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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Jul 31, 2011 20:50:57 GMT -5
Mid summer, First year of Queen Coretta's reign
It was too warm that day for assignations. Valerian was basically asleep, adepts lounging around and sipping iced tea. So I made my escape, walking down the Mount into the city. I strolled along the streets of the Artisan's district with my hair up in a ponytail to keep my neck cool, taking in the sights.
I wore a sleeveless gown in a soft blue that seemed very modest from the front. The neckline skimmed my collar bones, the skirt fell in simple lines to just above my ankles. The back was a different story, where far more skin than fabric showed. Thin straps, held together by little bows, kept my gown to my body every two inches or so from my neck to the dimples in the small of my back. It revealed almost my entire marque. I was feeling far more secure in my identity as a Valerian since Gabriel had agreed to be my lover, and had recently bought this gown to celebrate the fact. Now I was in front of Sujet a la Mode once more, looking at the new display in the window. I really shouldn't go in, I had already spent my pocket money for the month. But now, even more, the clothing intrigued me.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 1, 2011 18:44:32 GMT -5
The only thing worse than being outside today was being inside. The heat was oppressive in a way I had never imagined it could be. Even with all the windows open, the house was an oven and I refused to be baked.
Outside at least there was space and some air and people to distract me. I walked through the shopping area, not caring if I made people jump out of my way – it was only right they should. The clothing the women here wore was scandalous and I had plans to buy a thing or two to take home to Anastasia. I wouldn’t let her wear it in front of any other men, but in our bedroom was another matter.
My mind was wandering along that path when suddenly I was jerked back to the present by a sight in front of me that nearly made me moan. The girl in front of the store wore a dress that showed as much skin as it covered and the majority of the skin it showed was brightly inked. An adept…..
“Perkunas but what I would do to her,” I murmured softly in Ruskovian.
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 1, 2011 19:01:37 GMT -5
I was about to sigh wistfully and make myself move on from my window shopping when I heard him. I so rarely heard Ruskovian since my mother passed, and so I turned to find him looking right at me. I blushed at his frank stare. "It is not Perkunas you should be praying to, if you wish to spend time with me my lord," I replied in our shared tongue. My answer was very forward, but I had seen the lust in his eyes, and it made me brave.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 2, 2011 22:46:42 GMT -5
A snowfall in the midst of this heat could not have surprised me as much as her speaking Ruskovian. I had to force my jaw shut with a snap so as not to look more of a fool.
“You are Ruskovian?” I asked, my eyes moving over her front more eagerly than I had her back.
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 2, 2011 23:32:31 GMT -5
The shock on his face made me feel for him. Clearly he had not found the small Ruskovian enclave in the City, made up of a handful of merchants and exiles. "Half Ruskovian. Karina Mikhailova, Second of Valerian House," I introduced myself with a curtsy and a welcoming smile. I had not missed his wandering eyes.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 3, 2011 19:39:58 GMT -5
Half? Well, that was more than anyone else new I had met here in this place.
“Tsarivich Vladimir Romanov,” I told her, my eyes meeting hers again. “Valerian, that is the House of pain, yes?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 3, 2011 22:51:12 GMT -5
It was my turn to be surprised. The heir to the throne was talking to me? I curtsied again, this time much deeper as to befit his station. "Yes it is Tsarivich, among other things," I said, glancing up to meet his eyes again.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 3, 2011 23:19:31 GMT -5
Only the knowledge that adepts were protected by the gods here kept me from laying my hands on her right then. There was a stirring in my breeches though and the tip of my tongue ran over my lips as I looked at her.
Finally pulling my eyes away, I looked in the window of the store. “What are you doing here?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 5, 2011 23:46:08 GMT -5
His tongue snaked across his lips, and I was secretly glad that I had chosen to wear this gown today. "I'm..." I didn't know the Ruskovian phrase for window shopping, if they even had one. "I'm browsing the wares on display in the windows, and generally enjoying life. And you, my prince?"
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 6, 2011 0:36:45 GMT -5
“Buying a gift or two for my wife,” I answered. I tilted my head to the side. “I could use a female view on things if you have the time?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 8, 2011 9:30:55 GMT -5
"It would be an honour my prince," I said with another curtsy. To start with, one did not turn down the heir to the throne. And I had seen the way he looked at me. But I knew I had to play it carefully - I needed his signature before he could have what his eyes wanted. "I have a little time before I must return to Valerian."
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 8, 2011 18:09:37 GMT -5
Every time she curtseyed, it caused a stirring within me.
“Thank you, Karina,” I said, tasting her name and wishing it was her flesh. Pulling my eyes from her, I moved and opened the door to the shop, motioning for her to proceed me.
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 8, 2011 22:05:15 GMT -5
I nodded my thanks as I entered the shop, letting him look all he wanted at the ink blazing beneath my skin. The air in the shop was blessedly cool, though I blushed when I felt my nipples pucker and knew they would now be visible. "Are you looking for anything in particular my prince?" I asked, knowing that we were in the wrong store if his wife was as modest as I had heard Ruskovian women were.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 9, 2011 18:15:48 GMT -5
It took quite a force of my will to stop my hand from running over her bare skin as she passed me.
“Something delicate and soft,” I replied. “Anastasia likes new things so I thought to surprise her with something she would never find in Ruskovia.”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 10, 2011 9:17:57 GMT -5
I looked about the store, moving between displays of the latest fashion, more scandalous clothing becoming apparent as we got closer to the back wall. I spotted a dressing gown, the softest of laces trimming the neck and cuffs. It would have been very proper if it hadn't been made of white Menekhet cotton so fine that it was nearly translucent. Innocent and provocative, all rolled into one. "Something like this my prince?"
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 10, 2011 18:29:08 GMT -5
I could not have told you the design or color of a single item we passed; my eyes were trained on her like a wolf watching a rabbit. She moved with a grace that was near impossible to describe and I couldn’t help but notice the shape of her nipples under her dress.
Her words pulled my eyes from her and I looked at the robe she indicated. “Yes, that is perfect,” I said, nodding. I looked for a clerk and with a motion indicated that I would be buying the robe. What I really wanted was for Karina to model it, but I knew the rules of adepts – they were one of the first things I had asked about when we got here – and I knew there would need to be a contract.
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Aug 19, 2011 21:53:39 GMT -5
His eyes continued to look me over, until I almost felt as if this were a test. A flicker of nervousness moved through me. The tsarivich was an intense man, and something told me that he always got what he wanted, even if he had to bloody some noses. I thought about my next choice, my memory working hard to recall what wares I had seen in my previous visit. "What about lace my prince? We have excellent lacemakers in Eisande, if you're interested in something like this," I offered, holding up a short, tight dress made of brilliant red lace.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Aug 20, 2011 18:56:11 GMT -5
I couldn’t help but smile a little at the color of the next outfit. Moving closer, I reached out and took the hem of the dress between my fingers, feeling it.
“The lace is very soft, like silk,” I mused. “It would feel very nice against the skin, don’t you think?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Sept 3, 2011 1:04:51 GMT -5
His question had me fighting against a blush, for I knew that the lace felt wonderful and sensual and provocative. "Yes my prince, it does," I agreed. It would feel even better between two bodies.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Sept 4, 2011 0:47:55 GMT -5
Still fingering the lace, I met her gaze. “Do you like lace the most?” I asked. “Or is there something else you like better?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Sept 4, 2011 22:14:26 GMT -5
My lip caught between my teeth before I caught myself. "There are many materials that appeal to me, but lace is my favourite," I said, trapped by his beautiful blue eyes. Oh why did it feel like an admission?
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Sept 6, 2011 18:37:31 GMT -5
With my left hand, i reached out and captured her right hand. Slowly I brought her hand up and then used my right hand to caress the lace over her skin.
"And this lace is the best, yes?" I asked, my voice low and my eyes never leaving her face.
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Sept 11, 2011 3:41:30 GMT -5
The sensation of his strong hand contrasted with the silky lace, and caused goosebumps to rise along my arms. "Yes my prince," I breathed, watching the lace slide over our skin. "Wearing this would be... delicious."
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Sept 12, 2011 17:38:01 GMT -5
“I think perhaps I shall buy this for you,” I said, keeping her hand trapped in mine. “It seems more suited to you.”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Sept 16, 2011 7:43:00 GMT -5
He kept a hold of my hand, and it kept me perfectly still. My body was inclined towards his, just waiting for him to pounce. "It would be an honour my prince," I managed to reply. I was torn between trembling with anticipation and beaming with satisfaction that the crown prince of Ruskovia was pleased enough with me to buy me something. "I would love to model it for you sometime."
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Sept 16, 2011 17:25:31 GMT -5
“That would be lovely,” I murmured before bringing her hand up and kissing the back lingeringly.
I wanted to do more, but still I obeyed the rules and released her hand. “Shall we find something else for my wife?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Sept 20, 2011 8:26:52 GMT -5
Suddenly he let go, and it was as if the sun had gone behind the clouds. Gods, I never got used to patrons who made me feel like that.
"Of, of course," I recovered, blinking a little faster than normal. "Any preferences my prince?"
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Sept 23, 2011 16:44:44 GMT -5
I thought for a moment, my eyes traveling over Karina’s form absently as I did.
“A waist cincher,” I said. “Something in leather. Do they have those here?”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Sept 24, 2011 6:30:12 GMT -5
"Not in leather, and not the finest quality. You would want to visit L'Roche's for the best selection. It's over in the Temple District," I explained. My voice still felt breathy, and I tried to ground myself so that he didn't distract me too much.
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Post by Vladimir Romanov on Sept 30, 2011 16:59:51 GMT -5
“L’Roche’s,” I repeated, testing the name to make sure I remembered. “When we are done here, you will show me? If you have the time?”
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