The Ride and The Wine: Lilli and Maric

[Maric du Verais]

I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it and sighed, realizing what I had to say needed to wait till private. The carriage pulled up in front of us and I opened the door, helping Lilli in to the cab and then followed after, sitting next to her and closing the door behind me. I didn't speak till the carriage pulled forward, and then I turned to her, leg bent up on the seat and arm resting on the back of the seat as I looked directly at her.

"You need to know something," I began as I looked at her, my face holding no teasing or pretense, the face I made only when I wanted to convey something of import.
"For as long as I can remember, I have mooned after Sophine. She was the only thing I could see. Plenty of girls on the estate tried to catch my attentions, some more blatantly then others. I have had girls practically throw themselves at me. I tell you this not because I wish to brag, but because I want you to know the depths of my affection for my foster sister. She was the only thing I saw." I continued to look at Lilli as the carriage swayed.

"When I came here, and I met you, that all changed. For the first time since I felt those attractions to Sophine, I began to question just exactly what I felt for her. I began to think about some one other then her. I thought of you. When I went to Mandrake and they asked for my signale, I used your name. I knew that where I in a moment of weakness where I would give in and loose myself to some one I didn't know; that your name would ground me, that it would transport me and make me whole. It was your name that would give me strength." I wasn't sure why I was saying what I was saying, only that the fire of wine in my belly made the words pour forth and I felt they needed to be said.

"I believe that my affection, my desire, my body, they belong to some one that occupies my mind, my spirit and heart as well. When I choose to lay with a woman it is because of more then what she can offer me in sexual gratification. My father sent me here with the hopeful purpose of making connections with the daughters of good families. I want to do my father proud, so I will choose some one that is of a good lineage for his sake, but I require love as well. Its important to me that I have a connection with some one." I took a breath.

"I tell you all this because I need you to know how much I respect you Lilli. Perhaps the reason I am so..." I chuckled and gave her a grin. "I believe you called it mericural." I stopped and smiled wider.
"Perhaps the reason is that I trust myself with you wholy. I know you will not hurt me if I show the real me, nor abandon me. You're the first girl I've ever known that does not except my boyish charm at face value. You keep me honest with myself and keep me in line. I know that you will take me as who I am and not just some boy you know." My smile faded a little.

"I know I'm not as manly as you probably think I should be. The truth is you're right, I'm immature." I glanced down at my hands which were now in my lap and I toyed with a hang nail. I glanced back up at her.
"But that doesn't mean I won't change, that I won't grow up to be some one that you could be happy with." I stopped and looked down and shook my head, laughing at the last thing I had said. I chuckled nervously as I glanced up to her.
"Forgive me, I've had far too much to drink and don't seem to be able to stop myself before I go to far." I said softly and then turned from her so that I sat properly, straight forward. I reached up with my hand and ran it through my hair, feeling like an ass. I was pretty sure she did not want me professing my feelings to her, drunkly, especially after such a care free evening.

[Lillianne Prévost]

We left the grand opening as I had requested, but when the words tumbled out of Maric's mouth, all I could do was look at him with a stunned expression. And they just kept coming until he finally stopped himself right before saying something ridiculous.

"Maric... I don't know what to say," I managed after a moment. "Actually, that's not entirely true. I don't know how to say things so they won't hurt you. May I speak without you jumping to conclusions that I don't intend?"

[Maric du Verais]

I looked to Lilli after she spoke, looking over her face and the look in her eyes. My jaw clenched and I looked away, straight ahead as I forced back the pain. As I told myself over and over that I didn't bare feelings for her. That she felt the way Sophine did, I wasn't much more then a brother.

"Don't bother," I said softly and let out a ragged sigh. "I was stupid to say anything Lilli, I'm sorry I put you in an awkward position." I looked back to her as I reminded myself that I had to look else where for my feelings to be returned.
"I understand how you feel about me, I shouldn't have said anything really." I explained with a bit of a weak smile.
"You were nice enough to listen to me, and I'm thankful you didn't laugh outright or judge me. But I have suffered too much heart break in the last little while. If its alright with you, I'd rather chalk this moment up to too much wine and a firing libido." I forced a chuckled and glanced away and then glanced half nervously and half shyly back at her with a shrug.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I got frustrated again. "I can't even ask you not to judge without you judging. So let me reword myself. Shut up and listen," I ordered.

After a moment when it was clear he was going to keep quiet, I continued. "For as long as you've known Sophine, I've seen things. Things that people want to keep hidden. It took me a long time to realize that not everyone enjoys my clarity, that they want their secrets kept," I said, then sighed. "In many ways, it's made me rather pessimistic. I have kept my virginity because every boy or man who's tried to charm me out of it either wants my title, or any pair of legs will do. I'm not saying that you're like this, but this is what I saw in them. So I made a romantic promise to myself, that I too would wait for love."

"So I let myself grow infatuated with someone who I thought would never be interested in me. I'm too young to be tied down anyway, I have too much I want to do. But a girl needs a crush," I said as if daring him to argue. "And then you came along. And you are so hard to read it drives me crazy. You rarely ever try to lie, but your mood changes with the snap of your fingers, for reasons that are beyond me. You're giving me whiplash, trying to keep up. You like me, fine. But cut me a little slack before you decide your pride is wounded once more, because I'm still trying to catch up." I was done, so I crossed my arms and leaned back against the seat. Gods he was infuriating.

[Maric du Verais]

As she spoke I listened, my face calm and placent as I took in what she said. For a moment I stared at her as she sat there, almost angry, and I couldn't help the little smile that spread across my face as I looked at her. I forced it back, but the moment called for it and so my body responded though my thoughts told it not to.

The silence wore on for a moment as the smile spread wider and I turned to look straight ahead as I thought about what she said. I glanced down, unable to hide the smile before looking straight ahead again, my hands in my lap.

"You're beautiful when your angry." I said softly, my comment made almost to the air, but directed to her. I glanced side long for a moment but only briefly as I continued to look forward.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Oh in the name of..." I said, throwing my hands up in the air. He glanced at me slyly, so I told him, "You are infuriating sometimes, did you know that?"

[Maric du Verais]

I bit my cheek to not laugh, she didn't like it when I laughed at her, but it was hard not to.
"So I gather." I said softly, a smile on my lips still as I finally braved to turn my head a look at her full on.
"Perhaps its subconscious, may hap I do it because of the reaction I get from you." I offered with a shrug and a little smile.
"Is it so bad, to be thrown, to be made to experience things with less warning then you thought you would have. Isn't that part of what makes life sweet?"

[Lillianne Prévost]

I couldn't help but pout. "I'm just not used to it," I replied. "And now you're laughing at me," I added, though humour had escaped to twinkle in my eyes. He made a cute clown.

[Maric du Verais]

I grinned even wider as she looked as though she might actually laugh herself.
"You know, you're even more beautiful when you pout." I said, still baring my grin then turned to her a little more, my face becoming serious for a moment.
"Lilli," I said softly. "I admire that despite loosing your parents, and having your uncle whom is pretty much a stranger come take care of you, you manage to be poised and triumphant." I reached out and ran my fingers against her cheek.
"I'm sure you've had to grow up quickly... though I have a feeling you were born mature." I teased letting gentle whispered smile touch my lips.
"But its ok to have fun, to just be young." I shrugged. "I mean, one day you won't have a choice. You'll have to be an adult, you'll have to face harsh realities. Now is the time you should charish to do things a little more...immature." I chuckled.
"Not that I'm saying you should run around the streets naked, though if you do, let me know. I'm just saying that... that, I don't know. Just try to enjoy the moments we have now." I shrugged again and turned, looking forward as I hoped my words came out. The wine was still making my head a little funny.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I was quiet for a long moment as I thought about what he said. Then I made a decision. Perhaps it was due to the wine, but I would never know.

"Then let's enjoy this moment," I said, turning to him with a mischievous smile on my face. "Kiss me."

[Maric du Verais]

I laughed then, more out of surprise then anything till I realized she was serious.
"Really?" I asked before becoming a little more serious again. "Are you sure?" I added, though I moved more closely to her, my one arm going around to rest on the back of the seat behind her shoulders, the other reaching up to cup her face.
"Don't do it if you don't wish." I whispered softly as I leaned my lips toward her, taking my time so that she could stop me should she desire it.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"And I thought I was the tease," I replied with a smile, then closed the distance between us.

His lips were soft and perfectly kissable, and the pleasurable tingle went straight to my head to mix with the effects of the wine to make my mind spin.

[Maric du Verais]

I gave a gentle half smile at her words before she leaned in and kissed me. Gods, my body burst into flames as she kissed me. Those lips that I had been begging Kushiel to let me kiss since the day I first met her. Now they pressed to mine and I kissed her back with heady desire. My hand went down her neck and over her shoulder before snaking around her waist, so that both arms wrapped around her and pulled her more securely to me. I couldn't help the feeling that stirred in my breeches, but I reminded myself that this was nether the time nor the place.

[Lillianne Prévost]

A hand had come to rest on his chest, and when he pulled me closer, my arm was trapped between our bodies. I barely noticed at the time, but it was probably a good thing, for I'm not sure what would have happened if our bodies had pressed together completely at that moment. As it was, my blood was already thrumming through my veins, wanting - demanding - more. My lips parted slightly beneath his, daring him to take the invitation as the fingers of my free hand stroked through the hair at the base of his skull.

[Maric du Verais]

The kiss lasted both forever and not long enough, her hand pressed to my chest made me wish for less clothing, but then I chided myself and once again reminded myself.
Not now, and not here.

Her other hand moved to the back of my head as her lips parted ever so gently, making my mind tumble as I opened my own and let my tongue slip into her mouth, deepening the kiss and letting my passion show as my hand stroked back and forth over her lower back.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I was official drunk now, between the wine and his kiss. Oh gods, I needed to do this most often. His tongue slipped into my mouth to twine with mine, and the heat between us soared. We kissed until I ran out of air, and only then did my lips part from his to gulp it in. "Sweet Naamah," I gasped.

[Maric du Verais]

Sure, I could have kept kissing her, but I needed air as much as I needed to be kissing her. Her words cut through my thoughts as I breathed a bit heavily, my arms still wound around her body.
"You can say that again." I whispered softly with a gentle smile on my face. My hand left her lower back and came to her chin, holding it delicately before my thumb and fore finger as I kissed her again, though this time soft and fleetingly. Barely a kiss before pulling back to savour her taste, then returned for the soft brief touch of her lips to mine. All the while I left my eyes open, scanning over her face as my lips moved, kissing over the top of her lip, then over her cheek and then to her jaw, over her chin and up the other side. All gentle, quick and simple kisses, left like drops of rain before moving to the next area of tender skin to kiss.

[Lillianne Prévost]

Inhibitions lowered by the wine, I didn't protest as his kisses moved across my face. Instead my eyes closed and I enjoyed the soft touches. "Absolutely infuriating," I murmured with a smile.

[Maric du Verais]

I grinned, ceasing the kisses for a moment as I took in her face, beautiful and radiant. We had both partaken in the wine and her cheeks glowed a soft pink. It made me yearn for her even more.
"I do what I can to please my lady." I whispered before I continued my kisses, this time I made my way toward her ear and kissed just beneath it at the point where jaw met neck. The kisses then became more serious, more ardent as I let them linger and suckled gently at her flesh.
I knew too well that soon enough the carriage would pull up to her town house and then we would be forced to part. I wasn't sure when I would get the opportunaty to lay my true affection on her again, to taste her again.

[Lillianne Prévost]

My eyes opened when he paused to find him watching me with a grin. I should have stopped him when he leaned in again, but I knew that we would be home soon, and another night like this might never come. Besides, he suckled softly at the skin of my neck and it felt so good. "Maric," I breathed. Then after a moment, "We shouldn't be doing this..." But I made no move to stop him.

[Maric du Verais]

I continued to kiss and caress the skin of her neck with my lips, lingering and letting my hot breath bounce off her flesh.
"Mayhap." I whispered softly against her skin and then kissed her again. "Then again, my mind can't find any good reason not to." By the Gods, I ached for her, not in the way that one ached for a good tumble, but in the way that one aches to be whole. My lips played over her skin, unable to stop myself and thinking that I could weep at the taste, the touch, the smell of her.

[Lillianne Prévost]

It took me a long moment to come up with a reason myself, and I was almost distracted from the task completely by the touch of his lips. It was hard to deny something that felt so right, with someone who simply wanted me for me.

"It would upset my uncle," I sighed, a hand reaching up to run through his hair.

[Maric du Verais]

The words stopped me in my tracks and I leaned my forhead against her neck, purring a soft murmured sound at her hand through my hair.

"Yes, you're right." I replied softly, I was disapointed yes, but she was right. I had told Azriel that I would be good to Lilli. I lifted my head from her shoulder and pulled back, my cheek brushing hers and then my lips, and I looked into her eyes as my face stayed close to hers. I smiled widely as I looked into her eyes, and my own danced as I memorized her face completely. The beauty of it, the soft lines and perfect angles that made her look like a would nymph. I couldn't help but smile a little wider and leaned over, kissing her lips gently before pulling back to look at her with what I was sure was a very goofly looking grin.
"I told him I'd watch over you, you know." I said softly as I cupped her face and ran my hand down to her hand and brought it up cup my own face.
"Do you think this counts?" I asked teasingly.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"I know, I eavesdropped," I said with a little smile, my thumb caressing his cheek as my fingers cupped his jaw. "I could have gone home with one of the other men at the fete, so I think you did just fine."

[Maric du Verais]

I chuckled softly, both for the admission of listening in on Azriel and my conversation, and what she said afterward.
"Ah yes, but I know that to be a lie." I said with a little grin. "You're too special to leave with just any old lout. Besides, who's better then me?" I teased.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"My my, don't you think highly of yourself?" I asked, teasing right back. I should have leant back, reestablished space between us, but I didn't particularly want to. "Perhaps I'm too special even for you."

[Maric du Verais]

I grinned as she spoke, going more serious as she spoke her last sentance. "Perhaps I'm too special even for you." I gazed into her eyes, leaning in to brush my lips to hers before pulling back, not hint of teasing in my face.

"Oh yes, by far you are too special for me." I murmured gently, no artifice in my words, only pure awe of Lilli and who she was. She indeed inspired me to be far more humble that I was. I was without a doubt sure that she was too special for even the likes of me.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I looked down, the look in his eyes making me feel uncomfortable, partly because I knew how easy he would be to use if I tapped into it.

"Don't say that Maric. I'm no saint," I whispered.

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled at her reply.
"I know." I said softly and brought my hand to her chin, making her look at me. "That doesn't make you any less special." I leaned in and kissed her then, strong and true against her soft lips.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I met his blue-grey eyes, and saw the honesty in there. It made his kiss all the more potent, and I forgot why we shouldn't as my body responded to his touch. I kissed him back, my fingers once more going through his thick hair as I enjoyed the moment.

It wasn't until the carriage shifted and bumped that I realized that we were home and I pulled away, remembering myself and why this wasn't a good idea. A blush rose to my cheeks, a product of my forwardness in the kiss.