Dinner and Dessert

After his escape from Impel Down and surviving the war at Marine Ford, Crocodile and his right hand man Daz Bones landen on an island where he bought a house. None in the small city really knows much of how he makes his money. They do know he is influential, charming and knows how to throw a good dinner party. From hotel owners to captains, all are invited. Incluiding a messenger he has a past with... A past he can not and does not want to forget.

Sela has been a messenger for many years. She crosses the seas to deliver the messeges that people can not sent through the official channels. Unbothered by attacks from the World Government, the Yonko and anyone in between, messengers are free to roam the world. This is how she once ended up on a desert island where she met the man she fell deeply in love with, only to leave without a word when she found out his dark side and thought she had lost him to power and a woman who tried to seduce him. Now she stands in his dining room. Confronted with not only the other guests, but also his intense presence and the vibrating heat they both still feel...

POV Crocodile:

"She looks good. Great timing to have a dinner while she came to the island. Personelle knows what to do tonight. Finally i can get an answer to why she left from Alabasta without a word and why she was so hard to find... Hmmm, that Dovan is too interested in her. Why is she smiling? His stories are not that interesting. As soon as this dinner is over i will have some time with her alone. Ah ! I can smell her perfume from here..."

POV Sela:

"Well, here i am. Never thought i would sit at a dining table again with him. He looks good. Why did i accept this invitation? I knew it was a bad idea! It has been a long time but still... the feelings never really left. My neighbour is a good distractor with his stories. I can feel him staring at me... Perhaps it is time to tell him why i left back then. Seeing him makes me realise how much i missed him... still miss him. If only he had not given in to those seductive powers! Cro... i feel your eyes on me, i feel your warmth even when you are across the table. If only ..."

Sela smiled as Dovan told yet another story about his bar and the people that frequent it. In the meantime glimpsing at Crocodile. Feeling the butterflies that still flutter when loking at him. Suddenly her smile freezes as a hand is laid on her leg en slowly slides up. With a broad grin Dovan looks her in the eyes and leans in to her. His hand tries to slide up even more under the table as he whispers in her ear: " I know you want me too. Your smile says it all." Sela`s eyes turn colder as she grabs a finger of the sliding hand. While Dovan sneaks a fast lick on her earlobe, she gives a cold smile and bends his finger back. " If you value your fingers, you will remove that hand". His eyes widen, his heat skips a beat as he looks her in the eyes. While removing his hand he groans: "So fiesty... No wonder our host keeps an eye on you! Perhaps he will share someday. I love a tough woman, it makes me all tingely!" All the while Crocodile watches the exchange. Anger and jealousy flare up as he realises her fake smile towards Dovan and the heat spreading on Dovans cheeks. He will have ot make clear to this man that Sela is off limits. If he values his life on the island, he will stay away...

Dessert

A bell rings and a voice calls for dessert. As personelle brings in the dishes the guests get excited. What will it be this time? The food has always been great at these dinners, but the desserts always are very exclusive. The last time it was a special pudding with the most rare wine sauce. Hidden inside the pudding was a costly gemstone for the lucky person to find it. But this is not the only reason for some of the guests to be excited. For as long as Crocodile has been on the island, he has never settled down or taken a lover... or more. Each dinner the ladies hope to have a chance with him. The best time to try being during the cofee and wine, right after dessert. Tha is when everyone, incluiding Crocodile truelly relaxes and the time for intimate whispers and seductive gestures.

When dessert is served Sela smiles in surprise. No extravagant dessert, but her favorite from long time. Several sweet fruits with whipped cream and shredded truffles on the side. For luxury there is a champagne sauce to accompany it. The blush on her cheeks shows how she enjoys it. It satisfies Crocodile very much to see this. Sela`s other neighbour who has been immensly enjoying dinner looks at Sela : " I see you appreciate this dessert even more then dinner itself. You must be very important to our host." The elderly lady smiles as she brings a strawberry to her mouth. For the first time during this dinner Sela looks Crocodile in the eyes. She holds her breath for a moment as both their hearts skip a beat. With a gentle smile she finishes her dessert. "He still remembers" she mumbles. When dessert is finished and the plates are taken off of the table all go to the guest livingroom.

GUEST LIVINGROOM.

They all scatter through the room and start the age old dance of gossip and seduction. As expected the ladies try to get near Crocodile and when they do it is a show of who will arrouse him the most. Dovan is looking for Sela. While the shop owner tries to tell him... well... something. As his eyes finally lock on to her he licks his lips and starts to make his way over to her. Oh! The things he will do with her! And the things he will her do with him... He can not help but grin while he casually walks over to her. That short moment he had with her, that taste when he licked her earlobe... Mmmm his pants feel too tight. Just when he wants to grab her arm a sharp sting in his back stops him in his tracks. : "She is off limits to everyone " a dark voice mutters. That voice ensures Dovans retreat. Beside Crocodile this is the only man that will stop him and the only one he knows to be as dangerous as advertised. Sela who was about to walk away from a possible disaster now grins. Daz! Despite his wrong doings, still one of the most loyal people she knows, and it seems he has put some fear in that annoying horndog!

She walks to the bookcase where her eyes fall on a familiar book. A story read to her as a child and eventhough she knows the true story now, Noland the liar is still a beloved memory. Suddenly the tension rises as she feels his presence behind her. His warmth in her back, his hand reaches from behind her to grab the book. His mouth next to hear ear whispers: " I see you found the books. I know how much you love to read ." His body against her back, his warmth, his smell and his voice... Sela can not help but feel the heat and shivers spread all over her body.

She turns around and looks up :" Noland, the story brings back fond memories." She gently smiles and hesitates, Unsure what to do next. He is so close... She would love to run her fingers through his hair, trace that scar running acros his face and taste his lips once more. Crocodile sees her hesitation, the yearning and doubt... the struggle. He lifts his hand and gently puts a lock of her dark hair behind her ear. " Books always reminded me of you " He turns around with a smirk and casually walks towards the other guests. Sela held her breath and with a growing blush on her cheeks she touches the strand of hair he tucked behind her ear. It was just a second but it felt like an eternity. Why did he have to play with her feelings so much? Why could she not withstand this attraction? After all this time it still felt so wrong and yet so right. It was that moment she decided that whatever would happen next, she would take it as it comes. Her eyes followed him as he walked up to a group of people who had stared at them before. The big grin on his face told her he was well aware of the looks and gossip already going around.

By the time they had all enjoyed several drinks, Sela was getting ready to leave. Oh, ofcourse she had some nice conversations, and some sly remarks of a few jealous ladies who still attempted to grab the attention of their host. And there was still the lingering presence of Dovan. He did not dare to come near her again while under the watchful eyes of Daz, but his stares and gestures left nothing to imagination. Several guests had already left and slowly all the others started to prepair their leave aswell. Though flirting with them to an extend, Crocodile had shown no interest in any of his female suitors, much to their dismay. Long goodbye`s and even longer hesitations later Sela stood in line to say her thanks and leave. Crocodile had not approached her for the rest of the evening, she was a fool to even think ... ! " Sela, do you have a moment? " Daz suddenly stood in front of her. His hand on her shoulder and the serious look on his face, Sela could only nod yes and follow him to the dining room.

" Did you know he only organised this dinner to see you again?" Sela leaned against the dining table. " Wh... What did you just say? " she stammered. The blush crawled back to her cheeks, a tingeling feeling went up her spine as she tried to clear her head. Did he really just say that just now? Daz cleared his throat, uneasy with this conversation. He was not the kind of man to have such conversations! Hell, he never thought he would even talk about his boss`s softer side, not even to the woman his boss clearly still has feelings for! " He never forgot about you. Oh hell Sela! Yo know what you had, what you both obviously still feel and what you both should do!" The boss would have to pay dearly for this... Daz never thought he could be tricked into having such an insane conversation with someone, not even with Sela... If he did not know better he would have thought Crocodile just wanted to have a good laugh out of this... Sela turned around, her back to Daz so he could not see the glimpse of hope in her eyes. " I know what i still feel for him Daz. And i do still want to be with him, more then anything. But sigh I dont know how... anymore..." The silence is broken by the closing of the door. She freezes when once again she feels him pressing against her back and an arm curls around her waist while lips softly press against her neck...