Keira Adams (keiraadams) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-08-08 21:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | gabriel allen, keira adams |
Who: Keira and Gabriel
What: A night out together
When: August 7, 1888 - evening
Where: Lionhart to start, then to Miss Lydia's Music Academy
Warning: PG
Gabriel waited for his pretty mer friend at the Lionhart with no small degree of anticipation.
Their brief foray into conflict had been an unpleasant one, but her coming by his house had broken through the discomfort and uncertainty, and they’d come out the other side better for it. Since then, he’d sent her a series of bouquets -- one of dark pink and yellow roses, bachelor’s buttons and bluebells, another of canterbury bells, white camellias, white carnations, freesia, and chrysanthemums. (Between that, and the rather extensive arrangement he’d sent to Chiara, his monthly florist’s bill was a good sight costlier than it usually was, but it was an investment well worthwhile.) She’d responded favorably to his request to treat her to a night out, and he knew just how dear those evenings were to her -- between her work, her duties with the Sisterhood, and her studies, he could only imagine how precious her free time was.
The least he could do was make certain her time was well spent.
With the ugliness of what had happened with Gabriel behind them, Keira was happy to be meeting with her friend to spend the night out with. Her rooms at L’albergo smelled like a florist shop with all the flowers he’d been sending to her, having the girls gossiping about her secret lover she would not tell them about. She refused to let them know who was sending her flowers and told them all not to look too much into it. It was just a friend, she was fairly sure on that point.
She’d dressed to the tens, a lovely blue dress that not only accented her red hair but also contrasted her pale skin, making her think of porcelain when she glimpsed herself in the mirror. It took a little doing, but she’d managed to escape the house without much issues with the other women and headed straight for the Lionhart. Once there, she stepped inside and looked around before seeing Gabriel, heading towards him with a smile on her face. “Mr. Allen,” she greeted him, giving a small curtsey when she’d reached him. “It’s good to see you.”
“Mrs Adams,” Gabriel exclaimed warmly, getting up to greet his friend with a kiss to both her cheeks and a clasp of her hands, “It is such a delight. Please, do sit.” He smiled. “I’ll be sure to let you do the ordering this time round,” he said, with a laugh. “There’s no accounting for my taste, clearly,” he added, as he settled into the booth.
“You look utterly luminous,” he said, once they were seated. “It is so good to see you looking so well. Tell me, how have you been keeping yourself?”
Keira smiled, clearly happy with the kisses to both her cheeks and gave his hands a squeeze of her own. “Letting me do the ordering? Oh my,” she said as she took her seat and smoothed the skirts of her dress over her legs. “I think a wine for me, at least,” she smiled. She didn’t mind ale at all, not really, but she did like the sweeter wine much better.
“You flatter me so,” she smiled across the table at him. “I’ve kept myself busy lately,” she explained. “The shop, my studies, everything, it’s nice to have a break and get away from it all,” she let out a sigh. “Oh. Speaking of flattery, you do not have to continue sending me flowers, you realize?” She smiled and shook her head. “I mean, my room smells lovely and the women of the house are all very inquisitive of who my admirer is,” she teased. “But you do not need to do that. I know you are sorry for everything that has happened, as I am.”
“Dear lady,” Gabriel replied, echoing her smile with one of his, I know I do not need to, but I very much want to. Have you much familiarity with the language of flowers? I find it quite poetical.”
“I am glad you were able to get away,” he said, resting his chin on his hand. “I was wondering whether you might be up for a play after dinner, or a pleasant evening stroll? If you have to get back, of course, I completely understand.”
“I know the meanings of some, I believe,” Keira answered him. “Roses, the yellow ones are for friendship I think, and red is for love, but I don’t believe I know all of the meanings of the ones you’ve sent me,” she said. “Would you enlighten me?”
“I am yours for the evening,” she answered him. “So play, or stroll, both sound delightful,” she added. “You have to tell me, do they have red meat here?” She asked. Her dinner would have to be something cooked very rare.
Gabriel smiled. “How lovely. Whatever you’d like best, then. And let’s see. You’re right about the yellow, and dark pink is thankfulness. Bachelor’s buttons are for hope, and the bluebells, humility and constancy -- so with my first, I was saying, I am thankful for our friendship, and humbly hope you accept my constancy. And the second said that I find you a sweet vision of loveliness whom I adore; I trust you, I am filled with gratitude, and find you a wonderful friend.”
He reached across the table for her hand, and brought up her knuckles to kiss. “The first was about my hopes for your opinion of me, the second was for how I saw you. And I meant every bit of it, of course,” he added.
“And Keira, my dear,” he said, raising an eyebrow and smiling, giving their linked fingers a bit of a squeeze before releasing her hand. “This is the Lionhart. I’m sure if you make a request, the chef will be quite capable of accommodation.”
Keira listened as Gabriel explained the flowers and she told herself that she needed to visit the library and pick up a book on the meaning of flowers. It seemed as if her dear friend did like to converse in the language of flowers. She blushed when he took her hand and kissed her knuckles, a light pink slightly brushing against her cheeks. “Well, then, I think I like those flowers even more so than I did before now,” she smiled.
“My opinion of you, of course, is very high,” she said softly. “Higher than my opinion of others. I adore you, as well,” she admitted as she pulled her hand back once he released it. “You are very close to my heart, Gabriel, which is why I needed to make things right between us.” And they were, he being smooth with his compliments to her and she blushing, the friendship intact maybe even better now than it had been. “You give me hope.”
Gabriel looked over at the sweet little mermaid. “I am so very glad you did,” he said, quietly, “and you are close to mine as well.”
He mused about the nature of their connection; while he had some friends who weren’t lovers, it was all too easy for him to blur those lines -- he was a tactile soul by his nature, and tended to see sex as a way of expressing affection, an exuberant, playful appreciation, a deeper form of intimacy -- but from the start, his relationship with Keira had been forged through conversation, playful banter (and no end of flirting, of course).
“What is it you hope for, my dear?” He asked, thoughtfully.
Keira held Gabriel’s eyes for a long moment. She was sure, had she met the Incubus before meeting her late husband, she would have slept with Gabriel. Plenty of times. There was just that sense that told her they would be good together in bed. Of course, when they had met had been after she’d built up some pretty high walls, and though they flirted shamelessly, she hadn’t crossed that line with him. Yet. She wondered if there was a yet. She enjoyed the playful banter with him, the conversations they shared, flirting, and though she wasn’t like an Incubus, she was still a slightly sexual creature and it had been far too long.
“Hope that I can forge a new life. Hope that not everyone wants just one thing from me. Hope that I can drop all the walls and not make the same mistake twice,” she answered him. She hoped that she wouldn’t make the same mistake she’d make with Jameson, falling for all his lines and getting herself hurt and in a heap of trouble. “I have a million hopes, Gabriel,” she said softly.
“All of them worthy, dear lady,” Gabriel replied back. “The world can be a cruel place,” he said, “and I know you’ve had your share of heartache. I find your bravery most admirable, you must know that.” He looked over at her, evenly. “Everyone else and what they want can go to hell, Keira, and if they can’t see beyond a pretty face, good riddance. You’ve put in the work to decide your future on your own terms, to sort out what you want, and this time around, you’re not doing it on your own.”
“Brave?” Keira asked back with an amused laugh. “ I don’t know if I’d go that far. I don’t feel brave.” No, she wasn’t sure what she felt, but she didn’t think it was brave. She just went about life as quietly as possible, though she was coming out more, so maybe she was a tad bit brave. “Do you know,” she smiled. “That if everyone was a bit more like you, that I think the world would be a much better place,” she told him. “It is nice that I’m not so alone,” she nodded.
And, to change the conversation from her, not that she minded him focusing on her, she decided to bring up Leah. “I met your daughter recently,” she smiled at him. “You’ve only mentioned her once to me, you didn’t tell me how lovely she was,” she told him. “Nor did you tell me that she and I had a bit in common, other than you, of course,” she teased. “She’s wanting to go into business.”
Gabriel smiled a little. “I doubt that the world could handle that much charm,” he said, lightly, “and you are, by now, intimately aware of my imperfections and fallibility,” he added, tipping his head. “I’m quite amazed you still think well enough of me despite it.”
He grinned wider at her mention of his daughter. “And you’ve met Leah?” he said, pleased. “Well, that settles it. I’m demanding you come with next time we take a party out to the countryside for a few days. You and Cas both. It’ll be marvelous fun. She is brilliant, isn’t she?” He said, laughing. “I hardly can take credit for any of it -- she’s her own woman, through and through, but I’m still ridiculously proud of her, I must admit it.”
He looked over at Keira, his smile a little wry. “I have a rather bad habit of holding my cards rather close to the chest, as you might’ve noticed -- I’ll do my best to be better at it with when it comes to you, my dear, as you’ve seen a great many of them already.”
Gabriel was right. Keira knew about his imperfections and all, what his business was, what he did, and that alone should have sent her away from him. A part of her thought she was crazy that she had gone to him to make amends, to forgive him, and that she was sitting here now to have a night out with him.
Maybe she was crazy.
But he had not done a thing to make her fear him. Gabriel was a perfect gentleman, he treated her with respect and was mindful of her boundaries. Very mindful. He treated her like a China cup, so easily breakable. Her mind reminded her that Jameson had been the same way at first, until he had her firmly in his grasp. Gabriel could be doing the same thing with her, but she didn’t think it. He knew her past, and knew that she might not be as breakable as she seemed.
“About your...imperfections. You know that I am not nearly as perfect as I seem, as well,” she smirked. “But...if I said I wanted to see your business, would you show it to me?” She meant his brothel. She was curious, as was her nature, and she wanted to see just how the women were treated.
“I did,” she nodded about Leah. “She came into the shop, told me that you had been talking about it to her,” she said. “I’m pleased, you know, that you find my shop so great to spread it to others, and I hope she found it just as good as you do. And as for holding your cards to your chest, it’s perfectly acceptable, especially when it’s your family. I can’t expect to know every little thing about you, can I? But, I admit, I find myself more comfortable with you knowing my deepest and darkest.” She did like that he knew she was of the Sisterhood and what she had done to her late husband. It meant she didn’t have to watch what she said or did around him as much as she had before.
The mention of him wanting her to go to the countryside with him, Leah, and Cas had her raising her eyebrows. “Demanding, huh?” She gave him a small, coy, look. “Well, if that is the case, I think I can clear a spot in my calendar,” she said, her words teasing.
He tossed back his head and laughed. “It’s settled, then,” he said, grinning. “Naturally, I’ll only demand it when you’re relatively free from exams, and have no other duties, but I’m certain the countryside would benefit immeasurably from your presence in it.”
Her request to see the brothel gave him pause, but he looked over at her and nodded. “And as for that, I don’t see why not,” he said. “Fair warning,” he added, a small grin playing about his face, “my musicians will do their best to seduce you, and I’m simply Mr Gabriel on the premises. I think you’d like Lydia,” he added, tipping his head thoughtfully. “She’s a good friend, and quite bright.” He looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. “I’d say one of my better habits is my endless appreciation for a woman with a good head on her shoulders.”
“Would you care to make your way there tonight?” He asked, “or would you rather hold off the debauchery for another evening?” He winked, and grinned a little.
Keira grinned at his laugh and shook her head, small wisps of red hair escaping their clasps “I’ll have two weeks free, soon,” she told him. “I have finals soon and then two weeks before fall semester starts,” she explained. “So anytime during that time, you may cart me off to the countryside. Maybe I’d benefit some myself,” she smiled.
A part of her hoped he would tell her no, that he didn’t want her to actually see that side of him, but another was pleased that he was open enough to want to take her. “Let’s go tonight,” she said after a moment of thought. “Before my, ah, bravery wears off and I decide I don’t need to see,” she said sheepishly. “I might as well jump in feet first, seducing musicians, debauchery and all.”
The beef was, indeed, served at an appropriate degree of rareness, and, given free reign, Gabriel bragged on his daughter a great deal, and peppered Keira with queries about her studies, and the two of them caught a cab after to cross the Thames. As they got closer to Miss Lydia’s, Gabriel looked at Keira, a little nervous despite himself.
“I take care of my own needs elsewhere,” he said, quietly. “I wouldn’t… that is to say, you shouldn’t feel as if… I mostly share a glass of champagne, and everyone does their best job of flirting, of course, and there’ll be a few customers there, no doubt, but...” he reached for her hand, briefly touching it. “If you wish to leave, at any time, for any reason, I wouldn’t be the least offended, and there’d be no expectations while you’re there.” A brief grin flashed across his face, as he tried to make a bit of a joke about it, his voice light enough for her to know it was a tease. “And if you hit it off with someone, well.”
Victoria, his late wife, had been aware of his nature and predilections, and had gone into their marriage with some clear boundaries in place. He’d kept a significant portion of his life hidden from her at her request -- including the brothel -- and while he’d loved her, and she him, there’d been a gulf between them at times as a result.
He compartmentalized a great deal of his life as a matter of course -- sometimes, as a matter of survival-- and he knew that his appetites, his species’ need for sexual intimacy was often seen as tawdry, seedy, and there was a fear that his friend would see this side of his nature and see him as lesser than as a result. But she’d bared her soul to him, laid out her deepest, darkest secret for him, and fulfilling her request to have him share some of himself in return was the least he could do.
The meal had been delicious and Keira couldn’t remember a most perfect meal, including the company she was with. She’d managed to get two glasses of wine in her, to give her the strength to go with Gabriel to his brothel. She wasn’t sure what she would see, or who she would see, or what would happen, which made things exciting and yet a little terrifying as well. The ride was wonderful, the crossing of the Thames had her looking out across the water, a smile touching her lips as she took in the picture of the moon reflecting off the water's surface.
When Gabriel spoke, she turned to look at him. “You never partake in the women and men that you have employed?” She asked rhetorically as his first words had answered the questions. “Interesting and yet, I think I understand it,” she had said. She felt comfortable and safe enough that if she wished to go for any reason, he would abide by his word and get her out as quickly as possible. She did trust him, after all. His teasing had her cheeks heating up and eyes falling to her lap as she gave a small giggle. Then, raising to look at him through lowered lashes, she gave a tease of her own. “I’m sure, Mr. Allen, that there will be no one there that can compete for my attentions as you do,” her voice was silky, a coy look on her face even as she tried for innocence.
“Mrs Adams,” Gabriel replied, with another swift smile, but this one a fraction more relaxed, “now you are the one flattering me.” He shook his head. “And no, I do my best to not… press an advantage,” he said, leaning back in the carriage. Leah’d worked her way through a string of stable-boys out of sheer necessity -- very well-paid stable boys, to be fair -- but that was a temporary measure, and on the whole, he tended to avoid assignations with servants or employees. It was far simpler, and, at least for the time being, he had no great difficulty finding lovers elsewhere.
The carriage pulled up in front of the Academy, and Gabriel offered Keira a hand as they exited the carriage, and his arm as they walked up to the modest building. “Miss Lydia’s Music Academy” was written above the heavy oak door frame, and as they opened the door, they were promptly greeted by a woman of very short stature who held herself primly -- the eponymous Miss Lydia herself.
“Mr Gabriel,” she called out, clearly pleased to see him. “I am glad you could join us for the evening. And your guest…” Her eyes darted over to Keira, clearly curious, but politely deferential.
“Mrs Adams,” Gabriel replied, smoothly. “A good friend, who wished to see the premises. Mrs Adams, I would like you to meet Miss Lydia, the dear lady who manages this establishment, and without whom I’d be lost at sea.”
Lydia was a canny sort -- it was why he’d hired her all those years ago -- and they’d worked together long enough so that all she needed was a quick glance and a nod before turning to Keira, extending a hand. “Mrs Adams,” she said, “it is such a pleasure to meet you. Please, do come upstairs.”
Keira couldn’t help the small chuckle as Gabriel said she was doing the flattering now. She’d only told the truth, or what she suspected the truth to be. If anyone cold gain her attention, it would be him, she was sure, but she did not know what to expect. She took his hand as she stepped from the carriage and then took his arm as he led her. Her eyes landed on the words written above and she turned her head to Gabriel with a quizzical look. “Music Academy?” She questioned.
Then, again, as the door opened, she was surprised. She had not expected Miss Lydia to be so short. In fact, nothing about her was what she would have expected. Keira had imagined Lydia to be taller and blonde, though she didn’t know why. Smiling at the woman, she did give a small curtsey in greeting as Gabriel introduced them. “A pleasure to meet you, as well,” she said, taking the other woman's hand briefly and then following up the stairs. “I don’t know why I wanted to come here,” she said absently as she looked about. “My curious nature, I’m sure. Mr. Allen assures me the women are treated well, looked after, but I suppose I needed to see for myself, for my own reasons,” her gaze landing on Gabriel for a moment. He would understand her need. “Not that I don’t trust Mr. Allen,” she smiled up at him.
The place was fairly simply appointed on the lower floor -- offices, along with some wood-panelled performance spaces (where they actually had occasional salons, readings, and performances -- the musicians were a talented lot) -- and the stairs leading up to the second storey were likewise unassuming.
Miss Lydia looked over her shoulder at Mrs Adams appraisingly, and nodded. “Mr Gabriel is the best of men,” she said, simply, “and a generous and kind employer,” she added, quietly. “In this business, it is a rare thing, and I count myself lucky to have met him.”
The second floor was a different matter, as they swung open the doors.
The room was full of color -- rich curtains, fine carpets, and comfortable seating surfaces scattered around the long room of sofas, divans, poufs, and pillows, with more intimate seating arrangements separated by judicious placement of screens, curtains, and plants, and a winding grand staircase leading up to the next floor. There was a small upright piano in the corner, and a few low, delicate tables scattered around the room with flutes of champagne, chocolates, and small sandwiches.
There was a mix of men and women lounging and laughing on the couches. The women were beauties, most of them dressed in clothing that was certainly more revealing and colorful than what one would typically see, a flock of butterflies laughing and chattering, and a few looked up as they entered the room, calling out in greeting.
“I, too, count myself lucky to have met him,” Keira could agree with Lydia and Gabriel being the best of men. Her eyes roamed everywhere, taking in everything that she could. The moment she stepped into the room, she was in awe. She thought she liked the choice in colors the most, but wasn’t sure as she took in every little detail. It was lavish but a comfortable welcoming so that not one person in the room looked out of place, but rather that they belonged there.
The women were exactly as she had imagined them. Gorgeous, every single one of them, and Keira actually felt a little plain to their beauty. Still, she smiled to the ones who took notice of them and she averted her gaze to the piano for a moment before taking another look around. “I really love this room,” she said in a soft voice and found her eyes landing on the men and women that were lounging on the couches. “Everyone seems happy,” she then said and looked over at Gabriel.
He looked down at her, smiling a little, as two of the musicians gestured them over to where they were seated. “So you don’t want to turn around and run just yet, hm?” He asked quietly.
“I’ve only ran from something once in my life,” Keira replied back just as quietly. “I don’t plan on making a habit of it,” she smiled sweetly. She was okay, so far, by being here.
“Mr Gabriel!” Georgie called out as they got closer, her dark hair piled up in a riot of curls. “Always good to see you. And you brought company!” She winked and grinned at Keira. “Please tell me you’re…” she caught a look from Miss Lydia, and laughed. “Awww,” she groaned, “just looking? Now that’s a shame. With all that pretty between the two of you, it’s like putting the best cake in a glass case and telling me, ‘all you get to do is look at it.’” She laughed good naturedly, and the other woman shook her head and smiled, extending a hand.
“I’m Polly, and this chatterbox is Georgie. Welcome to Miss Lydia’s,” she said, before leaning in conspiratorially. “We’re not having any concerts tonight, I’m afraid, private lessons only.”
She smiled at the woman who had called out, drawing closer to them. She felt her cheeks heat up just a little and shook her head. “I’m sorry to disappoint,” she replied. “But yes, just looking tonight.” She liked the analogy the woman used to describe. “Ah, but what if that cake behind the glass is something you might get a taste of later?” She questioned. “Then the anticipation just makes it that much sweeter, wouldn’t you agree?”
She took the woman’s hand when it was offered. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said softly. “I’m Keira,” she smiled in greeting. When Polly leaned forward, Keira did as well with a sly grin. “Well, I would suppose you can’t have concerts without a few private lessons to begin with,” she chuckled.
“Practice makes perfect,” Polly replied with a grin, and Georgie laughed again, and elbowed her a little, and made an entendre about far preferring quartets to duets, and how she hoped they’d get a turn at practicing a piece or two of that tonight, before turning back to Keira.
“Pont,” she replied, merrily pink cheeked. “Anticipation does make it all the sweeter. I suppose I’ll just have to leave my finger and nose marks all over the glass in the meantime,” she added, biting her lip a little. “Do you want a champagne?” She asked. “We have sparkling cider too,” she said, in a lower tone, “in case you’d rather not indulge. I am in utter raptures over your hair,” she said, a little enviously. “I’d most likely want spend the whole time brushing it, to be honest.”
Gabriel was looking over at Keira a little carefully, but he relaxed as she seemed to be hitting it off reasonably well.
Keira laughed, quite happy that she had been able to be so witty in the moment. She didn’t venture far from Gabriel, staying by his side kept her more comfortable with being around the others that she didn’t know well. When she was asked if she wanted champagne, she looked up at Gabriel for a moment before answering. “A glass of champagne would be delightful,” she remarked, looking at the women. “But only one, I shouldn’t have any more than that.” She had already had two glasses of wine, add champagne to that and she was going to be the most relaxed person in the room. “Tell me, do you like it here?” She asked them.
Georgie got up from the couch with a finger held up in a ‘one moment’ gesture, and flounced away, putting a little extra swing in her hips for good measure, as Polly looked over at Keira and nodded. “I do,” she said. She stretched and put her arm around Gabriel familiarly, leaning against him a bit and playing with his hair. “Don’t mind me,” she winked Keira’s way, “I’m just putting my finger-marks on the glass, so’s we don’t look too out of place.”
Gabriel chuckled a little at that, and shook his head, and put a hand on Polly’s hip as she continued. “But yeah,” she said, her voice low, “I like it well enough. It’s good money, and safe, and it isn’t where I thought I’d end up, but it beats the hell out of working the street.” She kissed Gabriel on the cheek. “Besides, Mr Boss Man here gives us a good ol’ leg up if we want out.” He looked over at her and raised an eyebrow, and she shook her head. “Not that I want out just yet,” she said. “...It’s real good money,” she added to Keira.
Keira watched Georgie walk away before turning her attention to Polly, who had moved to put an arm around Gabriel. If Keira had been anyone else than who she was, she might have been jealous at the intimacy and familiarity that Polly could show Gabriel, and in a way she was jealous as she had just gotten to a moment where just merely touching was acceptable, and a hug here or there. But she wasn’t jealous in a way that females became of others when encroaching on territory that they shouldn’t; plus she already knew that Gabriel didn’t partake in the women here, or the men she would assume. Instead, she merely smiled and rose an eyebrow before speaking. “It’s quite alright,” she looked up at Gabriel with mischief in her eyes. “I leave my own fingerprints from time to time.” Though she knew what Polly meant, someone needed to hang on someone so it didn’t look weird.
“That’s great,” she nodded to hear that Polly liked being here. “I mean, well…I’m happy that you like it here,” she smiled. She wondered if either one of them was succubus or anything like that, but knew it was best to not ask.
Georgie came sauntering back with a tray of champagne and chocolates, and set them on the ottoman. “Miss me?” She said. “And to answer your query, my dear, I love it.” She laughed. “What can I say?” She added, with a grin, “I’ve always been musically gifted, as it were. The food’s good, the sheets’re divine, and I get paid to… well. To do what I’d wanna do for free.”
She extended a chocolate Keira’s way. “You might as well indulge in something decadent while you’re here,” she said, grinning.
“Oh chocolates!” Keira smiled. “I’m afraid those are a weakness of mine, out of all the treats I bake, chocolate has to be my best friend,” she giggled. She removed her gloves, not wanting to dirty them with the chocolate and then reached for it with slender fingers. She bit into the chocolate and closed her eyes to hum with happiness.
Georgie made an exaggerated groan, and threw herself back against the sofa. “Life is truly unfair,” she said, her eyes dancing. “I wish I was a chocolate,” she added. “And you bake? Heaven help me.”
Gabriel laughed, leaning towards Keira, resting a hand next to hers, giving her a fond look. “She makes the most marvelous tea. And Georgie, love, you remember the butterscotch?”
Georgie slapped her knee. “No!” She cried out. “The ones I et til I was near to bursting?” She shook her head. “I simply cannot even.”
“Georgie,” Polly replied, giggling, “she’s the world’s worst when it comes to crushes,” she explained to Keira.
“I can’t help it,” Georgie replied, looking up at Keira with a wicked grin from her slouched position, “s’ torture, it is.”
Keira’s cheeks were eternally stained pink with the flush that settled there. Giggling at Georgie, all she could do was shake her head. She picked up a glass of champagne and sipped at it as her eyes moved from one to the other.
“I do, I own a small tea shop that I sell my own baked goods in,” she answered. When Gabriel mentioned the butterscotch, she moved her hand to place on top of his and beamed at him and it was not lost on her the fond look he gave her. “You’ve shared some of my baked goods with them?” She squeezed his hand with hers as she turned back to the others, her hand still on his. “The next time I make a big batch of something, I’ll make sure that Mr. Gabriel brings some to you,” she promised. “Tea and baking are just one of my many gifts.”
She didn’t think her cheeks could get any redder, but somehow it happened with the look Georgie gave her. “I don’t mean to torture you,” she commented. “Then again, it’s possible it’s another gift of mine,” she teased.
Gabriel turned his palm up under her hand, and laced his fingers lightly through hers. “I most certainly shall,” he said, loving the color on her cheeks and her self-satisfied little smile -- she appeared to be enjoying herself despite both their initial worries, and it made him feel light-hearted to think of it -- he’d built this place, and was proud of it, and she hadn’t shied away.
“And as far as your numerous gifts are concerned, well. Let’s just say I can sympathize at times with Miss Georgie’s plight, but it’s something we’re both quite capable of enduring, despite our teasing -- your company is more than worth it.”
“And your butterscotch,” Georgie piped in, sprawling on the sofa, and looking up at her imploringly. “Don’t forget the butterscotch. I’d walk over coals for that.”
Polly laughed, giving Gabriel’s head a light push. “Here I thought Georgie was the worst, but I may have to revise that estimation, Boss Man.” She shook her head Keira’s way. “Lord in heaven, you must have a healthy constitution to fend off all those adoring looks,” she said. “He makes everyone weak in the knees, even when he isn’t trying.”
Keira liked the warmth of Gabriel’s hand in hers, or hers in his, skin to skin and it felt nice, and her giddy little brain tried to tell her how they would feel elsewhere on her, but she shoved that to the back. She didn’t mind him linking their fingers and she went with it with the tiniest of shivers hitting her spine. She sipped at more of the champagne and then set the glass down.
She gave Gabriel a sheepish look and bit her bottom lip for a moment when he said that he could sympathize with Georgie. “Sorry?” She said, unsure if she should be apologizing for that, or not. She had to admit that she liked the attention, both from Gabriel and Georgie, but she liked the attention most from him. She always had.
“Oh Georgie,” she giggled looking over at the other woman. “There is no need to walk over hot coals. I will always make sure you get some butterscotch when I have it,” she smiled.
She looked at Polly thoughtfully and then to Gabriel. “I don’t believe I fend off anything, especially not those adoring looks,” she smiled, looking back to Polly. “And believe me, my knees are definitely weak,” she spoke before thinking, the alcohol having made her tongue a little more looser than usual. She reached for the champagne and finished off what was left before giving a tiny look to Gabriel.
He caught her look and met it with a small grin, tipping his head a little, and sliding his fingers through hers.
Polly made a joke about how it figured he’d only have eyes for the lady he’d brought with him, and Georgie managed to secure a promise for endless butterscotch, but the two of them drifted away shortly after with a wink and a laugh, leaving them in relative privacy.
Someone started to play the piano -- a pretty, light piece -- and a cluster of men and women burst into uproarious laughter over something or another.
“I know I tease,” he said, quietly, “but you must know, if all we ever did was hold hands now and then…” he looked down at their linked fingers. “I’m not looking to make you a notch in my belt, Keira, and while I am an enormous flirt, and find you utterly lovely, my friendship is not contingent on the expectation that you’ll eventually fall into bed with me. I just rather enjoy making you smile.”
A quick grin flashed across his face. “I realize that it is rather ironic that I’d tell you that here, but I do mean it.” He looked over at her. “Thank you for asking to see this place. For letting me show it to you.”
Keira enjoyed the company of the two women, even if Georgie was flirting with her. She didn’t mind it, in fact she felt as if she were thriving on the attention. Eventually the girls had to move on, of course, and she understood.
She felt a little light-headed from the champagne, possibly a little tipsy, as she sat there thinking of what a wonderful night she had had thus far. Her eyes drifted to the piano when someone started to play and swayed just slightly to the music. When Gabriel started to speak, she turned her attention to him and looked down at their linked hands when he did, smiling softly as she studied the contrast between their skin colors; she was such a creamy white and his was just a little darker, seeing the sun more than hers did.
“What if I want to make you a notch in my belt,” she spoke boldly and without thinking. Then, immediately, her eyes went wide and her mouth dropping open her free hand coming to cover it. “Oh...my..I..I’m sorry,” she said, her words muffled by her hand. “That was rather...I mean...I’m sorry.” She looked away and closed her eyes thinking of how just very unladylike she had been and how embarrassing that was.
She cleared her throat and tried to regain herself, but it was really a lost cause she thought. “I’m glad that you allowed me to see it,” she glanced over at him and then away. “I think it’s all very lovely and the women, I liked them,” she said refusing to meet his eyes in the moment, embarrassed still by what she said. “I do believe champagne might be of the devil, however,” she gave a small giggle and cast him a sheepish smile.
“Keira,” he replied with a soft, fond grin, giving her hand a squeeze. “For mercy’s sake, I’m an incubus, and we’re sitting in my brothel. We’re well beyond propriety, I should hope. And yes, it is of the devil, and I ought to know,” he added, teasing a little.
“And as far as notches go…” he said, running a thumb slowly over the back of her hand. “You know I love to make you smile,” he said, quietly. He paused for a moment before he spoke again. “Mr Finn and I have an arrangement,” he said, looking down, his heart in his throat. Another admission, boldly spoken -- he had yet to tell her outright that he enjoyed male lovers as well as female, and it was a leap he wasn’t sure she’d want to make, a side of him she’d want to know about, and he didn’t know whether Cas would forgive him for sharing such a confidence, but he forged ahead, looking at their hands. “We are friends, very dear friends, and…” he bit his lip. “...occasionally, we enjoy one another’s company in a more intimate form. I don’t expect it’s an arrangement that suits everyone, but I’ve found when both parties communicate, when they are in agreement about expectations, that intimacy paired with the trust and mutual appreciation of friendship can be quite lovely.”
He caught her eye briefly with his. “I just don’t want you to feel as though you must. Or as if that would be all I’d ever want from you.”
Dropping the hand that covered her mouth, Keira gave a small laugh and a nod of her head. Gabriel was right about them being beyond propriety. They were far past that and Keira knew that she wasn’t as much of a lady as she put on. She tried, but even as long as she had been on land, she still tried to make her own rules.
Looking at Gabriel, a soft smile flitted across her lips, listening to him and watching as, this time, he looked away as he made his own admissions. She knew about Cas, or had assumed anyway, and it had not, and did not, bother her. He was, she thought, giving her a way to back away and raise the wall between them that the two of them had been chiseling at from the moment they had met. He was allowing her to know another side of him, and it pleased her greatly that he could tell her.
“Gabriel,” she spoke softly and squeezed his hand. “You’ve made it very clear to me over and over again that you would cross that threshold if I allowed it, but it wasn’t the foundation of our friendship. Not once, ever, in the time we’ve known each other have you ever made me feel as if that was all you ever wanted from me. I’m sure, before I ever revealed my past to you, that you have had a small hint of knowing that I had been tragically hurt and you’ve handled me with kid gloves, always, and waiting for me to open up before you stepped further into my life,” she said, and took a breath. “You are the only man I’ve met, thus far, who makes me feel safe and comfortable in your presence, and that should say a lot considering that you are, indeed, an incubus,” she gave a tiny laugh. “You have always held me with respect. I know that I don’t need to do anything, that the line could be firmly drawn and you would never cross it and we would remain friends, as much that I know that if we do cross it that our friendship will still stay intact.”
“As for Mr. Finn,” she smiled at him. “I know. Or, at least, I assumed,” she chuckled. “I’ve known since the time we all spent together. I don’t know if others picked up on it, but I am rather...observant,” she explained. “And it’s quite alright. It’s who you are, it’s what you like. I accept that about you,” she assured him. “But you should know, if you haven’t realized it yet, that I am not like Mr. Finn, though we are of the same species,” she said. “I…” she floundered a moment, unsure of how to explain how she was. “Anyway, I don’t think I am like him,” she frowned. “I seem to take to only one person at a time, not that I’ve had a lot of practice to know for sure, but I would never expect that of you,” she shook her head. She wondered if she made any sense at all.
She said it as if it were the simplest thing in the world -- she knew, she accepted, it was simply who he was -- and he couldn’t help but look over at her as she did so, a sudden ache in his chest.
“Dear lady,” he said, softly. “You give me such a gift. I hardly know how I deserve you.”
He exhaled. “And as for the rest, you are what you are, I am what I am. And if that would prove too difficult, or lead to jealousy or heartache, this…” he rolled their hands back and forth on the couch. “This is quite lovely as it is, you know.”
“You deserve me because you treat me with the utmost respect, you treat me as a woman should be,” Keira said, catching his eyes. Keira didn’t think she was the jealous sort, and who knew, maybe she would find another and find herself much like Cas and able to move around, she didn’t know. All she knew was that she was finally starting to open that side of herself up again. She looked down at their hands as she thought about what it was what she wanted.
“Gabriel,” she wet her lips as she brought her eyes back up to meet his. “I’m telling you that I accept the way that you are, and what you are and that I can handle that I won’t be your only one; I wouldn’t expect that of you, not ever.” She paused for only a moment before going on. “But if you think the way that I am will cause issues then I guess I have to settle for this,” she said and squeezed his hand.
“I believe,” he said by way of reply, with a small smile, “that in the interest of mutual concern, we’re both being just a touch ridiculous.” He raised her hand and kissed her fingers, and then pressed the back of her hand to his cheek briefly before lowering it again to the couch. “I don’t want to hurt you, but you know best what you can and cannot handle. And I certainly don’t expect you to be like me, to take on other lovers simply because I do.” He looked over at her. “If it does become an issue, you’d tell me? That’s all I ask.”
“I have a reason,” Keira grinned and pointed to the empty champagne glass. “The devil got me,” she winked. All playing aside, she looked on as he rose her hand to his lips and felt a tightening in her chest, her heart still beating at its quickened pace as it had since she’d decided to be bold and blurt out words she thought she’d only been thinking. “Of course,” she agreed with a soft smile. “Open honesty,” she said with a small nod. “And I’d hope you would be open with me, too,” she said, knowing that he would be. Raising her free hand, she gently cupped his face for a few seconds, smiling at him as she let her thumb graze across his cheek. “We’ll be alright, Gabriel. We’ve already triumphed over so much…”
“I should very much like to kiss you, just now,” he said, looking over at her. “Might I?”
Keira let out a slow breath and smiled sweetly. “I thought you’d never ask,” she said, her way of giving permission. She didn’t wait, however, and moving closer, her other hand still on his cheek, she leaned in and gently placed her lips against his.