~ David and Marisol in the library, before his diary entry, before dinner, second day  ~<br/><br/>David moved into the library, toward the Diary Room.  As he neared it though, he saw that the door to the room was closed.  He dimly remembered the fact that the door was left open save when it was in use.  So, that meant someone was inside.  With a faint shrug, he glanced around library.  Well, he had some time to kill, so he decided to just wait.  He began to look at the books that surrounded him.<br/><br/><br/>There were...a thousand places Marisol wanted to be at right now, than in the Diary Room so without a second thought, she grabbed the door handle and jerked it open. She was just about to fly through the library and back to her room when she saw a movement out of the corner of her eyes. Jerking her head to the right, she slammed to a stop and blinked a bit in confusion, "David?"<br/><br/><br/>David glanced up as the door to the Diary Room was opened suddenly and thrown open.  With a blink, he found himself face to face with Marisol.  For a moment, he merely stood there, his hand raised to a book on a shelf.  "Uh, hey there Marisol.  I was just coming down for my video diary thing..."  He glanced at the room, then at her.  "Is everything okay?" he asked, a slight frown of concern crossing over his face.<br/><br/><br/>For a moment, she felt her cheeks burn slightly with embarrassment at having been rattled so much but she quickly dismissed it. This experiment was going to do that to all of them. She had to be okay with expressing herself. "Everything is fine," She said after a moment, her smile seeming a bit forced. "It's not easy being so honest that you...surprise yourself." Taking a deep breath, she looked at him and then at the book he was about to reach for, smiling, "I guess I came out before you could even read the first chapter."<br/><br/><br/>David glanced back at the book, then chuckled.  "Uh, yeah, but no worries.  I think I'll have a lot of time for books later."  He glanced back and her, his eyes travelling over her form for a moment.  "Well, maybe..."  He let his hand finally drop and leaned back against the bookshelf.  "There anything I can do to help?"<br/><br/><br/>It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him 'No Thanks' when she stopped. They were a family and family...leaned on each other. So with a slight nod, she asked quietly, her voice almost shy, "Would you mind...just sitting with me for a few minutes?" If she was seen by anyone else, she didn't know what she would say or do. The best thing to do was to sit and bring herself back under control. What better way than to learn about David? "How are you liking everything so far?"<br/><br/><br/>David nodded at her request and motioned to a seat.  He pulled it out for her, then sat down next to her, pulling his chair closer to her.  His face became thoughtful for a moment as he considered her question.  "Well, it's a little overwhelming, but...I think I like it.  It's definitely a new experience and I like that part of it."  He chuckled slightly.  "Kinda wish I wasn't the 'new guy', but oh well.  I haven't really felt any strangeness from anyone else.  Mostly it's just my own head messing with me."<br/><br/>He shrugged and glanced back at Marisol.  "How about you?  I mean, as much as I make comments about being new, this is still the start of this experiment for you all as well."<br/><br/><br/>She murmured a quiet 'Thank you' when he pulled the seat out for her and sat down with her body turned slightly towards him. A slight grin crossed over Mari's lips as she thought about what he said, nodding in agreement. "I think...we're our worst enemies sometimes. So we worry and freak ourselves out." She raised her shoulder in a slight shrug and gave him a smile, "I'm enjoying it...I feel like we're all going to be...so close. And I can't help but hope..." She faded off slightly before she chuckled and looked at him, "Well, let me just say that you shouldn't feel too new. Because we still have so much to learn. So I think you came in just in time!"<br/><br/><br/>David nodded at her and smiled.  "Well, it came at the right time for me as well, so no complaints here."  He tilted his head to the side briefly.  "Hope for what, exactly?  I mean, it's an experiment with us as the lab rats, but what are you wanting out of it?  Well, besides a huge castle to live in and a pretty damn generous stipend, of course."<br/><br/><br/>Marisol laughed softly at his statement and shook her head, "That doesn't even matter to me. Well..." She glanced over at him and winked, saying teasingly, "The castle is a nice bonus." Her smile faded just a bit as she looked thoughtful before she looked at him and said quietly, "I guess...I start thinking that after 6 months...this is it. We can have the family and the lifestyle we have always strived for." Her eyes flashed with emotion as she murmured, "Men who respect us and love us and women whom I can call sisters and I know they feel as I do. That we'll finally have a...a home."<br/><br/>She blinked and suddenly looked at David, her voice a bit embarrassed, "Wow...I keep getting better and better." She placed her hand on his knee and squeezed it lightly, unable to stop the soft laugh that escaped, "I'm sorry, David, I get to thinking and...I can't force myself to stop sometimes." She rolled her eyes and grinned, "Comes with being the oldest."<br/><br/><br/>David's eyes flickered down toward her hand on his knee, but didn't say anything.  He shifted slightly, moving just a bit closer to her.  "Well, I was the youngest at home...and I think I'm the youngest here.  Well, of the guys at least."  He tilted his head again as he thought about something she had said.  "So, you aren't looking at this as a six month thing, are you?  This isn't just about a social experiment thing for you, is it?"<br/><br/><br/>Oh...was that how he saw it? There was a look of disappointment that crossed over Marisol's features before she masked it and shook her head, her voice sincere, "No. I think if it's achieved then...then it should be cherished. Each of us have been chosen to prove that this sort of lifestyle is...it can happen. Why would I walk away from it if it's successful?" She paused for a moment, not really wanting to ask him but needing to know...for her sake. "Will you...? Walk away from it...once the six months are over?"<br/><br/><br/>David frowned slightly and glanced away for a moment.  He guessed that what he had said bothered her slightly, but it surprised him slightly.  He shrugged.  "I honestly don't know.  I mean, I don't have any idea exactly what's going to happen.  Hell, I don't know if you all are going to be able to stand me for six days, much less six months."  He gave a brief chuckle, then continued.  "But, I mean, to be honest, I've never attempted anything like this.  I can hardly believe I'm here, much less consider seven, eight months down the line, after the experiment is over."  He considered some more, chewing on his bottom lip.  "But, if I'm completely honest...if we all click?  Or if I click with some of you?  Well, then I don't think I"d walk away from that."<br/><br/>He chuckled some more.  "Again, assuming the others wanted to keep me around, of course."  He smiled and gave her a brief wink.  "So, I guess it's not all up to me."<br/><br/><br/>There were so many other questions she wanted to ask him but Mari knew that she had to take it easy. He had just arrived in the morning and he was still taking it all in. She shouldn't try and change his mind simply because he didn't think like she did. A soft chuckle escaped her as she looked at him, and then looked at her hand realizing she had left it there for far longer than was appropriate, "Oh shit! I'm sorry!" Pulling her hand away, she brushed her hair over her shoulder and grinned, her voice teasing, "I guess you can tell some of us don't find you annoying in the least." The conversation had turned too serious, she had to try and force it back to a relaxed subject. At least for her...for the moment.<br/><br/>"Well," She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at him, her voice a bit soft, inquisitive, "If I can ask...if you've never done this before...why come here?" She winked, asking teasingly, "Interested in orgies?"<br/><br/><br/>David chuckled when she removed her hand.  Part of him wanted to reach out, grab the hand, and put it back, but she was the one who had removed it.  He just smiled and said "Hey, I didn't mind.  I'm pretty touchy feely myself."  He chuckled and smiled.<br/><br/>Her last question caused him to laugh out loud and lean back slightly.  His smile was genuine as he looked back at her.  "Well, duh, of course I like orgies."<br/><br/>He chuckled and shrugged.  "Well, to be honest, I'm still new to this whole poly thing.  But, it sounded appealing in a weird way?  And I decided, well, this thing is happening close by, might as well just take a chance and see if I get in.  I didn't really expect to, I figured I would get a polite rejection letter or something.  I definitely didn't expect to be put in a remote castle for six months with three stunningly beautiful women."  He gave her a slight smile with one corner of his mouth turned up.<br/><br/><br/>She let out a soft laugh when she heard his response to her teasing question. But the idea of seeing David...naked...not in an orgy but interacting with them...Marisol felt her heart kick up in her chest. She turned to look away from him as she listened to his honest response, nodding slightly, "Well, I don't think any of us really expected to get in. Hell, I hadn't expected to get accepted and I still think I'm going to wake up and find myself back home." Turning to look at him once more, she shrugged and smiled widely, "I think it'll be a good experience for all of us. We all need to see if we're cut out for a poly lifestyle."<br/><br/>Marisol grinned widely and added with a teasing wink, "But if we don't fit well together...then we just got a six month vacation to a wonderful place...and we became good friends with six people, no? I know...I'm enjoying your company." Mari looked at him silently for a few minutes before she added softly, "If...you don't mind me saying that..."<br/><br/><br/>David let a low, husky chuckle loose from his mouth.  "Gee, you're asking if I don't mind a beautiful, sexy, and exotic woman saying she enjoys my company."  He looked at her and held her eyes for some time.  "You know what?  I think I'm pretty okay with that happening."  He reached out and took her own hand gently, squeezing it.  "I think I could get used to that very easily."<br/><br/><br/>It always amazed her how things could go from simple conversation to something deeper, something intimate. It was so natural with David, there was no awkwardness and no shyness...and perhaps it was because he was so outgoing. She shivered at the feel of his hand reaching for hers, not stopping herself as she squeezed his fingers lightly, "Well..." Her smile was slow but full of pleasure as she said lightly, "I think now I should be the one blushing..." Her voice was soft as she said huskily, "You gave me one hell of a compliment there..."<br/><br/><br/>David shook his head slightly, not breaking his eye contact with her.  "Nope, just stating the blunt, honest truth Marisol.  It might be a compliment, sure, but it's also the simple fact of the matter."  He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed a slight kiss across her knuckles.  "I'm not one to be dishonest, so what I said must be true."  He smiled at her over her raised hand, before he lowered it.<br/><br/><br/>The way he locked eyes with her made her breath catch and her eyes darkened slowly as he spoke. He was a man of his word; Good. That meant...so much more to her than anything else he could have said. She parted her lips to speak when she felt his kiss on her knuckles and she felt her fingers tightened in his hand. Her eyes broke their contact with his now and instead of looking into his eyes..she was looking at his lips. Her voice was breathless as she whispered, "I appreciate...honesty."<br/><br/><br/>David's smile turned into a slight smirk as he murmurred slightly.  "Ah, well, then there's another thing we share.  Good to know."  David realized that he was starting to picture her in certain particular situations.  Situations he had hinted at and flirted with Nicci about before.  But, somehow, it didn't seem wrong.  They were here to examine what happened in this exact situation, right?  "I hope that there are other things we have in common.  Other...appreciations."<br/><br/><br/><br/>"Other...appreciations?" Marisol felt her heart start to thunder in her chest and she just knew what he was talking about. But...she wanted to see if he would say it. Running her tongue along her lower lip, she tilted her head so that her hair was cascading one shoulder, making a wavy curtain off one side. "I'm...curious to know what other appreciations you might be speaking about....?"<br/><br/><br/>David chuckled low in his throat and reached out for her cheek.  He trailed his hand along her skin, a light feather touch, before trailing it back down her arm.  "Well, you already mentioned orgies.  Would you say you share an appreciation of those?"  He smiled slightly and gazed down her form, then back up.  His eyes darkened slightly.  "And do you appreciate being the...center of attention even?"<br/><br/>Even though she knew what was happening between them, it still made butterflies flutter along in her stomach. She parted her lips at his touch, her breathing accelerating just slightly as she murmured, her voice obviously low and husky, expressing the desires  he brought out of her, ""I...appreciate orgies...yes..." A slight heat crossed her eyes as she whispered, "And being the center of attention...? Depends on how so..."<br/><br/><br/>David laughed low and laid his hand on top of hers.  However, his fingers encircled her wrist, slightly pressing against her skin, but not harshly.  It was more a...promise or hint of what he was contemplating.  "Well, there is always the feeling of being helpless against the onslaught of others.  Of not having a choice but to enjoy their ministrations.  Or being the one taking your pleasure from another so held."  He laid a finger along her pulse point, feeling it jump.  "Or even just watching."  He smiled at her darkly.  "Which are you?  A watcher?  One bound?  Or a pleasure taker?"<br/><br/>She couldn't look away from him. The way David was holding on to her wrist -- in a hold that she knew she could pull away from -- Marisol knew that he felt her blood jumping and her heart beating a mile a minute. She ran her tongue along her lower lip and acted as if she were going to speak...but no words came out. She felt her heart clenching in her chest before she blurted out breathlessly, "All of them...I want--am," she quickly corrected, her cheeks flushing, "...all of them..." At least..she wanted to be. Everything he had described...she wanted it.<br/><br/><br/>David smiled and bent down to her wrist.  He brushed a faint kiss across where his hand was holding.  Then he looked up at her.  "I was hoping you would say that, Marisol.  I was very much hoping you were of a similar mindset."  He bent to her and laid a soft kiss on her cheek.  "We shall have to make sure you have your chance...to do it all.  To be it all."<br/><br/>How did he know her so well? She wasn't even completely certain of what she had said but...it had felt right. This completely honesty between them...it felt like there was no other way for her to be with him but honest. A soft sigh escaped her when he kissed her cheek and she whispered, her voice husky, "I...look forward to it." Marisol pulled back just slightly to look at David and for a few minutes she could only get lost in his gaze. If she had any doubts before they were just laid to rest; David belonged in this group. She swallowed hard and looked away, finally breaking the spell and said rather shakily, "I think...supper needs to be cooked. I...I'll leave you to...to your diary."<br/><br/>Mari didn't want to leave; quite the contrary she wanted to stay with David and see what else he could reveal about herself. But...she couldn't. Already so many things had come out in the open -- about herself, about David...about them. She needed to take a step back. To bring herself back to focus.<br/><br/><br/>David nodded briefly.  He had guessed that he had pushed things about as far as he could.  It was something he had to be concerned with, not going too far.  He had just met her today, but it didn't seem to bother her at all.  Well, beyond the obvious physical reaction he had engendered in her, of course.  He stood, but held onto her wrist faintly.  He then raised her with his other hand, before slowly releasing the hand he had encircled.  "I will look forward to seeing you later, then.  Thank you for the lovely conversation and company, Marisol."  He again bent and kissed her hand, then straightened.<br/><br/>Whether he had meant to or not, David had helped her a lot. He had let her forget about the inner turmoil she had and he had given her a chance to get to know him. It meant to much to Marisol. She watched him as he slowly raised her up and without a second thought, she pressed her lips to his cheek and raised her hand up to caress his neck softly. She murmured gently, "Thank you, David..." She pulled back to look into his eyes, her voice sincere when she added quietly, "I am very glad that you're here." Stepping away she slowly let her hand drop from his neck before she slowly turned and made her way out of the library.<br/><br/><br/>David watched her leave, his eyes travelling the length of her body.  When she finally left the room, he whistled slightly and shook his head.  "Yeah, I definitely like it here," he said to no one as he moved to the diary room.