Maria raced through the city streets, keeping a weather eye on the rooftops; there was no telling when or where her prey might make an appearance but she would be prepared. It had been some time since she had been permitted to hunt and she was determined to make the most of it.
The steady scuff of her boots on the sand and rock of the streets was an affront to her ears, but speed was infinitely more important than stealth when pursuing this particular mark she well knew.
For a moment a shadow fell across her as something obstructed the faint moonlight; glancing down she could see his silhouette racing just ahead of her- now if only she could find a way to catch him. The bastard really was too clever by half, and didn't he just love making that painfully apparent to all and sundry? She promised herself that tonight she would gain the upper hand.
As it turned out, he solved the difficulty for her by leaping athletically to a lower terrace and thence to a haystack to cushion his fall, not once glancing back at her as he continued to run.
Maria put on a burst of speed to kick his knee harshly out from under him so that he sprawled somehow gracefully in the dirt. Before he could regain his feet, her short-sword was drawn and pressed lightly just beneath his shoulder blade.
"I find I like you kneeling. Stay there."
His breath hitched and he turned to stare back at her, eyes sharp with accusation, "Vengeance is hardly worthy of you; still upset that I took you unawares?"
"Oh no, in fact I was quite satisfied; weren't you, Altair?" She smirked as his eyes widened beneath the shadow of his hood. With a flick of her blade that came perilously near his face she threw it back to meet his gaze.
"You have a pretty face; don't hide it."
The smallest of smiles flickered on his exposed face and stretched the small scar that ran across the corner of his lip; Maria found herself licking her own suddenly dry lips.
How was it that he always managed to regain control of any situation even and especially when the odds were entirely against him? Her face firmed again, not tonight. Tonight was hers.
She stalked forward and bent to take his mouth in a ruthless kiss, running her tongue along the slightly raised scar before pulling his lower lip into her mouth and biting until she could taste the tang of blood. He groaned and forced his tongue between her teeth, leaning forward to continue his exploration as she slowly pulled away.
She spoke to cover her panting breaths. "Where did you come by that scar?"
"Careful, Templar; I might begin to think you care."
Maria smoothly glided in front of him to press her sword beneath his chin, lifting his gaze to hers. "I asked you a question. You would do well to remember who is in control here."
"I have my doubts." He rumbled so softly she scarcely heard it.
"Do you? I will change that."
She swept the blade down to cut across the shoulder of his robe, sweet revenge for her own ruined attire. Maria reveled in the consternation painted on his face; this would be a revelation for both of them. Exactly how far could she push before he finally snapped?
Another delicate knick and the tunic slowly fell from his shoulders to bare his chest. She took in his tanned skin by moonlight, the barest sheen of sweat visible to her eyes; it took all her will not to kneel and trace her tongue across the pale scars that crossed his skin, follow that beading drop of moisture to his waist.
Sheathing her blade she stepped forward to take his chin in a bruising grip and force his eyes to meet hers; she could see a certain smug satisfaction in his gaze even now. She traced his lips with her nail as they tilted slightly at the corners and he nipped playfully, sucking the tip into his mouth to teasingly circle his tongue about it.
Maria smiled, "You have a talented tongue, I can think of better uses for it."
Altair's eyes widened in a brief expression of shock- she could see him glancing swiftly in every direction; at this hour of the night the watchmen would be patrolling the streets, but she was in no mood to let that spoil her fun.
"I don't think-"
Maria hushed him, her finger tapping his lips softly, "I don't recall telling you to think."
Altair swallowed, the smile had vanished and she was pleased to see the slightest bit of uncertainty in his eyes. This was new, and he wasn't sure what to make of it.
Maria ever so slowly undid the ties of her trousers, keeping eye contact all the while as she slid them down her hips with agonizing slowness.
"Tsk. I forgot the boots; take them off for me."
With trepidation, Altair reached out to undo the buckles of her boots; his fingers trembled making him uncharacteristically clumsy.
Maria yanked his hair sharply, "We don't have all night, be quick about it."
He yanked the boot roughly from her foot and Maria had to fight to keep her balance, using his shoulders as a support. He ran his fingers teasingly over the top of her foot and Maria jumped, frowning. It was not fair that he knew all her ticklish spots, and this was no way for a ranking Templar to behave. Maria coughed and straightened, ignoring his stifled chuckle.
"And the other."
He pulled her other boot to his lap and began undoing the buckles once more; despite his position there was no hint of humility in the pose. That was one of the things she appreciated about him, that unbending pride might have been obnoxious in anyone else, and it was certainly frustrating, but it was familiar nonetheless.
The ground was chill under her bare feet and she almost reconsidered, but he was smirking again and she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
She glided her trousers over her hips and he reached up to assist her, she batted his hands away. "No touching, assassin."
Altair frowned, "I know we have had this conversation before; I told you to call me Altair."
"I'll call you whatever I please, assassin. Don't forget who's giving the orders now."
Their gazes clashed- each attempting to stare the other down; finally, with a shrug as though it didn't really matter, Altair broke eye contact.
"Yes, sir."
And didn't she just love the sound of that on his lips?
Altair glanced warily about once again as she discarded her trousers, "You realize if anyone sees you like this I will have to commit murder?"
"Not your decision. We have the streets to ourselves for now."
"Perhaps we should move to the roof."
"Perhaps you should hold your tongue and enjoy."
"I thought you had a use for my tongue," he snickered.
Maria laughed softly, "Don't I just."
She pulled him toward her, his head at the junction of her thighs, "Are you clever enough to guess it?"
She felt the breath of his laughter as he leaned forward and licked languidly over her center, his hands tracing up the inside of her thighs.
"Did I tell you to use your hands? Fold them in your lap."
Altair pulled back to glare at her predatorily. "Careful."
Maria snorted, "Stop delaying and accept the inevitable."
She smiled charmingly and Altair shook his head in mock despair, leaning forward once again as Maria traced the sharp lines of his face.
The crunch of boots on gravel made them both jump guiltily; Altair fixed Maria with a darkening look before unceremoniously bundling her into the alley.
Maria cursed, "What are they doing here? This isn't exactly the liveliest part of town."
Altair frowned, "Likely drunk and looking for a way to avoid notice themselves; I warned you."
"Don't be smug." She pulled him down for another kiss but he pulled back.
"I have an idea."
Maria groaned, "This is how trouble starts."
"Let's play a game." He could see her ears perk up at that, Maria was nothing if not competitive.
"I'm listening."
"Don't let them spot us."
She shook her head, "We're already playing that ga-"
Maria cut off with a gasp as Altair swooped to press her to the ground, pinning her there with his arm across her chest as he leaned in to nibble at the shell of her ear, whispering softly "Not quite this way, though."
Maria pushed him back, arching her hips and twisting so that he rolled to the side where she pinned him. She leaned forward to press her lips to his collarbone and bit down firmly, sucking the reddened skin soothingly. She thought she heard the beginnings of a swiftly muffled growl and smiled softly against his skin.
Her satisfaction was short-lived; Altair's cool hands ghosted up her thighs, tracing his blunt nails along the curve of her hip and up to her spine as she arched against him in surprise and her sharper nails dug into his shoulders.
She could hear his gasp and stifled it quickly with a kiss, sweeping her tongue into his mouth to explore leisurely.
She pulled back with a grin, "We need to be quiet, remember."
Altair glared and twisted viciously, Maria found herself once more on the cracked cobbles as Altair sat up and dragged her to his lap. "I can't hear them anymore; they've probably moved on."
"I wouldn't bet on it. It's late and the street is deserted, they're likely sleeping off some of the evening's excess."
"Doesn't matter."
He jerked her firmly against him and Maria whimpered in surprise, "Not fair, you're still dressed."
Altair smirked, "Everything is permitted."
Maria scowled, "Very well. If you want to bring your creed into it."
She bit roughly into his neck, raking her nails down his vulnerable back so that he groaned, twisting away from her nails, bucking against her.
Maria slipped her hands down his front, lingering as she felt his muscles shifting beneath her fingers, the belt was troublesome caught between them as it was, but years of practice had honed her skills; she made short work of the buckle and slipped her hands smoothly in, reveling in his nearly imperceptible trembling.
She teased, keeping her strokes light so that he groaned with frustration, nipping at her neck, his hands clenching her ass to shift her more forcefully against him but she used her leverage to hold back.
Losing patience, he shoved her back to the ground, one hand taking hers to press it more tightly against him while he tilted her head back to bare her neck with the other, leaving faint bruises along the pale arch of her neck.
She clutched him desperately, twining her legs about him as he shuddered, pushing her hands away. She gasped when he entered her without warning, shifting roughly against her so that she clawed at the hard ground, still desperate to win their little game of silence.
The faint hum of talk and laughter reached their ears and Altair stiffened, but Maria reached between them, stroking his exposed flesh so that with a frustrated growl he began to move once again. She shivered slightly as he placed his lips to her ear. "If they find us, you're going to get it."
Maria purred, "Intriguing."
Altair gasped, his movements steadily becoming more desperate and Maria lost track of precisely what she had meant to add as her vision blurred. With effort she placed her fingers to his lips, using her other to pull herself to his ear.
"What's my name, assassin?"
He arched desperately, clutching her to him as he cried out her name.
For the briefest moment there was silence, and then the sound of running feet. Altair scrambled shakily to his feet, hauling her up behind him.
"New game. If we're caught, I will make you suffer, Templar."
Maria laughed aloud as she rushed to don her robe, "I look forward to it."