A Warm Embrace (Christine)

[Dorian Humbert]

Dorian stopped writing and gently put his pen down on the napkin. "Okay." He wanted to apologize for upsetting her, but he didn't. A woman was murdered, he was first to the scene, but he left to care for Christine. The least he could do to stay in good standing with at the department was to get her statement. 

He looked at the untouched glass of scotch in front of him. One drink wouldn't hurt, he thought. He picked up the glass and took a drink, as he pocketed the napkin full of his notes. He would need to make his report, but he was certain that the others were still in the preliminary stages at the park. He had time. "One last thing," he spoke carefully, not wanting to upset her further, "what are you doing for dinner?" He flashed a dashing smile her way.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine decided this was the most bizarre morning of her entire seventeen years. She wouldn't think it was possible to feel as many emotions as she had in just a few hours, but indeed her world was spinning.

How a simple morning run turned into a murder scene which turned into possibly a date with her old flame she would never, ever, attempt to comprehend. Fate was funny that way.

Perhaps it was the bourbon, or maybe the intensity of the morning, or the fact that Dorian Humbert was suddenly back in her life, in any case his question made her laugh, and then she wanted to cry.

"How do you do that...?" she asked remembering their past when he had the same affect on her. They had defeated death together and though she had been terrified he made her forget her fear, and he had done it again.

Indecision weighed heavy on her mind, to go to dinner with him, to do anything with him was a risk. There was no guarantee she could keep this up, in fact it was almost guaranteed that she would fail miserably and pain and sadness would ensue. Still she couldn't resist, she hadn't felt this alive, or safe for that matter, since before the Hogsmeade attack. She wasn't giving this feeling up for the world.

"Nevermind. I don't have any plans."

[Dorian Humbert]

He understood the range of emotions that played on her face. It had been a hectic morning and he thankful he had been able to make her laugh, even if it was only for a moment. He didn't like seeing her in pain. Their history together was short, but it was intense and seeing her again brought back feelings he couldn't imagine were she not sitting in front of him at that very moment.

"Good," he replied. "Then you'll be mine tonight." Dorian moved from his seat across the table and sat next to her. His thumb traced the outline of her jaw. Her skin was so smooth and soft. He wanted to kiss her, but thought it might be too forward, all things considered.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine, not for the first time that morning, was completely lost. It was a completely foreign feeling to her. She had only felt this way once before and it was in the same man's presence.

How could she know him so well after having spent so little time with him? Still she knew that the honorable - and frankly stiff - image he projected on the world, even with her, hid a passion so intense anyone caught up in it would be lost.

His words broke any sense of independence or will of her own, she would be his tonight, and any other night, she was his the moment she saw him again, she had never stopped being his.

He moved so quickly and touched her that she lost her breath, her eyes wide and caught on his which revealed his own desires despite his control. With a will that was not her own she gave in to what they both wanted, what should have been forbidden, what should have been the furthest from their minds. Perhaps because it was forbidden, perhaps because Christine was reminded of how fragile life was because of this morning, perhaps because he was there once again making her feel safe, perhaps because he smelled intoxicating, a thousand perhaps it didn't matter the reason, she'd never need a reason. She closed the distance between them and brought her lips to his.

[Dorian Humbert]

He kissed her furiously, running one hand through her hair, and pulling her closer with the other. She tasted of bourbon and sweat. The flavors mixed perfectly, describing their relationship thus far. Every interaction Dorian had ever had with this woman had been charged. They argued intensely when she had interfered with his investigation in Egypt, they fought fervently to escape capture from the dark wizard he later brought to justice, and they had made love passionately the following night. Adrenalin pumped through his body. He wanted her again. 

Dorian brushed her cheek with his hand and stared at her beautiful flushed face, a lustful look in his eyes. He had no idea that she was not who she claimed to be. There was no reason for him to doubt that she had been staying at this hotel and had not, in fact, just checked in when they arrived. He couldn't have known that they were only in the bar because her room had not yet been prepared. Or even that she was not 21 as she claimed to be, but instead was still a school girl. If he had known any of this, he would not have suggested they go up to her room. But as he whispered his desires into her ear, he believed all of the lies she had told him and thought on how exhilarating it was to be here with her again.
 

[Christine Montgomery]

Somewhere in the back of her mind Christine thought everything was happening too fast, but that part of her mind had been turned off. Once again she had felt the cold grasp of death near her, and once again it was Dorian who chased that hand away. His strength, his fearlessness in the face of danger warmed her; his passion for her burned through her.

"Yes." she answered both with a breathy tone and the way her body pressed into his.

As a coping mechanism sex was a great diversionary tactic. Whatever fear Christine had felt earlier was gone, replaced by all consuming passion she felt for this man.

Somewhere else in the back of her mind was the thought that none of this was real, it was a fantasy, a dream she had locked away inside of herself. She could be anyone. She could do anything.

[Dorian Humbert]

He kissed her once more before rising from his seat, moving around the table, and taking her by the hand. He lead her out of the bar, but then allowed her to take the lead. He did not know which room was hers, and did not want to delay their moment by taking a wrong turn.

[Christine Montgomery]

If ever there was a moment for sanity to crash back on her it was now. His hand was warm on hers, but not as hot as his mouth. She could have thought about what she was doing, but she was making a point not to think anymore. She wanted this, she needed this, the consequences be damned.

It was at that moment she made a conscious decision to let the night go wherever it would go with no regrets.

She took the reigns taking his hand in both of hers and pulling him toward the private elevator that led to the suites. She turned to face him, her eyes devouring his entire frame as her mind retreated back to the night she had spent in his arms before. Her heart began to race as she thought she would be there again soon.

She grinned as she backed into the elevator and pulled him toward her again. Merlin knew what kind of image they presented.

[Dorian Humbert]

He allowed himself to be pulled around by her, emboldened by her desire for him. He pressed his body against hers, sandwiching her between his muscular frame and the wall of the elevator. The doors closed behind him and paid no attention to the rising floors as his lips trailed over her neck. The elevator slowed and finally gave a small jolt before the doors opened.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine's sounds of pleasure could be heard throughout the elevator as it brought them upward, and truly she did not care. Her only thoughts were of him and where his mouth was, and what it was doing to her.

"God that feels..." she broke off as the elevator doors opened to the suite.

Maids were still in the room cleaning and straightening everything to live up to the Avalon name.

"Out." she ordered never breaking eye contact with Dorian. She removed his jacket while pushing him toward the bedroom.

[Dorian Humbert]

He shook his coat loose of his arms and let it fall to the floor. He pulled her shirt up over her head and tossed it behind him as her hair softly fell around her shoulders. He ravaged her with his eyes. She was even more beautiful now than she had been a year ago. The curves of her body were more defined, more mature, and he took his time kissing every inch of her. Hungrily, he threw her onto the bed. Instinct took over as his body melted with hers in a lustful passion.

[Christine Montgomery]

She slept. Their passion, coupled with the events of the morning, and her usual run had wiped her out emotionally, mentally, and physically. It was completely natural to fall asleep with his limbs still entangled with hers. It was the first deep sleep she had in a long while. It was the first time she had truly felt safe to close her eyes without hearing the cries of her classmates, or seeing the seemingly lifeless body of her cousin. Her dreams were peaceful, quiet, and warm.

She wasn't aware of how long she had slept, but just as her hazy dream subsided and reality crashed upon her the enormity of what she had done...again, caused her to bolt upright. Her eyes wide looking for the man she had just been thoroughly ravished by.

[Dorian Humbert]

He had held her for a while as she slept, watching her eyes flicker with dreams that he did not envy. This was an emotional day, not only for her, but up until this point this had just been a normal work day for Dorian. The adrenaline was commonplace and he thought nothing of the morning's events, sans Christine. She was the only excitement in his day, which was still young, but he knew this was anything but normal for her. He let her sleep as he sneaked away to the sitting room.

After gently closing the door, he conjured his patronus for the second time that day, and sent word to his superiors. He had obtained the witness' statement, with nothing of note aside from an ominous feeling that she was unable to describe. Christine's timeline at least would help them narrow down just when the poor woman had been murdered and strung up like a pinata for unsuspecting park goers to happen upon. A hotel key may have been dropped, probably near the police box, and should be retrieved.

[Christine Montgomery]

When she didn't see him next to her, she panicked and scrambled from the bed, barely remembering to grab a robe before she searched for him. She heard him shuffle in the room outside however and relaxed, releasing her grip on the door handle.

Her heart was pounding. Painful memories she had repressed surged to the forefront of her mind. She had never told him goodbye. She didn't have the time or opportunity to see him again before her uncle set sail again. And while she logically knew that this time things were different, her heart couldn't reconcile the pain that she had never really dealt with.

She turned the knob gently and opened the door to find him. He seemed composed, that perfect unflappability that simultaneously calmed her and pushed her to ruffle his pristine feathers, was back in place. How a man like him concealed so much passion she would never know, she was only thankful that she had seen it.

"I thought you might have left." she told him, her weight on one foot as the other swung slightly in front of her - an unconscious act of insecurity which she had kept from her voice.

[Dorian Humbert]

He turned as he heard the door creak open, and smiled at her. He had no intention of leaving her, the thought had never crossed his mind. "Work," he explained. He crossed the room and greeted her with a kiss, pulling her close to him. Pushing a few strands of hair from her face, he asked "are you hungry?" It was past lunchtime, but with the excitement of the day he suspected she would need something to eat.

[Christine Montgomery]

She hid her relief well, and then was frozen in place as he made his way toward her. He was a magnificent example of the male species, and the way he carried himself, confidently, gracefully, the kind of power that made women sigh and other men scowl with envy. Dorian took up any room he entered with his presence alone, it was only natural she should submit completely when he pulled her toward him. She could die happy in a lazy hold by this man.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew she was playing with fire, she knew someone was going to get burned, if the house didn't just go up in flames. Maybe she would curse herself for a fool on the day it did, but she would press forward with no regrets until that moment.

"Starved." she answered, then as if her stomach heard her growled in agreement.

[Dorian Humbert]

He smiled as her stomach growled. "You really are starving," he said with a light chuckle. Dorian rarely attempted making jokes, as most of his friends equated his sense of humor to that of a father's; corny and only entertaining to the joke teller. Dorian never did have the desire to be "the funny one". His dearly departed mother had always supposed that this was part of his reasoning in taking up such a serious profession. She would tease him, saying that when he was younger he wanted to be two things; a comedian or an auror - and since he couldn't tell a joke he was forced to apply for a job at the Ministry.

Dorian didn't want Christine to go far from the safety of the hotel, but thought it too presumptuous to suggest room service on her account. Although the thought of watching her eat, half naked was very tempting. In the end, he'd leave it up to her. "Shall we dress and go down to the restaurant, or would you prefer to stay here?"

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine on the other hand had a wonderful sense of humor, that quick wit that either got her out of trouble or into it, but she hadn't used much of it lately. She hadn't smiled or laughed much lately either. There wasn't much to smile about.

Until now.

For whatever reason (that reason being Dorian), she couldn't keep the smile off of her face, not exactly how she expected to feel after the events of the day. But those events came back with a vengeance at the thought of getting dressed and facing the world.

"Honestly?" she asked giving him a sheepish look, "I don't think I want to leave this room for the next month."

That was a stretch. Christine hated being cooped up in one place, it's why she fought so hard against Hogwarts, but at the same time she wasn't that same girl anymore, and another part of her thought that being locked up in a room with Dorian could very well entertain her for much longer than a month.

She turned in his arms and faced the window with him at her back, "Let's order in." she decided wrapping herself further into a cocoon of security.

[Dorian Humbert]

There were several reasons Dorian would have preferred her stay in that hotel room for a month. After the incident at the park, Dorian worried for Christine's safety and the hotel security, plus a few extra charms he'd placed on the room while she slept, were enough to give him some peace of mind. He also couldn't deny that the thought of having her all to himself, clothed or otherwise, was highly intriguing. And finally, if she was here in the hotel room it meant that she hadn't suddenly disappeared into the night, as she had in Egypt.

"As you wish." With a switch of his wand, the room service menu flew from the desk on the far wall and hovered in front of Christine.

[Christine Montgomery]

"I don't know. I might get lonely after a while...I do wish there was someone who might keep me company were I to hide away." she teased in time with her body as she nestled deeper into her safe haven.

Looking over the menu she decided she wanted everything, but settled on Salmon Nicoise and whatever chocolate confection they had to offer.