Amir had stayed true to his desires and, the night following his last meeting with Dana, had retreated back to his sanctuary to brood, sulk, recover, whatever combination of the three applied. Several conversations with Subira had left him thoughtful, determined, and agitated in turn. He was definitely in a bad mood and feeling annoyed about that, too. Still, he had a lot to do and needed to get himself back in a better frame of mind.
So on that note he pried himself out from under a pile of blankets and gathered his telescope. There wasn't any need to go too far tonight; there was nothing spectacular happening in the sky that he particularly wanted to look at. Normally the Observatory wouldn't be his favorite place to bring the telescope but there was no one there and he was able to turn the lights down.
He was still at it when someone else arrived. From the sigh and the following silence he guessed it was Dana, but he didn't turn away from his stargazing. She was probably looking for him, which meant she had probably had plenty of time to mull things over.
Amir let the silence stretch out into minutes before pulling away from the telescope to adjust some of the coordinates in its computer. As he did so, he turned and flashed a smile at Dana, then glanced through the telescope once more.
As he tweaked the focus a little bit more, Amir made an unusually concerted effort to ditch his bad attitude for Dana. His discontent didn't really have anything to do with her. Not much, really.
"Mars and Saturn are in Virgo," he said softly. "And Venus is passing through."
He didn't know if Dana had any interest in astrology, but that conjunction of planets in that constellation had a particular meaning for astrologists. He didn't believe in such things himself, but his long years of interest in the stars had paralleled the evolution of astrology and he knew more than his fair share on the topic.
Amir made the observation as a way of breaking the silence, saving Dana from just standing there.
I'm Yours ((attn: Amir))
After her talk with Ysabel, Dana spent that night, the next day and then this night in her own company. She had sequestered herself in her little conference room, during her office hours, arriving home as dawn kissed the sky. This night she had taken herself down to the stables, dressed in boots, jeans, and camisole. Her hair, as long as the night when she was turned, was in twin braids down her back, held together with a ribbon the same robin's egg blue as her top.
The young man at the stable helped her chose a horse from among those owned by the manor, and she found herself riding a tawny gelding, ironically named Danny-boy, who's shoulder was a hand higher than the top of her head. Dana rode him until he began to tire, and her legs and bottom ached. It was a joy to be upon a horse again and she was sad to swing down from his saddle.
To help work out her own aches, she removed his tack and saddle, and to much protesting by the stable hand, curried the beast. She had to use a stool the boy provided to get at his back, but that didn't bother her in the least. He was a gentle horse, with a bit of a wild streak in him, that caused him to shake out all her careful work when she finnally stepped away.
Her laughter peeled through the stable, and she handed the brush to the stable hand. Taking the wicked creature in hand, she lead him to his stall. The tall dark hair and eyed young man came to join her and with a lifted eyebrow she asked his permission before taking a meal from him.
The meal, and walk to the manor took care of the remaining ache in her lower half. Once more in her room, she showered and dressed carefully. It was time to seek out Amir. She needed him and in her mind they had been apart long enough.
The moon was high in the sky as she climbed the steps to the observatory, the skirts of her emerald green dress in her hands. It was a lovely dress, made of organza, with capped sleeves, a form fitting bodice that gave way to flowing skirts at her hips. It zipped up the back and she'd chosen not to wear a blessed thing beneath it. Her hair was left down, a hot iron adding romantic curls to it, and she had the entire mass swept over her left shoulder, to cascade down her over her chest.
She only hopped her hunch was true, and she would not have to search elsewhere for Amir. Feeling only a touch nervous, she pushed open the door to the observatory, and there he stood, his eye pressed to his telescope, and his back to her. With a soft sigh she stood in the door and watched him a moment.
Amir
13 years ago
Dana
13 years ago
She hadn't really known what she expected, but she felt a bit let down at his lack of...enthusiasm. He seemed melencholy and she couldn't blame him, she felt the same way. Sort of...
"Will you tell my fortune now?"
With a chuckle, the tension she had felt walking up the stairs melted away. She pushed away from the door frame and crossed to him. Her inability to keep her hands to herself when near him, had her fingers resting lightly on his shoulder. Rising up on tip toe, she dropped a kiss to his neck. "May I see?"
"Will you tell my fortune now?"
With a chuckle, the tension she had felt walking up the stairs melted away. She pushed away from the door frame and crossed to him. Her inability to keep her hands to herself when near him, had her fingers resting lightly on his shoulder. Rising up on tip toe, she dropped a kiss to his neck. "May I see?"
Amir
13 years ago
Amir straightened as Dana crossed the observatory toward him. He shook his head with an almost regretful smile. She ought to know the answer to that, even if she was teasing.
"If I told your fortune then you might stop trying to find it by yourself."
And that went pretty much against anything Amir believed in. So while his sense of humor might have failed for the moment, at least his values and beliefs were still intact.
Her touch surprised him. Not because he hadn't expected it, but because he hadn't thought it would please him. He'd been too preoccupied in the last few nights to really think about that sort of thing and somewhere in the back of his mind, he supposed, he had wondered if it meant he just didn't care one way or another. But Dana's hand on his shoulder and then her soft lips on his neck made him shiver, just briefly.
Amir blinked slowly and then turned, remaining in the way. His arms slid themselves around Dana's waist and he looked down at her elaborate dress, her shining fair curls. His dark eyes traveled back to her face and he tilted his head curiously.
"Do you always wear your formal gown when you're stargazing? I left my tux back in my rooms."
His lips twitched up again, just a bit, and his own tension lessened. He really hadn't expected her to have this effect on him, not after the subject matter of their last meeting, not after his own ambivalence.
"By all means, go ahead and look." He still didn't move. "You're going to have to get me out of the way first."
"If I told your fortune then you might stop trying to find it by yourself."
And that went pretty much against anything Amir believed in. So while his sense of humor might have failed for the moment, at least his values and beliefs were still intact.
Her touch surprised him. Not because he hadn't expected it, but because he hadn't thought it would please him. He'd been too preoccupied in the last few nights to really think about that sort of thing and somewhere in the back of his mind, he supposed, he had wondered if it meant he just didn't care one way or another. But Dana's hand on his shoulder and then her soft lips on his neck made him shiver, just briefly.
Amir blinked slowly and then turned, remaining in the way. His arms slid themselves around Dana's waist and he looked down at her elaborate dress, her shining fair curls. His dark eyes traveled back to her face and he tilted his head curiously.
"Do you always wear your formal gown when you're stargazing? I left my tux back in my rooms."
His lips twitched up again, just a bit, and his own tension lessened. He really hadn't expected her to have this effect on him, not after the subject matter of their last meeting, not after his own ambivalence.
"By all means, go ahead and look." He still didn't move. "You're going to have to get me out of the way first."
Dana
13 years ago
A knot she'd not realized she had been harboring loosened in her stomach as his arms went around her. The smile she gave him was genuine and fully felt.
"From time to time."
The dress she'd chosen was one she'd worn as a day dress back home. It was only here in America that such confections of fashion were considered formal. But her choice had been more about looking lovely for Amir, than about formality or not.
She slid her hands to his chest and leaned back just a bit. "That sounds like an interesting challenge. Hmm, what tactic should I try first?"
Tilting her head she studied the situation with a serious look on her face. A mischievous glint came into her eyes, as she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
"From time to time."
The dress she'd chosen was one she'd worn as a day dress back home. It was only here in America that such confections of fashion were considered formal. But her choice had been more about looking lovely for Amir, than about formality or not.
She slid her hands to his chest and leaned back just a bit. "That sounds like an interesting challenge. Hmm, what tactic should I try first?"
Tilting her head she studied the situation with a serious look on her face. A mischievous glint came into her eyes, as she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
Amir
13 years ago
Amir gave a low laugh at Dana's idea of tactics. He didn't try to dissuade her; rather, he tightened his arms around her waist and lifted her slightly, nipping gently at her lower lip before allowing his tongue to dive in and taste deeply as he returned her kiss. He closed his eyes briefly, making a soft hum of satisfaction in his throat as they broke apart. Opening them again he shook his head.
"Well played. But not good enough."
He wasn't normally a tease, but in this case he suspected Dana might still have weighty matters on her mind. If she had lightened his mood a little bit, he could at least attempt to return the favor. He didn't want her thinking he was angry with her about anything that had passed between them since the night in the Park. Nor did he see any reason to make her question the status of their relationship.
Amir gave Dana a devilish smile. "Maybe you should try again."
"Well played. But not good enough."
He wasn't normally a tease, but in this case he suspected Dana might still have weighty matters on her mind. If she had lightened his mood a little bit, he could at least attempt to return the favor. He didn't want her thinking he was angry with her about anything that had passed between them since the night in the Park. Nor did he see any reason to make her question the status of their relationship.
Amir gave Dana a devilish smile. "Maybe you should try again."
Dana
13 years ago
Her body as well as her mind had missed him, and she gave freely to his kiss. It was difficult to open her eyes when he pulled away and spoke, but his words caused her to laugh softly.
"You are a worthy opponent. I can see simple methods will not sway you."
Biting back laughter, Dana made to study him again. Her hands still rested on his chest, and his arms were still about her waist. It would take a bit of maneuvering but she might be able to pull it off.
Sliding her hands down his chest, she managed to get to the space between his upper arm and body and then tickled his ribs a bit. She had no delusions that it would actually do any good, but the play was fun. And while she had a great many things to talk with him about, what she mostly wanted was to just be with him.
"You are a worthy opponent. I can see simple methods will not sway you."
Biting back laughter, Dana made to study him again. Her hands still rested on his chest, and his arms were still about her waist. It would take a bit of maneuvering but she might be able to pull it off.
Sliding her hands down his chest, she managed to get to the space between his upper arm and body and then tickled his ribs a bit. She had no delusions that it would actually do any good, but the play was fun. And while she had a great many things to talk with him about, what she mostly wanted was to just be with him.
Amir
13 years ago
Amir raised an eyebrow in question as Dana attempted to do something completely different to him. Was she... really?
He snorted with laughter as her fingers traced themselves over his ribs, not because he was ticklish, but because Dana obviously found this method less simplistic than kissing. He made no attempt to get away from her fingers.
"I didn't make it to extreme old age by being ticklish," he advised her in a deadpan tone. He tightened his arms around her waist. "Go back to the kissing thing again," he murmured, dipping his head close. "You just about had me."
Whatever it was, her presence here made it impossible for him to really brood. Or to meditate himself back into a working frame of mind. He didn't regret her presence; it only altered his plans for the tone of the night.
He snorted with laughter as her fingers traced themselves over his ribs, not because he was ticklish, but because Dana obviously found this method less simplistic than kissing. He made no attempt to get away from her fingers.
"I didn't make it to extreme old age by being ticklish," he advised her in a deadpan tone. He tightened his arms around her waist. "Go back to the kissing thing again," he murmured, dipping his head close. "You just about had me."
Whatever it was, her presence here made it impossible for him to really brood. Or to meditate himself back into a working frame of mind. He didn't regret her presence; it only altered his plans for the tone of the night.
Dana
13 years ago
Giggling, swiftly turned to a soft breath as he tightened his hold on her. "If I'd known, I'd have tried that again first."
With out further hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and closed the small distance between them. She left gentleness behind and took a firm control of his lip, delving deeply into his mouth with her tongue, tasting, exploring, reveling. Hungry little noises began in the back of her throat, and it occurred to her, that perhaps she should ease up a little, not be quite so free with her emotions outside her head, but she was lost in him and kept herself firmly there.
With out further hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and closed the small distance between them. She left gentleness behind and took a firm control of his lip, delving deeply into his mouth with her tongue, tasting, exploring, reveling. Hungry little noises began in the back of her throat, and it occurred to her, that perhaps she should ease up a little, not be quite so free with her emotions outside her head, but she was lost in him and kept herself firmly there.
Amir
13 years ago
Amir was rewarded with a searing kiss that scorched its way over his lips and across his tongue. He lifted Dana back up, crushing her against him, catching his breath slightly as he heard the noises she had begun to make.
And this, a little voice in the back of his head reminded him, is why we decided not to mix business with pleasure. Amir immediately disregarded it with a mental flip-off and, as was his wont, let impulse drive. Keeping Dana pressed close with one arm, he let his other hand dive into her fair curls, cradling the nape of her neck as he gave as good as he got.
Without realizing it he took several steps away from the telescope, easing Dana up against the closest solid piece of furniture, finally disengaging himself from her lips to draw a short, sharp breath.
He looked back behind him and snorted again. "You win."
And this, a little voice in the back of his head reminded him, is why we decided not to mix business with pleasure. Amir immediately disregarded it with a mental flip-off and, as was his wont, let impulse drive. Keeping Dana pressed close with one arm, he let his other hand dive into her fair curls, cradling the nape of her neck as he gave as good as he got.
Without realizing it he took several steps away from the telescope, easing Dana up against the closest solid piece of furniture, finally disengaging himself from her lips to draw a short, sharp breath.
He looked back behind him and snorted again. "You win."
Dana
13 years ago
The laughter that followed his words was breathy and faint as Dana struggled to slow her body's functions. "So it would seem. But I think I shall claim a different prize."
Laughing she pulled him to her again, wrapping her arms about him, as the generous skirts of her dress allow her to get her leg tangled around his. Ah, yes she'd missed him. But it was more that she understood more now and so she wanted very much to simply enjoy Amir. She kissed him thoroughly again, before pulling back and grinning impishly.
"Even the smallest of victories can be sweet."
Laughing she pulled him to her again, wrapping her arms about him, as the generous skirts of her dress allow her to get her leg tangled around his. Ah, yes she'd missed him. But it was more that she understood more now and so she wanted very much to simply enjoy Amir. She kissed him thoroughly again, before pulling back and grinning impishly.
"Even the smallest of victories can be sweet."
Amir
13 years ago
Stifling a low groan Amir gathered the full skirts of Dana's gown up a little further and slid his hands up her thighs, encouraging her to wrap her legs around him. He encountered no further barrier as he reached around to lift her to his waist, a revelation that forced the soft groan from him in spite of his willing it to stay inside.
"Who's getting the prize again?" he asked her, his voice heavy with desire as he closed his eyes again and let his mouth travel softly along the curve of her neck, feeling the blood pulse beneath her skin. Memories of the last time they were together rose to the surface and he clutched her tightly against him.
He would have agreed with her next sentiments if he weren't busy applying his lips and tongue to principles other than speech. It occurred to him that there were other, far more appropriate places for this kind of activity than the Observatory but if she continued on this way, Amir wasn't about to stop her.
The whole "not mixing business and pleasure" thing was so completely buried by now that it didn't even raise a red flag as he gently plundered Dana's exposed neck with soft nibbling and sucking. He didn't want to think about it; that was then and this was now, and now was a big upgrade from five minutes ago.
"Who's getting the prize again?" he asked her, his voice heavy with desire as he closed his eyes again and let his mouth travel softly along the curve of her neck, feeling the blood pulse beneath her skin. Memories of the last time they were together rose to the surface and he clutched her tightly against him.
He would have agreed with her next sentiments if he weren't busy applying his lips and tongue to principles other than speech. It occurred to him that there were other, far more appropriate places for this kind of activity than the Observatory but if she continued on this way, Amir wasn't about to stop her.
The whole "not mixing business and pleasure" thing was so completely buried by now that it didn't even raise a red flag as he gently plundered Dana's exposed neck with soft nibbling and sucking. He didn't want to think about it; that was then and this was now, and now was a big upgrade from five minutes ago.
Dana
13 years ago
Whatever remained of her trepidation, nerves, tension, disappeared with the growl, and she wrapped herself around him. Her head dropping to the side, offering her neck to him.
Soft little noises, punctuated his kisses, and if it were not for the fact of their location, she would have let him continue unhindered.
"Amir...Amir." Her words were soft and breathy. "Take me..." He nipped at a particularly sensitive spot and she gasped. "To bed."
Soft little noises, punctuated his kisses, and if it were not for the fact of their location, she would have let him continue unhindered.
"Amir...Amir." Her words were soft and breathy. "Take me..." He nipped at a particularly sensitive spot and she gasped. "To bed."
Amir
13 years ago
Those tiny little noises Dana made were intoxicating, and Amir had long since memorized where to touch and how to touch in order to produce them again. Dana's body, soft and yielding against his, melted even further as he gently savaged her neck.
Her exposed neck drew him in and he grazed the tip of his fangs over her skin, pulled toward her pulse as if he were magnetized. He pulled away with a sharp, sucked-in breath as she stopped him, the words barely filtering in through the hazy cloak of desire that had draped them both.
He looked at her with dark hooded eyes, his silken smile spreading across his lips, fangs glistening in the dim light. "Okay," he said, just as breathlessly. "Bed. Sounds good."
It took a few moments for the signal to release Dana to travel from his brain to his hands, and in that time he kissed her again, deeply, gently, a hint of restrained ferocity underneath. The hunter was there, lurking just beneath his skin, but unlike the last time they'd been together he had it firmly in hand.
Slowly his fingers released her, brushing her soft skin as he let her slide down, caressing her briefly before letting her gown settle back around her legs. He took a conscious step away from her and looked back over his shoulder at his equipment. It could wait; nothing was going to happen to it here.
"Lead the way," he told Dana softly.
((ooc: Amir out with Dana))
Her exposed neck drew him in and he grazed the tip of his fangs over her skin, pulled toward her pulse as if he were magnetized. He pulled away with a sharp, sucked-in breath as she stopped him, the words barely filtering in through the hazy cloak of desire that had draped them both.
He looked at her with dark hooded eyes, his silken smile spreading across his lips, fangs glistening in the dim light. "Okay," he said, just as breathlessly. "Bed. Sounds good."
It took a few moments for the signal to release Dana to travel from his brain to his hands, and in that time he kissed her again, deeply, gently, a hint of restrained ferocity underneath. The hunter was there, lurking just beneath his skin, but unlike the last time they'd been together he had it firmly in hand.
Slowly his fingers released her, brushing her soft skin as he let her slide down, caressing her briefly before letting her gown settle back around her legs. He took a conscious step away from her and looked back over his shoulder at his equipment. It could wait; nothing was going to happen to it here.
"Lead the way," he told Dana softly.
((ooc: Amir out with Dana))