Closed Dancing with the Diseased

[Matthew]

58th of Winter, 513 AV. Brega had been out on the streets, both her and her girls handing out thick woolen blankets and hugs. He had opted for a blanket to wrap around his figure, but the smiling woman had tossed him a wink and saved him from the courtesy of a hug. Matthew was tired, having worked several shifts for the Sanctum and volunteered dozens of hours for Doctor Petricious. Whatever was going on in the city was causing health to deteriorate quickly, and Matthew counted himself lucky that Ruby made sure him and all her other employees were well taken care of. The whores still had to work, no matter how sick the populace was. That left it upon their owner to keep them well, and Ruby had done that. He entered the warmth of the tavern quietly, sharp blue eyes sizing up the place. There were all sorts of shivering people around, though almost all of them had one of Brega's blankets. The tavern had a fire going, which was helping out with the chill as well. Interesting enough, there were a lot of bulky men in the corners of the tavern, sullen eyes staring at Matthew for a moment before moving on. Fire had become precious as of late, and a lot of business owners had hired 'bouncers' of a sort to make sure no one got too aggressive when trying to get warm. Matthew slowly flowed over to the bar, steps graceful and sure. The harlot was dressed well, as always. A thick black button-up coat did a fine job in showing off his slim form with broad shoulders, and the way it had been unbuttoned halfway down and folded to the side practically invited a stare at the snug-fitting white shirt underneath. Black trousers clung to his hips, and a pleasing smell of pine rose from his body, an odd scent in the midst of quite a few interesting smells. His hair was neatly styled, and his features were almost feminine in their beauty. He stood out, in a unique way, an advantage that had led him to his profession in the first place. Merv silently met his stare, the sullen old man as stand-offish as normal. He seemed to dislike people who didn't regularly come to his bar. Slowly though, Matthew was beginning to notice something of a sparkle in his sunken eyes whenever the harlot came to visit. "I'll take a mug of water, please." The man turned silently, that odd sparkle appearing for a brief moment again. Matthew was confused. Had that been amusement? What was funny? Taking his mug of water, the harlot slowly moved to an unoccupied table, taking a sip and swishing it around in his mouth. Sunberth water tasted odd. He wanted to ask where they got it from, but at the same time, he didn't really want to know.

[Caela Dorin]

x

It was cold, cold enough for her to take a blanket to wear over her cloak from one of Brega's whores who was walking the streets. She didn't understand why the girls were walking the streets of Sunberth. They were supposed to be too "good" for street walking, Brega ran a high-class establishment after all. That thought made Caela snort. They weren't any different to your average harlot. They were healthier, yes, more pampered, certainly but they were still bottom feeders, the lowest of the low of society. The dancer was easily better than them, more dignified. She'd accepted a blanket from one of them, yes but she hadn't permitted them to touch her when one had attempted to hug her. They had no boundaries anymore and she felt sorry for them.

Stepping into the Pig's Foot Tavern, the young woman gasped with relief as she stepped into the warmth of the building after the chill outside. The interior of the tavern was only a few degrees warmer than its exterior despite the blazing fire and the number of people huddled within it but it was still a welcoming sensation for the chilled woman. Her cheeks became flushed in the new heat and she almost considered taking off the blanket but a quick glance told her that many were covered in a similar manner as her. So taking off the blanket was out, at least for now. She'd have to take it off when she danced but hopefully the vigorous activity would keep any chill at bay.

Leaving the doorway, the young blonde made her way towards the bar, finally turning her attention away from the customers that she'd have to impress. That's when she noticed him for the first time. He was just turning away from Merv, moving towards an empty table when her eyes fell on him. She actually stopped moving, stunned that someone like him had wandered into the dank hole that was the tavern, had even ended up in a place like Sunberth. He looked like little more than a pretty boy, weak and an easy target for anyone desiring to rob or swindle him. He held himself confidently, moving with a quiet grace and apparently oblivious to the way he stood out from the normal shady characters. He looked like he might have money.

Recovering from her momentary surprise, Caela moved swiftly to the bar. She reached it as the man reached his table, her head having turned despite herself to watch him. Her gaze snapped forwards again for fear that he might catch her staring. It wasn't that he was unattractive but she was just fascinated by his strangeness, a spark of interest in this horrible place.

Her attention was turned to Merv, her employer, her eyes almost pleading as she looked at him. "Do I have to dance for long today? Can't I just dance for a little while?" she murmured, her voice kept low so that the conversation was kept private. His lips were pressed together firmly, his eyes seeming to convey disapproval. She chose to press her case. "Nobody'll leave in a hurry. It's too cold outside. You don't need me to keep them here, not really." She tilted her head to the side ever so slightly as she spoke, making her eyes wide and innocent. Drawing up a memory of her mother in her apathetic state, barely recognising Caela as her daughter brought the necessary tears to her eyes. He coughed slightly, gruffly muttering his assent as his gaze dropped from hers. The woman had to turn away quickly to hide her triumphant smile all the same. Getting her own way with Merv could be easy sometimes. She swore the man was soft.

Moving from the bar, Caela found herself moving towards the alien creature without thinking, eager to be near him to try to draw his attention. He was such an easy target she was sure that she'd easily be able to charm money out of him. The woman didn't have to talk to him, her body would do the talking for her. There was no point in changing into her corset which she kept in the back room (it was too cold) so it made more sense to just strip off the unnecessary layers and get to work.

Sashaying up to the man's table , she swept her hair back and swept the blanket from her shoulders. Folding it in a haphazard fashion, she dropped it into an empty seat, careful not to meet the pretty boy's eye. Reaching up to unfasten her cloak, Caela adjusted it casually and shifted her stance so that the cloak shifted on one side, revealing one side of her body draped in a loose red dress that came down to just above her knee. Opening the cloak, she let it hide her figure once more as she slid it slowly off, dropping it on top of the blanket and shivering slightly as she did so. It was colder than she'd thought.

She adjusted the top of the dress, moving it over her bust to draw his eye before brushing downwards from her hips as if smoothing the material of the dress. It was only then taut she looked at him, her eyes darting up and widening as if surprised. The fake emotion probably wouldn't have fooled him but when she looked up and caught a good look at his face at last, it wasn't what she'd expected. He was more attractive than she'd first thought and all she could do was stare at him.

x

[Matthew]

The newest addition to the tavern stood out like a sore thumb. Matthew curiously focused on her, tilting his head, blue eyes following as she held conversation with Merv. He thought she might have been looking at him, but wasn't so sure. He would understand if she had been. Much like herself, he held qualities that attracted the opposite sex. It wasn't something he was particularly proud of, but he certainly wasn't unaware of it. His physical appearance was a selling point, and he did what he could to take care of it. She seemed to be the same, with clothing that showed off her curves, and a certain amount of thought put into the way she looked on the cold morning. What was she doing here, though? She apparently knew Merv. Was she perhaps an employee? She didn't seem to be the sort to sell drinks. She had presented herself in a much different way than a bar server normally would. Now she was turning, her eyes on him, but not making eye contact. Hips swaying though, ever so slightly. Just enough to bring attention. Closer, closer, adjusting the blanket and the cloak to show off more skin as she walks. There is a casual air behind it, a natural feeling, as if it is something innocent and unintentional. Very small subtle adjustments to the cloak, hiding and then revealing her form, teasing and taunting. A short dress, still showing off, though using her hands to guide attention to her bust and hips. Her eyes moved up to his, the wide-eyed look of a surprised deer matching his curious gaze. She looked slightly surprised for a few chimes, though he wasn't sure why. Instead, he let the gears turn, clicking pieces of this new puzzle together as fast as he possibly could. What was the correct reaction? What was the desired reaction? Let's try the reaction she seems to want. Blue eyes blazed to life, a heat springing up within him. The corner of his full lips curved in a small, pleasured, polite smile. His eyes wandered where she had specifically drawn attention to, indulging her. He was intense in his admiration, unfiltered and unashamed, eyes slowly traveling her figure from head to toe. He soaked in every bit of her, appreciating her womanly figure boldly, lingering for a few seconds on the length of her legs. She had longer legs than most, and they were toned. He felt like that was a hint to something, a piece of the puzzle that should obviously click into place. He was having a hard time fitting it, though. He continued to let his eyes wander, the two of them peacefully existing for a moment, his blue stare eventually traveling back up to her own gaze. He didn't make a move to touch, and instead let his eyes do all the talking that needed to be done at the moment. His stare had briefly been primal, as if he was analyzing a very erotic plan of attack. Now he was just watching her though, that small, polite, playful smile still dancing on the corners of his lips. This was an uncomfortable role for him to play. He had to draw upon the natural amount of attraction that came with being a male, and control it. It was walking the line between passionate and detached, and for him, it was a scary line to walk. "I can enjoy the sight of you just as much with the blanket on. It is quite chilly, and I would hate to see you shiver because of cold." His voice was soft, properly pronounced, and firmly spoken. Even with all the politeness in his words, there was a definite implication. He would hate to see her shiver because of cold. Other reasons for shivering were left open. Wondering on how fire reacted to fire, he leaned back, giving her more space while keeping his intense eyes heated. The lean turned into more of an arch, which turned into more of a stretch, his lithe body and broad shoulders rippling and rolling in a bit of a show beneath the form-fitting outfit he wore. Never breaking her gaze, he smiled a bit more, offering a soft and oddly well-groomed hand to her. "I am Matthew." He was certainly a polite petcher, with his mug of water and his properly washed clothes.

[Caela Dorin]

x

It worked, or it seemed to at least. Her little act had caught his attention and so when she’d looked up to meet is eyes, his gaze had been curious. It had been unexpected but at least it was some sort of a show of interest. The true interest started then, the fire of lust sparking in his eyes before his gaze wandered down her body. It wasn’t like the quick once over that she was used to receiving from men, the look that sized her up as one would look at a horse they were thinking of purchasing but with a lust in it as well. This was different, a slow look, critical in its own way but it was far more intense than what she was used to and was oddly more... appreciative. Caela actually found herself blushing and she hoped that her cheeks had still been flushed enough from the chill to hide the reaction.

When his eyes met hers again, some semblance of normality had returned to them, the primal fire dulled rather than extinguished so he was still interested. He’d gained control over himself, it seemed. When he spoke, the obvious desire in his eyes didn’t colour his tone at all. He was polite actually. She tried to remember that a man had ever spoken politely to her. She didn’t think that one ever had. Certainly not when she was seen as being in the way of business, and definitely not when she got old enough to become womanly. All manner of politeness had gone out the window then to be replaced with vulgarity. Even Merv wasn’t polite with her because of his gruff manner. The man’s tone was definitely... a surprise.

There was also an implication in that tone. There was only one other reason why someone would shiver aside from cold and the thought had her breath catching in her throat, her cheeks flushing more. An involuntary shudder went through her body, very slight, but she was certain that i had nothing to do with cold. She couldn’t reply, couldn’t explain that the blanket would get in the way. If he was trying to... Gods he was certainly very good at this game. He wasn’t like the other men who’d try to pursue her, even the “smart” ones. He didn’t seem to be trying. It was a dangerous idea and she tried to be on her guard, just in case. It wasn’t working to well.

She might have resisted if he hadn’t stretched in an obvious attempt to display his body. The way the material of his clothes stretched over and clung to his form left little to the imagination. Thoughts of being on guard couldn’t stay in her head. He was making it very hard to concentrate on being suspicious; he was just too easy to trust. He made you want to trust him and you just had to because of it.

”Caela. Caela Dorin,” she murmured in response, reaching out to take his offered hand. Her voice sounded a little breathless to her but she hoped he wouldn’t notice. The softness of it made her wonder what he worked as. Certainly not a labourer or someone who was in any line of physical work. She had no idea what he was but she was sure that she’d get the information out of him. ”I can’t dance very well with it. The blanket, I mean. So I have to... shiver,” she replied stupidly to his earlier question. Wow, that was a great answer after what he’d implied earlier. Maybe she’d been mistaken about who’d be getting the information out of who.

x

[Matthew]

Had she blushed? He couldn't tell. Her cheeks were rosy, either from cold or make-up, and they easily hid any sort of color that may have unexpectedly flared on her cheeks. Was that the purpose, perhaps? No, even he wasn't that analytical when it came to his profession. Well, maybe he was. Sometimes. "Caela. A pleasure. Is that what you go by, or is there a nickname you'd prefer?" His hand took hers, noting the softness of her own just as she was wondering about his. A smell wandered from him, a musky sort of perfume that suited a man. The smile stayed at the corner of his lips and his eyes now never wandered from her own, firm and silently confident in their steady gaze. He didn't notice the lack of breath in her voice, but he did notice how she stumbled over her words. He tilted his head to the side a bit but didn't give any further clues that he had noticed, oddly enough feeling somewhat proud of her somewhere in his mind. There were small signs that let him know she was interested in what his body had to offer, though at what level he had no idea. It could be a simple physical attraction, or it could already be developed into a primal longing. Whatever the case, she had kept her cool about her, only letting a small amount of her attraction just briefly show. He considered it an essential skill, to be able to divide business from pleasure. He found it easier than most, but only because he had long-since been numbed, and only because he knew more tricks of the trade than most. When you could see it coming, it was harder to be drawn in by it. Whatever the case, he had a newfound bit of respect for her as a performer. A dancer, hm? An alluring dancer, it seemed. Could offer to dance with her. No, no, not the correct move. Likely couldn't keep up, likely couldn't... Matthew paused, the blue in his eyes brightening a brief moment, an idea sparking deep within his skull. Don't have to dance with her. Can dance as a compliment to her. Can merely give her more of what she seems to want. Attention, is it? "Let me dance with you, then. It'll keep you warm, and..." The suggestion was obvious in his voice, and his honeyed words practically dripped with sex. However, his sentence was left hanging, building a moment of tension as he slowly leaned forward. For a moment his eyes focused on her lips, that brief look of primal hunger surging to the front again... and then it was gone as his lips parted and spoke, the words whispered as his eyes went back to gazing into her own,. "...I can show you off. Not that you need it, of course-" His tone paused, teeth sinking playfully into his lower lip before he continued on. "-but I think it would be fun. I think it would draw more attention, draw more jealousy, and send men home tonight with their minds much more focused on you. You stay warm. I get to hold a pretty girl, though in quite the gentlemanly way. Promise." He held his hand up and over his chest, in a playful little oath. Leaning back to give her room, his movements still slow and precise, he kept his stare locked on her own. "Though, I certainly won't be offended if you decline. There is no reason to trust me to keep my hands to myself, and I certainly won't complain if I get to be part of the audience." He flashed another small smile, still the odd combination of both polite and flirtatious. He would love to dance with her, personally. Both to learn from her, and to help show her off to the audience. He wasn't sure if that is something she would enjoy, but he figured he could at least offer. He considered throwing some Hypnotism in there, but silenced the needy humming of his Djed quickly. He didn't like using it to influence someone to do something they didn't want. If he sensed or saw that she liked his idea but was hesitating, then he would slowly reach out with just a bit of his Djed, encouraging the daring idea just a bit. If not though, he wouldn't touch her. It was her choice and hers alone, even if he was once again arching his body in an inviting stretch.

[Caela Dorin]

x

A moment of hesitation as she considered telling him but then she simply nodded. "Yes that's my name so that's what I go by," she replied, throwing some of her hair back from where it had crept down her shoulder, a small smile quirking the corner of one side of her mouth. Her mother had called her her tiny dancer but she wasn't going to tell him that. She hardly knew him and that nickname was private so it wasn't going to slip from her lips no matter how tempting it was to breath it to him. He was just so alluring. He was polite and well-groomed and gods, he even smelled good! Matthew had a certain class and she couldn't help but be attracted to him because of it. It made her think of him as trustworthy as well, probably mistakenly.

It wasn't as if he was acting untowardly, on the contrary he was being very proper and gentlemanly. He hadn't tried to force himself upon her, hadn't allowed his eyes to wander since she'd first drawn his attention to herself and yet he still exuded sexual energy. Matthew was certainly a force of nature and Caela was a little uncertain how to react to him, whether to be on her guard or not.

His offer certainly surprised her and she wasn't sure if it was in a good way. The sexual tension had increased dramatically and she found breathing suddenly difficult, a heat flaring between her thighs at his words. He was talking about dancing but at the same time he was talking about something else. It was a dance in a way but certainly not one for public consumption! Yet she wasn't offended, shocked, yes but his offer gave her a certain measure of guilty pleasure and she almost agreed. To the other, not what she was supposed to be doing. He certainly had her flustered but she bit her lip until she had reasonable control over herself again.

"Can you dance? Wouldn't be able to show me off, if you couldn't. Show me up, more like," she replied, carefully avoiding answering right away. Though the answer to the question may not help, especially not with that tone. If he used that tone... then perhaps there would be a performance but not the one that Merv had bargained for. She'd probably jump this well-groomed man herself!

The woman had to sit down before her legs went from under her. The movement was more graceful than she would have thought possible with such shakiness but she managed to fold into the seat with some ladylike decorum, her legs carefully crossed. The blanket was picked up and draped delicately upon her shoulders. She couldn't manage to dance yet and so there was no point in getting cold though there seemed little chance of that considering the heat flowing through her right now. Her cheeks were certainly blazing along with the rest of her body and she wondered if the heat his words had caused was visible.

"If you can dance then I suppose there won't be a problem though there's no need for me to start dancing just yet. Perhaps I could have a drink first..." she suggested, one eyebrow slightly raised. She could do with a drink, she was suddenly in need of some false courage. Only something small though or all judgement would go out the window.

x

[Matthew]

He had noticed a small moment of... sass, he thought? Was that what they called it? It was like a spark of fire that was kindled and kept alive by a firm pride, and every now and then showed its fangs in the form of sharp words. She hadn't been at all mean, there had just been a certain amount of attitude that came along with her spoken words. How very interesting. She was a complex woman, or so it seemed, and he welcomed that sort of thing. Some part of him enjoyed figuring the complexities of men and women alike, which had perhaps been one of the things that had led him to prostitution and escorting. She seemed to be studying him, and he patiently let her. He lounged under her stare, another stretch rippling his muscles and popping some of the sore joints. Any additional time that was spent simply looking upon him was met with plenty for her to look at, as well as his own eyes once more studying the rest of her figure. He was bold in his gaze, detailed in his attention, and quick to return his gaze to her own with a slightly playful smile as she spoke. He did let his eyes wander to her lip as she bit it though, taking the small gesture as an invitation and focusing there. Once again, the hungry look passed over his face, and obvious sign to what the man was thinking every time she bit her lip like that. Was she doing it on purpose, he wondered? Did she bite her lip with the knowledge that it brought attention to the fullness of them, one of the stand-out qualities about her body? He would have to remember to ask her later. She was already a skilled seductive force, and could possibly learn so much more. The woman sat while posing a question, and Matthew glanced toward the ceiling in brief thought before smiling back down at her. "I know formal dances, and just a bit of general knowledge. I certainly couldn't put on much of a show myself, but I do think that not a single eye would be focusing on me. If anything, perhaps we could practice the idea sometime. A lot of men in Sunberth don't seem to care for dancing, but I think it would be fun to learn." There was a bit of a flirtatiousness in his voice, but there was also a very serious tone. The harlot needed to brush up on his dance skills, and didn't mind if it was in front of a lustful crowd wanting to study Caela, or somewhere private where she could take time to actually teach him properly. She probably was a busy one, though. It was Matthew's turn to chew his full lower lip, sucking and biting it distractedly. Soon his attention went back to her though, his eyes never wandering for long. Her suggestion was met with a nod, and Matthew turned his head to glance at Merv. He was met with the sight of the old barkeep already standing there, a look in his eye, a small drink in hand for Caela. The harlot fished a miza from his pocket and traded it for the drink, and then offered it to the girl. Apparently a lot of men bought her drinks. He could understand why. Out of nowhere, a genuine question dropped from his lips. "Do many men think they can buy complete ownership of you with a few drinks?" His head tilted, intense blue eyes on her own, that pure curiosity sharp in his gaze. He soon smiled though, switching from intelligent to flirtatious in just a tick or two, keeping her on a whirlwind of a ride. "But, yes, if you think you can stand all the eyes on you, then I would love to dance. I have no idea why more men don't want to learn to move their bodies in skilled ways." There was some more of that subtle suggestion. Well, not so subtle. It was obvious in the way that he wanted it to be obvious, and he wanted her to know the barely hidden meaning. Above all, he was confident and bold, but without crossing a line.

[Caela Dorin]

x

Examination. There was plenty of opportunity for it while each of them considered their words. He was open in his examination of her and she was equally open in hers but his gaze was certainly more intense, more lustful. She couldn't be too far off such a look however, her interest peaked in a way that it rarely was. He was sophisticated and he wasn't falling over drunk, that made a massive impression on the girl who spent her time surrounded by drunken louts. She wasn't even sure if he was drinking. Sure, he had something to drink in front of him but there was no smell of alcohol rising from it. Water? Possibly but it was an odd beverage to get in a tavern.

His voice when he talked about dancing had that certain note to it again, a flirtatiousness but there was a serious tone overall so she didn't know what to make of it. There was some measure of respect for him for wanting to know how to dance but it was the only definite thought she had concerning him. She wasn't sure if dancing with him was a good idea or not yet but she also had a feeling that dancing alone would make her more self-conscious than normal simply because of his presence. Matthew posed a dilemma.

He bought her a drink, the barman carrying it to them and the young woman sipped on the beverage. It wasn't as horrible as the ale but it did have an edge to it that always made the girl cringe on the first sip. His question brought a sly smile to her lips and a quiet laugh bubbled up. "Oh there are many men who have thought that because I let them think it," the dancer explained, a twinkle entering her eye at the thought. Perhaps he wondered if she was one of her manipulated men. No, she had hardly tried to reel him in. Well no that wasn't strictly true but then she had 't been as intense in her seduction of him as she had with others in the past. Still she had his attention but then he also had here and he bloody well knew it.

A soft reminder of his offer came with a comment laden with implications. Again, the woman found herself biting her lip at the act that his words so clearly alluded to. Her brain wondered idly if he was experienced. She allowed herself to gaze at him for a few moments and decided that of course he was experienced. That was probably a good thing if she decided... The dancer couldn't pursue that line of thought, it was ill advised. He could probably read her thoughts on her face and she didn't want that. She was fairly easy to read she would have thought.

Taking another sip of her drink, the young woman fixed him with a steady look. "So... if I did decide to let you dance with me, how would that work? What were you thinking of exactly when you suggested it?" she asked seriously, flushing when she realised what line of inquiry the last question could also be taken as. It had been badly phrased but she was curious to see what he answered. It'd be interesting to see if he answered the question she'd meant to ask or if he told her his honest thoughts. Caela wasn't sure she wanted to know about those thoughts but at the same time, she sort of did. It'd be even more interesting if he answered both.

x

[Matthew]

She was looking at him, but he didn't take a pride in it. Matthew wasn't the arrogant sort, or at least he didn't think he was. He was certainly blessed with good looks, but it was by no effort of his own doing. He enhanced them with well-kept clothes and nice smells, but a lot of his appeal was in something that he had been given by happenstance. He was naturally attractive, she found him attractive, and now she was looking at what she found attractive. It was a simple concept, and one that Matthew never understood how people could get so prideful about it. Physical appeal could be taken away so very easily. If the wrong customer came in on a bad day, then he could easily have his face disfigured. His thoughts ran away as they took their time examining the other, Matthew taking a thoughtful sip of his water while the girl tasted her own drink. He faintly noticed a small wince. It was handy, to know that the drink here was strong enough to make one flinch, especially one who had probably had it multiple times. Everything was in the little details. Her next words tugged the smallest of smiles from the harlot, and a short nod showed his approval. "That is an excellent and attractive tactic. The longer you tug them along in your web, the more you can milk them for. Very smart thinking, Caela." He paid her the compliment in that smooth and slightly husky voice of his, eyes twinkling just a bit as he tossed her a quick wink. The next question was a very interesting one, and he had to pause a moment as a variety of colorful responses entered his mind. This was a tricky part. There were a dozen answers he could go with, some too forward, some not forward enough, some too bold and some too cowardly. His head slowly tilted, his own thoughts keeping him from noticing the soft flush on her decorated cheeks. Again the harlot chewed on his lower lip, a slow and erotic tugging of flesh with the sharp edges of white teeth. "It would work slowly." The gears clicked into place, his decision made. "Slow at first, building tension. Exploratory, learning about each other through movement and touch, but only enough so that we become synchronized partners. Then, as the pace builds, it would become about you. The ways that you can be moved to bring you the most stares, since I doubt I will be able to keep up with your skilled movements. A frenzied pace eventually, and then, soon enough, an explosive finale. You do like their stares, don't you? And you do like someone who isn't afraid to show you off?" The soft words tumbled out, answering her question in both the ways that she wanted at the exact same time. He had managed to answer her question, but leave her wondering which one he was actually answering. It sure sounded like he had given her an honest answer regarding the actual dancing... but then again, some of his terms had definitely been a little more suggestive than was required. Matthew grinned, settling his chin on his hand and pinning her with a stare, tilting his head as his eyes glimmered in the slightest bit of a dare. This time, his voice came accompanied by heat, unfiltered and unhidden, the smile still on his full lips. "So, Caela. Tug me into your web. You most certainly don't think that I can put up a struggle now, do you?" The challenge was there, for her to accept or back away from. The choice was hers, though his voice hinted at which would be the more interesting choice.

[Caela Dorin]

x

She was surprised to find that her answer elicited a smile from the man. Surely he must have realised that he was one of her helpless victims. His compliment of her methods made her wonder if he was really all that helpless though. He understood her game exactly and yet he was also playing a game himself. He had the advantage though because she hadn't worked out what he was playing at yet. She bit her lip, a slight smile curling the corners of her mouth, her gaze lowered. He wouldn't get a word out of her where her methods were concerned no matter how complimentary Matthew was. He could get anything out of her that easily but what was he after? He knew her motives now but what were his? They might be revealed in time.

The dancer's breath was held as she waited the reply to her poorly phrased question. Hopefully he wouldn't be too honest about what he'd been thinking because his expression of primal lust had said it all really. She didn't need any more insight into his thoughts. However, his answer was well thought out, each word chosen carefully for the greatest possible impact. His words were ambiguous yet again but she found herself dwelling on their meaning in relation to sex rather than dance and once she did that she couldn't stop the spread of colour across her skin, or the warmth that suddenly flooded through her. The young woman almost asked him to stop talking, that she'd gotten the idea but she didn't. In a way, she liked him talking like that so she just sat and listened to him. Maybe that's what he wanted her to do, just sit and listen, hanging on every word that came out of his mouth. She couldn't say that she had too much of a problem with that though. She was a very willing victim.

When Matthew finished, her mind still along a train of thought that wasn't to do with dancing, the girl mumbled, "I wouldn't say I was that skilled." Her gaze was on the table, unable to meet his eyes. He talked about her web but looking into his eyes was a sure way to get trapped as well. Who was trapping who? Absentmindedly, Caela fiddled with her hair, locks twined between her fingers as she considered his offer. One strand was curled around her finger as she finally looked up at him, her head unconsciously tilted to mirror him. Her teeth pulled at her lip for a moment when she met his gaze, choosing her words carefully.

"I can't see why you'd want to put up a struggle to be honest but..." She shrugged, nonchalance faked. She wasn't sure if she'd pulled it off but she continued trying, taking another sip from her drink. "I suppose if I asked Merv, he wouldn't mind us... dancing. Are you sure that you want to?" Caela gazed at him through her lashes, her body tensed to move to the bar at the first sign of affirmation.

x