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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Oct 31, 2007 16:56:51 GMT -5
As she instinctively asked for more of my touch my breath caught for a moment as I stifled a small sound of pleasure- and some desire. I was no child in such things, most d'Angelines weren't after they reached the age of consent, but she was- and oh, I remembered it, almost painfully. "This- and more," I told her honestly, continuing to brush her cheek, then across her ear. "It's like a sweet pain, walking such an edge. In the end, we only act as we will, as we must."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Oct 31, 2007 22:31:57 GMT -5
My skin burned where he touched, completely disconcerting in its pleasantness. My mind was battling itself. I didn't know what to do.
"I shouldn't be here, not alone with you." I whispered. "I know that. I just don't want to go back to my cold bed. You're so warm."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Oct 31, 2007 22:40:50 GMT -5
"I know the same," I admitted hesitantly, almost worried she would immediately jump up at my words. "But I feel the same, and I don't want to have this end yet. It's an end to some loneliness." Smiling slightly I leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "If you want to go, I understand, and I won't stop you- but I also won't encourage you. I can't, not in honesty."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Oct 31, 2007 23:17:03 GMT -5
If he had been more slick, I would have known something was off and left immediately. But his words tugged at my heart in two very different ways, and I was loathe to leave the circle of his arms. His whisper made me tremble as I tried to control myself, and if he did much more, I was going to lose it. "Then I'll stay."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Oct 31, 2007 23:21:31 GMT -5
"Thank you," I replied, contented, before pulling away far enough to meet her gaze and give us both breathing room. I couldn't deny I desired a kiss, but her trembling was a sign of fear and I wouldn't lose a friend for something as silly as my lack of self-control. "I just haven't spoken to anyone about anything real since you arrived. Perhaps that's all this is- both of us searching for someone understanding. What do you think?"
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Oct 31, 2007 23:46:03 GMT -5
I listened to him try to dismiss this, this chemistry, between us. I wondered what he would be saying if I had been raised D'Angeline. I wondered if he would show such restraint. There was a part of me that desperately wished I was a different girl.
"Does rationalizing help?" I asked, tilting my head slightly to gaze at him.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Oct 31, 2007 23:53:47 GMT -5
Her question caused me to smile as I chuckled softly. "Not particularly," I admitted, looking back up at her. "It's a bit like reminding yourself not to remember. But if it helps you, I would understand."
Smiling a bit more sheepishly I traced the line of her cheek and down to her chin. "Your skin is so soft."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 1, 2007 0:05:16 GMT -5
I blushed, feeling very complimented. "Thank you." I said shyly. I didn't want him to stop touching me. And therein lay the problem.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 1, 2007 0:14:45 GMT -5
"It's true," I told her honestly and with a more playful smile, hoping to raise her spirits. "And your eyes glow the greenest of any I've ever seen." Faintly my fingers traced the lower lid, then the upper, just barely brushing her lashes. "You're terribly pretty, which can make it hard to remember myself. I'd rather make the effort than lose its presence, though."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 1, 2007 0:46:23 GMT -5
I blushed even more. Men had called me beautiful before, but never quite like this. Not tracing the body parts as they praised them. "That's awfully sweet Landis. Flattery is always a good way to cheer me up." The first was serious, the last all tease.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 1, 2007 18:10:06 GMT -5
"Oh, but I'm being honest," I replied, teasing slightly but with an air of sincere truth to my words. "Flattery implies some sort of dishonesty, and I never lie." My finger ran across the bridge of her nose playfully, then over the opposite cheek and under her chin. "But I am glad you like hearing compliments."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 1, 2007 18:24:21 GMT -5
The blush wasn't going away, and it had a lot to do with his finger wandering over my skin. His finger then ran across the bridge of my nose, and I giggled a bit. He was being sweet and silly, all at once, and it was just what I needed. "Should I return the favour and tell you how handsome you are then?"
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 1, 2007 18:29:21 GMT -5
"Will it be flattery or honesty?" I asked innocently, tracing the line of her chin to just behind her ear, and then running along it into her hair with all of my fingers and rubbing lightly. It was comfortable to be showing such affection, harmless and flirtatious all at once.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 1, 2007 18:44:02 GMT -5
"Would I lie?" I asked with a little teasing smile on my face. I wanted to touch him in return, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do it with such casual intimacy, and was scared to try. I did however relax the death grip I had been using on my blanket, letting it settle more easily around my shoulders.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 1, 2007 19:21:18 GMT -5
She was beginning to relax, which made me feel a good deal less guilty. The idea that she wasn't comfortable around me, that I bothered her, was distinctly unpleasant. "Only if it would make me feel better," I replied with a jesting sigh.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 1, 2007 19:31:59 GMT -5
"Well, I would have to say that you are the most handsome person I've seen since I arrived here." I replied with a smile, grateful that we could slip back into joking and teasing one another.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 1, 2007 19:42:04 GMT -5
"I'm glad I manage to pull in before the kitchen staff and the horses, since you haven't been here long enough to see many more people," I retorted, playfully haughty. Unconsciously I ran my fingers down through her hair to the nape of her neck, stroking lightly.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 1, 2007 23:52:21 GMT -5
His fingers found the sensitive skin on the nape of my neck, and when I shivered, it wasn't from the cold. Feeling very bold and spurred on by this strange desire, I asked, "Isn't it against the rules to fish for compliments and frown at the same time?" As I spoke, I traced his offending lips, my blanket slipping a bit from my slender shoulders.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 2, 2007 18:24:38 GMT -5
"I didn't see it written anywhere," I teased in return, smiling slowly and widely under her faint touch, resisting the urge to take her wrist and lightly kiss her fingers, though I did run the fingers not at her neck over her arm in a gentle caress. "Is a smile better? Will you smile in reply?"
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 2, 2007 19:05:38 GMT -5
"Only if you make it a truly dazzling smile." I jested in return, delighted he hadn't pulled away from my touch and was even grinning beneath it. It wasn't until I felt his fingers move along my arm that I realized my blanket had fallen completely off that shoulder. I blushed, but didn't pull it back up.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 2, 2007 19:26:41 GMT -5
For a moment I watched her flush, then smiled the most happily and widely I could without turning it into a rictus, meeting her gaze and leaning slightly closer to reach my free arm to stroke her ear. "Is that better?" I asked in a whisper.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 2, 2007 19:31:59 GMT -5
I started to giggle. I couldn't help it. It was just too absurd, he reminded me of a performer I saw once in a circo. "That's wonderful." I told him, still giggling softly and smiling widely with it.
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 2, 2007 19:40:11 GMT -5
"That's better," I told her, kissing her cheek lightly, unthinkingly. "You always look pretty, but you look even more so when you smile."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 2, 2007 19:53:54 GMT -5
I ducked my head shyly at the feel of his lips. He had now touched me as much as any suitor would hope to before I accepted their proposal, and I had been here for a whole twenty four hours. Boy did these D'Angeline did move fast. Some things the stories didn't exagerate.
Including how handsome they were as they called you pretty.
"Master of compliments." I teased him. "If you're not careful, the blush will never fade, and that prettiness you keep bringing up will be seriously marred."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 2, 2007 20:03:46 GMT -5
"Is it so shaming to have healthy color to one's cheeks?" I jested. "It would only make you seem wind-kissed, as though you had gone riding in brisk air."
She was so different from any girls I'd interacted with thusfar- if they were interested they'd be encouraging on, and if not they'd state it plainly. She said nothing, though she continued to relax and her eyes showed a bit of wondering curiosity. For now I would hold my ground and wait.
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 2, 2007 20:11:08 GMT -5
This was so much better than being homesick. His words earlier had eased the worry inside me. I could act as I would, and he wouldn't pass judgement on me. It let me relax, knowing things would only go as far as I let them.
"But what of the summer?" I inquired, continuing the jest. "Surely the heat would only add to blush, and I would soon be too red for anyone to look at without laughing."
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 2, 2007 20:21:31 GMT -5
"Most people look more flushed in summer anyway, so likely they'd be so worried about their own pink cheeks to think on yours," I assured her confidently. "At least you would be used to it, and more comfortable than everyone else- and confidence is the most attractive feature at all, at least to d'Angelines."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 2, 2007 20:32:19 GMT -5
"Confidence is good, though not the most prized in Aragonia." I explained with a soft smile. "And you have to be careful that you aren't too confident, too forward, or they think you immodest." I looked to him. "Do you think that way here?"
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Post by Landis de Verreuil on Nov 2, 2007 20:34:49 GMT -5
"I'm sure there are some that do, both men and women, but I personally don't," I replied, caressing her cheek with my thumb, cupping her face. "Confidence isn't the same as arrogance, and I know that very well. One can have faith in themselves without losing modesty."
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Mercedes de las Aragonia
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Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Nov 3, 2007 10:50:51 GMT -5
His words struck a chord within me. "One can have confidence in themselves without losing modesty." I repeated, tasting the idea more fully on my tongue. "I like that. I like that a lot Landis." I told him with a smile.
Little did we both know that I would live by those words for the rest of my life.
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