Contracting Geraldine: Part 2

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

The walk was short considering everything, and I spent most of it studying the architecture of the building while making small talk with Geraldine. "I apologize," I admitted straight off as we stepped outside, my arm extended to hold the door til she moved through. "I didn't think to tell you it was for the wedding before you agreed to accompany me. It was rather..." What was the word? "...brash of me. Rude?" I grinned, pulling my arm, and ultimately her, a touch closer to me as I stumbled on my wording. "Unthoughtful, mayhap. Your language has a lot of flowery words for one simple meaning."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I smiled gently, and told him, "All the words you used would have been considered appropriate by some, but I only thought it was... forgetful. Besides, it was Valeraine's duty to tell me, and in the end, it made no difference." In truth, I would have accepted one way or the other. It was a great honor to attend Caraf's wedding on the arm of a peer, and one whom Valeraine called Your Grace. The fact that he was dashingling handsome, and mysterious had made the decision all the more a happy one.

The sun was gentle on the green of the garden, and I took in a deep breath. "Your D'Angeline is excellent, My Lord. If my Cruithne were as efficient, I would be elated," I added softly, eyes twinkling.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"Ah, well," I said with a nonchalant shrug, my grin still laden upon my lips, "Tis my first time contracting, I must admit. Besides, it'd have been nice for you to have known before agreeing, not matter who the duty lay upon."

She was easy and graceful at my side, moving like a gentle summer breeze alongside a surly old rock. Well, I mused. Maybe not surly. "You speak Cruithne, then? I know some in the City does, but not who, obviously."

My words were delivered not in d'Angeline, but in Cruithne, and a sparkle lit my eye as I led her to a bench. "It's not a difficult language. Much less flowery than your d'Angeline," I added, my tongue switching back to her native tongue. "I only know as much of your language as I do because of my.. ah. Responsibilities. Otherwise you'd be forced to stumble along in your Cruithne and I'd be begging you to accompany me more than just the wedding, to act as my translator."

My voice was teasing as we approached the bench, standing in the shade of a towering oak.

[Géraldine Grangier]

As he spoke, I listened intently, trying to make him out, and luckily, he was a slow talker, and enunciated a lot. I understood most of it.

"Most D'angelines speak some," I replied, stumbling over my words, unsure of the grammar. "It was made mandatory by Queen Ysandre when she married your Cruarch, though..." I searched the words, tried, and failed, returning to D'Angeline. "Though Heliotrope's teachings do circle around other arts than languages, and so as you see I would have made a terrible translator," I replied, voice light and filled with mirth. "I haven't had much practice," I admitted.

I changed again, to his tongue, and tried my hand at a simple question, "And... what responsibility would that be?" Although if I had just asked about the meaning of the word or the nature of it, I wasn't too sure.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

A loud, joyful laugh bubbled at the back of my throat, though I somehow managed to keep it at bay for fear of offending her; a chuckle still trickled out, hinting at something more, and my eyes held the twinkle as I sat. "You speak well enough for me," I said honestly, my face still betraying my grand pleasure. "And what arts does Heliotrope center around if not that of languages?"

My voice was too innocent and curious, she too intelligent and witty, for her to take it as anything less than a tease, a pry designed to see how passive and demure she truly was.

"Responsibilities... Ah," I said, speaking in d'Angeline still for her benefit. "I've an estate in Kusheth, one in Alba, and I do an ever so small amount of trading with a few d'Angeline merchants who wish for the meats and wool that come from my estate in Alba." I grinned, leaning back, inviting her to sit next to me if she wanted. "I have to admit, though, it bores me to death."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I sat next to him, and very gently, took his hand, answering his question as my thumbs pressed in his palms, something designed to induce relaxation and comfort, mostly an excuse to touch him, and show him I was not shy, but merely quiet and patient.

Kusheth. What was it with me, and Kushelines, Mandrakes and the like? Although if he was Alban, mayhap Kushiel's blood did not run deep in him, as it did in others. Nonetheless, I wondered, but was bothered by it, very, very little.

"If you are bored, the city will cure you of it, no doubt, and each house in a different way." I replied with a smile of pleasantness. "Heliotrope's cannon is 'Thou, and no other,'" I recited with a smile. "And so we are trained in the art of love, of basking in love as in the sun's rays, and giving love to our patrons, so that they may in turn bask in it, and be soothed by the mere touch of affection. It comes in many, many forms," I added, my eyes deeply rooted into his, suggesting a myriad options.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"And you - are you so easily soothed by a mere touch of affection?" I asked, my fingers catching hers up with a subtle twist of my wrist, lacing them together in a brief, fleeting embrace. My demeanor was no longer humorous and teasing but relaxed and gentle; I really was curious. My experiance with adepts was, thus far, quite limited.

My gaze met hers unwavering, delving into the depths of what some called the windows to the soul. I'd looked at many a person in this fashion before, though usually they were being questioned, or this gaze was the last they saw before they met thier end. I didn't kill for pleasure; had one showed me he didn't mean what he had done, that he was sorry, I would have let him live. Still, that side of me was far removed from any dealings I had with women, either related to me or no. I very much enjoyed the softness of their bodies, of protecting them if the needed it; I'd never harmed one before and I had no intentions of ever beginning to.

Disentangling my hand with hers, I tested out the theory of her statement by running my fingers in a gentle caress across her cheek, letting my fingertips thread up through the soft locks of hair that hung around her ears.

[Géraldine Grangier]

He was swift, and agile, his hands powerful yet able to be gentle. What a present he was, I thought to myself, all man, but able to be caring.

His eyes never left mine, and in them I saw a world of things, the hardness I saw in Stefano Calderon when he spoke of war, and the goodness I'd met in Darien's gaze, but none of the mysterious struggle of Navarre's waters. Like the Marquist, he was at peace with himself, for the most part. Decimus was a good man, there was no doubt to be had, and as I mused, taking stock of my new patron, my hand was gently entwined in his.

I did wonder what he had seen in my eyes, but such thoughts were sent askew when his hand threaded my hair, and I whispered, "Of course, very much so, who would not be?" I asked, leaning in to his touch a little. "Although, in truth, I rarely need soothing, for peace, I have found, a long time ago. One must be at peace to soothe others," I added quietly, my eyes turning to his again, a smile edging my lips.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"Everyone needs soothing," I said softly as she leaned into my hand, the gentle pressure of her face causing my fingers to stir ever so slightly against her warm skin. "Though I have to disagree; I've seen those at war with themselves soothe others; they did so because they loved them, because the others plight was worse than their own. But still, they were not at peace."

My hand pulled down from her face a little, my fingers drawing along the silky length of her jaw before dropping away to reclaim her hand. She was beautiful, loving and caring, and I found myself relaxed by the simple nearness of her. A smile lit my lips as I sat back against the bench, not wishing to crowd her, though my hand never left hers. "I'm very glad to hear you're at peace with yourself though. I'd be awfully upset if I found out otherwise, and not for the sake of any silly contract."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I smiled as Decimus spoke, my eyes roaming his face, hearing his words of war-made wisdom. He was kind and good, and I smiled in turn, "Thank you, for your consideration, Sweet Lord." I let my voice be soft and caring as I said it, letting the weight of the simple word carry all they had. Thinking aloud, I added, "The people you spoke of, they had peace, albeit temporarily, and it was fueled by their love of others, My Lord. One can only find peace in love, the one that is given, or received. And I do not beleive peace to be a permanent state, either, as you may well know, if you have fought in war yourself."

My skin had prickled under his gentle touch, and his hand was warm in mine. I gave it a gentle squeeze to indicate that his attentions were appreciated and welcome, my smile never leaving my lips.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

My lips parted to argue with her again on the side of inner peace, however temporary, before I shut them again. It wasn't the time, and ontop of that, was fairly pointless in the grand scheme. The faces of the men I talked about... They put on a mask for their comrades, though even I could see the turmoil in their eyes as I walked past. There was no peace there.

Still, she was soft and beautiful, her demeanor gentle and seemingly unspoiled. I cherished that, the innocence and beauty of her, and with a smile I changed the subject. "Your House is very lovely," I said as I looked around, taking in the garden around us as well as the outside of the building. "I've not been in any of the others, though I would think they'd be hard pressed to match this one."

[Géraldine Grangier]

My eyes filled with shame as I noted his restricted attempt to reply, and abrupt change in subject. I would have apologized, but mayhap this was not the best way to go about it. Sometimes, pretending works better. So I kept an easy smile, and looked at him gently.

"This house is very sunny, and simple, with a garden that I love. However, should your steps take you to Eglantine, you will marvel at the glory of their walls and at the art used to decorate the House. Alyssum is rumored to have a beautiful garden as well." I then realized I had not been to all the Houses, and blushed, "I need to update a little, for I have not been to any other houses either," I admitted.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"Eglantine," I said, tasting its name upon my tongue. "I have an invitation to go there, actually - a lovely adept by the name of Aaliyah asked to paint a portrait of my face at the fete."

The shameful look in her eyes was not lost on me, though I'd stalled for a moment before reacting, not knowing if it would prick her pride to acknowledge that I seen it or if it would be better to react as I normally would. Familiarity and doing what seemed right won out in the end, and I brought my unoccupied hand around to her face again, giving her cheek and jaw a gentle, enticing caress, showing there was nothing to feel as such for. My lips held a smile of solace, though I didn't speak on the subject, letting it die with the spring breeze around us.

"Heliotrope has many beautiful claims, it seems," I said softly, my eyes locking on hers.

[Géraldine Grangier]

My eyes widened a little. "Aaliyah?" I grinned, "She and I have known each other for a long time," I told him, making a note to complement her on being forthright about seeking out an assignation. "She is very talented, I have seen her paintings," I added with a smile that was all truth and warmth.

But then, as I spoke, he touched me, and looked me in the eye, his gaze pouring out something kind and caring. For a moment, my breath stood still. Again, blue eyes. They were troubling in their care, and I held it, reply softly, "Really?"

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"Truly," I said softly, my hand stroking her cheek again. My body leaned towards hers a little, my lips aching to meet hers, though I moved no more than a few bare inches before I caught myself. I'd contracted her, not for this night, but for another, and I wouldn't expect her to give a piece of her, however so small as a kiss is, before the time was right.

Instead I drew my thumb over the corner of her lips as if to tell her I wanted to before dropping my hand back away, looping it over the back of the bench on my opposite side. "She is your friend?" I asked, somewhat in surprise. "I'll consider myself doubly lucky then, to have the pleasure of both her time and yours."

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Thank you, that is very flattering, both for her and I," I replied, blushing slightly.

He had leaned in for a kiss, and stopped, and I ached now for him to close the distance. There was nothing wrong with kissing a patron, nothing wrong at all, if it secured an assignation. In my case, if was more about acting on impulses and feelings, and I felt like kissing him, very much so.

How to convey that to him, I was not sure, and so I laughed softly. "In truth, I am not surprised that she offered up to paint your uniqueness," and as I spoke, I allowed my hand to do something gentle, to cup his cheek with a tender touch. "If I were Bryony, I would likely place a bet that many a lady has ached to do what I just did," I said softly.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"I'm not unique," I countered with a something close to a grin, though before I could explain myself further her hand came up and held my cheek with a gentle touch, and her eyes... How expressive they were, telling stories of their own while her lips spun something different, weaving two tales together in seemingly effortless harmony. It were too much - I had pride and respect, but in the end I was still just a man, and I succumbed to the urges that were steadily building inside of me.

Leaning forward, I brushed my lips against hers softly, my hand returning to her face to caress it gently once more. For a long moment my lips lingered, the kiss strengthening somewhat, my body trying to shove away the build of desire. A kiss, a kiss, no more.

When it broke I leaned back a few bare inches, my gaze delving into hers much differently this time than it had the last. "Whatever you think or bet, Geraldine, I still consider myself the lucky one," I said, my voice a near whisper against her lips.

[Géraldine Grangier]

The kiss was lovely, gentle, respectful, artfully deepened, meaningful.

Oh, how I loved to kiss, and a man such as Decimus kissed wonderfully, warmly and passionately, but with a reserve that was all respect and care. When he was done with the kiss, and he had said his lovely compliment, I sighed happily, "That was wonderful," I said. And though I had intended to go to the wedding, to celebrate Caraf, and maybe to find a patron, my eagerness had been rather mitigated.

Now, it was unabashed - this man, I would treat very, very well. He could expect to have the best of me.

Before he closed the distance completely, I gave him another kiss, gentle and soft. "Luck comes in pairs, I am told," I whispered again.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

I could smell her, the subtle fragrance that undoubtedly was Geraldine no Heliotrope alone, and with an inward sigh as she kissed me in return, I felt myself lose restraint. My lips returned to hers at the edge of her sentence, a thread of passion making its way into my actions as I urged her lips apart, wanting to deepen it more. My tongue skimmed her lips, my hand still cupping her face and drawing her into me, taking the time and effort to learn her and enjoy her fully while not taking any more from her than a kiss.

[Géraldine Grangier]

Oh gods, he was kissing me, deeply this time, and I drowned it the effect of it, my mind reeling at his passion, taking it in and making it mine. Before I knew it, a soft moan left my lips, and I opened my lips to him, welcoming him in fully, ready to play.

The feel of his hands on me was rough, gentle, powerful, enticing, and the mere suggestion that those hands may touch my body later was enough to make me quiver. Gods, he was fetching, oh, yes, very much so.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

She was so willing, bending so easily into my want to kiss that I found myself fighting the need to physically ask for more. I held onto the kiss for another moment before letting it end, afraid I'd inadvertently make an ass of myself and offend her. Silence took for a moment as I gathered my wit, my hand stroking once more along her cheek before falling back away.

"Luck comes in pairs, but the third time is the charm." I settled myself visably, trying to shake off the desire that had come into me during our kiss, and with an absent eye I watched a bird flit from a tree branch and to the ground by our feet. If I didn't take her back now and leave myself, I'd end up begging her to sign a second assignation with me - this one set for today. Looking back at her I smiled, my demeanor as relaxed as I could manage. "I should probably make my way back to my townhome," I said reluctantly, honestly not wanting to go.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I laughed softly at his jest, but it was interrupted by his desire to leave.

"Really?" my eyes were charged with worry, as likely was my voice, though I tried to keep it. I expected, either the kiss wasn't as he expected, or he had been inflamed by it. I thought it might more of the former.

My eyes trailed down his face, to the strong arch of his shoulders, and all I could do was say, "Of course, you must have many things to take care of... responsibilities," I added with a small smirk. "It is regrettable, for I enjoy your company, very much so," and I had said it lightly, meaning the whole of his person, not only the one that had just kissed me with unabashed passion. "I hope it wasn't something I did..." and I left it at that, letting him take the leap, if he wanted to.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

Damnation! I hissed inwardly at myself as she became self conscious, fretting over some imagined wrong doing. My hand squeezed hers comfortingly as I leaned in, my lips meeting hers and cutting off any other words that might spill from her. The kiss was tender, gentle, lingering on her lips for a long moment before I deepened it, feeling the desire surge into me again. My hand left hers as I tucked it in around her and drew her closer to me, my lips still pressed to hers, and after a moment I relaxed and let her mouth go again, though I kept her body close to mine.

"Geraldine," I whispered, my lips traveling along her cheek in a series of small kisses, "I'm finding it difficult not to beg you to let me bed you now; that is the only reason why I suggested leaving."

Indeed I wanted her; my phallus was hard in my lap by now though I paid it little attention, focusing instead on comforting her and drawing her worry from her like pain from a bee sting. She was soft and delicate, passionate and tender, and the gods above knew of my aching desire for her.

[Géraldine Grangier]

My breath stilled in my lungs as his kiss interrupted me, and uncontrolled passion took me over, as likely it did him, for suddenly, his hard chest was pressed to me, almost achingly. I responded in kind to his kiss, pouring more passion in it, if there was any I had held out before. Instinctively, my hands matched the marquings on his cheeks, and when he stopped, I gasped, listening in wonder to his admitting whisper.

"Gods, I'll say, that makes the two of us, My Lord, for you have a way to spark me," I told him, my breath short in my lungs, my voice a breathy whisper, though my eyes never left his blue seas.

I swallowed a little, telling him softly, "It is as you wish, for you would have very little begging to do, My Lord," I added with a breathy smile.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

Gods above, her face was perfectly shaped, and when she let an admission of her want for me... It took all my strength as a soldier, as a lover and friend, to hold myself back from lifting her onto my lap just then. I couldn't move anywhere for the time being as it was, my body stuck until my phallus was less noticable, and with a smile I pressed my lips to her forehead and leaned back, drawing a shuddering breath. "You could make a man weep for his desire if you wanted to, Geraldine."

My arm went back to the bench and my other left her hand as I settled, though only so far as to put that arm around her, keeping her close to me. "Do you have far to go with your marque?" I asked slightly hesitatingly, unsure if that would be rude or not.

[Géraldine Grangier]

His mastery was impressive. If he was able to find restraint, when he’d fear losing it an instant before, it meant that not only was he strong of body, but that his spirit held somewhat powerful and wondrous, that likely escaped my understanding. I looked at him with increased respect, and when he moved away, I understood it was not because I displeased him, but because I pleased him to much, and it almost made me smile. But power was not something I coveted, and so instead, I settled at his side, smiling softly and blushing at his words, finding that the angle made by his arm and his torso was a perfect fit. Under my breath, I whispered, “Please don’t weep.”

As he asked his question, I looked at the garden, my hand gently catching a fleeting feather, and threading it. During the assignation, he would see my marque – so this was merely giving him information he would have later anyway. “I still have quite a bit to go, though more than half of it is done,” and his words brought me back to Darien, to his touch and his smile, to his words, that I was his to finish. Was I? He was my marquist, no doubt – but he had made no promises. The question stayed unanswered in my mind, and I kept if off of my voice. This was the part of me that wasn’t in the assignation – the part of me that was very personal. I would give myself body and soul to the Alban – but my secret, that was mine, and mine alone.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

I chuckled as she asked me not to cry and pressed my cheek against the top of her head in reward for her sweet, humorous self. Before I could respond she answered my question, though, and to that I sobered, becoming more serious once again. "Somehow I had no doubt that you will achieve your marque faster than you think." It were all murmured into the delicate strands of her hair, stirring them slightly with my breath.

She was beautiful, fun, serious and sincere. I counted myself more than lucky to have her by my side for the wedding.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I pressed into his side, taking in the quiet tenderness of his warmth. Gods, he was enticing. "Really? what makes you believe so?" I asked a little absently.

Heedlessly, my hand trailed to his knee, not giving him a touch that was meant to entice, but a soft gesture of tenderness, to tell him quietly that I cared already for him, that he had won me over as a friend, and a lover, at his beckoning.

Gods, I hungered for his kiss again, but this want, I stifled, kept to myself, waiting patiently for the event, and the night that would follow.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

My gaze returned to the songbird that hopped about our feet, picking at small bugs and the gods knew what else; I did my best to keep my mind off the gentle strum of her fingers upon my knee. Eventually I'd be able to indulge myself of her, but the timing was not right now, and I was not cad enough to draw more than propriety allowed.

Still, it didn't keep me from running my fingers over the slender curve of her middle as we sat, my mind contemplating her words.

"The entirety of your nature," I said, my eyes watching the bird flit away. "Your willingness, the supple, gentleness that comes from you." I smiled, my hand coming to rest just above the top of her hip. "Your immense beauty doesn't hurt as well."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I blushed again, more deeply this time. "You flatter me, My Lord," I said softly, "And I thank you for your praise, but you should know, I am not the only adept here, and many of my house mates are beautiful and lovely." My hand stilled itself on his knee, and my head turned, so that I could meet his gaze, and my voice held a bit of amusement, but also a great deal of care, as I said what he had told me earlier, "I am not unique."

If I was unique, which I was, so was he, because everyone was. There was something special and personal, intimately unique in every person I knew, in Aaliyah the painter, in my beloved Darien, in Navarre, who troubled beyond words, and even in the surly Aramis Shahrizai. All of them, I loved, because they were unique, and because he was unique, I loved Decimus Mab Halcyone, deeply as time went. I enjoyed his gentle touch, I respected his mastery and his wit. Yes, by many ways, it was easy to love him, very, very easy.

Not wanting to create unwanted stirs, I averted my eyes. Hopefully, he had understood all that I had tried to tell him in that simple jest.