smirked at her, leaning down to suck at her breast, kissing towards the middle of her chest.
She laughed and remained reclined.
"You say that as if I ever cared."
"You're telling me that you don't care if I have partners other than you? Can you honestly say you've never once been jealous of me sleeping with other people? People who might've even been better than you?" he asked with raised brows.
"They're all better than me," she told him with a smirk. "Considering you're fucking with the upper class."
"Well I meant in the sack," he chuckled. "But I guess you're right. What's the point of being jealous, right? It's not like you take me seriously or anything." Jude frowned, shaking his head, sitting up and scooting in toward the pile of letters, rifling though them.
Jinai rolled her eyes and continued to remain comfortable.
"Why would I be jealous anyway? I didn't see you making boobed sculptures of your other women."
But she paused as she leaned her chin over her crossed forearms and peered over at him, kicking her legs behind her.
"And besides, last time I checked I'm the only one you ain't chargin'."
Jude shook his head and put a small pile of letters in front of him. "Yeah but those are things I did for you," he said. "I dunno. I guess sometimes I feel you're not as invested in...us as I am. God knows I've been jealous enough back at... Back at Breakpoint."
At such a proclamation, Jinai perked up.
"Breakpoint?" she wrinkled her nose. "Is that still eating at you?"
"No," Jude replied, a little indignantly. "It's not Breakpoint. It's your general attitude. Sometimes I just feel like I'm just another one of your frivolous decisions."
"Frivolous decisions?" Jinai made a face, now laying on her back on the couch as she looked over at him. "What does that even mean?"
"Nothing," Jude sighed and shook his head. "Forget I said anything. It doesn't really matter I guess."
Jinai turned to observe him.
"If it didn't matter, you wouldn't bring it up." And she peered over at him before finally sitting up on the couch. "Does my attitude bother you that much?"
Jude leaned back against the bottom of the sofa and sighed. "In all your life, have you ever done anything that required real dedication? I mean do you know why I got upset when you would hurt yourself, when you willingly put yourself in situations that endangered your well-being. I..I care about you Jinai, in a way I never cared about anyone else. You're important to me. I wonder if I'm really as important to you."
Jinai frowned at such a declaration before she dropped her gaze to the floor where her toes were wriggling. She pretended to be interested in them, and the dirt between them. She needed a bath.
"I'm.... just not too good with relationships. Not just with you, Jude. With anyone."
Jude turned to her and reached for her leg, pressing a hand against her calf. "I guess I know that," he murmured. "I understand. I guess I'm not any better. I've never actually had a constructive relationship. If this could be called that. All I know is how I feel and I..I feel deeply about you. I love you Jinai." He leaned up, kneeling on his knees and pulled her into an embrace.
Jinai looked down at his hand,a nd for a while avoided his gaze before finally glancing down into his green eyes.
"That's all anyone can know, is how they feel. But sometimes..." and she let her words drift off before going quiet and frowning.
"Sometimes I don't even know how I feel."
ANd at his embrace, she sighed and rested into him and just closed her eyes.
Jude just held her snugly, securely against him and pressed his face against her hair. Sometimes it felt wodderful just to hold someone, and be held in turn. For Jude intimacy was perhaps more than just sex and it was something he lacked for most of his life. He wanted to share what was contained, what he so often held back. And there was always the faint hope that someday Jinai would share something back. But he wouldn't press her; she'd come around in her own time.
As he held her, she lamely felt her arms go around his. It felt strange to be in such a situation with anyone. The only other person she had ever grown close to and cared to be was her brother. And he was dead. And Jude was not him. She released another sigh and buried her face against him, not certain what to say or do, but suddenly found her embrace a bit more secure around him-
and it felt.... nice.
Jude found himself kissing her forehead and loosening his hug. It was enough for him for now. He gestured back toward the letters and picked up the first one and opened it up. "Better now than never," he sighed and started reading.
Curious as she may have been, as he began to open the letters, her lips met to his shoulder, and she began to lightly kiss there, before moving softly, slowly to his neck.
Jude giggled and shrugged her lips away. "Stop. We got work to do," he muttered, trying to focus on reading. He scanned quickly, trying to find key words here and there before going on to the next one.
"Work?" she told him, speaking through another kiss as she moved to kiss at his other shoulder now, a hand lightly smoothing down his arm. She never had the chance to full appreciate him and be tender with him, or anyone, and found herself suddenly just wanting to touch him, to feel him, to kiss him.
He chuckled again, feeling ticklish and shrugging again. "C'mon, we got a lot of letters to get through," he chuckled. "I'm just scanning through them. You don't even have to read them all the way." He flipped through more pages and studied the closing paragraphs.
"You could just read them to me," she said, nuzzling into his neck and smoothing a hand down his arm. Her cheek was now to his shoulder, hair draped over him in a lazy manner.
He shivered involuntarily and chuckled again, ticklish from her hair. "Okay, how about this. 'The drop off point will be the same as we discussed last time. Be careful about being followed. If I so much as smell a trap, it will be as if I wasn't even there. If this is true, then all I can say is...thank you.'" Jude shook his head and frowned. "It's a shame most of it seems like vague information. There's got to be something more solid."
"Yeah, and something more interesting. Here I got all cozy to listen in on some sex scandal, but seems it's just the regular old stuff."
Jude shook his head. "No, no. This isn't ordinary. It's leading up to something. I just wished they'd get to the point a little quicker," he said with a sigh. He moved on to the next one and started to read aloud. Most of it was just ordinary conversation topics: the weather, the market, shopping and Jude was starting to lose patience. He huffed out of his nose and started on the next letter.
One of the letters he discarded Jinai idly picked up. She began to read it, or more like stare at it for no reason when something in the wording caught her attention.
"Say Jude..." she said, perking up. "Do any of the other letters talk about Home?"
"Home?" he asked, turning to look at her. "Hmm." He rummaged through the other ones he scanned. "This one mentions sending mages 'Home'. It's just capitalized. Nothing else is mentioned. What is that anyway?"
Jinai's frown deepened as she looked at the letter.
"Shit."
She didn't know the Bishop had his connections with Home. She knew she had been away from the organization's base for some time but....
Now she felt on edge. So many people that she knew might be in danger.
"In those letters.. is there anything else?" she pressed, ignoring his question for now.
It took some investigating but after about fifteen minutes of looking, Jude rummaged through another letter and shook his head. "The Bishop was helping mages evade Confessor patrols. The Order it seems knew there was a rat in their midst. He was helping them escape Connloath and had special sanctuary points to help them do that. Home..must've been one of them."
Jinai pressed her lips together at that.
"Yeah.. it's something like that," she went on with a sigh. "Home is... sort of where I started off on things. And if they're in danger... I might need to leave to go warn them."
"Wait a moment. The assassin didn't seem to have any other information than to kill the Bishop. I think he intended to find these letters but we interrupted him, remember?" he said. "If Home is in danger, I think we inadvertently bought them some time. We should find the name of the Bishop's contact. Whether he was really from Home, we don't know. He could have just been another mage with other ties."
Jinai bit her lip.
"Maybe, but how do we figure out who his contact was? These letters don't mention much of anything. Not a name, not an alias. Nothing."
Jude sighed and tossed the letters on the table. "I-I could ask Anita," he said, trying to think of any possible solutions. "But I don't know if this area is really her expertise." He moved through the unread pile and tried to sort through them. "It could be possible to follow some kind of inadvertent map that's detailed in the letters, retrace the Bishop's steps and see what we can come up with from there. It's a plan if anything."
"Yeah, but what sort of map can we really get from all of these?" She was skeptical at best, and not usually the sort to figure out the secrets. Normally, she stumbled into them- head first.
"I don't know to be honest. I don't even know what I'm getting myself into," Jude admitted. "But it's a start. We can try to organize the letters into some sort of workable timeline, from the last one to the first and try to work with that. Similar names and places. Map them as we go."
"You got an inkwell and feather? Cause that's going to be a lot of writing."
Jude slumped back against the bottom of the couch and sighed. "With this kind of work I need a drink. And a smoke."
Jinai smirked and moved to massage his shoulders.
"Anyway I can help you get that? I think I could use a drink, too."
Jude leaned forward, rolling his shoulders as she massaged. He groaned softly and sighed. "Yeah, I think that'd be nice. Maybe Anita's got some left over stash or something. Or did you want to go out and get some?"
"Whatever you want is fine with me," she murmured, lips pressing softly to the skin of his neck as her hands continued to massage him. "Gods you're tense. You'd never have guessed we just had a sex marathon before this."
Jude groaned again, chilled by her kiss. He smiled and looked lazily up at her. "Could you look for me? My ass is stapled to the floor."
She barked out a laugh.
"And where should I look? Where did Anita keep her stash?"
Jude snickered and shrugged. "I think I remember her talking about a stash underneath the floorboards beside the hearth."
"Clever spot," Jinai said with a smirk, still massaging Jude a bit longer before she moved away to go inspect it. Sure enough, when the floor board was removed, she found one last bottle of Connlaothian wine. She gave it a light shake to swish the wine inside before grinning over at Jude.
"Looks like we're in luck. There was one bottle left down there."
And she set the floorboard back before returning to Jude's side.
"I don't suppose you know where Anita kept something to get this cork out, do you?"
"Well, I'm sure we can find something around here to use. Let me have a look since you got the wine." Jude stood and walked over toward some of the kitchen drawers in the back and found a carving knife, and two tall glasses. He wiped them off and returned, sitting back down on the floor and stabbing the knife into the cork. The wine was white but after inspection seemed good enough to drink still and with a pop the cork came loose and he poured them two glasses.
"Here you go. Shame, there was nothing stronger down there, but I'll take what I can get," he smirked.
"This is good enough for me. I ain't exactly picky when I'm trying to get wasted," she said with a smirk and took a drink of it. "Damn! This is good stuff!"
"Hm it is!" Jude said grinning as he sipped his glass. "Let's see here." He examined a bottle. "La Mer Special Number 42. I'm not familiar with the name, but it's good. You know, when Anita ran her brothels, she didn't allow any kind of nonsense to take her girls. No opiates, no drugs, no excessive boozing, and no taking special favors from clients trying to pimp them out. But I heard she had special bottles of wine, with a tinge of a rose coloring, a white wine nevertheless, and it was said to contain a substance that encouraged certain amorous activities. Or maybe it was just really good booze."
Jinai laughed.
"Glad I never worked for her, and here I was thinking you had my dream job. I don't think I could work under those conditions." And she took another gulp and swished the remaining wine in her cup. "And what do you mean by 'amorous' activities? You don't believe in love potions, do you?"
"Naahh," Jude said, smirking at her and leaning up to kiss at her neck, leaving a wet mark behind. "I think she just had good taste in wine. It's delicious." He swirled some in his glass and took a sip. "Love potions, don't make me laugh."
Jinai's grin turned coy.
"Yeah, love potions... naturally those don't exist. But I think you must've been slipped something to pine after a woman like myself," she said, finishing off her drink and putting out the goblet, waiting for him to pour her some more. She felt nice and bubbly- might as well keep the fire fueled.
"Or maybe you were just amusing. Interesting. You don't think those are attractive qualities. Being good in the sack wasn't bad either," he laughed as he poured her more and downed the rest of his. "I'm still going with the good booze theory. Works for most people."
Jinai smirked.
"I guess you could say I thought the same. I rarely go back for seconds, let alone thirds," she went on, sipping down more of her wine with ease-
and quite quickly becoming drunk.
"Did you ever love anyone else other than me, Jude?" she asked. "I mean like, someone you could do crazy things with before you met me? Or was life all business and sex?"
"Let's see, I told you about the village girl, when I was about sixteen or seventeen," he said, drinking his own wine slowly and savoring the taste. "Now that I think about it, I'd never really been...in love. Not the way I am now. I think there were moments I thought I was in love. The bubbling new emotions of good sex, being wined and dined by the rich and shallow. I was very young when I started out, seventeen, just turning eighteen. I think I grew somewhat attached to some regulars I had, married women that wanted to escape their awful husbands..."
Jude drank some more and refilled his glass. "I think if there was ever a woman I loved before you, it was Anita. She took care of me and I owe her a lot. It was her that warned me, 'Don't fall in love. They'll take away everything you worked for.' It's a job, a lifestyle at most. But it paid the bills. And I guess if there was someone I still loved more than Anita, it was myself of course. After all, what's not to love?"
Jinai nodded, recalling the village girl story.
"Well, I can see the respect for her in your eyes. You look at her different than you do others." Taking another drink of her wine, and nearly finishing her second glass, she continued to stare off thoughtfully until he said the last bit.
Then she barked out a laugh.
"In love with yourself? Great, now I've got some competition!" she teased. "Tell me, do you make out with yourself infront of the mirror and jerk off, imaging you can fuck yourself?"
Yeah, she was drunk- but this sort of teasing, to her.. in this state, was just too damn fun.
"Wouldn't you like to know," he smirked at her and used his glass as an excuse to say nothing more, downing the rest of it and grinning even wider. "I'll tell you one thing though, the sex was always...ALWAYS great. Orgasm, everytime."
Jinai laughed.
"With who? Yourself or Anita?"
She couldn't help but put Anita back out there, and in her drunken state- despite denying she wasn't jealous- she kind of well...
was.
Jude just smiled and turned to her, his hand playing with his knee and he shrugged. He wasn't going to kiss and tell.
"What? What's with that look?"
Jude laughed and shook his head. "It was myself," he murmured and ran his fingers down her arm. "What about you? You ever been in love?"
"Only once and the damn whore got me pregnant," she told him with a dull and almost resentful smirk. "But no.." she went on with a shake of her head. "I always thought love was foolish and dumb. I never wanted love."
Jude poured himself another glass of wine and hers too before he put his arm around her, and pulled her against him. "Did you ever think you weren't worthy of love?" he found himself asking.
She took one look into his eyes and laughed.
"Worthy? Do I even look worthy to you, Jude?"
Jude turned and looked her square in the eye. A small smile played his lips, but it was not one of amusement. "Yes," he answered simply.
Jinai laughed lightly, her eyes looking through his.
"One of the few."
"You deserve it and more," he murmured as he leaned in and kissed her cheek softly.
She blushed and dropped her gaze.
"More?" She murmured, brushing some of his hair from his face. "What would I even do with more?" And she looked back up at him but avoided his eyes.
"Oh I don't know," Jude murmured, kissing her forehead. "You could indugle. But that doesn't seem like you. It must be very different for you, to be pampered like this, in a dusty anteroom on the side of a strange building." He snickered a little and brushed her hair from her face.
Jinai snorted.
"Do you think that's what you're doing?" She gave a smug grin. "Pampering me?"
"I'm leading you on until I can subdue you and whip you into submission. Then I'm going to wear you like a new suit," Jude smirked. He laughed and leaned down to kiss her shoulder, dragging his lips along in small wet kisses to the base of her neck. "Why? Are you opposed to pampering? Do you have a preference?" he asked.
Jinai laughed.
"I'd like to see you try."
And at his last comment, she shrugged and looked around.
"Can't say I would know. No one ever sought to or desired to pamper me." She wrinkled her nose, still a bit drunk. "It's a silly word, ain't it? Pamper."
"It is!" Jude agreed, snickering. "You know what else is silly. Your nose."
Jinai laughed.
"Not as silly as your nose!" And she eyed it critically. "Those nostrils are so large I can see a big booger in it!"
"Well, what are you waiting for? Pick it out!" Jude said and picked his own nose, trying it wipe it on her.
"Ack! JUDE!" Jinai said, jerking away from him. "Keep your own damn boogers to yourself!"
"But what's mine is yours," he laughed, moved for her again. "You can even have my nose hair if you wanted them."
"I'd rather have your ball hair!" she said with a laugh. "Keep those booger fingers away from me Jude, or I'll belch in your face then make you eat 'em."
Jude suddenly started to laugh then and he rolled back on the floor, holding his belly. "I'll bur in your face! How about that!"
"You won't do that if you're choking on your boogers!" she shouted back, laughing at him as she was still nicely drunk.
"But I will if I catch you first!" Jude suddenly bolted up and after her.
With a gasp,s he was taken off guard and fell off her chair in an unceremonious lump.
She swore between her teeth at the pain and tried to get to her feet.
"You wipe those boogers on me, Jude, I swear to God I'll shove them up your dick!"
"I'm not gonna wipe them on you anymore, but I just wnnt to grab you and make sweet sweet sex with you," Jude laughed and gave her a chance to get to her feet.
Jinai swore through her teeth as she got to her feet and pinched his arm for that.
"Ass."
"Just kidding. I was going to blow my nose on your arm," he quipped and quickly snatched her forearm and rubbed his nose along it.
"Ugh, Jude!" she wailed, and proceeded to wipe the snotty arm onto his face.
"And here I thought we were going to share a nice evening together." She made a face. "Gross."
He stuck his tongue out at her, and wiped his face off with his shirt and even cleaned her arm. "I'm sorry darling. Oh your poor delicate skin," he said and kissed her forearm.
Jinai snorted.
"My poor delicate what?" she pinched his arm again. "Just pour me some more wine.I don't think I'm drunk enough for this!"
Jude smacked his lips, reaching for the bottle and filling both of their glasses. "There you are my delicate little flower," he snickered, sipping his own glass.
"Jude, you keep talking like that and I'm going to put my foot in your mouth."
"You are my lady and there's only one thing I'll put in my mouth that isn't your tongue." Jude snickered and leaned in to kiss her.
And she turned away so he couldn't kiss her as she laughed.
"You're lewd, Jude," she said, and faked a punch to his gut.
"Oooh. You wound me," Jude murmured, grinning as he tried to kiss her again. "I'm only 'lewd' because you're a very attractive woman. You have a strong, limber body, beautiful eyes and a gorgeous smile. So what if you're nose is a little big, it only adds to your beauty."
"You want a big nose too?" she threatened, still dodging his kisses. "Because you know I can arrange that. My fist.. your face." And she smirked devilishly at that.
Jude made a face and reached forward, gently pinching her nose and making a honking sound.
She smacked his hand away then swatted his nose.
"Yeah, yeah, I get that my nose is big. Stop touching it already." And she swatted at his shoulder.
"Okay okay! I can take a hint," he said laughed and moved away from her. "Gods, you think a little harmless nose pinching could lead to some interesting foreplay and you get shot down."
Jinai quirked a brow."And what sort of women have you been fucking that like to be told they have a big nose?"
"The sort that enjoy a marathon and don't have any inclination to pay. Or to cuddle," Jude smirked.
Jinai pinched his arm and smirked.
"Fuck you."
"Ow," Jude feigned a scowl and held his arm then reached against her ribs and poked her. "Fuck you."
Jinai only smirked back. "You already did," before stealing a quick kiss then lifting up her glass. "More wine? I don't think I'm drunk enough."
"And what are you getting drunk for?" Jude smirked, nodding to the bottle and sipping what was left of his glass. "I hope you're not planning on taking advantage of me?"
She laughed.
"If I wanted to take advantage of you, I'd get you drunk. Now fill 'er up!" And she put out her glass expectantly.
Jude poured her another glass. The bottle was nearing empty and he wondered if there was another hidden around somewhere. "Savor every bit of it, darling. It's good booze," he smirked and drank direction from the bottle. He smiled at her and leaned in, brushing her bangs back. "You look good with your hair up."
Jinai laughed in his face, which resulted in some wind spitting from her lips onto his face.
"You would think seeing more of my face would look good," she said, jutting out her chin. "Frankly, I like my bangs."
Jude laughed, then took bits of her hair to make a mock mustache. "Or maybe this would be a nice change of pace," he laughed and leaned in to steal a kiss.
When his lips met to hers, she blew a raspberry against them.
"You would want me to dress as a man," she said with a smirk. "What's the matter? Miss getting some ass?"
"The only ass I really want is yours," he said and laughed against her lips, pulling on her lower one through another kiss. His hands smoothed down her thigh and down toward her ass. "We play a game. We touch other, see how far we can go and whoever begs for sex first loses. Or wins depending on your persective."
Jinai just laughed.
"If you want to fuck me again, go right ahead," she told him with a smirk. "But you'll have to find a way to open my legs..." she went on, smirking as she crossed her legs tightly.
"What do you want me to do, beg?" he said, turning to her and tiptoeing his fingers on her knee. "You know I want you. Don't you want me too?" he murmured, leaning in to kiss her.
Jinai was all smiles, even as he kissed her. And when she was done kissing back, she simply told him by looking straight in his eyes,
"Nope!"
Jude chuckled and continued to touch her, running his hands along her thighs and kissing at her neck. "It's okay," he muttered, nursing at her neck. "I thought you were drunk, this is supposed to be easier."
She laughed deep enough to snort.
"Drunk might mean I only get more stubborn," she said, jutting out her chin as she grinned. But his lips felt heavenly, and she felt herself warm at his touch.
Jude laughed and turned his hands underneath, to the skin along her hamstrings, feeling there, though not too close to her heat. "That just makes me more determined. Besides, I love the way you laugh when you're drunk. When you're free and happy,without too much worry." And continued to kiss along her collarbone.
"Without much worry?" she laughed again, and hummed at the feeling on her leg. "I think I have a LOT to worry about. There's a whore petting me leg, after all." And her lips split open just enough to expose a small portion of her teeth.
When her mouth opened, Jude quickly leaned up and took her lips against his own, kissing her. His hands found what was exposed of her sex, stroking it gently. "What could you possibly have to worry about?"
Her eyes grew half lidded and she- quiet as she softly breathed.
"Diseases."
"I'm healthy as a horse," he murmured. "How could you possibly think I'm disease ridden? Have I ever gotten you sick?"
"There was that one time," she said through a breath. "Where you did get me pregnant." And this had her smirk as she peered up at him, her bangs, having grown long, hid half of her eyes. "And you would compare yourself to a horse."
"Well, I do take you for a ride when you want it," he smirked. "I didn't mean to get you pregnant. I'm sorry. At least you took that serum, so you should be okay." His hand brushed her hair from her eyes and he kissed her forehead, then her cheek and then to her lips. "Are you still locked and bolted?" he murmured.
Jinai smiled, though perhaps it was forced. ANd perhaps it was too soon for even her to joke about that.
"You're not getting in," she told him, her smirk growing bigger.
Jude sighed exasperatedly and sat back. "Fiiiiiiiiiine," he groaned like a child and crossed his legs as he stared at the intimidating pile of letters. "It was a decent distraction while it lasted."
"What? This?" And she opened up her legs, wide and pointed.
Jude then turned and lunged for her!
ANd that's when she shut her legs, successfully trapping his head inbetween her well toned thighs.
"HEEEEY!" but his cries were muffled by the force of her thighs. Jude jerked his head back but he was unable to move. "You're trying to suffocate me?" he mumbled and suddenly grabbed her by the hips with his arms and lifted her up onto his shoulders. He moved toward the wall and pinned her back against it.
Jinai laughed.
"Suffocate you? What? With my vagina?" She laughed again when he had her pinned against the wall, but she refused to relent as she grinned, her hair now hiding her eyes, but not the dimples of her cheeks.
"It would be a rather fitting demise," he mumbled from between her legs. Jude adjusted her weight on his shoulders as he peeked up at her and growled lightly at her before gently biting the inside of her thigh. Bites turned to kisses as he moved closer to her sex.
Jinai said nothing, only smiled in a thin, broken mouth slit that exposed just a bit of teeth. And as his ministrations continued towards her heat, she found herself holding a breath as her eye lids grew heavy and her lips parting open a little more.
Jude felt her radiating heat and his body shuddered. He kissed at her sex, tentaively at first before lapping at her with fervent rhythm. His arms gripped her thighs securely, his hands pressing against her skin until white patterns appeared.
Jinai leaned her head back, moaning light, moaning soft, as her sex seemed to come alive by his tongue. Her toes curled as she shivered and tried to move, but her position was awkward, and she didn't want to hurt the man giving her some rather pleasurably oral sex. But in the same breath, she felt herself growing needy fast. And as usual, she was beginning to crave Jude.
Jude continued to lap at her sex, tasting her pooling heat, listening to her sighs and moans and shudders. His own body was hard, at the ready.
"God.. Jude," she moaned, raking her fingers through his hair. "Who would have thought this is the same tongue you speak with?"
Jude soon moved his lips away from her sex, kissing upward along her belly and he shifted her thighs from his shoulders, sliding her down along his body, kissing up along it as he went.
Jinai gasped, her breathing becoming irradic as he closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of her flesh brush against, pressing so close and warm- and also of his lips moving, soft and wet kisses, up her skin. It was when their hips met her breath hitched in her throat, and naturally, she began to grind herself against his pants.
[lol. They're both still naked I think.]
Jude moaned against her lips and he hoisted her up onto his hips, and she'd feel his hard member against her sex. "Don't worry," he murmured against her ear. "I'm a professional. You're in good hands."
OOC: I think you're right lol
just ignore the pants bit? And she can um.. enjoy his bits? 8D
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Jinai smirked.
"You don't have to tell me. But I can feel that your hands are dirty,"s he growled, fingers digging into the skin of his back as she held onto him, prodding him to continue.
Jude slid along her sex, grinding with her, against her, and laughing all the same. "I just want to make you feel good is all," he murmured, smirking as he teased her. "To be honest sex wasn't as much fun with other people. It's never the same as it is with you."
"Why?" she asked through a laugh and moan. "Because my hands are dirty, too?"
"Because sex is more intense," he said, moving with each word, "more fun, more exciting when it's with someone you care about." Though he hadn't actually slipped inside her yet, but already he was panting and he looked her eye to eye.
The second their eyes met, she grinned through a breath.
"Then why aren't we fucking yet?"
"Because I thought grinding would be more romantic," he said, laughing breathily. "Isn't it?"
"Romantic?" she barked a laugh in his face. "Don't you mean torturous?"
"Romantic, torturous. Same thing, right?" He laughed and continued to stroke her until he felt his tip slip inside her and he immediately pulled out. "Whoops! This is romance. Focus, dick, focus."
Jinai had sucked in a breath, holding it the moment his sex entered hers, but even though it was just the tip, just a taste, it still felt immeasurably good. The second he retracted it though, she released a breath and looked up at him and gave him a crooked smirk between pants.
"You ass. Acting as if you can't control your own dick..."
Jude smirked at her and smiled, laughing both with her and at her. "What? Like this?" he said as he slipped the tip in once more, just a dip, a taste and didn't retract it as he peered at her expression. "You know us guys. Sometimes it just as a mind of it's own," he shrugged.
Jinai's breath hitched, her sex spasming at the sensation of him teasing her, and putting in so little of something so big.
"Yeah.." she said, releasing a breath and giving him a smirk. "I can tell. But how much of it is dick? And how much of it is Jude?"
"Maybe this much?" he murmured as if he was contemplating an equation instead of making love, slipping a fraction further into her. "Maybe just a little more." And moved further. "But what I want to make you feel, and what I feel when we fuck, that's the magic. If you can call it that. That's Jude, that's me. Sometimes our sex feels like more than just sex. That's the part I like the best. When we become one." And he slipped further into her.
Gods did his dick feel good, and her soaking wet pussy pulsated the deeper and deeper he delve. She found herself sinking her teeth into her lower lip as she peered at him with lust filled eyes.
"Become one?" she managed to breath out, smirking. "So what is this? Us being at one and a half?"
"Oh, just shut up and kiss me!" Jude laughed and kissed her hotly, deeply as he slipped the rest of the way inside her.
Jinai smiled through the kiss, moaning all the while as her hands cupped his face and her hips bucked wildly. "Gods.." was all she could breath between kisses, but as she kept kissing and fucking him back, she never once let him go.
Jude quivered and fucked her hard, pressing her back against the wall and moving his hips in tune with hers. He kissed her possessively, passionately, moaning between breaths and feeling light-headed and dizzy with her breath, her scent, her voice, her lips.
"Gods.. Jude," seemed to be a common phrase with her when they were united this way. But Gods did his dick ever feel good. Each thrust made her gasp, each grind of his hip- making her moan, as finger nails dug and scratched long marks across his back, and eventually were pulling into his hair, wild kisses trailing across his mouth and cheek and throat then to his mouth again.
It was crazy, it was intense and for once Jude felt as if Jinai had truly had let her guard down. It was simple to have sex for pleasure, make the body bend and writhe and move, but Jude felt a fire from inside her now that he'd only felt glimpses of before. Jude kissed her with intensity, moaning against her and and gave all of his body. Her walls were tight all around him, hugging his member as her limbs hugged his body and he cradled her tighly to him.
"Jinai! Gods...!"
What could she hold onto? Her body needed this so much. She blindly groped all over, hands feeling him, touching him- smoothing along from his slick, salty sweat. Her hair was sticking to her face, covering her eyes and exposing only lips that continued to kiss at his neck, take in his smells as she wildly rocked her hips and cried out to the heavens, begging for mercy, begging for love, begging for this to never end.
The top of the mountain had never been so high, and she felt as if she were singing with the angels-
and when she was done, for the moment, anyway, she lay in a heap of sweat and hefty breaths as she peered up at Jude.
She gave him a little leftward smirk, seeing how his hair was about as messy as her own.
"Gods, I love the way we fuck." And she paused, green eyes dancing, even behind her wild locks of hair. "And Gods... I love you.' And she cradled his face with her hand and leaned forward, sealing her lips unto his, pressing their fullness into the softness of his lips and whimpering softly.
Gods, could the moment feel anymore perfect than this?
Jude shivered when she kissed him last and his arms wrapped tightly around her. "I love you," he murmured, He felt a pang in his stomach at the fact that she'd had said it to him. They were rare words and he cherished them, for all they were worth.
"I don't know what the hell I was doing before you came along," he murmured and kissed her again, brushing her hair away from her face.
Jinai smirked, her cheeks and body flush.
"Fucking other men and women for money?"
Jude blanched and made an innocent expression. "They didn't mean anything to me, I swear," he said, like a man caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"I don't know... money means a lot in this world," she told him through a breathless smirk.
"But you can't stay warm with money. Coins stick to your groin and they feel itchy after a while," he smirked as he kissed her again. "Besides, fucking for money is only so glamorous. I mean, sometimes you get stuck with really terrible clients because they keep requesting you and they're just horrible lays."
She snorted.
"Sex is sex." Ands he lazily turned to smirk at him. "And money is money. It can get you a lot of things in the world."
Jude laughed and kissed at her shoulder. "Yeah, you're right about that. But sometimes, it doesn't mean anything. And then where are you? Crying yourself to sleep at night in fashionable sheets with some stranger you don't even know beside you. Not that I've ever done that."
JInai smirked.
"Are you sure? I'm sure you have," she said, brushing some hair from his face. It was getting long. "When I was gone.." she went on, her eyes remaining locked to his. "Did you cry yourself to sleep? Or were your eyes hollow, and your heart that way too?"
Jude smirked, wondering if she was joking, but his grin slowly faded when he realized she wasn't. He sighed a little and met her gaze. "Empty. The days felt really long. And empty. I didn't cry. I'm a man," he said, snickering in a light laugh, one that soon sobered into a gentle expression. "When you left, I thought that was it, it was for good. I had made a mistake...we both did, I should've followed you, but...I knew you didn't want me too. You had to do something on your own, right? Even if it wasn't very wise."
Jude frowned a little. "I just kept hoping and waiting. And just waiting some more if you would come back. I think what hurt the most, was the uncertainty. You left without a good bye, arrived without a hello, until after I discovered you. I wonder sometimes if I mean anything to you. Not because I want to keep you, hold you captive. But, I wonder if I mean anything because if I don't, if I didn't, I wanted you to tell me, rather than have me waste my time, and me waste yours. I wonder if the reason you want to hurt yourself is because of me, because of what I did to you, or because you thought you weren't good enough to be loved, or because you wanted to get away from me. I've never had a real love, maybe I'm just a dreamer, and I'm still asleep. Maybe I don't want to wake up. I want your love if you freely give it, not because you feel some obligation, and I hope that I mean something to you...because you mean a great deal to me. And if something bad happened to you...I just don't know..."
Jinai gave a small, forced smile.
"Something bad already did happen." And she cupped his face, eyes looking into his. "But so did something good." She kissed him, softly, sweetly before pulling away.
"I'm not good at this sort of thing. I don't think I ever will be."
Jude looked at the tighness of her expression. "I know. You're damaged goods. But I don't care. I just want you next to me is all," he said with a shrug and pushed her hair from her face.
She gave him a small, lopsided grin.
"You're asking for a lot, you know."
"How is that too much?" he murmured, frowning a little.
"Well.. Jude.." she gave a short, breathy laugh. "We're mortal." She moved to brush his hair. "Eventually, one of us is gonna die. Then we won't be next to the other. We'll be rotting in the ground."
Jude laughed at her words and nodded, combing his fingers through her hair. "Okay, okay, point taken. But until then, I like you next to me," he laughed and kissed her cheek. "You're beautiful, like a healed scab."
She kissed him back but then pinched his arm.
"Like a healed what?!"
"Like a bruised peach!" Jude snorted when she pinched his arm. "Like a soothed rash. Like a bandaged thumb."
"Like a broken dick if you keep this up."
Jude gasped and cupped his manhood. "You wouldn't dare! After all it just did for you!?" he exaggerated.
"You wanna try me?"
Jude paled and put his hands up. "I am sorry! I swear! I don't mean nothin' by it. Could you ever forgive me?" he murmured, putting his hands together in prayer.
"Oh please, prayers wouldn't save you, Jude," she said, shoving his hands away before leaning forward, as if to dare to kiss him, but she did nothing, and simply smirked at him instead.
"Don't forget, hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn." And she moved as if to knee him in the balls, but stopped just short as she smirked and simply turned away.
"So.. got any more wine or alcohol here? After all that fucking, I'm thirsty."
Jude smiled lazily at her and stuck his tongue out at her as she tried to knee him in the crotch. Jude shook his head. "I can look for something else," he said and stood to search the room, even returning to the same stash they'd found the wine. He returned with another bottle of wine and set it down. "Renner's Run Reserve, number 12," he said. "Don't know what it is but let's try it out." He opened it and a sweet smell filled the room. The alcohol had aged just right and Jude was already buzzed as it was.
"Here, pass the bottle and let me try it."
Jude took a long swig and shook his head. "Mine. Find your own."
Jinai quirked a brow.
"You really gonna try to play that game with me? Come on, hand it over." And she put out her hand expectantly.
Jude sighed and handed it over then. "I don't know about you, but I am exhausted. I'm going to sleep. I suppose we can figure this puzzle out when we're better rested." Jude extended himself out on the sofa and propped a pillow up under his head.
Jinai threw her head back and downed a bunch of the drink.
"What? You're not going to stay up and party with me?"
"Oh?" Jude said, perking his head up. "And just what sort of party am I being invited to?" he asked.
"The sex all night one!" she said with a laugh. "Though perhaps you're all fucked out?"
Jude laughed and sat up. "I don't think I'm drunk enough yet," he said as reached for the bottle and drank a long swig. "Besides I don't think you've even begun to wear me out."
"I dunno, I caught a few grey hairs, old man. I better watch, next time we fuck against the wall you might throw out your back!"
"Well, I suppose you know all, now that you're growing into your crone-like nose," Jude snapped, sipping his wine glass thoughtfully.
And that's when she elbowed him in the gut- hard.
"Ass." She gave an indignant flip of her hair. "THat's a low blow and you know it. Besides, you don't hear me complaining about your saggy balls!"
"Nor do I jab at your sagging breasts," Jude said with half a snarl. "Besides you started it."
"Like hell I did," she said, and knocked back more alcohol. "Bah, I'm not drunk enough for this. Or maybe I am," and she fell onto her back so as to lay on the floor and stared up at the ceiling before taking the bottle to her lips again.
"You're drinking it all," Jude said sourly. "You're going to spill it all over the floor."
Spill it on the floor?
She didn't respond to that, only looked at the ceiling, her eyes going distant before she knocked the bottle back, but not into her mouth this time, but let it just simply spill onto the floor.
Jude panicked and lunged for the bottle pulling it out of her grip and smirking as it pooled all around her head. He laughed. "Jinai," he said. "Jinai, what's wrong?"
When Jude turned to question her, she turned away, hiding the hot tears that were brewing in her eyes. And as she did so, one or two slipped down her cheek, which she tried to ignore in the moment, feeling numb and her thoughts so distant.
Jude didn't say anything further as he reached forward and pulled Jinai into his arms. He was quiet, doing so without question or promting and ppressed her against his chest.
Jinai became stiff at his embrace, but did not reciprocate right away. But tears found their way down her cheeks, blurring her vision further before she found herself unable to contain a sob that escaped her lips, before she buried herself into him, and just held him, and held him tight.
Jude brushed her hair from her face, combing it around her ear leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Jinai! Jinai? What's the matter? What's gotten into you?" he murmured, hugging her tight.
"Nothing," she said, pulling away from him as she brushed at her tears. She frowned and raked a hand through her hair. "Just thinking about how fucked up life can be. Speaking.of which, we should probably try to focus on those letters."
Jude sat up and frowned. "Jinai. Tell me what's the matter. Please. I want to know."
OOC: lol you keep calling Jude the wrong person XD
In your last post and the post before
*amused terribly by this*
---------------
Jinai looked away, tears still glossing her eyes as she remained quiet, but shook her head.
"I don't exactly feel like talking."
Talking would only make her cry more, and she felt foolish enough as it was for her waterworks.
[I'm so sorry. I don't even remember doing this.]
Jude tilted his head. "Please. I want to know," he murmured. "Talk to me. I'm listening."
Instead of complying, she simply rested her head into him, feeling his warmth and listening to his heart beat. It was a sensation she needed and missed so much, just to be held in someone's arms and be kept protected and close.
It must have been something heavy on her mind and Jude sat in silence befoe pulling his arms in around her, saying nothing. His hand brushed her hair away from her face and the ran along her back.
"God, I can't stop thinking of all the stupid things I've done," she finally spoke, finding herself sniffling now more than sobbing. "But mostly the ones where I've hurt you. And it was intentional. Gods," she made a bitter face. "I'm such an ass to you. Why would you put up with someone like me?"
Jude didn't know what to say, a little shocked at the revelation, and yet something about told him it was foolish to be surprised. Jude peered down on her. "I don't know. Maybe because I think you're not all that hopeless," he said honestly. "But why would you want to hurt me?"
"Did you ever think maybe you were a fool? That maybe one time after I left, there would be no coming back?" She asked, words barely spoken above a hoarse whisper and she continued to rest into his warm chest. She felt so at ease here, like she was a part or.something or someone bigger than the whole world, or the other half that completed her. She loved his smell, his smile, and it was only truly then she realized how much she cared.
"Gods, I never wanted to fall in love with you." And she paused, a few tears rolling down her cheek. "I never wanted to be in love."
Jude sighed gently through his nose, this left thumb idly brushing away her tears, skirting them down her cheeks. "I did," he replied. "Every day. I wondered if I was better off just forgetting about you. But it's kinda hard when everyone else just pales in comparison, you know. I've had some of the most exciting adventures of my life when I met you. Maybe I'm still high off the thrill."
Jude leaned in to gently kiss her forehead. "Not everything is ideal, I know. When you came to me that nigh posing as a client, I was honestly livid. I should have thrown you out of my home and told you off. But I think my curiosity overpowered my reason. And I try not to live with any regrets."
"Ha! You just wanted to prove you were so smart,' she shot back with a half smirk and tear. "Men ... They always want a conquest."
"What can I say? I'm pretty manly. I hope it's not too intimidating," Jude said rolling his shoulders in mock virility. He squeezed her shoulders a little and wiped her tears away. "And even if I was so smart. Let me ask you this. Why did you come back? What kept you coming back?"
At this she smiled at him, and smiled broadly.
"It's because of the size of your dick. That..." And she smirked a.bit more, eyes glossy with tears. "And you can make me laugh... Or that you're a good lay. Or maybe that you were that rock I needed when I needed one. Something to keep myself cemented here or else I'd be carried away too far, even from myself."
Jude's features softened and he smiled gently at her and cleaned his thumb in her hair. He leaned in to kiss her forehead and then her cheek. "Thank you," he said. "For telling me. Whatever happened in the past, it's in the past. It doesn't matter now. This. The moment. Is all that matters."
"Yeah, but not all moments can be good. And its hard to forget the past. Even when I try."
"Then don't forget. Just don't linger on it. It might be hard to move on, but that's the test of it, I think. Learn from it instead, learn what not to do, right?" Jude went on.
"Learn?" she chuckled lightly inspite of her lingering tears. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Jude chuckled and shrugged. "I don't know. We made love like dogs and didn't break the couch. That seems like a new trick to me. Or maybe the furniture is just that sturdy."
"Or you're losing your strength," she told him with a toothy grin.
Jude gave Jinai a sour look with pursed lips. "Well I'm sorry I was such a disappointment. And here I thought sex was one thing that would never sour." And stuck his tongue out at her.
"It's not my fault you're getting old!" she said, and laughed in his face, then reached for his tongue, snagging onto it as her grin grew.
Jude scowled at her. "Wathehellryoodoin!?" he said or tried to say with her fingers on his tongue.
"What's that old man? I can't hear you over your slobber!"
Jude bit down on her fingers and clamped his mouth shut on her fingers, sucking on them and jabbing his fingers along her ribs.
And that's when Jinai let out a laugh, and out of reflex, she tried to get out from his grip, but his damn teeth hurt hwen she pulled.
"Ju...Judee!!!!" she screamed. "Stop...." and she laughed. "STOP IT!"
Even at her resistance, Jude continued to tickle her until her hand suddenly slippeed out of his mouth and he turned his head and blew raspberries against her neck.
Jinai shrieked and was jerking around with each tickle and raspberry blown, it didn't take long before she finally was able to land a hand on his nose- intentional or not, considering she was flailing around helplessly beneath his attack.
Jude turned his head this way and that to skirt around her arm and he leaned his head down along her belly to blow a powerful raspberry that practically rattled the room. When he had his victory he put his arms up triumphantly and howled.
And that's when her foot tried to kick at his dick.
"Asshole!" she managed to sputter out, barely catching her breath (or perhaps still not catching it at all). Her sides hurt from all the laughter, and her eyes were renewed with tears, but of another kind, as she glared up at him and held onto her gut.
Jude stuck his tongue out at her and guarded his dick. "You play dirty way too much!" he smirked and leaned over her, pinning her down with his body.
"Ack!" She wriggled beneath him. "And you don't? Get off me, Jude! God, have you gained weight? You're crushing me!"
"Silence, crone. Know when you are beaten," he said, hovering just a few inches over her and kissed her.
"Ack!" she tried to evade it, but she got his sloppy kiss anyway.
"J-jude! Stop that! And get off!"
Jude leaned in to kiss her again. "No," he murmured and captured her lips with his.
Jinai huffed through the kiss, but after a few moments her writhing was sedated as she found herself kissing him back.
"Ass," she said between a kiss, but did nothing of it but kissed him again.
"How kinky," he growled as he kissed and bit and pulled at her lips. "So," he murmured between kisses. "What were your plans for tonight? Sex all night?"
"No..." she murmured, kissing him again. "I thought we were here to read letters. You did drag me with you into this mess, after all. But if sex will help us get it done..." She smirked and kissed him again, this time slipping in her tongue as her hands managed to get free as they smoothed down his body.
Jude smirked at her, laughing a little even. "Drag you? I believe you dragged me along for the past two messes, Lady Thames," he chuckled and kissed her tentatively. "Remember when we first met? And you gauged me with all those questions. Who knew it would blossom into this? You saw the goods and you were just all 'take me now!'"
"Pffft, I was just horny," she went on, kissing at his neck.
"Yeah. I mean who wouldn't be? I'm gorgeous," he moaned softly and kissed at her cheek, his hands fondling her sides and breasts.
"Looks ain't everything. Besides, I fuck better when I'm angry," she went on, lips to his throat. "And you had pissed me off good."
Jude chuckled. "What? Mad? I couldn't tell beneath the screams. But forgive me, I'm a gentleman. I shouldn't bring up such talk." And he felt down along her hips, bringing them up around his hips.
"That's because you're ignorant," she went on through a laugh, and let him open her legs as she grinned at him, hair falling over her eyes.
"Am not," he huffed indignantly as he pressed his cock against her sex, just gently so. "I happen to be very intellectual."
"Only when you want to be," she seemed to purr, lips against his as she ground her moist sex against the tip of his eager cock.
Jude moaned against her lips. "Oh, is that so? What is that supposed to mean?" he snickered, teasing her with entry.
Jinai chuckled and stretched out beneath him, his cock now positioned so it ground against her clit.
"I just mean you choose when you want to be smart," she said through pants, and smirked at him, those green eyes shining with a playful sort of lust.
Jude smirked down at her, soft moans escaping him. "Are you saying I'm just some dumb blond who just happens to be a good lay?"
This time Jinai tossed her head back as she laughed.
"Just the opposite," she went on, a hand smoothing down his chest as her lips met to his neck.
"Perhaps you're just too smart for your own good that you don't know any better," and she spoke the words against his skin as she continued to kiss him and suck at his flesh.
"Clever girl. Using sex as a distraction. And damn me if it isn't working," Jude breathed softly when she kissed at his neck. She hit a soft spot and his whole body shivered over hers.
"I don't need to distract you," she murmured against his skin, her hands smoothing down his back as she continued to grind herself against him. It felt amazing, and he hadn't even penetrated her yet. A few pokes with his cock's tip hardly counted, but either way, she was soaking wet, and his cock was smoothly lapping across her, and she made sure he was grinding the hardest into her clit as she clenched her sex together tightly, and simply breathed.
"Very true. My body knows what to do," he breathed against her. His body was growing increasingly fevered and who knew sex could feel so good without penetration. Jude worked his hips into hers, grinding flesh to flesh in a quickening pace. His cock massaged at her clit in explorative angles, feeling along her tense sex. "How long can we keep this up?" he wondered aloud.
Jinai laughed, but soon she moaned as she kept her neck back now, eyes closed tight.
"Until you cum," she managed to speak through moans, before she bit her teeth down hard and began to breath heavy, feeling the familiar sensations of an orgasm pooling within her like a fire.
Jude laughed with her. "How can you be so sure you won't peak first? You seem to be enjoying this an awful lot," he panted and smirked at her. He continued to stroke her, rubbing generously along her sex and even pushing his cock in a little here and there, but largely remaining without her sex. He gasped a little, moaning gently as he reached between her legs and began to massage outside the folds of her sex while his hard cock continued to run back and forth along her clit.
"Gods.." she moaned, finding herself writhing beneath him as she bit into her lower lip.
"Keep this up and I definitely will."
"One can only hope," Jude murmured before sealing his lips to hers in another moan. His hips ground against her like a mortar and pestle, until his body positively ached for her.
Jinai couldnt take it anymore and was over the top. She screamed his name and grabbed his hips, forcing him deep inside her as she cried out, keeping her legs tight and came as she sang to the heavens. But she was hardly done with him as she crawled over top of him, and began to ride him like a horse.
It all happened in such a rush, Jude was sure one of those screams that echod in the air was his. He was soon panting hard, being ridden like some animal, but he didn't care. He writhed underneath her and was soon begging for mercy.
Mercy would not come as she road him long and hard, feeling his cock reach in as deep as it could go and reveling in the moment. She must've came again for the intensity of her screaming, and was soon commanding Jude to fuck her like a dog.
Jude's throat was hoarse and dry from all the screaming and heavy breathing that came with it as he ground into her from behind. His knees were rubbed raw and he thought his heart was going to beat out of his chest and he just about collapsed over her when he heard the sound of nails on metal and the pitter patter of tiny feet. "What the hell was that?"
"Gods.. I don't care! Just keep fucking!"
"Okay. But what if it's a mouse? Or a rat?" he asked, breathing haggardly.
"Who cares!" She said between pants, then whined out a moan. "Just fuck me! Gods you feel so good..."
Jude continued to move behind her, though slowed considerably as he thought about what the hell it was. "God, I hate rats. I used to have to clean them out in the barn back on the farm. It was horrible."
Jinai grit her teeth as she panted.
"Stop worrying about if it's a damn rat! A rat won't kill ya!"
But an unsatisfied Jinai just might!
Jude huffed and nodded to her, working deeper into her again. It really didn't matter if it was rat anyway. It was all he could do not to think about it.
Jinai groaned and found herself pulling away.
"I think the moment's been spoiled," she said bitterly and looked around for her clothes.
Jude pulled back and sat down. "What?" he asked, throwing his hands up. He sighed and leaned back against the sofa. "Sorry, geeze."
"You were more concerned with a rat than what we were doing. Sorry, but it's a mood killer." But at that, she found herself smirking. "Hey... I never thought I'd ever say that."
"I guss I was going for comedic relief at the worse possible time." He shrugged. "Ah well."
She punched his arm. Lightly.. well, kind of.
"Comedic relief? You think our sex is that funny?"
Jude rolled his eyes, grinning. "I think making you upset is funny," he said and snickered.
Jinai found one of their socks and through it at his head.
"Funny my ass!"
"Ow!" Jude laughed and caught it. "Hey! That's a perfectly good sock. No need to bring them into this."
"Yeah? Well, if I find the other one, its going in your mouth!"
"I'd like to see you try!" Jude countered and hurled the sock at her head.
Jinai laughed when she caught it, and proceeded lunge at him, sock ready to shove between his teeth.
Jude snorted a laugh and turned his head this way and that, avoiding the sock at all costs.
But Jinai was persistent, and kept on trying, but only seemed to be able to hit his nose with it.
Jude laughed uncontrollably until his belly began to hurt. "Jinai!" he begged. "Jinai I can't breathe! Mercy!"
"As if I'd fucking cave because you asked me too! Now give me your mouth," she demanded, reaching for it. "You're gonna eat sock of its the last thing I do!"
Jude spat and turned away, seeing an opportunity and scurrying away. "Never!" He got up and rounded behind the couch.
But Jinai was right ontop of him and lunged after, grabbing onto his leg.
"Where do you think you're going!?" she said through a laugh, just as a big, fat rat went scurrying by from behind the couch.
"HOLY TITS!" Jude suddenly bellowed and moved so quickly he nearly shoved Jinai toward the rat. He jumped onto the couch, holding the empty wine bottle like a club.
Jinai hit her head off the side of the couch, and turned in time to watch the rat scurry and disappear into another room.
Jude leaned over the side of the couch and reached for Jinai's pulling her up with him when the rat vanished. "Blah! Gives me the willies!" He shivered and moved quickly towards the door, slamming it shut to keep the rat in, and jumped back onto the couch.
Jinai, once her head was back on her shoulders, turned to Jude and raised her brows.
"I still can't believe you got all excited and scared over a rat!"
True, rats weren't the cleanliest or nicest of creatures, but as far as she could tell, she could relate more to them then people sometimes. Not everyone was as smitten with her as Jude was. And it didn't help she had a reputation, and always came off a certain way- even to people she hadn't met.
"So what's your plan? Just hide on this couch all day? You know, for all we know, there's a hundred more of them in this place, just waiting for you to sleep so they can crawl all over you!"
Jude shot a glare her way. "No!" he said defensively and sighed. "Well, it's not like I plan on staying here forever. Maybe the search for us has gone down a bit and we can make a dash back to my house. I think we've spent enough time here as it is."
He sighed and reached for his clothes, slipping them back on. "I'm a real man you know. I'm not scared of a stinkin' rat."
Jinai snorted.
"Wanting to leave so soon? Paranoid the rat army will come?" She teased as she made herself comfortable on the couch.
Jude stuck his tongue out at her and buckled his trouser belt. "I am in full control of my faculties, all right," he said and pulled his shirt on once more. "Besides we're just gonna keep having sex anyway and we'll get nothing done."
Jinai smirked.
"Now who's fault is that?"
"Oh don't give me that. You were all over me," Jude quipped and stuck his tongue out at her. "Besides wouldn't you be more comfortable on my soft bed, than this frumpy thing?"
She laughed.
"I fucked you against a building. Sex is sex." And she grinned coyly at him before adding, " And when its sex with you ,its always good." And then her lips sagged before she added, "well, except for that last one." She shook her head. "Ruined by.a rat of all things."
Jude leaned down to kiss her cheek gently. "I'll make it up to you. I'll kiss you, then give you a good massage, treat you to some lovely dessert of your choice." He kissed her cheek lovingly and then her temple. "Let's get out of here."
She laughed. "Who said I want any of that? You know I ain't hard to please." She was a sex addict.
"But yeah, let's get our stuff and get going."
"I want to do it. I want to spoil you, at least for today. Then we can buckle down and get to work." Jude kissed her again and pulled her to her feet, giving her her shirt and turning to collect the letters on the table.
Getting dressed she asked, "Do we have time for that?" Both of them knew not of how extensive the material in those letters might be.
"We won't know until we try. What we did read didn't lead to much. What's left could raise more questions than it answers," he said with a frown. "We'll figure it out as we go." He put his jacket on and tucked the letters away. "Let's blow this joint."
"So you really think going to your place is a.good idea? What if whoever was after the bishop recognized who you were?"
"I considered that, but I don't think he did," he said, turning to her. "He was too busy trying to get out of there."
Jinai went.quiet as she frowned.
"You're probably right." Though when they showed up at Jude's door, a couple of city guards were there.
"Shit. Why do you think they're making camp infront of your door?"
Jude paused just at the corner and nudged Jinai to get into the shadows, or go around the building., shoving the letters against her. "Beats the hell outta me."
"Evening gentleman," he said as he strolled up to his door. "Can I help you?"
Jinai had a bad feeling about this, but knew better than to charge in there, as she was a known face that was wanted for the possible assassination (or attempt there of) of the Grand Duke. So she hung back, pressing herself into the shadows and against a nearby stone building and listened in to what the men had to say.
"Yes, we had a few questions for you.... Mr. Armand?" the guard asked, hoping he'd confirm he was the owner of this place.
"Yes. I am Mr. Armand. What can I help you with, gentleman?" he asked as he stalked forward a little bit, wary of their numbers, but doing his best not to show that.
"Well, Mr. Armand, we've been told a suspicious woman has been visiting you the past few months. Our resources say it's a certain blonde haired woman we've been after for some time. Do you mind if we come in and ask you a bit more... thorough questions involving some of your clients? And this possible convict who might be lurking around the area, or even fraternizing with you."
Jude gave a courteous nod and a smile and led the guards into his foyer. "By all means. I would be happy to help you out. I'm afraid I know a lot of blonde women, so you'll have to narrow it down."
And that's when the man shoved one of the wanted posters into his hand.
"Check out the face there." And he watched Jude's reaction carefully. "She seem familiar? Someone told me they saw you tearing one off of the wall, and not just once, either, so we're past the coincidence story." And he continued to stare down Jude.
"So... ready to talk, Mr. Armand? Finding this woman is of great importance, not only to us, but to our whole country, you understand."
Jude didn't take well to being intimidated, least of all by guards. There was no telling what these bastards would do if he didn't play by the rules, listen carefully, and watch what he said. The blond woman...now where had he seen her face before...?
Jude softened his expression and was sure to carefully examine the picture. "I remember these posters yes. And the ones I tore down were being tacked to the outside of my house, which I will not tolerate. My home is not a dockside tavern."
Jude straightened and his eyes narrowed. "Now what is it exactly that you're asking me?" he said with a tilt of his head.
"We're not here to play games, Mr. Armand. The woman... Do you know her... and how?" They wanted to cut out the bullshit and get straight to the point. To think how well off they'd be if this woman were caught...
"Even if she's a client.. we need answers."
"And I'm certainly not in the mood for games," Jude said with an exasperated expression. "I do not know this woman, I'm afraid. I can't help you."
The guards didn't budge.
"No? Then you wouldnt mind if we accompany you inside to have a look around?"
"I'm afraid, I do mind. Very much so. Listen, gentleman, I understand you have a job to do. But I'm going to have to ask you to leave. My clients demand the utmost discretion, and I doubt either one of us would appreciate having our lives made difficult by ill-tempered nobles," Jude said with an exhausted expression.
"Ask us to leave?" The leader of the guards scoffed. "Look, we were trying to be polite about this, but if you refuse our request again, we'll just have to show ourselves in. So, Mr. Armand... Care to let us in to have a look around?"
Jude gave an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine, fine. If it'll rest your shiny helmets. Come on in. Though I don't know what you expect to find," he said with a shrug. Though inside he knew there was entire room filled with paintings of the woman in the posters. And it felt like he swallowed a sour meal... And that was when it happened.
He wretched, hard all over the guards just when he was about to open the door.
The guards were happy,... Briefly, until the vomit arrived. And soon after they were swearing up a storm, and the most vomitted on guard turned on Jude, about ready to tear him apart when a woman's voice from behind made them turn.
"It looks like you boys need a hand." And she handed them her own wanted poster so as to wipe off the puke.
Jude had held a hand to his mouth when one of the guards turned on him. And just when he was about to receive a metal-gloved cuff to his ear, she showed up. Jude froze, in temporary terror, when the guard nearest her realized who she was and that was when Jude took the dagger from the belt of another guard and clubbed his head as hard as he could.
It wasn't hard enough. He turned on Jude in a flash and smashed him against the door of his house. "You son of a bitch!" he growled lowly, eyes burning with rage.
Jude's head spun, but his arms did not flail and he still had the blade in hand. He swing the pommel again, cracking it against the guard's skull, this time knocking him aside and down for the count. But there was still the other guard to account for.
Swearing through her teeth, for she hadn't expected Jude to just react that way (after all,s he was obviously there to act as his heroic distraction!), so with a barking laugh, she tried her best to draw the attention of the two remaining guards.
"Looks like I've come here with perfect timing. I wanted a good fuck, and this is just the place to get it, but turns out I'll have to help with the fucking. Though orgies were always a fantasy of mine."
And with a darkened grin, she drew out her own short dagger and swung it towards the men.
It got the exact reaction she was hoping for, as the men turned from Jude, to the woman on the wanted posters.
That was when Jude came at them. Maybe he was a lover and not a fighter. But it was for that very reason that something went off in him. When the guards turned on Jinai, his eyes widened and he slammed the back of the dagger against the skull of the guard nearest him and turned the other man around, slamming his fist hard into his face.
He seethed, as part of his hand hit his helmet, but he struck him again with his other fist just for good measure. The guards fell, struck down albeit temporarily. Jude reached forward toward Jinai and pulled her up the stairs. "What the hell were you thinking?" he hissed. "What are we going to do with three fucking unconscious guards!? They're going to remember they saw you! And with me no doubt!'
Again, she hadn't expected that response. So she was stumbling as Jude pulled her along as she hissed through her teeth.
"I could ask you the same thing! You didn't have to attack them! I had this! They could have just chased after me and I could have dealt with them elsewhere!" But as they continued to run,s he huffed, "So what are we going to do with three unconscious guards? I have some poisons...." But it was daylight.... and no doubt someone had already seen.
[I thought it was the middle of the night?]
Jude looked around the corner, watching the doors of his neighbors, much of their houses still shrouded in darkness. Someone could have seen. But at the moment, all that mattered was getting rid of these bodies. He suddenly felt a pain in his chest and he couldn't breathe.
"Get them out of here," he whispered to her, expression panicked. "I can't have them here. Please. Jinai... I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. This will ruin me."
Jinai grit her teeth as she swore.
"I can't drag three bodies somewhere by myself." And the idea he was ruined..... she tried to ignore that fact for now but she knew that was something they'd have to deal with sooner rather than later.
"I could just turn myself in..." she found herself muttering. "Tell them I put you up to it." But she knew that was too far fetched as she turned away and seethed out a, "Fuck!"
She was stomping up the steps along with him when she stopped suddenly dead in her tracks.
"I've got some poisons... ones I only experimented on... recently." While she had been.. away. "They.. kind of fuck with your memory. I.... know they work well. At least to removing a few hours worth of a day." She looked up at Jude, knowing he'd be mad and would presume the truth but...
What could she say? She hated herself during that time and there was nothing she could do to change what she had already done.
"We give them this poison, drag them somewhere they'd forget where they were... and hopefully this all is forgotten."
OOC: How do you remember these things?
D:
or more importantly, why do I keep forgetting? >_<
Jude had hidden in his doorway, hands clasped over his mouth when she made her suggestion. It didn't dawn on him that her experience with such paraphernalia had to do with time after Breakpoint. Instead, he looked at her, eyes wide. "Could....could we? I-I don't want them dead. But they can't stay here," Jude said, his nerve failing him. "Ansgar...what have I done?"
He tried to take in deep breaths, collect himself. "You get some help. We'll need a carriage. But we cannot use mine. Go! Find somebody, any of your friends. I'll...I'll drag them into the alley."
Jinai nodded.
"I know just the person." Though she knew she had to make haste in covering their tracks,s he found herself studying his face. "You gonna be alright? If I leave you here, I mean. You look like you're about to be sick."
He looked at her and gave her a smirk. It was a typical, sly Jude smirk. "Go," he said, nudging his head and quickly set to work.
To see that smirk on his face put her at ease. She smirked back and didn't waste anymore time, as she slipped outside, and tried her damnedest not to be seen. It took her well over an hour, but she did return, though she was cloaked- and by herself. ANd as usual, she came in through the window.
[I'm pretty sure they were outside the whole time, lol]
Jude got the bodies into the alley by the time Jinai returned and he looked around, ensuring the coast was clear by the time she did. "You have someone with a wagon?" he asked, though he didn't see anyone else nearby.
OOC: For some reason I thought they dragged the men inside- whoops XD
-----
Jinai nodded, and kept her voice low.
"Yes, but he's on the other side. We'll have to be discrete and carry the bodies there. Are they... still unconscious?" From what she could see, it looked like they were sleeping like babies.
"One grew groggy, but I put him out again," Jude said. "But not for long. Let's go." He grabbed one of the men, throwing him over his shoulder and heading down the alley. When he turned, he saw a wagon there, covered as it was. "Who's driving?"
A young girl no older than thirteen turned around. She was chewing on a piece of straw and gave a wave to Jude.
"You're looking at her!" she beamed!
Jinai cut her a look.
"Roakie, keep your voice down." And Jinai moved to lug one of the unconscious men to the wagon and she pulled back the clothe. "In they go." And she lifted the man up and tossed him in like a sack of potatoes.
They still had one to go and Jude quickly returned to the alley to pull him in with the others. Once the wagon was covered, Jude moved toward Jinai. "I don't know if I can come along. I have a client coming in the morning... If I'm not there... Look, just stay low and out of trouble. For me, please." And with that he kissed her hard.
When she pulled away, all she could do was smirk.
"A client, huh?" she looked him over. "Better get a good night's sleep then." And then she wrinkled her nose and added, "And a bath."
"Will do," Jude replied and took off down the alley. He prayed silently to Ansgar that it worked, that Jinai was careful. He might not have been much of a churchgoer, but he hoped God had a small ear even for him.
The men were given the drug, and then dumped into one of the rooms at a local brothel. Thankfully, Jinai knew and had many connections- and though she wasn't as close to these girls as she was with others, they were happy to help and even giggled when they helped undress the guards to make it appear as if they all shared one fun night with the girls who cuddled up with them on a messy bed.
"Just remember to tell me if anything weird happens when they awake. I'll be back tomorrow evening to check." And with that,s he was gone.
Jude had to keep up appearances. There was no option not too. When he returned home that night, he got very little sleep and much of it was spent taking every trace he had of Jinai and setting it to flame. The sculpture was dismantled, the portraits were burned. Anything and everything that might link her to him.
He was wracked with worry, though he did his best to conceal it. He laughed at all the right times, smiled in every pleasantry. It was a pratice he knew well, one performed with flawless execution. He'd spent the remainder of the day with Lady Cassandra Valir, escorting her to a salon and when he found a moment of reprieve, he ventured out into the gardens of the manorhouse they occupied, to enjoy a cigar.
It was a rare moment, but one he was intent on enjoying. As much as his nerves would let him.
Everything had gone as planned. The men woke up into an... interesting situation, and after embarrassingly collecting their clothes, they stumbled out of bordello and into the streets. Trying to recall all that happened, they began to argue with one another over who was the careless one to allow them to get so drunk? But since none of them could remember, the bickering went on in circles until the men finally grew tired.
When Jinai came back to check, she was relieved to see the men were gone- and none to aware of the truth of what happened. Well, she supposed she was lucky. One good thing came out of that time of her depression. But she needed to check on Jude. She hoped he was okay. But she still had to wait until evening- but it was becoming increasingly more difficult as the hours ticked by.
He kissed Lady Valir goodnight and was dropped off at his house. But he waited before approaching the doorway. Something didn't feel right. Or maybe it was just his nerves getting the better of him. He breathed gently, looking out to the shadows before braving the dark. He acted more calmly than he felt and he opened the locks to his door.
Jude noted how remarkably quiet his house was, closing and locking the door behind him. He wasn't going to sleep well tonight, that much he knew, but he nevertheless walked upstairs to his room. But when he approached it, he paused, finding the door ajar.
She hadn't meant to do it- she was fully capable of finding ways to keep herself awake. But as she waited for Jude back inside his home after hours, she found herself falling asleep! Though not where he'd expect to find her, as she was resting inside the room where all of her 'things' had once been, sleeping away, head propped against the wall.
He found his room empty and slowly he exhaled a breath of relief. Jude put his things away and got ready for bed. Until he remembered the room he'd put the paintings in...and found that door ajar. And when he opened it, he smacked something hard, with a loud thunk. "The fuck!?"
Swearing, she kicked whatever it was that kicked her- having been too disoriented to be able to tell just who or what it was.
Jude grit his teeth and smacked the door back into the object again. Hard! "Who the fuck are you!?" he growled.
Swearing again, this time she recognize that voice and with an angered push,s he tried to hit Jude back with the door as she hissed, "Who do you think?"
His anger and alarm melted away and Jude backed away from the door, pushing it gentler now when her wrath subsided. "Jinai... Jinai!" he breathed and pushed through the door. "You're all right... Are you...I mean, all right? Other than me just beating you with the door?"
When the door finally opened, she kicked Jude's shin.
"Yeah, or do you think I'd be able to kick you? Though I can't believe I passed out here. I was..." and she grit her teeth, "Trying to be careful." Had it not been Jude that found her....
That wouldn't have been good.
Jude hissed and kicked her back. "Look. I'm sorry! I have every reason to be as worried as you," he whispered. "Look, get out of this room. I took everything out. I had to." Jude took her by the hand and waltzed over toward his bedroom. "How did it go? I mean, with the guards. I've been wringing my hands about it all day."
Jinai was so groggy, it was hard to rub the sleep out. She just cut him a look as she stepped out into his room.
"Just as planned. The scene was kind of comical, but the drugs did their job."
Jude looked more than relieved and he smiled, gently, squeezing her arm. He let her go, however, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, gently. "Thank you, Jinai. We still have to be extra careful. But....thank you, never the less."
She pushed his hand away, being irritable since she had just been woken up.
"Yeah well, it is kind of my fault," she told him, with a half cocked grin as she stepped past him. "I'm famous, after all." And as she moved past him she made her way to the hearth. "So I guess you got rid of it all, huh?" She knew he had to but...
somehow that just didn't seem right. How long it must have taken him to make all of that.....
But she was too tired to think of that now as she closed her eyes, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Oh, and I was careful when I got here. I made sure not a soul was around."
Jude grew quiet, watching her momentarily before moving toward his bed. He crawled into the covers and pulled them over himself. Propping a pillow underneath his head, Jude observed her quietly. "I don't know... I just got this sour feeling in my stomach. Nauseated, and yet I feel relief. This is all too much too fast. I guess, all I can do is watch and pray."
She said nothing for a time, just staring into the air.
"I suppose I should stop coming here."
At that Jude sat up. "Then how will I know you're okay? What if you need help?" he asked, propping himself up on one elbow.
"Are you forgetting about the guards already? My presence would only bring trouble."
"I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about you," Jude said sternly. "I know you can take care of yourself...but sometimes you do things. You hurt yourself. I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't able to be there when you needed me. Maybe...maybe I'm just being over protective. But...I don't want you to land in prison either. Or worse."
"The way you make it seem it looks like every option we're damned."
Jude looked up at her and gave her a smile. It really did sound that way, didn't it. He could've laughed at the circumstances; that they were both entirely screwed. And in the scheme of everything, there was something morbidly funny about it. He didn't want her to leave, but she had no choice but to go.
"I'll take a leap of faith then," he muttered. "Or try to anyway. Go...if you have to. For you, and for me."
"You know I could always come back as a paying.customer...." She said in half a jest.
Jude smirked at her and laid back down on his bed. "It's a little late for that don't you think? To pay I mean."
"I meant as a disguise, asshole," she said, giving his bed a playful kick. "I wouldnt pay you shit!"
Jude looked up at her from his pillow. "Oh? And how would you come in and present yourself? You have to be convincing. Can't just be coming in through windows," he said, giving a teasing smirk.
"I think I can manage. I have done this before," she told him with a smirk. "I've even got some extra practice this time. Though I might have to give up being blonde."
"Oh?" It was clear that Jude was intrigued by this idea and he even sat up a little more. "And what color were you considering donning instead?"
"I dunno. I was also considering getting a mustache to match whatever wig I'd find. Though my brows aren't that dark. I'd have to go with red or light Brown."
Jude raised a brow at her. "That might be interesting? I haven't had a beard scratch my face in a while. And you did look rather dashing when went out the other day," he smirked at her. "And how would you introduce yourself, Lord....something?"
"A young widow from the war. You'd remind me of my lover, and I'd use you as a shoulder to cry on and an ass.to fuck."
"Would you cut off all your gorgeous blonde hair just to make it work?" he asked.
"Who said it was gorgeous?" And she looked him over as if he were crazy. "You wouldn't miss this rats nest if I did. Besides, that'd be the least of our worries. And who said I'd have to cut it? Its thin enough to shove up under a wig."
"I think it's pretty sexy. I'd hate to see it go. Of course that may be in no small part that I am also blond. And I am also quite sexy if I do say so myself," he said with one raised brows.
She gave a snort.
"As if that color were real. I've seen what hair lies between your leg...."
"Hey! That's a low blow!" Jude said and put a hand on his groin protectively. "I'm a natural blonde. Everybody loves a blonde."
"Your dick ain't as low as your feet, " she said with a mock sneer. "And not everyone likes a blonde.. at least not in that way. Though I guess my ugly mug is worth a lot. Maybe they think my hair is made out of gold!"
Jude smirked. "So is this how we part? From all the way across the room?" he muttered.
"You're the one in bed.." she said with a shrug.
"You could join me. If you wanted," he said with a shrug of his own.
"What? Why? I bet the sheets are all stiff with your cum."
"Cum washes you, you should know that," Jude said, rolling his eyes. "So is that you turning down my invitation?"
"As if you had the time to wash 'em," she said with a smirk. "And I thought it was too dangerous for me to stay. We just barely saved your ass from the noose. If those guards could remember..." Yeah, they'd be pretty pissed!
Jude chuckled. "They're washed and changed daily considering my line of work. But at your constant diversion, I suppose I should take that as a no then?"
"And at your constant insistence, I'm assuming you want a quick fuck?"
Jude just smiled. "I just want you."
She smirked and strolled on over towards the bed.
."I suppose there ain't no harm in staying... I'm already here, after all."
Jude scooted over to give her space and even opened the sheets for her in a welcoming gesture.
Staring at the offered space, she just stood there, looking at it before slowly beginning to remove her clothes. As one strap slipped off of her shoulder, she smirked at him.
"It wouldn't' feel right to get in with my clothes on."
Yeah, that would just be too weird!
Jude gestured to her a look of innocence. "You're welcome however you want," he said and just watched her undress, his eyes following her form.
"Don't give me that look," she said, giving him one of her own. "You know I've slept more times nude in this bed than not. I've gotten to like your silk sheets against my skin." And with a grin, she let the last bit of her clothing drop to the floor before stepping into the bed beside him.
"You like the feeling huh!?" When she was close enough Jude tackled her and proceeded to roll around with her in the sheets, wrapping them both up in it until they were tighter than a burrito.
Jinai grunted and gasped when Jude made them a combo. She wriggled against him.
"J...Jude!"
Jude leaned in and kissed her softly. "That's my name. Don't wear it out," he murmured, kissing her again.
And that's when she pulled away.
"Wear it out?" she looked puzzled, nose wrinkling. "Is that even possible?"
"Not when you say it," he said and laid down onto his back, spreading the blanket out around them. "What are you so suspicious about?"
She gave a snort.
"What am I not suspicious of?"
"My dick," Jude said with a smirk.
"HA!" she laughed in his face, loudly. "Whoever said I wasn't?" she challenged with a jut of her chin.
"Oh, that explains all the riding on it so much. You just had to make sure," Jude said, snickering and propping a pillow underneath his head.
And she yanked that pillow out from under him and smashed it across his face.
"As if. It's your dick who's spelunking!"
"What the hell does that even mean?" he said, his voice muffled from beneath the pillow.
Pulling the pillow away she grinned.
"Some sort of cave diving."
"So it's diving into your cave?" he asked, snorting a laugh.
She hit him in the face with the pillow again.
"Something like that." And she laid ontop of him, head propped on the pillow that was propped ontop of his face. Her body lay over top of his as well, back against his front as she stretched out.
"Careful you might make my dick go spelunking again," he grumbled from beneath the pillow and his fingers snaked up along her sides.
At that,s he grabbed his hands- by the wrist, and pinned them down beside himself on the bed.
"Oh yeah? Who says the cave is open to spelunkers?"
Jude kept still. "I said nothing of the kind love," Jude murmured from beneath the pillow. He wiggled his head, pushing it off of him so that his head was behind hers. He rolled to lay both of them on their sides and he draped a leg around her waist instead.
Jinai lay there for a moment, fidgeting before grumbling, "It's poking me."
Jude removed his leg from her and smirked. "Sorry." His arms continued to snake around her waist, holding her to him.
She lay there, still fidgeting before remarking, "It's still poking me."
"Ugh, fine," Jude said and reached across for one of the other pillows and put it between them. He still held her snugly, pulling the sheets over them.
After a while, Jinai was still fidgeting.
"I can still feel your dick!"
"Too bad," Jude murmured. "You should be flattered. I don't get instant erections around anyone else.
She elbowed him in the gut.
"Oh yeah? Then who the hell would pay you if they got to work for their sex?"
Jude sighed and refused to answer he question. So instead he moved to lay on his back, directed away from her. His member still made a tent pole but what the hell was he gonna do.
Jinai moved to lay next to him, staring up at the ceiling, hands clasped across her belly. After a while of staring at the ceiling, she told him, "Your dick's still erect."
And at that comment, it was hard for her to hide her smirk.
"I know," Jude said, sighing through his nose and just trying to get comfortable.
A few.minutes passed before she peeked over at it.
"Still erect..." She said, as if giving a report. "You might want to get that looked at. Might be a symptom for a greater problem."
"Yeah, a sex addiction," he murmured. "Don't mind it. It ain't bothering you anymore."
"Why not?" She asked, finally turning to him and nestling into his side. "Giving up already?"
"Nah. I think I'll just go to sleep," he murmured and turning his head left and then right, trying to find a comfortable spot.
And when his head turned back to her, she pinched his nose closed.
Jude scowled at her and wiggled his face out of her grip. "Quit it," he grumbled, turning his head away from her. "Just go to sleep."
And she nestled in beside him, snaking her arms around him, a hand ghosting over his cock.
"Sleep? Sleep how?" she murmured hotly against his ear, a kiss then stolen to his neck and earlobe as she remained close, her body pressing agianst hs back so that he could feel her warmth and erect nipples pressing into his skin.
Jude mumbled something and he turned to look over his shoulder. "Well you usually have to be still to go to sleep," he muttered, laughing a little and trying to stifle his shivers. His hand reached down and pulled her exploring hand up onto his waist. "What's the matter now? You were just complaining about my cock five minutes ago."
"I know... " she said, planting warm kisses onto his shoulder. "But I just feel.... bad for it," she said, her hand slipping down and wrapping firmly around his hard member before she kissed his neck again.
"It's been deprived.... and I'm sure it's so hard that it's painful..." And her hand began to move gently up and down it's length.
Jude moaned softly and he gripped her wrist. He glanced over at her from his shoulder and gave her a smile. "It doesn't hurt that much.. Nothing I'm not used to. Really, it's fine," he muttered. But his voice was half-hearted and he tried weakly to pull her hand away from his member.
But she held on tight, and used a thumb to gently tease the most sensitive area of his dick.
Jude arched his back into her and turned over, body shuddering as she gripped him. "I think," he griped. "That you just like to torture me."
She gripped his dick tighter and gave him the coyest of grins.
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Gah!" Jude whimpered, his body shivering harshly. "That's a little tight."
Jinai chuckled.
"You know what's tighter?" she asked, pulling her hand away as she moved to pin him to the bed, her legs open and straddling him. "My cave..." And before he could protest, he'd find his dick sliding deep within. She was soaking wet, so there was little resistance, save for her clenching her walls as he entered. And to feel him within her- it made her eyes roll back as she moaned.
Jude gasped when she pressed down upon him and he felt the warmth of her sex envelope his cock. His hand gripped her hips hard, fingers pressing into her skin as he began to bounce her on him. "I thought you didn't want me to go spelunking," he said, snickering between heavy breaths.
"What?" she said through a breathy laugh as she was bounced upon his lap. "You think I'd make all of our fucks so easy?"
"No. But you like to give me the run around just for te pure joy of it," he laughed. "When you confuse me I just think that maybe I'm losing your interest."
At such a revelation, she barked out a laugh, hips rolling even faster at that- and her sex clenching his erection within her even tighter.
"Maybe that's just what I want you to think," she told him, her face leaning in real close to his. "But you should know better." And here she slowed down her rolling hips, her sex lightly pulsating around his. "I always come back to you."
Jude's eyes rolled back into his head anf he moaned softly at how she could control the pleasure that pulsed between them. Jude rolled his hips in tune with hers, bouncing her gently. "I..do know...better," he panted.
Jinai smirked and just let Jude bounce her upon his lap. It felt so good to feel his length thrust up into her, and soon she was joining in, rocking her hips and helping to build their joined intensity.
Jude whimpered underneath her, pushing her hips down when he thrust upward and soon his body trembled as he neared his peak. "J-jinai," he moaned. He knew it was quicker than normal, but around her he just couldn't help himself.
"What's wrong?" she asked huskily, pausing with his dick buried inside her deep. "Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just busy enjoying the fantastic rhythm your were putting on me. Why'd you stop?" he said panting.
"Why do you think?" she told him with a smirk, and began to take the length of his cock in and out of her pussy real slow, and her grin was positively devilish.
Jude gasped once more, moaning gently as she rode him like that. It was torture, feeling the fire burn along his sex. He gripped her hips hard and everytime she slid down on him he shivered. "Damn you," he growled through a smile.
Jinai smirked, and continued, slowly gripping his cock and sliding it in and out with no mercy.
"Fuck you," she told him through an equally playful growl.
"Well, you're already doing that," he laughed. The fire was nurtured and encouraged to burn, slowly and painfully. Jude removed his hands from her hips and gripped the sheets instead and tried to thrust his hips up into hers.
But Jinai placed her hands down hard upon his hips to prevent him from having too much range of motion, but even still-s he could feel those thrusts as she tried to suppress a moan.
Jude breathed hard and grabbed her wrists from his hips, pulling them up and holding them to his chest. He continued to thrust upward into her, slipping along the slickness of her walls.
Jinai fought very little, finding her own self succumb to the pleasures she had nursed. And as he continued to buck inside her, her fingers dug into his skin and her teeth into her lips as she tossed her head back and moaned, breasts bouncing as his dick slammed into her, again and again.
At the sound of certain victory, Jude stopped suddenly and smirked wickedly at her. "I think we're done here. That was nice," he murmured.
Jinai let out a frustrated noise, then panted out a laugh.
"Yeah? You think so?" And despite them not moving, the walls of her sex tightened around his dick and held on tightly as she grinned through pants.
Jude laughed and covered his face, laughing uncontrollably. He snorted a little as he sat up abruptly and kissed her, panting against her lips. "You're brave you know that?" he murmured, snickering.
Jinai hit him.
"Why are you laughing? And you have a strange perception of brave if you think I'm it. I'm just here to fuck." She said, leaning forward as if to kiss him but instead, boxed his ears before reaching.down to scoop his balls into her hand.
"We could play a game to see.who's the bravest." And she gave.him a wicked grin, appearing as if she might crush his balls, but instead, began to gently.massage them.
Jude reached down and snatched her wrists in his hands. "No, I mean it. I do think you're brave," he said again, humor gone from his face. But it wasn't far behind. "And why is sex always so abusive with you? I don't mind a little light lay, but you threatened my family jewels. That wasn't nice."
Jinai paused in her antics to look him directly in the eyes, humor gone.
"I'm not a nice girl."
"You're my girl," Jude murmured and pressed her hands against his chest. "That's all that really matters." And he leaned in and kissed her.
She sighed through a kiss and tightened her sex around his again.
"Say that again," she whispered between kisses.
"You're my girl," he said agin, breath shuddering a little. "You always will be."
She laughed at the thought, but it was a happy, breathy sound.
"It's almost as if we really did get married that one time,," she murmured, looking into his eyes as she shuddered.
"So would this be our extended honeymoon?" he murmured, slowly undulating his hips against hers. He kissed her again, pressing his lips gently against her neck, one side then the other.
She laughed , but enjoyed the attentions.
"I dunno,... That would be one hell of a long honeymoon," she moaned.
Jude laughed against her. "It really would be. So then, this is what? Just another night together?" he murmured, leaning into her lips, hips moving slow.
Jinai laughed and moaned.
"Well, considering you didn't get me a proper ring.... Yeah, I guess this is just another night," she said softly, slowly as her hips mimicked the tempo of her voice.
Jude panted against her, bouncing her on his lap from time to time, but focusing primarily on slow deliberate movements. "I'll have to remedy that then. Soon. I could give you something of mine... Maybe buy you something new..." He moaned through a grin.
She just laughed, tossing her head back to enjoy the ride. But after a few slow thrusts, she leaned forward with a half lidded gaze, her forehead pressing to his.
"I love you," she said, smiling at him as she continued to move her hips slowly. "I don't think I say that enough..." And she leaned forward and kissed him sweet.
Jude smirked against her lips, shivering from her attentions and gripped her hands along his chest. "Something brand new then. Just for you," he snickered against her lips. "For my love."
"How about I just rip out a lock of your hair? As a memento," she suggested in a jest through a groan and soft laugh.
Jude whimpered at the sound of her moan and bounced her lightly on his lap again. He kissed her neck before relaxing his pace. "You would. You'd love to leave me with a bald spot," he murmured, laughing gently.
Jinai laughed again through a breathy, whimpering moan.
"You're too good to me," she murmured.
"Should I assume most men have treated you like dirt?" Jude murmured, kissing down along her throat.
Closing her eyes, she gave a throaty laugh.
"You're an angel compared to the rest," she moaned, eyes squeezing tighter, and her cheeks flushing more as she felt the familiar heat build greater and greater in her loins.
Jude smirked, watching her expression and he ran his hand down her face. "I love you," he mumured, leaning in to kiss her, hips moving against hers, nursing her fire.
Jinai trembled, closing her eyes tightly as she kissed him, her own hips responding to his.
"I love you," she replied through soft, urgent pants, feeling her orgasm growing closer and closer to the point she felt as if she might explode. But it seemed it was not to be - at least not yet, as she whimpered and moaned and clung to him as she kissed him.
"Gods, tell me you love me and fuck me senseless," she moaned, lips capturing his as she shoved her tongue into his mouth to wrestle fervently against his. And thought hat helped stoke her fires, she was so close to her peak she just couldn't get herself over that last part to give herself release.
"I love you, Jinai... I love you," he panted, whimpering beneath her need. He began to thrust more powerfully underneath her, bouncing her on his lip as he felt his own beat begin to grow. But it didn't seem like enough.
Jude rolled over, planting her back against the bed and went to work, panting sweet nothings as he pounded his hips into hers.
"Gods... Jude," she moaned, fingers raking down his back as she moaned and tightened her sex, giving him something to really fuck into. And as he did so, she took one of his hands and guided it to her sex.
"Gods... touch my clit, and fuck me with your finger while you fuck me with your dick," she moaned, feeling her heat intensifying at the very idea of having even more of Jude inside her.
Jude laughed between breaths. "Still the insatiable Jinai." He paused long enough to grant her wishes, feeling along her sex and finding the knob her clit. He knew her body well, rubbing his fingers gently along it before he slipped in a few fingers within the moistness of her sex, keeping his thumb along her clit.
He adjusted his hips, angular to hers to allow room for it. He moved slower this time, alternating between his fingers and cock until he had a feel for the rhythm. "I love you, Jinai," he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers.
She pressed her forehead against his, her breath coming more in gasps as sweat clung to her body. She could feel the pulsing heat rising in a pool within her loins. Gods she was so close, and the way her eyes hung barely open, and her lips, was more than evident how much she enjoyed his ministrations and that she was nearing that peak she so desired.
"Give in to the fire," he panted against hers. He wiggled his hands further inside her, feeling along her walls, thrusting a little harder, a litte faster. "Gods, Jinai..."
She was so close and the pleasure was so intense,s he nursed the sensation near the precipice before finally she could no longer resist. It was an explosion of ecstasy, her body freezing in the moment with Jude's dick and fingers crammed into her and a thumb well placed on her clit. And how loud she screamed was intense, tearing at her vocal cords as her eyes rolled so far back she was seeing her brains. And her sex was spasming wildly as she came, and as she continued to feel the overwhelming sea of pleasure, she rode it out by starting to rock her hips like crazy. And gods, did it ever draw out the feeling. Even after she had forced it into an even greater peak, Jinai collapsed into an exhausted heap, her sex still moving, her body still nursing off of the tail end of one of the biggest orgasms Jude had given her to date.
And it made her shiver as she lay there, too weak to move, and almost too weak to breath as she moaned out soft sounds of appreciation.
"Gods..... that was..."
And she raked a hand through her sweat soaked hair to keep it from her face as she looked up at him, her entire body flushed as her eyes remained dazed.
"Beyond fucking perfect."
Jude was beyond exhausted when he collasped on top of her, his throat raw and hoarse from his own cries. He coughed a little, trying to catch his breath. "Jinai...I think you broke it," he muttered. But then he began to laugh and looked at her. "Just kidding."
Jinai didn't bother to open her eyes as she breathed heavily.
"I don't even care if I did. Gods.." A hand remained poised, pushing through her hair as she moaned softly through closed lips, still basking in the after glow.
"That good huh?" he asked, holding himself over her, grinning down at her expression. Their bodies still remained joined at the hips and frankly he loved the feeliing of her sex in the afterglow of her orgasm.
SHe gave him an exhausted smile, one that lingered.
"You could say that," came her croaky reply.
Jude leaned down to peck at her lips. "I'll take that as a yes," he murmured, kissing her softly. "I think you ripped up my back."
She groaned again, placing a hand over his mouth as she turned her head away, eyes still closed.
"I don't care. Your back will heal," she murmured.
Jude snickered against her hand and proceeded to roll of her. He laid down on his side and stretched out.
Jinai didn't move, still paralyzed after their bought of sex. SHe had a hand draped across her forehead, her eyes closed, and after a moment, she moaned again.
"Gods.. I'm still glowing from it," she said with a smirk.
Jude immediately put his hands up. "Hey don't blame me if you won't be able to walk for a while," he said with a laugh.
The only reply she gave him was a nudge to the side and a , "fuck you!"
"Yes please," he muttered and reached up to pull a pillow under his head. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna close my eyes. Just for a bit. Enjoy your afterglow."
She kicked him lightly with her foot, and grumbled tiredly, "Ass." But she was almost half asleep herself when she said it.
Jude tossed and turned every few minutes. After a while, he rolled ontop of her like a steamroller.
Jinai gave a curse and punched his side, hard.
"Get the hell offa me, Jude! What the fuck! I was just about sleeping!"
He flopped over her like a fish out of water, ignorant to the pain in his ribs. "Hush! I'm trying to sleep," he muttered.
And that's when she jabbed his ribs with her pointy elbow.
"Knock it off!"
Jude turned over and was awake now if he faking it before. He grabbed at her wrists and slammed them down on the bed, leaning in to kiss her for a good long moment, before rolling off to the side.
"As you wish, Princess," he mumbled.
Jinai made a noise through the kiss, struggling a little until he stopped. And when Jude rolled away, she tried to push him, quite literally, from the bed.
Jude stayed put, like a rock and laid on his belly. "Okay. I stopped! Settle down," he grumbled.
And that's when she moved in and bit at his neck, then shoulder then arms, then even on his hips while using her hands to pinch at him, lightly- but enough to make him know she could be doing it a lot worse! And knowing him so intimately, she knew his most sensitive of regions and focused on those with either pinching fingers or teeth.
He squirmed and yelped, giving warning grunts and growls. But all she did was give him another erection.
And when she saw the erection- it was that she bit, next.
"Jinai!" he howled in both pleasure and rage. Jude sat up and grabbed her by the hair and pushing her over. He reached down and bit her hard on her ear.
Jinai only bared her teeth in return, her hair a mess about her face and her eyes flaring and appearing almost animalistic. But the type of thing that truly glared in her eyes was lust.
"Mister Armand, your erection is poking me. But my side is hardly an appropriate place to fuck." And she opened her legs for him, nice and wide as her grin stretched.
"Why don't you try between my legs?"
Jude was fuming and his face was red. "What?!" he snapped. He stuck his tongue out at her and pinched her thigh. "Go to sleep Jinai."
She pinched him back. "Make me!"
Jude held himself over her and leaned down to kiss her fiercely, hard, like an animal and bit down hard on her lip.
And she simply wrapped her limbs around him, biting and kissing him back.
Jude breathed against her lips, through hot wet kisses and nips and bites, his aggression slowly leaving him in the way that he wanted to smack Jinai. And instead manifested itself more in the desire to fuck her brains out again. He was tired and ragged, sure, but he loved this kind of play, and with Jinai...it wasn't even a question.
Jinai just let Jude be in control. She knew she made him angry, and well- she kind of did that on purpose. Men who were riled up fucked pretty good and well, she was always wet and ready for Jude. Keeping her limbs hugged around him, she kissed him back fiercely and found herself saying something that even surprised her, as she smirked and told him, "Sorry." before kissing him on the lips again.
Jude grinned against her lips, hips grinding against hers. "No you're not," he mumbled, kissing her hard and pulling on her lips. "You did that on purpose." He didn't care of course and was soon pushing into her, once again. It was easier this time, for she was still moist to the touch and he stroked deep and hard.
Jinai whimpered, melting at the mercy of the sensation of his dick upon entry. No matter how many times they've done it, it was always something that made her shiver and her sex clench up to taste just as much of that first stroke as she could.
Stroking his hair, she kissed at his cheek, then ear.
"But I am," she whispered in a hot breath against his lobe. "I'm sorry... for everything."
Jude moaned in her ear, turning to face her. "Okay," he murmured. "Forgiven." He smiled sweetly and kissed at her neck. "The dick bite was a little much though, y'think?" He moved deeply within her, feeling her walls clench upon him. It made him shiver every time, no matter how often they made love.
Laughing breathily, she simply kissed him.
"Nothing is too much when I do it to you."
"You're right," he panted. "And when you're right, you're right..... Gods, Jinai....You feel good, even after all your basking in the afterglow."
She clung to him, tighter than before, pressing her body as close to his as she could get, hips rocking in tune with his as she moaned through kiss after kiss.
"I'm not done basking," she said, hands moving to cup his face before diving in to another heated kiss, her hips rising to meet his, and her sex clenching his tight.
Jude pumped in and out of her, pace slow and deliberate and alternating between that and eager, fast hard strokes. He kissed her hard, passionately as he gave all of himself, wanting to make her scream to the heavens.
It wouldn't be hard to get her to scream, as riled up as she was. And her body did little to resist how he fucked her as her body ached and arched beneath his thrusts, as her lips parted open as her moans increased, and her fingers dug into his scalp and gripped at his hair as she pulled herself as close to him as she could get.
His throat had become hoarse, dry with all the grunting and panting he'd been doing. Jude pulled an arm around her, underneath her shoulders, hugging her to him possessively as he continued to take her. She was his, truly his just as he belonged to her. There was no question to it.
Her entire body flooded with heat, the sensations of her peak electrifying throughout her entire body, as it pooled and exploded from her loins. Her cries were loud, near deafening as she stilled herself, tightened her legs up so she was as tight as she could be and let her sex spasm and come like wild.
It was glorious. So what if it was a cheesy description... It was the most accurate way to describe it. Jude panted over her, holding himself still amid the heat they shared, his own body having came inside her. He loved the feeling, that peak, especially a shared one that erupted like a volcano that burned them both alive.
"Damn Jinai... You're good."
Jinai just lay there in a tired heap, smiling as her eyes were closed as she replied, "I know." And she let her hands smooth down the muscles of his sweat slicked back and sighed. "Gods, no matter how many times we do it, I love to feel you inside me- especially after filling me with your seed."
"Thankfully Anita gave us that little potion. Frankly I hate wearing a sheathe," he laughed and kissed her lips.
Jinai only smirked.
"What? You wouldn't want me to have your bastard child?" she teased before closing her eyes again.
"And I wouldn't let you wear a sheath either way." She wrinkled her nose. "I hate them."
"What? Can't stand the muted feeling of my dick inside you?" he snickered. "Besides, I'd never subject you to the pain of pregnancy. Not unless you were my wife of course. Then you'd be barefoot and pregnant all the time. That's right. I wouldn't even buy you shoes." He teased of course, kissing her gently.
Jinai just snorted.
"I doubt pregnancy would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And I thought you couldn't marry?" she mumbled, tiredly as she lay there, just enjoying the fact they just had another round of amazing sex.
Jude laughed and rolled off her, pulling her in against his chest. "Having sex with one woman for the rest of my life isn't the worst thing that could happen to me," he mimicked. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, amusement dancing in his expression.
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" he asked, curious.
"I just mean wouldn't your boss fire you?"
"I am my boss. Why would I fire me? I'm delightful," he giggled and kissed her brow. "But I would retire. I've been thinking about it for a while now."
"Yeah, but you still couldn't do it."
"But why not?" Jude muttered, brow raised, curious.
"Well, because I wouldnt let you. I'm a wanted criminal. Unless of course you wanted to flee the country with me," she said with a smirk. "Or do it in secret. "
At that, Jude's eyes suddenly lit up. "I'd love to," he answered. "I'd always wanted to go to Serendiptity. I hear the Riverlands are beautiful this time of year."
Jinai blinked.
"Really?" She didn't sound so convinced.
Jude's expression turned serious. "Jinai, I'm not going to be a prostitute for the rest of my life. And if this war doesn't kill me, then I'll have to decide something to do with it. Do you have some suggestion?"
"Suggestions?" since when did this topic turn back to her? She simply looked away, turning her back to him as she hugged onto one of his pillows. "I don't ever plan things, you know that."
Jude could see when she wanted to change the subject, so he let the topic drop. He didn't say anything further and just laid down beside her, putting an arm around her and leaning his head in by her shoulder and he kissed it.
Jinai closed her eyes, just indulging in the feel of the kiss and his arms wrapped around her.
"I think we're getting old," she said, with a smirk. "My backs been aching lately. Thankfully I'm blonde. The grey hairs, if I got any yet, would hide well."
Jude chuckled. "I think I spot one right here," he said, leaning his hand up to pluck one from her temple. "Ping." He flicked it off the bed and kissed her neck and shoulder again. "I think we just fuck too hard."
"Owe!" she elbowed him. "Ass."
"Only if you really want me to," he purred, kissing along her neck and his hand caressing down along her thigh. He kissed her shoulder and resumed hugging her along the waist. He looked over her shoulder, eyes gleaming. "Would it be too presumptuous of me to call you my wife anyway?" he asked.
SHe nudged him again, face still half buried in her pillow.
"Why would you even want to?"
Then she paused, laughing abruptly.
"Oh right, I forgot.. you're crazy."
"Because we are practically married. I mean, except for the ring, we are bonded...at least I think we are... Are we not?" His expression was curious and he kissed her neck once more.
"I guess," she murmured into the pillow. "Except I don't cook or clean for you. But I wouldn't be that kind of a wife."
"I have a cleaning lady for all that," Jude said and laughed into her neck. "Jinai Armand. Pffft."
She nudged her ass against him.
"Jude Rinstgate."
And at that he blew raspberries into her neck.
Jinai let out a squeal and flailed wildly- elbowing the man in the face- hard.
Jude rolled back. "Ouch!" he mumbled, holding his cheekbone. "That hurt!"
"Yeah, well- that's what you get, dumb ass," she snapped, rubbing at her neck where his slobber from the raspberry was. "What did you expect I'd do when you did that?"
"I don't know what you're trying to prove," he said as he turned to face her again. "When we play like that, it's just play. You bit my dick, we had sex. I blow raspberries in your neck and you hit me hard. You don't have to be so defensive with me, Jinai. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
Jinai stared at him for a moment, not knowing what to say.
"Call it a bad habit then. Stuff like that... It's hard to shake."
He tilted his head at her and grinned. He poked at her ribs and laid down next to her. "No worries. I'll be your punching bag if you need me to be. Just give me the hot sex and we're good."
"What if I punch you and have sex with you at the same time?"
"Then I'd be forced to thrash you. And I don't fancy hitting women. I'm a gentleman, after all," Jude said and kissed at her cheek. "Why would you want to punch me anyway?"
Jinai looked amused at that answer.
"Just to see you get that angry at me." And her smirk tugged leftward on her lips.
"What? Just so we can have angry sex? Is that your master plan?" he asked, scoffing.
Jinai gave a playful little grin.
"You caught me... red handed. What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll ride you until your hair comes out," Jude said with a small grin. But he slumped back and put a pillow underneath his head. "Or maybe I'll do nothing at all. So much for your master plan."
Jinai rolled over so she was half draped over top of him.
"That's fine with me! But I'd better get a nice nap outta it!"
Jude made an -oof!- sound when she rolled onto him. He made a pleased sigh of tiredness and pulled the overs up around them. "Okay," he said. "Prepare for the ride of your life. Just you wait." He sighed again and closed his eyes. "Or maybe the nap first."
Snorting, she couldnt help but smile.
"Yeah, yeah, nap first since you probably can't get your dick up again after our last ride!"
"PfffFFFFFFFFt!" Jude snorted and said with closed eyes. "I could split you in half, so you better be careful. My dick is like a lightning rod. It can summon all sorts of energy. I get erections in my sleep. So prepare to roll your eyes back into your head." He sighed sleepily again and just got comfortable in the bed.
Jinai just snorted, her own eyes closed as she gave him a light kick with her foot.
"Ey...." Jude protested sleepily. "Why you kick me... You're gonna get it. Just you wait." But soon he was fast asleep, worn to the bone.
And so was Jinai, snoring away with a foot over top of him.
They stayed that way most of the night. Jude had no immediate appointments in the morning and so did not care what time he got up. But his body somehow demanded he wake early and in the early AM, there he laid with eyes wide open. Even the long night of sex did nothing to make him any more tired.
He felt Jinai beside him and just watched her sleep.
And she continued to sleep, hugging her pillow and gently snoring...
that was, until her brows furrowed and she seemed to hug her pillow tighter, but still she slept, brows creased.
Jude turned to Jinai, her back to him, as she hugged her pillow tighter. He laid onto his side, leaning his head up on one elbow and pulling an arm gently around her, feeling her body tense and hoping to ease whatever was plaguing her. She'd probably just elbow him in the gut, but it was a risk he was willing to take.
Instincts should have had her elbowing him, but instead, she jerked away suddenly, though was still beneath his arms as she clung to the pillow, muttering something, but the words made no sense.
Jude was gentle with her tension, but when he felt it was safe enough, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in against him, pulling her into his chest. "Hush now, darling. You're safe. I'll protect you," he murmured.
At his words, Jinai awoke with a start, struggling beneath Jude's grip before she realized where she was.
"Gods.. Fucking damn..." she said, raking a hand through her hair. "Fuck- what... was I just.... was I dreaming?" And as she tried to register it all, she swore again.
"Fuck!"
[Leave it to Jinai to KILL THE MOMENT!]
Jude released her when she began to struggle beneath his hold. It wasn't a particularly strong one, but he gave her the space she apparently needed and laid on his side next to her.
"Sounded like you were," he said with a concerned expression. "What was it?"
Jinai groaned and rubbed her palms over her eyes.
"Fuck it.... It was just a.nightmare."
But all she could do was shake her head. "Gods...." And she rolled over so her face was.pressed into the pillow and sighed.
Jude leaned over her a little. He frowned. "What was it?' he asked. "That bad?"
Jinai groaned before turning her head.
"I'd rather forget it. Just scary shit that wasn't even real."
Jude sat up in bed, looking down at her and then to the dim lighting that was only just starting to spread through out the city. She didn't want to talk about the dream, fine. "It's morning already," he said, stating the obvious and looking back down to her.
Jinai just remained there for a good long while in silence, feeling numb and still shaken from her dream. When she finally did move, she was wiping away tears, but trying to be discrete about it.
"Fuck... What the hell. I think something is wrong with me... Crying over a dream."
Jude leaned in beside her. "Must've been something real bad," he murmured. He reached up to brush away a stray tear on her cheek. "What was it?"
"Remember Lord Christy and how we fucked him over? Well, my dream was about him finding me again where he gives me this gift..." There, her thoughts drifted off, a painful expression on her face. "Naturally, I was surprised he even found me, and somehow he knew who Lady Thames really was. But apparently he knew so much more, cause that fucker.." She paused to grip the bed sheets. " You know what he sent me?"
She turned to Jude, fresh tears threatening in her eyes. "Your head in a velvet sack. Fresh with blood and all."
Jude visibly winced at the insinuation and he frowned deeply at Jinai. His head went to his neck and he had to feel around it to make sure it was really there. "Well, it seems my head is still attached," he said jokingly, trying to smile at her. His grin was boyish and he reached for her hand. "It was only a dream Jinai. I wouldn't die without telling you first."
That's when.she hit him, then kissed him and hugged him close.
"Gods, I hate you," she said, half laughing through a sob.
Jude laughed and rubbed his chest where she hit him. "I promise not to die without your permission. Is that acceptable?"
Jinai just held him tighter, laughing again as she buried her teary eyes against his chest.
"You'd better stop that or I'll kick you in the balls," she warned, but it was a hollow threat as she just.hugged him tighter.
"Gods... I never knew it could feel.so good to just hold someone."
Jude laughed and pulled his arms tightly around her, encapsulating her with his body, hoping to make her feel as protected and safe as he could. He kissed her brow and cheek. "Don't worry, Jinai. It was just a dream." He could feel her tears wetting his chest and his hands wrapped around her back and her head.
Jinai sighed thankfully against him, her hands moving to feel at his neck, then to his ears, his jaw and then all over his face.
"Yes... thank the fucking Gods it was only a dream." And she wasted no time in sitting up more and joining her lips to his.
At her kiss, he whimpered and moaned lightly. "Just a dream," he murmured against her lips. He prodded her lips open, kissing her still within the confines of his arms.
She continued to kiss him, hands roaming over his skin.
"Make love to me," she whimpered. "Let me know everything is okay."
Jude's breath hitched at her touch. He panted and pulled her higher into his arms, laying her across his body before laying them both along their sides. "It will be okay," he said, feeling his body begin to burn for her. "It will be."
Jinai was already ready to go, her body still lingering from their late night escapades. So as soon as she felt the hard tip of his cock, she opened her legs wider and just let him all slip in.
He moved deeply within her softness, instinct taking over as he moved to her need. Jude wanted to reassure her and could still feel the worry and stress that tensed her body. She was hot and slick all over that his body practically melted into hers.
Jinai moaned as he worked his way into her. And as it was as all the time's before; perfect. especially in this moment of need.
"Gods... No matter how many times we fuck, it feels amazing," she moaned.
Jude whimpered against her. "My body was made for yours, Jinai," he replied. "Two of a kind, fools in love." He laughed a little and kissed her softly. "You worry enough for the both of us anyway."
"Worry?" She laughed. "I thought my problem was I worried too little."
"Then we worry enough for each other," Jude amended with a laugh.
She laughed again, her hips still moving as she moaned.
"Does that even make sense?"
"It doesn't have to make sense!" Jude laughed, panting over her. "Oh, never mind the sense, just make me a man."
Jinai paused in her ministrations.
"Make you a man?" she raised one brow coyly at him. "So what am I fucking... a woman?'
"A young boy. Be gentle with me, I'm new at this," he said. "My first time with a real woman. Now quit your ramblings and just scream for me."
And that's when Jinai pinched him.
"And what if I said no?" and hse moved to let him slip out of her.
"Ouch!" Jude visibly shuddered when she forced her body away from his and he growled. "Oh, Jinai, come on! Must I beg?"
A grin split across her lips.
"What if I like it when you beg?"
Jude made an exasperated sigh. "Oh you would! Come on, love. Let me make your eyes roll back into your head."
Jinai said nothing. She simply grinned.
"Let me send you to heaven, you'll see the face of Ansgar himself! You'll just turn into a puddle afterward, I promise you," he said, really turning up the charm. He smiled down at her, giving wet kisses to her neck and ear, pulling on the lobe.
And through it all she simply smiled, but said nothing, closing her eyes and appreciating the attentions while her legs began to open for him.
"I could make you feel so good, Jinai. I only want to make you feel good, you're my girl after all," he murmured against her ear, against her skin, letting his breath play across her neck, and settled his body down on hers when her legs opened for him again.
And that's when her limbs wrapped around him, capturing him against her as she finally moved to kiss him back.
"Then what are you waiting for?" she asked, her hair a mess about her face, nearly hiding those green eyes from his.
"Only for you, darling," Jude whimpered before sliding back into her warmth and melting back into her.
Her eyes fluttered closed, her arms clinging to him tight, as her sex gripped him the second of entry. She leaned her head back, moaning softly, deeply as she felt him take her again. And she couldn't help but smile. She loved this. All of this. And it was all hers.
In the aftermath, Jude was sprawled out beside her in a sweaty heap, panting hard and his eyes staring up at the ceiling, a smaile plastered on his face.
Jinai was half draped over him, equally as sweaty. when her heart beat finally slowed down, she turned to look at him, regarding his face before saying nothing and kissing him softly on the lips.
Jude grinned against her lips, kissing her back. Though he knew it was morning and it was high time that she depart. He didn't want her to get caught. Least of all for him. He hugged her tightly to him as if he didn't know when the next time he'd see her. Whether she'd come back in the guise of another, or not come back at all.
She made a noise and struggled beneath his grip.
"Jude.. Gods..." She grunted and squirmed. "Not so tight!"
Jude loosened his grip but still held her to him. "Sorry," he said. "I guess I'm just nervous about tomorrow. I won't see you again for a while."
At that, Jinai stiffened.
A smirk itched across her lips, but the mirth was hollow.
"Oh."
Jude didn't look at her and just buried his face into her shoulder, content to just hold here there in silence. He tried to commit her body to memory, so that he might hold onto that in all the time she would be gone. There was a very real possibility that she would never come back. That this would be the end of it all. And that thought kept Jude's tongue firmly in his mouth.
Reality was always the cruelest Mistress.
"How many clients do you have this week?"
"Just a few," he answered. "I have a ball to attend tomorrow night, a client in the morning and one in the evening. And one the day after that." But he didn't more from his initial position and in fact kissed her shoulder where he lay.
"Sounds like you'll be busy."
"A little. Business as usual. I guess I'd need to keep up appearances," Jude murmured without enthusiasm. "Where are you going?"
She gave a shrug.
"I dunno. I rarely have anything planned."
"Will you leave the country?" he found himself asking.
She turned to him from where her gaze had been locked listlessly upon the wall.
"What?" Her face wrinkled at the idea. "Why would I do that?"
Jude looked up at her. "To get away from this war. To find a haven."
At that she snorted and leisurely stretched out across his bed.
"I already found my haven." And her hand moved up his arm. "And a way out from this war..."
Jude shook his head. "Oh right. I forgot about your 'Home' place. As long as they can keep you safe," he muttered and pursed his lips. "I guess I'm inclined to worry no matter what happens."
And that's when Jinai gave him a kick.
"I was talking about you, dumb ass."
"Oh?" he said, feeling awkward. "Well, I mean more than me. You should find a way to get out, if you can."
Turning away, she gave a casual shrug.
I suppose you ha e a point..."
"I mean if worse comes to worse," he said. He didn't want to think about that prospect. As much as he wanted to believe that this might last forever, that somehow they might earn some divine favor just long enough to get through this terrible war. Jude rolled off of Jinai and just stared off into the ceiling. He always hated goodbyes.
"How long do you think you'll be... Occupied? A month? Two months?"
"It's hard to say. This business is largely played by ear. But I'm sure I can squeeze in a vacation within a few weeks. I mean, I need a break from my work too don't I?" he said and looked across to her for a brief moment.
"Doesn't that seem too soon to go on another one?"
"Maybe," Jude said, nodding. "I think the guards will come back once they regain their senses. If they do, that is. They might get back on their leads and it'd look pretty damning to suddenly go out of town when they show up."
Jinai gave a nod, and then suddenly found herself smirking.
"You know... I think this'll be the first time I'm leaving you for a while that ain't by my choice."
Jude looked at her and caught her grin, it was infectious. "Because all the other times you were pretty much kicking and screaming," he said with a chuckle.
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"You know, this is a lame send off. I should at least get a kiss."
Jude snickered. "Did we not just roll around in the sheets?" He turned on his side and propped his head up on an elbow.
Snorting, she replied, "Only a couple of times. And here I thought being with a whore would get me laid more than that." And she smirked at him as she lounged back across the bed.
"What!?" Jude should have kicked her for that, but instead his hands flew to her sides and he tickled her furiously. "Laid more than that?!"
Not expecting that sort of reply, Jinai retorted in the only way she could-
By swinging a fist hard at his jaw as she wriggled and writhed in attempts to get away.
But he was accustomed to her punches now more than ever, after years of her tantrums. He tickled her without mercy, even using a hand to grip her wrists while the other had it's fingers dancing along her ribs.
"Ahh! Jude!!!" her screams were accompanied by furious kicks and more frantic writhing of her body.
Jude did stop and forced his lips down upon her, coaxing her to kiss him back.
Of course she kissed him back as she growled through their kissing, "Ass."
"An ass that you love," he said with a purr, melting against her kiss.
She couldn't help but smile back, making a noise as she kissed him deeper.
"It's round and supple. You could bounce a marble off that thing and it wouldn't even chip," he said as he kissed her, plucking at her lips with his and rolling her over on the bed. "To think, you have a man with the body of a god who loves you. You're very fortunate. Doesn't hurt I'm hung either."
Jinai growled and dug her fingers into his hair.
"Just kiss me." She demanded between kissing him back.
"Yes, ma'am," he said with a chuckled and kissed her feverishly. He ran his tongue down along hers, tasting of her thoroughly.
She moaned against his lips, tongue wrestling and rolling with his. She only parted in brief bits to breath, before whimpering, " Do I.really have to go?" And she kissed him again, realizing the irony of that statement, but she simply kissed him still.
Oh he was such a pansy. Jude could feel his eyes welling up as he kissed her. It was the longest goodbye, because he knew once she was gone there was no telling if he'd see her again. "I don't want you to," he said in a soft moan, kissing her as if they were teenagers again.
She felt.those tears and.laughed, a hollow sound.
"Don't you dare.cry when you're trying.to seduce me. Crying isn't sexy."
"Everything I do is sexy," he growled defiantly and let her taste the salt of his tears as they fell on his tongue.
She just laughed and pulled away a little.
"Ugh.. salty kisses..." But she kissed him back anyway. "Like that time on the beach..."
Jude chuckled as he returned her kisses, even dragging his lips down by her chin and jawline. "That was pretty hot," he admitted. "I never had so much fun on a beach. And not just because we had sex. It was nice." He laughed and kissed down her neck.
She laughed breathily.
"Then you need to get out more."
Jude laughed against her neck. "You think I'm just a stick in the mud?"
"Please. You tend to keep your stick in my mud," she mumbled through more heated kisses, her body moving closer to his.
"Ew, darling. Ew," Jude laughed, kissing her lips again. "We should go out again. Maybe someday to my lakehouse. We can have sex in actual mud."
"Oh? And here I thought you were turned off by the idea."
"Nonsense, just the imagery of referring to your lovely sex as mud," he said. And just as he did so, his hand slid down to her belly and pressed along the skin of her sex. "But having sex in mud? That's a different story."
Jinai smiled when Jude's hand found the skin of her sex. And she simply opened her legs wider for him as lips met and trailed up his neck.
His fingers slipped inside her, into the moistness of her sex and he gently stroked her, burying his fingers a little deeper each time. His lips explored her ear, kissing just under her earlobe.
As Jude's fingers continued to explore, Jinai's hand did some of her own, smirking as she gripped around his eager and swollen cock while leaning her neck and body into his minstrations.
A smile spread across his lips as she gripped him. "You were always good with your hands," he said, panting as his heart continued to beat faster. "But if we keep this up, we'll never get out of this bed."
"Oh no," she half moaned between pumps of her fist. "You're onto my plan."
His breathing continued to hasten. He coughed out a small laugh and nursed along her neck as he pushed his hand into her until his entire hand was within her warmth. "I knew you were devious. I like it."
And she said nothing in reply, her breath stolen away as his entire hand managed to fit inside her. And he'd be able to feel her sex tighten and grip around him, pulsating as it tasted his fingers as her own hold on his member became tighter, as if holding onto it for support while Jude's hand worked it's magic on her.
Jude loved to hear the sounds of her moans, her breaths, her reactions to all the magic their bodies made. Though he wasn't inside her in the traditional way, he had plenty of opportunity to please her, as his fingers were well fitted within her sex, and he wiggled them around, moving them slowly, finding just the right spots to make her twitch.
And twitch she did as her body ached, as did her throat from all her deep throated noise. Her eyes closed so tight and her eyes rolled back so far she was seeing her brains, and her body moved in any direction it could to help entice the fire Jude was stoking as waves of pleasure began to become more and more intense.
Jude turned his arm, this way and that, methodically moving to her pleasure. He positioned himself just so, so that he could feel all around her, fingers dancing. He watched her eyelids, expression observational as her eyes rolled back.
He turned this way and that, and soon began to pump his hand in and out of her.
"By the Gods, Jude," she moaned, clinging to him tightly as his fist pumped in and out of her. Sweat had already long saturated their skin, seeming to stick them together as she pressed close. And though it was becoming a stifling hotness, she did not care. And soon she was nearing her peak as her body tensed and stop as her jaw dropped open, hanging on the edge of ecstasy.
"Oh, Jinai, you feel so good. So hot," he whispered as he leaned down and brushed his lips against her open mouth. It felt so new to have his hand inside her instead of his member. He feel how hot she was, how slick, and could focus more easily on points of pleasure. When he found the right one, he focused on it, pushing quickly along it.
It was cruel and made her weak, her vision going nearly white as she arched back, trying to moan, trying to speak as he continued to nurse on such a very sensitive spot that she felt at any moment she might explode.
Jude repositioned himself along her so that she could feel all of his hand against his ministrations. "Come on, Jinai," he said. "Don't hold back." He brushed his lips against hers again, kissing along her neck, sucking along the flesh there.
At that, she gave a breathy laugh and peered up at him through half lids.
"What? And make this easy on you?" But it was evident she was struggling to contain the building pleasure as her sex moved about and clenched his working hand.
"I meant, make it easier on you," he said, breathing hotly against her neck. And before she knew it, Jude had slipped his member along her warmth, alongside his hand, hiking her hips up high along his. He moved quickly, hardened to the pleasure she had started but never finished. And well, what was better than finishing with her?
It was pleasure.
It was pain.
And it was agonizing torture of lustful bliss of another kind. By now she was nearly crying, her sex being fed with so many things, so many stimulations that she could hardly handle it. And soon her quick breaths stopped, her voice stalling for but a moment as she whimpered.
"Gods.. I'm going to..."
But then she was screaming so hard it hurt, but the orgasm was wild and her hips moved and sex pulsed rapidly, and on and on it went, drawing out from the pleasure of his dick and hand crammed inside her until she was all but an exhausted heap, breathing raggedly and deep and shivering in the after glow of such an intense orgasm.
"Gods..." came out a low, half whimpered voice. "If i can't walk tomorrow.." She went on with a smirk, her eyes almost completly covered by her wild and matted hair as she peered over at him. "I'll blame you. And you'll have to carry me out of here. I'm pretty sure my body is useless."
"Darling, I think it's safe to say we'll both be combined to this bed. But, gods, I haven't eaten since I got home. Are you hungry? I have some...cake in the kitchen," he said with a playful grin and rolled off to the side of her. He loved watching her face in the aftermath of their lovemaking, especially when it was as intense as that had been.
He lay exhaustedly beside her, hands above his head and just trying to focus on catching his breath. "we'll both be invalids at this point."
Jinai said nothing, just laying there, red faced and her heart beat thumping nearly deafening in her ears. But she tried to kick him, but it turned out as a pathetic nudge with her leg.
Jude too was spent. And soon he fell asleep. He couldn't help himself.
He wasn't the only one spent, and she too, found herself drifting off to sleep, with one leg partially draped over his.
Jude pulled Jinai in close to him, propping a pillow underneath both of them and slept away most of the morning. He knew in the back of his mind that he had appointments, places to be, patrons to fuck, but he couldn't find the motive to get up.
Jinai was sleeping like the dead when a bell rang, and the first two times, she slept through it, but when the calling bell grew louder and endless, she groaned and gave Jude a kick.
"Make the damn call bell stop."
"No," he grumbled. But even he could only ignore the bell for so long as he tried to sleep. Still, however, he kept his eyes closed and only dug his head further into the pillow.
As the bell continued to ring, Jinai scowled and kicked Jude again.
Jude grumbled and got up from the bed. He brushed his hair back and stretching before crawling to his feet. Just like Jinai to get him to answer the door. But then again she wasn't even supposed to be here in the city. She should have been long gone, many hours ago. Jude nudged her a little. "Jinai, you've got to get up. You've got to go. You stay here any longer and we'll both be in trouble," he said. "Get dressed, I'm going to answer the door."
He cleaned himself up and pulled on some trousers before heading out of the room and down the stairs. He wished the person at the door had gotten tired of ringing the damn bell and bothered themselves with leaving. At least then he wouldn't feel like he was in a rush to answer the door.
With a click the door was ajar and on the other side a woman promptly slapped him, hard, across the face. He had to double back to get a good look at who it was. "Lady Falstein!" he gasped, as she let herself in. "To whatever do I owe the pleasure?"
Despite knowing how dire their circumstances have become, Jinai remained unclothed, leisurely sprawled out upon the bed. And it wasn't until some time later that she even considered moving to gather her clothes. She was just beginning to slip on her under garments when she heard the commotion down stairs. And again, taking her time, she strained her ear to listen in about this patron.
"Don't act like you don't know, you buffoon.... You devilishly handsome buffoon," she growled, stepping in quickly and growling as she smashed her lips against his, moaning softly and promptly pulled away. That kiss was followed by another hard slap across his other cheek. "You had an appointment with me this morning, darling. How cruel of you to break it!"
Jude stepped back, putting a yard of space between them, holding his arms out. "What appointment?" he coughed, still rubbing his face. She had a damn good arm. Which would explain why she was one of his more excitable clients. However, this really wasn't a good time.
"Oh what does it matter now? You probably have another hussy upstairs. Or my husband, to which you would find a severance in my patronage, Mr. Armand," Falstein growled as she stepped forward again. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Jude rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry?" he sighed. "Look. If I missed an appointment to which I was otherwise occupied, I am sorry," he said. "Allow us to reschedule and make another appointment please. I'll take you to a nice dinner, we'll go to the opera. What do you say?"
"I'd say you're more than welcome to make it up to me now!"
"Lady Falstein, please. This isn't really the best of times," Jude said, stepping back and keeping her at arms length, though her eyes burned like smoldering emeralds. If it'd been any other time, he might have been unable to resist such eyes, for they reminded him so much of Jinai's when she was angry.
Though it was interesting listening in on Jude's conversation, she couldn't help but feel not only jealous, but guilty. Such a mix made her gut rot, and she wasted no more time in dressing, but lingered outside the window, fingers tracing the hem of her shirt as she listened, waited, as if to see Jude might ward the woman off and she could continue to remain here undisturbed.
But as things seemed to be going, even she felt that small clutch of home was useless, and at that reality, she began to feel numb.
By the time the brief, albeit loud, argument was over, Jude slammed the door shut and locked it up tight. He remembered Jinai and stalked back upstairs. He saw her lingering by the window and he felt a pang in his gut then, knowing how it felt to have to be shoved out the back door because a client's significant other was coming home, or scaffolding down a window sill.
Did Jinai think of herself in such away? That she was somehow his other woman that he had to hide and stash away when it was inconvenient? Guilt stung him with a scorpion's barb and he moved foward, slowly as to not spook her and carefully drew her into his arms. He held her there for a moment, burying his face against her shoulder and branding a hand through her hair.
"I love you," he murmured, as if she didn't already know that. "Hey, don't you go forgetting about me now, yeah?" No matter where she went, she was home; at least for him.
Jinai stiffened in his embrace, not sure what to think of the moment except feel numb. Eventually, at his words, her hands wrapped around him, and she suddenly had the desire to cry as tears clung to her eyes of which she ignored. If she ignored them, they'd eventually go away.
Most things did.
Jude's arms squeezed tighter around her, as if to impress the feeling of her body against his, committing it to memory. "You're my woman. You'll always be my home, Jinai." He sighed gently and kissed her temple.
Blinking back the tears she fought, she kept her face buried and mumbled , "Why are you here, holding me? What aboutyour client?"
Jude smiled against her neck. "Because you're my girl and I want to hold you. Who knows when I'll see you again... I don't care about that other lady. Can't I just hold you?"
"Yeah... but she's a paying customer."
"So? She's just like all the rest. Besides I don't want her.I want you. "
Jinai felt her stomach drop and a heat rush through her veins. But still she said nothing, and didn't, or couldn't look at him. Despite all they've been through, it still was so strange to her someone wanted her as their world.
"Won't this affect your reputation?"
She knew from Renna, and even from him, how careful courtesans had to be. And with the war, so many had to play many cards and wear many hats and be extra careful of what they speak.
"If Lady Falstein was in good standing with any other noble house, certainly, but the woman can't even keep track of her husband, much less her reputation." Jude kissed her temple again, hands holding her so close, he could feel her heartbeat and he listened to it's rhythm.
After a long moment, Jinai sighed and just leaned against him.
"I do need to go.."
But she didn't move from where she was.
Jude nodded to her and was the first to pull away. But he lifted her head to face his and smiled down at her. He kissed her, deeply, perhaps even possessively. "Go on now," he said with a nod.
THe sensations that fluttered from belly to her heart could not be ignored, nor the sensation of abandonment that followed. But it was she who returned the gesture in kind, and simply stepped in closer to him, locking lips as if it'd be the last time.
Jude was pleasantly startled and his buckled underneath the force of her kiss, his arms swooping around her and becoming a nice around the small of her back. He just landed into the kiss unable to bring it upon himself to break it.
OOC: Your typos on your new phone amuse me greatly XD Especially in your last Merric post~
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Jinai wouldn't have let him go if he tried, and continued to tantalize him and pour her soul through him with this kiss, not even stopping to breath.
[I'm glad I could entertain you.]
He felt something wet on his cheek as he leaned his face in against hers. He took his time about it, but he didn't know if that tear was his, or hers.
Though it was the tear that had Jinai opening her eyes as she peered back into his eyes, and said nothing. But a sadness, a yearning hung between them, as their green eyes met, and she hoped their gazes would never leave, and this moment would just remain frozen, keeping them together for all times.
""If you don't leave, I just know I'm gonna say something cheesy," he found himself saying. Jude managed a smile and leaned his head downwards and kissed her brow. "Go Jinai. Go, be safe. Go and when it's safe for me too, come and find me," he murmured, somber.
It took more effort than she'd care to admit to tear herself from his arms. And as she made her way to the same window she always left through, she paused to give him one last look, before turning her back to him.
And she was gone.
Lady Falstein sat in her carriage across the road from Jude's townhouse, wiping her eyes and cleaning her nose. How dare that bastard refuse her!? How dare he think that he could simply send her away, when he was on her time!? Who the hell did he think he was? What the fucker didn't know was -
Falstein paused her musings long enough to notice someone moving out from the alley from around Jude's home. She closed her case and stared out at the blonde, lithe figure. And slowly a sinister grin spread upward on her delicately painted lips. "Oh Jude Armand, you have been a very bad boy..."
It was equally difficult to make her way through the city. Sure, she had to be careful, sure she should have been quick, but the further she got from Jude's home, the more her legs felt like lead. Inwardly, she cursed herself for ever having fallen prey to love, and found herself pausing at the corner where two alleys met.
She could hear a rumble in the clouds and smell it in the air.
Rain.
Rain was coming.
[The end soon for this thread?]
She was not alone in her circumvention. And in fact she was being closely followed. She wasn't the only one who could navigate these streets like the back of her hand.
OOC: I don't know? Do we need to end it? Figure we can just start another chapter of their story in this thread if it takes place int he same place, though up to you!
Jinai was used to always keeping an eye over her back, though by the time she realized she was being followed, she feigned ignorance. She made a path like a weaving snake, pausing only just in the shadows of an ally near one of the local brothels.
She supposed this place was as good as any to confront the woman following her. But she had no idea it was someone in association with Jude, and presumed it was someone with anti-mage sentiments, or a bounty hunter after her claim.
Though it had been sometime since she had been ever hunted, it didn't mean the price on her head wasn't going up, and was forgotten. So the second the woman turned the bend, Jinai pulled a knife on her.
"So, what's a pretty thing like you doing in a dark alley like this? Seems like you're on the wrong side of town."
Except there was no woman following her, and the blade that she held to the young woman's throat had her eyes widened in fear. She screamed loudly and stared wide-eyed at her in absolute fear. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Let the woman go," came a deeper voice from behind her, and a pistol's muzzle could be felt right at the base of Jinai's lower back. A powerful hand came to her arm and gripped it tightly. "Drop the knife." And the pistol's hammer was cocked back completely.
Well, shit.
Jinai gave a gritting smile before dropping the knife.
"I knew was being followed. Figures I checked in the wrong shadows."
The woman Jinai had trapped quickly scurried off quickly.
"You might be right. You're a wanted woman in this city, young lady. Or old. Thirties is it? Very old with your lifestyle. You know all sorts of people," the man said and pressed the pistol harder into her back. He snatched her by the back of the neck and hauled her along further into the alley. "You also have interesting friends. But a poor choice in lovers."
Though forced to walk, it didn't still her tongue.
"Fuck you. Or maybe I have. But that doesn't mean you know me or what the hell goes on in my life." And was he kidding calling her old? She didn't feel old, didn't quite look it and had no graying hair. But she was also no teenager. "So, what the hell do you want?" Cause they obviously wanted something and Jinai's patience was wearing thin.
"The fucking book. Mr. Armand's little black book. That's what I want. And that's what I'll get."
"What?" she dared to turn around enough to look at him. "You kidding me? What good would it do you? Thinking about black mailing a courtesan? Cause then you got another thing coming. Besides, I've had many lovers, why would you think my romps with him mean anything?"
"Because you keep coming back. I remember you. The drugged girl outside of the dress shop. You were on the roof, and then tried to fuck him in an alleyway. Except he had the social graces to decline taking advantage of you while you were out of your senses, Jinai Rinstgate. You're also a wanted criminal, and you won't be missed by anyone."
"Yeah, I won't be missed! Why do you think I laughed? I ain't got shit to lose!"
"Good, then it won't be any problem if we took a walk," he said, breathing heavily in hear ear and yanking her back into the alley, and pushing her along. "I remember you, y'know. From the café. You were on the roof, high as all hell. Classy lady."
"Yeah? What of it? Being high on opium is better than dealing with people like you. Too bad I don't have any to sell, if that's what you're after."
He scoffed at her. "You must think you're really clever. I'd love to see how clever you are with a large hole in your stomach."
"Is that really why you're pushing me around? Just to put a hole in my stomach?"
His snicker only deepened. "That'll just be a bonus." He pulled her through meandering alleyways, until they came to a backdoor. But it wasn't the door he was interested in. It was the panel below it, a piece of concrete that opened up to them and he dragged her down below, the concrete sliding back.
It figured sooner or later she'd get into trouble, or in this case, trouble finding her. Reluctantly, she climbed down into the darkness, and kept her eyes on the man for any opening she might take advantage of. She wasn't about to become a rotting sewer corpse.
It was a sewer but an undercroft of the tavern, a hidden entrance where certain people might be interested in doing their business without worry of the prying eyes of the law. "Let us come to an understanding, Miss Rinstgate," he said and shoved her forward, twirling her around and facing her face to face.
"I'm not surprised you don't remember me. You were pretty fucked up. But I know you're closer to Jude Armand than you admit. I want that fucking book. Where is it?"
And that's when Jinai spat in his face.
"Eat sewer shit. I ain't got nothin, and even if I knew where the fucking thing was, You think I'd tell you?"
He smiled, wiped the spit from his face and shoved the pistol against her chin, pressing against the soft-skin underneath it. "More's the pity," he murmured, pursing his thick lips. "Jude's going to miss caressing your pretty little face."
Though she could have cared less of her own fate, she did, however, care for Jude. She sneered at the pistol.
"Though I doubt killing me will get what you want, why don't we strike a bargain? You scratch my back, I scratch yours. Even enough to get you that damn book you want."
Frankly Brolis wasn't interested in striking bargains with anyone for any reason. But if he didn't have to clean up a bloody mess, that was incentive enough. Although nobody would question what a linen-wrapped body was doing down here. "Speak quickly," he said, keeping the pistol pointed at her.
"I know you've got connections. You know what sort of business I'm in. Things are crazy since the war started. All I need to know are a few good leads so I can sell my drugs. Everyone has to make a living, right? Get me those connections and I'll get you the book."
Obviously she took him for a fool, and she must've thought he'd never heard anything like this before. "Now what makes you think I give a shit about how and when you move your product, whore? This far into the war, nobody gives a shit about drugs. People are too busy trying to stay alive. And you need to come up with a better offer than that."
A part of him wanted to just pull the trigger and get it over with. Jude would weep for the loss of his lover. And he wanted to make him feel as bad as he felt. The courtesan played with fire too long. It was time for him to get burned.
She laughed.
"Drugs never go out of style. But what the hell do I know? You dragged me down here so now we'll both smell like shit." She grew anxious but tried to hide it. "So about this book... How do you know I won't fall back on my word? You gonna follow me around?"
"Old instincts die hard as they say. You're right about me not trusting you. Although I suppose you wouldn't mind waking up elbow deep in Armand's blood. He doesn't mean all that much to you, but then again...I'd be lying," he said with a grin.
She hated him for his words. She also hated he was right. Damn Jude! She felt her blood grow hot.
"So what's your plan?" she went on, voice smooth, while on the inside, she writhed.
"I guess I'm just playing it by ear," he said with a laugh and pulled the trigger of that pistol, the ball firing and tearing toward the flesh of her shoulder.
"Fuck!" She felt the bullet blast open a hole, blood gushing down the wound as she clutched it and attempted to scramble away.
"Warning shot," Brolis sighed, pulling another loaded pistol from his belt. "Your last chance to cooperate or that pretty boyfriend of yours is toast."
[When does your current thread with Jinai take place, before or after this one?]
Ooc: uhh.. Good question!
Jinai grit her teeth.
"Fucking fine. I'll get you the damn book! How about Judes finest wine while I'm at it?" she growled.
"Just the book will do. Shall we begin? Yes," Brolis grinned and approached Jinai. He would break her if it was the last thing he did and the night was long. The room sealed in the sound of her cries, fading into morning.
When she smiled that morning, blood broke out from the bruising cuts on her lip. Somehow, after all that shit, she was still alive. Frankly, she'd hurt just as badly before , so the pain wasn't new, just who had been dishing it out was different. All she knew was this Brolis would regret keeping her alive. She'd be his pawn, but if he wanted to use her, she came with extra baggage she'd use to her advantage. After all, there was a heavy price on her head. And a hard hammer to drop in her and those of association. However, she still has to actually survive long enough to do it. But she wasn't about ready to die. Only rats died in the sewers, and she.... Planned other ways and places to die.
In the days that followed, Jude hadn't expected to hear from Jinai. But when days turned to weeks, and the night seemed endless, Jude began to grow restless. He wanted desperately to see her... And suddenly there was a note. At first he suspected it was from her, but no, she never left a note. She just showed up whenever she damn well pleased and they would fuck and share a smoke, a drink, and have another go.
Jude held his breath when he read the note, and soon crumbled it up in hand. He burned it as soon as he could, dressed and ran out the door, locking it securely behind him. He would find her. He would get to her before it was too late.
He had to, or he would lose all he'd fought so hard to gain.
Although it was painful, and boring, Jinai regretted ever letting herself getting caught by a man like Brolis. He was deranged, and clearly going about this business by allowing his mood to dictate. One day he was petty, other days just plain cruel; but when one day things were quiet, Jinai shifted around in the chair she had been bound to. Had Brolis just left her here to rot? And what was that smell?
Brolis kicked the door open grumpily, stepping through it and looking at Jinai with an irritated glance. Clearly he'd been drinking and he'd been tired of this fiasco. The look of a bruised and beaten Jinai, frankly, wasn't as pleasing now as he hoped it would be. The only thing that would be better would be a dead Jude laid out in front of her.
And at that thought, he grinned.
"You're smiling.... Why? Cause you just ate shit?"
Brolis laughed, finding his sense of humor in that moment. "No, but you're about to, sister," he said with a sniff. He went back outside the room, locking it behind him. He lit a smoke, and went out to take a walk, leaving Jinai behind for the next few hours.
But somewhere within that time, there was a knock at the door. It was gentle at first, until something heavy was throwing itself against it.
Eat shit. Eat shit. Eat shit and die.
Her fingers trembled as she scraped them into lines. Sometimes into flesh, other times just at whatever they could connect with. The sharp pain from the scratches was enough to distract her from her dingy cell that was near suffocating and drowning her in her own madness.
Sure, she could keep her smile easy when the man returned, tried to get her to break for his own satisfaction, but she had dawned the sort of mask where she'd smile through anything- Even as she herself, was breaking inside.
She hated feeling so weak and vulnerable, all alone when before- it was all she wanted to do. Now that she cared, now that she allowed herself to get past the closed door... to let just one person in....
It lead to another, then another.....
And slowly it festered into the realization of what had come to pass with her feelings towards Jude.
The knock at the door wasn't entirely unwelcomed, but the sudden beating on it was enough to knock her from her dull misery. She swore the sudden knock made her piss herself a little, and she shifted where she remained and tried to see in the dark- A fool's look for hope.
A fool's look for an end.
There was a creaking somewhere, where the wood was giving way to the force that pummeled desperately against the door. As much as it was reinforced, it was still ageing and the force made the wood splinter until suddenly it subsided and all that stood on the other side of it was a shade behind a lantern.
Jude stepped through the door slowly, pistol in hand and he held his breath, seeing Jinai's bruised and beaten face. His heart stopped and he knelt before her. "Gods, Jinai...who...did this?" He was careful not to touch her, only just then parting the strands of her hair.
A blinding sight was all she could see, the lantern stung her eyes as she cringed and looked away. But even if she didn't notice the all too familiar silhouette of her lover, the voice was unmistakable. At the touch, at his voice, she jerked back before forcing stinging eyes to look at him, but only one eye would open.
"Jude?" she coughed, voice wheeze from the dust Jude had kicked up in the dingy room. "What the fuck are you doing here?" she barely managed to ask between coughs.
"I'm here to get you out of here," he panted with a half-hearted smile. "Gods... You're looking a little worse for wear darling." He did add a charming smile and reached down to work at the bonds that held her to the chair. He was tender with her, pulling her into his arms.
Jinai said nothing. Part of her felt ill in this little victory, and another part of her wary. She cringed her teeth as he worked at her bindings.
"You shouldn't have come."
Pulling her into his arms, however, quieted anything else she had to say. Her limbs were weak and unfeeling from countless days of not being used. And when she did try to move, her limbs ached like hell.
He removed her tenderly from the chair, hoisting her into his arms, and holding the lantern's hook with loosely with his left hand. "I'm here now and I aim to take you back to safety."
Jinai cringed.
"How... how did you even find... here?"
And her eyes began to search frantically for any sign of Brolis.
"A little bird told me," Jude murmured and tenderly carried her from the room. He stepped out into the night, the cold air biting against bruised and tender flesh. And when he found the coast was clear, he moved swiftly through the alleyways and kept them to the shadows.
"I'm taking you to Anita's. She has a safehouse not far from here. You're going to be safe soon enough," he replied with a nod. And as they weaved between alleys and streets, and Jude set her down briefly to catch his breath.
She was silent as he carried her, his body keeping back the chill. He smelled nice, like he always did, which was a nice change from where she had to wallow in her own shit for days. Once he set her down, she struggled breathlessly to stand.
"You.. You shouldn't have come...."
"And what should I have done, Jinai?" he whispered. "Let you rot in that place? I couldn't. I would rather die than see you suffer again."
Her lips twisted into a painful smile as she said, "I knew you'd say that." And as she looked at him, she held a deeper look within her eyes.
After a few seconds Jude leaned his head into hers and kissed her tenderly, gently enough to avoid unnecessary pressure on her wounds. When he pulled away he nodded to her. "First, let's get to Anita's safehouse. It's not far from here."
"I wish I could say 'First, let's get me a shower', but fuck it. We shouldn't linger and I can try to walk from here."
Jude was careful and quiet, ever vigilant when they crossed street after street, ensuring they passed through alleyways and avoided any crowded areas. Within a few moments, they were present before the back entrance of the safehouse. After a few short breaths, and looking around to make sure the coast was clear, Jude unlocked the door and slipped inside, helping Jinai along with him.
Jinai was thankful that by now,s he was able to more or less, walk around on her own. Not being able to even carry her own weight was a big blow to her emotionally rather than physically. She supposed if she were escaping on her own she'd mind a little less how her legs still felt useless, but at least she could more or less walk on her own now- just a minor hobble to her stride.
But her face was worn as she looked around, expression much like a hawks as she sought to look at each and every corner, wondering if maybe... possibly, someone bad was lurking there and ready to take her back to the awful cell once again.
He had a bit more confidence traipsing around the safehouse than he had been wandering around in the dark streets. He wasn't made to wander around in the dark quite like that, not a ruffian with a blade waiting between his teeth.
"The coast is clear," he said after a moment and lighting a lantern to ignite the small room beneath the brothel. There were no windows to give away their light, and the chimney in the wall connected to that of the working house above. The walls were well-insulated to keep out the midnight chill, and the tub to the side already had buckets of water waiting beside it.
"Can I help fix you a proper bath?" he asked softly.
She tried to smile but her face felt skewed.
"Sure. It'll help remove at least some of this shit smell off a me."
Jude worked quietly. There was no interruption between now and the moment that he helped her sink into the wooden tub in the corner of the room. It was warm and a latch hooked on the side with a brush and a soap bar was beside it.
"I'll let you have your privacy," he said with a nod. "I'll look around for some water to drink, or maybe food."
She nodded and let him leave, and just remained sitting in the bath, feeling numb.
Jude came back with a set of towels, "Whoops. Forgot these." He paused, looking at her. "What's the matter?"
She said nothing at first, cringing when he asked her.
"I'm just... tired," she muttered, casting her gaze on anything but him. She didn't want to talk about it. Talking about it meant she had to deal with it and maybe, just maybe, if she did nothing-....
Then nothing could happen at all.
Jude said little more and after a few seconds of standing there, he moved in closer to Jinai. Still he said nothing and instead knelt beside her reaching for the soap and sponge, gently taking it in hand and hers in his, carefully cleaning up her arm.
And while he did this, she said and did nothing.
[Poor Jinai]
Nothing was said between them.
Only the faint sound of water dripping back into the tub when he cleaned her softly, squeezing the sponge to let the suds pop out. They soon coated her as he worked around the tub methodically, working left then right, until he knelt behind her, gently coaxing her to lean forward to scrub her back.
And he winced at the wounds he saw there.
And he was the only one to visibly flinch. The wounds were still raw, but she felt too numb to care. But she could feel him wincing, she could sense it. And she felt her grip tighten on the lip of the tub.
Jude overcame his queasiness. The sponge dribbled over the ridges in her spine, a story that told him of how little she nourished herself, of how little she often had. And how much more she deserved. When he was done, he helped her out of the tub - half carried her really, and helped dry her off with care.
Whens he was finally dry, and half covered in the damp towel, only then did she speak.
"We can't stay." Her voice was hoarse. "No place is safe in the city."
"You're right," Jude murmured in reply. "But for now, this is a decent hideaway. Brolis won't find us. He'll have more to fear if he does." He helped her to the bed, kneeling beside her.
"You know, you ain't that good of a swordsman," Jinai reminded, just incase for some reason Jude thought he could be chivalrous and try to fight the man. Brolis was ruthless, and hadn't a care in the world. It was a dangerous combination, but from what she could tell....
Brolis was a dangerous man.
She wasn't even sure how she was alive or how Jude even found her...
Or why Brolis hadn't shown his face yet.
"Anita warned me about a situation like this," Jude murmured. "She has an estate outside Reajh, just barely few miles from the city limits. Do you think we ought to head there?"
"She's a connection of yours." Her smile was forced. "I wouldn't bet on it being any safer than here."
"If that's the case, then there's no reason to leave the city," Jude countered, and he sighed, sitting on the bed and putting his head in his hands. "I'm just glad you're still alive."
Inspite of herself and a cracked lip, she forced a smile and told him, "Me too."
Jude turned to her, looking more serious. "Jinai..." He couldn't say anything more and he reached out to touch her cheek.
"What?" Her smile trembled, fresh blood making her wince. "We all gotta die sometime. I just don't think an asshole like Brolis deserves to be the one to take mine."
"I'm done," he murmured. "With this life, I'm finished. I just want to get out of here with you. Let's leave this country, together."
At such a confession, she smiled. It was the first time I long time she genuinely smiled. Wrapping her arms around, she held him close.
"Okay. Lets Do It."
Jude leaned in against her, careful of her wounds. He felt an immense form of relief to hear those words.
He pulled away just a breath. "I'd never thought it'd come to this. When I was younger I didn't care...holding secrets, trading them, it's threatened someone I love and I can't have that. I'm out."
She chuckled at his words.
"It's your own damn fault you fell in love."
And she was pretty sure he had ample warnings of why he ought not to fall for a girl like her.
Or fall in love at all for that matter. Jude was careful to keep people at a distance, those that had felt lonely were looking only for the comfort of a body, of a need that required sating.
"Girl like you..." He sniffed, chuckling. "You're better than the rest you know that. You're trouble but you're...exciting. It...isn't about you though. Maybe this was inevitable. What surprised me though...is why Brolis let you live..."
"He had bigger plans," she went on, bitterly. "And I doubt this will be the only time we run across him."
"Did you tell you why he had you? Did he tell you what he wanted? He's not the kind of man that just does something like this lightly."
Jinai gave him a look.
"He said he was after you. He got pretty excited at the prospect to see you suffer- and at my expense. But what does it matter the reason? He's a fucking psycho who deserves to die. He ain't no better than the nobles who mage hunt for fun. And he seemed to think you had a prime amount of intel he didn't want leaked.... Or maybe he's jealous and can't afford a fuck from you and is bitter I get all the rides I want for free?" She forced a smile, but what else was there to tell? She shrugged and looked away.
"I need to stop making friends with courtesans... You're all nothing but trouble."
"Brolis was...having an affair with an army captain. For quite some time," Jude replied, pulling up a chair to sit across from her. "I knew Brolis also had his hands dirty in other trades, smuggling, slave trafficking, just to name a few. Notes of intel collected from other nobles that were just as dirty as he was. But that was what kept him at bay. The army captain was executed, although I don't know why, and Brolis thinks I had something to do with it. That I let that information leak. I didn't but it doesn't matter now. Brolis wants my book....and it's my only protection. If he gets his hands on it, he'll burn me."
Jinai's eyes were distant, never once looking at Jude as he spoke.
"You really think that book is all you've got to protect you?" the way she said it, it could have been a question, or statement.
Jude looked at her levelly. "At the time, yes. It was all I had to protect me. It was my insurance policy, and it still is... Why? Are you my shield now?" he asked gently.
She turned to him, wrinkling her nose.
"I'm nobody's shield, Jude." It was strange of him to ask her as she scratched at her arm as if to scratch off the idea. "If anything he thinks I'm your weakness." She paused a moment to smile cooly over the idea. "I suppose he ain't entirely wrong." She peered over at Jude appreciatively. "You're kinda cheap that way." She leaned forward when asking, "How much you think I owe you for all the sex we've had?" Now that felt more like an appropriate question!
"Nothing to wage your life on," Jude answered steadily. "I'm not going to let him hurt you. I'll get you out of the city proper. I'll slit his throat myself if I have to. Because Jinai, I'm not going to lose you again."
She made a face.
"Stop being all serious. And I ain't going anywhere." Where would she care to go anyway? She was too used to being in the thick of things. She folded her arms and just looked at him.
Jude's lips curled into a grin, amused, although it was somber. "That doesn't mean I can't want to protect you. I love you. And I mean it," he said and knelt before her. "I'm sorry if I seem clingy, and overprotective. I didn't think this could happen. But now that it has, my mind is racing with all kinds of possibilities."
She put a whole hand over his entire face.
"Why are you kneeling? Get up," she groaned. "With that confession, you're making me worried you'd propose marriage or something." She knew neither were privy to such an idea. "Unless you want to put your face in my crouch," she went on lewdly as her hands moved to stroke then grip into his hair. "Then feast away," she seductively joked.
He knew she was joking, playing it off with little more than her sarcastic humor, and Jude only smirked up at her. It was faint and but he stayed there on his knees and shifted so he could lay his head on her lap, an arm draped over her leg. A tilt of his head and he was kissing at her thigh, sucking gently against tender flesh until he left a trail of red welts.
Jinai purred as she roughly stroked his hair.
"Now you're speaking my language."
"It's one we have in common," he murmured and reached in further to kiss her kiss along her inner thigh. "Because I love you." He kissed harder, leaning into her and coaxing her legs around him.
They were together for how long and she still felt strange each time she heard it.
I love you. But even that sensation faded away into the shivers of pleasure his kisses brought forth. She moaned softly and opened her legs wider, and kept a firm grip on the back of his head, eager to lead him straight to the goods.
And it was a surreal to say it. Jude had never loved anyone, not the way he had loved himself before he met Jinai. And the stress of finding her and dragging her to safety, worrying for her well-being, to finally have her like this washed away any further hesitation.
Jude pressed his face into her heat and began to lap at her sex, hungry to hear her moan, to have her hands tousle into his hair. He licked at her clit, and moaned softly against her body, and although he was eager, he wanted nothing more than to make Jinai melt into that chair.
Fingers fisted tighter into his hair as she tossed her head back into a moan. His heated licks and moans vibrating against her sweet sex had her anxious and moving her hips for more. She supposed it was one thing to have a lover willing to dive his face into her sex- and then another thing all together to hav ea man know far too well what he was doing. And as he tickled her clit, her sex tigthened.
"Jude," she moaned, her grip on his hair tightening almost painfully. "Gods.." she shivered, her sex pulsating with each lick.
And melt she did, it seemed. Every fisted grip of his hair had Jude lean further into her body, licking her with growing eagerness. He kept hold of his zealotry in fact, and kept his tasting in a slow and steadied motion, unrelenting and raising up on his knees to loom over her, curling her legs up and back around him as he kept up the pressure. Intermittently did he break away, and blew cool air on her sex, a free hand reaching up to brush against tender skin, two fingers slipping inside, before pressing in again and taste her hot and slow.
He was a cruel, cruel man and her want was growing. He'd taste it. She shifted, sex tight and her breathing deep and slow.
"G-God... Jude.." she moved her hips subtly, hoping he'd take the hint. He was going too slow. She needed more.
Jude lifted his head to face her, blinking at her and slipping his fingers deeper inside as she began to move her hips. And he moved one hand toward his own pants, shifting them down beneath his hips, dropping them as he stroked his member.
When he was ready he crawled over her, kissing at her stomach up to her breasts and lapping at their tight firm nubs. "Jinai," he murmured, biting lightly at one of her nipples, and poising himself at her entrance. There was no real resistance, and he removed his hand briefly from her to fill her with his hard member. "You feel so good," he panted, filling her to the hilt.
Tongues and fingers aside, there was something about having Jude's sex hilted within her own; to have the man fully submerged inside her body and moaning her name. She shivered, her entire body hot with desire as finger nails now dug into his skin as her sex gripped his tightly. Her legs now hooked around him, keeping him firm against her as her hips moved, ever so slightly and her sex puckered an dit's muscles spasmed to taste him as they were one.
"You don't feel half bad either," she panted, moving her hips a bit more greedily as she peered at him through half lids.
Jude loomed over her, letting her legs hook around him, sealing him to her so that he could thrust easily and tirelessly into her, letting their bodies intertwine. There wasn't much room on that chair but at least there were no arms to get in the way when he shifted himself to prop her onto his lap. Jude straddled the chair and pressed her to the chair's back
There wasn't much difference except that Jude now sandwiched her against it, and he could properly move underneath her, feeling her squeeze all around him and then some. "Half bad? You're...not all that....sloppy -hhnnngh- yourself," he murmured, panting hard against her lips. "Jinai....gods, just...just tell me what you want, I'll give it to you."
What could she possibly want more than this? She had a smoking hot man pounding into her, head over heels for her, yet it came out of her mouth before she had a chance to think.
"To end the war. To stop all those idiots from killing, casting prejudice," she growled through pants, her sex tightening, her body hot with lust, as she moaned and felt herself nearing her peak.
"Done," he panted, groaning from deep within his throat. "Done, and done." After all he hadn't met Jinai by staying out of war intrigue. In fact, if it hadn't been for her, he'd still be doing what - screwing for secrets, sealing them away between the folds of a leather binding.
Jude ploughed into her until the chair creaked beneath them, capturing her lips with his as he teetered closer to the edge, lingering on the brink. He kept his thrusts deep and moved quicker, eager to hear her scream to the heavens. "Jinai," he panted. "Do you love me?"
Jinai moaned, her eyes rolled back so far she was seeing her brains. It hurt so good, to feel him pounding into her, her sex eager, hot and wet. And he cut her like a knife, bliss escalating as it pooled between her legs exponentially until she nearly choked on her pleasurable sobs at his words.
"W-what?" she asked, voice breathy as she was still panting something fierce. She whimpered through a moan, finger nails digging into his skin. "You're asking that now?"
"If not now, when?," Jude moaned into her open mouth, exchanging heated breath with her. He was so close he could practically melt inside her at the mere thought of coming. Jude gryated his hips harder against hers, wanting her to come, wanting her to explode in ecstasy. "So?" he murmured, biting at her bottom lip.
He wasn't the only one near his peak. Jinai was so close, it was hard to breath. And as he continued to fuck her, his question sent her over the top. Fingernails bit into his flesh, drawing blood as she threw herself back in a cry.
"Gods, Jude! Yes! Gods, fuck me harder! Yes.. yes, yes, yes, YES!!!
"
Jude couldn't hold back any longer. And when she screamed his name, for assertion of their passion, his entire body shuddered and he bit down on her shoulder when he came, feeling his seed fill her. His arms clutched her tightly to him, and he kept moving even in the aftermath to ride out. He panted heavily, pressing his face to hers. "I wasn't sure if that....was just an orgasm, or an answer to my question," he chuckled.
Her own lips were resting against his shoulder as well, and she was breathing heavily. But at his comment, she snorted against him.
"You would ask a question like that when we're having sex."
"I'm still waiting for that answer," he murmured. "Do you love me?"
Her sex instinctively clutched his member still filling her as she cringed at his question.
"Still waiting?" she half smirked, but it was a bit forced. "You could be waiting forever for that answer, Jude."
"I'm sorry it's so hard for you to answer," Jude said solemnly. He cupped her face, gently kissing her brow and pulling out of her although he was hard-pressed to do so. He got up from the chair and left her there, moving over to where a pile of rags were in a corner, cleaning off his member and moved to lay on the cot in the corner of the room.
"Are you asking because your afraid of the answer?" She had already told him how she felt. Did he need to goad her into,more? Her legs felt sticky, and she used what was,available to wipe herself.
Jude shrugged. He flipped onto his side and looked at her, gaze lazy, looking at her with a playful smirk. "It doesn't matter. I'll drop it," he murmured. "Come here. Unless you're going to sleep in that chair."
"And if I want to sleep on this chair?" She always had to be difficult.
"Then you'll be really chilly won't you?" he asked with raised brows. "I've got plenty of body heat to share. I mean, I'm not going to force you."
She snorted.
"You act like I give a damn about the cold," she replied, getting comfortable as she draped herself across the seat. "Besides, I like to stretch out when I sleep.If your big ass is in the way, I won't be able to move."
"All right," he shrugged. "Suit yourself." Jude stretched out on that cot and cracked his neck to get more comfortable. He stuffed the pillow under his head and relaxed deep into the cushion.
He looked ike he was enjoying himself until Jinai reached out and was trying to steal the pillow out from under him.
Of course she wouldn't just stay still. So Jude lunged out and grasped her wrist, yanking her into the cot with him.
She was overtop of him in a whoosh, hair spilling over her eyes, which she used a puff of air to blow some of it away as she looked down at him.
"You know you could have pulled my arm off."
" And your ass would have stayed in that chair," he chuckled. " Wouldn't have made a difference."
"Yes, but if you pull out my arm I'll be pissed." She replied with a smirk.
"Pfft! And what are you going to do about it?" He laughed at her and cooled her over his form. "You're all bark and no bite."
And that's when she dug her elbow into his groin.
"That's fucking cheating!" Jude howled and turned so that he was on top of her, pressing her body down into the cot, and kissing her fiercely. "Don't hit me there, woman. Goddammit."
She smirked through the kiss and simply looked at him through a mess of blonde hair covering her face.
"You asked for it."
He laughed and bit her lip. "Not to be smacked in the groin," he hissed. He pushed her hair back, letting her arms go. Instead his embrace shifted beneath her shoulders.
"Maybe you didn't think you did, but you should know better when it comes to how I think," she told him, smirking and leaning forward, as if to steal a kiss. But she didn't.
Jude settled himself down on her and tilted his head to kiss her neck. "You're right. I should know better," he purred against her throat. "I'm sorry, darling."
She sighed, content.
"I'm not sure I believe you."
"Why not? What do I have to do to convince you?" Jude purred against her throat, leaving a trail of wet kisses there. "I aim to please. And any displeasure I bring you must be immediately remedied."
It was then she grabbed a fist full of his hair, jerking his head, a bit painfully, to look at her as she took in a good look of him.
"Jude Armand," she murmured, studying his face. "A high class man, a high class whore." She frowned and continued to look at him before her grip slackened as she sighed and looked away, laying down over top of him and staring out at nothing at all.
"You have too many weaknesses and you've got your hand into too many secrets."