oct 20 - for Kate

[duerespectguv]

"Let's go," Declan says, but he doesn't make a move to release her from his arms. "In a few, though, I'm not inclined to let you go just yet."

Damn, he was gone on her. Too gone.

It's sort of a long walk from the Hub to his hut and that's mostly by design. Declan likes having something that's easily defended in the case of an attack and the hut being isolated as it is has a good visibility for anyone coming in. If he knows it's coming, he can be prepared. Of course, that's all worst-case scenario and a bit dire but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for everything. It's that same motto that's kept his head attached to his shoulders for the past forty some years.

When they get there (and he's not calling it home even if he concedes to being stuck here for a while - home is an antique bed in London with fantastic sheets and a great view), it's automatic to open the door for her even if Kate Freelander's not the sort of woman who needs doors opened for her.

"After you, Katie."

Comments

[duerespectguv]

"Bed's fine unless you'll be more comfortable on the couch? I aim to please," Declan says, voice low and soft. It's different, in a way, because while he wants her and would be damned pleased if she started making him promises it doesn't feel...urgent. It's nice to not feel that way around her for once.

"Up to you."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Bed."

If they're not going to fuck, she still wants to touch him. Be close to him. It's comfortable, and she misses Hank and Biggie less when she's with him like that.

Kate's quick about changing. Not hiding herself, but not making a show either. It's just a few minutes before she's out of her clothes and into boy shorts and the jersey the box gave her the first time. Then she flops on the bed on her stomach and waits for him.

[duerespectguv]

Kate's seen him completely naked more than once so it's not really a big deal to strip down to boxers and slide in next to her, one hand going automatically to rub down the length of her back.

"I miss you when you're not here, you know. I suppose all my credibility is revoked, yeah?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Guy creds? Yeah." Kate flashes him a soft smile that's too damned sweet for her face. Her teeth hurt. She can't help it. Declan's touching her and she's missed that.

"But my tough chick cred is pretty shot too. I'll keep you secret if you keep mine."

[duerespectguv]

"Should we swear an oath on it?" Declan asks, grinning right back at her. Really, they're ridiculous, and he's never telling a soul about it. It's too precious, for one, and it ruins their credibility for another.

"Or seal the deal somehow?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate catches herself biting at her lip and wetting it and oh no she is not doing that thing women do when they want to be kissed. Not by accident she's not. It's one fucking thing to do it on purpose, but this is a whole new level of fucked the hell up.

And yet, she's still doing it.

Sighing, she drops her forehead to the bed between her arms. At least he can't see how ridiculous she's being. "I think handshakes are traditional for sealing deals." She reaches out her hand without looking at him.

[duerespectguv]

Declan takes her hand and turns it, pressing his mouth against her wrist. Not a handshake, no, but it's something to seal it nonetheless.

That done, he rubs her hand lightly with his thumbs, just enjoying the chance to touch her.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

His lips brush her pulse and Kate shivers. She laughs, soft and strangled. This just gets worse by the second. "Cruel, babe. Totally cruel." But his thumbs feel good on her hand and she doesn't pull it away.

[duerespectguv]

"Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind," Declan tosses back, moving his thumbs down to massage her palm. "Besides, if you don't like it, I can always stop. No problems there."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

For once, she thinks before she talks and bites back so that's why we're not fucking. Kate lifts her head just enough to meet his eyes. "That's not a problem you're ever going to have. Me not likely your hands or mouth on me."

[duerespectguv]

"Same," Declan agrees. He drops her hand and touches her back lightly, up near her shoulder blades.

"Mind if I touch here, then? Since you told me it's not going to be a problem and all. I'm pressing my luck."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Gave you blanket permission once. Any part of you, any part of me." She remembers. Gods yes she remembers. And yeah, she meant appendages and orifices and sex, but it covers this too. More than.

She shifts around to fold her forearms under her cheek. "Please? Touch me. I miss having your hands on me."

[duerespectguv]

"I always like to give a lady what she wants," Declan says lowly, working his hands against the muscles there. He leaves the jersey on, though, because it's more about touching her and taking care of her than anything sexual.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate kicks out with her heel and catches him lightly with it. "If you were giving me what I want--" We'd be fucking. But maybe they wouldn't. Tonight. This kind of is what she wants. "You'd stop calling me a lady. I already told you, I'm not one."

[duerespectguv]

"You're my lady, then," Declan corrects. "And you can't argue with that, it's simply my preference in endearments."

He sounds a little like James, though, and he wonders if Kate would know that. Maybe not, considering he'd died before she came around but maybe Magnus has mentioned him to her.

"You're just going to have to suffer, love."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"I thought 'love' and 'Katie' were your 'preference in endearments'," Kate protests, but that it's spoiled by the quiet sigh for how perfect his hands are on her shoulders. "Where'd you learn to do this? Special Forces?"

[duerespectguv]

"Japan," Declan says smoothly, deciding not to comment on his preference in endearments. She knows, he knows she knows and they're not going to talk about it. At least not today, anyway.

"I worked in the Tokyo sanctuary for a while when I was still learning. James thought it was good I see other houses and how they work."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Spend a lot of time with the Sanctuary's personal geishas?" She's not even kidding. They probably have them. They have everything else.

It drives home, though, something she doesn't think much about. Declan being older than her and a lot more experienced. At everything but sex. Kate's pretty sure she's got the wider spread there. She wonders if she's boring, which is a thought she's never once in her entire life had.

[duerespectguv]

"Empaths make fantastic geishas. Sometimes they get exploited," Declan says. It's not a pretty thing but the Tokyo Sanctuary has several empaths that live there of their own accord and are happy to teach what they know.

"Now you know something about me. You should tell me something about you, even the score?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"I asked a question and you answered." Kate rolls her head to the other side so she can look back over her shoulder at him. He's so hot. Gods. Why does he want her? "I didn't volunteer for an information exchange."

But he feels so good, this feels so good, she gives him a pained sigh. "But, for the sake of fairness, if you ask a question, I'll answer it. Two conditions; we keep going until I run out of questions, and we both have veto power."

[duerespectguv]

"Fair enough. Favorite color, then?"

Maybe it's a stupid question but he doesn't know the answer to it and it'll keep her asking and answering for a bit yet. He slides his hands a little further down her back, pressing his thumbs in along her spine.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Like you even need to ask. Black." She scoffs and stretches long across the bed. If she rolls over, what will he do? "Yeah, yeah. I know. Color. I guess it depends on what I'm doing with it. I wouldn't want to live with a room decorated in it, but I like yellow a lot."

[duerespectguv]

"Suits you. Yellow's not subtle," Declan says and it's more of a compliment than anything else. He likes that he doesn't have to beat around the bush with her, for the most part.

"Your turn. Ask away." His hands haven't stopped moving along her back, working the muscles with his fingers as best he can.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Just being unique, babe. You know me." It's really nice to have him touching her like this, and she lets him know it, reaching back with one hand to squeeze his forearm and rub it with her fingers.

"I don't know what your favorite color is. Hm. New condition. You have to answer the question you asked, too. So, favorite color and...favorite non-Abnormal zoo animal." It's a completely ridiculous question, but it shouldn't go anywhere bad and they both like animals. "I'll tell you mine after."

[duerespectguv]

"Favorite color is blue," Declan says quickly. He has to think about the other one for a moment and distracts himself with sliding down to massage her legs. Those are bare, though, so maybe it's more a distraction for him.

"Animal? Probably falcons. They're bloody gorgeous."