Welcome to Gaia! ::

If Aren had followed her to the shower, he would have found out quickly—And in rapid succession that she wasn’t at all bluffing. Once upon a time, it would have been simply that…Teasing words, without actual intent behind them. But even from behind the closed bathroom door, she could feel a steady pulse, a tug on her soul that she was hard pressed to deny. It wasn’t just a physical craving… But a need for that caressing affection, that suddenly to her, only he could provide.

It wasn’t that she…Wouldn’t go fishing with him. She would, if he asked it of her, follow him where ever he liked. An oddity, because the sun goddess never followed anyone… She was always the leader, even if she was leading blind. The shower had calmed her faintly, soothed some of the aches from her muscles…But it didn’t do anything to take the thought of him out of her mind. She’d braced herself against the shower wall, feeling…Shock, for a moment, that she, Narcissa Grace had her own thoughts dominated by one man—So completely.

She didn’t do this. She didn’t sleep with her team members casually—Like some of the team leaders had in the past. It was her job to protect them, not to extort them—Use them. They weren’t playthings, despite how much she gave the idea to the world that everything, and everyone was just that. She hated herself…Just slightly, for not being able to walk away from those chocolate eyes and that perfect laugh. Her eyes closed…She still couldn’t find…Regret inside herself. It didn’t feel like a meaningless rendezvous… It felt…

She’d shut the water off abruptly, letting that train of thought disappear immediately. The sun goddess didn’t make a habit of lying to herself, considering it a weakness…But for the time being, she accepted simply what was there. That they were just…People. Not mutants that fought like hell to survive on a regular basis. Pretending for the moment, that she was the person he presented to his family… The rich, however pretty—Slightly snobbish, well mannered friend from school. Not his leader, not his superior. Not Solaris.

Though his kiss gradually erased the feelings of self loathing she felt at the base of her spine. It was… As good as it had been the first time, unable to help pouring herself into him, the sight of him still rumpled and showing signs of their night together too much for her. It was so easy to get lost in him, forget that everything else existed…He spoke against her lips, and she melted—Smiling against him reflexively, unable to do anything else.

She drew back when he moved to stand up though, pouting as only she could… To be fair, he had let her have a shower. She supposed that if he could have the restraint, so could she. Even though she didn’t really want it. “Make up can be re-applied you know…”

“Don’t take too long…”, she murmured softly after him, the use of ki’somma placating her enough that she didn’t fuss anymore—His gentle kiss beneath her ear having made a shiver trail deliciously up her spine.

She however wiped the stupid look off her face when she felt Na’á come into the room, quickly turning her head as she touched the corners of her lips—Making sure that the gloss she wore hadn’t moved. It abruptly came to her, that she was most definitely going to hell for wanting nothing more than to take advantage of a team member in his mother’s house. With her home. Possibly awake, to hear every lurid comment. Clearing her throat, she smiled back at Na’á. “Good morning.”

“It was entertaining. I heard a lot of stories I hadn’t heard before…The dancing was exhausting…But I liked it.”, she responded truthfully, her footsteps soft as she followed the woman into the kitchen area—Taking a place near the wall so as to stay out of her way. Her eyes watched the woman curiously…Narcissa didn’t really know all that much about cooking. Though she could make basic things, that didn’t require much skill.

Narcissa felt the same about all food—Be it native American or French. They were…A conundrum, all except for chocolate. That confection, she understood. So Na’á could have really made whatever she wanted, and the sun goddess wouldn’t have had a thought in her head otherwise. Not sure what it was yet, she simply waited to find out—Trying not to take up space.

Fingers sliding into her back pocket, she removed the jewelry she’d stuffed there and slid the chandelier diamond earrings on, as well as the matching necklace—The pendant that she’d been wearing hidden away in the bottom of one of her suitcases. She slid the two rings she usually wore back on her fingers—Unprepared for Na’á to bring up that Aren liked her.

The sun goddess held her breath—Waiting to see if Naki had spilled her guts. What better way to get a man to obey, than to do it through his mother? Her irritation with Naki grew insurmountably. That she had -touched- Aren at all, ever, was an offensive thought to the blond. That anyone else had, was offensive to her. Her eyes lightened for a moment…But quickly went back down as she caught herself. What did she care, what Aren did before last night? It was in the past…Just, in the past. Narcissa never held the past against anyone she cared about, and she wouldn’t start now.

‘I like your son.’, she responded quietly in her head, finding truth ringing to the thought. She wished she could say it aloud…But she knew that if she did, it would come out all wrong. Her long golden hair swirled about her hips when she moved, the gently curling ends tickling the back of her arms. “I calm him?”, she questioned, a little incredulous.

Feeling the content, sleepy lioness inside—She had to disagree. Aren calmed her.

“School…We work together frequently. We have to be close, trust one another.”, the golden blond spoke up, again truthfully. She was close to her Omega’s…All of them, in some way or another. But none, save Aren—Was she this close. Not seeing the elation Na’á held… She was bracing herself for a ‘Let-My-Son-Go’ lecture. She liked, his mother…But she didn’t know her very well. And while she didn’t know what Na’á knew or didn’t know about them, about mutants in general, she spoke very carefully.

She knew, it was Aren’s plan to come when he finished training and bettering himself… Knew that one day, he would return here, and settle down. Perhaps with Naki…But that was one day, not now. And as much as it pained Narcissa now—She would not dwell on it. Not when he had just walked into the room—Shirtless.

Her mouth slightly ajar—She stared, for several reasons. The first being that… He looked delectable, freshly out of the shower, hair still wet. Secondly, because there were marks, clear marks all over his torso that could not be mistaken for anything other than what they were. She was…Horrified, because his mother was literally three feet away…But also quite pleased with herself, a mind wave of possession sweeping through her.

Only he, would forget to put a shirt on—When he actually had something to hide.

And only his overly observant, sweet mother would notice the burn on his back that in all of the confusion and elation that was going on inside her head—She had forgot to mention. s**t.

He looked at her confused—And she immediately fell into being the Omega leader that took control, and smoothed things over if necessary. The sun on his shoulder had a clear ‘N’ in the middle… And it was clearly deep. It wouldn’t fade, even when it healed. The sun goddess laughed softly, easily—The sound soothing as she smiled demurely. “That was actually an accident… I didn’t realize how hot my pendant got when I was by the bonfire. He startled me, and I got him with it…”

Narcissa neared Aren—A careful look on he face as she placed her hand on his upper arm gently. The story was… The only want she could think of to explain it. Without telling her mother that at some point they’d gotten so hot and heavy with each other the night before that she’d managed to accidentally brand him. “I didn’t know it got you that badly—Or at all.”

Her tone was properly apologetic, an odd, but entirely believable story. Accidents happened all the time. And she was the idiot pale face blond here who would swing a metal pendant too close to an open flame, wasn’t she? “That’s all my fault…You should let me take a look at it—Maybe put something on it.”

“We’ll be right back Na’á.”, she spoke as she encircled his wrist with her slim fingers, tugging him back into his room for a moment. She mouthed, ‘I’m sorry’, as they walked—Shutting the door behind them for a moment while she hauled another one of her suitcases onto the bed, clearly making enough noise that showed they weren’t doing anything…Improper. Not to mention, that she carried a small container of burn cream in her bag. It was always possible that she may end up burning someone by accident. She hadn’t done it in years, before this—But leading under Emma had always taught her to be prepared.

It was also great moisturizer.

Grabbing the hand mirror she’d brought, she pointed towards his reflection in the window so he could see.

“I’m…Sure that Elixir can fix it when we get home. You’ll heal faster than normal, anyway. You have…Some of me, in you.”, she whispered, glacier eyes guarded…Unsure if he would be angry with her. That she had permanently marked him, or that she had lied to his mother. Holding the jar of cream, she nodded, waiting for him to move his shirt…She was surprised he hadn't felt it when he showered. ”It will numb the pain. Protect it from infection.”

She knew, immediately, from the look that his mother had given her that she knew very well that they weren’t just…Platonic friends. She felt…Troubled, for telling a white lie to such a woman… But she would have felt worse, trying to explain, that somehow, during an erotic venture that she couldn’t keep her mind off of for more then twenty minutes at a time, she had managed to burn the hell out of her son with a golden pendant. And that Aren was healing away the damage so fast, because he had a little bit of her inside him.

She has…Almost followed him into the shower earlier—Feeling the pull to join him. But Na’a showing up to start breakfast had kept her from doing so. She had listened to his mother respond to her curiosity—About whether she calmed him or not. Her response made her smile faintly. But at the same time, the hatred of herself was welling back up again.

Cissa…Made him calm, made him happy? He talked about her in his letters? Over the phone? She’d tensed, from her stationary position beside the wall… Of all things, she made -him- happy? Making someone cry, was something she was good at. Making someone happy was a task that belonged to Isabella Stone.

Secluded in his room for the moment, she had to breathe it deeply as he took his shirt off—Eyes taking in the scratches and bruising love bites. He seemed to have been selective with the ones he gave her, where. Minus the one on her hip that ached pleasantly when she walked… But she hadn’t been able to show such finesse. They’d both been…Wild, at first.

He spoke, and she felt...Guilt, for one of the first times that morning. The amusing part, was that she hadn’t meant to brand him…But somehow, they’d still managed to do it. Sometimes her powers were more trouble than they were worth. Though as he teased her about it gently, she applied the cream she had…Gently pressing a kiss to the middle of his spine when she was done. A silent apology.

She really hadn’t meant to.

She was…Taken slightly aback when he mentioned making sure that she didn’t stray. She wasn’t…Offended by it exactly, but she wasn’t precisely sure what it meant. But she wasn’t given very long to think about it, as suddenly his hands were on her face—His touch causing her tense shoulders to relax gently, and forget his bold comment, for the time being. She felt…Something akin to pain cross the link they shared, and her eyes searched his…Wondering why. Needing, more than anything, to make that pain go away.

“If you really want to brand me…”, she spoke teasingly, before he kissed her, the nickname he gave her causing her to come closer and melt against him—Returning his kiss with all the passion that suddenly welled up inside. Her hands on his chest, her eyes flickered to his, and she couldn’t speak. Her voice was…Uneven as she spoke next, not her usual force. “It well heal…But it won’t fade Aren. It’s…deep.”

He led her back to the kitchen, and her hand remained firmly entwined with is as he apologized to his mother. She remained quiet…Thoughts on her mind that really weren’t for the room filling with his family members at the scent of cinnamon buns. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d…Felt anything. Not like this…Where his every glance stilled her, or thrilled her. She was full of crippling anger and scorching light…

She killed things, easily—Broke them. Burned them.

She would have used an excuse of not feeling well, to lay down and sort through her thoughts…But the thought of Aren not being near enough hurt her, feeling as if she’d been shot in the chest… Like a lung had been pierced, and she couldn’t draw breath to speak. She didn’t know how to be…Good, to be pure, like Aren seemed to be. For all of his darker ventures that the Academy put them through… He hadn’t been subjected to some of the worst. Until last night, she hadn’t held hope that she could truly feel anything other than pain, anger, and regret.

She wanted to tell Aren, that she was damaged goods. A defective human being. That he spoke of her fondly to his parents, made her want to tell him that his care was misplaced. She didn’t deserve it.

She was quieter through this meal than she had been since arriving.

But she selfishly couldn’t bring herself to withdraw from him. Even after breakfast, while she watched Aren help his mother with the dishes… She felt a warm glow in the pit of her stomach. Guilt was there…Uncertainty. But so were other things…Tenderness and compassion. She didn’t want him… She needed him, like oxygen to the normal human.

Had she always needed him this badly? She remembered wanting to be around him most of time… But remembering the feeling of…Belonging, completely, to someone else… She couldn’t forget it. She couldn’t help, but want him to hold her forever…Keep her safe.

Physically she was capable of taking care of herself…But Emotionally was another story. She had so much anger… He made it fade. Made it different.

Made her care.

She sat on the sofa—Her elbow on the armrest, eyes closed as she listened to the deep baritone of Aren’s voice. He was speaking to his mother, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying. Yet…Even hearing his muffled tones soothed her…Helping ease the need she had for him to be closer. Letting her arm bend, she lay her golden head upon it, and started to drift off—Actually sleeping, without forcing herself too. Curled up in the morning sunshine, in a tiny pill box house… She felt safe enough to sleep.

She slept peacefully, her form completely still. She didn’t draw breath as she slept—Unmoving, a perfectly angelic statue. Her face was smoothed of any worry lines she held, any problems forgotten once she slipped into the dream world she so infrequently visited. For the past year her dreams had been dominated by terrible things. By things so dark, she didn’t tell Jean Grey about them in their therapy sessions…Didn’t think about them, so as not to raise the telepath’s suspicions.

But something kept her tethered in a warm, happy world… She wouldn’t be able to recall what she dreamt the moment she opened her eyes, but it was easy to see that the things that had troubled her when she was awake didn’t asleep. She stirred slightly at the feeling of him brushing her hair back—His lips to her temple sending a warmth though her that even asleep, she couldn’t ignore… Not even for the sweetest dream.

“…Aren…”, she called his name sweetly, the softest sound—Filled with tenderness and care. Still mostly asleep, she didn’t temper herself as she may have tried awake, and simply let her aura move like it begged to—It was as if his soul was always reaching towards her, calling her, and with her guard down—Her own spirit responded ardently. Something about him touched the innermost parts of her… A place, that for everyone else was a hostile environment—But for Aren, offered home, warmth, and love without a price.

Waking up a little more in his arms, silvery lids opened—Exposing unfocused azure orbs for just a moment. Was she still dreaming? She couldn’t tell…But pressed so close to his chest, hearing his heartbeat she sighed happily and let her eyes close again. Surely… She had to be dreaming. But no, she heard his voice—And delicious trills ran down her spine, and moments later felt a faint breeze. Having not heard exactly what he said, only her nickname—She grew inwardly confused. They were moving?

She looked up at him sleepily, finding his beautiful face smiling down at her. She was…Stunned to silence. She blinked once, twice, peering up at him from underneath dark lashes…A small smile crossing her features. She could feel the sun overhead…It told her the time of day, how much time had passed since she’d fallen asleep. Not long…But long enough that she felt refreshed. The sun goddess didn’t usually sleep at all—Not unless she forced her body to accept a restful state.

It surprised her she had slept so easily… Feeling the perfectly synched connection between herself and the man that held her—It started to make a bit of sense. She’d cycled their energy the night before, so not only did he have some of her inside him—She had some of him inside of her. Oddly…It made her feel warm to know this…Satisfied, content.

And then she realized that she was being carried—She hated, hated to be carried like some little child. She waited for the distaste, disgust to well up within her—The usual emotions she had towards something she disliked…But it never came. She was quiet, when she found that she was still content… The way he held her felt natural—Perfect. Nothing about it displeased her. A thought that surprised her, was that she would have been easily happy to stay in his arms all day.

She felt out the pill box house, and was a little surprised to find it empty. She stretched in his arms—Leaning up to kiss the side of his throat warmly. She let her lips linger, before pulling back slightly. “Where did everyone go?”

“I hope Na’a doesn’t think I was being rude…I just…Got so tired. I’m fine, now though…”, she went on, leaning her head against him, realizing after a moment where they were. In his bedroom… Her bags were lined up neatly against one wall, all four large white suitcases. Something about staying in his room made her smile, and she leaned up again—Feeling the need to kiss him, taste him. If her shower had been too long…This was much too long.

Her lips were soft, like rose petals brushing gently over his—Her arms wrapping around his neck… It was a different kiss, caressing and slow—Without the usual force she tended to put behind it…It didn’t threaten to devour him…But instead, simply showed affection… She was taking her time, enjoying the feeling of being so close to him, after what felt like so long. She nipped at his lips delicately—Smiling into him. “I missed you.”

That was a very bold admission for the sun goddess...Frank, and admitting that she had missed him...Implied that she cared more than she should. Which she did. This whole situation left her feeling vulnerable in a way she couldn't recall...But it didn't frighten her, as it should of, didn't anger her-- Because while she felt vulnerable, she knew that Aren would...Protect her. She could feel it in the way he held her.

“Chores…”, she repeated lightly, her mind wrapping around the idea of what that might entail. Narcissa wasn’t well versed in the art of doing any chore, considering she’d grown up with a governess and a slew of maids to do every little things her heart desired. As she’d gotten older, and lived at the Academy, she started to learn what chores were—Considering they were required to occasionally help out the other staff. Thankfully, the worst she’d been required to do had been to wipe down tables, help melt the kitchen when Bobby froze it, and help in Ororo’s green house.

For some reason, no one else asked much more from her—Perhaps it was the look she gave them when they mentioned ‘housework’.

“I’m glad I woke up then….”, she trailed off, seeming to search for the right words to say, one’s that fit her usual superior, bitchy personality. But it seemed that she couldn’t dredge that part of herself up—Not when being cradled in his arms like something precious. “I wouldn’t have wanted to have woken up alone.”

She hadn’t exactly expected tents and tee-pee’s…But she hadn’t really expected a house either. The blond really hadn’t known what to expect when they arrived, what she would see, or what anyone would say. She certainly had never expected to feel so…Connected to Aren, after just one night with him. There had always been something…Some sense of knowing one another. Of him being able to tolerate her moods, and still want to be around her.

“I tend to offend everyone—If you haven’t noticed. If I offend your mother, it better be over something good—Scandalous or rude at the very least. Not a nap…”, she teased easily, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light at him when he mentioned ‘activities’. He would have to be very careful, if he wanted to get his chores done today…”I don’t usually tire so easily…I wonder why that could be.”

While he worried about getting things accomplished at the Academy—Narcissa was still stuck back on page one, getting through the day, and managing to keep her hands off him for more than ten minutes. Even sitting near him for breakfast was difficult… She had ached to touch him, and had often let her fingers brush up against him for some reason or another. It as the only thing that had assuaged the mood she’d been in. It was only his lips on her own that cooled the raging need to feel him, taste him—As if only there she found solace.

“Because you’re a chicken…”, she responded without missing a beat, her blue eyes showing mischievously, challenging him to refute it. After all… Even if that had been the case, who could have blamed him? She was Narcissa Grace, for god sakes—And anyone that didn’t fear her, wholly and completely, was either brave, stupid—Or seriously hadn’t been paying attention. Still…Part of her wished that he had called her on this sooner… She had the feeling that they had wasted endless amounts of time, teasing one another to the brink of going insane—When she could have been kissing him like this all along.

She had…So much lost time to make up for.
He moved, and she felt the bed beneath her—The feeling of his weight atop her comforting, making her mind wander…Thinking of the night before filled her with…Joy, that she couldn’t remember having experienced before. Completeness… And it was a sweet reminder of it when he admitted that he had missed her as well. Her smile changed, possessive in an instant. She loved winning his attentions…Hearing him say, that he had missed her, and feeling that he had through their link were two different kinds of victory.

She was softer with him, kinder… She always had been, simply not quite like this. Narcissa wasn’t in the habit of lying to herself often…But couldn’t help but do so now, when her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. That only the present mattered—When they returned to the Academy, everything else be damned. She didn’t want to go back to the way they had been…She doubted she ever could. It felt wrong to her, blasphemy, to even think it. To never feel his touch, never see the smile that was just for her...To never bring that particular look to his eyes, that a man had, when he was claiming her… To never think, that she was his.

His voice brought her out of that reverie, out of the sudden cloud of…Fear and apprehension she felt. That particular pain was acute…Cutting, and deep. Yes..They were moving fast, snowballing out of control…But the sun goddess couldn’t lift a finger to stop it. Couldn’t deny him.

She pouted, when he mentioned leaving… She knew it couldn’t be avoided. Because if it could, he never would have left her arms. It warmed her, when he called her his queen…The same way it did when he called her ki’somma. She was realizing slowly that it warmed her, anytime he called her his. His kiss goodbye soothed her apprehension at him leaving, at her distinct disappointment at him not being around…Even for just a few hours. She grinned at the prospect of chocolate though, and settled back on the bed. “Don’t make your queen wait too long.”

--

Narcissa sighed when she heard the door close, and could literally feel Aren getting further and further away. Her form stayed in the bed for awhile, that even after him having not been in it for months—Still smelled sweetly of him. She was filled with gentle longing, but the promise of his swift return chased away the darkness, and she instead made her way around the house. She was alone, in this strange place, and didn’t really know what to do with herself. She walked around the house, absent mindedly snacking on some of the chocolate he’d thoughtfully brought with him for her consumption.

Even before they’d fallen into one another, he’d always…Gone out of his way to do things that he knew she would want. Chocolate, case in point. She let her fingers touch what looked to be hand painted figurines, pictures lining the walls… Such a humble dwelling should have offended her rich girl sensibilities…But there was so much more, inside the small home, than she had ever had—In any of the large apartments or mansions she had ever stayed in. They were cold and lifeless… These walls were filled with warmth and love—Good memories waiting to be told, to be made.

She thumbed through some of the picture albums that sat on a wooden shelf, amusing herself with Aren’s baby pictures…He had been such a happy child, so it seemed. Na’a seemed to have raised him alone…She didn’t see many pictures of what she would assume to be his father, as each person in the frames were labeled in easy script. She’d looked through several of them, each boo-boo or scrape he’d ever had well documented.

She’d tried to find signal with her cell phone, hoping to text Kerrigan—But to no avail, it was mostly a dead zone here. Even though she was…The happiest she had been in a long, long time on the reservation, she still worried about those she had left behind. She knew that Kerrigan would take care of them to the best of her ability…But it didn’t change her from worrying that they’d gotten themselves neck deep in some awful problem they couldn’t handle.

She finally managed to send a short one through, just as Aren came barreling through the door. She’d been so preoccupied with trying to ask her stand in how things were going, that she hadn’t realized how close he really was. Her nickname made her smile as she flipped her phone closed—Popping the piece of chocolate she’d been eating past her lips as he intoned that he had come to collect her. Letting it melt in her mouth, she was quite for a moment—Though she did come closer to him, seemingly taking her time, letting her arms twine about his neck as she looked up at him—Eyes speaking things that she didn’t say.

“That was almost too long.”, she kissed him lightly, lips tasting of the raspberry flavored chocolate she’d been eating. Her heart hammered in her chest, feeling relief flood her… Teasingly her eyes met his, and she kissed him again, letting it linger before she remembered that he’d come to collect her. “And…Collect me for what?”

Her elegant brow furrowed for just a moment as she thought on what he might have been referring to. And then she remembered from this morning…”Fishing?”

She made a face, but it smoothed out rather rapidly. “I don’t know how to fish.”

“Can’t we just…Hunt deer? Or chickens? I’ve got very good aim you know…”, she trailed off, a faint whine to her tone as she let the tips of her fingers play in his hair, a faintly wicked smile crossing her features.

“My idea of fishing involves boiling the lake.”

This post went boom. gonk

The color in her cheeks didn’t fade as he mentioned that he liked it—And remained, as her thoughts still took entertaining spirals towards a place it shouldn’t currently be. Trying to spear fish seemed to fool the need that ran through her veins like wild fire, giving her something else to think about. It grew harder and harder to pull away from him, everytime their lips met… Her resolve to stay in control melted, her iron will fading into nothing…The proverbial fireworks never seemed to stop. Her pout returned full force though when he started laughing at her.

“It shouldn’t move—I speared it.”, she returned defiantly, her arms crossing rebelliously. Though her arms uncrossed when the boat rocked a little from his laughter, and she stuck her tongue out at him—Only to soon find her face in his hands, while he kissed her displeasure away. She couldn’t stay petulant when he kissed her like that, as if she were the only thing that truly existed.

And then he started fishing again—Going much faster. She was a little put out to realize she was just THAT bad at it, that he could go thrice as fast when he wasn’t holding her hand through it. Though she knew she shouldn’t take it to heart—He’d been doing this all his life. She was sure that if she dragged him through the mall and expected him to accessorize women’s clothing, he’d be just as lost.

It was the steady feeling of…Want, and need that kept her quiet while he worked—Letting him finish. It was on her end, but equally so on his. It was…Almost enough sometimes, just to sit, and feel across the bond they shared…It made her shiver deliciously, a feeling only amplified when they stopped on land for awhile—And his devilish smile brought one of her own.

She’d just finished scrubbing her hands in the water—Letting them heat to dry when she heard him say ‘Finally’. She almost asked, what he meant, when she felt him pull her closer, her lithe form suddenly pressed flush against his, his lips taking her breath away. Oh, finally for –that-. It wasn’t that she had forgotten… She’d just given into the thought of at least…Trying to behave herself while he had duties to attend.

Her arms slid about his neck, soft sounds of encouragement escaping her throat—Muffled against his lips. He took his time, and she let him—Feeling as if her body had turned to warm liquid. Even though she was wrapped in his arms, she couldn’t be close enough…It was all so new to her, so encompassing, to feel so strongly for one person… To feel so strongly about anything.

To hear the sounds he made when they kissed was enough to set her heart on fire…She couldn’t decide whether she wanted him to put the fire out, or make it brighter. What would be the sweeter thing? Her azure eyes were slightly clouded when he pulled back, asking her what she wanted to do… She leaned forward, kissing him passionately—Letting her aura move, that same tantalizing fire wrapping around him for the briefest second. The one that made her living fire in his arms… That was what she wanted to do… Just lose herself in him. Lose everything… Give him, everything.

She reigned herself in with a teasing smile against his skin, locking down the smoldering fire and light deep within her core as she seemed to seriously consider their activities for the afternoon. Strange… As much as she wanted him, needed him in the way that one lover needed another… She also wanted to know him. Not just his body, as beautiful as it was…Every thought he had, she wanted to know—Every like, every dislike. This was…Odd for her. Usually she didn’t like to analyze her play things…They were toys, breakable, and replaceable.

It occurred to her that Aren fell into neither category—Not a plaything, not a toy. So where did he fall?

“What do you do here normally?”, she questioned curiously, still leaning against him—Her fingers playing with the collar of his shirt absent mindedly… Pressing a warm kiss his jaw, unable to help herself. “Are there any…Friends you would like to see? I feel…Selfish, for forcing you to stay with me.”

Though she was rather glad that she was a selfish, vain creature… She didn’t want him to be anywhere else, anywhere else at all—Unless it was by her side. That was exactly where he was meant to be.

“I would be fine with a swim…Or a hike.”, she trailed off, not really minding either activity…So long as she got to be with him, hear him laugh, say her name. She would prefer it if he were screaming her name…She could hear his heart beating in her head again, and she distinctly wanted to drag her teeth across his chest to taste it.

But that could wait.

Her smile changed as she thought of something to do…Something that might encompass part of the two first things he’d suggested. It was a smile he should either be wary of, or find himself intrigued by. She tilted her head towards him, lips sliding over his fiercely… Almost like a ravenous creature that was determined to sweetly devour him, her nails dragging across the top of his shoulder through his shirt—Careful of his brand. Her hips pressed into his, lower half rolling sensually against him, almost like a snake charmer.

And then nothing—She’d pulled from his grasp, slipping from his arms like sand as she darted away, her laughter coming like bells. Her voice was soft and beguiling, teasing and enticing as she kept just out of arms reach. Her plan almost failed though, when her body felt abruptly cold at leaving his…She was tempted to change the game, before this one had even begun. “Tag, you’re it.”

And with that she started sprinting away—Giving time for him to pick up the chase. She could be quick, light footed when she needed to be. Though it was distracting that her body railed against this—Demanding that she go backward…Though at the same time, excitement welled within her at the thought of him chasing her. Her golden hair made her stick out amongst the trees, her booted feet finding places to run that wouldn’t hinder her movement. She wouldn’t be hard to find, dressed in white and a jean skirt, a flash of liquid gold between the brown of the trees every few moments. But catching her may, or may not be easy… It depended, she supposed…On when she felt like giving into him again.

Or on how badly he really wanted her.

Was it wrong, that she loved to hear him laugh? Yes...It was wrong, so wrong that she adored that sound. She was older than he was...Not by much...But enough that she should know better...

But he made her heart… Feel not quite so cold, and frozen. For the longest time, she felt like it was either frozen solid or a shriveled prune. It beat now-- And hard, for him. Her head had tilted… Unsure of what carving, or whittling was. She had seen the figurines…But she hadn’t known the term used for making them. She’d even turned a few backwards, just to see if he would notice. Though she hadn’t expected to hear him call her… sweetheart… Ki’somma was one thing… That was his name for her. It always had been.

But sweetheart was…Was what you called your girlfriend. Or lover, on Valentines Day. It was…Carved into those stupid little sugar coated hearts. Narcissa was usually…Overloaded with gifts from admirers, and presents from her Grandfather on that day…But it never really meant much to her. It was…Normal.

But she had never imagined, that someone would think to call her that. Scratch that, she had never thought that anyone would think to call her that—And mean it.

Narcissa understood many things… She understood sex. She understood, what a man, generally wanted from a woman—She well understood what she did, her golden hair, blue eyes, and hourglass figure did to men. She used it, flaunted it.

She did not understand the emotion that went through her, when she felt his heartbeat race.

But the game was already under way…Even though her lips still burned from his kiss. She wouldn’t at all be surprised, if he was wearing most of her cherry flavored gloss. And as much, as she suddenly wanted to be back in his arms… She’d started it, so she wouldn’t at all be the one to end it so easily.

He was already closer than she’d thought he would be, and she laughed—Picking up the pace. She almost stumbled over a rock she hadn’t seen, but caught herself quickly. Anyone that hadn’t of gone through years of training in the Academy would have probably fallen flat on their face. As it was, she’d been close to it. Yet she never strayed too far… She really couldn’t…Bring herself to. She liked this game, of cat and mouse.

Even though her energy was…Limitless, her body was still human. She might not be tired, but her muscles could still grow sore, could still burn. It was likely though, that with her stubbornness, she would let them ache and burn—But would push herself on, just to enjoy being chased. She turned back towards him when she heard him call her, and she cast him a wink over her shoulder. “Too slow Aren!”

She darted, just out of reach for the most part…If he lunged, he could probably tackle her. She kept moving though, giggling and laughing—She didn’t think she’d laughed so much…In all her life. Never had she been free to…Smile, without reproach. The Omega leader didn’t smile. She laughed cruelly…Coldly. Usually at someone’s stupidity or misfortune. She climbed up a rocky path, the trail a little more vertical than the forest area she’d been darting through like a nymph.

“Catch me—So you can kiss me properly… I thought you were going to keep me from straying!”, she called back towards him, not yet breathless, though her cheeks were just a little pink from exertion. She stuck her tongue out at him when she reached the top of the hill—And again the area gave way to a grassy plain. It was filled with flowers, the mountains not far off—She stared for a moment, awed at the beauty…Before she realized that Aren had been right on her trail. She jogged forward, into the middle of the grass—Taking a moment.

Had she run far enough yet? Long enough yet? No… She didn’t think there was ever a way she could run far enough from him...She still felt him, a warmth, something…Affectionately perfect. No—Distance did nothing to it, except make her wish he was closer.

“Give up yet?”, she questioned haughtily, some of her usual temper coming out in her, hands on her hips, legs spaced apart just right. She ran a hand through her hair—Letting it blow around her shoulder. It followed her like a veil, almost as if it were alive itself, curling in the wind.

Well…He’d mentioned hiking…This was almost like hiking—And she’d just broken a faint sweat. And perhaps, they could sneak in a dip too. It would feel wonderful after all this running around… Though she realized quickly that her peasant blouse wouldn’t hide much from the imagination—Not when she was wearing black lace undergarments. But a swim… Really did sound good.

She was a little confused, when he didn’t come barreling up the hill--Chasing after her. She’d seen him move over her shoulder. Far swifter, and with far more sure footing than she had. Some of her motions had been clumsy, bearing her weight incorrectly for climbing anything. Though, she still made it look good. It was the beautiful horizon that kept catching her attention… Keeping her from completely focusing on the man that felt wrapped around her soul.

Her gaze turned back towards the crest of the hill, and her eyes flickered with faint concern… He’d been right behind her… She felt him, a moment before he crashed into her, and though she turned to move—She was far too slow. That… And she… Not so secretly wanted to be caught. Tumbling in his arms, her fingers curled into the material of his shirt reflexively—The soft waving grass cushioning the fall. His whispered word of ‘Tag’ made her shiver—A gasp escaping her when his teeth touched her sensitive skin.

She only melted into him further when she felt his lips against her. It was everything she could do to hold herself together—Not to let her eyes roll back as they closed. How he always knew where to kiss and touch her when, just the way she liked it, was beyond her. Most guys couldn’t please her past first base without direction… But Aren breezed through with the greatest of ease. Straight to home plate…

Narcissa was a little surprised when he drew her up his arms, her arms automatically slipping around his neck… Not for the first time, she noticed how strong he was…He lifted her without thought. The feeling of his muscles moving against her was… Exquisite. She was warmed, by being in his arms—By him carrying her. She absolutely hated it normally…Despised it. Even if she were bleeding badly enough to make a crater…She would have rather crawled, than be held like a child. But that wasn’t the case with him…She would have let him hold her until the stars came out. Longer, if he wanted it.

She knew they were walking, but she didn’t join the program until she heard the river getting closer. Cissa let her fingers slip through his hair, her lips finding his throat as he spoke—Small teeth grazing him with intent. “I’m not sure—What should you do?”, she purred, the challenge in her tone easily there. If he hadn’t of held some kind of will power, some kind of godly touched restraint…If she didn’t want to see what would happen next…She would have tried to seduce him there on the river bank.

She heard him walking in the water—And her grip around him tightened momentarily. One thing that Narcissa wasn’t… Perfect at, was swimming. It wasn’t out of any aversion…She just usually sun bathed by the pool, preferring it over being in the water. Apprehension leapt up within her, followed by a wave of need—Of wanting him to kiss her, to run his fingers through her hair—Hold him to her like nothing else mattered.

“Time for me to be wet?”, she purred as his grip loosened, his comment making her smirk ear to ear. Her azure eyes flashed, dark but mischievous. “You’re a little late on that.”

He kissed her forehead, sending waves of warmth through her--And then they sank in the river, clothing and all. She was still in the water for a moment, surprised—Weighed down by her boots. She wasn’t sure what to do at first—Just letting the water move around her… Watching his slowly blurring form swim gracefully away.

The water did feel good… Heavenly, as she’d suspected. The perfect level of cool that she could just barely feel, if she locked her light away, deep inside. Not needing to breathe, she eventually let her booted foot push her body off the riverbed, though she remained underwater, swimming slowly, but it was enough for her to get by.

What gave her a leg up, was that whilst he may need to pause and breathe… She didn’t need to come up for air at all. She got better at moving through the water, realizing that if she kept her body straight, she went faster. She saw him not far off, the clear water letting her see other things—Fish, among them. She made a face when a flew swam by her, twirling out of the way—Not wanting to touch them for the second time that day.

Her golden hair spread out around her, almost like a silken cape—Her white peasant blouse was entirely see through, her lacy brassiere entirely visible, though for the most part her skirt seemed to stay where it belonged. She thanked D&G for small favors. Coming up behind him, her head poked out of the water—Though still out of arms reach.

“Dumping a girl in the river…I see how much you love me…”, she called, mock sniffling as she hid a laugh, sweeping her wet hair behind her with her hand. She put on her best pout as she moved closer still, trying to tag him back. It was a game...A game, in place of another--More torrid game...But she still wanted to win. Because winning meant that she would be able to kiss him senseless, and hear his velvety voice in her ear-- Hopefully calling he name, that much sooner.

If only he wasn’t so…Perfectly handsome, and wonderfully himself…So sweet, so understanding…If it was anyone else...She would have just blinded him with her powers and tagged him back when he couldn't see her.

That was love, not cheating to win.