Coffee...tea...or? (Lock Please)
Hearing the buzzer on the oven, Shay grabbed the potholders, and pulled the brownies out. She set the hot pan on a cooling tray, and checked the coffee. It was a new blend she'd just bought, and hadn't tried yet, but it smelled wonderful.
She took out her 'less than ladylike' coffee mugs, reserving the porcelain cups and saucers for other, more feminine company, and set out the sugar and cream as well. Tapping her bottom lip, she decided, what the hell, and opened the cupboard to pull out a very good bottle of brandy, as well. A little drop in the bottom of the coffee might help take the edge off her nervousness. But she'd wait...she didn't want Mathias arriving with a sloshed Shay on hand.
Then thinking music might be nice, she found a channel on the audio deck that was playing chamber music. While she might change it later, for now it seemed soothing to her, so she left it on.
"Your turn. I'll leave it up to you, what you tell me..."
Ah,there's the trick of it. Mathias had always been a private person,opening only slightly to even his closest of friends. But Shay asked him,and he found himself more willing to share with her than ever before..still mindful of what he could say.
"After my parents death..and certain events in my own life..I grew intrigued by the concepts of redemption and religion. I suppose I had a talent for not falling asleep while reading ancient texts so I drifted into research. And I would love to run with you some evening. I'm a night owl by nature and I'd feel better knowing you were ok out here"
He couldn't help but smile,here he was concerned for her safety! And what a way to condense his parents death and his death and rebirth into a snippet. But there was the truth of it - could a damned soul such as he find redemption,was he even worthy of it?
Being this close to Shay...he could smell her scent..her..arousal. He felt her heart beating, saw the blood pulse through her veins. Blood...Mathias clamped down on his hunger,it was satiated by the other evening but the act could be pleasurable for both...and pleasure was something he felt more and more like sharing with Shay..
"Death does appear to effect us all differently, yet again it would seem in both of us it led us into our careers. I wouldn't think that kind of thing would be common place, would you?"
Poor Mathias...Shay was on a role now. His ears would probably bleed from all the work they were getting tonight.
"You see...it was the death, no murder, of someone close to me...a girl I met in college...she was the kindred spirit I referred to before. She was killed, savagely, three years after we'd met. The police never did find her killer, and the lack or resolve there...coupled with my need for revenge, I guess...was what pushed me into the law."
She could still see Mary's face, and occasionally even dialed her old phone number when the desire to share something came over Shay. And even though their relationship had in no way ever been sexual, Shay knew she'd never loved anyone as much, before, or since.
"You, Mathias...I feel towards you, the way I felt towards Mary...though I know it is something we don't need to analyze..."
Just accepting things at face value was a near impossibility for Shay.
"Well, almost the same. I was never physically attracted to Mary."
Yet she could never say that with Mathias. From the minute she laid eyes on him in the club...she knew there was the physical charge of sex between them. At least on her part, and knowing at least a little about men, she could swear she felt it from him as well.
But she needed time to put that aspect of their relationship...if it that's what it was becoming...into a place she felt more comfortable in, before she could open herself up to it. Sex was not something Shay did casually.
Yet kissing...the kissing had been more than nice, and she now realized she had been staring at his mouth. Without thinking, and a little out of habit, she licked her bottom lip, before sucking it into her mouth. Her eyes flashed up at his, to see if he'd noticed.
Mathias nodded,it was something he felt as well, a connection between them,something that just 'felt' right. Old Souls and Kindred Spirits indeed.
"Well, almost the same. I was never physically attracted to Mary."
There was the undeniable attraction between them,but Mathias sensed that Shay wanted to take it slow,and he respected and even agreed with that. There was no rush,he had waited centuries for someone to affect him the way she has. He noticed she licked her lip,an unconscious habit perhaps - but it reminded him of their first kiss, the passion and electricity between them. Almost without though his hand caressed her face,Mathias leaned in and softly at first,growing stronger - kissed Shay once more.
She wanted this man. Plain and simple. But using every bit of her upbringing to support her, she squashed the thought of going anywhere beyond kissing tonight.
Kissing...when he deepened it, she felt the fluttering of desire. So strong did the sensation become, that her toes actually curled involuntarily.
Her arms went around his neck, yet again, and she pulled herself towards him, and herself up on her knees, to reach him. She pressed her chest against his, as she sought to deepen the kiss even more herself, and felt the touch of electricity she'd felt earlier. A shiver went down her center, and a small moan escaped.
Seeking a short break, just to regain her breath, she hugged him, her mouth seeking his ear.
"Mathias...I...I..."
Her thoughts were a jumble, so she gave up trying to straighten them out. She nipped at his earlobe, and swirled her tongue along his neck, briefly, before the reality of her situation set in.
"It's...too much...too soon...I..."
Again she spoke into his ear, and again she couldn't finish her thought. Instead she just stayed there, in the embrace, and rapidly sought to pull herself back into some semblance of sanity.
"It's...too much...too soon...I..."
He felt her pull away,pull back from him but no physically. They held one another,for now,happy to have someone to hold,someone who understood.Mathias' hands softly brushed over her, and he whispered in Shay's ear
"It's ok, I understand....there is always time"
And for a moment,Mathias was just a man,holding a woman. No voices from the past to haunt him,no memories of sins committed. For one brief moment he knew peace.
It was the comment on time, that 'woke' her up. She leaned back to look at his face...into his eyes.
"OH my god Mathias...were that only true. Unfortunately, time isn't always there. I learned that with Mary's death. None of us know when our time will run out. But listen to me...I'm contradicting myself, and giving reasons on why we shouldn't go slow."
She leaned against him, resting her head on his chest again, and laughed softly, with just a hint of bitterness, and sadness.
"You do know it will be sunrise soon, and we haven't eaten those great sandwiches you brought...or had any of my...ahem...brownies."
Her eyes glittered in merriment as she looked over at the food on the coffee table. They had gotten caught up in each other, and lost track of time. Not that she cared...she could eat anytime. And sleep...she could sleep later...but now...now she snuggled her head under his chin, not wanting him to even begin to think of leaving.
"Shay..I hate to say this,but I need to go. I've many things to get done and I need some sleep. And I fear how much rest I will get should I stay here much longer with you" He smiled,hoping to not hurt Shay by having to leave. He kissed her softly and continued. "I would like to see you tonight however,unless you have plans." He hoped she wouldn't be busy,time with Shay just seemed to flow by.
She sighed, and moved back onto the couch, once he kissed her again. He had said he wanted to see her again...tonight. Tonight..tonight!
"Mathias! The club...I need to call Paul...I told him I'd meet him for a drink. I'm not sure if he'll be available tonight, but would you meet me at the Club Eternity later? After...we could come back here, go for a run..."
And maybe then I'll get a chance to show you the rest of the place...she thought, to herself, of course.
She looked at him expectantly. A part of her would have chastised herself, for appearing so eager, had she seen the look. But the larger part just felt the need to be with him...whenever, and however that was to be.
'I would be honored to meet you there. Would you prefer to call me, or should we set a time?"
Mathias regretted leaving,but it was a situation out of his hands for now.
"And a run sounds like an excellent idea as well" Images of a sweaty Shay ran unhindered through his mind, forcing Mathias to focus on the here and now.
that is not a road I can go down,not right now.
Mathias stood,taking Shay up with him. they headed to the door,pausing for an unwanted goodbye. No,not goodbye - until later..yes that sounded much better.
"I look forward to seeing you this evening Milady O'Mannon" Mathias grinned,before pulling Shay into another kiss.,full of desire and a promise of things to come.
It sounded late to Shay, but it was a club, after all, and she didn't plan on meeting Paul till tenish. If he couldn't meet her tomorrow, she'd make other plans with him, but she'd still see Mathias. Though eleven? It seemed years away.
She stood with him, and walked to the door with her arm around his waist. She suddenly felt sleepy, and decided that was good. At least if she got some sleep, she'd be in better shape for later that night...for it was already that day.
When they reached the door, she looked up at him, and willingly went into his arms for a kiss. Both her hands went around, and slid up his back, enjoying the feel of him under her fingers. And when the kiss was ending, she lightly trailed her nails back down his back, until he was no longer in her arms, but standing beside her.
"And I look forward as well...but Mathias...one last question."
She grinned slyly.
"Have you a favorite color?"
It was such a trivial question, that on one hand it almost sounded silly asking it. On the other, it seemed completely normal, in their getting to know each other. And, at the moment, was a very important question for Shay to get the answer to.
The feel of her nails down his back sent shivers through Mathias,he could only imagine how her nails would feel in other activities...
"Have you a favorite color?"
An innocuous question,but one that gave Mathias pause. What was his favorite color? It had been so long since he had thought of such a thing. He wore clothes for comfort,and when 'working' practicality and camouflage ruled over all. his mind went back,centuries,remembering The City and his youth.
"Royal Blue"
There it was, the same blue of his surcoat so long ago. The same blue that he wore in battle after battle.
With that, Mathias left her doorway and headed out into the night. Day would soon be upon them and he had to rest. He was unsure how restful it would be though. He was sure images and thoughts of Shay would enliven his dreams. But not all would be pleasant,for he had tread this path once before and remembered all too well how it ended. to reveal who he was to Shay was to not only risk his existence but hers as well.
But Mathias was unsure if it wasn't already too late for that...
((ooc - Mathias out,barring response from Shay))
Leaning against the doorway, she watched as he walked away, just enjoying the sight of him. And once he'd disappeared into the night, Shay reluctantly went back inside, closed and locked the door.
A quick clean up of the food that had gone mostly uneaten, Shay grabbed a comforter off the rocker in her office, and carried it outside to the patio.
She sat down on the chaise, and covered up. The sun would be peeking through the trees soon, and she wanted to see it, along with relive bits of the evening.
Once it was late enough, she'd call Paul, and see if he wanted to meet her later for that drink. She hoped so...he had seemed a nice enough guy. She also gave brief thought to Addison, and wondered how he had fared. She would try to reach him later also, or perhaps tomorrow, to see if they could get together.
But Mathias kept pulling her mind back to him, and she finally just gave over. And before the sun actually rose, Shay slipped off to sleep, with a small smile playing on her lips.
(Shay out)