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 Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:29 am
It was no excuse that he had swung by the compound after work. Because really, he had come from a meeting with a couple of powerhouses and so he had indeed, come from work. It was still late afternoon, the sun was far from falling and there was no need for Thorn to have imbibed the bourbon he had. Except it had been a very good business deal, one that would make him millions.
And while Thorn didn't have anyone to celebrate with, he still had a couple of things he liked to do when he was in such a good mood. Which explained his presence at the compound... again.
So carrying a box of expensive chocolate in one hand and dressed in a smart business suit made out of raw silk, he walked across the compound with a slight smirk on his face. A superior smirk, because whenever he visited this compound, something good always seemed to happen. He cut a somewhat dashing figure in dark blue and light gray. And he was happy. Because the compound always led to new experiences.
Thorn privately believed that the compound was his own play pen. With Hadrian, who he would visit later. Hopefully. And Marc. And Natalie. Such a sweet little girl.
But today, he had plans on visiting someone else. Someone who wasn't sweet, or innocent or easy to fool. He wanted to visit the enigmatic woman who, in Thorn's eyes, was his own chance in getting a proper, extended invitation to stay at the compound.
Besides. He wanted to meet her again.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:38 am
Natalie had only one excuse to be out of doors that day. She needed fresh air. Cleaning chemicals had fogged up her senses all day, but at least the apartment was unpacked and cleaned. She still needed to hang up her masks and set up her dolls and properly store her costumes and fabric, but everything else was in place.
And she was on her way to the grocery store, dressed in jeans and a cute top. She still wasn't quite ready to don the uniform again - it made her feel too vulnerable.
Life had been fairly uneventful since the sleep over. Things with Michael were still tense, but she was somehow getting used to that. There were still bouts of crying, but they were becoming fewer and farther in between. Mostly, she'd been working and cleaning. It had helped.
Hm, add fabric shopping to her list. She was in the mood to design something.
Still, one thing tickled at the back of Natalie's mind. Hadrian's warning. He'd mentioned, before he and Dacian left the other morning, that Thorn was not to be trusted. Played both men and women for his own amusement. Natalie wasn't totally convinced, but... Hadrian had seemed upset.
And it explained a few things.
Hm. Thorn. What was she going to do? She still got that happy flutter when she thought of him, though that was now tainted with uncertainty. She still couldn't place it, though. Gratitude? Infatuation? No idea.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:42 am
He saw her before she must have seen him, because he quickly schooled the expression of delight, and nodded his head. His train of thought about the compound being his own playpen wasn't too far from the mark. Look what appeared when he was least expecting it! Not that he was upset, of course. Quite, quite the opposite.
"Natalie?" he purred her name as he always did, acting mildly surprised as he nodded to her, waving slightly with one hand. His smile deepened when he saw that she wasn't dressed in her uniform. He had never seen her without it, and he privately preferred her in jeans. More was revealed than one would think.
"Are you going out, somewhat?" he asked, curious to see if she would go to meet that actor, Michael. What had happened between them over the last few days? Nothing serious, hopefully? Because he would be very upset if they had gotten back together.
Alright. It wouldn't bother him in the slightest, because it would mean more of a challenge. But he liked to pretend he had a heart. Really.
"It is delightful to see you."
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:47 am
Natalie jumped, startled out of her thoughts. She trotted over to him. "Oh, Thorn - I was just thinking about you. Huh." Yes, that was slightly odd... speak of the devil? She wondered if Thorn worked the same way.
"I am. I need to get some food and some fabric. I managed to finish unpacking. Found that key. Oh! Have to remember to get a copy or two made..." She added that to her mental list. "But yeah. Just running normal errands. I have some time before tonight's performance, so I wanted to get back into the designing groove. I haven't managed to make anything since a week or two before I moved."
She was babbling, and she knew it. So, blushing a little in embarrassment, she shut her mouth. Well, except for a small, "It's good to see you, too."
Thorn, Thorn, Thorn. She wanted to doubt him, actually - she didn't want to be tricked by him like she had been by Michael. But it was so hard not to trust the man...
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:51 am
Thorn smiled, listening with patience to her words. She had been thinking about him, was it? And from the fact that she wasn't scowling or muttering something under her breath, he thought it safe to assume that it was good things. Or at least, not bad.
"You've found the key, then?" he nodded. "Call me whenever you want me to pick my copy up." had they decided on this? No, not really. But he had mentioned it to her that night, and he was hoping she might not remember that she hadn't exactly agreed.
But then, she hadn't refused. So it wouldn't be his fault if he had 'misunderstood'.
"I should let you go to your errand, then...?" he let it trail off in a playful question as he nodded his head, his smile deepening at her next words. Ah. Well. He decided he liked the impact he had on this one.
She was easy to fluster, just like Hadrian before... well. Before that night.
And his thoughts took a swift turn south, as he wondered about this one. "It is a beautiful day." he said, nodding. "I would go with you, but..." he sighed, as if it was too much trouble, with regret. "I'm on my way for an appointment."
An unexpected one, but it wasn't a lie.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:57 am
"Oh, of course. I found my phone, too. And I still have your card."
Was it... okay that she was giving him a key to her home? Well, if she ever needed to, er, escape until she could change the locks, she was sure she could crash at Hadrian's. Remi's, too. Maybe a few others. And there was always her old apartment...
But no, she couldn't think that badly of him. All she had against him was Hadrian's word (which she trusted, but...) and the fact that he said mildly suggestive things. And didn't all men do that? Hell, a lot of women did. She did, sometimes, when drunk.
"I still have a while before I have to leave for work, so I'm in no rush. But if you have an appointment..."
Wait, appointment with who? ... It was none of her business. She wouldn't ask.
"Maybe another day? I mean. Not errands. Just... uh... well...." ... was she asking him out on a date?
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:00 am
Was she asking him out on a date? How charming. "That would be wonderful, Natalie." he said, his voice in his words because he was charmed. This was so old fashioned, for him! Maybe it was about time he picked better prey like this one, instead of Hadrian who seemed to refuse to do anything his way.
"I will look foreward to it." he arched a brow as he said this. "You have my number..." he trailed off the words because it was up to her. And sometimes the unsaid seemed so much more exciting.
She hadn't refuted his reminder of his own set of keys, and he was piqued by this one. Late night visits, 'emergencies' that couldn't be avoided?
"It was a pleasure to see you." and with that, he leaned forewords and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
Not on her lips. Not with the chocolate in his hands, and daylight.
That would be... too risky.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:05 am
Perhaps, but she hadn't even noticed the chocolates, so wrapped up in her conflicting thoughts. And at that little show of affection, she smiled and blushed. Thorn had all of her attention, to be sure. And it was on him, not what he was carried.
"O-okay. I'll do that, then. Uh. Yes." Oh my, but how flustered. She bit her lip, thinking. "I'll call soon, then? Um. Ah." She took a few steps away. Before she did anything stupid.
"It was great seeing you again. Ah. Er. I should be going..."
And with that, she hurried off, blushing and flustered and all together feeling light as a feather for the first time in days. All of Hadrian's warnings were forgotten for the time being. So what if Thorn was dangerous? He made her happy. He made her feel wanted. And he made her feel like she was worth something.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:10 am
Bolstered and amused by what had just transpired, he nodded his head, smiling. Well, that had gone very well, hadn't it? So he moved on, into Natalie's building to the top floor. If she wasn't in, he would go find her somewhere else.
But he wanted to find her here first, in her room, in her home. There was something personal about meeting another woman for the second time in her own domain, something exciting and spicy.
Which explained the chocolate. Maybe she was just as interested in him as he was in her. Which would prove to be a bonus.
So he stood on the third floor, knocked on the door. Was she in?
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:15 am
"Well, well, well...I can't say I was expecting chocolate, but that's an unexpected bonus."
Well, Ahneta was home. The dark-eyed woman smirked at Thorn, resting against the doorframe. Once again, she was dressed to accentuate her body - some little dress that exposed plenty of cleavage, and was short enough to shock most people.
And with those heels, it was likely she was going out soon. Which she was...but she had some time to spare, for those worthy of it.
And she'd say this man was definintly worthy of a bit of her time.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:19 am
Thorn smiled a tilted smile, handing it over with an arch of a brow. "Do I get something in return for the bonus?" he asked, his eyes admiring her form. He adored the dress. Or what was revealed by the dress. Maybe he adored the anti- dress? Whatever it was, he liked the woman in front of him, in that dress.
"Gorgeous, I'm glad I caught you now." it was much more exciting seeing her dresed like this. He arched a brow. "You're going to have to save me one of your nights."
For dinner, of course.
Dinner.
Riiiiight.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:23 am
"They tend to be rather busy nights, of course. Perhaps we could just...slip you into my schedule, hm?"
Those words were practically purred out as Ahneta took the chocolates. And those she actually would enjoy, not just being polite - she was a bit of a chocolate addict. And food in general, especially when -
Hm. Not exactly the time to be thinking of such things, not when she couldn't explore such avenues because of time constraints.
"Would you be free next week?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:26 am
Thorn's eyes narrowed with delight. They gleamed, because he could just imagine what they could get up to.
"Wednesday?" he asked, rearranging his calender. If she wasn't free that night, he could always slot something else in and move it around until they had a coincidental free slot.
"I'll pick you up at nine thirty." Him, her, food, music.
Bourbon.
That would prove to be delightful.
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:32 am
"That sounds very good. And I know a few places we could drop by..."
Just a few friendly bars with private rooms. If the two of them were feeling especially eager, those would prove useful...she'd used them before, on some occasions. They were fun!
Did she have someone already for wednesday? If she did, well, she could just toss them for the night. She was too intrigued by this man to pass it up.
"I still have a few things to take care of before going out, but it was a pleasure, Thorn. I look forward to wednesday."
Cat ate the canary grin on her face, she deliberately licked her lips. Then, slowly, she shut the door.
((>.> Just have Thorn leave the apartment, and I'll do my Hadrian post. Mwaha))
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:40 am
What a fascinating woman. He was surrounded by women like that in work, or those that tried to pretend they were like her. Ahenta was 100% original, and he wanted it.
For himself.
As he made his way down the stairs, he still had that smile on his face. That one, that was thinking of sex and alcohol with money mixed into the entire sordid business.
Fascinating.
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