Old Fashioned Romance (Maxine)

[Dorian Humbert]

"My dear, Maxine. Are you trying to get inside my head?" he asked with a soft chuckle. "Apparently I liked to help people when I was younger. When I told my parents of my plans to join the force, my mother said she'd been expecting it."

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

She laughed, low and throaty, it was a naturally seductive laugh, "Aren't I already in your head?" she teased in return. Merlin knew he was in hers, she thought about him quite often, and not because he was an assignment.

"Well thank goodness that held up, or I still might be stuck on the side of the road." she said with a gentle smile about he had 'rescued' her.

[Dorian Humbert]

Had Dorian known she'd faked her motorcycle troubles to get his attention he might have been put off by the ploy. Had he known she was an agent sent by a brother he knew nothing about he would have been furious. Luckily for their evening, Dorian was ignorant on both accounts.

He found Maxine to be wonderful company and a great conversationalist. They talked through their meal and even finished a bottle of wine between them. Dorian was still Dorian - prim and proper and ever the gentleman, but he felt relaxed around Maxine.

The band had taken a brief break but as they returned Dorian stood and offered Max his hand. "May I have this dance?"

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

"I thought you'd never ask." she said placing her hand in his. She was willing to bet he was a marvelous dancer.

[Dorian Humbert]

Marvelous was a tad strong. Dorian was good dancer. He'd win no prizes but he'd never step on your toes and he wouldn't embarrass you on the dance floor. He also enjoyed dancing, a preference the other children mocked when he was younger. He was no Billy Elliot, but he did take ballroom dancing lessons from the elderly lady down the street when he was a boy and he'd maintained the skills ever since.

Dorian took Maxine's hand in his and set his other hand at the small of her back. As the music, Dorian began. He moved gracefully and smiled at Max as he whirled her around the floor.

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

Marvelous was accurate in Max's book. Not many men of her acquaintance knew how to dance anything other than what went on at clubs. She felt elegant gliding along the dance floor- something she didn't often feel.

[Dorian Humbert]

"You are a wonderful dancer," Dorian complimented as he spun her away from him and then pulled her back in. "But I was expecting as much after the elegant display at the ice rink. Aside from out crash, which I take responsibility for."

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

"You're not too bad yourself. Did you have lessons?" she inquired.

Dorian was solid, though she had felt his body slam into hers at the ice rink, being pressed against him as they danced was further proof of his lean muscles. She was truly smitten with the man in front of her.

[Dorian Humbert]

"Only the most renowned teacher of our time," he said jokingly. "A neighbor from when I was young," he answered seriously. "Imagine a twelve year old me dancing with a 60-something blue haired woman with dentures." He smiled at her.

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

Max happily envisioned the little boy dancing with the elderly woman and it brought a smile to her face, "I'm sure she lived for your visits."

[Dorian Humbert]

"Actually," he said before spinning Maxine and bringing her back into his body. "She lived for her cats. I believe there were about twelve of them. The whole house smelled of kitty litter and you could hear the meowing from the street." The memory made him laugh a bit as they turned.

"And what of your lessons? Where did all of this grace originate?"

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

"Ah well, believe it or not I had deportment lessons." she said with a prim expression that soon melted with a bit of laughter, "Up until I was about 14. The motorcycles and dive bars came later."

[Dorian Humbert]

Dorian's eyebrows rose. "Really? That explains a lot, actually." He spun her again and as the song came to an end Dorian dipped her romantically and gave her a charming smile.

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

She brought her hand to his cheek softly and let her lips meet his at the dip. She didn't linger, knowing Dorian was probably not a fan of PDA, but she had been caught up in the moment.

[Dorian Humbert]

Dorian could be a very passionate man. He was no stranger to the weakening of a woman's knees, but he was also a very reserved man. Affection, he believed, was appropriately reserved for private moments. Not that he wouldn't hold a lady friend's hand in public or even steal a kiss from time to time if no one were watching. But no, Dorian was not a fan of PDA.

Maxine seemed to recognize that and Dorian deemed their kiss as not only appropriate but also very welcomed. He kissed her in return, short but sweet. He then righted her as he smiled. She was a fascinating creature and he wanted to get to know her better.

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

Max had certain ideas on how he could get to know her better, but she reminded herself that he was a job. She shouldn't get attached for when the job was over. It almost hurt, she had never been treated so nobly, men got a look at her and often wanted one thing, which wasn't to say that Dorian didn't want that same thing, but he respected her and women in general. It was a far cry from the pack mentality where you had to prove your worth almost daily, particularly if you were female.

[Dorian Humbert]

A few more glasses of wine and a few more whirls around the dance floor and the couple soon found themselves walking down the London street, flooded in moonlight. The wind picked up and blew at their backs.

"You must be cold," he commented as he removed his suit jacket and draped it over Maxine's shoulders. He then brushed the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Merlin, she was gorgeous. He was silently debating whether or not it would be appropriate to invite her to his apartment or whether he would accept an invitation into her place were she to offer.

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

"Thank you." She replied adjusting his jacket to cover her shoulders. When they got to her apartment she hesitated in front of the door. It was the only time she had ever hesitated during a job, and it was because of Dorian himself. She had never slept with a job before if she hadn't wanted to. Alek wasn't her pimp. But she usually had nothing against sleeping with a mark if she was interested. This time was different. Dorian was special.

[Dorian Humbert]

Dorian's internal debate raged on and he decided that he was being too hasty in his considerations. Maxine was gorgeous and they connected better than one would expect of two such different people. He certainly desired her, that was not the problem whatsoever.

It was the slight hint of surprise in her eyes as he treated her in the only manner he would ever deem fit. His chivalry, which was second nature at this point, was appreciated as something foreign and uncommon by Maxine. He didn't want to tarnish that by suggesting they jump into bed too quickly.

"I would love to ask you out again," he said as they approached her door.

[Maxine "Max" Deveraux]

"I'd like that." she said with a sly smile, "What are you doing for breakfast tomorrow?" she asked in a flirtatious and somewhat forward way that was completely congruent with her character.