It would be a lie to say he had not thought about it. At various times and degrees of detail his mind had indeed imagined what waited for him beneath the layers of fabric she wore... or did not wear. Those lips that parted before him now, anticipating his touch, had featured in any number of scenes played out for his mind's eye. The way her breath hitched now was very nearly identical as he'd thought it might be. He was, after all, only human. How could he not linger on the thoughts of eliciting these sighs, and more?
It would also be a lie to say he did not almost lean down at that moment her eyes sought his to press his own lips to hers. But she spoke then, and the impulse was defeated. He allowed his amusement at her words to cover any guilt at almost being caught might have shown on his features as she listed the options she'd laid before him and that he'd dismissed. It was not that such things didn't stir a response in him. It was just...
"Spoiled brat never did learn to share..." Envy gleefully chuckled. But the taunt was eclipsed by Camille's next statement.
Mercifully, her movements and attention shifted somewhat to the changing of the entertainment and the pouring of their next round. He'd almost allowed a bark of laughter to escape him at her comment. Children? How absurd... He felt wretched before the thought had even fully formed. Their ease with one another here at the club allowed him to forget the chasm that existed between them beyond its walls. Beautiful or not, no... the Altus houses would not vie for a match with such offspring. Perhaps not even the lesser houses, considering where Pavus stood still. A brief, vile, flash of paranoia passed through him then. Had he insulted her? Was that comment meant in retribution?
No. Camilla's words could bite, but he'd never known her to be unnecessarily cruel. Nor did he believe she would be so roundabout. If he'd offended her, surely she would be direct and tell him as much. No. This was all in his head. It was his own insecurity needling him. Nothing more.
Quickly, he corralled his thoughts and returned his attention to her. Just in time too, as she posed her question. The smile and huff of amusement escaped him easily as he settled back into the familiar serve and return they were so used to playing out. His mouth opened, ready to respond with something teasing, but he stopped. The words would have been empty, and something in the way she'd worded her question gave him pause.
...a business woman like myself, voice made small...
"No." he breathed, not even entirely sure he'd said it. His eyes moved over her as she draped herself back across him. They settled on her hand, following the delicate fingers as they moved back and forth where he'd not quite dared to touch her himself. His lips parted. However he wanted her... small would not factor into it in the slightest.
"Is it really as simple as a 'Please Enzo, I need you to touch me'?"
His eyes snapped to hers. His jaw clenched. That... that was different. The play acting -the power imbalance that made her first example of begging unappealing to him- was gone, replaced by a disarming sincerity. He took a sip from his refilled glass, some part of his mind noticing and dismissing the coming and going of a servant. When his eyes returned to hers, he noted that the teasing armor has returned. It... would be a lie to say he wasn't somewhat relieved. Pulling his own armor back around himself, Enzo smiled and bit slightly at his bottom lip.
"I am a simple man." he offered, finally, in answer as he set his glass down on the side table. Resting that arm on the couch, he lifted his other. To lead her gaze, he turned his head toward his hand as it moved over her. After glancing sidelong at her to assure himself she was watching his hand, he brought it down slowly until the pad of his middle finger finally touched the skin between the swell of her breasts and the hollow of her throat. "And that..." he said as he moved that finger lightly upward until it stopped under her chin, "...is a good start."
@Camille de-Solar
It would also be a lie to say he did not almost lean down at that moment her eyes sought his to press his own lips to hers. But she spoke then, and the impulse was defeated. He allowed his amusement at her words to cover any guilt at almost being caught might have shown on his features as she listed the options she'd laid before him and that he'd dismissed. It was not that such things didn't stir a response in him. It was just...
"Spoiled brat never did learn to share..." Envy gleefully chuckled. But the taunt was eclipsed by Camille's next statement.
Mercifully, her movements and attention shifted somewhat to the changing of the entertainment and the pouring of their next round. He'd almost allowed a bark of laughter to escape him at her comment. Children? How absurd... He felt wretched before the thought had even fully formed. Their ease with one another here at the club allowed him to forget the chasm that existed between them beyond its walls. Beautiful or not, no... the Altus houses would not vie for a match with such offspring. Perhaps not even the lesser houses, considering where Pavus stood still. A brief, vile, flash of paranoia passed through him then. Had he insulted her? Was that comment meant in retribution?
No. Camilla's words could bite, but he'd never known her to be unnecessarily cruel. Nor did he believe she would be so roundabout. If he'd offended her, surely she would be direct and tell him as much. No. This was all in his head. It was his own insecurity needling him. Nothing more.
Quickly, he corralled his thoughts and returned his attention to her. Just in time too, as she posed her question. The smile and huff of amusement escaped him easily as he settled back into the familiar serve and return they were so used to playing out. His mouth opened, ready to respond with something teasing, but he stopped. The words would have been empty, and something in the way she'd worded her question gave him pause.
...a business woman like myself, voice made small...
"No." he breathed, not even entirely sure he'd said it. His eyes moved over her as she draped herself back across him. They settled on her hand, following the delicate fingers as they moved back and forth where he'd not quite dared to touch her himself. His lips parted. However he wanted her... small would not factor into it in the slightest.
"Is it really as simple as a 'Please Enzo, I need you to touch me'?"
His eyes snapped to hers. His jaw clenched. That... that was different. The play acting -the power imbalance that made her first example of begging unappealing to him- was gone, replaced by a disarming sincerity. He took a sip from his refilled glass, some part of his mind noticing and dismissing the coming and going of a servant. When his eyes returned to hers, he noted that the teasing armor has returned. It... would be a lie to say he wasn't somewhat relieved. Pulling his own armor back around himself, Enzo smiled and bit slightly at his bottom lip.
"I am a simple man." he offered, finally, in answer as he set his glass down on the side table. Resting that arm on the couch, he lifted his other. To lead her gaze, he turned his head toward his hand as it moved over her. After glancing sidelong at her to assure himself she was watching his hand, he brought it down slowly until the pad of his middle finger finally touched the skin between the swell of her breasts and the hollow of her throat. "And that..." he said as he moved that finger lightly upward until it stopped under her chin, "...is a good start."
@Camille de-Solar
01-10-2025, 04:58 PM
