Playing With Fire

[William James Von Drake]

"Why me?" Those two words were enough for William's heart to fill with compassion. Couldn't she see how wonderful she was? Everything that she was was why it was her.

"I've been nothing but mean to you, William." Did she think he minded her temper? It was just another reason why he was so drawn to her. She wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind. He brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen onto her forehead.

"I push you away even when I am enjoying your company, I call you names like a silly child, I argue just to argue, because I am a foolish girl who doesn't deserve such unconditional devotion."

A small smile pulled at William's lips and he lowered his forehead to hers. "Oh, V." He gave a quiet, humorless laugh. "Can't you see that is why I am so drawn to you?" Both of his arms circled around her back now, enveloping her. "I love that you argue with me and that you aren't afraid to say your piece. You are a strong woman. It is what I admire about you." His lips ached to close the space between his and hers, his tongue even flicked out to wet them involuntarily. He settled with stroking his hands down her back instead. "And no matter what you do, V, it is not up to you to decide who does and does not deserve my devotion."

William hoped sincerely that he wasn't crossing the line by voicing his emotions, but he was finding it more and more difficult to restrain himself when he was around her. It was as though when she as near, every part of his soul opened up and begged to be bared to her, consequences and heartache be damned.

"It is up to you, however, to decide whether or not to accept my devotion." William lifted his forehead from hers, his eyes dropping down to her mouth. It looked so soft and sweet and ready for the taking. He had lowered his mouth to hers before he'd even been able to second guess the action. The kiss was sweet and tender. His lips moved against her tantalizingly, savoring her taste and feel. It was with much effort that he drew back from her again, wondering wildly why he couldn't control himself.

When his breathing had evened out again, he continued, "Because you are not foolish, V. You are strong. And you are able to make up your own mind." One hand made the slow ascent upward until it was cradling the back of her neck once more. "I just hope that you decide in my favor." He grinned. "I can't help that. I lo--" William cut himself off, wishing he could suck in the last two syllables. Evelyn was barely ready for him to be pushing her the way that he was. Now was definitely not the time to be pushing his luck, too.

"I want to keep being challenged by you. You keep me on my toes." An affectionate smile situated itself on his features and he pined to kiss her again, but he waited for her response, instead. He wanted a real answer, not one that was confused with the heat of passion.

[Evelyn Alaina Cristobal]

Once she had finished her piece she fell silent. The only sound for several heart beats was that of their combined breathing. Feeling so insecure was something Evelyn hated. One of the main reasons she avoided such confrontations. She didn't like feeling weak and vulnerable, especially in front of people she cared about and she cared about William, even if she denied it to both herself and anyone who happened to be privy to their exchanges. Exchanges that had been growing more and more frequent as of late.

Was it possible that she'd been lying to herself about his intentions? That she'd been making excuses for her behavior by convincing herself it was for the best because he wanted nothing more than to make her another conquest? She tried to recall where the idea had stemmed from in the first place and realized it was just a general assumption she piled on the heads of all men. Arturo was a prime example and perhaps the biggest influence on the subject.

The tell tale smile tugging at the corners of his mouth had her pushing her thoughts aside and focusing instead on the way his lips quirked just so when he was trying to suppress his amusement.

"Oh, V. Can't you see that is why I am so drawn to you?" The feel of his arms circling around her brought more comfort than she would have anticipated. Still, she was struggling with her own inner turmoil. What she wanted and what she felt she needed. "I love that you argue with me and that you aren't afraid to say your piece. You are a strong woman. It is what I admire about you."

It is what I admire about you.

He admired her? A warmth blossomed in her chest, spreading out to encompass her body and soul. To most such a simple statement would not be a big deal but for Evelyn it meant the world. No one had ever told her they admired her. Amused, frustrated, and annoyed perhaps but admired? That was a first.

"And no matter what you do, V, it is not up to you to decide who does and does not deserve my devotion."

Her eyes slid closed a moment as she tried to collect her thoughts. She supposed he was right in that regard but that did not mean she could not call him a fool for wasting it on her. All of this was overwhelming. His own revelations coupled with all the misconceptions she had about him had a way of making her head spin until she was no longer certain which way was up.

"It is up to you, however, to decide whether or not to accept my devotion."

Up to her. He was leaving this in her hands alone. Hands that just that morning would have tossed the whole thing aside without so much as a second thought. Well, perhaps one or two second thoughts. It was hard to deny him anything with the way his hands moved like magic over cloth and skin. They way his mouth hovered so close she could feel each breath that rolled past his lips. The way a split second later he was kissing her again.

Fire exploded in her belly before spiraling outward towards the tip of every finger and toe, every nerve ending causing them to tingle. Though the kiss did not hold the same hunger and passion as the first there was something about it that made her weak in the knees. When he drew back she found herself leaning more into him in order to use something other than her own legs to support her weight.

"Because you are not foolish, V. You are strong. And you are able to make up your own mind. I just hope that you decide in my favor. I can't help that. I lo--"

She was caught slightly off guard by his abrupt stop. 'I' what? But his next comment was enough to distract her from thinking too much on what it might have been. "I want to keep being challenged by you. You keep me on my toes."

That prompted a smile to tug at the corners of her lips. She did, didn't she? There was never a dull moment when they found themselves caught up in a situation with one another. The smile was short live, however, as she found herself confessing her true fears regarding the entire situation. Her eyes shifted to one side as her voice lowered a bit. "I'm afraid, William. I've never... what if I can't give you what you need? What if I don't know how?" Fears, insecurities, doubts, she was full to the brim with them and confessing to even one of them was a huge step in trust for Evelyn, a girl who rarely spoke of emotions -- especially her own. "I don't want to hurt you, William, despite how it may seem from time to time."

[William James Von Drake]

William's own lips lifted in response when Evelyn smiled. How beautiful, he thought to himself. It was only when she shifted her gaze away did his expression morph into a muted concern.

"I'm afraid, William. I've never... what if I can't give you what you need? What if I don't know how?"

He lifted one hand, stroking it gently over her cheek. In a way, her fears endeared her to him even more. As inconceivable as that was, considering how he already held her in such a high regard. When William began to part his lips in response, Evelyn had continued again.

"I don't want to hurt you, William, despite how it may seem from time to time."

His heart filled with emotion. Even if the woman before him were to snatch it from his chest and crush it beneath her heel, he would not regret this moment. Pain was but a momentary thing, love lasted forever. And it was always worth it.

"Oh, Evelyn," William began, "You already give me what I need, just by being you." His mouth curved upward, compassion flooding his voice. "I think you are perfect just the way that you are."

He touched his lips softly to her forehead. "Do not fret or fear for my heart, V. It is a risk I am more than willing to take." William could barely believe that they had made so much progress in just one day. They had gone from her being annoyed by him sitting beside her in a meadow to the pair of them being wrapped up together. And here he was offering up his emotions to Evelyn without her laughing in his face. It was quite an enchanting evening.

William's thoughts involuntarily flashed back to when he had invited Rhys to dine with them. He shot a quick little prayer of thanks to whatever god had been looking over that exchange and had had Rhys declining. Oh yes, he was definitely feeling grateful for their time alone. None of this could have happened if he had stayed. A sharp pang of despair struck him at the thought, quickly to be washed away with relief, reminding him that this was happening. Right now. So, he pulled himself back into the moment, wanting to savor every second of it with her.

"All you have to do," he continued softly, "Is tell me what you want." William brushed his lips over hers again. "You don't have to decide right now." Another whisper of his lips against hers. "You can have time to think on all of this." Another feather-light kiss. "But I will, eventually, require an answer." Yet another soft kiss was teasingly given. William was a patient man, but none could be expected to wait forever.

He tipped his head back enough to look into her eyes, breathing in the sweet scent of Evelyn's soap and skin mingling with the blossoms flourishing all around them in a tangled jungle of colors and shapes. William plucked the partially damaged bloom from her fingertips, its scent all the more potent because it had been crushed. He gave a moment to think that it was funny that it was always the flower that had been damaged that managed to smell the sweetest. Silently, he tucked the stem of the blossom into her hair. Securing it in place behind her ear, his eyes never leaving her face.

It was as though the stars were reflected in her eyes and the moon's only reason was to set her skin aglow. In that moment, her beauty overwhelmed him and he could not stop himself from asking, "Please, Evelyn, tell me I can kiss you again." He just wanted to hear her say 'yes.' To know that, if nothing else, she wanted him to kiss her right now in the brilliant twilight. Everything else would fall into place later if it was what she wanted.

[Evelyn Alaina Cristobal]

It seemed like an eternity passed before he finally spoke and though she hadn't realized it, Evelyn had been holding her breath.

"Oh, Evelyn. You already give me what I need, just by being you. I think you are perfect just the way that you are."

Evelyn nearly laughed out loud at that statement, instead only a quirk of her mouth indicated her amusement. "Not quite perfect," she replied. "But I'm working on it." For some reason Evelyn couldn't even begin to explain, she felt a great sense of relief come on the heels of those simple words. He hadn't said anything of profound meaning but he had given her reassurance that she would not lose her identity to him. That she would not lose herself in an effort to become something more to his liking.

"Do not fret or fear for my heart, V. It is a risk I am more than willing to take."

She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his mouth against her forehead. His heart was not the only risk. Evelyn felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff. Behind her was safe, solid and familiar ground and in front of her was the blackness of uncertainty with William calling for her to jump, appearing ready to catch her but it was that small nagging doubt that kept her from taking any sort of plunge into the unknown.

Of course with each new comment he made more questions formed in her own mind, questions fueled by her own self doubt, questions she refused to voice, refused to give into.

"All you have to do, is tell me what you want."

A tingle of anticipation fluttered through her when his lips brushed against her own. She shifted ever so slightly on her feet, leaning in just a hair closer without being consciously aware that she was doing so.

"You don't have to decide right now. She could feel his warm breath rolling past his lips. "You can have time to think on all of this. But I will, eventually, require an answer." Each teasing little kiss, each small taste, had a yearning building in her that she was hard pressed to control but she managed much to her relief. She did not protest when he tugged the flower from between her lax fingers and remained still as he tucked it instead to rest against the smooth curve of her ear.

"Please, Evelyn, tell me I can kiss you again."

"Right now? That is all I want," she breathed at last, amazed by her brazen response. Her tongue swept absently over her lips to moisten them. Flirting was not one of her stronger suites but she felt she had managed fairly well just then. Each second that ticked by after her response was a second longer her heart had to pick up the tempo again.

[William James Von Drake]

"Right now? That is all I want." Her response was practically music to his ears.

In a matter of seconds, William's lips had crushed themselves against Evelyn's again. His hands roamed wildly over her back as he used his lips and tongue and teeth to plunder. It was as though all sense of civility and decency had left him and all that was left was a need to please and be pleased. And he was doing his best to do his fair share of each.

One hand rose to tangle itself in her hair, tilting her head in a new angle to get more access to her mouth, his tongue sliding silkily over hers. Something akin to a groan rumbled deep in his throat as he tightened his hold on her, molding her body against his. There was such an unchecked passion to the embrace. William knew he was crossing some invisible boundary of manners, but he was unable to stop himself.

He moved his lips to suck her bottom lip into his mouth, his teeth grazing lightly over the soft flesh, it was a strenuously slow movement, practically a tease after all the heat and need. It lasted only a few seconds before William was diving in again.

He murmured her name as his lips migrated from her mouth, trailing wet kisses down her jaw and finding the smooth column of her neck. His tongue traced a slick line from her collarbone to just below her ear, only to stop and nibble and kiss once he had gotten there. Each taste of her was more delicious than the next, another heady hit to his senses, making him drunk off of her and her presence.

His mouth found hers yet again and William found himself marveling at what a perfect fit they were. It was as though her mouth and body were made to be molding against him. His tongue swirled with hers, taking what she was offering greedily, giving back just as readily.

It felt like hours later when William finally pulled away, gasping in deep gulps of air. Staring down at her with such a need it was nearly making his head spin. His heart was thundering in his chest, pounding blood through his body in excess, making him feel hot and bothered. As if he wasn't feeling that way already, tenfold.

Evelyn was like no woman he'd ever known. He already wanted more of her. Kissing her was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Other woman he'd kissed paled in comparison. It was as though everyone else was in black and white and Evelyn was in clear, sharp color. Beautiful. Perfect.

[Evelyn Alaina Cristobal]

The pounding in her heart increased until the moment his lips met hers once again at which point her heart stopped in her chest, like a rising note meeting its crescendo. She melted into him completely, sinking against his chest as her arms slid upward to encircle his neck. Evelyn wasn't sure what she was doing but she let instinct guide her, doing what felt right in that moment in time.

Her lips parted without difficulty beneath the assault of his tongue. She welcomed it, her own pink muscle dancing outward to meet with his in a chaotic clash of heat and need. Evelyn had never felt anything like this before. The sudden need to be as near to him as she could get. Her own hands rose to mimic his own, slender fingers, well suited for playing piano but often spent penning words, curled into the dark strands of his hair. She lifted herself on tip toe to add more pressure of her own accord. It was no longer him kissing her but them kissing one another.

Beneath his fingers, her body was pliant and malleable. Drunk with his kisses, her mind was amicable and agreeable. It wasn't likely that she'd find this state of uninhibited bliss in any other way, shape or form for as long as she lived. Now William was privy to the key to her knee shaking, bone melting demise.

When he pulled his mouth away, she almost jerked him back but the trail of kisses he began leaving against the tender flesh of her throat stilled her hands and all but caused her to stop breathing. Rolling her head to the side she savored the warmth of his lips, his breath, as they glided across sensitive skin.

When he finally pulled back, the mere memory of his mouth warmed her from the tips of her toes to the roots of her hair. She lifted her hand to brush her fingers lightly against his jaw and then across his lips. "William..." she began only to fall silent at the sound of approaching footsteps. She had all but forgotten that she was outside standing in the middle of William's garden with little more than trees to hide their activities.

She stood up straighter, the lazy look in her eyes quickly being replaced by a sharper, more aware gaze as she peered out into the darkness. Certainly no one would bother William with a guest unless it were an emergency? This, naturally, had her worrying just a bit. What could have happened?

[William James Von Drake]

William gazed down at her, his hands stroking either side of her face as she breathed out his name. His lips parted to respond when the sound of approaching footsteps had his straightening.

He shot one more longing look at Evelyn before he stepped back chastely. It was difficult to try and arrange himself so he looked like he hadn't just been wrapped around the woman beside him, but he was doing his best. He rubbed the palms of his hands quickly over his hair, attempting futilely to flatten it, fingers sliding over his clothing. Everything seemed to be in place to the best of his knowledge.

"Will... uh... Lord William," The tone continued a tad more formally, having called out from the edge of the garden where the woman was hidden from view. "There is a man here for Lady Evelyn by the name of Charles Urik. He says he has arrived to escort her home and that the other two coachmen are back at the keep, repairing a..." There was a pause. "A wheel, sir?" The voice was clearly skeptical.

William quickly identified the voice as Catharine. How that woman had her nose in everything was beyond him. She was a phenom. How he loved her for it. He flashed a quick smile at her as Catharine made her way down the path, coming to a stop a few feet away from Evelyn and him, a tall, broad man standing beside her. William nodded his head at the man. "Thank you Catharine, Sir Charles. If you'll lead him back inside? Possibly he'd like something warm to drink before he makes his journey back home?"

Catharine gave William a curious look, her eyes darting back and forth between him and Evelyn quickly. Uh huh. Well, if that's how it was then. Catharine suppressed a smile as she turned to bustle the man back up the balcony stairs. "Oh yes, sir! Doesn't that just sound like a marvelous idea! What man wouldn't want a nice strong drink after such a ride! And only to have to turn around and do it again!" She had him halfway up the stairs with a baffled expression on his face before he knew what hit him. The door to the balcony could be heard opening and closing again, the sound of Catharine's voice drifting down to them. "Maybe something to eat, too?"

William let loose a small laugh. Oh yes, Catharine was quite the phenom. She had a way of barreling a body over and getting them to do exactly what she wanted without the person so much as realizing what was going on before it was already done.

His gaze drifted over to Evelyn. "I suppose we need to head up, then." He reached out, his knuckles brushing over hers before his fingers moved to wrap around her palm, connecting them. "Evelyn...." Her name fell from his lips in a quiet tone and the word spoke volumes. William wished he could stop time and keep this moment, this night, going forever. The entire evening, hell, the whole day, had been wonderful. Amazing.

William made no move to go, although he knew he had to. It was as though his feet were planted to the ground, unwilling to leave the confines of the garden.

[Evelyn Alaina Cristobal]

In the back of her mind Evelyn knew that come morning she was going to regret this entire encounter or at least the ramifications of it. Both were fully aware of how their families regarded one another and Evelyn, try as she might, had attempted to come up with her own reasons why a match between them wouldn't work. Each excuse had been torn down by a simple brush of his lips. Was she as weak and foolish as all the girls she mocked?

"Will... uh... Lord William, there is a man here for Lady Evelyn by the name of Charles Urik. He says he has arrived to escort her home and that the other two coachmen are back at the keep, repairing a... wheel, sir?"

Evelyn recognized the voice of the cook and couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. She certainly had her hand in every cookie jar she could find, didn't she? Evelyn pictured the cook with her ear pressed to doorways in attempts to learn what was going on in each and every room.

"Thank you Catharine, Sir Charles. If you'll lead him back inside? Possibly he'd like something warm to drink before he makes his journey back home?"

She knew that part of William's concern for Charles was genuine but she also knew a small part of it was an attempt to stall, to drag the night on just a little bit longer. She couldn't really fault him for it but she couldn't help but be realistic about the entire thing. What would her father say? She could see the annoyance in his eyes now. He detested the Von Drake family, at least the current head. Her father was the sort that believed the apple never fell far from the tree and so that meant the entire family must be tainted. It didn't help that her older brother seemed infatuated by Alexander and that drove her father to the edge of reason.

With mild curiosity she listened to Catherine until she was too far away to make out any more. By that point in time William's full attention had returned to her and he was speaking again. "I suppose we need to head up, then."

Breath caught momentarily in her throat when his knuckles brushed her own and she made no move to draw her hand away when he caught it securely in his own. "Evelyn...." No denial she could have felt, no excuse she could have made could change the sense of peace she felt in that moment. The sense of belonging. She didn't want to go anymore than he wanted her too but there was no way she would risk her father's wrath to linger too much longer. He was a patient man but the scandal such actions would produce would bring dishonor to the family name. Honor was something her father prided.

"I... shouldn't keep Charles waiting," she murmured at last when it was clear William had no intentions of hurrying back inside. "Your staff might turn a blind eye but my father knows all that happens." A quirk of a smile touched her lips. Oh no, Papa wasn't going to be thrilled about this one bit.