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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 1:18:02 GMT -5
"I wouldn't say bothered so much as I lack incentive to share what I consider to be confidential information. Particularly to an old flame who has boundary issues at best or ulterior motives that are suspect. Tell me Christian, other than your charming smile, fantastic shagging ability, and rather talented if not a bit wicked tongue, why should I tell you anything about me?"
The waiter returned with their meals and Diana's attention was successfully taken away as she sliced a forkful of meat and took a bite. Her eyes closed in ecstasy as she made a small unmistakable noise that Christian would recognize as pleasure.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 1:25:01 GMT -5
Christian shook his head in mild astonishment. "You are damaged, aren't you? Do you not know what it looks like when a man is smitten with you? I apologize if I am so intrigued by you that I want to know more. You're quite different than I remember, obviously more broken than when I saw you last, but still you fascinate me. And I'm not about to deny that I love hearing you make noises like that."
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 1:32:23 GMT -5
Her eyes opened when he called her damaged. It was true, her Christian had known it as well, but he almost seemed to admire the way her jagged pieces fit together. Diana wasn't sure about this Christian, whether he truly was smitten with her as he claimed or if he was after something else. She really was damaged since she didn't know what smitten looked like.
She thought about Christian's heated looks from when they were younger to who they were now. She had always been a fool where he was concerned. Now would prove no different.
She blushed.
"I'm not entirely adverse to you causing them."
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 1:44:15 GMT -5
"So you can recognize the overt signs of a man's interest. I suppose that's something," he said as his hand gently caressed her leg.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 1:48:56 GMT -5
Her eyes closed half way, though it was clear that Christian's touch was just as if obviously not more pleasurable to her than the exquisite dish she had ordered. He could melt her with a glance, coupled with pregnancy hormones and Diana was putty. She hated that he could reduce her to such a state.
"Christian..." she said somewhere between a warning and a whimper.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 1:59:03 GMT -5
Christian was positive that Diana's desire for him stemmed from their week long affair more than a decade ago, and her pathetic excuse for a marriage that she refused to talk about. He also knew that he had never had a complaint in bed, aside from his latest attempts which were supernaturally spoiled by Diana's wickedness. Her interest in him was evident from their first conversation in the Rusty Nail and persisted despite her suspicions about his motives which, all things considered, Christian believed he was doing a rather fine job at quelling.
He heard the warning in her voice. She'd used it each time they'd come together and it hadn't hindered him in the slightest. It certainly wouldn't now. "Don't fight it, doll. You know how good it can be."
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:02:42 GMT -5
She also knew how painful it could be. How painful it already was. Each time she left with him she fought back the main heartbreak only to grow more and more addicted.
"You don't understand." she said, and there was something else in her voice, something soft and sad.
She put her hand under the table and removed his from her leg.
"I'm not very hungry anymore." she said sincerely. It was a mistake to come.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:13:40 GMT -5
Christian was thrown. His charms usually worked on all the ladies, and Diana wanted him so badly that she put a curse on him so that he could only be with her. He needed to remove the damn thing so he could resume his normal life, and he couldn't very well turn her in for the reward before everything was in perfect working order.
It was a moment before he figured out what to say, a look of moderate shock and disappointment graced his face in the interim. "At least let me take you somewhere safe."
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:21:08 GMT -5
"I have somewhere safe." she assured him.
Then a look of indecision passed over her features. Indecision, fear, anger, and a profound sadness, the look was gone with the next breath.
"Thank you for the meal." she said getting to her feet and turning for the door.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:27:11 GMT -5
The normally cool and collected Christian was now in a state of near panic. He had to get the curse removed sooner rather than later and Diana, currently his only option, was walking away from him.
"Diana, wait." He caught up with her. "I-I don't what is happening to me, but I can't stop thinking about you. I don't know what it is, I don't understand these feelings I'm having but the thought of someone attacking you... Please, let me protect you. Even if you don't want anything more from me, please let me keep you safe."
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:36:49 GMT -5
She had to get out of the restaurant. She had to get away from him, but he was too fast and caught up with her just outside.
She was silent listening to him, but her heart began to pound. What if it was true? What if somehow, even though she had taken his memories, what if he still loved her? Wasn't that what all the poets claimed? True love transcending all?
She was a fool, she didn't believe in any of that, but she couldn't say no. She turned and faced him. One step closer and she was pressed against his chest her head resting just against his heart; she listened to its familiar sound.
"You get one day..." she said, "Today. After today Christian..." she pulled away to look up at him, "You have to let me go." she gave him a half smile though her eyes were still sad. It wouldn't be hard for him to let her go, he had already done it before, and their two encounters - while passionate - weren't strong enough to create the kind of despair that came with the knowledge you might not see that person again.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:42:59 GMT -5
He placed his hands on her face and brought her lips to his. He kissed her briefly yet passionately before taking her hand and whispering against her ear. "It's not safe in the open like this." He took her back to his house.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 2:53:51 GMT -5
Diana stopped moving with him once their home - and yes it was still the place she considered to be her home- came into view.
She knew what would happen if she went inside with him, at least she thought she did. They would talk, maybe, if they weren't more interested in tearing each other's clothes off first. She could spend a lifetime in bed with Christian Ward, but strangely that wasn't what she wanted to happen. It would be over too fast. The time would pass them by as they marked one another with passion, and after their passion was spent they would say goodbye.
Goodbye for the hundredth time. It never seemed to stick, but this time it was different. This time for the sake of her children, and for Christian's sake, she would leave. But she wanted the day. To make the most of it before she left him; to give her something to remember.
"Not yet..." she looked up at him, "Take me somewhere." she urged him, "Somewhere no one else can find us."
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:12:39 GMT -5
He did not understand this woman at all. She played hard to get all the while cursing him to become aroused only in her presence. He still had hardly any idea why she had chosen him as the target for her mind games, besides his obvious prowess and her infatuate so long ago. But why him and why now?
His movements stilled as he looked at her questioningly. Slowly his curious appearance shifted and said, "alright." He took her hand and disapparated from the street.
They appeared on a dock, clearly no longer in England as the sun was just starting to set. Several boats were docked in the harbor but Christian guided her to the one at the very end.
"Is the middle of the sea far enough away?" he asked as he helped her onto the boat.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:19:07 GMT -5
She gifted him with a rare bright smile as she gingerly stepped into the boat and the escape he offered.
Why hadn't they done this before? Why didn't they just run away together and escape?
Because Diana wanted it all. It wasn't enough to have Christian and the new life she carried. She wanted Alyx. And she didn't want Alyx or Liam to live in fear or on the run. She wanted the danger settled and behind them. That wanting had destroyed everything, well it wasn't alone in her happily ever after's destruction, but it played a large part.
Still she wouldn't have given up on Alyx for all the happy endings in the world.
Even though she didn't see the way out of this tunnel she had created, she just had to push forward and trust that she'd come out the other end.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:28:50 GMT -5
He drove them slowly away from the shore and watched as the harbor shrank in the distance. When they were far enough out, Christian stilled the boat and looked over at Diana. He could do it now. She appeared unarmed and she had nowhere to run. But he needed to be sure. Christian sat next to her.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:31:57 GMT -5
"If you could do anything different in your life what would it be?" she asked appearing far too wistful for their usual banter.
She didn't look at him yet, too pleased with the salty air of the ocean and the brisk sensation of wind lashing at her face.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:40:06 GMT -5
From Christian's perspective, the question came out of nowhere. And it was not one commonly asked of him, so he felt justified in taking the time to think it through properly, even if he wasn't coming up with the real answer so much as the right answer. "Wow, I'd have to think about that," he said thoughtfully.
His first thought as to claim he wanted to redo their final evening together; perhaps explain why he was leaving or not leave her at all. But he decided that she would see through that answer as obviously fake. He needed something more real to grab her, possibly catch her off guard.
"I suppose I would spend more time with my father before he passed." He eyed her to see if his truth had been the correct answer.
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Post by Diana Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:51:47 GMT -5
She looked at him then. Once again her eyes were sad, she was looking at her mistake, she had stolen something from him much more precious than life, she had taken away his purpose, what made him who he was.
Before she knew about Alyx, Diana was a zombie, content to live out her life more or less waiting for the end. After her father died and the company came after her she became herself. She was damaged, angry, paranoid, and had a slew of other problems, but she had purpose, she had something to fight for, something to love.
She couldn't say with any certainty what kind of man Christian was four months ago, but he had become another man after learning about Alyx and falling in love with Diana, and she simply took all of it away.
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Post by Christian Ward on Dec 22, 2016 3:55:04 GMT -5
Judging by the look in Diana's eyes Christian had provided the correct answer. It also happened to be one with some truth behind it, though exaggerated for the effect.
"What about you? What would you do differently?"
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