Later, back at the Inn

[B.D. Adams]

Benjamin's fingers retained their position upon her back as her affects were collected and they headed from the party. Everyone else was leaving as well and he had caught the looks as they left. He did nothing out of the sorts while the two of them headed back to the Inn, he didn't rush her in the walk and he did not drag. "You should laugh more often. It does you well."

What he did find himself doing was watching her and for other reasons than making sure that she did not falter in the dark. Like himself Vampires had impeccable night vision, where was no doubt she could easily find her way. Benjamin watched her for the way that she moved. Walking was different than dancing and her moves in the gym. His eyes did not stare - he never stared, but studied - and soon they had progressed to the Inn.

"Thank you for the dance this evening." Spoken in his low tones. His hand had to leave its place upon her back, and it did so smoothly. Look at that, he even opened the door of the Inn for her when they got there, allowing her to enter in before he followed. One hand opening the door and the other to usher her forward. "I rather enjoyed it."

With the ones who were following he thought a moment about waiting by the door, or keeping it open for them to enter. Then he changed his mind, they could open the door for themselves. He moved behind her and stepped up to her other side. "Let me show you to your room. " Did he know her room number? Not exactly. But he knew her scent and that was all he needed to find his way.

Once again, he offered her his hand.

[Guest]

His pace was good for her to walk barefooted. She was not worried about pain if she stepped on something, but cuts would bleed, and vampires did not clot well. Laugh more, he honestly told her she should laugh more. She searched for the words to express how she felt about that. "I laugh, when I have reason to laugh, and that is not very often since my return." It was unfortunately true. To elaborate further was not necessary, after all, technically, he was the enemy. There was enough trouble to be had without her going into the intimate details of her strained family relationships.

She knew his eyes were upon her, she wasn't quite sure how to react to that. He wasn't hurting anything, it was simply an elongated glance. Yet something told her she was the subject of study. Her legs crossed one in front of the other, heel to toe were her steps. Her hips had their usual sway regardless of his hand upon her. This was how she walked, always. She had the hight and the stature and the shape, it only made sense that she too had the walk of a runway model. Of course, her walk was softer. Her hips did not jet out from side to side, her arms did not flail back and fourth in front of her, there was no bounce to her step that made her look like her steps were slammed down upon the ground. Simply smooth.

He surprised her, had he just said what she thought he had said. He thanked her for the dance? Not exactly what she was expecting from him. "You are quite welcome, Benjamin. And thank you as well." Now he was truly catching her by surprise, opening the door for her. Such a gentlemanly gesture. A simple nod of a bow as she entered the Inn. He had enjoyed the dance as much as she did, that was good to know. She stepped through the threshold of the Inn and stopped for a moment to await his return to her side. It was the proper thing to do of course. It was less than a blink of an eye before he was back at her side.

'Let me show you to your room.' Somehow, she had expected that, from the moment he had asked her to leave the party with him. But that was a good thing. For up on the third floor there was a lot of people who would be able to come to her rescue if she found need of such. Not that she usually did. He hadn't made it a question, or even a request, a simple statement. She could have said no and he would have left her to find it herself, but she was still not feeling at all threatened by him. So with a simple, singular nod, she took his offered hand and they made their way to the stairs and up.

Once they reached the third floor she made note of the presences she felt. This brought a smile to her face that quickly faded. She did not feel her son. In fact, it had just dawned on her, she had not felt him within the Inn at all. This worried her, he had been a little out of sorts lately. She made no change in her composure, nothing to indicate her worry, for her worry was for her son more, and herself secondary. But it was there, just a hint, because she always felt safer with him around. She quickly changed her thoughts to keep them from betraying her to the wolf at her side.

Her door was not far from the stairs, they had arrived there rather quickly. It was decision time. Did she say goodnight at the door, or invite him in? Oh decisions. As she put the key into the door her decision was made. "Would you like to come in? I could make you some tea." Yes, she did say that she could. For her it was a whole lot easier than for others, and she didn't need servants to do everything for her. She pushed the door open and used her foot to kick the rather grotesquely large diamond against it. Oh she was definitely leaving the main door open. Too many tongues would wag if it closed.

[B.D. Adams]

The Vampire walked like a cat stalking a mouse. The tight-rope placement of feet often used by them to silence their movements. He could also compare it to that of a female who spent too much time in heeled shoes, that canter often necessary to help them retain balance while they walked over various surfaces on those precarious needles. It was virtually impossible for the hips not to sway if the walk was always heel-to-toe. Benjamin was under the impression that she was hardly ever without heeled shoes.

Of course he had opened the door for her. Simply because he was a beast did not mean that he was one without manners. When the occasion called for it, Benjamin could be quite the charmer.

He stayed with her on their journey to her room. Now that they were on wooden floor the jingle-jangle of spurs on the back of his boots' heels was ever more present, accompanied with the trod of the soles. They were not heavy steps, but it was clear that he was not trying to mask his presence. If he had he could.

Benjamin picked up the scents along the way to her room, many of them familiar to him now from his encounters here in the Inn. He also picked up the worry, it had almost gone unnoticed due to its brevity. Similar to that of vampire picking up a heartbeat the smell of emotions always came through to an animal - then again, he was not a typical beast. What was then chosen to do with any knowledge garnered was up to them; Benjamin chose not to do anything with what he gathered besides stow it away.

At the door his hand was removed from her back to rest casually on his guns, and he allowed her the space needed to work the door. She could have left it at that: said her 'goodnight' and retired to the sanctuary of her room, but this was not the path she took. Instead she had invited him to come inside.

Interesting.

Door was propped open - by a diamond no less - and she started inside. Looks like the door was to remain open. "Sure. You may make me tea." As he followed in he reached up to take the black hat from his head. He was indoors.

[Guest]

She made sure the ten inch diamond was secure then she walked into the room completely. She opened her hand and motioned towards a chair that he was welcome to sit in. "You know, in all those old cowboy movies from Earth, the bad guy always wore the black hat. Doesn't that make you the big bad wolf after all?"

She walked over and opened a small wooden box on her desk. She closed her eyes for a moment to take in the wonderful scents that emanated fourth from the box. "I have peppermint, chamomile, Blackberry, or Earl Grey. What's your pleasure?" She smiled expecting a smart answer.

She went to another box that was tucked away in the corner. She opened it and pulled out a cup wrapped in paper. She began to unwrap the cup, evidently squeezing too hard. The cup shattered in her hand, cutting her finger. She shook her hand once from the initial shot of pain before sticking her finger in her mouth. She reached into the box and grabbed another cup. She took it over to the desk and set it down to unwrap it from it's paper. She shook her head and sighed, vampires didn't clot well.

[B.D. Adams]

He followed her deeper into her room and cast a glance at the chair she indicated. Still holding on to the hat he turned in his original direction and faced the chair. In this direction she would not be able to see that her quip about him being the big, bad, wolf made him smile. She would hear a low chuckle come from him. "If I am the big, bad wolf, then you would potentially be Red riding hood." He knew how that story ended - the wolf getting his stomach cut open. "As for my pleasure..."

Benjamin did not take the seat in the chair, instead he gave a flick of his wrist and the hat went from his hand to the seat below. It bounced against the back of the seat before settling. He heard the offers of selected teas, their smells even more apparent once she had opened the box. He had turned to see her put down the box of teas, and his footsteps sounded off in that direction.

"Shall we start with the teas first?" At the table he ideally fingered the various teas, keeping her in his peripheral vision. Keep your prey in sight - though the Vampire was not his prey habits were always hard to let go. Benjamin was still wearing the slight smile that came as a result of the earlier chuckle, though that was until he saw the cup break in her hand.

Moving from the teas Benjamin slowly moved towards the Vampire, watching as she had her finger in here mouth and began to unwrap the other cup. He walked close to her, stepping over the length of hair which was behind her, and came around on her side. Some would say he was too close and invading personal space. If she turned quickly she might even hit him with those spikes on her shoulders. The scent of blood didn't quite set him off like he had seen it do to vampires in the past, but it was something that he enjoyed. She had only pricked her finger.

"Cut your finger?" Clearly stating the obvious. "Let me look at it." Vampires had the ability to heal if hurt, he didn't doubt that she was any different. Clearly she was slightly irritated about her mistake.

[Guest]

She removed her finger from her mouth and it was already half healed. "I am fine, thank you though." But she still turned her hand palm up to show him that the small cut on her index finger was in fact closing. A small drop of blood continued to form as the wound closed. "See, fine, as I said."

He was close, very close. So close in fact that she could feel his breath on her. Because of how close he was she had been speaking rather softly, but now her voice was going to sound even softer. "Are you trying to start a fire Benjamin?" She smiled then.

She had noticed that he took care to step over her hair, she needed to cut it so it didn't drag the floor behind her anymore. Cutting it every other day kept that from happening. He was still close, so her voice was still soft. "What kind of tea would you like?" She planed on washing her hands before handling his tea as it was bag less. Her tea ball was over by her sink anyways.

[B.D. Adams]

If Benjamin had not taken off his hat earlier it was possible that the brim would be against her head, but he had been considerate of this fact and that is why it was in the chair. His breath was warm and the pacing of it even, the scent of her nearly filled his airway completely. He saw clearly the way her mouth moved when she spoke and the other small bits of motion. Perhaps they were standing in clear view of the opened door - if they were he was not paying it attention. As he told her earlier, he did not mind prying eyes. If they did not like what they saw then they did not have to watch. "Fires are your speciality remember?"

The next part would be completed unless she pulled back her hand. Taking one more step to the side Benjamin reached up with his left hand and took hold of the back of the Vampire's exposed hand. His grip was as secure as before and he held it between the two of them as he came around to her front, or near enough being that she was at the table. She might have even faced him more. The length of the spikes on her chest may have been equal to the distance of the hand-space they shared. With his thumb and first finger of his right hand he singled out the finger that still held the drop of blood. Eyes locking with hers, it was an intense gaze, but it was meant to hold her attention.

His two fingers applied the slightest bit of pressure while pushing upwards on the finger, more blood welling to the top. Benjamin brought her hand up and placed the bleeding tip against the center of his lips. They would open half an inch and she would feel the moisture from his tongue as it brushed against her finger. Yes, he drew in a small portion of her blood. Of course, he knew what he was doing.

After a moment he would draw her finger back. "Blackberry."

[Guest]

She stopped her heartbeat, not something she did often. Normally, if she was awake her heart was beating. She also stopped breathing. She did not want anything about her to feel human at that point. She watched him take her hand in his. When he looked into her eyes she returned his intense gaze.

She felt the pressure he applied to her finger, she drew her bottom lip in slightly. She wasn't sure he was actually going to do it until he did. Her first thought was of those flasks that she had been drinking from, that worried her. He second thought was of her Godhood, that worried her more.

But it had been just a drop. That tiniest bit of his saliva was enough to finish sealing her wound. Oh, the healing abilities of a lycanthrope. But she was sure that it was not done to close her cut. Would he taste the drugs in her system in that one drop? How much of an effect would that tiniest taste of her power have on him.

As he lowered her hand back down she closed her eyes for a moment. "Yes, fires are my specialty, and Benjamin, I honestly wish you had not done that." She withdrew her hand from his. He answered her question. He had said blackberry, it was her favorite, but she wouldn't make mention of that. She simply stepped around him and went to wash her hands and get her tea ball.

When she returned she scooped some of the blackberry tea into the ball and dropped it in the cup. She poured water into the cup from a pitcher that had been upon the table. She picked up the cup and held it in her hand, not touching the handle. As she walked towards him, the water heated and began to boil for only a second before she stopped the heating. She handed him the cup handle, which should have been cool to the touch.

She turned away from him to go to her bedroom area. "If you don't mind, I'm going to get out of this costume." She grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol off her dresser and some cotton balls and began to wash away all he make-up and body paint. As the removed the the paint she knows he is probably watching her. Yet she makes no effort to hide herself. She can feel his eyes upon her. Washing away the make-up brings fourth her tattoo that most never notice. The head of a blue dragon on her left side, at the bottom of her abdomen.

She disappeared for a moment behind the door of an Armour. She grabbed a dress and laid it on the bed behind her. She was amused by his silence. She was still worrying about his taste of her blood, and wondered if he was getting ready to act out because of it. "You're so quiet. What's on your mind?" She closed the Armour and walked over near the bed. With her back to him she removed the shoulder pads and gloves.

She thought for a moment before undressing further. She shook her head at the thought and figured that her hair had to be good for something. She unfastened the bra and laid it on the bed with the shoulder pads and gloves. Then she undid the chain that was holding the bottoms on and got a chill as she slid them off. It was an interesting sensation.

She reached over and picked up her bikini off the bed that she had laid there when she took it off before the party. She bend as little as possible as she pulled the bottoms on. Then the top, causing her to reach beneath her hair to being the chain together and clasp it.

When she picked up the dress she slid it on over her head. It was mint green and had spaghetti straps. The top would fit her form once it was zipped in the back. The bottom was a circle skirt pattern that fell to half way down her thighs. Once she had it on and pulled down she started the task of pulling her hair from the dress so she could zip it.

[B.D. Adams]

The taste of the blood stayed on his tongue for a moment or two longer as his own senses calculated the properties. It was a natural thing that he did - analyzing blood that entered his mouth - and what he received from hers was different. It put him in remembrance of something she had told him those days ago in the Meeting Hall, how Lycan blood got her high.

How very interesting indeed.

Maybe that was why she had made the comment on how he shouldn't have done it. All though, she could have stopped him when she saw him bring the finger to his mouth. Or perhaps, even then it was too late.

Benjamin made no comment, but accepted the tea when she gave it to him, nodding his head slightly in acknowledgment as he felt the drop of her blood moving in his system. He was no ordinary wolf and, had he been he could imagine the effect it would have had. May even have knocked him off of his feet or sent him aloft. It was strong and put him in mind of what was already in his veins. What it did do, was give him ideas.

Hand on his cup it was held to his lips - not a sip taken - and he watched as she changed from one outfit to another. A few times he thought about helping her out, but instead he entertained a few thoughts. Once she was dressed he put down his cup and headed towards her. The second question could be answered.

"What do you suppose is on my mind?" Since she was dressed he could come closer, but he stayed far enough not to interfere with her working her hair. It was interesting to watch how she could get it out without the tangled mess. "Thank you for the tea. And the blood." If she was looking at him she would see him smile at that. An almost wicked style of a grin. "We could create a powerful mix." Could.

"I may be over extending my time." His hands were at his sides and he flexed his fingers. He noticed she did not put on shoes. "You are settling in," he made no attempt to mask that he was studying how the clothes fit on her body and moved as she did. "Perhaps, I should go before thoughts become manifested."

[Guest]

She knew he had moved closer, despite the fact that her back was still to him. She continued to pull at her hair carefully. Then she heard his voice. He hadn't startled her, she knew he was there, she actually thought he would have been closer. "If I were to guess at what was on your mind, I would have to reference what would be on my mind if I were you. And that would be, just how much physical contact could I get away with right now?"

She finally had it all free of the back of her dress. Seven feet of curls spiraling down her back and across the floor behind her, and she now had it all in her hands and over her left shoulder. "You're welcome for the tea, blackberry was always my favorite." She didn't see the grin, too bad for that, she would have reciprocated. "In order to make a powerful mix, we would have to mix. Could you get my zipper please?"

She knew her body would react to his touch and his closeness, she wasn't worried about it. As she held her hair over her shoulder she brushed down the front of her dress. She loved this dress so much that she had it in three other colors. The lace moved with her body perfectly.

She chuckled lightly when he spoke again. "You are only over extending your time if you believe you are, I do not believe so." She tilted and turned her head making her neck pop, it was a bad habit to have, she knew that. "I actually was not settling in, were I to be doing so I would have chosen something else to put on. If it is my lack of footwear that causes such a thought than you are mistaken. I'm choosing to not put shoes on because I am already taller than you without them, no need to be taller."

He was choosing to go rather than allow his thoughts to manifest, that had her curious. "And why would you be worried about thoughts? Are they so wicked that they should never manifest?" That question was so loaded that she nearly laughed out loud after asking it. He had given away a hint towards his thoughts at that point.

She doubted he was thinking of attacking her, that was not his style. There would be no sport to doing so as she stood before him with her back to him. But there was a difference between attacking her and ravishing her, now wasn't there? And something told her that his thoughts were leaning more towards the ravishing her than the attacking her.

But she was prepared for either to occur. She would have no second thoughts to sinking her fangs into his flesh. It was her nature after all. And something told her that his blood would give her more insight than any would anticipate. He was different, than other lycans that was, she could feel it. His heartbeat gave him away.

But he had already tasted of her blood, although barely a drop, so to taste of his was a bad idea at the moment. "So, if you feel you must go, than by all means. I shall not stop you. I can always return to my desk and my papers."

[B.D. Adams]

The exposure of her back given by the lifting of her hair, he found to be a pleasant sight. He was all ready within reaching distance and therefore, when she asked him to zip of the dress, Benjamin did not have to go far. The Vampire did have a decent backside and he liked the dress. It was a good thing that she pulled the hair over her shoulder for it not only prevented him from having to step cautiously around it, it gave him a view.

Besides, he couldn't zip her up if the hair were in the way. Then again, it could have given him a different type of excuse.

Slow footfalls on the floor brought him in the rest of the distance until he was close upon her once more, the jingle of the spurs a soft echo. All he had do was reach a hand out and he could touch her. She could have chosen to wear anything else: a slip on top, something that pulled over her head, but she chose a dress with a zipper. All to fitting that it would be one that she needed help with. He knew that she was perfectly capable of doing it herself if she had to. So then it begged the question - why did she pick this dress?

There was only a moments hesitation before the tips of his fingers graced her sides, settling there before moving toward the open back and the zipper. "Some thoughts, are better left as that. Thoughts." He felt every inch of the fabric his fingers moved upon, his touch light and barely there. When reaching the opening of the dress his fingers moved down to the base of the zipper, holding there as he took another step closer. The only space that separated them now was the space of his hands. Benjamin leaned his head closer to her and spoke softly into her ear as he began to zip the dress. "You wore this dress because you want to see my thoughts in action."

The zipper was halfway up. Hip lips momentarily left the space by her ear and may have brushed against the skin of her neck. But he never touched the skin. Then she would hear him speak again in his low tones. "You don't dress up for paperwork." A tug as the zipper finally reached the top and she would feel the warmth of his presence leaving her as he took one backwards step and then another.

"Keep the hat. It can be your excuse."

Turning on his heel he faced the door to head out before starting that way .

[Guest]

She felt his fingers through the dress. She slowly closed her eyes. When he spoke of his thoughts remaining thoughts the right side of her mouth curled into a wicked smile. He had gotten so close to zip her up that the temperature of her body began so slowly rise. It was only notable to her, it wasn't a rapid enough rise to alert him to it.

He whispered in her ear as he spoke to her. She had to stop herself from taking a deep breath. But a thump escaped her heart before she could stop it. His breath was warm as his words brushed her flesh. The thought of seeing his thoughts in action had a certain appeal, provided his thoughts were as pleasant as hers were at the moment. But that wasn't why she wore the dress.

As he moved his head his lips brushed against the baby hairs on her neck. He whispered again, his breath brushing her flesh in a warm rush. Her body became covered in goose bumps and she smiled as she spoke. Her voice was soft and barely above a whisper, it was difficult to mask her thoughts as her words left her lips. "I wore this dress because it's my favorite. And this isn't dressed up, this is casual ..."

Words like 'dressed up' and 'casual' took on new meanings in Venis' wardrobe. Heels and dresses covered in satin and lace were the norm for her. She had business suits as well, but dressing up for Venis meant extravagant ball gowns with jewels and silk and all the trimmings. No, this dress was casual wear for her.

She felt him stepping back from her as well as heard his spurs. She spun her hair around her arm and continued to twist as it spun up into a rather large bun on the back of her head. She stepped forward one step and picked up a large clip of the night table beside the bed. She clipped the bun in place, and a few strands of hair fell around her face and neck. She spun around slowly to see his backside.

"The hat can be your excuse ... if you still need one later ..." She walked forward and as she came up to the end of the bed she turned to pass him. As she did she reached out her hand and ran her long nails along the back of his neck. "It's too bad you wanted me for your collection rather than just wanted me. I could always give you the chance to take that back, if you wanted to."

She walked over to the dresser. There was a bottle of blood wine and two glasses upon the dresser. She poured herself a glass. She leaned over the foot of the bed and grabbed her cigarettes from the bed before standing erect again. She slid her long fingers under the bowl of the glass. It wasn't necessary to lift the glass by the stem as the blood wine was not chilled. In fact, it was easier for Venis to warm the wine this way.

She carried the wine glass and her cigarettes out onto the balcony. She stepped out and closed her eyes leaning her head back slightly. The cool breeze ran along her skin and cooled her. She sat her head back up and opened her eyes. The wine in the glass bubbled a couple of bubbles as it became rather warm. With a movement of her thumb and then her fingers she was holding the glass by the stem. With the lifting of her pinky finger the glass came to her lips and she sipped.

She sat the glass down on the balcony wall and she pulled a cigarette from the pack. She put it between her lips and she held up her finger. A small flame shot up from the tip of her finger and she lit the cigarette. She took a drag off the cigarette and then blew it out. Then she turned to see if he was going to join her out on the balcony.

[B.D. Adams]

"It's too bad you wanted me for your collection rather than just wanted me. I could always give you the chance to take that back, if you wanted to."

That statement was laughable and that, instead of the feel of her fingers against the back of his neck, could have been the real reason behind the bit of mirth that emitted from his mouth. The humor coming from her saying she could give him a chance to take his words back if he wanted. Just how would she accomplish that act? Sounded to him that she wanted him to take those earlier words back. Benjamin hardly took back anything back that he said.

Would that still be the case if she knew what it meant to be in his collection?

He watched as she moved past him to collect the items off the dresser. He thought of the weight and stress her neck must have been under from wearing her hair in that fashion, although, she had done it so quickly that he guessed the style was a norm. Her neck must be use to a lot of weight. When she poured herself the glass he knew what the drink was by the smell. There was still the tea the Vampire had offered him earlier. He wasn't' ungrateful, even if he had not finished his drink. However, that was tea and now she was offering him something else, even though it may have been in the guise of blood wine.

A bottle of wine was not the only thing she had picked when she leaned across the bed, but she had also picked up a packet of cigarets. He had seen her smoke at the party, then he had thought it only an accessory for her outfit. Seems that he was wrong. Then, at the party, he had stood downwind so as not to smell the smoke, or have it cast in his direction.

The dress was nice. He watched as it shifted with her movements and she went to the balcony. Nighttime was playtime for Vampires so it was no surprise that she went there. Surely it had nothing to do with his actions causing her to need fresh air to calm down flared emotions. Benjamin was nearly tempted by the offer, if for nothing more than to tease her a few times more - but that was until she lit the cigaret.

Benjamin waited until she was looking at him once more, and then he gave a small two-fingered salute off the tip of his head - if he had not left his hat for her he would have tipped it instead - and a smile. "Enjoy your evening Vampire."

Did he want to leave? He'd never tell. He turned, and headed out the open door.

[Guest]

He had passed on his offer to cut the strings that had been attached to their relationship at their first meeting. Therefor their relationship was going to remain platonic ... for now at least.

She took another drag from her cigarette and tapped it out in her ashtray. He had said his goodnight. "You as well, pup." She scooped up her glass of blood wine and sauntered back into her room to watch his exit. It was a nice show.

She walked over to a box and began to riffle through it looking for a long metal hook. She wondered if he would hear her if she sent him a mental link, he wasn't exactly human. ~Glad to know you have at least one excuse.~ She found the hook she was looking for. She heated the metal and reformed it to fit it's need better.

It would need to be hammered into the wall, by a normal person. She walked over to where her desk sat and on the wall just to the side of the desk she slammed the hook against the wall and it went right in. She reached her hand behind her and his had flew across the room and into her hand. Not a trick she used often, but it was handy.

She placed the hat upon the hook and then walked back into her bedroom. She slid her small feet into her mint green heels and returned to her desk. She sat down at her desk and began to work on her papers once again. She was back on duty, where she belonged.

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