"Dye my hair Pink? Seriously?" the man asked extremely suspicious of her motives. "Are you trying to make me look more casual or get my ass beat next time I leave my home?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That had her rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "Firstly, pink would make you look more casual...but did we forget you hired me to protect you? You wouldn't get beat up unless it was me doing the beating," she reasoned. "You're <span style="font-style: italic">fine</span>..."</span><br/><br/>"I suppose..." eyebrow arched. "But, what if this is your plan to take some embarrassing photos of me? Use them to blackmail me and keep me as your slave?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Would I really need to take embarrassing pictures to do that?" she shot back. "I could keep you as my slave without needing proof of your 'pretty in pink' phase."</span><br/><br/>"Is that a fact?" he asked. "You think that you could just control me? That easy?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Are you saying I couldn't?"</span><br/><br/>"I am saying that it would be harder than you thought it would be..." a pause and he licked his lips. "Much harder..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That got her biting her lip, glancing away for only a split second as images flashed of just how <span style="font-style: italic">hard</span> things could get.<br/><br/>"If you're truly affected by the...<span style="font-style: italic">finer</span> things in life, then no matter how hard, you should end up putty in my hands. ...One way or another..."</span><br/><br/>She had him there and Athan could not do much but smile and nod. "Very true. If you truly wished it I would be your slave. Though I doubt that Colt would like that..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Momentarily ignoring the Colt of the sentence as she wasn't sure how that'd effect the rest of the night, she replied, "But could you really be my slave? Without my forcing it, of course. I feel like you like control a bit too much to relinquish it to me completely 100% of the time..."</span><br/><br/>"I do like control. It helps with what I am," a sip taken from his cup attention momentarily drawn to the chef who performed a couple of tricks with his utensils. "But, for the right person I would allow myself to be controlled. Question is...could you handle that? Being in control of me is not a simple task..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Her attention had been thoroughly diverted to Athan, almost completely ignoring the rest of the establishment and, with it, the cooking mastery in front of them. <br/><br/>As his attention turned, though, so did hers and she allowed herself to have a mental reprieve. No worries about what could or couldn't come from the conversation or this date, but instead on just enjoying. It allowed her to catch her breath, and get her bearings before delving into this new topic of power and control.<br/><br/>"What would controlling you entail? What would make it more difficult than controlling another man in the same position?"</span><br/><br/>"What I am," he said so simply. "I can control you if I wanted and when I do not feed I can get...well...grumpy and instinctual. Which makes me want to get what I want more...and be far more aggressive than another man would be. Push me too far and I could switch into more beast than man. There is a lot of danger in controlling me."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"The question, though, is would you?" she asked after a moment of silence. "If you had truly given over your control to me, would you take charge and control me instead?"<br/><br/>After a longer moment of silence, her face showing just how deep in thought she was for this hypothetical situation, Tempest finally had more to add. "Where I know what you are now, and what you need...I'd be able to make sure it was provided. You wouldn't have to sneak out mid-night to find what you needed as it'd have been provided for you. I would just need to know how much you needed and when."<br/><br/>Her eyes glanced back up at his, lingering a little longer than necessary as she thought of her wording, "If I had given you as much as you'd needed, would that still be a factor?"</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">To taste her? To actually taste?</span>The thought alone had his gums itch with his fangs practically begging to be released.<br/><br/>"If you gave me what I needed...I would be fine."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"How much would you need to be fed? How frequently?" <br/><br/>What had started as purely a joking scenario now had her invested in learning more. It may not have truly been an option for a number of reasons, but her mind had already started down the path. <br/><br/>"And how do you tend to...feed? Where I've not seen it, I only have...my imagination to...go on..." Her voice trailed off, realizing how odd that would sound out of context, but pop culture muddied the water in that regard.</span><br/><br/>"I can go without feeding every three days and then it depends on how much I am doing. The more I do that is taxing the more that I need, if that makes sense?"<br/><br/>Another sip and another look at the chef who had called for their plates. Taking up her's with his, Athan held them out for the food to be deposited. Some with a bit of show and some with just simple standard serving. In the end it all smelled delicious and a part of him longed for the time when it would have been enough for him. A wonderful plate of food that would satisfy all his needs.<br/><br/>"There are a couple of different ways that I can feed," a pause while he thought on how to explain it. "Honestly, I would have to show you...to give you a true feel for it."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Another reprieve. What he'd said had made sense and their food had finished at just the perfect time for them to have a moment to really think before saying much else. For her, she had time to really weigh the pros and cons to controlling someone like Athan, while he had time to figure out how to explain what feeding was like.<br/><br/>Unfortunately for her, he couldn't really explain it and would have to show it to properly get her to understand.<br/><br/>"You'd have to...show me?" Tempest found herself repeating quietly, heart skipping a beat for a second as her mind became focused on that one detail. "When you say show, do you mean demonstrate...on me or another person?"</span><br/><br/>"It can be either. What you prefer really. Though for me to use someone else I would have to have to...well seduce another while we were on a date and that would be rude. No?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That had her breath hitching as she took a sip from her drink, suddenly feeling super hot as her cheeks faintly flushed. "Seduction is...required for a feeding?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she had no doubt he heard her. "That would be...rude..."</span><br/><br/>The way her breath hitched in her chest and how her voice was barely a whisper now, was enough to make Athan forget about the meal in front of him. Instead, his eyes went to the pulsing vein in her neck. Quickly he detected her heart rate and already he could count the steady beats without much ado.<br/><br/>"It is easier on not only myself and my chosen target if they are in a more...familiar way about me?" The wording felt sloppy even as it left his lips, but Athan could not think of another way to phrase the subject.<br/><br/>"It is no trouble to show you, but I just wanted you to know what would be required."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">What he said made sense, but that didn't mean that the way she took it was purely because of that logical reasoning. If anything, it had her mind flitting back to their times together, and just where a bite could've happened to...<span style="font-style: italic">add</span> to things.<br/><br/>"Have you already fed?" Tempest found herself asking next after an uncomfortably long pause, lost to her own thoughts.</span><br/><br/>"I did have something before I left. Only enough to tide me over until tomorrow night. As I did not want to be...hungry while on our date. Well, not that kind of hungry anyway," a small joke to lighten the mood a bit and hopefully distract her from any negative thoughts that she might have had.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Thankfully, for him, there wasn't really anything negative going through her mind just then. If anything, her thoughts had gone straight down the seduction route as though no time had passed since their last encounter.<br/><br/>But, with that joke, she left the feeding to the side to focus on the actual food in front of her. "Smooth segue," she remarked quietly, her voice returning to almost normal, with a hint of a suggestive air to its tone. <br/><br/>For all her thoughts of them and how they'd been before it all went to hell, her mind also slid back to Colt. They'd just been together and now she was talking of much the same with Athan. All this was going to do was muddy the waters between them both and make for a mess she wasn't sure she'd come out well of on either side.<br/><br/>"How's your meal?" she asked then, eyes glancing down at his plate as she took a small bite of her own. "Or has your appetite shifted so much that you're more focused on what could potentially be dessert?"</span><br/><br/>"I have my moments. Now, while this does not really satisfy me for what I want. It smells delicious and..." leaning forward to drop his voice. "...the chef might be insulted if all we do is devour one another with our eyes and not partake in his efforts."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Leaning forward to match the new conspiratory tone, she whispered back, "it's too bad...because I can devour you at the same time as enjoying this meal..." Then, as she leaned back, she causally through out, "I guess that's why I'm the weakness in this scenario..."<br/><br/>With a wink, she took another bite and allowed herself to properly enjoy the meal prepared for them. Sure, she could've multitasked as she'd said, but then, this was what looked to be a better dining experience than she'd had in ages, so she wanted to appreciate it. To enjoy it fully.</span><br/><br/>Silenced by her words. Athan merely sat there for a while. Unsur of whether to act as he wanted or to just go back to eating the food. A meal that while he was sure would take delicious was definitely not what he wanted.<br/><br/>However, to try and show that he could control himself, the man leaned back and took a bite. After a few tastes, with which he agreed that it tasted divine Athan returned to the conversation. "What are your plans after dinner?"<br/><br/>A bold question but one that he felt he had to ask.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">To say she was thoroughly enjoying the meal would've been an understatement. It was delicious, unlike anything else she'd had up to that point. But, even with that being said, she couldn't help but to wonder if she was enjoying it as much as she was purely because of the company.<br/><br/>His question pulled her out of her thoughts again, causing her attention to pull back to him. "After dinner? Apart from the movies you mentioned on the phone, I don't have any plans. Why?"</span><br/><br/>"I probably should have worded it for, after our date? But...I was somewhat distracted..." Athan chuckled at himself. "Mostly I am trying to see if you have any...evening obligations that would prohibit you from maybe coming back to my place?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">And there was the golden question: did she have any obligations that would keep her from going with him later? <br/><br/>In truth, there were no obligations, nothing that she could actually say save for wondering what a certain werewolf would think. But she had some time off and her rehearsals had been going alright so a late night wouldn't hurt anything. And, she did say she would afford them both the same courtesy and the same chances, which would include time away from home.<br/><br/>The next question that came to her head, though, was would that be a wise idea? How he'd left things last time had been painful, more painful than she'd ever want to admit. But here they were, barely any time passed since they'd kissed at the rehearsal and since he'd told her what he wanted. Now, on a date with the option to go home with him after hanging over her, did she want to potentially fall down that rabbit hole again?<br/><br/>"I can't say that I have any obligations, no...so this date ends when you say 'when'," Tempest answered, secretly reveling in how distracted he appeared to be because of her.</span><br/><br/>The evening seemed to have turned to the better and Athan could hardly contain himself. Truth be told, once he was in her presence he had all but forgotten the movie part of the date. Content to go for a walk after eating and just spending the evening talking to her.<br/><br/>Trying to make up for his past behavior and perhaps win out in this contest for her affection. Colt had the upperhand with her living with him and well, even Athan would admit that there was certain allure to the beast of a man. An animal presence that even he knew to be rather charming in its own way.<br/><br/>Couple that with the fact that Colt was alive in more of a sense than Athan and he would be the clear choice to win.<br/><br/>"I thought you were to be in charge tonight?" he teased.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That response elicited a grin followed by a very slow sip of her drink, setting it down on the table as her finger slid around its rim. The grin slowly grew as she leaned forward once again, one hand resting on his thigh for the briefest of moments as she spoke, leaning in far enough, her lips barely brushed against his ear.<br/><br/>"You're right...I am," she concurred, voice filled with a confidence that hadn't been there previously. "So the evening will end when <span style="font-style: italic">I</span> say it ends...Play your cards right and maybe...maybe...I'll let you take me to your place..."<br/><br/>Then, as though she hadn't just been that close, she pulled away completely. Her hand removed itself from his thigh, her lips away from his ear, and she went back to eating. "You know, this dinner is really delicious..." she remarked casually. "Perhaps I should come here more often."</span><br/><br/>Athan was more than pleased for being seated and the overhang of the table that blocked his lap. Right now, he was turned on and completely at the mercy of Tempest.<br/><br/>"Um...yes..." mind back in the present and not a possible future. "I looked this place up and found some good reviews. It is not the usual place that I eat at but I thought that you might like it."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">All she offered him was a smile as she took another bite, allowing a soft moan of enjoyment escape her  as she savored the bite. "You thought correctly." Then after another bite and another sound, she couldn't help but to comment. "You don't sound so certain, though, with how you hesitated in your agreement... Are you alright?"<br/><br/>Of course she knew what the actual cause was, but that didn't mean she didn't want to poke fun at it, lowering her voice so as not to offend the chef. "If you're unhappy with the meal or the food isn't to your liking, perhaps we can find you something better while out later?"</span><br/><br/>"There is only one thing that I would want more than what is before me right now..." the look in his eyes was a mixture of lust and hunger. "If I shall ever get that again is of course at your discretion...."<br/><br/>This was hard. In more ways than one. It was hard for him to just sit there and not go after what he wanted. To try and claim her once again as his own. However, she was in control now so he had to sit and wait for her to make the move.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Exactly, it is at my discretion...so for now, you'll have to sit there and wait..." <br/><br/>This was new for her, being in control of Athan. Throughout their entire relationship, odd friendship and otherwise, he'd always been the one in charge. The only exception to that being when both he and Colt came out and the maître d' thought she was calling the shots. Now, from a hypothetical situation, their entire dynamic was shifted for the night. He was letting her take the lead, dictate the pace, say "when" and "how" and "where".<br/><br/>Was she feeling drunk with power? Or maybe it was just the feeling of controlling someone so obviously more powerful than she was, that could take control if he really wanted, but was willingly allowing her the reigns?<br/><br/>Nothing more was said as she finished as much of her meal as she could, drawing out the pleasant dinner for as long as possible. Every once in a while, her knee would caress his leg as she "shifted", or another small and quiet moan would escape "without her knowledge", all the while gauging his reaction just to see where he stood with it all as it unfolded. Then, when she'd eaten as much as she could, she shifted her attention back to him more completely. As such, she leaned in a bit closer, purely so she didn't have to talk as loud, of course, her hand close to his but just barely a breath away as their contact would resume later.<br/><br/>"Are you satisfied or would you like to get anything more before we take this elsewhere?"</span><br/><br/>The world was one single focus point to him. Tempest. She was all that mattered and was all that he could think about or focus on. To the point where his meal was mostly untouched so that he could focus on her and make sure he did not miss a request or command from her.<br/><br/>This was such a change for the man who had his life planned out usually to the second of everyday. Now, there Athan was at her beck and call. Eager and willing to please her if only for the chance of being rewarded.<br/><br/>A quick glance at his watch, "The movie starts in about 45 minutes. I can have the car come around and pick us up to take us there if you want?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">A definite turn of events...and she was rather liking it.<br/><br/>"Yes, please bring the car around. When we get there, there should be enough time to figure out which seats would be best for us to enjoy the movie from," Tempest replied with a small nod. "So take care of that, and I'll be back. I expect the car to be ready for me the moment I return. Understood?"<br/><br/>Then, with the lightest of kisses to his cheek, she disappeared into the powder room to check her makeup and to give herself a moment to breathe. Despite this newfound air of confidence and authority, her heart still threatened to skip beats and her stomach continued to have butterflies fluttering; at one point she'd felt so lightheaded, she wasn't sure she wouldn't faint.<br/><br/>But she'd managed. Barely.<br/><br/>So, as she came out, makeup touched up just a smidgen, dress adjusted and not a hair out of place, she met him by the door with her coat draped about her shoulders. Only when the car door was opened for her did she slide in.<br/><br/>"You've not said much for a while. Something on your mind?" she found herself prompting, eyes glancing at him as she settled into her seat, leaving space between them when he entered beside her.</span><br/><br/>Money was left on the table along with a sizeable tip while he fished his phone out as quickly as possible. The words were curt, nearly a barked order for the driver to get back and wait for them out front.<br/><br/>Just was she wished it was there waiting when she arrived, both the door to the restaurant and the door to the car held open for her.<br/><br/>"There are many things on my mind.  Do you wish to know all of them?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">She raised a brow. "Of course I wish to know all of them," she answered simply. "What's on your mind right at this moment?"</span><br/><br/>"How beautiful you are and what I could do to make you smile and happy..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Only a slight blush peppered her cheeks as she turned just a touch more in his direction. "And what could you do to make me smile and happy?"</span><br/><br/>"Anything you wish. Merely tell me and I will see to it if it meant that you smiled."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Anything at all?" Tempest asked, wanting to hear it again.</span><br/><br/>"Anything at all. You command it and I will do it."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Then show yourself to me," she finally commanded, voice quiet but serious. "Show me your fangs. Show me the other side of Athan that you keep so guarded. ...I want to see you."</span><br/><br/>There was only a moment, a brief moment before he leaned back then in the next instant he launched himself at her. Pinning her back against the leather of the seats, fangs bared for her eyes now seemed to glow a vibrant blue.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That brief moment, she waited with bated breath. Had she crossed a line? Was this too much to ask of him? Was this something he could turn on and off?<br/><br/>Then, without any warning, he was pinning her back against the seat and her heart was pounding out of her chest. Her eyes widened, sharply inhaling in shock. The eyes staring back at her were more brilliant than his already vibrant blue stare. Deeper somehow. Alluring in an almost frightening way, and predatory, aggressive.<br/><br/>And his fangs. It was almost too unbelievable even seeing it right in front of her. Movies and television didn't prepare you for the real thing. Even seeing them in front of her, had she not known what he was, she'd have thought them fake. But here he was, right there in front of her.<br/><br/>Her arms were held down, but for the moment, she didn't attempt to move them. Instead, her eyes traveled over him, taking in each change and committing it to memory, a hint of a smile on her lips though faint due to her current concentration.<br/><br/>Now that she saw him, what did she say? What did she ask for next?<br/><br/>"...Thank you," the woman breathed out, still fairly breathless from the initial shock, her gaze finally making its way back to his. "...Does it hurt? To change like that?"</span><br/><br/>No fear. Something he was not entirely prepared for. They were always afraid of him because he was a monster, something to be feared. Yet there she was just taking him in and not judging.<br/><br/>"No..." he replied after a moment the fangs retracted, his gaze back to normal as he let her up from seat. "It's just what I am now. If that makes any sense? It is something that I have to control though, because there is a craving for blood even when I do not need it. Which makes this something that I have to keep in check whenever I am awake."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That was interesting to her, that he seemed to expect something from her almost, but she wasn't sure what. He'd waited, and then pulled back allowing her to sit back up and settle herself in her seat properly again.<br/><br/>"When you say you crave blood even when you don't need it, does that mean that craving never goes away?"</span><br/><br/>"Correct. It is like always being thirsty or having an itch that you just can not scratch. I mean when I was first turned I thought I would lose myself to this desire. That it would drive me mad because I could not stop the hunger or control it. Not at first anyway. Over time and with guidance I learned to control what I had become. So, that now even if I want it I won't succumb no matter what."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"What happens if you lose control? If you succumb? Would it be like...?" Her voice trailed off, unwilling to finish the sentiment. "What would happen if you did?" she instead repeated.</span><br/>"There is not much out there that can stop me..." his voice trailed. "It would be well...bad and very... messy..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"When you feed, what does it feel like for you?" she found herself asking next. "I know you said you'd have to demonstrate for me to understand what it's like, but...for you? What does it feel like, to cause such a struggle to maintain the control you've built up?"</span><br/><br/>"Pure bliss..." the comment given as he closed his eyes to think back on the sensation. "Imagine finally having that drink you have been dying for? Feeling it splash across your tongue and roll down the back of your throat..." as the words left his lips his tone changed and it was as if he was somewhere else.<br/><br/>In that moment when his fangs punctured skin and into a vein. Feeling that rush when the liquid gushed forth to fill his mouth.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">It sounded heavenly, addictive. When put like that, it sounded like a drug that you had to get a fix for every so often to keep from withdrawals. For him, it was more to keep him sane, to keep him strong, to keep him <span style="font-style: italic">him</span>.<br/><br/>"And what do we...taste like? ...Do we all taste the same? Do you have to feed from certain types of people or can it be anyone?"<br/><br/>She almost felt bad that this had turned into more of an interview than a date, but he'd said anything, and what she wanted was to know more about him and to understand him better. Now that the veil was pulled back, there were many questions she wanted answers to.</span><br/><br/>"Everyone tastes different," he remarked with a chuckle. "Usually, I can tell by their scent what they will taste like and as you can guess those that are healthy taste better than those that don't take care of themselves. Blood type also plays a part."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">There was only a slight pause before she asked, "And what does my scent tell you?"</span><br/><br/>This had him reaching for her, though there was a pause to see if she would allow it first. Then with her hand in his own he brought it up to his lips. Soft kisses there along the palm and up to the wrist, which he nibbled and nuzzled. "You...are like a fine wine. Rich...bold and sweet. A type that will likely turn me off from anything else for years to come."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">As he reached for her, her eyes dropped to follow the movement, debating only for a moment if she was going to let him touch her or not. But that debate was soon over and her hand was moved as he needed it.<br/><br/>And then her eyes were fluttering closed as his lips trailed hot kisses across her skin, as his teeth nibbled along her flesh. Dizzy. She felt dizzy. And hot. Suddenly very hot.<br/><br/>But, just as she was about to ask then, if it'd be wise to have him show her if her blood was going to affect him that greatly, the car was coming to a stop at the movie theatre. "...We'll have to continue this another time," Tempest said, clearing her throat and getting her bearings. "After you. We don't want to be late to the movie."</span><br/><br/>There was a small growl that left his lips when the moment was ended, though Athan was quick to recover and exit the vehicle. At her door he moved and opened it quickly, arm offered once more so that they could enter the establishment together.<br/><br/>"Was there a movie that you wanted to see?" Athan asked as casually as possible, even if keeping his fangs retracted proved to be challenging at the moment. "I rarely go to these things, but since this was to be a typical date I figured it was the appropriate choice."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">The growl didn't help matters, her heart skipping yet another beat but she didn't let it physically show, at least. Instead, she waited for him to get her door, taking the extended arm and walking in with him as though they hadn't just been having a moment in the back seat of the car.<br/><br/>"I honestly hadn't thought about what movie we should see," she answered without much elaboration. "But, how about..." Her steps slowed as she glanced at the current titles before pointing at one without giving it any further thought. It was a nondescript action thriller. "...That?"<br/><br/>Once they got their tickets, she led him to their theatre, letting him open the door for her again before moving forward to find their seats. Though she'd normally have gone more for something in the middle, this time, she wanted seats further back.<br/><br/>Gesturing to a couple of seats by themselves, she took the inside seat closest to the wall, settling in and crossing her legs. One hand remained touching his as her focus momentarily turned to the trailers for the upcoming movies. "If you hadn't gone for a typical date idea, where would you have taken me? What would your version of an ideal date be?"</span><br/><br/>The warmth of her hand was welcoming, one that he treasured for just how simple it was. "Well..." he began after a moment of thought. "I come from a different time, so I would probably have done what we did back then. A carriage ride through the park by the lake. Dinner of course, though the restaurant would have been more...refined? I suppose would be the word for it. Candle lit with soft music playing in the background. Following desert I would ask for a walk through the city and take as much time as possible in your company. Then walk you home and see...where the night took us..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"That sounds..." Was that what a courtship was like? That refined, simple, enjoying one another's company without all of the modern day distractions? Colt had also mentioned something like this, where there was a courtship process, similar though not the same. "...Romantic. More intimate than the dates we have now," Tempest concurred softly. "Most of the dates I've gone on have been filled with loud music and forced conversation, coupled with drinks to help pass the time."<br/><br/>Then, unable to stop the question, she asked, "Didn't you have to have...chaperons on dates like that? I thought you weren't allowed to be completely...alone with a date as it was improper?"</span><br/><br/>"Sometimes..." he chuckled. "But, I am very convincing and often got them to leave us be for a bit."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">As the lights dimmed and the movie cued up, she shifted in her seat so she was leaning on the arm rest closest to him. Her head inclined toward his, as her voice dropped a few more decibels. "So, when they'd leave you for a bit...would you start in on some moves or were you actually...<span style="font-style: italic">behaved</span>?"</span><br/>"My moves are me...<span style="font-style: italic">behaving</span>," voice pitched low. "When I was with someone I was theirs for the night and women find the reassuring that I am there to listen. To console and be there when they are in need," slowly his tongue snaked out to lick across his lips. "Though to be honest, there was never a woman who I gave up control to. The dates were directed by me and what I wanted...you...you are the one who I have given the reigns of my life this evening. It is rather thrilling and each time you move closer to me..." a pause another movement of his tongue. "I just want to be closer to you and more for you."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">The more he spoke, the less of her attention was given to the movie. Instead, she found herself slowly turning that focus toward him more and more completely. It was to the point that, she was watching his lips as he spoke rather than the movie or even his eyes if it were merely a matter of polite courtesy.<br/><br/>"Why <span style="font-style: italic">did</span> you give me control tonight?" she asked, eyes glancing back up at his. "If you always directed dates, why would you allow me to take over, even if just for one night?"</span><br/><br/>"I want to show you that I can be what you need in a man. That I can change to make a relationship work between us. When you left me I knew that I had messed up and  I want to show you that I am willing to fix what I broke between us."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That left her speechless, the words repeating over and over in her mind long after he'd stopped speaking. He'd given her power to show he could change. He was going against what he was used to for her.<br/><br/>How did she reply to that?<br/><br/>A finger hooked under his chin as she leaned in, closing the gap with a gentle kiss, a sweet kiss. It lingered, soft and sweet for a while before she finally pulled back. Her lip caught between her teeth, she sat back in her chair and tried to turn her focus back to the movie, but her concentration was basically shot.</span><br/><br/>The kiss...everything. The world stopped for him in that moment and it did not start again even when it ended. Instead, all he could think of and focus on in that moment was Tempest.<br/><br/>And how he needed more of her.<br/><br/>"May I have another kiss?" he asked with a voice barely above a whisper.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">The whisper of a plea, the request louder than the movie-filled theatre. It had her heart skipping beats, her body suddenly feeling hot, and painfully aware of their close proximity.<br/><br/>Who was she kidding? She wouldn't have been able to focus on the movie after everything else tonight, anyway, even if she'd wanted to.<br/><br/>She nodded, leaning back in and closing the gap she'd only just created, her lips meeting his in that requested kiss, happy to let it linger a little longer this time.</span><br/><br/>Another kiss was given and Athan relished in the sensation. A soft moan left his lips and before he could lose himself into it completely, she was once again pulling away.<br/><br/>"Thank you," the gratitude whispered, focus still completely and only on her while he forgot about the movie they had come to see. "You know...for the first time I wish that I was not<span style="font-style: italic">what</span>I am. This way we could be together and it would be...easier."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Smiling, she shook her head. "You don't need to thank me for that," came her response, only to fall silent when he gave her that admission. It was so candid, almost heartbreaking that what he was stood in the way of what could potentially be. That what he was had been the reason it'd ended in the first place, and remained a hurdle that had to be overcome if they held any hope of trying anything again.<br/><br/>Reaching up, a hand caressed his cheek with the faintest of touches. "Anything important in life has to be worked for," Tempest replied softly. "If you weren't who you are now, we wouldn't have been together at all."</span><br/>"If only because I would have died before we had a chance to meet..." he smiled and leaned into her hand a bit. "And working toward a relationship with you is the most important thing to me right now."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">She allowed her thumb to slide over his cheek in a repeated, soft gesture. "As romantic as that sounds...you should have other things that are more important than us..." Her eyes flitting between both of his, she ignored the looks from a couple other movie goers as this conversation deserved all of her attention. "Surely you have other aspirations beyond me?"</span><br/><br/>"Dancing with you and being with you seem to be my main priorities..." he answered honestly. "But that is not as important as us just enjoying the evening together."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">It was with that sentiment in mind that she glanced at the movie and then back at him. "Then would you want to get out of here? Maybe go for one of those walks you were so famous for?" Temp asked. "Or do you want to stay and continue to not watch the movie?"</span><br/><br/>"Let's go for that walk," the question did not even need pondering. Once again, his arm was offered to her and together they left the theater. Another short car ride and the pair were dropped off at a park. The sun had just begun to set and the lamp posts hummed softly while their bulbs warmed with light.<br/><br/>"If you could be anything else in this world, what would you be?" Athan asked after a moment of merely enjoying her company.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">Later on, she'd look back at the date and wonder what movie they'd even gone to. As far as she had been concerned, they could've been standing in the middle of a street or floating on a piece of headboard in the middle of the ocean, and their talk would've been the same.<br/><br/>But, they'd left it and ended up at a park, walking arm in arm down the softly-lit path. "Do you mean anything as in career?"</span><br/><br/>"As in anything at all," he chuckled. "Like would you change who you are today to be someone else?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">That one had her pausing in thought, but she ended up shaking her head. "I don't think I would. I mean, I used to think about that a lot; pretty sure everyone does at some point, but I think it'd drive me crazy to consider again." With a light shrug, she  glanced up at him, a slight grin pulling at the corner of her lips. "Although...it could be fun to change who I was for a day to be <span style="font-style: italic">you</span>...See what it's like to be that tall, with that vast a wardrobe, with women at my beck and call. Not sure I'd be able to see it all, though, through that big ego of yours..."</span><br/><br/>Hand over his heart, he winced in mock wounding. "My ego is not<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>big. Not as big as other things as you know well and good," he winked at her. "I think that I would want to change and be Colt for a bit. Not him exactly, but you know  a werewolf like him. To see how he sees the world and experiences it. Wonder what just lures all the ladies to his fleabitten butt."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">The wink had her rolling her eyes, but his own answer surprised her. "You'd willingly become a wolf like him, just to see what it's like? Are you sure that wouldn't...I don't know, pain you beyond all belief?" she asked with a laugh. "He's fleabitten...you're mothball-y...they're both acquired tastes."</span><br/><br/>"Wow...you are quite the comedian today," he snickered. "It would be nice to feel warm again? I guess would be the phrasing. Only time that happens with me is when I am intimate with someone or I am feeding. Other than that, the world is a very cold place."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"You feel warm to me," she offered. "And I'm happy to try and help warm you up?" Pausing for only a split second, she added in, "That sounded a bit more suggestive than I meant it, I swear." Her hand smoothed itself over his. "So you don't feel warmth outside of those two instances, ever?"</span><br/><br/>"I am sure it was an<span style="font-style: italic">accidental</span>suggestion," he teased. "What you feel is like...a cloak? What my body projects for others. But to me it all feels the same. When I sleep that goes away which is something that I worried about when we were sleeping together."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Would it make you feel any better if I said I hadn't noticed you being unnaturally cold?" Tempest asked next. "To me, you felt more like you'd been out of the covers for a bit, or like the cool side of a pillow, but I never noticed anything more than that. Maybe that's because you often woke up before me, but I doubt I'd have noticed unless it was an incredibly stark contrast."<br/><br/>Her steps slowed to a halt as she looked back up at him. "So this projection...you consciously turn it on and off? Or it happens on a subconscious level during your waking hours?"</span><br/><br/>"It does," the sentiment given with sincerity. "I think it is a bit of both. When I want I can make it go away and when I need to I can make it stronger? More intense would be the word for it. So, that I can look like I was just running a mile and was overheated, etc."<br/><br/>After a brief pause, "You know you are rather inquisitive? Like a detective trying to get all the answers. It is rather cute, honestly."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"It's not every day that you can say you're on a date with a vampire," she pointed out with a laugh. "So call it cute all you want, but I'm merely trying to get to know you in all facets.<br/><br/>"Now...if you could make yourself look overheated, why wouldn't you make yourself look like that after a rehearsal? Wouldn't that help you blend in a bit more since you can do incredible feats without wincing in strain?"</span><br/><br/>"I could, but I like to make the other performers think they are up against a God and that they should be worried about losing their spot because I can do it all without breaking a sweat."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Can't say I'm surprised considering when we met, you compared me to a stripper and a farm animal within the first five minutes," she remarked wryly. "And there's that ego you like to deny having in such large quantities! What's a girl gotta do to pop it around here? Feels like it's pushing me off the path."</span><br/><br/>"Merely ask and it is gone," said instantly and without a hint of humor. As she was the one in charge this night and if that it what she wanted then he would certainly do it for her.<br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"No, no no," Tempest instantly replied shaking her head with a slight laugh. "Your ego is just part of the package. Without that, you wouldn't be you. Maybe someday I'll ask, but tonight, while I'm in charge, your ego is just fine."<br/><br/>No, instead she started walking again, leading him forward by the hand as she walked backward, wanting to keep eye contact as they talked. "Would you ever drop the projection for me? It doesn't have to be now, but just like when you showed me your fangs, I want to feel that part of you, too."</span><br/><br/>"If that is what you wished I would, though I would have to have you promise me to not freak out over how different I feel," the smile on his lips seemed permanently there. Plastered there as if there was no other place for it to be. No other expression or emotion belonged there when he was with her.<br/><br/>Why did he not realize this sooner?<br/><br/>"So, even though my ego is likely to be my own bad quality you would have me keep it?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Well, when that time comes and you're comfortable, I'll make that promise to you," she assured him without hesitation, offering him a smile in return.<br/><br/>"And yes, even though your ego has made me roll my eyes and has gotten on my nerves on more than a few occasions...I wouldn't have you lose it as it's a part of you." Releasing his hand, she clasped them both behind her back as she continued walking backward, gaze intent on him as a glint of humor made itself known in their depths. "What's my bad quality? That one thing you'd change if you could?"</span><br/><br/>"Nothing at all," he grinned. "Because like you that negative quality is part of you and what makes me so enamored with you. But, if you must know. You can be a bit of a bitch at times."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">She couldn't stop the sound that left her at that answer, something akin to <span style="font-style: italic">pffffft</span>, but once that was out, she followed up with, "So, it's the bitch in me that's played a part in you being enamored?"<br/><br/>Then, because it felt appropriate, she held a hand to her chest and put on an expression of mock pain. "I'm...I'm a bitch?! I cannot believe you'd think me such a thing! I'm nothing but good, and pure and innocent and nice 100% of the time!"</span><br/><br/>Instantly he stopped walking and raised his arms as  if to shield himself from something. "Keep walking, I rather not get struck by lightning from that juicy lie."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"And now I'm a lying bitch?! Why I never!" And with that, she turned on heel and dramatically stormed away, glaring at him from over her shoulder. "I didn't come on this date to be ridiculed!"</span><br/><br/>"And I did not come to be struck by lightning," he said from in front of her. So close so that she nearly ran into him, had he not reached out to grab her first. "Would you really leave me alone? Without you to guide me what would I do?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Holy shi-!"<br/><br/>He was in front of her. Glancing behind her where he'd been standing and then back in his direction, he'd moved without so much as her seeing a hair shift. In the blink of an eye, he'd gotten in front of her and gotten into her path, effectively stopping her dramatic exit with the simplest of remarks.<br/><br/>But she wouldn't have truly left him, and he knew it. Just as they'd been before, walking home after that night at the restaurant, she wouldn't leave him to fight off the big, bad world alone. It took her a second to regain proper thoughts, clearing her throat and catching her breath as a hand rested on her chest. "Without me to guide you...you'd end up in Mexico, with nothing but a poncho on, cuddling a piñata. I can't have that on my conscience."<br/><br/>Then, voice dropping a bit quieter as her eyes lingered on his for a moment longer, she couldn't help but feel compelled to add, "but no, I wouldn't leave you alone...not tonight."</span><br/><br/>Spurned on by unspoken emotion, Athan reached up and cupped the side of her face. Eyes gazing back into her own he smiled, "There is nothing that I want more tonight."<br/><br/>Upon his lips the smile stayed, the moment lasting for as long as either could bare it before the wind shifted and with it brought the scent of rain that was to come. "It's going to rain..." eyes forced to tear away from her's as Athan gazed up at the grey clouds that had rolled in while they were unaware.<br/><br/>"We should go somewhere to keep out of it," gaze back at her own. "Where do you wish to go?"