Kawaii-Cherri: Oh, she's a fan. probably too much of a fan tbh -winky face- I hope you have had a good end of year! I'm working like 50 hours a week, so I'm trying to make Sunday evenings my writing days.

A/N: Thank you for your patience. Please enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Pandora's box.

'Are you feeling all right?' Elspeth asked, carefully. Sebastian had gotten awfully close to her and looked down at her in a predatory way.

'I feel fine,' he said, a slight lisp to his words. His teeth were becoming sharper, of that she was sure. Sebastian leaned down and gently tilted her head up, his fingers under her chin. 'You, on the other hand,' he murmured. 'Smell amazing,' he whispered, breathing in deeply near her throat. Elspeth felt a tremor of trepidation and sexual tension with his touch.

She swallowed and tried to brush him aside, 'it's just my normal perfume,' she said, not being able to get him to move. He had started to gently pepper kisses down her skin, his sharp teeth catching briefly. 'Oh, Yoba,' she almost whimpered before her rational mind kicked in and she jolted back from him, almost falling off the fence.

Sebastian grabbed her tightly around the waist to stop her from falling. 'No,' he said, ignoring her almost accident. 'It's something deeper than that,' he said moving forward to kiss her. Elspeth had to literally put her hand over his mouth, thinking desperately.

The energy and tension were intoxicating but she was more concerned as to why this was happening. 'Bazzie, something isn't right,' she whispered, looking him deep into his eyes. 'What are you thinking about right now?' She asked.

He chuckled, slow and deep. Elspeth wanted to cross her legs in frustration. Sebastian wore a smirk; running his hand up her thigh, stepping closer to her, his other arm around her waist. 'I am thinking about how much I want you, Elsie,' he said, his voice filled with primal desire, he kissed her palm before moving her hand and holding it tightly. 'I need you,' he murmured.

Oh, for the love of all that is holy, she screamed in her mind. 'Bazz,' she whispered back to him, 'believe me, I want nothing more than to… ruin your innocence,' she said, honestly. There was a very pinpoint pressure and pulsing in a certain area of her body but she was desperately trying to ignore it. 'But I think something is causing this,' she admitted.

'And?' He chuckled. 'You smell intoxicating,' he said, breathlessly.

'Fuck me, you're making this really hard,' she moaned, trying to keep him from kissing her. He nipped the inside of her wrist and she involuntarily let out a whimper. 'Oh. Fuck! Stop it!' She snapped, pulling her hand away from him.

Sebastian grinned, fanning the flames, 'I am indeed trying to fuck you-'

Elspeth felt her face erupt and she looked around for something to distract him with. 'Hayley!' She squealed as she spotted her best friend walk around the corner. 'Bazz, it's Hayley!' She said, desperately as she slid off the fence and practically yanked herself out his grip. 'Hayley!' She repeated as she ran over to her.

Hayley looked between them, worried. 'Did I interrupt something?' She asked, concerned. 'You two were taking so long, I said I would come check up on you-'

'Bazzie, he's gone all… fuck, I don't know… primal?' Elspeth said, trying to think of a word that matched his demeanour. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. Elspeth froze. 'Hayley is right here!' She snapped at him. Surprisingly, she wasn't frightened of Sebastian's sudden twist in attitude, somehow she knew that he wouldn't hurt her.

'Don't care,' he said simply, giving Hayley a brief glance before continuing to nibble on Elspeth's shoulder.

'See?!' Elspeth said as she attempted to shove his head back from her. 'He got all… intimidating with Elliot and he's been clingy all day and now, now he's all… randy,' Elspeth said as Hayley tilted her head at Sebastian and pulled a face. 'He's never been like this before and I'm worried.'

'Has he said anything?' Hayley asked pulling out a water bottle from her bag. 'If he continues, I'll spray him like a horny cat,' she warns. Elspeth stilled as she felt Sebastian literally growl at Hayley, who didn't care and sprayed him right in the face with the cold water. He jerked back and sputtered.

Elspeth sighed and shook herself; she had gotten caught with the water but didn't care. 'He keeps going on about how "amazing" I smell,' Elspeth said as she turned to face Sebastian who was wiping his face, trying to clear the water. Hayley held up the water bottle when he looked at her. 'Apparently it's deeper than my perfume? I don't fucking know,' Elspeth said, shrugging a shoulder. 'Is this like his version of being drunk?'

Hayley gave Sebastian a look. 'Walk it off, champ,' she said, bluntly. 'Have a cigarette while I decide if you need to be gelded or not,' she snapped at him. Elspeth seemed a little shaken and Hayley didn't appreciate the situation. Sebastian bared his, noticeably sharper teeth, and pulled out his cigarettes. Satisfied, Hayley turned to Elspeth. 'Same beauty products as usual?'

'Yeah. Same things as usual. Nothing has changed. His "deeper" comment makes me think that it's not something that I apply or use, but what? What is deeper than the products I use?' Elspeth whispered to Hayley who was keeping an eye on Sebastian, who was pacing and smoking, his gaze never leaving Elspeth.

Hayley thought for a moment, 'are you on your period?' She asks, 'y'know, hormone changes and shit?' She said thinking about how someone's scent might change and for what reason.

Elspeth shook her head, 'no, that was a couple weeks ago-'

'Oh. I got it!' Hayley squealed as it hit her. 'It makes perfect sense. Seb is all, half merperson or whatever, right?' She said as she looked over at him, feeling a little more relaxed, knowing that Sebastian wasn't being an intentional asshole. Elspeth gave her a look to continue and Hayley grinned. 'Well, if I'm right, it'll explain a lot,' she teased.

'Spit. It. Out,' Elspeth said, her brow furrowing. 'Otherwise, my only option is to have him neutered!'

'You're ovulating,' Hayley grinned. 'He can probably smell the hormone changes and it's triggered some sort of… mating claim on you. You are his girlfriend after all,' she said, trying not to laugh.

'Say, what?' Elspeth said, wearing a facial expression of being slapped with a fish. 'That's… funny, Hayley. You're really funny-' she faltered and then buried her face into her hands. 'Oh, Yoba… I'm ovulating,' she finally let the realisation sink in. 'And… I'm his girlfriend and so he can allow himself to feel like this which is why it's… happening now and hasn't occurred before.'

'Yeah,' Hayley said nodding as she looked at Sebastian. 'How are you going to go about this? 'Cause normally ovulation is like a few hours window, but hormone changes occur over and around five days.'

Elspeth felt the blood drain out of her face, 'I can't have him like this for five days!' She moaned. 'Do you understand how hard it's been to keep sensible? Not to push his boundaries and y'know, speed things along?!'

Hayley snorted and stepped aside as Sebastian walked over to Elspeth, grabbing her in a hug. Elspeth put her arms up in the way so that he had to settle for holding her from behind like before. 'You're gonna have to try and get him to listen,' Hayley said to Elspeth, who was tilting her head out the way of Sebastian's attempts. 'Explain it to him and then… perhaps indulge in some petting?' She teased. 'Take the edge off?'

'Alright, you're not helping anymore,' Elspeth hissed. 'Can you go get my bag? I'm going to take him home. I might have to shove him into the shower and set it to polar!' She snapped, more irritated at the entire situation than Hayley. Hayley gave her a wink and disappeared around the corner and Elspeth turned her attention to Sebastian. 'Babe,' she said. 'Bazzie, you need to listen to me,' she said as she literally turned in his arms.

'Hmm?' He said, biting his lip.

I can't think properly. My hormones are going insane, she thought in almost physical pain. 'Babe, I need you to listen to me,' she said as she ignored his wandering hands. 'The thing is, this isn't you, Bazzie. Is it? You'd listen to me if I asked you to stop,' she said pointedly.

His face fell a little and he did indeed pause with his physical attention. 'Of course,' he replied, although it was strained. 'My Elsie, I don't want to upset you,' he added, his eyes lightening a little.

Elspeth smiled at him, 'I know, Bazzie. But you're being a lot. A lot, a lot. I know you're smelling things that are… exciting you,' she said, awkwardly. She spotted Hayley at the corner, tactfully put her bag down where she could see it and she smiled at her, getting a thumbs up and a grin in return. Her attention turned back to her boyfriend, 'is this really what you want from me right now?' She asked, softly. 'Because if it's what you want, what you really want, then I'll keep you up all night,' she promised. 'But, if there's a little bit of doubt in your mind, then this isn't right.'

He stared at her and swallowed, 'no. No, this isn't what I want,' he mumbled. Sebastian shook his head, 'I mean… I want to. I want to taste you and hear the sounds you'll make,' he said, his voice strained. 'I long to feel your touch and the way your body will move with mine but… something isn't right here,' he admits. 'It's like there's this fog in my mind, stopping me from thinking properly,' he sighed, stepping back and rubbing his eyes.

She reached forward and took his other hand, 'hey,' she said, lightly. 'I'm all for going back home and having a heavy make out session,' she teased, seeing his eyes flick to hers, the predatory gaze returning. 'I just think anything more than that might be a little fast,' she admitted. 'Not that I don't want to, but let's indulge that side when you're not all fogged up on hormones.'

Sebastian cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets, letting go of her, 'I'm sorry, Elsie,' he mumbled.

Elspeth waved her hand to brush his apology aside and walked over to her bag. 'Shall we go home, Bazzie?' She asked, swinging it onto her shoulder.

'Home?'

She laughed, 'yes, silly. Let's go home,' she said as she walked over and grabbed his arm. 'Shall we take some of that heat off of you?' She said in a tease. Sebastian's face flushed.

'I'm not sure that's a good idea,' he said as he was almost dragged from where he was standing. 'What if I get all… pushy?' He mumbles, not liking that side of himself and despising his own character at that moment. He didn't want to admit the fact that the scent that emanated from Elspeth was driving him crazy.

'That's okay. I have a spray bottle I use for my orchids,' she said with a cheeky grin. 'That'll cool you off, so evidence shows.'

-x-

It hadn't taken them long to get back home and it had taken even less time for them to come together. Unlocking the front door was proving to be tricky, seeing as Elspeth's mind was elsewhere and her body was being pressed against said door. Sebastian had literally and metaphorically, removed his gloves and was now making good on the promise he had made a few weeks ago. To ruin her lipstick.

Elspeth moaned and lost her hands in his hair as he all but lifted her up. 'We need to unlock the door,' she said, breathlessly, her keys jingling in her fingers. Sebastian broke the kiss for a brief moment to allow her to do so, the door swinging open wide. Once the way was clear, Sebastian picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist as his mouth found hers once more. His teeth caught her lip, the sharp points tugging at her skin.

Sebastian groaned. It was taking more self-control than he cared to admit. 'Elsie,' he said, his voice deep with longing. 'This is almost painful,' his words were spoken almost directly against her mouth.

She had let out a small whimper at his bite and it was almost his undoing. 'I agree,' she said, pressing her chest against his as she tightened her thigh muscles around his waist, pulling herself up. 'Thing is… we just have to let the edge off, right?' She suggested, feeling her hormones go on a selfish rampage. We don't have to actually sleep together, but we could… explore? She thought for a moment. It's official. I'm so gross. Taking total advantage of him.

He chuckled and carried her towards the sofa. 'We can do anything you wish,' he said simply.

'Oh, Yoba, that is a lot of things,' she admitted as she lay back on the sofa, pulling him closer by his top. 'I have to remain sensible, it wouldn't be fair to you,' she added to herself. Until his eyes and teeth return to normal, I need to control myself and my hormones. It wouldn't be fair to either of us to cross boundaries when he's like this.

They kiss once more, his weight upon her, hands lost within her hair as their tongues dance. 'Most of my adult years have been unfair,' he pointed out, gently nipping the side of her neck. 'Now I find myself with the most beautiful woman in existence in my arms and I cannot hurt her,' he said, looking deep into her eyes as he brushes aside her fringe. He gently touched her lips with his fingers, causing her to exhale lightly, her eyes glittering in the low light of the lamp. 'I can touch her with my bare skin, a possibility I didn't think would ever be,' he said, with a disbelieving chuckle. 'I thought I would be cursed forever. To know loneliness, only ever.'

Elspeth's heart melted as she stared at him, her own reflection in his eyes. There was something about the way he saw her, the clear adoration. If I ever was going to say those words… it would be to him, she thought. The thought was as clear as a bell and it scared her deeply but she was determined not to let the realisation ruin the moment. Instead, she lifted a hand and smiled brightly at him, 'fear not, Bazzie,' she murmured. 'My Sebastian… I am not going anywhere,' she assured. 'We'll never be lonely again.'

He smiled, an inner light reaching his eyes. Elspeth's smile mimicked his as she watched the dark colour in his sclera recede. Elspeth giggled, leaning up to kiss him gently and sweetly, catching his lips with hers. 'How has it only been a week?' He said, softly. 'It feels as if we have been together… well, much longer,' he said, his words receding into a mumble.

She giggled and nodded. 'I have to admit that is true. Perhaps we are in the middle of what Hayley calls, "the honeymoon" phase,' she said with a grin. Hormones have been dampened for the moment, disabled with romance, she thought with relief. Can't complain about that, she added as they became comfortable on the sofa.

'I don't wish for it to end,' he admitted, pulling her closer and kissing her forehead. 'I'm sorry for how this night has ended,' Sebastian said, softly. 'I feel like an idiot,' he mumbled. Elspeth looked up at him, he had covered his face with his arm.

Elspeth frowned, 'it isn't your fault,' she said. 'It's not like either of us knew about this. Also, in the future, it might be easier to handle… y'know when we… get to that stage in our relationship,' she added.

'It sounds so ridiculous,' he muttered, annoyed. Elspeth wiggled out his grip and stood up, stretching heavily as her movement forced Sebastian to look at her.

'I'm going to bed, are you sleeping alone or joining me?' She asked, simply.

Sebastian sat up, 'you want me to join you?'

She grinned, 'oh yeah. I haven't finished with you yet,' Elspeth held out her hand. 'We aren't going to sleep together tonight in the carnal sense, but I do have plans for you,' she teased. 'Come on.'