Chapter 10. Puck's flirtation

The first week since opening night had passed, Sarah stood looking at the stage being set up for the evening's performance. The stage now seemed like a second home to her. However it was a home that seemed to be missing something, or rather someone. Sarah wondered how it was that someone she'd only known a short time could make so deep an impression on her that his absences was filling her with such sadness.

Puck sauntered up to her side, whispering in her ear; "A penny for your thoughts."

Sarah turned, her green eyes showing her desires to relive certain moments of the opening night over again. "I was just reminiscing," she covered for the emotions she was flooded with. She looked toward the flower bed that was being set up yet again in place, ready to be pushed forward by the fairy court. "I can't get opening night out of my head. The feelings and the sensations, the adrenalin rush…"

Puck smiled, "It was a good opening, may the rest of the run go as well. ."

Sarah's face turned serious. "Has anyone heard from Jay?"

Lying, Puck shook his head; "Not a word."

Twisting the little sliver ring absentmindedly, Sarah sighed. "I hope everything is alright at home for him." She began to have doubts and worries. "Puck, you were in his company more often than I, did he ever mention anything, like oh say… a wife?"

Mischief filled the mind of the Hobgoblin, however taking another look at the girl he quelled the Tomfoolery that played in his head. "No, Sarah. I believe he was single…" seeing the look of panic fleeing the girl's features he gave himself a mental pat on the back. "I think he was rather fond of you, though."

"Was he?" She asked looking down at the floor and blushing slightly.

Puck smiled, "I'm sure of it."

Impulsively, she turned and placed her arms about the Hobgoblin, hugging him tightly. "Thank you." She whispered urgently. "I really needed to hear that just now. I'm feeling a bit of a fool these days."

Never having received so tender an embrace, Puck was taken aback. He looked at the girl whose eyes were closed as she held onto him. "We all play a fool, now and then." He said in a voice that was filled with ancient long forgotten wisdom.

Sarah raised her head, a tear sliding down her cheek, her arms still wound about Puck. "Peter Hobbson, sometimes you say things that are so wise."

"Frightening," he teased lightly. "Isn't it?" He hugged the girl back with eyes dancing with merriment. He could well understand his King's interest in the pretty maid. He could understand his desire to have her; she was a jewel among mortals, a heart that still believed. Few and fewer like her were found.

Magda placed her fingers into her mouth and whistled sharply. "Break it up you two," she warned sternly. "Sarah, Dido wants to see you." She thumbed behind her toward the dressing rooms. "Pronto!"

Puck watched the girl leave the stage, his eyes now settled on Magda. "Are you rushing off as well?" He asked petulantly, she'd given him a merry chase for several weeks. If he got more than two words from her, he considered it a forward movement in his battle to win her attentions.

Magda hesitated for a moment, "I get such weird vibes off you, Hobbson." She stated feeling confused and unsettled.

He tucked his hands into his pockets, letting his eyes feast upon her. As usual she was dressed in dark garments, however today one of the garments was a rather provocative looking little satin corset worn over a black gauzy peasant blouse. It was a bit more daring than what she wore, and it was giving Puck ideas. "Oh, Maggie… I could give you so much more than just a weird vibe." He teased a little coarsely. Moving closer he gave her a startling wink, as he licked his lips.

"Hobbson, are you flirting with me?" she began to wonder if she'd put the studded choker she was wearing on a bit too tight this morning.

"Damn right I am." He growled placing himself between her and the exit. "Care to return the favor?"

Magda gave him a cold gaze; "Why should I?" Defiantly she placed her hands to her slender but nicely rounded hipline.

He kept his hands to himself, kept this to a battle of wits and nothing more. He would not risk physical contact until the young woman was willing. "Because you want to Maggie… more than that, you need to."

"Pretty sure of yourself, are you?" She scoffed.

"No baby," he purred. "It's you I'm sure of."

Magda, hard as she tried, could not stop the smirk that was playing at the corner of her lips. He had not placed as much as a finger tip on her, and still she was tingling all over. Her dark eyes were beginning to warm, and the haughty iciness of her demeanor began to melt. "Are you now?"

Puck leaned toward her, his lips moved to just a breath from her ear. "You know it." He growled softly, suggestively.

Shivering with delightful stirrings, Magda whispered back. "I bite."

"Good." He snapped his jaw shut after the word for emphasis.

Magda giggled lightly. "You've no idea what you're trying to do."

Puck leaned back giving her a serious and knowing look. "Don't I?" Slowly he moved forward, and the Goth girl backed up a step. "Maggie, I'll bet you I can make your toes curl, and that's before I ever even lay one finger on you." He moved closer, and again the girl backed up a bit more. He knew every inch of the stage, and knew exactly where he was corralling her toward. True to his intimidation, he had not yet touched her, but he could feel her responding to his presences. He could feel her temperature rising, he could hear her heart racing. A soft feminine scent was greeting his nostrils, he watched as she became aware of where he'd herded her. "What's wrong, Maggie? Never been backed into a dark corner? Never traded kisses in little secret hiding places?"

"Hobbson," she warned with a shaky voice. "I'm not some dumb blond in the course."

He felt the smile even before it spread on his face. "I'm not into dumb blonds; I like my women full of fire and covering it in a layer of ice. I like dark and dangerous women, baby." He took another step and had her backed into a corner. "So Maggie, want to play with fire?" His hands were still tucked into his pockets.

Magda looked at him, doubt on her face.

"Magda Rastovich," he commanded in a voice that was filled with husky lust. "Take a chance. I won't disappoint you."

"Shit," she muttered just before she reached up and pulled him to her. Her lips moved hungrily over his. Puck, breathed easily as he took his hands out of his pocket, enfolding the Goth girl in a tender embrace as his lips answered hers. Her lips moved to his ear, and whispered threateningly. "If this is some game, Hobbson I will kill you."

Puck tightened his grip on the girl, "Maggie, I assure you, this is not a game… and if it were… I'd be playing for keeps." His voice was emotional charged. Grabbing her by the nape of her neck he pulled her head back and began to kiss her throat, working his way up to her mouth. Once there he silenced any protests she might have been tempted to make. The kiss left them both breathless.

Magda laid her head on his shoulder. "This is insane." She whispered in surrender.

Puck cuddled her softly in the dark corner. "Maggie, my own," he purred holding her close. Voices from stagehands coming toward the sets cut short the tender moment. Puck slid a hand to her waist as he drew her out of the darkened corner and toward the wing where the dressing rooms were. "Let me take you home tonight." He requested gently.

"No," she shook her head, "It's all the way up to Brighton Beach, and I'm sure you don't live in that neck of the woods."

"Maggie," He sighed softly. "I'm not going to be a one night stand, I want a long term commitment."

The Goth girl, unmoved shook her head, "I'm not willing to commit to any thing one way or the other, Peter."

Puck paused in the wing and looked at her with consideration. "Then I suggest you become willing, Magda Rastovich. You see, I'm not going to go away. I'm going to peruse you until you agree to spend the rest of all time with me."

Magda snickered. "You're taking this role of Puck a bit seriously aren't you? The rest of all time?"

"More seriously than you know," he replied.

Questions flickered in dark eyes, just before she disentangled herself from his embrace. "You'd better go get ready Peter; curtain goes up in half an hour." She turned moving toward the women's dressing rooms.

Puck watched her go with a wistful smile. "Take your time, Maggie… I can wait…"

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The hand holding the crystal caused it to spin gently. The watcher, amused and delighted, made a secret vow to support the efforts of his compatriot in love. He tossed the crystal the moment the summons came. Love would have to wait, duty came first.

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Sarah came on stage at the end of the performance, standing between Hayden and Kevin. The three took their bows and stepped back while Puck and the Fairy court cavorted about in their entrance. Jeremy and Linda stood off to one side, after taking their bows. Sarah was aware of the hand snaking up her arm, keeping her face schooled she stiffened her arm as a warning. It did little good.

Puck's sense of smell caught the changes in Sarah's chemistry, he saw from the corner of his eye the problem. Moving like a clown, he cavorted across the stage and placed himself between Sarah and Hayden. The audience laughed thinking it was part of the closing. Sarah smiled, gratefully at the playful Puck. Magda snickered from off stage seeing what Hobbson had done to thwart Hayden. Puck heard the sound and smiled broadly at Hayden.

When the curtain came down, Hayden knew better than to say a word to Hobbson. He could see Papa watching them all from the wings. He moved off stage, swallowing any comment he had wished to make. Papa held a hand out to Sarah.

"Good work everyone." He called out; his hand on Sarah's had halted her. "Sarah is something wrong?" he asked quietly. "I noticed you seemed a little off, not very much, but a little."

"I guess I was thinking about something else." She confessed softly.

Papa understood, "I know it's hard to put your real life on hold, but from the moment you step out of the wing, that's what I want you to do."

"I'll be better tomorrow." She promised.

He walked with her to her dressing room. "Good girl, now go change. Jeremy will have the car here by the time you're changed. Good night Sarah."

The girl entered the dressing rooms, when she and Linda emerged a short time later the back stage area was nearly deserted. Linda had warned her few actors stuck around once they were finished for the evening. Stagehands called good nights to the mother and daughter as they walked side by side.

Puck in the guise of Peter Hobbson watched as the pair was met at the stage door by Jeremy waiting to escort them home. He knew they were safe in his keeping and he could his attentions turn to his own objective, wearing down Magda. He saw her pulling on a shawl and biding Dido good night. He moved toward the door to hold it open. "Let me see you home," he requested yet again.

The Goth girl shook her head, however she paused. "Lunch?" she asked in a voice that was not use to being tamed.

"Alright, Maggie… we'll start with lunch." He said happy with the progress being made.
"And perhaps we'll soon be making plans for breakfast."

Snapping back into character, Magda gave him a cold stare. "Don't get ahead of yourself, cowboy." She whipped one end of the shawl over her shoulder dramatically. "It's just lunch."

Puck watched her go down the steps to the street. "Keep telling yourself that, Maggie…" He said knowing she would ignore him. "Perhaps," he said moving toward a dark corner of the stage. "I'll be having you for desert."