fraw (fraw) wrote in monstermatch, @ 2016-03-20 22:55:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !log, cassandra kiss, preston edward neufeld |
WHO: Cassie [humancondition] and Preston [fraw]
WHERE: Cassie’s place
WHAT: Making dinner and failing.
WHEN: Sunday March 20th / 2016, Evening
WARNINGS: Kissing/Romance/SUPER!Fluff
STATUS: Complete
Preston had arrived at Cassie’s coming straight from work, his outfit reflected this though he’d quickly lost the tie, jacket, unbuttoned a few shirt buttons and rolled up his sleeves. The man, while he had all the time in the world to play, also worked hard. He had a lot of money to manage and businesses to keep tabs on. He was your dragon den type, but...generally the things his funded weren’t the type of things you showed on TV. His money wasn’t particularly clean, and thus why sometimes he had to off-load it. Garric was a good person to do that with, his family knew how to keep their mouths shut and the money moving. It was getting to the point where he did need to offload and he’d been busier than usual setting that up.
However for the evening, he was focused on the beautiful woman he was with. Preston, now that they were up and free and moving around rather than stuck at a table (or on a table, as their last date had them getting massages) could be as close to her as he wanted. And he was. He didn’t hover but he was near to touch her arm or shoulder or tuck her hair back whenever the chance arose. Attentive and gentle, the demon was as much a doting man as he could be.
The evening was off to a good start, at least, to Preston it was. There was wine that he’d brought, and flowers that accompanied them in vase now, and Preston had seen around her place. He’d complimented her on it, and while it was a fair bit smaller than his (it was hard not to be smaller than his ridiculous penthouse) he liked it a lot more than his place. His was clinically clean and minimal, whereas hers was...comfortable. Like somebody lived there. Much softer than his.
“I’ve never made Chicken Marsala before, by the way. I can usually get a handle on things in the kitchen when I’m not distracted…” He said quietly, using the moment to step up behind her and press his lips to her neck gently. “But it’s incredibly difficult when I have this significant distraction that I have to work around…”
Cassie had been nervous about him coming over. Understandably so, she had liked to think. But the second he crossed the threshold to her home it all evaporated. She was all smiles and tours around her cozy one bedroom apartment, gentle kisses for bringing her flowers and wine before shuffling them back into the kitchen.
She, too, was dressed from a long day at work, a grey pencil skirt stopping above her knees and and a pale pink blouse tucked neatly at her waist. Her sleeves were also rolled up though he wore his better, at least from the way her eyes kept glancing to his arms before smiling a somewhat secretive smile.
The kiss at her neck made her shiver, her hair pulled up into a loose bun that was well on it’s way to tumbling loose. The hands that had been reaching for ingredients to cut suddenly stilled. She gently leaned back against him, back to his chest and her cheek turning towards his face. “Oh, I’m the distraction now?” She didn’t sound particularly put out, but it was easy to hear the grin in her voice. “What does that make you?”
”The Demon…?” He countered grinning against the skin of her neck. It was a standard answer when he wasn’t sure what to say but it tended to work for him overall. Who was he? The Demon. It played in his favor. He couldn’t help that. His hands rested on her waist and he slowly continued kisses along her neck and shoulder, with what skin he could reach. He was being awfully naughty but it didn’t matter.
This was the first time he had gotten the chance to do little more than kiss her lips. Getting this opportunity it go a little bit further was something he was more than happy about. “You smell amazing.” He murmured pressing against her gently. “It’s not fair that you’re this beautiful.” He played it up, teasing her. “You should be glad I’m not an incubus or a vampire. You’d have no chance.” He chuckled and then let her go slowly. He was kidding of course, the two other species could hold themselves he could only figure, Mathias knew how. That was enough for him.
He plucked up a bottle of wine he’d brought (some of it was for dinner...but that didn’t matter), and he topped off the glass she’d been drinking out of, as it had gotten low, and then topped off his own before placing it back down. “So what am I supposed to be doing again?” He asked, knowing she’d given him instructions but not remembering what they were.
Naughty wasn’t exactly the word she would have chosen, but coherent thought was easy to scatter in the wake of his lips. In the searing press of his kisses against her skin. It was hard to think of think of any creature more enticing than the demon at her back but she laughed softly along with him, sighing in disappointment as he pulled away.
“If you were we’d never eat.” A beat. “Or you’d be the only one eating.” Suddenly remembering how and what incubi feasted on, she felt a quick flash of heat in her face and was glad for the distraction the wine had given her. “You’re supposed to be helping me chop things, “ she pointedly reminded him, punctuating her words with a bump of her hip against his as she made room for him at the counter. The knife and vegetables sat before him, waiting to be sliced.
But it was her turn to watch him work, and she nursed her glass of wine as she drank in the handsome picture he made in her kitchen. “Be honest with me. Do you really cook your own food?” She imagined he had a chef for that sort of thing. “I’m surprised you didn’t push for steak again.”
He grinned when she made her remark about him being the only one eating. “Good thing then huh? Couldn’t let you starve. That’d be a damn shame.” He sipped at his wine watching her and then pretended to roll his eyes and put down his glass. “Fine if I must.” He grinned at her grabbing the knife and expertly chopping up the veggies that she had put in front of her. It wasn’t hard, at least this part wasn’t and he’d been doing it for a number of years before she was even a twinkle in her mother’s eye. But that didn’t mean for the most part, he had his meals catered to him.
He liked her attempt at a hip bump, which was more hip to thigh considering her height. He didn’t check her back for fear she’d go tumbling, but it made him laugh. “I don’t usually cook for myself, no. I have help for that.” He said, not shy about his situation. He’d worked hard at stealing other people’s hard earned money over the years. He didn’t have time for such things. “I used to cook a fair amount more...but this was...a long time ago.” He smiled at her. “A few centuries at least.” He said then shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t always need steak. It’s just a delicious way of getting one’s protein.” He chided playfully. When he was done, he picked his glass back up and turned towards her. “To a fun night of disasters.” He said holding his glass up to clink with hers before slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her in close to drop tiny, sweet kisses on her lips.
Centuries. It never ceased to amaze her and Cassie laughed softly to herself as she shook her head. “One day I’d love to hear some of that. I bet you have some great stories.” She didn’t want to pry where she was unwelcome but to pick the brain of someone who had seen so much and lived through so much history simply blew her mind.
“I’ll remember that and order some tofu next time we go out.” Next time. Maybe she was getting ahead of herself but it was hard not to imagine another time when he was pulling her back into the circle of his arms. She held her wine glass wide, worried that she’d drop it, and cupped his cheek in her hand as she kissed him back.
“Does it have to be all disaster?” Her question came murmured against his mouth, each word with a kiss and then another in between, tasting the wine on his lips. “We have a recipe.” She gestured to the countertop where the recipe lay, not once taking her eyes or lips off him. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Yes Preston was old, centuries seemed like decades and decades years. Time had passed and Preston had done many things he was both proud of and not so proud of, but here he was. The demon released upon the earth after the witch he cared so much for was burned at the stake. He had stories to tell, but none were as good or pure as she was. HE wasn’t ashamed, but he wondered if she knew the whole truth if she’d want to be with him. Not that it mattered. He and Henny had spoken long about this, humans as companions. Many supernatural didn’t want human companionship. It grew cumbersome when you weren’t aging but they were. Preston didn’t know where he stood on the idea. But he knew he really did like Cassie.
“Maybe next time it’ll be both Tofu and stories. How about that?” He said, though the idea of Tofu made him want to gag. It was close enough to veggies for him to not be interested whatsoever. Preston wasn’t sure if it was just him that hated veggies or if it was all demons. He had such an aversion to them it was kind of ridiculous. He’d chop them but he likely wouldn’t eat too many of them.
“You’re such an optimist, something I quite like about you….a recipe means nothing when I’m cooking.” He teased her softly, pressing his lips against her again, this time for a longer while, managing to place his wine glass down on the counter and slipping both arms around her. He pulled back to look at her, amusement in his eyes. “Is this too much?” He asked, curious to know what her limits were.
He didn’t change his expression but she a few things about demons (very few) and was impressed that he didn’t even make a face at the idea of tofu. “Let’s be honest. Steak and stories sounds a lot better.” Sure Cassie liked tofu well enough, but over actual meat? No contest. She was still pretty touched that he’d give it a whirl on her account.
“One of us has to stay positive,” she laughed, turning in his embrace to help him put his wine glass down without breaking her contact with his lips. As he wound both arms around her, she sighed, eyes fluttering closed as she leaned in to kiss him once more.
And opened them as he leaned back to speak. Oops. “Am I… moving too fast?” Sure he was a demon, and he had a very, ahem, suggestive profile. But he did say he was a gentleman and they hadn’t done much more than kiss goodnight each time they had seen each other. Maybe she had been reading it all wrong.”
”It does.” He grinned sheepishly. She knew him better than he would like to admit. He liked that. She was perceptive and she picked up on things. The past two meals they’d had, Preston had either not ordered veg, or avoided it if it was on his plate. He wasn’t sure anybody else had picked up on that during his other dates. He liked Cassie all the more. “Well I’ll leave it to you to stay positive then.” He grinned, ignoring the fact that they probably should watch what was going on in the kitchen.
“You are not moving too fast by any means. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable.” He said pulling her closer, pressing himself against her and leaning down to press a few kisses gently over her face, forehead and nose. A demon that was all about consent. How that worked, he was sure it wasn’t overly natural, but he’d learned from his friend. Sure, he might be as persuasive as possible, but he wasn’t going to push himself on to anybody.
Easily plucking the glass of wine from her hand and placing it on the counter, he turned her back towards the counter so that she could lean against it and he leaned over her, brushing the falling hair back and beginning to kiss her deeply, not straying to start slow. He trusted she’d stop him if she didn’t want it. Preston’s hands ran over her shoulders and down her arms before sliding around her sliding up her back slowly and then up into her already precarious hair again. It was all he could do to not pull out the implement that was keeping it up and just let it flow free. He liked the access, of course, but something about a woman’s hair down and wild was amazing.
Eventually his lips parted so they could both breathe but it wasn’t long before Preston was pressing the kisses to her neck again, not getting enough from previous.
As he so deftly took the wine glass from her, Cassie’s hands fell to his arms, sliding up to his shoulders as he pulled her into a deep kiss. It was so easy to pull him close, the counter bearing their weight as she pressed her lips against his. His hand blazed a trail of warmth wherever they roamed and she trembled against him, a soft moan falling from her lips at the touch at her hair. She always did love her hair being played with and though he didn’t card his fingers through it, she still shivered all the same.
Another low moue of longing escaped her as he pulled away but soon his lips were trailing along her neck, making her sigh his name. She arched her body against him, but as her hands fell to find purchase on the counter, her fingers brushed some of the mushrooms they had cut. The food. The food! Right. “Preston,” she started, his name trailing off into another gasp as at a particularly delightful spot, “we’re never going to finish at this rate. Finish dinner.”
Preston liked the little sounds she made, and it was a goal of his to keep those coming as often as possible. Her sigh sent a feeling through him that had him having to hold himself back, tensing just enough to be noticed, if she so did. He was fighting his own demons, so to speak, in keeping himself from doing more with her than either were ready for considering this was only their third date. He growled lightly when she mentioned dinner.
He didn’t want to stop but he had a feeling that he might have to. He continued however, as long as he could, gently nipping at the spot he’d just gone over and she’d given him that delightful little gasp. “Do you really want to finish dinner?” He asked, teasing her gently. “I’m sure it’s fine. We don’t need vegetables anyway.” He mused, his hands going to her hips and then her outer thighs and back up.
“Wouldn’t you rather I just keep kissing you here?” He asked, pressing his lips to that good spot one more time and then taking a small taste before kissing her skin again. She tasted divine, and that had been her neck. He could only contain himself to find out how else she tasted in another area or two.
She did notice the change in demeanor but only slightly. It was easy to get distracted in the sensations coursing through her. She only assumed he was much the same, distracted beyond reason. Or maybe she was giving herself too much credit.
She did like that little growl, and she would have laughed at his unhappiness at the reminder of dinner if he hadn’t begun kissing her again. Hadn’t robbed her of thought once more. “God, would I ever,” she sighed. She could have stayed there forever, in his arm and under his lips, feeling the delightful flick of his tongue against her before he rained kisses along her skin once more. Why hadn’t they done this sooner? Why had she waited so long?
Thankfully, or unfortunately, her stomach wasn’t having any of it and rumbled quite loudly. She stilled in Preston’s embrace for a long moment, torn somewhere between horror, embarrassment, humor, and relief, before the laugh tumbled from her lips before she could stop it. “My stomach, however, wants us to go back to cutting the chicken.”
”You’re absolutely no fun.” He pouted, but it was all in jest. Or it was presented that way. He wanted to pick her up, walk into the living room and forget all about the kitchen. Then of course, her stomach growled and she stilled and Preston had to bite back a laugh. It was funny. He couldn’t help it. “How sweet.” He said pulling back to grin at her. She looked...all sorts of things but he found it all humourous. “I guess we can’t let you starve this way either…” He said letting her go and stepping away picking up his glass of wine to take a long drink.
“I’m going to need a moment.” He teased, tugging at his shirt as if he were cooling himself. He liked this. The chase, the kissing...all of it. It was more than he was used to and he hadn’t felt this way in a very long time. Like he was young. Ridiculous and young. He had told Henny that he thought he’d found one but..maybe he had actually found THE one. One that he’d be with for longer than just a decade or two.
Preston picked the knife back up that he was using and started to cut up the chicken. It was also pretty easy for him, and he was careful not to cross contaminate anything. Especially with the vegetables. Yugh. “What do I do now, boss?” He asked, chicken fully sliced into pieces like the recipe said. He could easily read the recipe but he wanted more of a reason to talk to her.
He tugged at his shirt and Cassie watched entranced for a moment before looking away, her face flushed and graced with a smile. This was far more than she expected, but nothing she didn’t want. Especially from him. Her hands went to the other knife and the remaining vegetables, trying to center her composure once more before she pushed away stray locks with her wrist.
As he cut the chicken she turned on the heat, dropping butter and oil onto the pan and listening to it sizzle. “Now we coat them,” she said, leaning against him to pluck the chicken slices from his side of the counter and dropped them into a plate of flour. One side and the other before she set them into the pan. She started the process again and again, moving back as she read the recipe and move to their food. And if she brushed up against him as she moved, well, it could hardly be helped.
Adding the herbs to the pan as well, the scent of their cooking filled the air. The sound of sizzling food echoed in their ears. Another few locks of hair fell into Cassie’s eyes and she tried to blow it away with her lips, much to no avail. “Preston…,” she turned her face to him, gently pushing against him with her hip to get his attention. Her hands were reaching for her sink but her hair, accursed hair, was a little more pressing and she couldn’t push it away with her hands this covered. “Do you mind if you could…?” The question trailed off as she pursed her lips, another breath escaping her and another breath not doing much against her hair.
Preston watched her as she continued working through the recipe but he wasn’t really paying mind to it. It was more fun to watch her do it anyway, which was typical of how lazy he could be, but it was more so that he wanted to just watch her. See her. It wasn’t like he stood around watching his housekeeper cook for him. This was a particularly pretty cook as it were. When she brushed against him he couldn’t help but smirk. “The butter isn’t the only thing that’s sizzling…” He teased her. Oh it was cheesy, but he was getting comfortable, and that was when it was the worst.
He heard his name and felt her push and looked over at her. The familiarity was impressive between the two, as Preston had just finished washing his hands and was drying them off on a tea towel when her hair did the comical thing and fell across her face. Cassie the cute with her hair all over the place. He leaned over and moved her hair out of her eyes and then leaned in for another long, long kiss. He couldn’t help it. He didn’t care if her hands were all covered in chicken muck or that they should have been watching the stove, he couldn’t get enough of just kissing her.
They hadn’t even had sex yet, and his head was constantly spinning every time they made contact. He had to make sure that he didn’t get too far ahead of himself of course, but had she been anybody else, he wouldn’t have bothered to put the effort in. Cassie was something else, truly. Parting he smiled at her. “Was that what you wanted, angel?” He asked her, his fingers lingering on the tips of her hair, rubbing a lock between his fingers gently.
Oh that kind of cheesy line got a snort from her, an almost unladylike sound that trailer into a laugh. If she wasn’t so covered in food she would have swatted his arm. As it was she just nudged him as best she could, even as he towered over her. Thankfully he brushed her hair out of her eyes and as she was about to thank him, he kissed her, once more scattering all thought from her mind. Her arms remained floating out at their sides, careful not to touch him even as every instinct clamored to hold onto him. To close the scant distance of their bodies as best she could.
When he broke away and called her angel, she turned a deep pink. Her eyes immediately darted back to the living room, remembering the gift of angelic and demonic salt and pepper shakers he gave her on their first date that sat on her shelf. The pet name charmed her more than she thought, and suited her more than she liked to admit. A long moment hung between them as she tried to find words once more, and she bit her lip as she lifted her face into a far more pensive expression.
“Maybe,” she said, drawing out the word before giving Preston a half shrug. “I think I might need another try. To be sure. Just in case.” Her lips curved into a smile, as much of a warning as any, before she pressed her lips against his into another long kiss.
Preston was surprised by her Maybe at first and then the shrug. He wondered briefly if he’d gone too far...but then there it was, she wanted another and he didn’t even get a chance to chuckle before her lips were against his again and they were kissing. Preston’s kisses were slow and deliberate, gentle but firm and always full of passion. He was an old man after all and he knew what he wanted, and he was passionate about that. He wanted Cassie. End point.
Preston’s hands were clean and so they wrapped around her waist pulling her close fingers lingering over her hips and the skirt fabric. He got a touch cheeky and slid his hands slowly around her waist and then down over her behind giving it a quick and firm squeeze before sliding them back to her waist. She had no hands to really be fighting back against the quick touch, lest she want him to get dirty. Then again maybe she would protest, but he didn’t count on it.
He pulled away from her lips with a long groan. “You’re amazing, Cassie. Seriously, where did you come from? You’re like a dream.” He commented kissing her lips in small kisses and then tasting her lips between the pecks. “I’m ridiculously crazy about you.” He smirked at her, not at all embarrassed at the confession. Preston was too old to be embarrassed, it’s just how he was. He pecked the corner of her mouth. He really couldn’t get enough. He was stupid over her...and that was quite the feat.
Sweet murmurs came with every press of his lips and as he grabbed her she could only make the sound of something between squeak of surprise and moan of approval. But all too soon his hands were back at her waist, gentlemanly as ever.
“I could say the same about you,” she whispered, smile softly with each kiss. “You’re so much more than… that I could have…” Her thoughts kept scattering as something kept fighting for her attention. Heat? That was surely just the flush that often flooded her everytime she was in his presence. No this was a different kind of heat altogether, a sharp prickling that dotted her arm occasionally from…
“Oh crap,” she breathed as she pulled away from him. Now that she wasn’t so distracted by him she could take in the scene of her kitchen. The loud sizzle of meat on the pan, left for too long. The oil splattering so it caught her sleeves. The scent of burning food. “Oh no, noooo,” she sighed, quickly grabbing the panhandle with her, unfortunately, still dirty hands and moving it off the fire. The chicken still sizzled angrily, the pan hot enough to continue the cooking even off of the heat.
She frowned.
“Shit.” He muttered, reaching for the oven to turn off the burner. Oops. He’d done that. Was he sorry? Not really. Of course the poor girl might starve now, but he’d figure out something for them to eat. His face, though made it obvious he felt sorry for what had happened. “That was all the chicken wasn’t it.” He said, running the cold water in the sink and popping the pan in their quickly. It sizzled up and died down quickly the brown bits of half burned half raw meat floating about.
“You didn’t burn yourself did you?” He asked, suddenly concerned she’d felt it before she’d smelt it. He warmed the water up and then grasped her arm lightly so that she could wash her hands, letting her rinse first and then pumping the soap that was on the side of the sink into her hands for her. It was a reaction that was typical of Preston, though Cassie didn’t know it. Taking care of his pet was something that he took in high regard, and this was just a small part, but a part he couldn’t just move away from.
Once her hands were clean he reached for a tea towel and dried them for her, rubbing over her skin slowly, attentively and gently. Once they were dry he kissed one of her palms without thinking...it was automatic, all of it. He had said nothing, hadn’t met her eyes during the entire thing. He was so programmed to care for the person he perceived as his, that it was just his nature. It didn’t dawn on him what he was doing until the moment he’d hung the tea towel back and up and he met her eyes. He paused, not sure what to say. “Sorry.” He muttered quietly.
“Yeah,” she replied with a sigh, watching the water wash against the pan. Steam filled the air as the water cascading down and she was about to speak when he tugged at her arms. It was easy to wash away the muck but still he took careful care to help her, a surprising gesture but sweet nonetheless.
Even the kiss on her palm, so unexpected, had her nearly gasping as much as his earlier kisses. There was something… different. There in the air, in the gesture. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but she knew, and when their eyes met, she smiled. “For what?” She reached up to give him a kiss at the corner of his mouth, her hands finally able to rest on his chest. “I’m fine and you owe me some chicken.” With satisfied pat on his chest - as if declaring the matter now over - she leaned around him to reach for the paper menus that were hanging on her fridge.
“How do you feel about Chinese?” She tossed him an optimistic look over her shoulder.
He was about to explain but she didn’t seem to want an explanation and so with the pat on his chest he assumed it was over. He smiled, rubbing his head near his horns and then nodded. “Chinese is just fine. Just...order me something that doesn’t have veggies in it.” He teased her. Okay, so she seemed okay. She at least, wasn’t weirded out by the sudden change in behavior, which was good, at least he thought so.
“I trust you to order. My treat since I ruined dinner.” He said giving her a look as if to say ‘just try and argue, you will lose’.
Working to start cleaning up the mess, he began to bag veggies up into what he could, containers or zip locks and then he worked on cleaning up the pans and putting things away where he’d seen them come from. He had a good memory for that. He watched her, every so often and by the time she was finished deciding what to order and had done it, Preston had most of the mess away.
“So….how long is delivery?” He asked, thinking it was unlikely they’d have to pick up. Delivery seemed to be the best option anyway if they didn’t want to have to battle traffic.
“Double vegetables, got it,” she replied airily, eyes drifting upward to watch his hand pass near his horns. Another time.
She left him to cleaning, huffing and glaring at him - her guest! - and ordered from the restaurant nearest to them. By the time the order was placed, she came back to him already putting the food and supplies away. She picked up all that was left, the bottle of wine, and poured them both another serving.
“About half an hour? They’re not far.” With the counter now clean, she made sure her glass of wine was far from her before she hopped up on the counter. She let her heels dangle precariously off her toes as she settled herself on the stone. “So. What now?” She made sure her tone was even and innocent, eyes wide and patient, no expectations in any direction as she sipped her wine.
”What now? With you up here…?” He asked stepping towards his newly cleaned counter, his face looking stern. “Counters aren’t for sitting on, young lady.” He said immediately scooping her up, one arm behind her back and one under her legs. “I just spent all that time cleaning that counter and you just sit down on it. That was incredibly rude…” He teased her. She was light as a feather really. He had a lot of strength not because he was a demon but because he also made sure he was strong. You never know what could come.
He walked her into the living room and sat down on the sofa, plopping her easily on his lap. He grinned at her. “Now we relax a little.” He said taking her wine glass from her and placing it on the table next to them. Sure he was being forward, but it was almost like he slipped in to that role when he’d helped her wash her hands. He smirked a little at her. The alcohol had a small effect on his inhibitions around his preferences clearly. A little less careful.
She wasn’t his yet.
His hand gently caresses her cheek and then ran up through the loose strands in her hair before tugging the clip out of her hair gently letting it fall down, and then caressing the strands as they tumbled. He leaned in and kissed her gently.
She hadn’t expected to the reprimand though in retrospect, Cassie should have known it was coming. In the face of that look he was giving her, her humor momentarily quailed, only to come roaring back as he picked her up. One hand kept her arm wide, holding onto her wine glass, while the other tightly wound around his shoulders. “Preston!” The shriek was instinctive, the laugh immediate, but she didn’t relax until she was safely on the couch and in his lap.
With no small amount of amusement and wonder, she let him set her glass down and as his fingers carded through her hair she sighed, practically purring, and let those soft sounds feather across his lips. His kiss was gentle and she loved it so, her hands moving up to cup his face.
This was fast. And forward. And wonderful. Though she knew she would have to slow down sooner rather than later, she couldn’t help but gently deepen their kiss. The wine was making her bold and she was already so comfortable around. A little - or a lot - suggestive kissing wouldn’t hurt them.
Preston realized shortly after the kiss started that he’d very much just dipped his toe into the dominant pool with her and he wondered, idly, if she’d realized it, and what she thought about it, but he didn’t wonder too hard, considering her lips were on his and that was amazing. Her kiss moved them in deeper, and he appreciated that she took the initiative. It wasn’t fun to kiss somebody who didn’t kiss back, afterall.
Fingers idly still toying with her hair, his other hand sliding over her side slowly, just feeling the material over her skin. He knew that this couldn’t go too far. It was early, and while there were many things he could do to her, that didn’t require them to go so far, he didn’t want to push either of them, or what was happening between them.
He’d been pretty sure Cassie was ‘One’ when he’d spoken to Henny but he hadn’t realized how fast she would be perhaps ‘The One’. He wasn’t sure how it would work out, but Preston was hopeful for something more. A rumble grew in his chest as they continued to kiss. The man was becoming a little breathless, but he had a hard time stopping.
There was something so intriguing about the growl that it made her smile against his mouth. Made one of her hands slide to his shoulder to clutch needily at his clothes. At the touch of his hand on her side, even through the fabric of her shirt, she sighed deeply, leaning in close to feel as much of him as she could.
But oh, this was such a bad idea. Such a bad, bad idea, and finally she pulled away. Her kiss swollen lips parted into a breathless and sheepish smile.
“We, um. I think we’re getting a little carried away.” Her mouth ghosted over his, her lips brushing along his mouth as she formed the words. “Or a lot. A lot carried away.” Still she didn’t move out of his lap just yet.
Preston felt Cassie grip his clothing and it caused him to rumble one more time. He of course wanted her to be enjoying herself, and he could only imagine a reaction like that would be a positive one. His hand tightened lightly on her clothing, giving her an indication. He too, was feeling it. When she leaned in he he let her clothing go and slipped his arms around her encompassing her smaller frame into his large one, holding her close.
He did let out a small dissatisfied noise when she pulled away, but he accepted it. He barely opened his eyes feeling her lips ghosting over his with the words. This time he let out an even larger groan. He attempted to press the control button on himself, but it was difficult.
“Are we? I thought we’re getting to know each other.” He teased back. She didn’t move so he didn’t loosen his grip, but she could have gotten away if she wanted to. He pressed another smaller, shorter kiss to her mouth but with no less passion, breathing in as he did it. He pulled away gently and instead pressed a line of kisses along her jaw and then to her neck. “Nice collar bones.” He whispered, grinning against her skin.”
She turned her head away, exposing the column of her throat to him, her pulse fluttering under his lips.
“Collarbones,” she said with a breathless and amused laugh. “I still can’t believe it.” Pulling away slightly, she slid her hand to cover those collarbones of hers in mock modesty.
“I should have worn a turtleneck if I had known my collarbones were as distracting as you said they were.” Now with humor winding its way into their conversation she took the break to try and calm her thundering heartbeat. “Maybe we should talk-oh.” Realizing that she wasn’t exactly in the best position for conversation, she sheepishly slid off his lap onto the space next to him on the loveseat.
Preston let her go, he wasn’t going to keep her on his lap of course, he was still trying to be gentlemanly after all, even if the previous few minutes he hadn’t managed to keep that at the forefront of his head. There was still a fire that had been ignited in his eyes though, that had to be quelled. He looked at her for a moment before slowly willing himself to relax a little. He let out a long breath and put his arm around the back of the sofa behind her, getting comfortable and returning to look at her. “I already explained collar bones to you. Maybe one day I’ll get to show you.” He jested lightly.
Once she settled he cleared his throat. “So. What would you like to talk about?” He grinned. He couldn’t help it. They’d been in the middle of passionate kissing the moment before he wasn’t really sure what would be interesting to talk about now.
“What shall we talk about? Your delightful throw pillows?” He asked plucking on up with his hand and giving it a wave before plunking it back down.
What could they talk about indeed? Her thoughts were scattering as she felt that smoldering gaze upon her and she felt a flush overtake her cheeks and yes, even that collarbone that he was so fond of. When she looked upon his face to start more banal conversation, her eyes rested on his horns.
Hadn’t she asked to touch them once? She could think of nothing more she wanted at that moment. But they were trying to be good, and horn touching probably fell somewhere on the spectrum of ‘decidedly not chaste.’
She was staring as all these thoughts raced through her head and her blush deepened as she looked away, a laugh falling from her lips.
“Um.” She resisted the urge to clear her throat. She kept imagining her fingers sliding through his hair until they skimmed his horns. “How are… things! How’s work?” There. Totally safe conversational topics.
Preston found the whole thing amusing. He would haven’t pushed for much more than the very heavy kissing, at least, not yet. It was still technically only a few dates in. He had long since grown weary of others expected when it came to decorum. He’d read up on the ‘rules of dating’ after Cassie had mentioned them. He prefered to do what he wanted, or at least, what his partner wanted. If she wasn’t ready, he’d wait. It wasn’t going to kill him, considering. Immortals that were older understood this. Perhaps it was the fact that they’d come so far that they didn’t seem to worry about waiting a little longer.
Of course, Cassie was human. But you couldn’t push something onto a person that didn’t want it. He was ridiculously invested in consent. You had to be, in the lifestyle. There was no other option.
Her eyes hadn’t gone unnoticed though and he had a feeling what was on her mind. They’d talked about his horns at length. “Come on Cassie.” He said giving her the eye, it was playful, but it still had a little bit of heat behind it. “Ask me something you really want to know.” He said giving a playful smirk. “What’s the point with small talk?”
A smile threatened to bloom across her face and she fought hard against it, her lips twisting as she tried to hide her amusement. “You’re so bad,” she laughed, swatting his arm lightly as she leaned back on the arm of her loveseat. “There’s nothing wrong with small talk. I do want to know how you’re doing.” As if she couldn’t already guess.
That didn’t stop her eyes from flitting back up towards his head. Weighing her options, she bit her lower lip before meeting his gaze. “Can I touch them?” Her voice pitched to a whisper, huskier than she intended. “You did promise.”
He watched her, her amusement. It made him happy when she smiled like that. The arm swat only proved to be more amusing to him and he rubbed his arm as if she’d actually hurt him. “Jeeze what are you, Valkyrie?” He teased her. He licked his lips. “You know I’m fine. Happy. I know you’re fine and Happy. There. Small talk finished.” He said, giving her a look.
He really had no mind for it. He’d do it if she really wanted it but he assumed that if she wasn’t fine, she’d tell him. At least, he hoped she would.
Preston had half a mind to pull her right back on to his lap. And so he did. “Come here.” He said, slipping his arm around her waist and giving a gentle pull. If she didn’t really want to come, she didn’t have to, but he intended to have her the most up close and personal encounter she so seemed to want. “Do as you wish.” He said, matching her quiet tone.
She wrinkled her nose at him as he rubbed his arm, playfully raising her fist up to him in a mock threat. “Surprise, I’ve got valkyrie blood.” If only, but hey, witchblood coursing in her veins, even if she never took up craft, was still something of a threat (at least she imagined it to be). Even so, she reached up to the arm she hit, her expression changing to one of mock sympathy as she rubbed the spot. “Better?”
Pulling her back into his lap was probably not the wisest move for either of them, but Cassie wasn’t going to complain. With her legs swung over his, she straightened up to survey his horns more closely. And pointedly ignore the flutter in her belly at his words and tone. Her hands raised up, floating hesitantly before her fingers reached out, their faces close but her attention not on his but at the top of his head.
At first brush, she touched his temples, her fingers sliding through his hair slowly as if she was waiting for the moment when he’d ask her to stop. Up, up, up, they trailed until her fingertips touched the base of his horns, and curious wonder flashed in her eyes. Strange, but exactly as he had told her it might before when the topic of horn touching came up. That didn’t stop her from exploring more, her fingers moving along the sides of the horn to run her fingertips over it.
Preston’s hands rested idly around Cassie, not pulling or pushing, just holding gently. He watched her at first, her face. It was...intimate. This. He’d had this request over the years, but he didn’t always allow for it. Women reached for them when they were much larger, before he’d had them filed down and it had been fine, usually in the throes. This was the first time he’d done…this. His eyes watched her face as she touched his temples.
He wasn’t going to ask her to stop.
When Cassie touched his horns Preston’s eyes fluttered shut, one hand behind her holding her a little more firmly. Cassie and Preston had kissed deeply and they’d shared meals and they’d had long conversations, but this was the first time Preston felt butterflies in his stomach. He wasn’t immune to them-too old for them-after all. He let out a soft sigh, his face turning to one that was relaxed, and soft and clearly enjoying what she was doing though he wasn’t smiling in particular.
The further she went the less sensitive they became but still it was the mere act that had him holding his breath a little. He didn’t really want her to stop. He swallowed roughly. It truly was new to the centuries old demon.
She had seen his eyes close and her hands stilled until she felt the reassuring press of his hands on her. It was a good sign, she hoped, and the sigh he gave only confirmed it. It wasn’t exactly the reaction she expected to get from him, but considering this was her first hornjob she thought she was doing well.
She carefully watched his face as her fingers drifted up his horns, finding little change as she went up and making her slide her fingers back down. It was all so very new to her and though she was having a lovely time, a part of her still worried and wondered.
“Is this alright?” Her voice was still a soft whisper as if afraid of whatever spell that was weaving around them. The tension had shifted in the air, different than when they had been kissing but no less profound. The last thing she wanted to do was break it, and when she gently wrapped her hands around the base of his horns, she lowered her face to meet his gaze once more.
Preston found himself pulled in two different directions. It was… incredibly intimate in two different ways for him. The first, and largely the most, was that he was trusting Cassie with something he normally wouldn’t trust somebody with. One protected their head with everything they had, and likely even more so when they had a set of horns. However, here he was letting Cassie touch him in such a way. It was sexual to a point for Preston, but that wasn’t what he was thinking about now.
The other was that much like any animal, holding his horns like this, without it being just an in the moment action, felt like he was submitting to her, which was a completely foreign feeling for Preston.
He could very well feel the atmosphere around them change. And he liked it. He couldn’t help it. The closeness he felt, even if it wasn’t due time for it, was real. At least for Preston it was.
When she spoke he was a little surprised, but felt her looking at him and he opened his eyes to look at her. “Yes, Cassie.” He said studying her face, voice quiet, his own face an expression of gentle that she hadn’t seen yet before. Preston was very much ‘on’ for the most part. He rarely felt a vulnerability and he never showed it if he did. Now. He did. The whole thing was very strange for the Demon. The hand behind her pulled her in a little more and he smiled, albeit gently.
She wasn’t privy to his thoughts. She wasn’t aware of why the moment was as charged as it was. All she knew was the tension that existed between them and the expression on his face, completely unguarded and new to her.
While one hand stayed on his horn, thumb idly stroking the side, the other hand reached down to cup his cheek. She leaned in to kiss the corner of his mouth, tender and gentle as her hand on his horn before she pulled back slightly, her hands sliding away from his head.
“I like them,” she declared quietly, surveying them with one last look before she moved his hair after all her mussing.
It would be difficult at best for Preston to express those thoughts to Cassie, especially so soon in their courtship. He would have loved to emote all of it to her, but Preston had gone a lot of years without feeling vulnerability. His pets were sometimes privy, but Cassie had gone farther than most of them had in years. Decades even.
The moment had been far too long and far too brief at the same time. If he had his choice however, he’d let her sit like that for more time. The relaxation brought to him by it wasn’t something he was used to. He was used to always being careful. He accepted the kiss and his hand on her back flexed a little, and he let out a gentle sigh. His eyes had closed for a moment more but then she stopped and his hair was being put back to how it was.
He swallowed again and then looked at her. He didn’t want her to go just yet. Which was something again, he’d never really experienced. Longing? Perhaps it’d been since before he came to this plane. Preston tipped his head up and caught her lips for a short kiss. “Stay here a minute.” He asked, well..told but it was a question. She didn’t have to.
The request startled her but not enough to have her turn away. After the moment of surprise, her expression softened. The hands that toyed with his hair continued their petting and she nodded, her lips brushing against his with the motion.
“Then I’ll stay.” He did ask so nicely, and she enjoyed the unexpected intimacy afforded from her position. She sat in his lap as she looked fondly upon his face, her fingers brushing back his hair. Of all the things she expected from this night, this wasn’t thought of at all. She couldn't complain, not when he looked so serene before her, and she kept stroking his forehead gently as she waited for him.
Preston hadn’t expected this either. He had known he’d liked Cassie since they’d started talking. She was witty and she kept up, it had been refreshing, but then came the rest, and the rest was even better than before. It was hard not to have incredibly warm feelings for since she’d stepped into his life.
Her ministrations were clearly appreciated as he closed his eyes briefly again sighing. Soft hands, gentle ones that gave him such comfort. Eventually though he knew he had to stop indulging and he opened his eyes and looked at her. “Thank you.” He said, giving her a gentle smile. He pulled her in closer and gave her a long, less hungry and more passionate kiss before parting from her slowly. He touched her hair lightly, running his fingers through the tips of the strands, continuing to look at her.
He really felt like he couldn’t stay away from her in the moment and it was incredibly strange for him.
It was her turn to sigh, the press of his lips against her making her lean in closer. Even when they parted she didn’t stray, her nose brushing his and her lips seeking out him once more for another kiss.
The sound of a knock had her jumping back, before she laughed at her own surprise. “Probably dinner,” she said, her voice breathless and loud in her ears. Standing up quickly, she smoothed down the wrinkles of her clothes, taking care to adjust her skirt and shirt though really it was a lost cause. She had caught sight of herself in the nearby mirror and saw the way her hair tumbled down her shoulders, how her lips were plump from kisses. She flushed a soft pink as she opened the door. Thanking the deliverer, she closed the door behind with nudge of her knee.
“Ready for vegetarian meals?” She called back to Preston with a teasing grin, not sure if he was still at the couch or ready for dinner, but she made her way to the kitchen regardless.
Preston had gotten up and while Cassie had turned away from him he’d given his face a good rub, to bring himself out of the spell that had happened around them. He quickly also ran his fingers through his hair, righting it best he could. He smoothed out his shirt and then looked over at the woman when she mentioned their food.
He wasn’t sure how to feel about any of it. Or all of it. And he’d have a chance to sit down and think about it later, but for now...well it was time to go back to normal.
He was back to his usual Preston by the time she had made her way in to the kitchen. Giving her a look, he smirked at her joke. “Totally ready. Let’s get this over with.”