~Shawn, Gus, and Lassiter's POV~
"Spencer, what the hell is this!? Where's Dominique?"
Lassiter's face redden with anger as he watched the 'psychic' and Guster eat tiny cakes while they sit on the couch and watch TV instead of keeping an eye on Dominique.
"Relax Lassie. We are watching DD. She's on the roof right now, waiting to meet her super cool spy friend", Shawn said calmly while eating another defenseless gummy bear.
"We're watching her through these spy cameras that she installed on the roof. She's on the TV right now."
"Spy cameras?"
Lassiter's interest was sparked. The red in Lassiter's face left as quickly as it came.
"Move over", Lassiter commanded as he squeezed himself on the extremely soft and comfortable couch, right between Shawn and Gus. He then grabbed a hand full of gummy bears and began to eat them. He did see Dominique on the roof. He saw her perfectly in fact. The coloring was spot on, even in the night. The sound was loud and clear. Where ever Dominique got these camera he hope she would be able to get him some to play with. These were great! Suddenly, someone else came on the screen.
"Despereaux!", all three men shouted in unison.
"Dominique, you look absolutely ravishing, as always", Despereaux said while smiling.
Dominique turned to look at the older man and smile.
"Despereaux, how I've missed you," Dominique said.
Shawn and Gus glanced at each other behind Lassiter's back while Carlton's face turned pale. Shawn looked at Lassiter and patted his back awkwardly.
"When we called you Lassie, we forgot to mention that Dominique said that all of this was a strictly business meeting. Let me repeat myself, this is a business meeting."
Lassiter didn't say anything, he only watched the screen.
~Dominique's POV~
Despereaux was just as gorgeous as I remember, thick golden hair, playful blue eyes, perfect pale face, and full soft lips. I watched him put down the glasses and wine on a lone small round table that was on his left. When he was done, I couldn't help my self, I ran at him and embraced him just as hard as he embraced me. I felt him excitedly pick me up and swing me around. I squealed with delight. After he put me down, his hand was behind my neck and soft lips where on mine before I could react. He kissed me firmly, wanting. I could taste the fresh minty toothpaste on his lips. I gasped in shock of the unexpected kiss. I push Despereaux away gently as I panted, slightly blushing.
"I see I've token your breath away, just like when you took my breath away from me the first day I laid my eyes on you", Despereaux said, smiling.
"Oh Darling, that was years ago."
"I remember. It was 5 years, 8 months, 3 weeks, 6 days, 18 hours and 42 minutes exactly."
The tall blond stated proudly. I however, was astonished.
"Do you keep track of all of the women you meet?"
"Not all, only you."
I smiled while blushing again.
"You need a woman, and not one just for dirtying your bed sheets either."
"I would love to have a woman: a beautiful, sexy, perfect woman that I would lavish in riches and worship like a goddess. But, you said no."
"That's because you have the most dangerous tongue," I smirked at the fun memories of how we use to get into trouble, mostly because Despereaux didn't know when to keep his mouth shut in the face of danger, or in front of men with guns.
Despereaux stepped closer towards me, never removing his hands off my hips. I kept my hands on his chest to keep a safe distance, so our mouths wouldn't meet again. He leaned down, resting forehead on mind, looking deeply into my eyes, smiling.
"My tongue isn't capable with just causing danger, Dominique. If you recall, it's also capable of causing the most sensual and incredible forms of pleasure."
I felt my breath get caught in my throat as I blushed at least 50 shades of red.
~Back in the suite~
Lassiter jumped and went to attack the TV. Shawn and Gus jumped up to try and hold him back by grabbing on to each of his arms.
"Get your limy hands off of my woman you toothless, British bastard!"
"Lassie, it's just a TV!", Shawn shouted in a failed attempted to calm Lassiter.
"AAHHH!", Gus screamed in his high pitched voice.
"Just wait till I see you! I'm gonna unload my gun in your face!"
"Lassie, calm down! Also, you should really rephrase that", Shawn shouted again.
"Shawn! He's too strong! AAHH!", Gus yelled as he tried to help Shawn pull Lassiter away from the TV.
~Dominique~
"I recall", I said while looking away, feeling ashamed of myself suddenly as I felt my body crave to be touched once more by the man in front of me.
I hated how Despereaux talked to me. What made it worst was how much I hated how much I loved it. He knew about my sex addiction and so he knows how talking to me in a certain way, or even in a certain tone affects me. I could feel my core heating up like lava with the sheer memory of my sexual encounter with the infamous art thief, my first time ever. I remember how it was 'supposed' to be my mission to capture and torture this beautiful man. I was suppose to seduce him into following me into one of my torture chambers and trap him. I was suppose to rip out chunks of his flesh, melt his limbs off with molten hot liquid steel until he told me where he kept the queen's jewlery so I can then give it all back to Her Majesty. And finally, I was suppose to kill him and rid the world of his body in a way only I could do, to never be found. However, none of that happened.
Despereaux instead found my bottle of pills without my knowledge one our first date, therefore, finding out about my addiction. And so, I was the one that was seduced. He teased me with whispering sweet exotic nothings in my ear, gentle kisses on my lips, cheeks, and the sweet spots on my neck, and gently caressing my body where it was only visible while I was fully clothed, not where I needed to be caressed. It drove me to insanity, how slowly he took his time playing gentleman for weeks. Of course, I didn't know back then that that was his plan: to drive me crazy, to have me drag him to the hidden bed chambers inside of the Queen's castle, to have me begging to be touched for the first time, desperately pulling Despereaux on top of me and finally to be withering beneath him as he forced me to feel pleasures I've never known before. I felt my body shiver from that memory, one of many.
"But Darling, that was a long time ago, plus it wouldn't have worked, you and I", insisted.
I looked up at my long time friend and old time lover. He's face was gentle, a smiled was formed on his playful lips, and there was even that same old twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes.
"Are you serious? We would have been perfect together! I steal things. You kill people. We were a match made in heaven, you and I."
"Yes, yes I know. It would have been a dream come true but, I couldn't. I-I was married", I whispered the last part, stepping away, turning my back towards the handsome thief.
"You wasn't married. You were sold," Despereaux interjected.
I bit my lip and closed my eyes, trying to hold back my tears as those horrid memories forced themselves into my mind.
"Dominique, it's me. You don't have to lie to me", Despereaux spoke gently.
Suddenly and gently, Despereaux's arms were around me once more, his chin rested on my shoulder. I felt myself panting again, my tears flowing from my eyes against my will as other memories began to resurface. I turned around once again, wrapping my arms around Despereaux's neck as I finally allowed myself to cry for the first time in over 2 years.
"Shh, shh, it's alright Darling. He can't hurt you again. Oh Dominique, I would have giving anything to prevent your suffering."
Despereaux gently soothed by hair for what seemed like hours until I was finally calm enough to talk. I pulled away slightly, trying to rub my tears away with the back of my hand. Despereaux placed one hand on my cheek, softly rubbing away the salty droplets that was still forming in my eyes.
"Dominique, why hadn't come to me? I would have protected you. I could have hidden you. We could have ran away, together."
I shook my head.
"He would have found us. He would have killed you."
Suddenly, Despereaux's playful, sweet face turn dark and serious. He then held my face with both hands.
"I would rather have died a thousand deaths then to let that man abuse you for another moment."
Tears began to stream down my red, heated cheeks once more.
"You don't understand," I said weakly, grabbing Despereaux's wrist firmly but not in a hurtful way, "You were the only friend I've ever had."
Despereaux's face soften as he pulled me into another hug, letting me cry into his shoulder once more.
"Oh my Darling."
~Back in the suite~
Shawn sat on the couch watching DD and Despereaux, eating gummy bears by the handful, sniffling at the sad and yet touching scene. Gus cried as he sat next to Shawn, going through tissues by the handfuls. Lastly, there sat Lassiter, tied up with bed sheets to a chair that was next to Shawn and gagged with a giant size pineapple muffin. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to seriously drag Despereaux into a dark alley, cut his tongue out, and stab that smug English prick right in the face until forensics couldn't even I.D. him. However, the pain he felt was over whelming. The woman he really liked, was friends with his arch nemesis. What was worst, they seemed to have a sexual history, while Dominique was married, or how Despereaux said, sold. Lassiter never expected to know everything about Dominique within a few days but, he didn't think he'd learn so much about her from spying on her like some type of creepy stalker. Lassiter wanted to look away from the TV screen but he couldn't. This was suppose to be business, right? Lassiter needed to know what the business was about. Lassiter needed to know if there was a real reason why his girlfriend need to see the man that he despised so much. Lassiter silently prayed that if he had to get his heart broken again, let there be a true reason behind it, a reason that at least he could understand.
~Dominique~
"Why did you named me 'Despereaux'? I've always want to asked but, I've never gotten a chance until now. It's not because of my ears, is it?"
I smiled and even laughed a little at the fact that Despereaux trying to distracted me from my past.
"It was the day you stole the Monnalisa", I said, while pulling away slightly.
"It was also the day you killed those three mob members with a single pen", Despereaux chimed in.
"Yes, that to. That night, you reminded me so much of that little mouse because you've always chosen to act different than other men, completely independent from rules. You've always had such a strong curiosity, it completely killed your fear of consequence."
Despereaux took my hand and led me to the table. He pushed my seat in from behind and poured me a glass of wine before pouring himself one. Then finally, he sat down, facing me.
"My curiosity was strong because I longed to have beautiful things. Perhaps you should have called me Chiaroscuro instead."
I smiled.
"You're too handsome to be a rat."
"True, but I did failed as a thief."
Despereaux took a sip of his wine before he signed out loud. He then looked away slightly, as if he was in a deep thought suddenly or a deep engraved memory.
"You've always gotten what you set out to get, though."
Despereaux's eyes were fixed on mine once more. Though he smiled, I could still see the sadness in his eyes. He reached across the table, grabbing my hand in both of his.
"Not always. The only thing I failed to steal was your heart."
You've always had my heart, I thought to myself, biting my lower lip once more. I couldn't say it out loud though. I was with Carlton now. Our relationship had just began. What kind of woman could possibly cut a flower off it's steam before it even has a chance to bloom. Carlton, I wish I could be with him right now, in his arms.
"Marry me", Despereaux said.
"What!?"
I before I could say anything else, Despereaux was in front of me, on one knee, holding on open tiny box revealing a platinum ring with 5 karate diamonds. I gasped. I've never seen anything so beautiful.
~Back in the Suite~
Shawn and Gus gasped out at the same time as DD.
"She's gonna say yes. She's going to say YES", Gus sang out loud.
Shawn and Gus started to bounce up and down on the couch, squealing like teen aged girls with excitement pumping through their veins.
"If DD marries Despereaux, we can be at a triple 'D' wedding. I call best man", Shawn shouted as he and Gus hugged.
"HMM!"
Shawn and Gus looked over at a very angry Lassie.
"Oops, I mean, don't worry Lassie, I'm sure DD will say no."
"Why? Who would choose Lassiter over Despereaux? The man is better looking, better physically fit, has a sweet English accent,.."
"Gus!"
Shawn make a 'don't state the obvious' look.
"Oh, I mean, don't worry Lassiter, DD is sure to pick you."
Shawn and Gus looked at Lassiter who looked like he want to hunt the two down and bash their skulls in.
~Dominique's POV~
"I love you Dominique Danger, and I can't spend another moment in my life without you. I know you love me too, so just say yes."
"How do you know how I feel", I asked, trying to stall for time, thinking of a way to tell Despereaux about my relationship with Carlton without hurting his feeling too bad.
"Because, if you didn't love me, you would have tortured me to death all of those years ago like you was suppose to. With your taste, I imagine you would have had me being eaten alive by wild and vicious dogs."
It was true. The smirk on Despereaux's face revealed that he knew that I knew he was right. I still made him disappear though, not by my boss's way, but by my own way. Instead of killing Despereaux, I hid Despereaux in my underground home in Italy. I kept it so secure that not even the government knew about. Then I erased all evidence of the thief's true identity and gave him a new name and a new life as Pierre Despereaux. I went as so far to inject him synthetic DNA so if he was to leave behind a blood sample, or a hair follicle, no one could trace it back to Despereaux's true identity. Only out of love would someone be craziest enough to do the things I did for him. I did love Despereaux, more than I dare to admit. However, my mind was on Carlton. I've only known Carlton Lassiter for two days and yet, I feel such a strong connection for the oddball detective. I can't bring myself to betray him.
"I can't", I said weakly.
Despereaux's smirk fell into a frown, then quickly returned to a smile.
"I see. You want to take things slow. Well, I'm fine with that. As long as it's not too slow I hope. After all, you're the only woman that ever made me feel as if I was 16 again. And the way you use to make me moan uncontrollable while I was underneath you, you're a true artist. You know that, right? *Sign* I never could find another woman that could do that to me; to act like a shy untainted girl one minute just to take charge in an instant, putting me in my place, make me feel like helpless, naughty, school boy who's was in desperate need of a thorough spanking."
"Despereaux, you are always in need of a thorough spanking", I said while grinning and shaking my head.
We both laughed as he stood up. He then grabbed my hands, bringing me up with him.
"I've have been a very naughty boy, Dominique. I think I could use that spanking right now."
Despereaux leaned in to kiss me. I dropped my head before his sweet, soft lips could connect with mine. I felt him kiss my forehead lightly before pulling away slowly.
"I see now. You have a fellow in your life", said as he finally put two and two together.
I looked up to see my friend's face. He looked hurt and confused.
"He's more attractive than me, isn't he? Don't tell me he's some young, dashing, Ken doll type."
"No, it's not that."
"Is it my age then", he asked, almost panicked.
"Despereaux", I tried to interject.
"It is, isn't it? Darling, I know I'm a fair bit older, over twice your age even but, I promise you, whatever this new man of yours is able to give you, I can promise you a hundred fold. If you don't believe me, look at my clothing. I bet that other chap can't afford even one of these suits."
"Despereaux," I tried again.
"Can he even tie cherry stems in a double knot with only his tongue, I think not."
"DESPEREAUX!" I yelled.
"Come now Darling, there's no need for shouting, unless you wish for the company of a real man tonight", Despereaux smirked.
It was a light and playful smirk, the type that I loved the most. I tried not to but, I failed to hide the smile that formed on my lips.
"Carlton is a real man and also very sweet", I said quite firmly.
"Carlton is his name then? Very well then. If this Carlton knows what's best, he should surrender you this instant."
"And what if I don't?", another voice asked.
I looked over behind Despereaux.
"Carlton?"
"That is Carlton"
Despereaux looked at me in total disbelief.
"I'm your Huckleberry."