Welcome to Gaia! ::

Christian cocked a brow expectantly as Riya examined him. After several years of experience, the Private became quite familiar with how to handle confrontations with different types of women. Whoever had came up with the theory that all women were the same was clearly a fool. Some females would take the innocent intentions of a gentleman as a threat while others were simply too shy or modest to notice an advance. Contrary to popular belief, Christian never approached an unfamiliar woman for the first time with sexual intentions in mind. He was just naturally friendly and, at times, overly affectionate. Yet he still took beatings from misguided apprehensions, which still failed to diminish his persistent and playful demeanor.

"I intend to take you up on that challenge," he purred, eyes narrowing teasingly as he flashed the Lieutenant a toothy grin. Finger sliding over his cheek and resting on the tip of his nose, Christian tipped his chin down as Riya attempted to look down on him with no avail. Lowering his voice to a whisper-soft hiss, he hinted: "Keep pushing and you'll see how submissive I can be..."

Curling his forefinger and pressing it to his lips in thought the same way a critic may do when examining a piece of art, Christian turned and slowly paced around Riya in a loose circle. "You know," he murmured, flipping his attention to the bite-marks on the arm of his jacket but keeping his voice trained on the Lieutenant. "If I had followed every request offered to me from both men and women alike, I would be a very dead man by now." he chuckled softly before continuing. "Unless your particular request is an order. Than I can't help but obey, now can I?"

Christian stopped pacing, coming to a halt in front of Riya once more before pivoting to face the Lieutenant. He clicked his heels together in a formal fashion, tipping his head to the side as his liquid-silver gaze fixed on Riya's eyes. "Does it give you satisfaction knowing what type of control you could have over me right now?"

Christian hummed in a soft, playful purr at Riya's answer. Brushing his hair back idly, a challenging glint flashed over the man's silver-blue eyes as he glanced down the woman before meeting her gaze respectfully. "Oh really now? Are you willing to test that theory?" he murmured. The statement wasn't a suggestive one, but could be depending how you looked at it...

I know what she's doing... Christian thought to himself with a gentle smirk. So she was trying to test his hormones, eh? Prove that he was just a dog like the other men... Use him for her mind games... Well! He would not break so easily! Christian crossed his arms loosely over his chest, taking care not to place too much pressure on the left. He thought he had her completely figured out until her last remark caught him off guard.

The Private's brows raised; a mixture of surprise and amusement. He blinked at Riya, tilting his head from one side to the other inquisitively as he pondered over the suggestive meaning behind Riya's words and whether she meant it or not. Slowly pulling from his muse, Christian chuckled softly before softly shaking his head to himself and sighing.

"Pardon me for being a traditionalist, but I'm pretty sure that's how it works." he cooed deviously with a playful wink. "Unless you'd like try to be on top? I'm always game for that..." He paused to consider the woman, pretending as though he wasn't sure what she meant. "Oh, were you talking about rank? Either way, I'd rather you have control over me... That would be more interesting on both our parts, wouldn't you agree?" he whispered huskily, eyes softening as he did so.

...You're treading into dangerous territory, boy.

Relax, Twinkle-toes. You're the one who nearly just had his face bitten off. Besides, I've been in riskier scenarios before.

Spirit snorted. Not with a soon-to-be Captain, you haven't.

...your point?

Riya's challenge hit Christian in the chest like a punch that briefly left him winded and speechless. The man's grin slowly dropped into a thoughtful pout as he eyed the Lieutenant carefully. Biting his tongue lightly in contemplation, he shifted his stance and studied the woman. Her assumption was a cruel offensive remark that had caught the older rider off-guard. However, Christian's persistence would not allow such a jest to force him back down. Even if the sound of his name on her lips sent a shiver down his spine.

He got the slightest idea that Riya was accusing him of a one-track mind. This was simply not the case. Although Riya was not to blame, since most women harnessed the idea at least once in their life that all men lived for one thing and one thing only. Yet Christian would not have his reputation mistaken for that of a man who was more notorious for shamelessly seducing women, such as his brother or worse...

"Sorry to disappoint, but it is not in my nature to take advantage of a woman." he said finally. "However," the thin line of his lips twisted into a taunting grin as his mind quickly recovered from the woman's jeer and conjured a remark. "It sounds as though you would be more than willing. Or was that challenge pointed at me nothing more than a bluff?" he cooed softly. "My dear Riya, what kind of a man do you take me for?"

"Though," he continued in a low, seductive rasp. "I am ever so curious as to why you take my offer of allowing to do with me what you will, and then questioning my abilities for intimate dominance. Tell me," he whispered playfully, leaning in until his nose was just an inch away from Riya's. "What did you have in mind?"

Is she always this challenging with males? Spirit asked Stardust after a moment of silence. Although his voice sounded disinterested, the older wolf was curious as to why Riya's remark had made Christian uncertain on how to respond and, more importantly, why she hadn't throttled the man yet.

"Nothing more, nothing less than a man?" he asked softly with an inquisitive tilt of his head. Humming quietly, Christian eyed the Lieutenant apprehensively. "Were you expecting something else?"

As the man leaned back again, he allowed himself a quick glance over the other's lithe frame. Riya's curvaceous appeal complimented her alluring facial features. Not to mention the lovely contrast of her jet black hair against her sapphire eyes. The defiant glint made her look all the more dangerously tempting to the older rider. It was funny the way Christian could remain so laid-back in the face of a woman who clearly wanted to tear him to bits. He liked a challenge.

"You don't find me the least bit attractive?" he humored her with a false look of mild surprise. "Yet... despite blatantly rejecting my advances of innocent intentions and claiming you have no interest in me, here you are giving me the chance to woo you to see if I claim dominance over you in bed." Christian paused to allow his words to sink in before a familiar charming smile crawled onto his features once again. "Are you coming onto me?"

Spirit continued to gaze upon the humans, unable to help but agree with the Alpha. I'd bet to see what human would give up or give in first... however both of them are so stubborn that there's really no telling who will walk away defeated.
...Though I'm partial to seeing Christian kicked around like a rag-doll. As if the man hadn't been abused enough by the wolf today.

"You shouldn't question something from me when you've never experienced it first-hand." Christian noted wryly in response. "Which is about the only way that you can find whether or not if I can be assertive..." he challenged, as though daring her to make a move or to try harder to coax him to resort to drastic measures.

Whether Riya was playing hard to get or just being stubborn, Christian was rather enjoying the effort being put forth to resist him. Ironic enough to the Lieutenant's case, Christian was more of a lover than a fighter. However, one of his best qualities as a Wolfrider was his ability to remained level-headed a make quick decisions in the face of a deadly situation. Flirting with the fort's soon-to-be Captain may not seem like a fatal scenario, but in this case it was a matter of life and death depending on how the older rider played his cards.

The man chuckled softly in response to Riya's bitter tone. "I love it when you talk dirty to me~" he cooed teasingly. He had the idea that the woman was seriously contemplating hurting him, most likely below the belt, but tried to ignore it. After living with wolves for a good portion of your life, you quickly learned that fear was a sign of weakness. "Admit it," he purred. "You and I both know you aren't one to just stand around and talk to a person without good a reason."

Ruffling his bangs from his face, Christian eyed Riya at her statement curiously. "Is that so?" he pondered. Grinning cheekily, he added: "I can be quite the excellent tutor, when the time arises."

Spirit glanced in the Alpha's direction briefly before turning to watch the humans once again. I'll take your word for it. he grumbled. The older wolf knew from experience that Christian always preferred women to take advantage of him rather than the other way around. However, the man generally did this in knowing when to take dominance whenever someone took a step too far. Spirit would have never bonded to a human who was completely submissive. Yet something in the wolf's conscious told him that Christian would let the young Lieutenant overstep a few boundaries that he would generally not allow with others. Spirit frowned thoughtfully. What game was his bond playing at?

At Stardust's next remark, SpiritPlague couldn't help but sneer in amusement. Then this should end up in both of our favors.

Christian looked at Riya coyly. "Still don't believe that I can be assertive when I need to?" he asked. "Well then..." he sighed, brushing his dark hair aside and glancing out across the training field, as if weighing his options. Coming to a conclusion, he set his silvery-blue gaze on Riya's eyes once again and smirked lightly. "I guess I'll just have to be more persuasive..." he growled huskily.

Given their close proximity, Christian slipped his hand gingerly behind Riya's neck and, lowering his face to hers, kissed her softly.

Christian lowered his eyes, expecting the worse as Riya tensed under him. However, the worse never came and the Private was moderately surprised as the woman eased into his hold and further leaned into him. It was then that a deeper attraction was sparked within the older rider, but he easily refrained from pulling the Lieutenant into anything more than a gentle kiss.

SpiritPlague tilted his head at Christian's next move of action. He had seen the man do this "kissing" thing before with other women, but usually kept to caressing the back of their hands before getting to know them better... perhaps he took a different course of action since this human woman was being testy with him? Spirit paused when he realized what he was thinking and grimaced before shaking his head to rid himself of the thoughts. Albeit it was a weak one, Christian had an influence on the wolf from time to time whether he knew it or not.

The older wolf really didn't understand the concept of kissing. What was so sexual about swapping spit? Perhaps it was just a sign of affection, the same way a wolf may lick another wolf's muzzle. He doubted it, but whatever the gesture meant, it was obviously relieving some sexual tension between the two.

I don't think so... the wolf responded gruffly. Something about loosing breath if they don't come up for air... or whatever the hell the humans refer to it these days. Spirit was beginning to feel bored again, until a thought came to him. Do you think they'll pass out from a lack of oxygen if they keep at it?

Unfortunately for SpiritPlague, he would never find the answer to that question. Christian should've suspected something when Riya shifted, but before he could even glance down to see what was coming, a brutal pressure slammed onto his foot. Resisting the urge to wince, the Private leaned back away from the flustered Lieutenant and grit his teeth. Inhaling deeply before releasing it in a shuddering breath, he tried to pass off the pain as nothing as he shifted his weight onto his other foot. He even managed to chuckle weakly as Riya shoved herself away from him. "That wasn't so bad,"

He watched the woman carefully as she stepped back. Most arrogant men would have probably thought Riya was acting childish in response to such a little kiss, but Christian knew better. He silently praised the woman for remaining so cool despite being riled up at the contact. "I beg to differ," he murmured softly. Had there been any trace of cockiness in his voice before, it had been smashed to the ground along with his now scuffed-up boot.

Despite the punctured arm, bloody nose, and now painfully throbbing toes, Christian did not complain. There could've be worse places to be wounded in. Much worse. Above it all, the man didn't fail to loose his playful demeanor. "Do you believe me now? Or do you still need to be further convinced?" he coaxed in a good-humored manner.

...My human is a masochistic pacifist... Spirit sighed irritably, irked by the fact that Christian wasn't sprawled out on the ground in pain by now.