A/N: THE DATE! It's not super detailed, but I'm a dork and this sounds like a perfect date to me :p
I hated putting on tight pants, it was always such a fight and these leather ones were always such a pain to get over my hips. Wearing leather pants though, always made my butt look good, and it gave me the final touches on my outfit. I had left my hair to curl down my back, I didn't wear any makeup save for some eyeliner, and the leather pants complimented my wine red blouse which sat under an oversized leather jacket. I was pretty happy with my outfit, I was comfortable and could easily move if he had planned that kind of date.
A knock made my hands pause and my eyes shot to the door leading outside. What time was it!? I spun to look at the clock and my eyes went wide. I grabbed my jacket and shoved my wallet and comm lacrima into the pockets before chucking it over my shoulders and opening the sliding door.
"you look so fucking sexy Red" I grinned and gave him a once over and decided that I had worn the right thing, he was wearing something similar, but he had donned a tight black button up instead of a blouse.
"You look pretty good yourself Van" I took his proffered hand and he pulled me close and I felt us drop into a Void. I closed my eyes and pressed my face against his chest, even with my jacket it was cold and the whispers always bothered me.
I felt warm air brush past my cheek and I opened my eyes to see we were on an outcropping sort of island on the Sea, not like the islands that travelled with the current, but one that stayed where it was. There was a blanket on the ground and a basket and I looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.
"This is awfully romantic Vander Pradesh, who are you?" I teased and he ruffled my hair
"I can be romantic, I just choose not to, but this isn't one of those times. Come on Red, lets have some food" I nodded at him and we sat to have the sandwiches from the basket. The spiced rum was more his style and I took a small tumbler gratefully.
"So, what is it we're doing exactly?" I looked around expectantly for some sort of hint.
"I told you it's a secret, nosy little thing aren't you" He pulled a plate with fresh fruit and some of Mr. Elan's dipping sauce out of the seemingly never ending basket. I bounced up and snagged the plate from his hands, I loved Mr. Elan's fruit sauce. I took a slice of kiwi with sauce and took a big bite and moaned at the taste.
"Well, if anything that noise was worth the whole date" I rolled my eyes at him and offered him some of the mango with the sauce on it.
"It's so good though, worth the moans" strawberries were next and I was just so happy with the fruit I missed movement in the water to the side of us.
"Asher" I looked up with full cheeks and gave a sheepish smile before chewing and swallowing.
"Yeah" He just pointed out to one of the small islands floating near me and my breath stopped in my chest, there were little foxes running around the now slightly glowing island. I stood quickly and walked straight into the water to get a closer look.
"Red, your boots – well, there goes the idea of keeping dry" I heard him enter the water behind me and I barely spared him a glance as I quietly slid into the water and started to move towards the little island.
"They're beautiful Van" I whispered as I watched them jumping around and playing. I pulled up so my elbows could rest on the woven grass and I had a huge smile on my face. I must have made a noise because one of the little kits looked over to us and tilted it's head before slowly making its way over to us. I just about hyperventilated as the cute little slightly red coloured fuzzball came over to me and sniffed my hair. I slowly, really really slowly, lifted my hand so the little baby could smell me and when it butted it's nose against my palm I reached my fingers out to stroke gently over it's fur.
I was honestly just glowing with happiness, I had got to spend time with my favourite animal which is so rare with where I lived in Bosco, I had figured out that he had taken us to the south east of the country. I made it back to the picnic spot before he did and when he got fully out of the water I tackled into him and pressed my lips to his with as much emotion as I could muster in one kiss.
His hands slid under my thighs to hold me up and I moved mine to slip into his hair and pull his mouth tighter against mine. I kissed him until I was breathless again and I pulled back and gave him my biggest and brightest smile.
"You are amazing Shadow Man"
He pressed his lips firmly against mine again and I smiled into the kiss. I knew that this man wasn't romantic, but this was as damn close as he would admit to getting. It was romantic enough for me, I didn't need flowers and chocolates, sandwiches and rum before seeing my favourite animal was way more then enough.
"It's not over Red, we just need to move to the next spot" I hopped off of him and grabbed his hand, looking up at him expectantly.
"Ready?" I nodded and he pulled me tight against his chest before I felt the cold swirl around us. We came back up to noise, and I looked around to see us at some sort of street festival. There were people in all sorts of colours and the world was lit up with small lights going above the stalls, I could hear music being played somewhere close and laughter ringing around us. I grinned up at him, I knew exactly what he was doing, we were going to dance.
He grabbed my hand and tugged me to follow him through the crowd of happy people, we made it to the middle of a small dancing area and he grabbed my hips and we started moving to the music. I'd always loved how this man danced, he was so fluid and made anyone he danced with look great. I liked having his hands on my hips and let him lead me into a slow close dance. I started to feel the music and wrapped my arms around his neck, stepping as close as I could into him and moving my body with his.
"Where are we" I whispered
"Pelerno is having a festival for a region of Enca, they have the best music" and he was right, the music picked up and he grabbed my hands and spun me out of his arms and back, his thigh had come between both of mine and we swayed back and forth, my hands exploring the expanse of his back and sides and his mostly against my neck and lower back, half dipping me with the music.
We spent the better part of two hours dancing, and it had worked my body into a tight hum of desire, and he knew that, but he never made a move on me to help. I think he knew that I would panic and stop it and that's what stopped him. He had led us over to a stall that was selling some really cold cocktails and I was chewing on some ice from mine when he leaned into my neck and gave me a kiss before whispering in my ear.
"I know how hot you are Asher" He nipped my ear and I moaned softly "I know that if I tried to help you would stop me, but know that whenever you are ready, I am here" I nodded slightly and he dropped his mouth to suck slightly on a spot behind my ear and my head tilted for him.
"I wish I -" I started but his hand came up and his thumb brushed against my lips
"No, you are amazing just the way you are, lets work on this together, yeah?" he gently turned my head to face him and I surged forwards to press my lips hard against his, his hands slid down my sides to grip my upper thighs and he pulled me up and I wrapped my legs around his hips. Gods this man could kiss. I ran my tongue over his bottom lip and his came out to meet mine, and I rolled my body against his before just forgetting everything around me and letting this kiss devour me.
It could have started raining fire and I wouldn't have noticed, all I could fell was him against me, he tasted like the dark fruity drink he had gotten, and I loved how cold his breath was against my skin. I felt something solid against my back and jerked back out of the kiss, it was a wall, I had no idea we had moved, let alone dropped into a Void to get back home. His mouth had not stopped when I had moved, it had just moved down to my neck and that was just sending electricity down my spine. I pulled his face back up to mine and let myself be absorbed by him again. I pulled back again and tried to catch my breath.
"Just this?" I whispered and he stopped for a second to shoot me a smirk
"This is more then enough Red"
I was warm, and it wasn't like a good blanket in a cold room kind of warm. I was too hot to be alone in a bed. I cracked my eyes open and looked up at the gorgeous man that had wrapped me up like a teddy bear again. I really liked him, he was funny and had this devious streak and was a snuggle bug, at least with me.
"Why are we moving, it's early" I really loved his morning voice, all raspy with sleep.
"It's -" I turned my head to check the clock on his night stand "It's 11:30 we have to get up" He groaned and buried his head in his pillow.
"I've been up for ages, I'm just comfy" I rolled my eyes and started trailing my fingers over the winged serpents over the side of his body.
"But Van, I'm hungry" I heard a muffled laugh and he shifted to lay on top of me.
"Nope, you're trapped" I frowned and licked the expanse of chest that he had put in my face.
"Not stuck, you're just weighing me down" I brought his magic forward and dropped down only to reappear beside the bed. I ruffled his hair when he cursed me for leaving the bed and started rummaging for a t-shirt to put on.
"I'm going to grab some clean clothes from my room, want to go to breakfast with me?" I pulled the large shirt on over my head and leaned against the dresser. He hadn't moved from his spot, head still buried in the pillow. I smiled and grabbed my clothes from yesterday before slipping out the door and down to my room.
I needed a shower, I could feel the sweat on my skin from the dancing and I needed to not be sticky, I threw my clothes in a pile on the bathroom floor and hopped in the shower. I lathered up my hair and closed my eyes at the sweet smelling shampoo, I let the hot water pour over my head and shoulders and I started thinking.
I knew who Vander was, he was bold and brash and perverted, but all through yesterday night he never went further then I could handle and I was just so happy he was being patient with me. I had liked him for so long and I wanted to get better so I could be the kind of person he needed, physically and emotionally. I was sure that I was addicted to his kisses already and it kind of scared me. He had shown me again and again that he was a good man, a little twisted and dark, but that was part of the draw. I could make jokes about things that shouldn't be joked about and he would understand and would come back with a witty retort and it would send us into a twisted conversation.
I needed to make another appointment with my therapist, Dr. Guhl was amazing and I could tell that with time she could help me organize my thoughts and help me deal with everything that had happened. She was one of the main counsellors that the guild used for people dealing with trauma and I could tell why, she hadn't once since we had started seeing each other made to talk about things that had happened unless I brought it up. I really liked that she waited for me to start talking about it, she would hint that was where she wanted to go with the session, but let me get there in my own time.
I soaped up my body and let the foam slide down the drain, I smelled much better now, and I conditioned my hair, stepping back under the spray of water and rested my hands against the cool tile wall. I had to talk to Kaleb, see how the meeting went, but that was for after food, I could bring Van some food if he was still asleep, but he probably would already be down in the kitchen, he moved fast.
I grabbed a towel and moved to grab a pair of yoga pants and the t-shirt I'd stolen from Van. I was going to be comfortable today, I had some work to do for the guild and had to start planning this clinic idea that I'd brought up. I attacked my hair with the towel and let it flow down my back to dry, it was still early enough in the day that the heat wouldn't bother me with my hair down.
"Hurry up Red, I'm hungry!" I heard Van outside my door and I made a face.
"Says the man who probably just rolled out of bed" I opened the door to a showered Van, his hair was still damp and resting around his shoulders. I smiled and he grabbed my hand, pulling me down to the kitchen.
We were a little late for breakfast, but lunch was nearly done so I grabbed one of the cookies from a plate on the counter and stuffed it in my mouth.
"I have to go find Kaleb, we have to talk about the warrant" Vander nodded at me, he was staying here, he had coffee and cookies. I grabbed another cookie for the walk and went to find the tall mind bender mage.