The Black Rose Tavern & Inn (Always Open! Walk-in!)

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Yes ma'am!	60.9%	[ 14 ]
Pollwhore	39.1%	[ 9 ]
Total Votes:			[ 23 ]

[Ristar Black]

Once his hand was in hers, she smiled happily and led the way towards the door. Pulling open the one that led to her home, Lexi nudged him out ahead of her and closed the door at their backs. Taking a deep breath, she let out a soft sigh of content and headed down the path towards her hometown. In the cool evening air, the stars glowed like bright flames above them while the scent of fresh grass filled her. Hills covered in it rose up around them as they stepped out of the trees surrounding the Rose. Ireland at night had always been her favorite. Especially when she had someone to enjoy it with.

"You showed me something that made you happy, now I am going to show you something that makes me happy." She told him, leading the way over the hills. Not far ahead of them towered a cliff, at it's bottom was nothing but open water. This was where she was taking them, though she hoped he wasn't afraid of heights.

"I use to walk these grounds when I was a little girl, racing over them to get to the cliffs. My father told me it was because I loved the water, but it was so much more than that. I love the air around the cliffs, that chill you get when you are so close to the edge that you could simply fly off of it with just the slightest breeze." She confessed, keeping her pace even as they walked. Lexi wanted to enjoy the night, and let him see as much of her home as he wanted. After all, not many she knew had ever seen Ireland.

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

It was cold. He knew this because all of him that really felt warm was his hand. Which was warm because it was in her hand. The thin shirt he was wearing did nothing to keep him warm and so as he did his best to focus solely on his hand, Luke took advantage of the moment and turned his eyes upward while her words began to flow through his mind. She was opening up to him. That was all he made himself aware of. That after taking her to Wyoming, she had taken him to Ireland. And why wouldn't she? This was as much a mutual relationship as he'd encountered. It was a give and take scenario that continually played out. He would give, she would take and then the reverse. It was rather enjoyable.

Except he was freezing. Sure he was probably being a bit of a wuss, but then that was his right in a way. To the best of his knowledge she was exempt from such feelings. Not that he was worried about that. Hell he was still just happy that their hands were intertwined. The little things made this man happy. So why make anything more of it? Hell he was still willing to take a risk every now and then. This was one of those now moments.

Pausing slightly behind her Luke smiled softly while he tugged on her hand, pulling her gently to him while he stepped towards her. He took the hand he held to their sides, took a short moment to place his other hand on her cheek, look into her eyes for what kind of expression might be within them, and then he closed his eyes off from the world and took from her a kiss. Greedily he fulfilled two desires all in one motion, the feel of her lips on his filled the sudden desire to be closer to her. The warmth it gave him filled the other, sending a quick burst of warmth through his bones and giving him a moments comfort before he pulled his lips away from hers, peeled his eyes open once again and looked back towards her eyes without saying a word.

[Ristar Black]

His silence had her looking back at him. Had she done something wrong? Before she could ask, he was tugging gently on her to bring her closer. Questions danced through her mind as she watched him, letting him touch her cheek and move closer as he wished. It wasn't until his lips touched hers that she stopped thinking and simply let herself feel. Her own eyes closed as she returned the gesture, and had to hold back to keep from taking it one step forward. Lexi didn't want to spook him, especially since he was starting to return to normal. When he finally pulled back, her eyes fluttered open and her lips curled up into a smile.

"Not that I am complaining of anything, but what was that for?" She asked, her cheeks flushed from both the wind and his kiss. While she waited for his response, Lexi pulled his hand gently to get them both walking again. She wanted to sit at the edge of the cliffs with her feet hanging off the end, as if the world was opening up just for her.((Sorry, bad post))

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

He was glad to see that once again he could get a reaction out of her. It was nice. Smiling as he leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek Luke followed beside her and spoke softly. "I'll leave that to your imagination, or curiosity. An intuitive woman like you, I don't doubt you could figure it out." He told her as his eyes went back up to the sky while he wondered just what she thought about his kiss. Of course there was the flush on her cheeks but that only gave him so much. There was so much more under the surface that he knew held some deeper emotions that she had yet to show to him. It then came to his attention that he should probably examine his own feelings.

So he did. He was looking into himself for nothing more than a moment when he realized already that there was something more there. Which he supposed was a good thing, but as he had no idea what was going on in her head he couldn't be certain. Which was one of the better things he liked being. Certain.

Quietly he let a sigh escape from his lips, hoping it would be hidden by the cold wind that was starting to blow around them the closer they grew to the cliff's edge which caused another shiver to run down his spine well before they even neared the edge enough to see too much beneath it. Heights didn't bother him, but being so damn cold might. Especially since he wasn't quite sure how he was going to handle being both cold and on the edge of a cliff. Shaking the wrong way just once could end his life. Maybe that was his in to holding her. In fact he was pretty damn sure that was exactly the tactic he was going to use. The thought of it brought a smile to his lips.

[Ristar Black]

His response had her laughter bubbling out of her once more, the sound echoing around them. It couldn't be helped. His playfulness was such a change from how he had been earlier, that she found herself unable to not go along with it. Plus, the more relaxed she became the more relaxed he was. Remembering that, Lexi gave his hand an extra squeeze as they continued.

Once they reached the cliff's edge, she set herself down and released his hand. Her feet automatically moved over the edge and swung freely in the air. A soft giggle passed her lips, like that of a child enjoying her favorite game. Looking up at him, Lexi grinned and patted the ground beside her.

"Please, join me. I promise you won't fall. And if you do, I will be there to catch you." She replied, her eyes reflecting the stars that glowed about them.

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

It was a shame that she had to let his hand go as she took a seat on the cliff's edge but nonetheless his smile persisted. The only thought going through his mind was that he truly wished he would survive jumping over this ledge. The idea of being weightless and falling into the sea would simply astounded him. Alas he would not be able to and thus instead of trying to take her up on her offer that she would catch he decided to take a seat beside her, although his arm did daringly go around her waist. A security measure just for himself. At least that would be his explanation. It really just allowed him to siphon some of that incredibly warmth of hers into his body, which is all he really needed.

Sitting beside her and relaxing his body with a sigh Luke looked towards the horizon, eyes occasionally drifting upwards towards the sky, all the while trying to simply enjoy where he was. He had taken her home, and now she was showing him hers. It was a very appreciated gesture. But once more there was the itching feeling in the back of his mind that made him wonder if it was not just him who had these feelings. That there should be something more than just friendship between them. It was hard to truly understand as he had only ever felt that way for one other woman. So many questions so many concerns. They were all just so...draining.

Of course that was part of the fun as well. Discovering whether or not these feelings were reciprocated towards him or not. He could only hope they were. Maybe now was the time to ask. He thought that way for a moment, but a moment longer and he understood that to do so would be a mistake. Instead he looked upon her with a smile and spoke softly. "Thank you, sweet Alexis. This means much to me."

[Ristar Black]

The feel of his arm around her waist didn't bother her. In fact, it made her smile all the more. Her body reacted by scooting closer to him, her hand resting on his thigh as she looked out at the water. With the moon's glow above them, the water looked an inky black color. The darkness of it stirred the beast within her, but she ignored it. Lexi wasn't going to allow that monstrosity to show it's face when Luke was around. She had already freaked him out once, there was no way she was going to do it again. Not if she could help it, anyway.

At his words, she looked up at him and smiled brightly. Why he was thanking her, she didn't know. She was simply returning the kind gesture he had shown her not too long ago. Besides, she had wanted to come home for a bit. The night air in Ireland always soothed her mind and calmed her spirits. How that was, she would never know, but Lexi knew better than to argue with it. There were magic and powers beyond her understanding in Ireland, and she knew she was merely a pawn in the fates that controlled them.

"You are quite welcome, my dear Luke." She replied, her smile still evident on her lips. "You are the first person I have shared this spot with, other than my brother. And with him, I wasn't really sharing it. He just followed me up here, to my utter dislike, of course." Lexi added, the memory turning her eyes luminescent once more. They would illuminate her features to give her the ethereal look her kind was known for, but she was oblivious to it. All she knew was that she was enjoying herself, and to prove it she leaned her head on his shoulder to look once more back out over the water.

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

Luke didn't require much more than the few gestures she had shown him to understand just what the answer to his questions might have been. In fact, as her head came to rest on his shoulder, he didn't fret anymore over it and just enjoyed himself. He took comfort in her words as well. Maybe it was nothing monumental, but to be one of two, and even then the only willingly allowed, person to be in this place with her was something to him. To quietly show his appreciation he turned his head and placed his lips to her hair before turning it once more and looking back up to the sky. He wasn't one to miss the look she had, but then, he wasn't trying to be that same analytical b*****d he was most of the time.

Sitting there with his arm around her, which he used to pulled her just a slight bit closer letting all of her warmth seep into him. If perfection were achievable he might have thought this was it. But he had no disillusions that this was perfect. Grand. Wonderful. Heaven on Earth if one believed in such places. It was wonderful.

"Alexis...what worries you?"

[Ristar Black]

The feel of his lips on her hair had her sighing in content. If she could, Lexi knew she would stay just like this forever. Of course, the fates hated her so she knew that wasn't a possibility. Eventually, she would do something that would force Luke away from her. Just thinking about it mad her curl up closer to him. She liked him too much to let him go without a fight.

At the sound of his question, she shifted so that she could look up at him once more. A scarlet brow lifted in question while her gaze searched his face. Had she said something that would have him asking such a question? Betting on it, Lexi puled back an inch or so from him and smiled softly.

"At this moment, nothing. Why do you ask, honey?" She said curiously. In the dark, her eyes still glowed like stars as they strolled over his features. As usual, she was oblivious to nothing but him.

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

He smiled to her a bit, brushing some of her hair gently behind her ear while laughing softly as Luke started to answer softly, "Well I ask only because you seem to be holding something back. I can't quite place what it might be, but I suppose I could just be thinking too much. I just don't want you to worry about anything around me, or concerning me." She couldn't have known the way she looked right now. She glowed softly in the moon light while her eyes once again resembled the stars above. It was chance, had to be. There was nothing in the else in the world that could make her look this way, he was sure of it. It was all because of Ireland.

Waiting quietly, still getting lost in the eery glow of her features Luke leaned forward and kissed the top of her forehead after which he added, "Of course if I'm crazy and just imaging all of this please feel free to tell me so and I will forget I brought it up." By the end of which he was laughing, mostly at himself, for bringing it up in the first place. Sighing and reflecting on it now it seemed that one of the two of them would have to screw things up.

And of course it would be him.

[Ristar Black]

In response to his words, Lexi shifted to take his face in her hands. With a soft touch, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his own. She stayed that way for a few moments, lingering over his lips in an attempt to show him just what was going on inside her. Of course, even with this, she held back. The desire inside her for him was just too great to act on without frightening him away. So, instead, she kept her kiss soft and shut down the urge to n** his bottom lip as she pulled back.

"The only thing I am hold back from you is the need to take what I want." She confessed, giving him the honesty he had always given to her. "It is taking all of my control to simply sit here and enjoy your company, when what I really want goes beyond anything you have done before." Lexi added as an afterthought. Of course, her words were bound to scare him off. Knowing this, and risking it anyway, she watched him and hoped he didn't just take off.

From the shadows, watching the pair, stood a tall man dressed all in black. He was the spitting image of Alexis, but with hair the same shade as the clothing he wore. He leaned comfortably against a tree and kept his glowing eyes on the pair. Ivory fangs grew from his mouth at the sight of their kiss, but he remained silent and simply watched.

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

Her words brought joy to his eyes and laughter to his voice while his hand reached up and placed it a top of hers on his cheek while he locked eyes with her. "Oh yeah? Well I am honored by the control you are exhibiting for me. However it is a bit unnecessary. You could have always brought it up, and after a moment or two of teasing you with indecision..." He paused there to do just as he had said he might if she had brought it up to him before now. Which was of course cruel, but playfully so and as such he didn't seem to mind doing it to her. Then, after a moment of letting the silence sink in he finished. "Well who knows...you could have gotten what you wanted." He told her in a voice that remained playful, but also held a power behind it that could be taken as seriousness.

He remained overly jubilant through all of this of course. What she had just told Luke was everything he needed to hear to make his heart come to an easy rest within his chest. There wasn't a need for him to worry any longer. It made him such a happy man that he too needed to show some self control at the moment. This had to be something just short of miraculous. Being in this sort of situation again. How was it possible?

Smiling, and ignorant of the world around him outside of the woman who held him, Luke couldn't help but smile more and speak softly still. "But of course I don't know about that now." More teasing. He wasn't sure if it was the wisest move in the world to tease a woman who was infinitesimally more powerful than he was but he did it anyway, wondering what kind of spark it might provide to the powder keg she was.

[Ristar Black]

The sound of his laughter had her lifting a brow slightly. Was he thinking she was joking? Hoping not, Lexi listened to his words and realized just what he meant. Of course, this only added to the yearning inside of her. He was definitely being cruel, but she didn't let him see what it did to her. Instead, she simply smiled and waited for him to finish. If he wanted to play this game, she was all for it. And she had more practice with it, so she knew she would win.

"Ah well, I suppose we shall never know. I will just have to hold on to my will and keep from ripping you clothing off right here and now." She tossed back, her voice going sultry as she teased him. The hand that rested on his thigh moved gently against his pants, running her nails over the fabric but moving no higher or lower. It was her own personal payback for his teasing words, and her way of getting at least a little bit of what she wanted.

The interlude between the pair before him had the man growling. He wouldn't be able to stand much more of this, so he stepped out into the moon light. Thanks to his powers, he kept himself cloaked from the pair as he stepped closer. When he was no more than a few feet from them, he cleared his throat and dropped his powers. The moment he was, his scent hit Lexi to have her gaze darting straight to him. A range of emotions raced through her, forcing her lips into a scowl. The man simply sneered at her and lifted a brow, tilting his head in question towards Luke. Lexi said not a word, ignoring him to return her attention to her companion. She only hoped his human senses would keep him from acknowledging their visitor.

[XxX-Mr Anderson-XxX]

There was a moment in which he was flooded by confusion at the sudden shift in her expression. There was an unnatural chill that ran down his spine and every fiber of his being told him not to look over towards their unwelcome guest, but he rarely did what his body told him. He could see the look in her eye as she turned her attention back to him that she too did not want him to look towards the interloper either, and thus a war waged within him. To either look or continue to focus on her. Damn it all to hell if he couldn't just hold his attention on her, her beautiful features, soft skin, glowing eyes. It was all he had in him to peel away from her but he still managed it, his auburn eyes landing on their shrouded foe while he should have been ignoring him.

It wasn't much that he really saw in the man, other than the ivory hanging out from his lips and he slowly turned his attention back Alexis, his voice speaking now as though the man wasn't there despite him having just acknowledged him. "I'm sure one day, maybe even soon, we will find out just how ferocious you can be when you let loose." He said now adding a playful wink at the end and leaning in to kiss her cheek.

[Ristar Black]

The moment he looked at the man, things changed instantly. The dark figure shot forward faster than Luke could blink, which forced Lexi to intervene. Her body barely held the man off, his hands reaching out to try and grab at Luke. A few quick, harsh words were passed between the pair before she shoved him away. Of course, this only made the man snarl and snap his fangs at her. She ignored the urge to return the look, but didn't want to freak Luke out any more than he already was.

"Come on, Luke, let's go back to the Rose. Things are getting a little crowded here." She called out behind her, only to earn herself another snarl from the man. Lexi ignored it but kept her gaze locked on the interloper. She had a feeling that the moment she did, the man in black was going to try for Luke once more. And she would be damned if she let that happen.