Hey, here's chapter 3 sorry for the wait and that's a bit short lol. I don't own HDM or any characters just the plot and any OCs. Let me know if you want Will brought in or would like a short story where Lyra tells Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel about Will. Pan and Lyra will talk in the next chapter I promise. Anyway, please read and review and tell me what you think reviews keep me updating :) ~Serria Spell23.

Ch.3-Leverage

Several hours later, we arrived at my flat with Lyra in tow. Her daemon still remained in its ermine form curled around her neck protectively. The golden monkey hovered by my feet as I sat down on the sofa. Asriel, well he preferred to keep a reasonable distance from me—lest his temptation dictate his actions and destroy his resolve, fearing that if his fingers even brushed my skin he'd fall victim to my siren-like spell. He leaned against the entrance of the living room, his eyes seemed almost emotionless as was his primary defense when it came to emotional issues—he thought I couldn't read him.

I smirked, beckoning my lover toward me with my index finger. Asriel obeyed while Stelmaria shook her head. She knew where this would lead. A low growl seeped from between her barred teeth. My lover swatted her nose, ignoring the momentary pain that greeted him. His daemon sank her teeth into his hand—lightly enough to cause a pinch—alerting him.

"Ow! Alright, Stelmaria, you have my attention. What is it?" The irritation was evident in Asriel's tone mercifully I decided to throw him a lifeline. Touching his shoulder with my almost feather-eques touch, I sighed muting a melodic chuckle.

"Asriel, my dear she doesn't approve of the prospect of you and me…" I titled my head slightly to the side, freeing my suppressed laugh before continuing, "Perhaps she's jealous."

Oh you'd like that wouldn't you, Stelmaria thought.

The man sat down beside me, willing himself to remain in control. "No, Marisa she just knows how...Hm...how I should put this…violent we can become."

"Asriel! Lyra's not asleep," I chided, a note of astonishment splintering my otherworldly voice. I felt my face burn in truth I did not mind the rather sensual turn of our conversation, however, my maternal instincts—or lack thereof—told me that this material was not suitable for our eleven-year old daughter.

"Marisa, she may not be asleep but I heard her door shut. She can't hear us." He lifted my chin with his pointer finger, tangling his fingers firmly into my sleek, wavy, black hair. Grazing my cheek with his lips, my friend kissed my collarbone, making my pulse accelerate. I never protested when Asriel made advances toward me—in private at least. When I didn't have the crutch of formality between it was extremely easy to lose myself.

I moaned as my lover touched my bare shoulders, fumbling with my dress's zipper. "Stop, please!" I said, breathless. My daemon tried to get out from under Stelmaria but he faced same internal debate. I could see the passion lighting his eyes and I knew he didn't want to go.

Asriel dropped the zipper this is what he hated about being in love with me. If I did not agree he didn't win. "Marisa, are you ever going to let us go beyond this stage?"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know, Asriel. I still can't fully trust you."

"Touché, my dear however that doesn't solve the current issue."

"You could tell Lyra I work for the General Oblation Board or I could let it slip that you plan on ripping the fabric of space and time apart!" I retorted, my tone blurring the line between alluring and dangerous.

My friend ran his fingers through his hair. "You wouldn't dare, Marisa, honestly , you think so low of me that I'd tell her you're head of a government organization in charge of separating people—mainly children—from their daemons you must think I'm insane!" He got and started to pace, the snow leopard beside him swishing her tail wildly.

"You are backstabbing bastard, Asriel…half the time I don't know what you're going to can you blame me?"

"Welcome to my life, love. I am always looking over my shoulder when our paths cross," he replied, the volume of his voice rising slightly.

"So why is it that we can't seem to stay away from each other…we're clearly not good for each other."

My lover gazed at me, the fire in his eyes refusing to dim as if he could seduce me using his electric stare alone. "It's the universe's screwed up idea of torture. It's unhealthy for us to be together yet difficult and ill-fated to deny our attraction."

I stood up, cutting him a cold glare he'd never see reason. "This futile what do you expect me to say…take me I'm yours?" I put air quotes around the phrase, emphasizing my sarcasm and malice.

"Something like that yes," Asriel answered smirking. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me to him before I was able to react he wrapped his arm tightly around my waist. I flushed again, the tint of my cheeks, implication that my self-control was failing.

"Give in, Marisa. You're sexually frustrated your eyes say everything."

"And whose fault is that! I demanded, glancing to our daemons who were now back in their former positions. "Asriel!" His name left my mouth through a locked jaw and gritted teeth, my body beginning to tremble, prompting a satisfied grin to appear on my lover's lips. Those lips the camera within my eyes seemed to zoom in upon them as I attempted to regulate the signs of my arousal. Biting down my lip, I pretended not to notice my heartbeat pounding in my ears—or the fact that I yearned for him almost instinctively.

Impulse had always been my downfall I never ended up doing the sensible thing. Once again I would cave and I hated myself for it. Our daemons touched each other in a seductive manner. The golden monkey though he was pinned beneath Stelmaria on his back he still stroked her paw. She purred, showing that she wasn't opposed to the attention.

Completely oblivious to my bleeding lip, I tried to get some distance—even if it only happened to be a hair between Asriel and me. He shook his head, wiping the blood off my mouth with his thumb, bending to kiss me. "You appear to have hurt yourself, Marisa. Am I that tempting you have to injure yourself?"

"Damn you!" I swore, capturing my friend's lips passionately. Our kissing only intensified as our tongues fought for dominance. I moaned quietly, luring Asriel to take things further. Cradling me in his arms, he carried me into my bedroom—the room where we had begun our affair years ago—and now it was our prison where we would succumb to the passionate, lustful addiction again that would deepen our insanity.