Follow you home

[Lovely]

June 23, 2008
6:00 p.m.


Most shoppers were done with their tedious chore of flitting through aisles by this time of day. He'd been in and out of the shop a few times, though, looking for something that didn't seem to be on the shelves. Now he unrolled a photo - the sort that belonged behind cardboard sheets to keep it away from innocent eyes. He'd purchased the tape fairly earlier, spinning the roll deftly and cutting the strips to secure the photo to a tube of snack crisps. He knew she would be here shortly. His diligence had certainly paid off, watching the door over and over for the one he would know on sight. She was an aisle or two away and he worked quickly, putting the newly designed carton at eye level on the shelf. He hadn't counted on the older, and quite pious looking bag of wrinkles and false teeth to happen around the corner first, though. The very image was enough to make her gasp for air. He appeared to make the effort to help her as her eyes rolled upward and the rest of her slipped downward to the floor. He reached over her, laughing to himself and putting the carton in easier reach.

She only had a few things to pick up this evening, she wasn't there to stock up her cupboards but to get some things for a trip she would soon be leaving on. Something was making the hair on the back of her neck prick up and though she didn't know what it was, the sensation was a pleasant one. It was like a sixth sense of sorts to warn her something was about to happen, it didn't tell her what but made her sigh with anticipation. She rounded the corner with her basket in hand and saw the can with it's lewd logo and then glanced down at the old lady on the floor, it made her laugh. She plucked the can from the shelf and set it in her basket before heading to the register to pay for her items and take them home.

He didn't need to trouble himself with being a good samaritan for the old woman with the entourage of doting customer service agents helping her back to her feet. Instead he watched the blonde, a nod of affirmation as he left the tape behind on a random shelf now and followed her at a short distance to the lot and her car. He took down the tag number as he climbed into his own to follow.

She drove home, she shared the car with her sister as well as the apartment they were leaving behind. What they didn't share was amusement in the same ways, Jaime was humming and smiling as she went inside and put the can on display in their livingroom. Lily's expression was priceless and the girl looked like she might faint, which made Jaime laugh. She went about resuming the packing she'd been doing and Lily took the chance to make her own run to the store. The two girls looked very much alike and people who did not know them often had trouble telling them apart. But someone who was paying attention would know it was Lily who left and not Jaime.

He'd followed and waited down the street as he watched her go in. He faltered a moment... did he wait or come back? He seemed to search for a memory more than foresight to help him. Shortly after she'd gone in, she left again. His expression changed, watching carefully. She wore a different outfit and was heading back out... No, it wasn't her. He was convinced it couldn't be and by the time he'd moved the car forward and she drove off, he noted the front door still open with the screen door latched. Sisters? He chuckled to himself and parked, clear of the driveway, and came to their door. He looked through the mesh to the world inside, grinning at something that more than his eyes appeared to take in.

[Lovely]

She'd left the door open with the screen closed to let some air into the stuffy apartment, now that evening was coming it was finally cooling off a little. There wasn't a lot in the apartment, it seemed very bare and they had mostly clothes to pack to take with them and not too much of it. There were a couple of suitcases between the girls which Jaime continued packing, not yet knowing the man was outside their door. The breeze was pulling his scent away from the door and since she was not close to it she did not pick up on it until the breeze shifted and brought his delicious scent into the apartment. Jaime came into the livingroom, sniffing the air, her head titling slightly before she turned toward the door with a more curious than alarmed expression.

Ah, there she was. Only a slight grin showed at his relief that he'd been right. He didn't want to appear too eager. Now that she was in view he raised his hand to knock with a knuckle, rattling the screen gently.

Jaime licked her lips, watching him with an even more curious expression, a light smile slowly showing itself. "Who is it?" She called out softly like one might through a closed and nonvisible entryway.

"No one in particular. Just a concerned neighbor," he called out, his accent floating along with his words. "You've left your door open. I didn't realize someone was still home."

"Ohh.. not home for long but still here now." She slowly sauntered toward the screen and leaned in the short hallway, just on the inside of the doorway. Her gaze walked over him and her eyebrow arched slightly. "I like the breeze.. How come I never knew we had a neighbor like you.. till we're going away?"

"Like what?" He returned the glance with as innocent a smile as he could manage, leaning against the frame and running his thumb over the rough sharp edge of the screen fabric that poked out around the seal. "You're going away? Why is that?"

"Pretty.. dark... mmm smells nice too.. eyes.. sharp eyes... " She traced her finger over the screen at a level and angle as if she was running them over his lips. "..nice mouth.. " She seemed more like she was talking to herself or perhaps a voice inside her head, but the giggle was soft and her eyes shifted to focus clearly on him. "Like that." She nodded and let her hand drop, moving it to rest against the wall instead. "We have to go. Can't stay here."

His tongue slid slightly over his lip as she pulled her hand away. "Like that, yeah? Well then I'm flattered and sorry to hear that... that you're leaving, when I've only just arrived. Or have I?" He tapped on the screen door that separated them.

She gazed at him, her lips pursing together slightly and then melting into a small pout. "No one in particular, is a long name to call you. Do you have something shorter? Doesn't suit you anyway.. you're not no one, you're definitely someone." She reached toward the latch to swing the door open gently, still watching him with an inquisitive gaze.

"Call me Tripp. That's the shortest thing I have," he chuckled, stepping aside for her to open the door and not entirely hover.

[Lovely]

"Tripp? .. I like that.." She offered him a bit more of her smile as she held the door open for him to come inside. "I'm Jaime." His sudden appearance made her a little sad that they were supposed to be leaving soon.

He ducked in, lithe, agile, gracefully serpentine as he moved around her and looked around the place that was being cleared out. "Jaime... that means love... in French," he said off hand as he turned back to face her with a quick grin. His eyes held secrets and suggestions but he voiced very few at the moment. "Why do you have to go?"

"It does..." She murmured quietly at how he picked up on her name and observed how he moved - very graceful and lithe. "Told you already silly.. because we can't stay here." Her smile flashed at him and then hid itself away behind the small pout.

"But that doesn't tell me why it is you can't stay... silly yourself," he insisted gently, reaching out to her mind with unseen fingers to wrestle with her willpower that didn't want to tell him the truth. "I'm glad you like it, by the way. The picture." He nodded to the mantle that held the can.

She felt 'funny' but it wasn't unpleasant and she wasn't sure why she felt like telling him things she might not bother with otherwise. "Can't have cats." She touched her finger to her nose and giggled softly. "People don't like what's different.. don't like me when they know me." She pouted again and shrugged her shoulder. Jaime gave him his answer without quite telling him.

"Ah is that it? Cats? Terrible shame. I'm rather fond of them. Especially their claws, yeah?" His smile warmed at the sound of her small giggle. He'd felt something strange himself as he poked around in her mind, a restlessness, a familiarity even.

Her eyes lit up a little but she held back another giggle as he told her that he liked cats and their claws. "Mmm claws are sharp and scratchy.. mmroawrr.." She made a noise like a 'ferocious kitty' and made scratches in the air with her fingers. She paced a little in the small space the apartment offered, it was quite tiny, almost like one large room that had been sectioned off into a few smaller ones. She was restless, a caged lioness in the suburban zoo. "Going someplace .. with more room." She stopped at the mantle and stroked her finger over the picture on the can, her smile coming back. "Like it very much.." She whispered, glancing to him again and then pouting as her eyes narrowed and she snatched the can to hold it closely. "You can't have it back."

"I don't want it back," he said, approaching her slowly. "I want you to have it. I'll make another. You found it funny didn't you though? The woman in the aisle. I saw it. Awfully mean, yeah?" He couldn't help but chuckle.

She seemed happier when he said he wanted her to have the picture, but her eyes truly lit up at his mention of the woman at the store. "Oh yes.. " She motioned a light fluttering clap though her hands hardly touched and made no sound from it. She bit at her lower lip, seeming to peek up at him though she wasn't hidden behind anything. "Do you make things like this often?" She held up the can a bit, and admired the lewd picture he'd put on it. Her head nodded slowly, a strange thought dawning on her about something she'd said and what had happened with the woman when she'd seen the picture. "People don't like what's different.. but I do."

[Lovely]

He nodded at the question about the picture and her adoration of it. "Often, yes. Consider me... different from nearly everyone."

"Mmm can see that in your eyes. I like them too." She smiled nearly sweetly but there was something more wicked in her eyes as she brought her gaze to his face again. The expression faded into a pout and a genuine and more sad visage. "Makes me sorry we're leaving.. to have met you now but not be able to... know you long or well. I think I'd like you very much."

He smirked and sighed, looking to the ceiling and for a safe place to land his gaze which strangely seemed to be locking on hers despite her looking deeper than he wanted her to yet. "I followed you here," he admitted. "I could follow you again, couldn't I? Truthfully I'm no neighbor, but I am concerned that you'd leave your door open. Especially considering those who don't care for cats... or even more for those who do... very much."

He caused her to pause and wonder why he'd followed her and why he would tell her so, then he revealed that he was not truly her neighbor, though a small part of her had suspected he wasn't. Yet she'd let him in and didn't demand he leave now, rather she replied with a faint smaile. "I suppose if you followed me once, you could follow again.. but would you want to and would you want to go where we're going?" She pondered the questions out loud, slowly walking in a circle around him, her eyes moving over him, inch by inch. "Why would you be concerned over my door.. or a girl you've never met till now? Or a cat you have yet to discover?"

He shrugged and searched for his pockets to sink his fingertips into and his collar revealed hidden lines and patterns as he moved, as did his sleeves as they shifted around his wrists. "Who's to discover whom and when, when they chance meeting over treats in a shop? Had I met you sooner we'd know each other very well."

Her head tilted, slowly shifting from one angle to another, her eyes tracing the lines that peeked out and disappeared beneath his shirt. She wanted to ask about them but held back a moment, licking her lips and searching for the way to word what she wanted to know about them, about him. "I think.. you're the real treat.. but not a sweet one.. well maybe like a sweet tart.. but you're more like halloween candy, full of tricks and naughty things.. " It wasn't a question but her thoughts on him so far, what she sensed about him from being near him and the interaction they'd had so far. "You have pictures on you.. but they're all hiding from me right now."

Again he nodded and looked around the otherwise empty apartment. The other girl would likely return soon. "I could show them to you, but not here. Where is it you intend to go that's not here... that will accept your ... sort of cat?"

She chewed her lip and watched him, there was a part of her that want to tell him where but the other part of her knew she wasn't really supposed to, the conflict showed in how her gaze skirted away from him and the sort of puckered pout returned. "Far away.. a place in... " If she only told him the state would it be giving away too much? "A place in my dreams.. going to go find a place that will accept .. my kind of cat."

[Lovely]

"Maybe I could take you there and show you more of my art along the way, yeah?" He offered with a another tickling massage of her thoughts and her desire to hide behind her fear. Her fear was shallow, though, and her desire thick and murky, pulling him closer to her. "Surely you wouldn't mind the help packing and leaving behind this mundane little swallow's hole?"

"Lily too?" She asked softly, lifting her face to look up at him as if he'd run his finger under her chin. Her protective nature and affection toward her sister were stronger than the fear in her, a fear that seemed to fade even further as she stood next to him. She pulled the pout between her teeth and leaned a little closer to him, something shining in her eyes.. perhaps hope?

"Lily? Ah.. the picture of innocence that slithered out just before I arrived, yeah? I'm not sure she could entirely wrap around what I'd have to offer, but to help her if it helps you, sure. I can resort to be useful for others when it suits me... and you do."

Jaime chewed gently at the lip she'd captured as she slowly nodded her head. "Lily is sweet.." She told him after releasing her lip, her fingers wrapped more tightly around the can she was still holding. ".. not like me. I can be.. very much so.. but I'm... finicky.. my moods change rather suddenly sometimes.." She chuckled at herself for telling as if trying to warn him or talk him out of the idea when that was the furthest thing from what she wanted. "But.. what about where you live? You have.. things.. family.. friends?"

"I'll manage my things in time. I already have what's most important with me... and my car. Typical male fascination with buckets of bolts and shiny paint," he chuckled and shook his head, chancing a glance at the door and expecting the sister to return at any moment. "As it turns, I've already packed and most of it stored. I was on my way though I chanced a meeting, following a peculiar whim... almost like walking through a dream really."

"Lily won't like it.. she'll fuss. She worries over me and she doesn't know you. She doesn't always see things like I do and we like.. opposite kinds of things much of the time.. " She explained, glancing at the door as well, only she knew her sister would be home in a few minutes. "I've been having strange dreams lately.. where were you going?"

He chuckled again and brushed the extra bit of smile off his lip. "Let's just say, they accept cats, of all sorts, even dark ones. Tell me, what brought you down that aisle just then? Dreams... that was part of mine, the possession that pushed my hand to place the image in sight, brazen, bold... beautifully, exquisitely erotic and passionate if you ask me. The woman on the floor certainly didn't know how to appreciate it... but there you were. Almost as if planned, yeah?"

She reached up to his face, her fingers gentle but insistant that he let her tilt it to different angles to catch the light or rather the shadows, like she was looking for something. "A feeling.. like being drawn to a craving but not knowing what it was until you find it.. like a part of my dreams only being awake.. like your face when I first turned to see you at the door."

He turned under her touch, posed like a smooth plastic doll with a hush of a whisker shadow lining his chin and lip. Nearly black curls threatened her hand as they snaked over his collar's edge. "What is it you see, Jaime? When you're not dreaming?"

She ran her finger over the speckle of whiskers above his lip and shook her head slightly. "Sometimes I don't know if I'm dreaming.. or if I'm awake.. maybe I'm awake and dreaming. Sometimes I think I hear the shadows whispering or see them moving.. and I see the world in pain.. so much suffering and it's not the good kind.. not the sting of something sharp against your skin that makes you tingle... mmmm.." She closed her eyes, sighing and caught somewhere between depsair and pure delight.

[Lovely]

"The way you talk, I'm certain I'm dreaming... everything I do dream," he muttered softly, tugging away from her touch as she sighed. His ensnaring tendrils had pulled too much information and the sensation left him reeling happily but precariously close to pinning her to the wall and indulging what else he'd dreamed in those few moments. "I'm all for tingling," he agreed, his eyebrow arched and the grin thin and wicked. "But since you're expecting the little one to return soon... I'll agree with mmmm and help you pack, yeah?"

Her laugh was that of a naughty girl who was thinking of doing wicked things, her eyes lit up with sparkles at such thoughts and she chased after him as he pulled away from her touch, reaching for him and sighing again as she breathed in. His scent filled her nostrils and she felt her mouth water. "Mmm mmm mmmmmm... I know what you want.." Her voice held a teasing sing song quality. "I can smell it... taste it... I like it." Her head tilted just so and her finger now ran over her own lip as she looked at him, meeting his wicked grin with a devilish one of her own. "..and what would you like to help me.. pack.. first?"

He chuckled. "You just said you knew that answer, yeah? Since I seem to have it written all over me... the only thing on me missing .. is you." He grabbed at her hand locking his thumb around hers and kissing her wrist, nipping it gently.

"Ohhh.. goody!" She purred her delight as he nipped her wrist and her hand held tightly to his as she yanked to bring herself up against him, attempting to tumble him to the couch.

He laughed outright now as she tugged him like he had on her innermost thoughts for them to come forward, though they weren't expressed in words nearly as well as her actions. "Yes I'm convinced you are."

"Convinced I'm what?" She asked as she dove to his mouth to kiss him and started to tug his clothing out of the way so she could get her hands on him. She wanted to spend hours, days.. maybe weeks exploring and enjoying him but for now she'd be happy with fast and furious. Her fingers raked over his skin, marking him with slight red welts like he was her territory.

"A goody, a treat meant for savoring...," he started, cut off by her pouty kiss and exploring claws. Awoken into the familiar dream, this time it clawed back and welted his skin in ways the imaginary chills had never reached. Rational thought poured away with the kiss as she drove him to respond in kind, reaching to push away seams and barriers.

"Mmmm.." She replied that she thought the same of him by pushing her tongue into his mouth and raking her fingers into his hair to grip and tug his head back, making him strain a little to reach her teasing tongue as she flicked it against his. The clothes were pulled off or pushed aside so the could reach each other.

This woman he knew nothing about except the handful of hair she clenched that thrilled him further with the forced resistence and the fact he'd stared into her sea colored eyes so many nights although alone. The voice in the dreams had told him enough to know he should trust her and he implicitly agreed with every freely offered motion of hand and hip and lip and turn against her form that melted over his on this strange sofa in this strange place.

[Lovely]

She closed her eyes and she saw his face in the shadows as she had so many times in her dreams. Was this just another fantasy that would melt away to an abrupt sound that would rip her from this perfection? She opened her eyes to stare down into his, she knew nothing about him yet she felt as if he was what she'd been waiting to find for so long.. the half of her that was missing.

"Please," he sighed out as she tugged him close to the inescapable bliss that had been haunting him just out of reach for all these weeks now. "Make it real," he pleaded, reaching to plant the tips of her nails over the marks on his chest.

There was a small whimper as she realized he might have been going through exactly the same bittersweet agony and longing and dreams that she had been.. was it possible they'd really been in each others' dreams? 'Please.. Make it real' the words were echoing in her head as she arched and cried out.. it was the most incredible sensation, moment.. it was amazing to finally physically feel him. Her fingers had dug into his chest and she realized it as she swept her hand over him and felt the slight dampness of where she'd broken the skin. She laughed in delight.. "It's real.. it's real.." She panted, leaning down to kiss him deeply.

One hand pressed down into the cushions and the other slipped behind her neck, grasping her like she had to him only to hold her kiss against his as tightly as the rest. It was more than real and his mind whirled, the tendrils of will power snapping out and clinging to anything they could entwine, her desire, her shock, her pain, her strength and aggression or her gentleness to have him turn this show in his hands and drive her to madness of delight.

Feeling him like this was madness in itself, her emotions and desires awhirl, she wanted everything. She wanted to tear and pound and yet wanted tenderness from him that she'd never wanted or allowed herself with anyone else. She wanted to own and be owned, take and be taken, dominate and be dominated... as long as it was him it didn't matter if it was wild or violent or gentle and sweet. There was a connection that had nothing to do with his tendrils though he'd probably glean enough from her to keep him sailing nicely on her frenzy. She felt overwhelmed and near tears to have found him and yet victorious to claim him, wanting him to claim her as he seemed to be doing in return.

Savoring and enjoying wasn't in his foremost thoughts. Conquering the recurring visions and saiting the unquenched thirst was.

It was like he was in her head plucking out just what she really wanted. It was sometime in this desire driven frenzy that she looked up to see her sister walking in and the subsequent look of shock as Lily saw the two of them. Jaime growled at her sister, staring her down and running her hands possessively over Tripp - clearly stating he was hers in case her sister had any doubt.

He turned to see the sister arrive and offered her a smile and a chilling glance before returning his concentration to the clawed fingers drawing their ownership over his designs. There was no pause, no moment of shame or embarrassment as he continued, perhaps more eagerly now for having a witness to ensure this was no dream now. "Mmm... hello lovely... please do."

Lily stood there in shock for only a few moments, unable to look away at first. It was long enough for Jaime to make her point and for Lily to shiver from the glance and smile of Jaime's 'date'. Lily finally found the ability to move her legs and turned from the scene, she almost went right back out the door but not knowing who the man was and this being her house for a few more hours.. she stayed and hid away in the small kitchen trying very hard not to hear the noises from the other room. "I so need a boyfriend."

Jaime didn't need to be told twice, her sister retreated and she'd clearly stated Tripp was hers.. his words turned her gaze to him and she smiled just before pressing her mouth against his.

[Lovely]

In the whispers tickling through her innermost everything she might have even heard his voice layering over the waves between them... ~Such a good kitten you are... Tripp's Kitten indeed~

Her delightful surprise poured into him as she heard his whisper in her mind. ~Tripp's kitten... ~ She murmured back, not sure if he could hear her or if she only imagined hearing him. "Yes... yes.. ohhhh yesss.." She hissed against his mouth, curling her fingers into his hair.

He chuckled out loud at her delight and his own, reeling back and raising her up higher as he stretched beneath her. She'd heard him and hadn't pushed him away.

She clung to him, insistant yet gentle, much like a kitten who'd been tumbled roughly and playfully and was feeling ferocious yet loving at the same time. She giggled softly, those sea colored eyes of hers, staring down at him in wonder as he stretched and she shifted and slid to stay perfectly fitted against him, raised up as if in triumph for a moment and then blanketing herself over him.

"I'm keeping you, pet," he sighed, wrapping around her as she stretched out over him. ~Every inch, body, soul and dream... miiiiine~ he cooed out into her thoughts as he sought another kiss and slowly let her relax from their shared moment.

She sighed, it was a strangely sweet sound for her to make after displaying such boldness in tackling and claiming him.. as it seemed he'd claimed back. Her purr started out softly as she nuzzled against his chest and up over his shoulder to his neck, her breath warm and soft against his skin while her nails traced tiny prickles over torso. "I'm keeping you back.."

"Then you'll let me help you pack and go with you where you're going, yeah? Though... I think we were headed perhaps to the same destination," he murmured, trying to glean more from her thoughts though he only sensed truths and shadows, nothing specific to hone in on except that resonnance.

She closed her eyes, a sleeping purring kitten laying warmly on his chest. Jaime smiled and nodded a little. "Mmmhmmm.." She had no intention of letting him get away, it was too incredible to have found him like this. She wouldn't risk losing him by going off without him when he wanted to go with her. "Did you dream about the big house in the woods?" She asked in a whisper.

Lily was in the kitchen, the sounds of her rustling as she packed up the last few things they were taking from in there. The girls didn't have alot of stuff, one box in each room collected their belongings, five in total and each with a suitcase. Lily paused and listened, finding the sounds from her sister and the stranger had faded to quiet murmurs and she wondered if it was 'safe' to venture out there yet.

"A tremendous, private house... and very dark... woods," he purred back, wishing to be there now. "Should you introduce me to your sister now or let her continue to hide?"

"I'm not hiding.. I was trying to be decent.." Lily's slightly clipped voice came from the doorway where she hesitated, trying not to be rude or see more than she already had, but also trying to find if they were finished and who the man was.

"That's the place.." Jaime peeked up over the couch at her sister, giggling softly as she settled back down on Tripp's chest. "She's not hiding." Jaime was more amused and in a far better mood than her sister, and for good reason. "Tripp...that's Lily." Jaime pointed up over the couch to her sister and then waved her hand back down toward the man she was comfortably laying over. "Lily.. this is Tripp. I'm keeping him.. and he's going with us."

[Lovely]

"Mm... coming with you," he corrected quietly to Jaime with a treacherously oily growl of desire for more of her. "You'll excuse me if I don't get up for you," he snarled playfully at the sister.

"With me.. not us.." Jaime corrected him and licked his lips lightly, she smiled a bit but the statement was clear, she wasn't sharing him with her sister... or anyone, though she wasn't against them rending someone else together.. they could discuss that idea later.

Lily folded her arms, the mirror image of Jaime though for as tough as her sister was, she was sweet. They had many common traits but Jaime tended to be more of an aggressive person and very territorial. "Oh.. it's alright.. in fact I insist you don't."

"You insist?" He chuckled and leaned his head back, disbelieving the spite in the little thing. "Well then if she insists, whatever shall I do with you here now, yeah?" ~Besides put on another show just for her?~ He flipped from spoken words to thoughts so quickly he almost made himself dizzy and reached up to bring Jaime down closer to him again.

"I know it might be a surprise to you.. but I'm okay with not seeing anymore than I already did.. of you.. and if you could control yourself, I'd really appreciate if you don't do anything else with my sister.. right there.. Thanks.." Lily wouldn't put it past her sister and some guy she didn't know, to put on more of a show just to make her feel uncomfortable. Jaime had weird mood swings like that sometimes.

Jaime settled more firmly against him with a smile and a small chuckle at both his spoken words and his shared thoughts. ~Awww she doesn't want to watch.. ~

He offered a little tug on Jaime's willpower as a sample of how he could and might give them a captive audience. He winked and let go just as quickly, like a whiff of a craving, a sense of curiosity passed through her to indulge. ~Should I have her pull up a chair while I toss us around the room for another hour or two, lovely?~

"No." She said it out loud and her playfulness faded immediately, the sample he gave was enough to make Jaime start to push away from him, feeling uncomfortable suddenly. Her desire and her tastes were one thing.. and they were something she wasn't going to share with her twin, his suggestion might have been a joke but the strange feeling she got from it didn't set right with her.

"Pity," he whispered, letting her push and crawl away if she truly wanted that. "But, as you said, not here, sooo... I suppose I should either find another place to be, or make myself useful here, yeah?"

Jaime glared at him, did he really want to put on a show for her sister that badly? If it wasn't Lily she probably would do it, but it was something that just wasn't going to happen when it came to her sister. It was part protectiveness of Lily, part jealousy, part competition and a slice of insecurity all rolled together to make it completely insulting, hurtful and in no way amusing. She moved away, fussing at her clothes and hair, trying to rid herself of the sudden unpleasant fury.

[Lovely]

"I vote for somewhere else." Lily murmured under her breath and glared at him for whatever it was that seemed to have upset her sister. It didn't matter if she knew what it was or if he'd even done it.. "What do you suppose might be useful here?"

Jaime pulled at her clothes and seemed to be done with him, though hopefully not for long. She'd sparked an interest and an appetite in him that wasn't going to be saited easily or quickly. He less-than modestly slipped back into his jeans to allow him to face both girls without sparking a war, he hoped. Regarding Lily now that he was less exposed, he stood to face her. "I offered to help you pack. If there's nothing to pack, then I'll help you clean... though I have every reason to believe it's in your sister's nature to be meticulously clean, sooo... I offer a means to get you where you're meaning to go next."

"We don't have much to pack.. we're sort of.. lacking in the possessions area. I suppose it's all good since if we had alot we wouldn't be able to take it anyway." Lily explained in a matter of fact manner, she was being honest not rude. "We have a car.. I feel like I've missed alot while I was gone." Her head shook a little as she looked between Tripp and the form of her sister who disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door, to get cleaned up, she assumed.

"Not missed enough, little one. Had you, I wouldn't have insulted you, would I have?" His gaze was firey and direct but the rest of his expression was calm and kind. He grinned gently this time. "Where we're going, we won't need much of what we're leaving behind. I intend not to leave your sister behind in any fashion. Not now, not ever. I suppose that leaves me asking at least for your understanding, if not your acceptance. You don't know me and that's fair. She knows me better than what you saw, better than anyone including my brother. Which brings to mind - is your phone still live? I need to make a call."

"Who are you?" She asked in a whisper sort of awed and perhaps slightly impressed by him, he wasn't quite her cup of tea but he had a way about him that sort of made you want to lean in and listen. The way he spoke of Jaime as if.. well as if she was a great deal more to him than a romp on their couch. "Ah.. yeah.. the phone is still on, they couldn't schedule the shut off till after we'd planned to be gone so.. go ahead. Help yourself." She wasn't sure she understood anything more than she had a moment before.. well perhaps she did, she believed him when he spoke of his intent toward her sister. Odd that she'd find herself trusting him like that when she didn't know him.

He chuckled again. "Tripp... should say it all, yeah? Or Patrick, I suppose, if that makes you feel better, Lily. I'm not horrible... for at least a few hours a day. The rest I can't well guarantee, but I'll be sure not to get between you sisters then. My brother has a truck," he said, flipping the topic as quickly as he'd flipped Jaime.

"Right.. look Patrick, I'm not trying to be a pain.. but this is.. very strange. How did it get from my sister and I going where we're going.. alone, to you .. and your brother now, coming with us? I'm just sort of confused as to how this all came about while I was at the store." She licked her lips and glanced toward the bathroom where she could hear her sister rustling around, knowing Jaime she was probably trying not to have a fit over whatever had upset her and having one anyway. "Umm so you're just going to call your brother and he'll just show up with his truck for two girls he's never met, just like that?"

[Lovely]

His scrawled and dotted arms folded over his mostly bare chest as he nodded and leaned against the side of the couch. "Oh, he'll definitely do what I ask. It's just a matter of the aftermath when he realizes what I've gotten him into. Once he meets you, though, I'm more than certain he'll have few regrets."

"Ohhh.. goody.. I'm not entirely sure I understand what that means and I don't think I should be very comforted by it. Can I ask why you're doing this? I don't think I've ever seen you around here before and it's not like my sister to let a strange man into our home and.. attack him like that. I mean she's not shy or anything.. just very picky."

"Strange perhaps, but not entirely a stranger," he assured her with the same firey glance as before. His arms unfolded again and he rested his hands on the cushions. "I suppose you might say she's kept me up all night... several nights... for some time now. I'm not sure I could explain without you hating me worse, yeah? Maybe later, I'll try, but for now I'll say we've become very close."

"That's... creepy." Lily chuckled softly and nodded her head, her teeth played gently with her lower lip and she simply stood there regarding him for several silent moments. Finally she moved a few feet and picked up the cordless phone and walked over to hand it to him. "Here. Go ahead and make your call.. I'm going to go make sure she didn't fall in or something." That was Lily's way of saying she accepted his explaination for now and was going to check on what her sister was fussing about.

"Creepy in what way? That my brother's led around easily by his pr... mmm... " He chuckled, pausing and keeping that thought to himself as he took the phone. Lead him to a pretty, single girl and she'd find out for herself what his brother's 'prime motivation' was. "Nose. Thank you."

"No, the part about you and my sister.. You're welcome." She gave a slight tilting nod of her head, wincing slightly as an image flashed in her mind unexpectedly. It wasn't painful but was surprising, Lily smiled softly at Patrick, looking at him oddly for a moment and then turned to head into the bathroom to have a little sister to sister - heart to heart with Jaime.

"I didn't even pinch you," he muttered after her as she winced and stalked off to check on the blonde fury she called a sister. He took the phone in hand and dialed. His own expression took a turn as he reached voice mail. "Eugene, you're expected. Get the truck, get your ass in it and get back to me for directions. I told you once, it's time and you're going. I don't know the number, use that thing you call a brain and check the ID... I'm here until you show up. I'll find something to amuse myself with until then. Call." He nearly slammed the phone but it wasn't his own to do that. He looked over toward the bath to see what was going on with the girls.

Lily and Jaime were in the bathroom amid whispers and finally some giggles as Jaime's sour mood melted away as she filled her sister in on how enamoured she was with the dark man who didn't seem to have any intention of letting them go off on their adventure alone. Lily gave into her sister's pout and reluctantly agreed not to fight the idea and allow this man into their lives. In truth she was delighted to see Jaime so happy, and yes a tad jealous that she had yet to find someone who lit her up inside in such a way. She stayed behind Jaime's shoulder as the other girl opened the door to lead the way out.

[Lovely]

Jaime was over her anger, though it was not forgotten, there would be no playing with her sister, it was just something she couldn't handle. If Tripp insisted on it, there would most certainly be trouble, but for now she was back to a less harsh expression and her face was brightened by her smile and the light in her eyes. Lily had agreed, though somewhat begrudgingly, to welcome Tripp along for their journey. She opened the bathroom door, looking much like she had when Tripp had found her, though with more of a happy glow.

"Ah, hello lovely," he said, glad to see her emerge without bloodshed and flying fur. His voice was softened and quiet with a pleased tone that carried across the room on more than just the air, partly in his thoughts as well, though only as a distant echo. The phone was set aside and he approached the woman, fully aware Lily was closely behind and watching them.

"Hello.." She smiled, purring softly as she slid up against him, her arms wrapping so she could curl around him in an adoring embrace. "Mmmm.. are you going to make a move on my sister?" She asked him very directly and without any sugar coating on it at all, yet she didn't seem angry. She wasn't angry but curious, his answer would decide whether she'd be angry or amused.

"Jaime!" Lily exclaimed from behind them, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushing slightly with embarassment. She only told her sister about the vision because she didn't want any sort of misunderstanding between them and to let her be aware that perhaps Tripp was not as devoted to her as he had seemed.

He hummed with delight as she curled around him and possibly moreso that she accused him in her fashion. His own fingers sought hold on Jaime's curves in as direct an answer as her question had been. "Like this?" He chuckled slightly as his hands stroked over her, brushing her 'fur' exactly the right way to make her purr if she were in the mood to. His head shook and his gaze locked onto hers. "No. You, however, any and every move possible."

"mmm.." Jaime smiled, shifting against his stroking and keeping her face turned up so eyes stayed locked with his. Her fingers flexed and then curled to grip him more tightly. "See Lily.. told you not to worry.. your vision was wrong. Or maybe it was really me and you were confused?" She spoke to her sister but never turned her attention from Tripp.

If her cheeks got any hotter or redder, her face was going to explode. Lily gave a soft defeated whimper of embarassment and looked to the ceiling. "Good.. I didn't want it to be right.. definitely didn't want any of that." Maybe not with her sister's boyfriend but damn did she want what was happening in the vision to happen with someone. She sighed and turned away from the pair who were starting to once again show more affection to each other than she wanted to witness.

"Visions? Ah, it becomes more clear, yeah? Or will soon enough," he grinned, thinking he knew what it was she may well have seen. The phone rang a moment later and his eyes rolled. "I rest my case."

Jaime of course made no move for the phone and stayed right where she was, amused although she still had much to discover herself about Tripp. For the moment she was completely happy to nibble on his shoulder.

Lily actually jumped a little when the phone rang, she was somewhere between embarrassed, frustrated, and confused by Tripp's statement. The phone was a good distraction and she shifted to pick it up from where Tripp had set it down. "Hello." Her naturally sweet voice greeted the caller.

[Lovely]

"Hardly a surprise, of course it's a girl," the voice muttered at first. The roll and tone was every bit like Tripp's but warmer and on the other end of the phone in some other place. "Hello, I'm returning a call... who is this?"

"Eugene," Tripp whispered for Jaime's benefit. "My twin.."

Jaime's eyes lit up as he mentioned the brother was a twin, that explained the vision and his comments. She smiled and turned to reward him with a kiss that nipped hungrily at his mouth.

"That's.. so reassuring. So this must be the brother of the strange man in my livingroom.. tell me should I be concerned that 'of course I'm a girl'? Cause you know I'm only agreeing to this whole thing to make my sister happy.. she seems rather.. attached to him already." While her voice was sweet the sarcasm and perhaps a touch of annoyance wasn't hidden in her tone.

Tripp pushed gently toward a spot other than in direct earshot for the moment, wanting to distract Jaime for the few minutes the conversation might keep her sister at ease without watching them. The nibble on his shoulder followed by the kiss was about have him tumbling her back to the couch. "Can I see you in the bath a moment, pet?" He suggested the room she'd hidden in once already.

"Reassuring? So he is there. I'm sorry for that, I think. He wanted me to call for directions there to get him or follow him. Since he didn't answer... hello again. What's your name?" The tone changed warmer still as if she might hear the man on the other end cuddling her close to hear her every whisper.

"You can see me in the bath for an hour if you like." Jaime murmured as she was easily pushed in that direction, excited by the prospect enough to nearly drag him into the other room herself.

The tone of the man on the other end changed and Lily felt herself soften some, it was like talking to someone she knew well, snuggled close and.. these brothers were having a very strange effect on her and her sister. "Lilian.." She realized she used her full name which she very rarely did. "Erh.. Lily.. I'm Lily.. ahh what's your name?" She felt herself blush again though not as deeply as before.

Tripp smiled against more kisses as he was halfway pulled into the room beyond the door, helping Jaime with her clothes again and helping her to a perfect spot on the counter.

"Gene." The voice now had a name and a kinder demeanor as he was given her name. "Lily... a sweet flower. You sound like one. That's nice. Would you like to tell me how to find you, Lily?"

She glanced toward where Tripp and Jaime had been and saw his legs as they ducked into the bathroom. She sighed and once again looked to the ceiling as if it held some sort of guidance for her. "I'm usually sweet.. when I'm not terribly.. overwhelmed." He had a nice voice, much like Tripp's but warmer, kinder. "I'll tell you how to get here, but only if you promise you won't .. irk me as much as your brother does." She laughed and then just gave him the address and some basic landmarks and directions, even if he turned out to be annoying at least he could distract her while the other two entertained each other.

Tripp helped her with her clothes and Jaime was all too happy to help him with his, she was very glad he hadn't put his shirt back on. Her mouth and hands glided over him, nibbling between his lips and anywhere she could reach as he positioned her just so on the counter.

[Lovely]

"He has that effect on people. I promise I can't possibly irk anyone nearly as well as Patrick. For whatever reason he's possessed with this thought of leaving his life behind in search of some Nirvana he's only dreamt of is what irks me. That and that he's dragging me along, so I'll commisserate with you." Gene sighed. He was letting him and some part of him believed in it though his dreams had been more shallow and forgettable and only seemed to happen after Pat's first mention of anything. "My own fault, I think, but I'll survive. Stay sweet, Lily and I'll meet you in person, soon."

In the shelter of the closed and tiled room, sounds of further and repeated 'introduction' echoed out. Tripp let her play over his skin with her claws as she wished, or teeth or anything in reach that caused welts and red rivulets to add to the maps and lines drawn over his torso.

"He dreamed.." Lily's voice was a soft gasp and Gene's start of a farwell was nearly lost in her shock as she realized now what Patrick's earlier words meant to some degree. "He's already going to the same place we are?" She wasn't sure if she was talking to anyone other than herself as she glanced over her shoulder toward the noises coming from the bathroom.

Jaime didn't hold back in making her delight known in some quite vocal moments and others were quietly shared between herself and her oh so dark prince. He seemed to enjoy it more the rougher it got and her nails dug more harshly into him, leaving marks and breaking the skin here and there in response to each pleasure he gave to her.

"Beg pardon?" Gene paused when Lily said something other than goodbyes. "You're going somewhere? I should get him off your hands, then, so you're not late. He's perpetual with bending rules about appointments."

He began to return some of the marks, a small puncture here or bite there, scrapping back with this glorious cat creature that was making him purr and explode with delight for having found her not only to be willing but also not so fragile that she couldn't withstand his sort of play. "Tripp's kitten, you are, yeah?" He chuckled over her skin, tasting the rusty drops that had found their way to her shoulder and the nape of her neck from their play.

"I think it's more of an open invitation than an appointment.." Lily sounded somewhat distant as her thoughts were churning in her own mind and she now had more questions than before on one hand and on the other more answers. "This was crazy to begin with but now it's getting even.. stranger. You weren't dreaming about this place too.. were you Gene?"

"Mmmhmmm..." Jaime purred softly, turning it to a growl as she nipped at his shoulder. He's said that before.. Tripp's kitten, she liked the way he sounded when he uttered those words, as if affectionate, adoring, as if she truly belonged with him.. to him. It was the strangest and most thrilling sensation at once, nevermind what he was doing to her physically at the moment.

"I don't know. Could be. I don't remember my dreams well," he confided to her, though he sounded as though he remembered them enough to say so. His voice snuggled again, reaching for her. "I prefer to live my dreams while I'm awake. Far more exciting, even if I don't know what happens next. I suppose that's really why I'm going with him. You seem to know something about it, I think. The dreams, I mean. Since you asked... I only remember a little. What about you Lily? What do you dream?"

[Lovely]

"Some dreams are nice like when you dream of a tender kiss.." She sighed softly. "I dream about things that are going to happen... About a place set back in the woods.. the people there won't hate us or be scared of us for what we are.. they won't be frightened when I dream while I'm awake.. though sometimes the things I see.." She trailed off, realizing she'd been telling him and not even trying hide it. ".. I.. I'm sorry.. I don't know where that came from.. I .. I should go." Her tone changed to a nervous and worried one, like she'd done something terribly wrong.

"Lily... don't go. I understand. Don't be frightened, alright? I... well perhaps meeting you, you'll understand. As much as I loathe him, Patrick and I are much alike ... in many ways.. brothers, you know? He's told you where he's going... those woods. I've seen them too. I just don't remember much else." Gene sighed again and could sense her reluctance and wished she could feel his reassurance. "Look, I'll drive while we talk. It's not far, alright? Just... please don't go."

The sounds were turning quieter in some ways for the moment as Patrick's thought spun and wove their webs of suggestions. He had little to do with bending her desires with anything more than physical attention and adoration. His mental toys stayed packed away, but he still wanted to play and play well. She was far too inspiring to end their game too quickly. "Wonder, pet... might you be thirsty?"

Lily's hand flexed around the phone as she listened to his voice and her eyes darted around the room as if she expected someone to jump out and attack her at any moment just for telling him that little bit. It was the tone of his voice and the soft sound of his sigh that kept her from hanging up and sat her back down in her chair rather than rising. "I.. I'm here.. I'm not hanging up."

Her giggle was quite a sweet and playful sound as Jaime's tongue made a damp trail over his skin and up his neck, she nibbled at his ear, tugging it harder than most would in teasing. "Mmm I might be.. " She nudged him to move back away from the counter so she could slide off.

The sounds of a heavy vehicle door rattled through the phone followed by its roaring engine as the thing started. It quieted quickly and his voice returned to help keep the girl calm on the other end. "Lily, are you still there? Can you hear me? It's safer me talking to you from here anyway. Tripp... he calls himself Tripp... Patrick I mean, what else did he tell you about himself... us... anything about me?"

Patrick was clearly pleased and he moved back, but preferred her pushing to force him and insist that she take her drink. He nodded after a moment and rested himself back, prone for her exploration and quenching of their mutual desire.

"He didn't say much to me at all.. I believe he's more interesting in.. having my sister's full attention." Lily explained as best she could without being graphic or lewd about it. She wasn't sure what he meant by it being safer for him to talk to her from there but she wasn't sure how to word a question about that. "He just said you were his brother and that you had a truck and you'd show up.. it was a very brief conversation."

"How very like him to be short on words when there's so much to make clear. Are you packed then? He doesn't stand on ceremony much.. if you have anything fragile anyway, expect it to be broken." Gene said, unaware that he might be referring to the sister in some fashion. "I remember vaguely about a few other things, I think. You're a blonde girl... green eyes if I'm not mistaken?"

[Lovely]

"We didn't have much to pack and it's mostly done already.. would be all done but he interupted and he's keeping my sister.. quite busy at the moment." She sighed and glared at the bathroom door even though things had grown quieter beyond it. "How do you know what I look like?" She asked, turning her focus back to the man on the phone, she wondered if his brother had described her in the message he'd left.

He laughed a little. "I remember the important parts of my dreams, not ... woods and dark old barns or wherever it is we're going. There's a beautiful girl I keep seeing and I chanced to guess. Interesting that it might be you, I think... she's an absolute princess of a girl," he said, still smiling, now hoping it might be true.

He made her laugh softly with how he explained why he knew her and didn't remember the rest. "I see.." His next words made her grow quiet for a moment and she blushed softly. "That's sweet... but I don't have a crown.. maybe I'm more like Cinderella."

"Or sleeping beauty, mayhaps, but I'll need to wait and see for myself. We are speaking about silly dreams after all. Silly ... as far as cropping up at entirely an odd time with all these weird clues to some mysterious puzzle that has us all uprooting and crossing paths.. in a dark wood," he chuckled again. "It's fantastic is what it is."

"Perhaps I'll think it's fantastic after meeting you face to face.. I'm not as convinced by or as enamoured with your brother as my sister seems to be... no offense to you of course.. or even to him.. I'm just not in the habit of trusting strange men I find in my livingroom." She shook her head, still shocked by everything that was unfolding on this strange evening. "In my dreams sometimes I find myself walking down this path.. it's all overgrown and I'm all alone.. but I keep feeling like someone else is there, I hear footsteps and someone calling softly to me.. so I turn.. but I never get to see who it is.. and when I wake up I feel so terribly lonely."

"What does it feel like... smell like... in the woods? Is it warm? Do you feel safe there?" His reason for asking would be clear soon, but not something he could explain at a distance.

"I'm not sure I can describe it properly, it's so.. it's wonderful really. Warm yes.. almost like being snuggled in your favorite blanket, close to someone who loves you.. definitely safe.. I've never felt anything like it.." She paused in her soft but excited description. ".. I've even cried several times after waking up back here.. it was like losing the most amazing thing I'd ever felt. Here felt so cold, so harsh.. so lonely.. That probably sounds dumb.. I need to stop just blurting things out to you, you're going to think I'm crazy before you even get here."

Again he laughed. "No. No, I promise I won't, anymore than you'll think I'm mad for calling you the girl of my dreams. It's not crazy. I may even be able to show you why if you want for me to. I'm only a block away."

"I think it's only fair that you show me since I've told you all this about me.." Why was she so excited to know he was only a block away? Less than that now, he was driving and every moment brought him closer and she grew more eager to meet him face to face. Lily found herself smiling, almost giggling in her anticipation.. this was certainly an odd turn. He'd called her the girl of his dreams and she was delighted by that without even meeting him and for a moment she thought she might understand how her sister had been feeling with Gene's brother.. had Tripp had this same kind of effect on Jaime?

[Lovely]

"Fair? It's the princess that's fair," he countered, finding his smile wider than it had been in some time. The phone rustled as he looked around for their building, then seeing Tripp's so-called sport coupe, he relaxed and sighed again. "Looks like I've found you. Hope you're not disappointed."

Was this guy for real? Who talked like that.. so sweet to a girl he didn't know? Damn it was working or doing something at least as she felt the soft smile still on her face. "Really?" Lily started to get up from her chair to head for the door. "You're.. here? Should I.. wow.. do you want me to come outside?"

Gene laughed. "Only if you promise not to run away! It's alright, really. Unless you're trying to escape dealing with Patrick, then by all means...," he suggested, pulling the truck up behind the low black slug his brother drove.

"No.. not to run away." She was chuckling and heading to the door anyway. "I meant to meet you and so you'd know which door was ours and all.. and a few minutes of fresh air.. or rather away from those two.." She came out onto the small porch a few yards up from where Patrick had parked when following Jaime there.

The truck was an unimpressively unmuddied 4-wheeling off-road king cab behemoth that looked like it might devour Tripp's car once their backs were turned. The roaring purr of the oversized engine added to the stark contrast even more as a dark headed man slipped out of the driver's side and seemed to nearly disappear. "Then come meet me," he invited, not yet closing the cab door, fishing for something behind his seat as he continued the call from only those few yards away.

The movement caught her eye and then her gaze stayed on the large truck that was parked a short way up the walk. "Wow.. I guess you do have a truck." She chuckled again and slowly moved off the porch and toward the vehicle. "Okay I'm on the sidewalk.. but if this ends up being the wrong guy and the wrong truck.. I might run away."

"And if he's the right guy? What might you do then, I wonder? Wait there, I'll come around. Stranger and his vehicle.. I'm sure your mother taught you about taking candy, I think....," he teased further, finally dislodging the pack he zipped up to throw over a shoulder and close the door. He turned, stunned into silence as he closed the phone and walked up to her slowly, smiling shyly now. "But if the candy's freely given, what then, I wonder," he muttered out, hardly noticing the pack didn't stay on his shoulder as it fell and jerked his arm slightly with its weight. "You're real.."

Lily couldn't take another step even if he hadn't told her to wait, she was awed as he came around toward her. So much so that she nearly dropped the phone and barely caught it as she stared at him. "It's you.." She whispered, her cheeks warming as the vision from earlier flashed through her mind again. "It wasn't him... it.. it was you.." Her voice was hushed in disbelief, awe, relief and she stared at him in wonder. "You and.. " She somewhat gestured toward Gene and then over her shoulder at the apartment she'd come from, her head shaking a little. She blinked, seeming to finally hear the last thing he'd said and noticing how he looked at her as well. "I.. I'm real."

"I'm staring, I'm sorry," he chuckled, pulling the gaze away to look anywhere else, though he didn't really want to. "I did warn you... the likeness. Sort of inescapable, being his twin, but I wanted you think I was different. Like I said.. hope you're not disappointed... are you?"

[Lovely]

"I.. no.. Oh goodness no.. You're very handsome.. far better looking than he is.. I wasn't expecting a twin. Brother.. he just said brother.. " She stammered softly through her explanation, unable to take her eyes off him even though he looked away.

He looked back up to her with large puppy-like eyes beneath a brow that kindly furrowed with his smile. "And I've put you on the spot. I'm horrible," he chuckled. He couldn't look away again, setting his pack down on the ground and reaching out for her. "Fair, and very sweet. May I?" He offered her a gentle hug to prove to each other they were each as real as they could ever hope.

She shook her head to his first comment. "You're not horrible.." She murmured and found herself stepping toward him as he offered the hug, her smile sweetened with the secret thrill she felt for realizing her vision had been about him and not his brother. Lily glided gently into his embrace, sliding her arms around him to return it, as she did she took in a deep breath. Her gasp was soft and her eyes widened. "Oh my... that's.. it was.. you?"

"Explanation granted," he said with a wink, looking down into the emeralds that seemed to draw him in closer and glow more each moment he stood near. "I'm not like him. I can't spin my dreams or my thoughts, but feelings and desires..? I always see you in those woods and you're alone there. I want to cry out and warn you for danger and keep you safe... warm... But you're not exactly alone now are you?"

She held onto him a little tighter and leaned up toward him, drawn by his words and his deep brown eyes which gazed into hers. "No.. I'm not alone now.." She was still beyond awed by all of this but in a most delightful way. She felt safe in his embrace, more than she could ever remember feeling. "I can't believe it's you.. that you're really here.."

"I am. And we've left them alone in there," he reminded her, glancing back to the porch where she'd emerged. A murmur of concern rippled through his expression. "And we really shouldn't stay out here like this."

"They were alone.. been in the bathroom since you first called." She rolled her eyes and sighed but did agree that they shouldn't stay out there in the open. "But on the other hand.. if we go inside.. we can be alone.. sort of." She smiled up at him, pulling back enough that they could walk and trailing her hand down to clasp with his.

He reached down to grab the pack and with his other hand clasp tightly to the one she offered. "Sort of... is almost reassuring, I think. I very much like it better than you being alone... sort of... in a dark, dreamy wood where I can't do this," he said, suddenly stopping, intending fully to have her tumble back into his embrace.

She wasn't expecting him to stop and her arm jerked when she was no longer moving, it spun her lightly and she came around to face him again. Her expression one of sweet surprise as she easily fell into his embrace again. "I definitely like this much better."

Beyond the warmth and safety he seemed to exude, there was something else of a certain spice or sweetness, a nearly undetectable something that swirled through the air around him designed to distract and dizzy her with the same sort of giddiness that was welling within him... She didn't hate him and didn't seem to care for his brother at all, both putting her in such favor that he didn't think twice about stumbling her further with a stolen kiss.

[Lovely]

The phone dropped this time, thankfully bouncing harmlessly into the thin patch of yard between the walk and the building. He didn't need the aide of his 'something' to sweep her into the kiss, she was already more than willing to meet his mouth. The 'something' only added to the euphoric feeling and earned him a soft 'mmm' as she kissed him more firmly.

Out here on the step wasn't safe to stay but he lingered a moment longer in the taste of her kiss before letting go to gather her phone for her, and maybe her as well. "I told you, I'm horrible," he teased, laughing quietly, thoroughly enamoured of her and radiating every ounce of that adoration into the space between them. "Makes wonder what I might make you drop next, hm?"

"Who says you have to make me anything.. sort of like that taking candy idea.. what's freely given.." She left it at that, murmured softly in his ear before she slipped away to lead him into her small and humble home.

Gene sighed again happily and she could hear it without the garble of the phone how delighted he truly was to be able to reach her and wrap around her. "Is not for the neighbors to see... but I'd like to. Very much," he confided, nibbling at the inside of his own lip a moment. There was a distant darkness in him similar to Tripp, but far deeper than his brother - a darkness that sharpened his smile and his tone at times as the essences in the air around him changed moment to moment.

She led him into the apartment, giving him a smile that told him if he didn't want the neighbors to see anything else he'd better follow quickly. She was not the sharp nailed kitten her sister was but she was not without her own fiestiness and playfulness, hers just tended to be more sweet and didn't leave the same sort of marks as Jaime's did. As she glanced, she was able to glimpse the darkness that was more deeply inside of him, but yes now she could see that he did have some similar traits to Tripp but like she and her sister, they were two sides of a coin, sharing things in common but with a much different face and presentation to the world.

Gene followed and closed the screen and the solid door as well. Jaime wouldn't miss the breeze right now and the essence it carried from Gene right now wasn't needed at all for the two romping in the other room. "Private here? Or, more private still?"

Lily's eyes would tell him how much she wanted to be more private, how tempted she was to melt right back into his arms and continue what they'd begun outside. She chewed softly at her lower lip, warring with herself and surprised by her own desires and thoughts. "Here to start.. though I have this feeling more private isn't far off.." She blushed as she said it, she certainly didn't want him to think she was the sort of girl who did or would make such an invitation to a man she'd just met. She reached to take the phone from him to properly hang it up but found once she was close to him again she didn't want to move away. "Here is very nice.."

He agreed completely, waiting until the phone was hung up but hovering close and this time slowly, deliberately offering the kiss. "The fairest of them all, Princess," he laughed softly, sifting his fingers through her beautiful blonde tresses.

She would have told him to stop calling her that because it made her feel all funny inside, but she was too busy kissing him to speak. The way he ran his fingers through her hair, the way he called her Princess, like she was his princess.. it all felt so beautiful, made her feel beautiful. "Does this mean you're my prince?" She whispered, pulling away from his mouth only as far as it took to whisper to him.

[Lovely]

"I hadn't thought of that, but I suppose it does," he muttered, still tangled with her hair and playing with the strands in his fingers. "Though that's assuming there's not already a prince or white knight to carry you off away from me. I might have to take drastic measures then, I think," he grinned, trying not to scare her.

He didn't scare her, he flattered her and she smiled at him, smoothing her hands down over his chest. "Mmm it just so happens I have an opening for that in my life.. that's definitely an unfilled position. I suppose you could think of me a bit like the princess in the tower.. all alone for a long time."

His expression positively sparkled with mischief as he turned her words in his head and the grin twisted as well. "Do you?" He asked, wondering if she'd truly heard what she'd said or how she'd said it. His hands worked free from her hair and rested on hers on his chest, pushing them lower as he questionned further. "Would you like to consider that position... well filled?"

The smile turned shy for just a moment, she truly was a sweet girl as he'd noted in their conversation without knowing her in person. He gently pushed her hands lower and she took a slightly deeper breath in as she felt his lean muscle beneath her fingers. "I.. " She paused and looked up into his eyes, watching them sparkle and she slowly nodded her head. "Yes.. I believe I'd like that very much."

"And here I thought it was only just a.... far away... distant... splendid.. wicked... dream," he whispered, letting her fingers wander as she wished them and turning his own to cascade like silken water over her in search of every chill he could allow her to enjoy. The air around him filled thicker with mischief, mystery, anticipation and longing as if baking a sweet and spicy dessert for her to lap up from the cup of his hand. "We'd best move from the door, I think."

Her fingers stayed where he'd gently pushed them, resting on his abdomen as she stood there lost in the moment and the sensations that trickled from him to her both where she touched him and where his fingers sought to give her chills. Her eyes fluttered and she sighed ever so softly, slowly fanning her fingers and shifting them slightly lower. She smiled, the air around them thick with his special blend and enhancing what she was already experiencing. "Where would you like to go?" She replied, her voice a whisper as she stepped closer to him, taking in another deep breath filled with the intoxicating scents. She licked her lips and then his neck, unable to resist the urge.. her hands gripped at his shirt, tugging it up a little so she could feel his skin under her fingertips.

"Anywhere I can find you, Lily," he said as if lost in their dream again, calling out to her through the dark woods, his voice caressing the air and his fingers stroking lightly with promises he intended to keep very soon. "Show me where you are," he said, coaxing her to her room, nearly dancing with her as he began to shift her hems and undo buttons as she found his.

"Here.." She told him softly with kisses along his neck and her hands sliding over his skin. He was warm and inviting and it didn't take her long to lose herself in his touch and taste. She wasn't sure how they ended up at the door to her room, but she felt it against her back and the air against her skin where he'd undone her buttons and shifted hems.. she let go of his belt, which she'd unbuckled and reached back for the door knob. She stared up at him nearly in awe as the door swung inward, her chest rising and falling with heavier breaths filled with desire.

His head shook slowly as the grin peeked out. "Show me," he insisted playfully, slipping his belt out of the way and letting it fall heavily to the floor, followed by the shirt he peeled off his shoulders. "Better already," he hummed, darting back to kiss her as if he'd been away from her for months in just those few moments.

[Lovely]

She felt warm all over but in such a pleasant way as he told her to show him, she closed the door and then her hands reached to finish what he'd started. The fabric floated away, leaving the tiny scraps of lace and satin between them as he returned to her with the kiss that had her clinging to him as if she'd been starved for him.

Impatience began to win, though he stayed calm and gentle unlike the ripping and tearing his brother excelled at. Insistent that he wanted nothing to do with anything covering her, his palms warmed her hips in place of the lace he pushed away. His thoughts spun a wicked web of imagery he longed to share with her and every delicious breath he took next to her painted his essence with deeper and denser waves... passion, intent, want.. that impatience to sink deeply into this dream-made-form and not be denied any longer.

Her hips pressed to his hands as he slid the lace from them, she was filled with a need for him like nothing she'd ever felt before. The next sigh was nearly a whimper as her own hands reached unhook the clasps that held the lace against her breasts, freeing them for him. Her hands slid over him, eager to bring him closer, to feel him, and to let him have everything he wanted. She longed for him in such a way that she felt as though she might lose her mind if he stopped touching her.

"Much, much better," he sighed now, delighted to feel her skin against his chest and his fingers. The room was small and the bed close. He backed up to it, beckoning her to follow closely as he settled down to lay back and blanket himself with her.

The motion was smooth and fluid as if they were dancing, she flowed over him like a flutter of silk and slid up to kiss him deeply. Any doubts or protests she may have had to jumping into things so quickly seemed long forgotten and had been cast away in favor of indulging in him. "Mmm.. better.." She agreed, tugging at his lips with another kiss.


Meanwhile in the bathroom....


"Mmm need to keep you away from my sister..." Jaime teased him lightly with a sparkle of mischief in her eyes.

"But I'm so charming."

"No that's your brother, you're scary."

"I nearly take exception to that."

Jaime shrugged. "Like you the way you are, so meh."

"Which, as you said, is scary, yeah? How might I give you chills then?"

"Aww hun all you have to do is look at me and I get chills." She blew him a kiss.

"Hmm... could be the cold tile in here. You sure?"

She nipped his inner thigh sharply. "If it's just the tile, I might as well find someone else to play with." She sighs and shifts away slowly, dragging her nails along the top of his thighs.

"And leave your sister here alone with me and my brother?" He grabs her fingers to hold her sharp nails where they are. "Sure you're finished with your milk, kitten?"

[Lovely]

"Is there more milk?" She smiled just a little. "Lily seems to like your brother.. definitely not leaving her alone with you.. she wouldn't like how hard you play.. she's all sweet like a flower." Jaime makes a little pouting face, digging in a little harder with her fingers. "You don't really want to play with her.. do you?"

"No. I'd break her far too quickly." thin grin and pleased sigh. ".. though teasing her and starting her down our path could be entertaining... at a distance. Hmm... I think you'll find more milk if you hunt for it long enough... well's never run dry for long."

"Leave her to your brother and his tastes.. if you want to break or bend.. we can find others.. but not Lily." Her pout was genuine and not for show or to be cute, she slithered up close, nuzzling along his shoulder. "I wouldn't like that."

"You'd do that for me? Bring home toys, yeah? Well then... no to Lily, leave her to that sot Eugene and his wet, wimpy, coddlingly soft ways... no offense to your sister, but he could use some spice. Mmmm... speaking of which..." he curled into the nuzzles and chased after her for a nip of her lips.

"Mmmhmm.." She agreed about bringing him toys and turned to playfully keep her lips from him, making him chase more. She smiled now, her mood improving as her thoughts moved away from images of Lily being bent or broken. She was quite protective of the other girl, even if she could sometimes be quite cruel to Lily herself.

"Treacherous little cat," he muttered, chuckling and biting after her and missing as she dodged. "Toys for later," he sighed, looking at their door and knowing his brother's presence had gone still beyond it, that Gene had stayed put which could have been good or bad, taking consideration of the silence. "He's certainly not wasting her time getting to know her either, it would seem. And as the day grows old, our time runs short to get over the river to grandmother's house in the woods, yeah?"

"She's like me in that way, even if she doesn't like to admit it.. knows what she wants when she sees it." Jai giggled softly, running her hands over his arms, gently tugging at the scratches and marks from their play. "You could have had me in the doorway, if you had tried.. when something is meant to be.. it is.. and when something clicks or fits in just the right way.. mmm why pretend it doesn't?" She turned her gaze toward the door and shrugged a little. "You're right though.. we should have gone already. Not sorry for why we were delayed." Her smile brightened again as her gaze swept back to him, it was clear she considered their time well spent.

"If we weren't expected, I'd delay you for a week," he purred as she rode over the fresh marks with her fingers. "Or longer, but I don't think your landlord here will have a good showing once we're done leaving our marks behind. Pity... not planning on cleaning anyway since we're leaving and you're not coming back here."

Her mouth opened and closed as she wondered about his last comment and wanted to question it but had to find the words to express her thoughts properly. "What if grandmother's house isn't there? Or she doesn't like us?" They hadn't exactly planned to come back but also knew it was possible this whole thing could turn upside down and inside out on them.

[Lovely]

"If it's not there...," he considered, stretching and beginning to gather their belongings. "We find something that is or make our own. If something fits... it does and I'm not about to let it slip away. I play for keeps, Jaime. Consider yourself kept."

The smile that spread over her face was a sweet and happy expression that made her eyes sparkle. "I like that." She whispered and leaned to kiss him quickly as she reached for discarded scraps of lace. She'd be happy to wear him again but if they needed to get on their way and she was considering how delightful the reward would be later after the agony of holding back.

He didn't let her escape quite so quickly, tempting her with a run of his finger while she leaned close for her kiss. "Hopefully that's not the only suggestion of mine you like," he said, leaving it at just a slight tickle, something to leave her wanting and eager to play more later.

She sighed out softly, tilting to the touch of his finger and chasing after it as he shifted it away. Two could play at that, her smile curled wickedly and her hand lowered to glide over him. "Not the only one I like." Jai whispered the words with the tint of longing in her voice, her body squirming slightly with want and need that had been teased. She leaned back to prop up on her knees and fasten her bra behind her, hiding her perky peaks from him for now.

"Glad to hear that. I'm sure I have dozens if not hundreds of similar suggestions... for once we're where we're supposed to be," he said, watching her every move, more than tempted by her teasing in return to delay just a while longer. He made his way to standing, reluctantly, but aching pleasantly and covered in flecks and lines of satiny red.

She could smell him all over her and taste him in the air of the small room which was thick with his scent and that of their play. In her eyes he was an adonis as he rose, his perfect form gloriously speckled and streaked with red. Her teasing, her pleasure, her marks all over him gave her a moment of being completely content and proud as she wore his as well. She felt his eyes on her and dressed slowly, a strip tease in reverse as much for his enjoyment as taking off the clothes had been. She was in no rush to be hidden from his gaze, but also didn't linger an overly long amount of time, doing up her buttons and shifting the fabric into place. "We fit." She whispered softly, looking over at him with a more gentle smile, one that was warm and showed geniune affection.

"We do. Though I had no doubt the moment you picked up that can in the shop," he agreed, finally pulling on his own clothes. He didn't wish to wash away the reminders of their play before putting on his shirt. "Perhaps I can decorate you, next?"

Her toes curled against the cool tiles of the floor and her eyes glowed softly as her torso twisted with delight and her eyes caught the light of the room just right. "Really? Like.. with the can.. drawing on me?"

He laughed, not expecting her delight. "Like... with the can, but on your skin. Perfect pictures on a perfect canvas, yeah? Permanent-like, though and not any photo of anything you've ever seen. Something truly my own, if you'd have it."

[Lovely]

"I like when you laugh." She confided on a whisper with a soft giggle to accompany it. She was nearly bouncing, her eyes lit from within now and she hopped up to sit on the counter, letting her legs swing a little while her fingers twisted together. It was as if he'd promised her the best present ever and she couldn't wait to unwrap it. "Mmm would I ever!" She answered to his suggestion of putting something permanent of his own creation onto her skin. She couldn't keep her hands to herself now and reached to his waist, attempting to pull him closer.

"My laugh usually makes others pale and worried... and usually with good reason," he said, merely grinning now as she sidled up to him again. He'd fancy another go, but knew they had places to be, damn their Sandman chapperone and his idea of good timing. Once he found the man who'd been trickling into his mind he'd return a piece with a much harder punch most likely. "Will you ever? I wonder...," he mused quietly, peering down into the depth of the sea in her gaze with his own amber fire.

Her expression crinkled with confusion at his last words, up until then she'd been smiling at him and listening to him speak. His voice was a sound she liked though his laugh felt like tickles. Why it would frighten others, she could guess but it merely delighted her.

"Mmm... exactly my point," he said even more cryptically now as her smile faded and his widened. He craned down to indulge in more generous appreciation of her accepting kiss, holding her attention fast to his lips and their perfect fit, slithering into her thoughts quietly with his own to elaborate further on his commentary. ~Scratch me deeply and show me you care~ he pleaded to her innermost passions, relaying his own desires in a way she could hear and feel from within his mind.

She started to shift back as he came down toward her, more confused than she'd been a moment ago and having no idea what so ever as to what he meant or what his point was. She was still trying to make heads or tails of it when he kissed her, distracted enough that she stiffened slightly with his words she knew she'd heard in her mind.. his mouth was too occupied to speak them. The mouth that fit so perfectly with hers, she agreed but the thought didn't seem like it was hers. She couldn't seem to remember what she'd been thinking before at all, she kept focusing back on the kiss and his mouth. It was almost like the room was spinning and she felt sort of dizzy.. light headed. Her fingers curled into his arms as if trying to hold herself up, her nails digging into his skin.

He smiled against the kiss and held her snuggly believing she'd heard him and even if she had not, the punctures were graciously accepted as he'd desired. He inched back slowly, ensuring she would not fall, but not so far to pry her claws loose. "I think you will 'ever', pet. Ever amaze and delight, intrigue and excite. The designs for you are forming and I'm getting eager to adorn you with them, but ... always that... something the way. That something is in the other room with the keys to our new adventure, yeah?"

Jaime blinked several times, staring at him blankly for a moment until she returned to herself after being let go. He hadn't gone far but had released her mind and shifted enough for her thoughts to be her own again. It was a strange sensation for her will to be controlled even for a short time, where he'd directed her focus hadn't been unpleasant, it was only not being able to control it herself. She smiled sweetly up at him as she took in a deep breath and let it out softly through her nostrils, her fingers dug more harshly into his arms before she yanked them back. "Yeah."

[Lovely]

"Mmmm I think you truly do mean it," he cooed, letting her rake his skin as she told him more how little she enjoyed that form of intrusion, though she smiled ever so treacherously for him to want to taunt her more.

Her eyebrow arched slightly, the smile remained teasingly sweet and almost innocent looking. "Of course I mean it." Her voice was a low whisper, almost a growl, sounding a little like a purr mixed in. She puckered a kiss at him and shifted to hop down from the counter, not seeming to care if she bumped or pushed him in the process.

"Not the only designs I'm planning for you," he muttered back playfully as she bounced her way to standing, pushing him aside. He watched her as he gathered the remainder of his clothes to make himself presentable enough that curious policemen wouldn't stall him for questionning, though only barely, leaving the shirt open for his many marks and scars to shine out from beneath. His expression flattened a moment as a replay of dream sequences distracted his thoughts.

She caught his expression as she pretended not to be paying attention to him and fussed with her hair. Something made her turn fully toward him again and reach to brush his lip with the back of her finger. "What was that?" She asked softly, wondering at what thought had caused his face to shift so unpleasantly for that moment.

"A not so subtle reminder about our invitation," he grumbled almost angrily. He loathed nothing more than being the one told what to do and when. Even though the dreams had been vague and undetermined and he was awake now, he felt the urgency shudder through him unpleasantly knocking aside the marvelous ripples of pain and tickles she'd just bestowed. "He's interrupted my playtime again. Remind me to 'thank' him for that once we arrive, yeah?" He reached back to her, smoothing down a puff of unruly hair he'd mussed, falling into a moment of kindness and gentle sincerity. "I don't want you to think I'm angry with you, lovely. I want nothing more than more of you, but... we really should be going."

"What do you mean interrupted again?" She asked, moving closer to him and leaned to kiss his chest, now that he'd finished fixing her hair she was ready to exit the room. She could spend much time preening and primping and also the opposite, be ready to go after simply rolling out of the bed. Cats and their ever changing moods as her sister always liked to tease her about. She glanced around the room again to make sure they had all the pieces they needed.

"The last was in the shop when I was stalking you," he confided with the wicked grin from before he'd delved into her mind. "Increasing in their infuriating frequency. Mm absolutely lovely. Anything left can be forgotten as far as I'm concerned. I only want to wear you."

"Aw you're my stalker!" She giggled with delight, sharing that feeling with a quick pass of her tongue up to his shouder. "Maybe.. it's not even him.. maybe you're doing it to yourself.." She pondered as she tried to make herself move away from him, though all she could think about was how much she enjoyed him wearing her. "Nothing to forget.. what's truly matters is here." She nuzzled into his neck slightly.

"Self inflicted insanity in small doses used to be more tolerable," he sighed, tolerating the licks and nuzzles much better than the recurring images. He pushed gently toward the door. "I would much rather inflict large doses of it on Eugene, though not with your darling sister in the crossfire."

[Lovely]

"Why?" She asked as she let him push her toward the door, she wondered about his relationship with his brother. Was it like the one she had with Lily? Their bond was deep as was their love but their rivalry and spats could get quite vicious at times.

"Because he pouts so deliciously, it's hard not to," Patrick chuckled and reached to turn the lights off on the spatters and smears they'd left behind though most were still lovingly painted and dried on himself.

Jaime giggled softly and spun herself so her back was against his chest, keeping herself close to him, sort of torturing herself with touching him but not in the manner she wanted to. "Hmmm now where oh where could they be hiding?" She whispered in a slightly wicked tone as she took in the scents of the apartment and his brothers pressence within it.

"I can only venture to guess where part of him might be," he said, ushering her out ahead of himself, planting the suggestion of similar play to their own if the thought did not alarm her. "One thing in our nature is a purebred impatience like none other."

"Well, I for one appreciate that quality." She leaned her head back against his shoulder and reached to pull his arms around her as they walked. "I think I'm safe in saying my sister is deeply in need of some unbridled passion... I know I was." Jaime sighed softly, content and happy with the flavor of passion she and Tripp had shared, though she felt addicted to him and wanting more.

"Then she's in good hands... just like you, yeah?" He teased and squoze gently in emphasis as she pulled his arms around and he fondled his way to snuggling her in his own fashion. They lumbered toward the closed door nearby while his kisses burrowed into her neck with more sharp nibbles. "I'll let him drive and we can continue this in the back of the cab."

She craved his touch and the way she arched into it and bit her lower lip showed him how much and that she wanted more. "Did you steal that thought from me?" She asked him with a soft purr of delight begining to rumble in her chest. To knock or not, she wondered briefly as they approached her sister's door and her nose crinkled slightly at the stronger scents, especially his brother's.

"Once a thief, but never a liar... well, seldom ever," he teased. Whether or not he stole the thought she scarcely seemed to mind sharing it. He pulled away from her only enough to call out and not blister her ears with the sudden burst of sound. "Eugene! Put the nice girl down and dry her off now. We're leaving!'

She shifted and half turned so she could nip at his neck while they waited for the other two to untangle. "Mmm as long as you share what you steal and don't lie to me.." She didn't expect or think he would lie to her, there was really no need for him to anyway, not when they agreed on what they liked.

He turned so she could see the full fire in his eyes. His voice was insistent as it was lilting, demanding of her complete attention even without coercing her with a tangle of her willpower. "Jaime. Look at me and know, completely, that I will share and cannot lie to you."

Her eyes met his without hesitation, she saw the fire there and she knew without a doubt.. she knew completely as he'd asked her to. Her mouth rushed to the perfect fit and taste of his, this time without his guidance. She wanted him to know, to taste to feel the words that hadn't yet formed on her lips but sparked off her tongue and thundered in every beat of her heart. ~I love you.~ She was his, plain and simple.. completely and happily so.

~You stole my thought~ He shot back in shimmering echoes like soft rain on steel. He ignored the grumbles and giggles beyond the door and focused solely on the girl in his arms.

~Must have swallowed it.~ She felt the giggle shake her slightly but she didn't let go of him, turning more and wrapping herself around him again. He was perfect for her - the way he accepted and embraced her many facets, seeming to turn to show her more and more of his as she opened up to him and did the same. Much in the manner of cats she had different 'moods' and pieces of her personality, some being very much the opposite of others. One moment she could revel in some bloody violence and the next she might want to cuddle and be loved.

~My cup runneth... actually that would be your cup, pet. Eager to fill and sip again if they keep us waiting too long~ He chuckled in his mind and it roiled like sound of heavy doors rattling against the rain soaked steel in their dark alleys and cooridors where his wickedest thoughts lurked. The kiss was parted suddenly as he reached out a fist against the door and called out again. "Eugene!"