Title: Ville de Luxure: City of Lust

Rating: M for smut. Some in this, more in the next.

Summary: Casey meets a mysterious stranger online. She agrees to meet up with him at a university function, having no idea of his real identity.

Disclaimer: Don't own LWD.

Ville de Luxure: City of Lust

Chapitre Une: The Attraction

Casey covered her face with her hands, blushing deep red that she was having to be -told- to go to bed. It was four in the morning already and her class started in five hours, she would never get enough sleep at this point. She couldn't sleep, her whole body was tingling and she felt like she was more alive, more awake than ever before in her life.

Maybe it wasn't love, after all, she didn't know enough about Black-Knight yet to form that kind of emotional attachment, but certainly she dying to meet him in person. He consumed her thoughts as of lately, every afternoon, after her classes were over, she'd rush back to her apartment to check her email and see if Black-Knight had emailed her yet, to see if he was online and if he was, her whole day would be that much better.

Every evening, they'd stay up talking about books and movies they loved, about hopes and dreams for the future, about where they'd like to live someday and Casey just knew he was going to be important in her life. They shared so much in common, from their love of literature to their common background of having come from divorced families that merged into a new unit, bringing step-siblings, stepparents and transitions that had affected them even to this day. They could relate so well to each other and Casey felt, when she talked to him, that she had known him her whole life.

He had been there for her in her lowest point in life, total isolation from the rest of the world. After her friends started leaving school for various reasons, Casey had retreated into the safe world of her books and studies, trying to forget about the loneliness and bitter resentment she felt at everyone else in the world. Her own family was...less than a priority in her life ever since her stepbrother had run off with her sister to Paris the day after she turned 18. It disgusted Casey. More than that, it broke her heart. She worried about her sister but of course, they never called her and she never called them.

Then she met Black_Knight, in an online forum chat on iScene, the popular university social networking site. He went to her school, he was into all the same stuff she was and best of all, they were both pre-law, even. He was two and a half years younger but that didn't bother her at all, not when he seemed so mature for his age. He made her feel special and good about herself. He was different than any other guy she'd been interested in. Where other guys she'd liked were mostly into sports first, academia second, Black_Knight had an affinity for learning just like her. They were so amazingly perfect for each other, Black_Knight got her. He just seemed to understand when she needed teasing to laugh at herself and when she needed someone to listen and when she needed someone to gab with about the latest Discworld.

That was another thing they shared. They both loved science-fiction and fantasy, which was exciting for Casey. Most guys thought it was a nerd thing to be into and couldn't or wouldn't believe a 'pretty girl' like her would enjoy it. They didn't understand the thrill of the different and strange, the attraction that the odd and mysterious held for her. They just couldn't see how she could like the 'cheap dime store' type novels like Riders of Black Forest or Ice Castle. Or her personal favorite Time Guardians. She thought she was the only one who knew about Time Guardians so it was a major thrill to discover that not only did Black_Knight know about it, but it was also a personal favorite. He seemed to good to be true sometimes.

That was what worried Casey. They at first had agreed to keep their true identities a mystery as a game but it had become normal now for them both to keep their true identities a secret. She worried though, because she couldn't stop feeling like she had no idea what she was getting into, that he was a total stranger to her on so many levels that she couldn't believe she could fall so hard and fast for someone that she barely knew.

She glanced back at the screen, seeing that Black_Knight was still awake and had sent her a message

Black_Knight says (4:14:48AM): you're still awake? You need to go to bed, hun.

Casey blushed again and smiled at the secret thrill of the use of the nickname. She leaned back over the keyboard, keys clacking gently under the dim glow of her desk lamp.

Shieldmaiden says (4:15:22AM): I'm going, I'm going! I just...wanted to say goodnight one more time I guess. *smiles*

Black_Knight says (4:15:49AM): You're going to be *so* tired for class tomorrow. Anyway, I need go to bed too. One thing before I go though...

Shieldmaiden says (4:16:10AM): Yes?

Black_Knight says (4:17:21AM): Delta Sigma is giving a masquerade dance for Valentine's Day at The Wall on Murphy Street. I was hoping to go with you, to finally meet you. I admit to being a little nervous so that's why I put off asking until now.

Casey let out a shriek of excitment and hopped off her chair, jumping up and down. "YES!" she said, trying to calm down. She took a couple deep breaths and sat gingerly in her chair.

Shieldmaiden says (4:18:04AM): I would *love* to go to the DS Masquerade with you.

Black_Knight says (4:18:44AM): I'm going to go as Faramir. I thought it would be appropriate, since you're my Eowyn.

Casey's face was going to split. She was going to die of grinning. She let out another yelp of joy and blushed tremendously. She said goodnight to Black_Knight and powered her computer down before sliding into her bed, face glowing in joy.

Two hours later, she sat bolt upright, sweat pouring off her. She took in deep, gasping breaths and tried to calm her still racing heart. The dream had been so real, sickeningly real, she wanted to run still, to get away from the danger...she grabbed her phone and shot off a text to the one person she thought might be able to help.

Casey: Sam u there?

Samscell: Ya its 6 y r u?

Casey: Bad dream. Call me?

Samcell: K, gimme a min

Casey snuggled under the covers, vividly recalling the tension and fear from the dream. She tried to stop herself from panicking when the phone rang and she snatched it up.

"Hello?" she asked, voice breathless. It was her best friend Sam and Casey calmed down, recounting to Sam the dream she'd just had. It started out with her at one of her jobs, at the school library, checking people's books out for them. Then a dark figure had walked up to her and handed her a copy of The Silmarillion. She attempted to take it from their hands and instead found herself pulled towards the figure.

They were suddenly in a club, dancing to some music and Casey was uncomfortable but the figure kept pulling her close, violating her sense of personal space, pressing themselves against her. She wanted to get away but she couldn't, she kept trying and then suddenly he pulled a knife on her, pressing it to her throat. She woke up after that but it was enough to terrify her into refusing to go back to sleep.

"You just need to calm down," Sam told her in a husky voice that betrayed his lack of sleep. "It was only a dream, Case. Dude, go back to bed."

"Do you think it has to do with meeting Black-Knight?" Casey asked slowly. "He asked me to the Delta Sigma pre-law society Masquerade dance for Valentine's day."

"Maybe," Sam said. He was quiet for several seconds before speaking again. "Are you going to be okay going by yourself?" he asked, voice heavy with concern. "I don't know if its a good idea. How well do you actually know this guy anyway? What if its a girl and the only reason she hasn't told you yet is because she thinks you aren't into other girls? It'd be kinda cool if it was..." Sam trailed off.

"No!" Casey said quickly. "It couldn't be that, Black-knight wouldn't lie to me like that. I just know it."

"Case...are you sure?" Sam asked. "Like, seriously sure?"

"Maybe..." Casey bit her lip. "I'm going to take precautions obviously, but...I want to go, I want to meet him."

"Just be careful, okay Case?" Sam said.

"I will," Casey said. They wished each other goodnight-morning and Casey went back to bed for a couple hours, sleeping peacefully dreamless this time.

The next few days were worrisome for Casey. She kept replaying the dream over and over in her head. She couldn't tell Black-Knight. Not that he wouldn't understand but she didn't want him to think she was getting cold feet either. She couldn't sleep very well anymore though, thoughts of that dream prevented her from being able to get a restful night's sleep, every time she closed her eyes she saw the dark figure with a knife pressed against her throat.

She did her best to hide as much of her fear as possible from Black-Knight though, and finally, on the day of the Valentine's Masquerade, she managed to get a decent nap and woke up to start getting ready for that evening.

She straightened her honey blonde hair, pulling it into two braids that she used to pull her hair half up and half down. Her make-up was light, save for her eyes, as she'd be wearing a mask for the party anyway, and she put on flats for comfortable dancing. Her Eowyn dress was from her Halloween costume two October's ago, right before the whole ridiculous fiasco that had been her life once Lizzie ran off with their stepbrother to Paris. She promised herself she wouldn't think about that tonight as she finished getting dressed, slipping on the final touch of a dark blue-sequined mask with white feathers sprouting from the sides. The party was at The Wall, a club/restaurant/coffee shop on Murphy Street that had been closed down for the evening for the pre-law society dance that night. It wasn't a far walk but it was cold enough that Casey slipped on her overcoat and a scarf before heading out.

She stood inside the club, leaving her coat and scarf with the manager behind the bar counter and searching for someone dressed as Faramir. She wasn't sure what he would look like but she walked around, greeting a few familiar faces here and there, buying a couple drinks to relax herself and trying to go over her plan of what to do when she met Black-Knight. She had imagined it at least a hundred times in her head ever since he asked her to meet him at the dance. She'd slink up to him, put a hand on his shoulder and lean in close, whispering into his ear, "Hello there, Black-Knight. It's Shieldmaiden." And then when he turned around, she'd smile coyly, lean back and toss her hair. He'd be so dazzled that he'd kiss her right then and there, which of course would be a perfect kiss.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for a girl dressed like she's in Lord of the Rings," a voice said somewhere behind her. She spun around, heart thumping wildly in her chest. A tall man was talking to someone dressed as Pan with a green, wild-looking mask on. The man himself had his back to Casey but she could see his dark hair and the long, hunter green cloak he wore. Casey took several deep breaths, trying to get herself together. She felt faint and grabbed a jello shot from a passing waitress carrying a tray of them and downed it in one gulp. Her knees felt weak as she stared, trying to will him to turn around, to see her. All her fantasies flew out the window though, as she stumbled over her her dress moving forward. She fell into the figure and accidentally bit her lip.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" the man who had been asking about her (at least, she hoped he'd been asking about her and not about some other girl dressed as if she was in Lord of the Rings) turned around and steadied her.

"I...think so," Casey said, staring into the most gorgeous pair of chocolate brown eyes she'd ever seen. A girl could easily get lost in them, she decided. They were definitely staring at hers and she felt herself get a little flushed. His arm on her hand was warm and her skin goosebumped under the touch of his hand.

"Can I....are you here to meet someone?" the man asked. Casey nodded slowly, trying to remember how to breathe.

"Are you..." his voice dropped low, almost too low and Casey had to lean closer to him to hear what he said. "I feel a little silly asking but are you Shieldmaiden?"

Casey's face broke into a grin. "Yes," she said simply.

"I'm Black-Knight," the man said, almost unnecessarily. Casey thought her heart would explode right out of her chest when he stepped forward and gave her a short hug. The warmth of his body was enough to make her nearly swoon, his chest was muscular and hard and she fit right into it snugly. -Like we were made for each other- The thought flitted across Casey's mind briefly.

"It's good to meet you," Casey said, voice equally low. She didn't know why she was speaking so quietly, maybe she just didn't want to share this moment with anyone.

"It is," Black-Knight agreed. The world around them seemed to slow to a crawl as he leaned in, face stopping inches from her own. She felt the warm tickle of his breath, which smelled deliciously minty, as he stood close to her. "I've been wanting to do this for a while now, but I need to know if it's alright," he said quietly, making Casey shiver from their close proximity. "Can I kiss you?" Casey's head jerked slightly, almost imperceptibly up and down once, turning her face fully to his.

He leaned closer, gripping her arms with his hands. They were near the wall and he pushed her towards it, pressing himself against her, so close they couldn't fit a playing card between them. Her nerve endings nearly exploded as he slowly ran his thumbs across her arms, pinning her against the wall, making her feel suddenly alive as she'd never been before. Her mind was spinning in circles at the contact and then all the sudden it seemed to stop working all together.

Then his mouth met hers and the entire world disappeared until it was just the two of them in that moment. It made Casey forget that she'd ever liked anyone else in the entire world other than him, that she could finally understand what real passion was about. His tongue traced her bottom lip, which was still slightly sore from biting it accidentally, and she let out a soft moan and granted him access to her mouth. She pressed her chest to his as he ran his hands down her arms and settled them on her waist, stroking it with his fingers. Hers moved to cup his face, bringing it closer for better access as the kiss deepened. His hand moved up and up her ribcage, sliding to tuck itself under her back and just barely brushed her breast in its journey, making her body stiffen as she felt her knees go weak. She wasn't sure if she could hold herself up anymore and just as she felt like if he moved she'd fall over, the kiss broke off. Her mind started working again and she gasped, taking in much needed air.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Black-Knight was moving away from her. "I didn't mean to get so carried away."

"It's fine," Casey said, catching her breath. "Don't worry. We...we both wanted that, I think."

"I did," he murmured, running a hand through the dark curls on his head. He blew a stream of air through his lips and appeared slightly shaken. "Want to dance?" Casey nodded and he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. They danced the rest of the night, bodies pressed close together, hands roaming over each others bodies but never far enough to satisfy either. They kissed several more times, each becoming more passionate and heated than the last until they were practically getting it on right on the dance floor.

Black-Knight made Casey feel so incredible, it was unbelieveable how much chemistry was between the two of them, so much passion and heat. It made her seriously rethink every relationship she'd been in. He made her laugh too, he was funny and charming and Casey felt herself slide right over the edge, without even putting up the smallest fight. She was in love.

End Chapter

A/N: Sooo that was chapter one. By the way, I'm so in love with Cedwin its not funny. I may be their biggest champion besides Miranda. Oh, and thanks to Miranda aka Lady Azura for the help and inspiration. You're awesome and I love you. I will have your babies. Check out her version of things with Casey's stepbrother and sister in Paris in "Ville de L'amour: City of Love". You'll find hers a bit sweeter than mine. Chapters 2 and 3 will be coming soon. It's only a short, 3 chapter story.

Anyway, as always, enjoy!