Something to keep

[Lovely]

July 30 2007
11:00 p.m.

It appeared it was the clap of thunder that made him dive in the door and flip his collar against the rain that had started to come down heavier, painting streaks down his shirt. The bouncer's arm blocked him going in further and he tried to bargain his way in out of the wet. Whatever words were exchanged between them, no ID was shown and no further arguement came from the man at the door as he let the young man pass into the bar beyond. It wasn't like it was that busy a night or even a live band playing. He looked back at the bouncer and the crowd. He'd seen busier... and smiled to himself, amused at the reasons they needed someone to watch the door in the first place. The man would know better next time. He scanned the crowd again, but a perceptive few would know he was doing more than looking for someone. He'd caught a hint of it outside... definitely in here, he thought to himself. A claxon ringing a moment later and a sweep of lights from the bar announced some amazing special was being brought around at 2-for-1 for the next ten minutes.

The lights caught his pale eyes and bounced off the nearly faceted clarity as he shrugged down from the sound a little. That was new... and annoying. He hoped whoever'd dreamed that up got fired in the morning. The lights sweeping back over the crowd caught his attention as he grasped hold of the faces to remember. He froze, staring that way another moment though the light continued on then faded out. He took a whiff of the air and started to move toward that spot that seemed so much warmer, so much more inviting than the small storm outside. What was in here was something raging even darker and calling him closer. Blame it on the rain? Blame it on his father and the new Queen B he wanted a piece of himself, but was told 'paws off'. He had to find his own, didn't he?

Natalie wasn't watching the crowd or anyone other than one man and one girl, her gaze was locked on them and her jaw set in an angry manner. The way she was dressed, one would think she was prowling for men in this place and would have no trouble landing any one she wanted. She ignored them and brushed off their advances with tempered annoyance, she'd come with her boyfriend who was a second away from being her ex as he flirted with and hit on a girl in the crowd. He'd gone to get Nat a drink and stopped on the way back to try to get another girl's number, he'd even given her Nat's drink! If there weren't so many witnesses, she have jacked them both up.. but instead her hands were clenched in fists under her folded arms. He was such an ass and an idiot, she was begining to go into heat and he wouldn't have needed or wanted another girl's phone number after tonight. Up until he'd acted like a complete asshole, he was garuanteed to get his wildest dreams fufilled, but Nat could hear what he was saying to the other girl and she just wanted to rip his balls off and fry them up! She didn't even notice the guy coming through the crowd toward where she stood, not until he was close enough for his scent to hit her. When that happened her knees nearly buckled, her eyes widening in surprise and her head turned to seek him, it was a strong feral scent.. male and exactly what she needed.

Too obvious, he barked in his mind, turning fast, but just as gracefully to appear he was weaving a clear and planned path around conversations that were giving him a headache. He was glad the band wasn't on tonight, but the foul choice of botched up remixes of almost-dance songs was probably worse on some level, keeping the droning heartbeat as an undertone to his own that was surging now as her scent floated clearly over the stale beer and Jager shots being carted around on full trays for their special. The licorice aroma made her seem sweet under the anger and warmth. If he could spot her, chances were good he didn't go unnoticed - unwelcomed, however, was something he wanted to avoid as a first impression. He slipped through a space between bodies to reach the bar and got his drinks - two of them - though the only tip exchanged was a nod from the bartender as he turned away with a thin smile. He knew where she was and turned to come back to her in the crowd. The second drink was hers and a special creation of his own.

[Lovely]

She saw the yummy smelling male but he turned for the bar and she only watched him for a moment before turning back to glare at the boyfriend who wasn't exactly rushing to get back to her side. Natalie wasn't even sure why she was still here anymore.. she should just leave.

He came up behind her, holding the drink around in front of her, his voice melting over her shoulder as if it would shiver down the weaving laces of the mesh that draped it. He knew he didn't need to speak loudly. "Summer Fire?" He asked, speaking about the lightly colored drink he held but it could have meant so much more where he stood in her radiant warmth. "Hope I didn't startle you."

Even with her own warnth she was aware that he'd come up behind her, he was much warmer than humans were, like her sniveling boyfriend who she didn't want to think about now that this wolf was so close to her. "Play with fire and you might get burned." She warned him in a soft voice as she reached for the drink he offered. "You didn't startle me.. but it's a pleasant surprise." Nat smiled a little though her anger had not fully retreated. "Thank you." She lifted her glass slightly in that thanks before bringing it up to her lips to taste the concoction.

"That's the drink - I call it Summer Fire. Probably not completely original, but I'll take credit for it just the same," he murmured, smiling a little and watching her try the drink without question. It had a sweetness to it with a bite like a Long Island tea with a faint firey kick underlying it of some powerful spice or pepper. He sipped his own to ensure her it wasn't meant as a prank but as a preference, at least for him. He looked through the crowd where her gaze had been fixed - it wasn't hard to see the man fawning and pawing. "Worst of it is," he mentioned sadly. "Is she's already got herself a boyfriend... who's gone to New York for a summer intern. I could show you where she lives and you can put that fire to use if you like. Although I might have a better idea."

Only he would hear the soft growl which rolled out as if under her breath, kick or not she took another sip from the drink he'd given her. Better to drink it before she broke the glass in her hand. "I'll take care of the wh*re and the moron later." She shifted slightly to glance over her shoulder at him. "I'd rather be tempted by something better right now."

He came more into view, his gaze steady but not threatening, not to her anyway. "Hmm.. perfect for each other," he mused, though was he talking about the other pair or her with himself? He took another sip and glanced around the bar fleetingly a moment - best not to get too distracted, right? His smile peeked out more. "Something?" He chuckled quietly. "How about a name? Mine's Carrick."

"Or someone.." She said with a tiny smile making her features much less harsh than her anger did. "Natalie.. it's a pleasure.." She didn't finish the statement letting it hang in the air as her tongue gently played over her lips and she looked him up and down.

"I'm sure it is," he grinned around his tongue in his cheek a moment. "So... do you want to stay here being angry or take a tempting walk in the rain to cool down .. just a little?"

"I like the rain." She met his gaze with one that said she'd rather be somewhere else with him and far from angry or cool. Natalie brought her glass up to finish the drink off and blinked away the kick from taking that much at once as she set her glass down on a nearby table. "Let's go." She stepped closer to Carrick.

[Lovely]

He chuckled, raising an eyebrow at the quick guzzle. He did the same with his own drink and took another look around the room to her so-called friend. A wash of his own anger, perhaps weighing the desire to hunt and the pity over such an easy target, darkened his gaze, the predator underneath glimmering to the surface, almost breaking through the human visage. He nodded, confirming his decision and turned his attention back to her, smiling now and calm. He leaned to whisper. "Forget him, he's gone now," he said, though the man was clearly still in view. It was a promise of events that would soon come to pass. He needed sport as much as he needed food. That was taken care of... now for her. "If I said I had a full box of matches and the rest of the night to kill.. what would you think?"

Her eyes shuttered at his whisper as if it meant so much more than the mere words could express, she inhaled deeply while he was close, licking her lips to get a small taste of the delicious scent that was him. Nat smiled up at Carrick and dared to take another small step closer to him. "I'd say you're much better than my last date... and wonder what you'll look like at the end of the night."

"Don't wonder... find out for yourself, Natalie." He spoke her name back to her with a hint of places far away from where they stood. "If... you get bored, you can come back here."

She sort of half laughed, half hmphed at his suggestion of her coming back here, like she could get bored with Carrick? Especially with her heat creeping up, she was planning not to even know when it was morning. "So are you going to keep talking or get me out of here?"

It was then that her absent and less than stellar boyfriend finally broke away from his wh*re and realized some other guy was standing with Natalie. "Hey.. punk, get the hell away from her.. loser."

"Both," he laughed a little. The laugh was cut short with a slight groan being the only acknowledgement of the ex. He didn't turn or give the man the satisfaction of a hand gesture. He slid his glass down beside Natalie's, sliding a few ice cubes into his hand and letting the peppered drink drip around his fingers as they melted... just a precaution, a simple defense. He didn't want a fight, but expected he was going to get one as he started toward the door with her, given the way he moved closely around her to slide his warm hand around her bare waist. "Jealousy.. so overrated, hm? Just think if I tried to kiss you?"

She did her best to ignore her ex and curled closer to Carrick as he slid his hand to rest around her waist, his skin was warm against hers and she liked the contact very much. "Wouldn't you be jealous if I was your girl and some guy was stealing me away?" She asked quietly, curious and in truth she was a little bit disappointed that he hand't tried to kiss her.

The ex continued pushing his way through the crowd toward the departing couple. "Hey.. ass munch.. get away from my girlfriend or you'll be sorry." He threatened as he got closer and then reached to try to grab ahold of Natalie's arm and yank her away from the other guy.

His reflex flashed faster and sharper than the lightning beyond the door that lit up the small lobby area where the bouncer was outlined in the brief strobe, on his feet and already coming their way at the sound of the yelling. Carrick's hand stopped the ex from grabbing Natalie's arm and pulled him up face to face with himself with Natalie a breath away. "I'm sorry, that sounded like a threat. I think you're done," he said quietly, letting the man's hand go and taking a step to walk away and leave, keeping himself between them. The other hand still dripping with the pepper-laced liquid rose and splattered the man's eyes, just a flick of seeming ice-water... for a few seconds before the burn would kick in.

"I'm not your girlfriend anymore." She spit at the ex from behind Carrick as he pulled her out of the way and put himself between them. She felt strange, though it was pleasant as Carrick defended her, no guy had stuck up for her like that before. She went quiet as the rest played out between the boys and moved with him as he started for the door and away from her ex again.

[Lovely]

He sucked in a quick breath at how strong this guy was and how fast he'd been jerked up and let go. "Not my.. you f*cking little tramp!" He started to try and go around the guy to get to Nat but his eyes started to burn and he began to blink and swear, pulling his hand up to his face. "She doesn't put out, you know.. so I hope you like blue..." His eyes really burned and that cut off the rest of his words.

The bouncer would take care of the ex easily enough if he really wanted a fight. Carrick chuckled under his breath but there was hardly a smile to his features. He was pleased the man backed down so easily, but there was still the walk between here and where he hoped to get her to have her for himself. The treats just kept coming tonight... so to speak. He had a theory about her that differed from the man's threat. He turned to let him paw at his own eyes and gain them a few steps ahead. "Won't last long before he tries getting more stupid. We need to go," he said, offering and leading but not pushing her along. If she truly meant what she'd said, he trusted she'd follow him without force.

Natalie didn't even glance back at her ex after his nasty comments and once Carrick had turned back to lead her out. She was happy to go with him and leave this place behind her along with her ex. She hoped he wouldn't get more stupid, it was just pathetic. Her warm fingers brushed over Carrick's hand and then gently curled around it as she kept pace beside him mostly as they weaved through the rest of the crowd to get out the door and into the night air.

He was stopped only a moment to face the bouncer who he could see now stood almost a full head taller than himself although Carrick did not seem dwarfed or daunted by the wall of man. He paused, smiling now as Natalie came up beside him. "No harm, here. She's fine. He's not so good..," he explained to the man, fully sober and forthright, nodding back at the man that was fighting the unexpected sting to his eyes. "He looks sick or something. Keep his keys, hm?"

The bouncer wasn't convinced at first, looking them both over but nodding a moment later. He had nothing to say once he saw the other man holding his hands over his face like he was ill. He moved past the pair, letting them move on out into the storm.

They stopped at the bouncer and Nat stayed silent, she had nothing to say and really didn't know why Carrick bothered to send the guy to help her ex, but whatever. She just waited till he was ready to move on.

"What's the matter? Nervous now?" He chuckled, but wasn't making fun of her. He simply hoped she wasn't having second thoughts. The bouncer was out of range, but she wasn't, her scent diverting his attention utterly and completely as she waited, the anger dissipating from her but something else, much sweeter, taking its place. The ex's vision might be blurred but his was quite clear, soaking up her radiance as he stood facing her now. He shuffled a little closer to weave past the people huddled in the doorway as the rain came down and he led her out into it.

[Lovely]

Her chin tilted with a touch of defiance and her lip twitched slightly but didn't curl into a snarl as he made fun of her and took her silence all wrong. She wasn't nervous at all. She rolled her eyes and turned to push past the last of the people to get out the door - finally! She was actually a little annoyed that it took that long just to walk out the door. The rain felt nice against her too warm skin, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back to let it cool her face as she just stood there for a moment. The fresh air felt good and the rain helped to calm her anger a little, though it did little for certain other issues.. those were getting worse. It was evident in the rise and heavy fall of her chest with her uneven breaths that her need was growing stronger.

He'd gotten what he'd gone in there for, now to get her home. She was enjoying the rain as much as he normally did, it seemed, but the doorways nearby had too many people in them watching and waiting for the storm to pass so they could move on. He didn't care.. and it nearly bothered him that he didn't care, but damn she'd smelled so good from out here that beside her, control was something he honestly didn't mind losing in front of their audience. He wanted her to know what he was doing however - surprising one another in their type of lives usually led to severed limbs. "Natalie," he muttered, waiting for her eyes to open and see him before he leaned to kiss her.

She heard his voice and slowly opened her eyes. tipping her head forward and looking at him curiously. "Sorry.. it just felt so good." She shrugged a little in her explaination of why she'd been ignoring him or or at least that's what she thought he was thinking, that she was ignoring him.

"I'm sure it would," he agreed, watching how the tiny drops caressed her cheeks. He watched closely and leaned in to kiss a drop or two away, though not wanting to stop as just the kiss on her cheek.

Her eyes fluttered closed again as he brushed his lips against her cheek, pulling a few of the rain drops from her skin as he did. Nat sighed softly and her hand rose to his shoulder, not to push him away but to rest there and extend their contact a little. Her face tilted slightly so she could brush a kiss over his cheek and nuzzle into him a little.