She didn't see him in two entire weeks.
After a few days had gone by and there had been no sign of Elijah, Loreena jumped into the obvious conclusions: whatever had happened at Fran and Evelyn's wedding had just been in her head. And the kiss... well, though she couldn't stop thinking about it she had no illusions as to what it meant to him. Or, what it didn't. He had probably forgotten about it soon as he got home.
It was stupid to think there was some connection between them. For him she was obviously just another silly girl on a very long list of women who had foolishly fallen under his charm.
Be it as may she was still in the possession of his coat... and returning it would be the chance to make sure. Maybe it was a stupid idea to give the man another opportunity to mess with her head, but the more she thought of it the more certain Loreena was she had to see him one last time.
Tracking down the garage was not much of a challenge, and once she got the address, it was just a matter of gathering her courage. Though she was determined not to let Elijah's charming smiles and those looks that got under her skin confuse her again, it was still slightly scary. When she rode out she didn't tell even Tony where she was going. He was generally the most laid-back member in her family, but when she had returned that night from the station and seen Elliot had already spilled the entire story to the rest of them, even Tony had looked like he thought she had crossed some line.
Her heart beat fast the entire ride to the garage. The neighbourhood was nothing like her own, reminding her once more of how different Elijah's world was compared to hers. And yet she could not keep away.
The garage had a spacious courtyard and the workshop was at the end of it. On one side stood a row of motorcycles, all shiny and well-looked after as a testimony of their owners' devotion to the lifestyle. As she slowly rolled in there was a brief urge to turn the car and get out of this place. However it was too late to turn now.
"They're just bikers, not monsters", she told herself when she had parked and looked into her rear-view mirror. Then she took a deep breath, opened the car door and stepped out.
Outside the garage two guys were examining a car, but as Loreena carefully approached they straightened up and looked at her curiously. The encounter could not have been more weird: the two men, very likely bikers as well, dressed in dirty working overalls and both bearing ink on their bare forearms, and then there was she... her blue sheath dress, cream-coloured blouse, and wedge-heeled shoes did not seem to belong at all.
"Car problems, miss?" asked one of the two men.
"Um", she started stupidly, "I was wondering if Elijah is around."
The guys glanced at each other, but she couldn't tell if they were surprised. Then the one who had talked grinned at her.
"He's in the office. I'll just go and get him", he said and made for the garage. Loreena gave the other guy an awkward little smile and tried to look not so out of the place as she felt.
It was only minutes later that Elijah appeared from the office, and she thought to herself: Oh, boy.
She had been right to worry about the possibility she'd lose her resolve the moment she saw him again. Because there the scoundrel stood, all in his stupid rugged glory of jeans and t-shirt that had oil stains on it, and he was smiling like seeing her was the best thing to ever happen to him.
"Hi Loriel. Didn't expect you to come by", he greeted her as he strode to meet her.
"I... uh, I thought you might want your coat back", she mumbled and clumsily turned to her car's backseat door. Suddenly the handle did not seem to work at all and she blushed as she tried to get the door open. However when she glanced at Elijah he did not seem at all amused by her clumsiness.
Finally she got the door open and she picked up the garment bag inside.
"Here you go. It's been dry-cleaned", she said, offering him the bag. Elijah took it but not without a frown.
"Are you mad at me for something?" he asked, searching her eyes. She returned his frown.
"Two weeks and not a word?" she blurted out harshly. Elijah blinked, but then he gave her an apologetic smile.
"Couldn't get a hold of you because I was an idiot and didn't remember to ask your number", he said sheepishly. Then he grinned, "Or you could say it slipped my mind. No wonder, having just kissed you like that."
"You could have stopped by my parents' place", she muttered. Oh, she was so not going to give up now, no matter how weak he made her knees.
"I did come to see you, but at the gate I was told I'm not welcome. Well, not in those words exactly but the point was pretty clear. I thought of breaking in anyway but that home of yours is like some kind of a fortress. How did you get out anyway? The place must be harder to break out than a prison", he explained. Loreena looked at him in surprise.
"No one told me you had come by", she said. She bit back an ugly word and groaned, "Mom must have instructed the security to not let you in."
"Figured as much. It was pretty obvious she doesn't like me", Elijah said, wrinkling his nose. He spoke wryly, "Have you ever considered you may be a changeling? 'Cause sometimes I'm not sure you can really be her daughter."
She let out a small laugh at that, feeling already more at ease. She should have known he'd not just ditch her like that... she should have trusted him.
"It's just the way my mom was brought up. Dad says her mother was even worse... she doesn't mean bad, Mom doesn't. She just wants her kids to have the best they can dream of", she explained to him, but he did not seem convinced.
"For real? Tell me, is it better to have the best you can dream of or just be happy?" Elijah asked her, and she didn't know how to answer. He went on then, his tone softer this time, "Did she tell you marrying that moron you were engaged to would be the best you could dream of?"
"Elijah, it's not like that", she tried, but he didn't look like he was done yet.
"You can see it too, can't you? Hosting endless dinner parties and attending to galas until you're dead inside and nothing feels like anything any more. I don't wanna see that happening to you", he muttered and there was a dark look in his eyes... something so deep she could barely comprehend it.
But then he shook his head and smiled again at her, and whatever shadow there had been in his eyes it disappeared. He said, "I was thinking of going to grab something to eat. You wanna join me?"
"Of course", Loreena said right away; his question was something she did not have to – or just couldn't – think of twice. Elijah looked pleased and he winked at her.
"I'll just drop the coat at the office and find a shirt that's not completely covered in shit. Wait me here?" he asked. With a smile she nodded, and he reached to brush her neck, just below her earlobe. Then the villain had to go and give her one of those smiles, "You look really damn great today, babe."
Luckily he turned to return to the office then, giving her a chance to get back her composure. She quickly checked her face on her pocket mirror and indeed, her cheeks were flaming red. To readjust her confidence she added a bit of lipstick and tried to feel angry at herself – she had known what she was walking into by coming here. She knew the man was positively dangerous. And yet she had come anyway.
Elijah returned then, wearing now a clean shirt and his leather jacket. In one hand he brought the now empty garment bag and in the other he carried a spare helmet. The bag she quickly stuffed back into the car, but to the helmet she gave a slightly uncertain look.
"You want me to ride with you?" she asked.
"Yeah, I was hoping that. Don't worry about your car. No one's gonna steal it – you're my guest, after all", he said confidently and smiled at her. She met that smile and her resolve crumbled: to hell with precautions.
So she took the helmet from him and decided this all was worth it just because how happy he looked. For the second time she followed Elijah to his motorcycle, which was parked neatly with the rest of them. Unlike the night at Bob's she now felt reassured as she took the seat behind him and buckled the helmet. Even so, noticing the couple of guys by the garage watching the two – one of them she recognised from the wedding and remembered his name was Ewan – she had to wonder what they must be thinking.
But then Elijah started his motorcycle and she wrapped arms about his waist, and they rode.
It was just as exhilarating as she remembered, even in low speed. There was something about the growl of the engine, of the wind catching in her hair, and of being pressed so close against Elijah... not to mention the thrill of being there with him – having the people see just who she was riding with. It was all the things a proper girl like her did not do. Mom would no doubt be furious once she heard but it was the kind of anger she'd welcome, absurd as that may be.
Their destination turned out to be at the edge of the town. There was a slightly decayed-looking grill and bar kind of a place; she had driven by it sometimes but never actually visited the place.
"You okay with hamburgers?" Elijah asked, looking at her over his shoulder.
"I guess", she replied.
"I'll go and get us some food. What do you want?" he inquired then as he took off his helmet.
"Something with cheese. It's my guilty pleasure", Loreena answered and gave him a small smile.
"As my lady commands", he said courteously, reached to quickly kiss her cheek, and then soon as he had his motorcycle parked he went to get them something to eat.
When he returned it was with two paper bags and mugs of lemonade on a stand. With a smile Elijah called her to join him on a bench which sat outside the building. Weathered as it was she suspected it might be of sturdier build than the grill itself. Loreena sat down beside him.
"I should have paid for my -" she started sheepishly, but Elijah interrupted that sentence quickly.
"No, no. I already let you pay for that taxi drive, though I shouldn't have. But what does a guy do with his brain when a beautiful lady smiles?" he asked, making her blush all over again. Damned man.
"Here you go", he said as he passed her one of the bags, helpfully giving her something else to concentrate on. She opened it and the sinfully delicious smell of a fresh hamburger filled her nose. Her belly gave as a response a loud growl.
"Go ahead. It's really good", Elijah prompted, digging up his own from the paper bag.
The burger was wrapped in some thin paper which she undid and regarded the greasy piece of heaven in her hands. Usually she didn't eat junk food but even she couldn't say no to something so beautiful.
Several long moments went by in reverent silence. Had she ever tasted anything so good?
"This is really amazing. I never knew there's a place like this here", Loreena commented at last, but that was only when she had eaten half of her burger. Turned out it was very fulfilling too.
"Yeah. It's a diamond in the rough", Elijah agreed, sipping his drink. "My old man used to bring me and Evey here sometimes."
"Your dad", she said carefully, remembering the night back at the police station. "Your uncle told me about your folks. I'm sorry."
"It's been a long time", Elijah said, his voice falling quiet. There was a shadow on his face like he was remembering some old wound.
"It sounded to me like you're pretty close with your uncle", she said then.
"He took us in when we had no one else – raised us like we were his own. We owe him a lot", he murmured and let out a small sigh. Gently she reached to touch his arm and to give it a comforting little pat.
"I can't say I actually know him, but he does seem like a really great man", Loreena commented softly. She smiled at him then, "And I see where you get it."
"Get what?" Elijah asked, glancing at her curiously.
"That strength and... I don't know what to call it. Kingliness, if you will. It's like you were meant to sit on a throne somewhere and rule people", she said and felt increasingly awkward and silly as she spoke those words. She half expected him to laugh at her. But Elijah didn't. He just regarded her, his face veiled by thoughts she couldn't comprehend.
"You know, that's a weird thing to hear. Especially from a girl like you", he said softly. She wasn't sure what to say, but he solved the problem for her. He looked up at her and on his face there was a stern look, "By the way, has that idiot Dan been bothering you?"
She let out a small chuckle that ended up in a snort.
"I haven't heard from him since the wedding. I think you really drove through your point", she said. Her words made him snort as well.
"I did my best at least. It's good to hear he's been leaving you alone... got still my blood boiling when I think of him hitting you", he growled in low dangerous tones. Dan would indeed be wise to stay away from Elijah.
"He was a moron", she concluded solemnly.
"Yeah. Worse than many I've had the displeasure of meeting, and I happen to know some serious scumbags", he grumbled. Then he spoke again and his voice became softer again, "Before Evey and Fran's wedding, when I thought you were still going to marry the guy... guess what I was planning at least half seriously?"
"What is that?" she asked and considered him acutely as she lifted up her cup of lemonade. Elijah met her eyes and smiled once more.
"I was actually thinking of finding out when your wedding was set and crashing the party even as you were walking down the aisle... steal you before you had the chance of marrying that moron", he said and shook his head. He looked down then, "That's not the only reason, though."
"Then what's the other?" she asked.
"I thought I couldn't let you marry another man before I had at least kissed you", Elijah replied. He lifted up his face to meet her gaze, straight and open. The force of those dark eyes was too much and she had to look away... he was doing it again – making her feel naked under his stare.
"Did you get a lot of trouble for what happened at the wedding?" he asked then and as she stole a glance of him she saw he had turned away his gaze.
"Mom was livid. She acted like I was the one to get arrested... Elliot actually apologised to me afterwards. He's the one who spilled the story, you see. It died down after all, because I was able to convince them I just thought it my responsibility to get you out of trouble, and that nothing else happened. It's not easy to be a daughter to a control freak who thinks you're still five years old", she muttered and shook her head.
"Then why haven't you moved on your own? You're her kid alright, but she doesn't own you", Elijah pointed out.
"I don't know. I never really thought about it... the plan was always to graduate and marry Dan, and then move in with him. It didn't seem to make any sense to move out in between", Loreena answered at length.
"What about now?" he asked.
"It might be a good idea", she admitted, worrying her lip. Elijah reached to rest his hand on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't be scared, babe", he said solemnly. "Actually I think some freedom would do you some good. Don't worry about the consequences so much. Live a little."
Then suddenly he leaned closer to her, and ever so gently he kissed the corner of her mouth. The sensation of his lips on hers was just as intoxicating as she remembered, however brief and small.
He pulled back then and smiled slightly, "There was mayo."
"You realise now I'm thinking of smearing mayo all over my face?" she asked as soon as she regained her voice.
Her words made the smile on Elijah's face widen.
"No need to see such effort. You just have to ask", he murmured, settling his hand on the back of her neck.
"Then please", she whispered breathlessly.
"I thought you'd never say that", he said, his voice dancing on her lips... and then he kissed her at last.
It was everything she remembered and more. Now he captured her lips completely, holding them, possessing them... she leaned closer to him to take support of his shoulders and to invite him into a deeper kiss yet. And it was an invitation he happily took, as he wrapped both arms about her and pulled her against his chest. Dan had never kissed her like this, made her heart race so... as a matter of fact, she felt before now she hadn't even known what a kiss could mean.
He did not seem inclined to stop, and neither did she feel so, and it was entirely possible this would not have stopped any time soon if not for the wolf-whistles nearby. Blushing Loreena glanced about and saw a couple of guys grinning at her and Elijah, getting out of their truck and heading for the grill. She swallowed and turned to look at the man beside her again.
"What are we doing here?" she had to ask, her voice coming as a hoarse whisper.
"You didn't like it?" he asked back.
"Of course I did. It's just... I've got no idea of what is happening, and I..." she mumbled, looking down unsurely. Gently he lifted up her chin and the look in his eyes was warm and gentle.
"You trust me, babe?" he asked.
"I do", she replied. That was true and she knew it, even if nothing else was clear.
"I'm willing to try, if you are too. Make this work... somehow", he said softly, cupping her cheek in his hand. Loreena smiled incredulously.
"So are we dating now?" she asked.
"Yeah. 'Cause I wanna keep seeing you. Tease you until there's that silly little smile on your face. And kiss you until you see stars", Elijah said... and how was a girl supposed to resist that? She could not help but grin.
"We've got a deal."
A/N: Here's something sweet for Sunday! The story remains quite easy and fluffy because I don't think either Loreena or Elijah has given any thought as to how this might work in a long run.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
almythea - Hope you did indeed have a sweet dream! :)
Talia119 - I really had no intention to bring this fic into existence, or to continue it, but some tales just demand to be told... :D
I don't think the reality has really hit our pair of lovebirds yet, and it may be a while still before it does. But even so it's true it can't go on smoothly forever.
About why he let her pay the taxi for him - I'd say he was just too busy being "go me!" after the kiss to really think about it. The matter probably didn't occur to him until after she had gone.
As for Thomas King, it is indeed true Théoden at this point should be dead, but the temptation to include him in the story was just too much. I thought it was okay seeing this is a modern AU story.
Even so it is a very entertaining fic to write, so I'm glad to hear people like it as well!
cCeret - It looks like Dan knows his place now, and should be very wary of approaching her again. :) Glad to hear you liked the kiss!
mh21 - At this point it is indeed just pure chemistry for them! We will see how that develops. :)
annafan - Good to hear you liked it! :) I'm really having so much fun writing this one.
To me at least it seemed pretty obvious it would rather be Elijah to take the fall rather than Dan, and they both know that too.
1607hannah - Thank you! :) I aim to please!
