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Post by Natasha Davenport on Aug 4, 2011 18:28:35 GMT -5
It would be hard to call them friends, but then they were more than acquaintances.
At first it started out simply running into each other at the hotel every now and again. After the first dinner their "game" so to speak began and now it was a regular thing between them. She'd casually mention where she'd be the next day. Or he'd mention his plans, and someway or another they'd "run" into each other.
It was hit or miss how their day would go, either they'd get along fine or they'd fight like cats and dogs, and yet the addiction to see one another again and again didn't decrease. She had hoped she'd build some sort of tolerance to his charm after a while, but the more she saw him, the worse it got.
Yesterday she had casually mentioned she'd be at Ambrosia around noon for lunch and a cocktail. She didn't know why she was meeting him again and again but she couldn't help it.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Aug 9, 2011 22:17:32 GMT -5
It was just a game, Justin kept telling himself. Granted, it was a game without an objective, or rules, but it definitely had a strategy. The only trouble was that he wasn't sure that he was winning.
Natasha might play the innocent society girl, but she was made of stronger stuff than that. She had a brain in that pretty little head, and she knew how to control her emotions. She could tease with the best of them, and she turned things around on him with a blink of her long lashes.
But Justin liked a challenge, and since he didn't have much work to do for the Dark Lord for the time being, he allowed himself to indulge in a little bit of amusement with the brunette. Some might call their little game "stalking," except that she always took care to let him know where she was going to be ahead of time, which was an invitation if he ever heard one.
Today she was going to be at Ambrosia precisely at noon (he knew it would be precise, because Natasha was never late), and he meant to meet her there. Accidentally, of course.
He arrived at 11:45, and waited at the bar, where he sat sipping a martini when she walked in.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 4, 2011 20:23:21 GMT -5
She saw him at once of course and her pulse raced. It seemed as if her senses always became much more alert whenever he was around. Dear Merlin he looked good, better than any wizard had the right to look, if it wasn't for her step brother constantly reminding her what devious lives hid behind charming smiles she had to admit that Justin would probably own her heart and soul by now, but she was careful and would continue to be careful.
"Fancy meeting you here." she said in a low tone as she sat next to him at the bar. She was wearing a black dress with lace sleeves and virtually no back. It was a tempting costume to say the least. Since they had been "running into each other" her appearance had become increasingly daring. She told herself she wasn't dressing up for him, and that was a lie she would take to her grave.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 8, 2011 1:03:08 GMT -5
"Yes, imagine that," he replied smoothly. "I just had the oddest craving for a martini. I had no idea you were planning to be here. But since you are, I may as well buy you a drink. Just because I am a gentleman."
That dress... dear Godric, she looked fantastic in it. It seemed positively illegal for a girl her age to look that good in a dress like that. Or even to own a dress like that.
"You're very... dressed up for this time of day," he observed. Of course, "dressed up" didn't exactly describe that dress. It was more like "undressed." But keeping true to the game, he would not let her see how her appearance affected him. "What's the occasion? Hoping to impress someone?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 17, 2011 16:02:46 GMT -5
"Mmm." she nodded playing along, "If one didn't know better I'd say you were following me." she said but couldn't keep the small smile from her lips. She enjoyed this game they were playing but wondered how long it would last. Eventually she would have to return to class and her duties, and he would have his own life to return to. Theirs was a funny world and in the middle of it romance couldn't possibly survive. Natasha was a realist she understood these things...so why was it that he tempted her so?
When he complemented her dress, she shifted ever so slightly innocently revealing her back to him, "Do you like it?" this time when she shifted just above her hip line very close to a most daring place was a small ink mark that revealed itself. A year ago during her travels in asia with her mother in an act of rebellion had gotten a tattoo from a shaman it had hurt like hell, but she didn't mind the result in the least.
"Oh you never know who might show up. It's important to look your best at all times...tell me Justin..." her voice lowered into a sultry tone, "have I made an impression on you?" she was leaning in just close enough to allow him a whiff of perfume had he inhaled.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 18, 2011 17:23:58 GMT -5
Oh, she was good. She might play the ice queen, but underneath it all, she was hotter than a volcano. She knew perfectly well what she was capable of doing to a man, and she didn't hesitate to use every enticing weapon at her disposal.
Even Justin, as polished and practiced as he was, couldn't help the way his eyes fixed on the expanse of exposed skin and then on the tiny little tattoo just barely visible on her lower back. Suddenly Justin wondered whether he was really winning this little game at all.
"Yes, I like it... very much," he said, his voice nearly cracking for a moment before he got it under control. "If I didn't know better, I would think you wore it just to impress me."
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 18, 2011 17:32:10 GMT -5
The taste of victory was sweet on her lips, but she rewarded him with a conspiratorial smile, "Perhaps I did."
As her drink was brought to her she held the glass delicately and brought it to her mouth, letting the glass touch her lips gently and then allowing the cool liquid to at once refresh and subdue her. Wine had a funny affect on her, and it was usually instant if she allowed herself the intoxication. But most of all it relaxed her nerves, whether it gave her an edge or not was anyone's guess.
"Thank you for the drink."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 18, 2011 19:25:25 GMT -5
"You're welcome," was all Justin said, nodding to the seat across from him. "Well, unless you're planning to meet someone else, please, have a seat."
Yes, he could have stood up and pulled the chair out for her, which would have been the "gentlemanly" thing to do. But they both knew he wasn't really a gentleman, and she was far too independent to accept such an arcane gesture.
He swirled the liquid around in his glass for a moment, pretending to focus on the action and not on her. "I trust all is well with you? Your mother is doing well?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 18, 2011 19:49:21 GMT -5
Natasha paused a moment and glanced at the seat. What Justin didn't know was this time she was expecting to meet someone else. Well not meet but see rather. Her step brother was supposed to take her out today but by the busty blond she had seen him talking to earlier she knew that in all likelihood he was not going to join her.
She was tired of this. Here Justin Scotts was inviting her to a wonderful lunch and great company, and she was still pining after her step brother's company. But even the game she had going on with Justin was beginning to annoy her. He wasn't making any moves and she wore this dress specifically for someone to notice and as of yet even though Justin seemed appreciative he was still in control as ever. Finally she sighed, "How many times are we going to do this Justin?" it was the first time she had used his name casually. She wanted to shake things up.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 20, 2011 2:11:53 GMT -5
"Do what?" Justin replied innocently.
He surveyed her coolly from the edge of his glass. She was hot and bothered about something, and he suspected it wasn't him. Was he supposed to fall at her feet because she wore a daring dress? No, there was more to the situation, and he wanted to know what it was. If there was someone else... well, he'd have to do something about that. Justin was not interested in competition. It was one thing for him to play a game with her. But if she was using him in a game with someone else... well, he couldn't tolerate that.
"We're friends, aren't we?" he asked, although his tone suggested that he meant more than that. "Two friends can share a drink together in a public place, can they not? Surely you aren't expecting more than that.... You made your feelings quite clear when I tried to kiss you, if you'll recall."
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 22, 2011 6:39:40 GMT -5
Her eyes narrowed on him, "This game we're playing...I'm willing to accept that you and I could probably last ten rounds and come back for more dancing around the polite and proper etiquette and all the rules we're supposed to follow, sneaking innuendoes in here and there, but it's beginning to bore me. " one delicate brow arched in question seeking his response, "Unless...you're afraid to raise the stakes..."
The challenge in her tone demanded that he either meet it or cower away, there was something dangerous about her eyes, something alluring about her pose, and something lethal about the combination of everything Natasha was, therefore the challenge was absolutely irresistible.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 23, 2011 0:42:22 GMT -5
"Raise the stakes?" Justin said, his expression impassive. "Game? My dear, how you talk. It's as if you think I'm just some bored rich dillitante with nothing better to do but play around with innocent girls."
He rolled his eyes dramatically at this and took another sip of his drink before he reached out and trailed his fingers across her cheek. "Perhaps I merely enjoy the pleasure of your company. Why does it need to be anything more complicated than that?"
He didn't expect her to buy any of this, of course. It was all a part of the game, and Justin wasn't ready to stop playing. He could raise the stakes, all right, but he wasn't sure she would like it if he did. Besides, he was enjoying the chase a little too much.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 23, 2011 1:47:18 GMT -5
She rolled her eyes at him, she realized she was taking away the finese of the game but she couldn't help it, she needed a change of pace. "If that's the way you feel then perhaps I spoke out of turn." she took a long look at him from head to toe, sitting there like every other privelidged pompous boy who wanted to date (read: own) her, and suddenly she was very tired of him.
"Thank you for the invitation...but something interesting just came up." she said turning to walk past him.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 23, 2011 1:53:18 GMT -5
Oh, no. No, this was not acceptable. He wasn't going to let her flip the chess board over and knock the pieces to the floor. Not yet. Maybe she was tired of the game, but he was just getting warmed up.
"Wait." He reached out and grabbed her arm as she walked past him. Looking up at her with a cool expression. "OK, you want me to raise the stakes? I have a proposal for you."
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 23, 2011 1:55:44 GMT -5
If she were honest she wanted him to stop her but she gave up hope of that happening, just like she wasn't expecting much from this proposal, "And what would that be?" asked again her eyes narrowing on him and then on her arm where he had grabbed her. Her heart was beating a little faster, her face was mildly flushed, and her eyes were alive ready for anything.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 23, 2011 17:41:27 GMT -5
Justin smirked, and in that moment, he looked very much like the arrogant, privileged society boy she was accusing him of being. He had her attention now, and he was going to make the most of it.
"Please, sit down first. We wouldn't want to call too much attention to ourselves, now would we?"
He nodded at the chair which she had vacated, and released his grip on her arm. He was not going to force her to listen to his "proposal," but he was fairly certain she would stay to hear him out at least.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 23, 2011 17:57:26 GMT -5
She briefly took a glance around her and noticed some people were looking at the young couple. What sheep, Natasha thought. How cute, they probably assumed she and Justin were having a lover's spat and yet you had to be lovers in order for that to occur, she wasn't really sure what they were.
She was about to ask him why she should sit down and waste her time with him, but curiosity got the best of her and she moved to her seat and sat like he asked. Then without bending her will at all she raised a brow as if to say her patience was running out.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 26, 2011 0:12:13 GMT -5
Justin looked at her calmly, his expression almost indifferent. Of course, it was all part of the act, and he was actually devouring her with his eyes. After another sip from his drink, he set his glass down and leaned across the table, a slow smile spreading across his features.
"You want your mother off your back about finding a husband, right?" he said. "My father's starting to hint that I need to find myself a bride soon, too. Now, I suspect that you've got your eye on someone else... probably someone your mother wouldn't approve of. And I have no intentions of settling down anytime soon.... I've still got wild oats to sow, if you will. So what I am proposing is that we... pretend for a little while. We can be each other's escort for social functions... even announce our intentions to court each other for a while, just to get our families off our backs. And after a time... we can stage a break up, if you want to. What do you say?"
What Justin didn't say, of course, was that his intentions were quite different from what he was saying. He wanted to make Natasha Davenport fall madly, deeply, desperately in love with him.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Nov 26, 2011 1:15:37 GMT -5
She waited patiently for him to finish his proposal and when he was through her brows rose slightly, "Well...I wasn't expecting that." she said honestly, she was expecting something else something a little less proper, or maybe expecting wasn't the right word. Hoping? She sighed. She wasn't flushed nor did she in any way show any indication of approval or disagreement. Instead she brought the wine to her lips and appeared to ponder the idea. It was a false illusion before she said flatly, "Absolutely not."
"It would never work Justin." though she had thought of the same thing herself in the past, there were just too many roadblocks, "As much as I would love to play house with you, as soon as that house came crashing down, all the cards would fall on my head, and you'd walk away, pardon the expression, scott free. No matter the reason I would be blamed for not managing to keep a hold on such an eligible catch and my mother would have my head."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Dec 1, 2011 1:19:01 GMT -5
But Justin was undeterred. No, he had plans for Miss Davenport, and he was not at all keen on ending the game so soon.
"Whether you like it or not, Natasha, your mother already has some grand ideas about us. After seeing us together the other day at the hotel, her hopes are high, even if our kiss didn't go well. And I wouldn't be entirely surprised if she found out about our other 'coincidental encounters' as well... including this one. If you give up so quickly, she'll have your head anyway."
Maybe it was a little harsh, but it was true. Justin had seen the engagement rings reflected in Mrs. Shepherd's eyes and knew that if things didn't take their course naturally, the woman was going to start finding ways to usher them along, including talking to his parents. The last thing Justin wanted was for his parents to push in on his love life. It wasn't working out so well for Gwen, after all.
"But really, Natasha... we get along well enough, don't we? I've enjoyed spending time with you. Maybe after a while, it wouldn't be pretend. Or are you afraid you might find you actually care for me?"
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