Hide and Seek

Chapter Seven - The Masters Musings

It took the Master a while to come down from the high of tantalising the Doctor.

Provoking him really was a good enough reason for living and he was at his happiest when he knew he had him riled. The meeting in his TARDIS had gone well, from his point of view. He'd hit him where it hurt and it pleased him to see him squirm. He was sure that Lucy would have been proud of him if she were here to see him now. It was a shame she left him after the shenanigans on The Valiant, but he forgave her. After all she thought he was dead, and she was locked up.

He wanted his own back on the Doctor so badly. Donna was the perfect way to get at him, and he knew that the Doctor would come running. He knew she was his closest companion since Rose and that they had already gone through much together. He was so ready for this now, so hungry for revenge and so weary of the Doctor always winning.

Studying their recent travels had paid off. He had taken a gamble, as getting too close would have given him away. But for a few months now he had been following them and feeding off their relationship. Now it was payback time and all that restraint would provide him with results pretty soon. The other problem was dealing with Donna, she was loud, but yet…

The Master sighed. She was probably his biggest problem. He knew she was clever and versatile. He knew that Donna knew it too. He wanted to have some fun with her, at least until things kicked off with the Doctor, but he had to be careful. They were sharing the same building and he could tease her a little. After all, they were going to be spending quite a long time together. The Master just had to be sure he was on top of his game, push her to the edge, but not over it.

Deep down he knew that Donna would be able to take a lot. She was understandably worried about her situation, but knew the Doctor would find her. Her time on Messaline had shown her ingenuity, and his source had relayed certain information that highlighted her sensitivity and connection to the Doctor. Because of that he was going to afford her every respect when dealing with her.

He wondered if their time together would strengthen her bond with the Doctor or if he would get the chance to weaken it. Well she wouldn't see him for some time, so he'd certainly have a go.

Lying on his back in bed, he clasped his hands behind his head and thought some more about his guest. This redhead was stealing his thoughts as much as the Doctor. The fact was, planning what he could do with her when he should really be thinking about the Doctor was exasperating – he should be more disciplined than that.

But there was something about that fiery nature that challenged him, her foul mouth excited him, she was getting his attention in a big way. It helped of course that she had hourglass curves that he would love to slide his hands over, she was lovely to look at even if she wasn't great company. He was itching to pull that pony tail from her hair and run his hands through the russet curls. Interestingly she seemed to have very little vanity, and he doubted she had any idea of the lascivious thoughts he had about her. He thought she would probably have slapped him if she'd known.

She wasn't even his type. He usually preferred the slim blondes and he was surprised by how attracted to her he was. He shouldn't really be thinking of her like this at all, it wasn't part of the game. He should keep it simple and think of the Doctor. The trouble was he'd seen something he wanted and the fact was he usually got what he wanted. As long as it didn't encroach on his main plan, why should it matter?

And how not to think about Donna when he'd shocked her today with that kiss? The knee jerk reaction had taken him by surprise, but the look on her face in the split second after he'd done it, it just made the desire all the more compulsive.

He hadn't said anything to her at all, just looked at her and studied her and that had angered her even more. Now she was probably wondering what he'd do next.

He'd noticed her flinch as he stepped towards her again, the bolshiness dropped for an instant as she weighed up her predator. He wondered if she'd liked what he had done.

Perhaps she was glad he'd done it to her. Well at least now she knew his interest in her wasn't just as her captor, it went further than that.

He rolled over with another sigh. He was going to have to stay focussed whilst he played his game with the Doctor and hope that this little pastime didn't interfere too much with his plans.