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Post by Natasha Davenport on Jul 23, 2012 13:57:42 GMT -5
Natasha double checked her appearance in the carriage, every strand in place, every feature absolutely perfect. She was stunning in a black summer dress that hugged her curves but remained at the epitome of class, as she approached the Estates she couldn't help but admire the wealth and standing of the Scotts.
She certainly could do worse for a husband indeed if she were ever to marry, which she decidedly would not do no matter what her mother forced on her. Justin was swell, but eventually he'd turn into the domineering man all men of power did. Truth was he could do much worse to her with that charm of his, if she fell for him it wouldn't be long til he moved on and she'd be heartbroken.
That's why this was essential to her well being. He had issued a challenge with his proposal and she was going to show him what it meant to play with a Davenport.
Things at the Scotts Estate ran as smoothly as they did at her own and she was pleased to see the door open before she had to knock or ring for anyone. She assumed the person answering the door was a butler.
Justin shouldn't have been surprised by her appearance there after the stunt he pulled with her mother.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Jul 27, 2012 13:35:39 GMT -5
Justin wasn't expecting to see Natasha again until the night of the ballet. In fact, he had returned home from the hotel, partially to avoid running into her until the time came, and partially to help deal with some of the family issues. So when Harrison informed him that Miss Davenport was waiting in the front sitting room, Justin was not quite prepared to see her. He was actually almost tempted to instruct the butler to tell Natasha that he was not at home. But curiosity got the better of him, and he decided he could manage to make an appearance.
"Tell her I'll be down shortly, and order a tray of tea and biscuits to be brought into the room while she waits."
It was, of course, just a diversionary tactic to make her wait. He wasn't going to do anything to alter his appearance, and his discussion with Xavier could easily be continued at a later time. But he was not going to rush down there, either. She could wait.
So it was that Harrison, the butler, returned to the sitting room and bowed to Miss Davenport. "Mr. Scotts will be here shortly, miss. In the meantime, I will have a tray of tea bought in for you."
Without giving her a chance to argue, the butler was gone again.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Aug 2, 2012 14:30:56 GMT -5
Natasha didn't know what to expect after reaching the Scotts estates she had just been so flustered and angry when she found out her mother had given their box to Justin for the ballet coming up.
She didn't know why she started this thing with Justin, what began as a flirtation was now going to get her into trouble if only because she was well aware of the Scott's infamous determination. But he would face a battle royale if he thought otherwise he'd be in for a rude awakening.
Being told that he would be down shortly and that she was to be placated with tea for her patience reinforced her determination to be a hell cat where he was concerned.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Aug 20, 2012 22:05:59 GMT -5
Justin was quite content to make her wait. He envisioned her, pacing and seething, and it made him smile. Her cheeks would be flushed and her eyes flashing with fury, her chest heaving enticingly... The image was so strong, he almost forgot what he was saying to Xavier, who had come to him about his concerns for Gwen.
"So, uh... as I was saying, I promise you, I will do whatever I can to make sure Gwen doesn't have to marry Wolff. The guy's a tosser, and I think Gwen can do better."
Unfortunately, he was so distracted with thoughts of Natasha and how beautiful she would look when she was angry, that he didn't really sound as convincing as he would have liked. Xavier picked up on it, but not the reason for it. As a result, he kept pressing Justin for more information and ideas. He spent nearly half an hour trying to placate his youngest sibling, not wanting to admit that he hadn't yet figured out how he was going to stop Gwen's impending nuptials.
In the end, Xavier didn't look relieved at all, and Justin had a feeling that the youngest Scotts might end up taking matters into his own hands. Still, there was nothing Justin could do about it now, and he didn't want to keep Natasha waiting any longer, lest she get annoyed and leave.
"We'll talk more about this later, OK, Xav? I really need to see to my guest."
And so he left it at that, giving his brother what he probably thought was a condescending pat on the back. By now Natasha would have been beyond angry, and her tea would have gotten cold.
He strolled into the sitting room without preamble, a perfectly calculated smile of amusement on his face. "Well, well, Miss Davenport. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Aug 24, 2012 13:17:20 GMT -5
Natasha was livid ten minutes into waiting. Pacing was correct, agitation was spot on. At first she was simply seething in place thinking about her ballet and how upset she was, but as the time lingered and still no sight of him her anger continued to grow. Several times she turned to leave but her resolve stiffened and she waited, she didn't come here for nothing.
Be that as it may by the time Justin did arrive Natasha was gathering her things to leave, she had been waiting for over a half an hour like some kind of idiot and she didn't fancy staying a minute longer. Picking up her gloves from the table she was leaning forward giving him that "enticing" image he had envisioned earlier. Her eyes snapped to his when she heard his voice.
Though she was angry, completely and utterly disgusted with him, her breath caught at his dark handsomeness. She hadn't realized it yet, but her body definitely responded to his presence, her heart sped up, her blood warmed and could ignite at the right touch or insult. No she didn't realize it, but he brought out more passion in her than anyone she had ever known, including her step brother.
Had she been able to discern this she might have wondered at the true purpose of this visit...was it to yell at him for tricking her or was it because when she was with him she didn't feel so numb anymore.
She calmed her features trying to immitate his amused smile, she didn't completely succeed."I'm here to personally extend to you an apology Mr. Scotts, it would seem that my mother has rented you my box this evening for the ballet. Unfortunately that was not her decision to make, and the box is reserved already."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Aug 29, 2012 23:06:28 GMT -5
He was right; she was beautiful when she was angry. That flush in her cheeks and the gleam in her eyes was almost enough to take his breath away. But he was able to control his response to her, and she would notice nothing but that exasperating smirk.
"I beg your pardon," he said, trying very hard not to laugh at her indignant yet very proper tone. "I haven't rented the box. That would mean I had paid for it, which I have not. In fact, I was invited, as a guest. Does this mean you are uninviting me?"
He knew perfectly well she couldn't do that. To rescind an invitation was the height of incivility, and no society woman worth her salt would dare commit such an act.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Aug 30, 2012 12:25:01 GMT -5
She wasn't just any high society woman. There was a large part of her that wanted to simply say yes you're uninvited, stick her tongue out at him and then leave but she knew how childish it would be, and her mother would be mortified. Still they had played this game beyond propriety so why start now?
Her mind was spinning with ways to get even with him, but he was standing too close, bluring her senses with his scent and whatever raw masculinity pheremone that seemed to glide off of him. Seriously the boy should bottle and sell it he'd be rich beyond what he already was.
She switched tactics, "Justin..." she purred lowering her lashes and stepping closer to him, "...why are we playing these games?" nevermind the fact that she loved them, that she hadn't felt as alive as she did here with him playing these games than she had in a long time. "Couldn't we simply be friends instead...?" at this point her side brushed against his, she was practically purring in his ear and moving as sensuously as a cat might. "We would make far better allies than enemies."
She realized the truth of that statement and deep inside it shocked her...could she consider him an ally? Wasn't that what he was after in the first place? So why did she feel like she had to fight him each step of the way? She knew the answer to that too, deep down inside she could be honest with herself. Justin was a man she could lose herself in, not just her heart, but everything, she could turn into one of those simpering blind lovestruck girls who threw everything away on a man and Natasha wouldn't do it, no matter how delightful the package.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Aug 30, 2012 21:08:02 GMT -5
How could she look at him like that, and talk to him in that low, seductive tone, and then propose that they "simply be friends?" Was she mad? He knew he was very close to madness when her voice went all low and throaty like that. He wanted nothing but to kiss her until they were both breathless, as if it would make her take back the word "friend."
She might not have wanted to play the game, but she was damn good at it. But so was he. He crossed the room and cupped one side of her face in his hand. "I have never had any desire to be your enemy, love. Allies, yes... but friends.... never."
Then he bent down until his lips were just a whisper away from hers--as close as they could be without actually touching. He could feel her breath against his face. "I know what you want."
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Aug 30, 2012 21:16:21 GMT -5
It was pure physical attraction. At least that's what she told herself, that's also what she would tell herself ten minutes from now when she was storming away. It's what she would tell herself later as she was getting ready for the ballet and butterflies were in her stomach. It's what she would tell herself so she could go to sleep at night. She wanted him.
His voice, his touch, all of it made her shiver and she couldn't really comprehend what he was saying. Something about wants, something about them being friends. Did he have to look at her like that?
His words melted on her lips, she was close enough to taste him, to practically inhale him. She wanted him...but to have him...that was too dangerous.
Her eyes fell to his lips and she couldn't help herself, she wanted to close the gap between their mouths but she was so stubborn. "How could you possibly know what I want?"
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Post by Justin Scotts on Aug 31, 2012 23:03:27 GMT -5
He liked the way her breath seemed to catch in her throat, making her chest rise and fall in a fluttery rhythm. How he longed to press his lips against her smooth white neck and feel her pulse throbbing against his mouth. He didn't... but he didn't pull away from her, either. Instead, he flashed her his slow, seductive smile, allowing her just a glimpse of his white, even teeth.
"Your mother told me," he said. His voice was low and intimate, as if he were whispering sweet nothings into her ear, instead of talking business. "You want control of your father's business. I can help you get that if you stop fighting me."
The thing was, though, he didn't really want her to stop fighting him. Not really. He was enjoying the chase far too much. But then, just because she went along with his "proposal" didn't mean she wasn't still likely to fight him. No, winning Natasha Davenport's heart would not be an easy task.
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Sept 6, 2012 15:45:00 GMT -5
A tiny sound escaped her mouth that was part moan and part sigh, she couldn't even hear what he was saying, all her body knew was that the man in front of her was desirable, worse he was irresistible. She should have resisted, she was brought up to resist, to tease and tempt til you had them eating out of the palm of your hand.
Faintly what he was saying was finally penetrating into her mind and she listened as he whispered something far more evocative than sweet nothings into her ear, his tone was a caress, and a promise for power and pleasure. Yes she should have resisted, her heart would not survive a man like Justin, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a small taste right?
Her knees weakened and she had to lean into him, melting completely in his arms, her eyes fell to his lips with desire giving him the barest hint of what she intended before she fused her mouth to his in a gentle yet demanding kiss.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Sept 6, 2012 23:10:07 GMT -5
He smiled into the kiss, allowing her to control it at first. He had been testing her, teasing and tempting her as he knew she was more than capable of doing to him. And she'd passed the test--or failed it, depending on which way you looked at it. Either way, this was definitely a point for him. Not that they were keeping score, exactly. Or were they? He could barely think with the smell of her perfume clouding his senses.
Slowly, he began to deepen the kiss so subtly that she might almost have thought she was doing it. He wrapped his arms around her and held her closer to him. It was calculated, and yet instinctive... he wanted to make her want him as much as he wanted her.
A memory floated through his mind--a city in flames, curses flying all around them, and two people kissing like they were the only two people in the world. Natasha might not remember that moment or know that he was the man she'd kissed, but he could never forget it. And this kiss had that same urgency, that same intensity. He'd almost hoped that the second kiss would pale in comparison, that maybe he could put her out of his mind. But now he knew that wouldn't be happening.
He'd known it was a dangerous game from the start... but now he knew that the only real danger was his heart. This was... unexpected.
He pulled away slowly, opening his eyes and looking at her flushed face. Merlin, she was beautiful.
"So, is that a yes?"
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Post by Natasha Davenport on Sept 7, 2012 12:20:57 GMT -5
Only one other time had Natasha been as swept away as she was right at that moment. She too remembered fire surrounding her, hearing the screams of the lost and broken, feeling the biting cold being swept away as a masked stranger captured her stealing her breath. She would die before admitting it but she hadn't slept a night where that masked stranger wasn't in her dreams. Strange that she should feel this exhilerated with Justin.
She might have been able to put the two together did she not feel completely overwhelmed as it was. Did he have to kiss so well? Did she have to melt completely in his arms? Did he have to steal all of her reason?
Still the curiousity from the kiss and what deepening it would do and where it would lead, there were so many questions swirling in her head and she ignored them all in favor of the sensations he was bringing out in her. Thankfully he pulled away for she wouldn't have.
Her lips were kiss swollen and her eyes a bit hazy, it was clearly evident that she had been lost in passion, there was no coming back from that kiss completely intact, so she did what she was trained to do when the enemy had the upper hand.
Her eyes cleared, her lip trembled she gathered herself and pulled away from him, "This isn't over..." she gave him one last lost look then like a doe running from the expert hunter she ran out of the mansion in an attempt to escape the feelings Justin stirred inside of her.
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