Ain't that right n'a

[Lovely]

November 9th, 2008
6pm (just before dark/curfew)

Jeff was to meet her at the cafe as he was told. It was a simple agenda - meet with her, show her some skills and dig up a few secrets they might both be able to cash in on... blood simple...

"... and nobody gonna say no nevermind bout it na, neither, chere." Jeff explained to his contact, walking slow between the streetlights now, careful of how loud he spoke as they left the restaurant behind and strolled the street, nearly by themselves. The patrols would be out soon, but they had some time.

"Is that so? Well good cause I wasn't planning on letting you go any time soon... I did say you're Mine right?" She laughed like a smitten girlfriend. That part of the act wasn't going to last long.

"Mais oui, petite... done heard it with my own ears r'a here, na." He smiled smugly.

"Good, good. Now handsome... feel like showing me what you can do?" They were alone on the path at the moment.

"Wi' these all up in there, like?" He stood next to her, modeling his hands, watching the fingers inhumanly extend and retract, extending again several inches out from his palms as he flexed them into two curves, opposite one another and dipping back in at the top, making a heart shape.

The opposite hand fashioned the 'arrow' which he wove around the 'heart' for her. "You like my li'l sweetheart message all up there f'ya na, chere?"

"Aww for me?" She batted her eyes. "And you just met me... now you do that and I might think you're sweet on me?"

"You say that like it's all a bad thing, na. Psh.. woulda had to be dumber'n a post not to be sweet on ya. You're too cherry pie and ice cream not to want a bite, chere."

"You... you think? Me? Cherry pie and ice cream?" She shook her head, looking shocked. No way.. no way he could see past her edge.. could he?

"A ... la.... mooooooode," he said, letting the heart and arrow shift back to strong fingers that met her shoulders, rubbing gently to relax her.

Her eyes narrowed on him, though not angry, just unsure what to think. This man...oh so handsome, supposedly talented and from what she could she he was... now charming and some how seeing past her guise.. what was up with that? "You're skilled with your hands."

"T'ank y'for those kin' words, chere, but you needn't be all nice and all just f'me, na. You can say what you be thinkin' 'bout r'a na... it's alright, non?"

"Actually I was thinking you are skilled with your hands." She chuckled. "You got a real name handsome?"

"I do," he paused, teasing. "But na I s'pose you'd be wantin' t'hear it, too, non?"

"Yeah..I'd like to hear it...or I could just call you 'fingers', or 'hands', or maybe just 'handsome'..." She grinned, a half smirk and playful.

"Locke."

"Locke? Your momma must have been a precog huh?" She smiled, more genuinely. Then realizing his hands were on her shoulders, she shrugged them off. "Locke..." She nodded. "I like that."

He chuckled, "S'only the petname, chere. Easier on most folks than the propah LeCroix. See you city folk don' know how to talk righ'... you lose your 'wha'... when you talk, non?" He made a small pucker and blew the kiss with the perfect French sound.

[Lovely]

"Sain arène nous repli de nous-mêmes." She smiled sugar sweet and winked. "Jamais supposer quelque chose c'est que le paraît être âgé.."

((Aren't we full of ourselves//Never assume something is as it appears to be))

He appeared teasingly offended, a gentle smile curling on his lip at her perfect french. "Je ne suis pas un pour assumer n'importe quoi. Je sais ce que je sais. Le repos est une conjecture instruite."

((I am not one to assume anything. I know what I know. The rest is an educated guess.))

"What does your educated guess tell you about me?" She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward, towards him, a little as she spoke.

"Tells me tha' we're both guilty o' lyin', chere. That bein' that I make assumptions.. and that you're not at all what you appear as, non?"

"Who? Little ole me?" She chewed her lower lip lightly as she walked in a circle around him. "Hmmm come on... what am I?" She laughed softly. "And what do I appear to be?"

"Now c'mon, petite... now y'guilty o' not listenin', neither? Done tol' you... cherry pie... written all over you.. sweet and sugary spice and just the right bite... you got all that, na."

"Yeah... I heard you but... I was hoping I could trick you into thinking different." She sighed and smiled. "It's not going to work is it?"

"You might oughta be tryin' t'talk me int' a cup o' coffee to go wi' ya, na. You up f' one?" There was a coffee shop on the way.

"Sure. A cup sounds good... " She nodded, her eyes blinking slowly. Her head bowed down for a moment as she slid her dark shades into place. "You know any place that serves decent coffee around here?"

"Decent.. was the farthest word from my mind, chere," he chuckled and winked. "Was thinkin' about maybe invitin' y' ovah... sit y'self on down wi' me an' talk things ovah all propah like... like what I might oughta be doin' f' ya... me n' m' tools, non?"

"So...you're trying to get me to go back to your place with you?" She winked, her smirk playful. "Well do you have good coffee there?"

"Well I wouldn't be goin' so far t' call it decent, but it's not bad, petite. But it'd be a far sight easier than tryin' t' be all discrete and all in one o' them greeezy spoon places, non?"He paused a moment. "Talkin' 'bout the job, you unnahstan', non?"

"If I didn't understand...I would have knocked you on your butt and walked out with a few of your teeth." She smiled and even with her threat of violence it was some how sweet.

"Promises li' tha', chere...," he grinned, taking her hand to his lip along with the clear and present danger of her threat. "Might just be endearin' all the more, non?"

Her eyebrow arched behind the rim of her sunglasses. "I don't like to like anyone...so stop being so d**n charming and irresistable." She pulled her fingers from his and plucked his nose very lightly.

"Then hate me all you want, petite. Not gettin' rid o' me so soon aftah meetin' ya, na. 'Sides... thought you put in a special request.. so's you done got the best o' the best."

"Well I don't know... grab my butt or something 'cause I can't hate you unless you do something to make me mad."

[Lovely]

He gave her a look and a wink, "Now, chere.. last time I done checked.. might make a girl blush herself pinker than the brightest rose if'n a guy done touch her cute li'l tush, but not make her hate him all up in there like, na."

"Yes...but if you do it..I can get mad..and mad is a start...it could lead to hating... grrr.. oh just..just.. stop making me like you!" She threw her hands up, the look on her face playfully frustrated. "Come on... I need coffee.." She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and tugged him toward the back, to where her car was waiting. Ok so it wasn't her car...but that really wasn't the point.

"Not makin' no one do nothin' they don' wanna be doin, non?"

"Shhh!" She glared at him, though obviously faking the look. She smiled. "Yes, no.. Oh lordy what did I get myself into...had to have a partner...had to have the best...had to, had to..." She was talking to herself as they walked to the car. She stopped and looked at her hand on his shirt still, she let go and chuckled. "Sorry.. not... I'm not so good with people...since I tend to avoid them, and try to act like I don't like them... but for some reason, I'm doing a very bad job of that today. And to top it off I am probably coming off as completely insane."

"Um.. you don' like this shirt so much, I could jus' change r'a na... An' don' you be sayin' such things, neither... you're not insane. And don' confuse me wi' people none, neither, na. I'm cajun, pure through," he chuckled.

"Well that must be it...I was expecting a person and I got a cajun... see..I didn't factor that in and adjust to meet that... oh well no fixing it now... I like you and thats that...we're both doomed now." She leaned against the car and folded her arms. "And I like your shirt...it looks good on you." She reached over and smoothed the collar and front where she had pulled on it.

His hands caught hers, pulling them from the front of his collar to behind his neck, leaning her forward and closer to him. "You min' repeatin' that part y' jus' said, na?"

"I like your shirt... it looks good on you?" Her heart suddenly started beating faster and she licked her lips in nervous habit.

"Nah.. before all that jaw yappin'.. y' said somethin' bout doom?"

"Oh..yes.. I like you.. it means we're both doomed."

"Yeah, I'd be thinkin' on that real good, na. Especially when I'm about t' make you all mad and all," he teased, leaning closer, resting his forehead on hers.

"You're going to make me mad?" She swallowed at how his being this close made her feel... for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel like bolting.

Slowly tilting his head, he rested his lips on hers, keeping one hand, fingers literally wrapped around hers, gently, on his neck.

She gasped in surprise which served to part her lips under his as if she were encouraging the kiss.

His charm flowed through him, taking her lips into his, nipping them as he pulled away slowly. He smiled at her, "Hate me na, chere?"

"No." It was breathed out in an almost awed whisper. A moment later she shook her head. "I mean yes...absolutely.. hate..yeah..hate ya.." She looked at his face her expression softly questioning. "What did you do that for?"

"I'd a been dumber'n a post not to?"

"Why is that?"

"Cuz you let me, petite.. don't do nothing that you don't let me do. S'what makes me good at what I do... see an opportunity.. don't you let go, na.. better believe you me, non?"

"Oh.." She breathed out gently. "So it was to prove a point. ok."

"Was agreeing with you, non? Only thing I'll be provin' t' anyone don't have nothin' t' do wi' what I just gone and did, na. All that was was makin' sure my heart wa'n't lyin' to me, na. It was all up racin' like.. tellin' me what I oughta, so I done gave it a try. And you was righ'... doomed, jus' like y' said."

[Lovely]

She gave a soft chuckle, her sparkling, smiling eyes looking to his. "Now I know why I think we're doomed...but why do you?"

"Ah, don' you go payin' no nevermin' to this ol' gus, na... nothin' t' worry your pretty head over, na, neither. Man's got his reasons for thinkin' the way he do."

"And... I still want to know... You can tell me on the way...get in." She motioned to the car.

He got into the car as directed, fidgeting lightly.

"Fidgeting usually means one is nervous... I don't make you nervous do I?"

He shook his head. "Na so much, petite. I make me nervous my own self. You asked... dunno that I have an answer f'ya. Why I .... ," he broke off.

"Ahh no no... don't be shy... tell me what's on your mind." She reached under the steering wheel to the wires hanging. she'd hot-wired the car. Getting it started and in gear, she eased in from the lot and started down a side street.

"Not shy," he said, looking at her pointedly then chuckling. "Far from that, na. Tryin' not to eat crow.. don' like the taste o blackbird much. If I say or do.. jus' the wrong thing at the wrong time, I'm out a job for na, non?"

"Ahh...well no..I already told you I don't like people... so I came expecting you to say something to piss me off.... and still planning to give you the job as long as you are as good as I was told and you can handle your own..alright?"

"So, how are you planning my showin' ya, na?"

"Oh...we'll figure out something... nice way to avoid the question I asked you before we got in the car, by the way." She grinned. "So... I have no idea where your place is... unless you start giving me directions... we're going to end up at mine."

"Can make coffee anywhere, non?" He smiled. "Alrigh' na... next left... about two miles.. right on Jacobsen. Unless you're closer, non?"

"I am... " She shrugged as if it made no matter.

"Well if'n it don't make no nevermind, then.. why not we just stop on by your'n?"

"Alright." She took a right and drove about a block, taking a left and then about a quarter mile down she pulled in front of one of the nicer building left in the city. Once a grand hotel... it was a bit run down, but still finer than most places. "Here we are..." She parked along the side, next to a car that looked like it had been abandoned a month before. She walked toward the entrance to the hotel.

The doorman gave her a warm smile and opened the door for her and Locke to go inside. "Good evening Miss Gisele." He was a portly gentleman who looked to be in his fifties, hair greying under his cap and character lines wearing deeply around his eyes.

Locke nodded and grinned politely, pressing two fingers off his forehead in a semi-salute-hat-tip type gesture, looking the man over like he did most folks he could probably con a buck off of. He followed closely, but looked around at doors and windows, keypads and alarms as they went up to her floor.

She led him up to her modest suite. Unlocking the door with a pass of the keycard she let him come inside and closed the door behind them. "Still want coffee?" She asked heading into the kitchenette.

He looked over the keycard swipe and grinned, following behind. "Coffee'd be alrigh'... really.. jus' had questions 'bout the job, chere. Coffee was a ruse to get away so's we could talk."

"I know..but if you'd like a drink while we discuss details?" She gave him the details of a couple smaller jobs she had lined up...she'd just moved here...relocating by request... to do a job and finding the area prime for the taking...by the right person.

[Lovely]

"City's been like that for a while. Course... you know where t' look.. any place offers an opportunity worth th' takin, non?"

"Of course.... and I tend to know where to look..." She smiled, removing her shades finally and rubbing her eyes which swirled silver for a moment before returning to the rich warm brown hues. "I like the centeral location...access to other metro areas." She mused. "Played right this could be a workable gig for a long time and be very profitable to us both... if you choose to sign on so to speak.

"Hadn't given much thought.. to sayin' no, chere," he grinned. "Told you.. you're not gettin' rid o me so easily, na... less'n you t'ink d'ere may be a problem, non?"

"I don't forsee any problems... I think our talents will compliment each other well. And if this meeting is an indication of our personalities...I believe we will get along just fine and work nicely together."

The first of the details involved a few tests to make sure she hadn't made a mistake. Once their coffee was done, she brought Locke into another room that didn't look occupied often, more of a storage area with a series of trunks waiting for them.

Abby smiled closing the lid on one of the trunks and turning to Locke. She nodded and waved at one of the other trunks. "How's your eye?" She asked, wondering if he had an eye for things of value or just went for the 'shiny' stuff, the obvious? Did he have the smarts and knowledge to be able to look deeper? She'd soon find out.

"In terms o' what, na? Name off what all's in there wit' a lid all closed like dat, na? Or what I see when I look at what's inside?"

"Oh with the lid open of course... It's not like you have x-ray vision or something." She chuckled softly.

"Who's t'say I don', na, chere?" He chuckled and gave her a wink. "Do have a mighty good eye and mem'ry tho'. An appraiser's eye... s'what you need, non?"

"That's what I need alright... a good eye... a knowing eye, someone I can trust to think with their head on the job and not just grab.. you understand what I mean?"

"Na don' go puttin' words together't don' belong, chere... like trust an' job, non?" He chuckled, but his glance said something different, knowing what she'd meant. The locks were easily pried with the twist of a stretched finger - better than a lock pick and just the right touch not to leave any prints or scratches behind.

He opened the lid to compare to what he'd just seen, pointing to the one she'd closed first. "In that trunk there... plain n simple. 'Cept what's paste and glass and any good eye will tell you, most o that was. Now here," he motioned to the next with artifacts and objet-d'art wrapped carefully in bubblewrap and brown paper. "Four out of five in here, probably worth more at a yard sale. One in ten o what's left? Worth more than the rest'a these trunks together, non?"

"Ok you are smarter than you look." She grinned and winked. "Alright, smarter than the guy who recomended you looked..."

"Be nice na, chere... might be made o glass n paste my own darn self. Best to let your own appraiser tell ya the truth, non? Take down ya own list and let him tell you whether I'm right or not... for the job n all that, na."

"Of course I will... I'm not a fool when it comes to this sort of thing... I do have a good eye. I was checking how your eye and instinct about such things were... so far so good... do you have any other 'tricks or skills you'd like to show me before we move on, to the tougher stuff?"

He chuckled and held his hands to his sides. "Depends... work or play? Full o tricks, petite... just need to tell me what you need, non? Humor me.. work related... send me through the wringer.. whatcha got?"

"Keypads and combinations?" She reached a hand to the air as if griping something to help her stand as she rocked and eased up on her feet.

He watched her movements curiously and puckered against the concept. They weren't the easiest to overcome, but he could do it. "Alrigh', petite. Which and where? Make it a challenge, na."

[Lovely]

She whispered in his ear about an item to retrieve from the safe of one of the 'guests' of the building one block over. She 'mapped' out the basic layout of the place for him and waited to see if he would accept or decline the challenge. The job was simple in and out...no high tech security to get past. A simple stealth and crack the combo, get it and get out.

He nodded and stretched, pulling his hands into a long stretch and letting them relax to normal. "Alrigh', chere. There and back again, non? On foot. Five minutes to get there and then start your li'l stop watch, d'ere, petite."

"I'll be waiting." She smiled and tapped the watch lightly. Her eyes rolled over him and she nodded. "Five minutes and I start timing."

Locke headed out the door into the dark, turning his collar up and falling into the shadows. He counted it out in his head, tapped seconds with his footsteps as he moved to the next block, looking for the specifics. Once at the building, he checked the door and windows from outside, counting windows up and over. Dark.. either gone or asleep, he figured. Away, he hoped, heading around to the door he was to try. The back door to the building was propped with a rock, so he gained a moment, thanking the unwary tenant for the luck. Inside was another matter. The hall was deserted and dark, a plus, but the floor was old and made his footwork difficult.

Staying away from the worn center flooring, he looked for electrical pads and wiring. No cameras in the hall. Easy. He quickened and moved up to the floor indicated. The door was a regular lock with deadbolt, both clicked with the ease he'd seen with the trunks. Pushing the door open slowly, he listened. Nothing. Inside, one room, then the second and the painting on the wall. No alarm panels and no high-tech anything, he was expecting to find nothing more than a hollowed book and grandma's rhinestone necklace.

The safe on the wall was an older model... five tumblers requiring the right touch, or a scope to hear. His fingertips, moving like molten metal, flowed into pads like suction cups and felt the vibrations beneath as the other hand flipped the knob... one direction then the other. One ear listening close to the outer rooms for movement, he still heard nothing. The held breath let out slowly as he closed his eyes and popped the safe.

Inside the steel cage, the 'golden bird' he sought sat in plain view, with documents and other useful items. Securing all in pockets and a lined pouch he carried with him, the goods were stashed and the door closed with the same care with which it was opened, an oil cloth from his pocket swiping over the face of it to obscure the traces. The painting back in place, he slipped out and down the stairs as the occupants returned, passing him and none the wiser til some point when they'd open that door. He stepped quietly back through the shadows and back into Aubreigh's place. "And.... time."

She clicked the stop button as the door swung open and she saw him. Giving him a smile she tossed the stop watch at him. "Well.... since I wasn't there to see your every move and time just how long the trip there and back was... you were gone less than twenty min. Say five there, five back, a couple to check the place out... I'd say pretty darn good.. of course I have yet to see the goods."

"Goods? I stopped for chips and a soda on the way back. Thirsty?" He winked and tossed her a cold soda from the vending machine he took the time to jimmy as well. "Oh, you mean these... of course." He laid out the bounty, being careful with what he tipped from the soft pouch.

Some items from his pocket shone brightly and others held promise within the bindings and tightly creased folds as he pulled them out to the table one by one. It wasn't a large haul, but something had caught her attention enough to want it, if he could figure out what it was.

She smiled and glanced at the table. "Well ok... then nice work."

"Alrigh' na chere.. see anythin' in all that up there you wanna closer look at?"

"Sure I do... we'll take this to the appraiser tomorrow as well." Her eyes lingered on one piece, a beautiful locket. What he didn't know is that it had been in her family for years and contained a picture of her.

[Lovely]

"Min' if I take a li'l looksee my own self, na? See what all was worth that horrible long trek, non?" He winked and extended thumb and forefinger like delicate tweezers, turning everything about without leaving prints behind. The book was an old diary and the folded papers were birth certificates with names he didn't recognize. A few foreign coins splattered through the mix of cufflinks and costume jewelry, but the fine and simple silver chain stood out. Worn and abused.. or well loved and cherished if the point of view warranted it, the locket lifted in his fingers and dangled in the light. "Dis one here... can use a li'l goin' over, non?"

"That?" She scowled, trying not to let him see the look in her eyes. "No... look at it... eh."

He chuckled and brushed the side of his nose, looking back at the locket, "Well na... the nose knows differen'... you say what y' like, but I'm thinkin'... somethin' 'bout this one, non? Let's take a peek inside an' see who's smilin' back, chere."

"What for?" She shrugged, licking her lips and looking at the other things, pretending not to be interested... hoping he would let it go if she acted like she could care less.

"Nah.. you're prolly righ', petite. Jus' a li'l trinket's not worth a hill o' nothin'. My li'l brother'd prolly like it for his girl tho'... t'ink I'll jus' hang onto this fo' now." He clasped it in his palm and tucked it in his pocket, watching her expression.

Her jaw tightened just a bit and she blinked, but other than that she remained cool. "I'm sure you can find him something nicer... maybe not so used?"

"Mebbe so, but boy would t'ink it's an antique an' all that... talk it up real big like," he smiled. "What you worried fo', na... he's jus' a kid what don't know no better... don't make no nevermind to him if it's free, non?"

"Who said I cared... just trying to be nice is all, figured you would want to give him something finer than that old thing."

"Can't be that old," he shrugged.

"Can be.. around seventy five years."

He chuckled as he pulled the locket back out and flipped it open, "My.. but if you don't look a day past your mumbly-eth birthday, chere.. certainly no ... seventy five."

"Shut up... give it to me." She held her hand out and gestured for the locket. "It's not really stealing if you're taking back something that belonged to you first, right?"

"Wasn't questionin' nothin', petite.. was I, na? Not 'bout you gettin' somethin' o your own. Jus' curious... how they got it if it'd be yours all dis time, na."

"My mother passed away when I was just a kid.... my grandmother took me in.... but she didn't have too much... and eventually times got rough enough that she parted with this... giving it up to an old family friend as collateral on a personal loan.... times never got better... and when that friend passed on... the locket got passed on and well so on and so forth..."

He looked back at the picture in the locket and puckered, snapping it closed and handing it across with silent apology, "None o' mine to know, chere... I'm sorry. Sorry 'bout your momma too... not right to lose your momma so young. Dat belongs to you an' you should oughtta got it, na.... glad to help."

"Thanks." She said in a soft voice, taking the locket. Her fingers caressed it gingerly and she gave him a slight smile. Abby shrugged and waved it off. "My mom was a long time ago... "

He brushed his nose again and slid his hands into his back pockets, shrugging slightly. "So... what part was the test, petite? The time? Gettin' in an' out ag'in..? Or jus' bringin' ya back somethin' for ya? Moreover.. did I pass, chere?"

"All of it... and you passed." She looked at the locket. "It used to sparkle when she wore it.."

[Lovely]

"Nothin' that a li'l spit shine and a bit o' TLC can't do to make it shine again, non? You wanna put it on, Miss Aubriegh? Got the delicate touch, you know." He winked, offering to fasten it around her neck.

She nodded slowly, holding her hand out to him, with the locket gently resting in her fingers. "That's awful kind of you, thank you."

"Hair up please... there y' go, na...," he said, gingerly clasping the fine chain. He looked her over in profile with her hair swept back like that and grinned as he stepped aside. "All set na... find a mirror a take a li'l look-see fo' yaself." He looked at the locket as it rested at her collar and shone in it's tarnished splendor. He grinned and took a hand from his pocket to reach for it, leaning to breathe lightly over it and onto her in the process to polish it gently.

She shivered and laughed nervously as his breath caressed her skin, giving rise to tiny gooseflesh.

He chuckled, "Ooops... sorry bout tha' na, chere... was meanin' to give ya li'l shine... not a li'l shiver..." He stayed close as he polished it, watching her eyes a moment. "You got ya a nice li'l laugh all up in d'ere... should oughta use it a li'l more, non? Pretties up ya eyes, petite."

"How do feel about mixing business with pleasure?" She asked him directly.

"Depends," he grinned and whispered. "Whose business... and whose pleasure would dat be, na?"

"Well if you accept to become my partner, it would be our business. And if we mix... then it would be our pleasure." She whispered in return.

Looking in her eyes, a little doubtful and a little curious, he rested the locket to her cool skin and ran a fingertip under her chin. "You t'ink we mix, chere? Would be hatin' to t'ink dat these here finners are only good for pryin' and stealin'.... like to use 'em fo' other t'ings, too, non?"

"I think we might mix.... very well.... " She let her eyes wander over his face, a soft smile on hers. "I'm wondering if you'd like to find out?" Her hand lifted and her fingers brushed over his cheek and slipped into his hair. She leaned up as she tugged him down, meeting his lips lightly with hers.

Any doubt he'd had at that moment slipped further from his mind. His fingers trailed over the fine chain and rested beneath her hair. He mumbled something under his breath, but didn't move from her lips, being thoroughly enchanted for the moment.

Her lips were soft and gently curious as she kissed him, slowly moving from light brushes to a deeper kiss with parted lips.

The stray hand left his other pocket and slipped up her side gently, gentlemanly, holding her to him, nearly dancing and not wanting to let go.

She eased against him, continuing with the sweet exploration. The kisses though seductive and passionate were not over eager. Tender and lingering as if they had been lovers for some time.

They danced gently back to the front room, tilting to explore and learn, taste and react gently to each other. He took a moment to pause, backing into a chair. He looked over his shoulder and turned back with a chuckle, promptly falling into it and pulling her down into his lap.

She landed with a light 'thud' in his lap as he pulled her down. Abby laughed softly and looked to his eyes, hers shining with delight and a gleam of mischief. "Mmmmm I think I like mixing with you." She whispered, looking at his oh so kissable mouth and deciding she needed to kiss him more.

He chuckled and shied away a moment. "You like gettin' in da mix an' all dat, na.. we should maybe oughta not picked d' chair, non?" He whispered and looked her over, wondering what it was she saw and watched as she looked back, grinning at him so. "T'inking I ought be shuttin' up and gettin' back to that mixin', petite..."

She nipped his lips lightly with hers and stood. "Come on... " She tugged his hands and led him back to the bedroom. She paused at the door. "No expectations.... and no pressure, for either of us.... just more comfortable and room to stretch out."

He nodded, but hesitated a moment, "Miss Aubreigh.. I ... didn't wanna be t'inkin' , but jus' makin' sure, na... d'is ain' part o no more testin', righ'? Cuz... an' maybe I be openin' m'self up fo' trouble, but... t'inkin' what I am soon as I walk in that door... an' what I t'ink I'm wantin'...," he stepped forward slowly. "Is more mixin' ... an' jus' a li'l pressure.. in all the righ' places, non?" His grin tipped as he leaned back into her kiss.

"No testing.... just going with it... " She whispered huskily to his ear as her lips played on his neck.

The floor left her feet as his hand slipped under her knee to carry her into her room. He nodded and smiled, "Don't pay no nevermind, na, chere... jus' goin' with it."

"Alright.." She murmured, nibbling his earlobe and trailing over his neck and to take his lips again.

A pleasured gasp rattled through his breath, pulling his eyes closed a moment as she played on his ear. The words that wouldn't form were stifled and forgotten as she moved back to his lips and he rested her on the bed, nearly falling on her as he leaned, insistent, hungry, exploring...