Warts And All [Cassie]

[Dacian]

She was indeed awake, but only in the basic sense of the word. It seemed he had woken her, though he should have expected that. He shrugged his right shoulder in apology. He had not exactly intended to, but as much as watching her sleep would be therapeutic, he much preferred to speak with her. As sitting on the bed was out, and sitting on the floor seemed too undignified, he opted to remain standing. It was awkward and more than a little painful, but he managed it with only a slight waver.

Her declaration amused him, and keeping with the theme, he replied, “Yes. Water has that affect on me.” His eyes moved from her face, investigating the lump of duvet that covered her. He was too tired to wonder what she was wearing under it despite his best efforts. Instead his tired mind saw her curled up like some hibernating animal and the only thing he could think was that she was ‘cute’. It was not a word that he usually entertained in his vocabulary, yet it seemed appropriate now.

Dacian sighed, feeling sleepy just looking at her. “Perhaps you should sleep.” He said reluctantly, though it was clear he was not keen on the idea. His damp trousers were getting uncomfortable, and he wished he had a change of clothes. He doubted Cassie had anything that would fit him. They might be the same height, but they were different in all other dimensions. He looked around the room, and wondered where she might object to him sleeping. She had blacked out the windows, but it was his general habit to sleep somewhere enclosed if there was the possibility of sunlight creeping in.

His hand raked his hair back again, frustrated. What the Hell was he doing here? She was not so available to him. The game seemed to have come to a dead stop (literally) when he came to her last night. Her kindness was evident, but the heat was gone. Seeing a man die was a bit of a dampener, he expected. He wondered how much effort it would take to cultivate it back.

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie giggled at that, the soft sound a vast contrast to her usual raucous laugh. She shifted again as his gaze ran down the length of her. What was he even looking at? The only visible part of her was the top half of her face, the rest of her buried beneath the covers. She’d never be able to sleep with him looking at her like that though and it seemed he had no intention of moving from standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

With only the smallest of sighs she sat up, pushing her hair out of her face with more success than Dacian. ”Perhaps.” Cassie agreed, pushing her legs out from under the covers. Her toes curled at the feel of cool floorboards beneath her feet and her eyes flicked longingly back to the bed. It had been warm and cosy in there. At least she was still fully dressed as she hadn’t bothered to change into nightclothes when Dacian left earlier. Jeans weren’t the comfiest of clothes to sleep in, but she appreciated the extra warmth all the same.

Getting up she padded past him to the bathroom. ”Come on.” Cassie turned and beckoned. ”Unless you want to stay damp all night?” She didn’t know why she was taking pity on him, he’d interrupted her sleep. Perhaps it was the frustrated way he tried to push his hair back again. She was clearly a sucker for a guy that needed saving, even if it was from something as simple as standing around in wet trousers. She smirked, she wouldn’t mind saving Dacian from his trousers at all.

Cassie pulled one of the soft towels off the rack in the bathroom then picked up her hairbrush. She wasn’t sure what she could do about his wet clothes. It wasn’t like she had anything that would fit him. Then she remembered her wand. What was she a witch or muggle? Cassie rolled her eyes and turned back to Dacian. ”Here” She held the towel and the hairbrush out to him. ”And a quick spell should dry your clothes out.”

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[Dacian]

Ooh. His attention piqued as she moved. Oh. Clothes. Pity. Her nightwear would have been interesting to see. Her toes curled oddly as she put them down on the floor. Was she really so sensitive to the cold? Strange little witch. Why had she even left Australia if she liked the heat? Scotland was no place for a warm-blooded creature like Cassie. Hum. Nice feet. He watched her pass, turning until his left side began to strain.

Dacian followed after her dutifully, the shuffling version of a doting puppy. She led him through a door into a small room. He left the door open behind him. He barely spared a glance to the mirror over the sink. Of course his reflection did not look back at him. It wasn’t even there. By the mirror’s view, Cassie was the only one in here. Usually mirrors helped to open up a room, but Dacian was quite acutely aware of where the walls really were, and that the only escape was the door. He lingered near it, feeling out of place in such a domestic setting.

The vampire took the proffered towel and brush, grasping them both in one hand. He looked at them with mild confusion, as if unsure what to do with them. Awkwardly, he fumbled the brush onto the sink cabinet and bowed his head and started to scrub the towel over his scalp. The feeling was enjoyable, but his satisfaction was short-lived. “Spell?” He straightened and shook his head, tussled hair flopping back around his cheeks. “No spells. We have a mutual understanding. I hate them, and they hate me.” His expression was doubtful but his eyes were hesitant on hers. The vampire was clearly uncomfortable with magic. “I think I’ll stay damp, thank you.” He wondered if taking the trousers off would encourage or discourage her from pointing spells in his direction,

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie snickered at the confused expression on Dacian’s face as he took the hairbrush and towel. Honestly, men, she could be forgiven for thinking he didn’t know a thing about personal grooming. She leaned against the wall, the back of her legs being warmed by the radiator in the room while she watched Dacian awkwardly dry his hair with one hand. It hadn’t escaped her notice that he wasn’t using his injured arm at all and she wondered if there would be a chance for her to ask about it.

From this angle she could see his back and the way it was just as scarred as his torso. An odd shiny burn seemed to dribble down his back and there were several silvery slashes across one of his shoulder blades. Cassie half wanted to ask about them too, but she wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. It wasn’t like they could swap stories about their scars, with only one that she could think of she’d run out pretty quickly.

Cassie pouted as Dacian declined her offer of using a spell to dry his trousers. Didn’t he trust her? She’d put her trust in him when he’d been inches away from ripping her throat out and yet he wasn’t going to let her perform a simple little charm. She probably should have been a little more put out, but the way his hair had been fluffed up by the towel was distractingly adorable. ”Suit yourself.” She huffed and muttered something that could easily have been ‘baby’.

She pushed off from the wall, slipping past Dacian in the confined space to go back into the bedroom. ”But you’re not getting into my bed if you’re still wet.” Cassie quirked her eyebrows at him a sly smile on her face. With that she spun on her heal and crossed the room to sit back on the edge of the bed again. Yeah, she wasn’t above using dirty tactics to get what she wanted.

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[Dacian]

She took that quite well. He should refuse her help more often if she was going to pout. That bottom lip was just waiting to be kissed. Small room. He could easily corner her. A repeat of last nights kiss in the privacy of her hotel room might yield different results. No Edward staring at them. Less guilt. Who knew, more blood? That little nick in her tongue had told him at least two things: she tasted very good, and she wasn’t upset about him taking advantage of that little leak. His lips parted for a moment, and she slipped past him.

Draping the towel over his shoulder, he picked up the brush. She paused in the doorway, and he took a step toward her. Mm, those lips. Wait, did she say bed? For a stunned moment, he stood in the little room. Then he limped after her, tilting his head curiously. “Bed?” He questioned. “Let me get this straight. You trust me enough to get me sleep in your bed, with you? And in return, you want to cast some spell on me?” The terms were steep, but utterly compelling. “Deal.” He said firmly, trying to convince himself. “But I get the left side, and I reserve the right to use you to warm my feet if you steal the covers.” His grin was a little lopsided, but at least it wasn’t entirely lecherous.

The vampire covered the rest of the distance between them and stood before her. “And if this backfires, I’m going to eat you.” He braced himself, acutely aware of her wand’s proximity to regions he’d rather it not be pointed at. Oh the things he endured for a little affection. Next he really would be buying her flowers and chocolates just to see a smile on her face or get an invitation to her bed.

[Cassie Vimes]

”Yes bed.” She patted the mattress beside her to prove her point. ”I don’t see anywhere else to sleep in here. Unless you want to kip on the floor.” Cassie winced at the memory of her night on the floor the previous evening. Not fun. ”It’s completely harmless, promise.” She added piling on the pressure as he seemed to be internally debating it. A grin spread onto her lips as he agreed and she jumped up, grabbing her wand from the bedside table.

Cassie wrinkled her nose at the thought of Dacian using her as a personal heater, she knew exactly how cold his feet would be, but there was no fun to be had without risks. ”Deal.” She repeated with a small nod. She’d seen his hesitation when she first suggested using magic to dry his clothes, so she almost resisted making a joke about the spell going awry. Almost. Then he went and teased about eating her… At least she thought he was teasing.

”Now hold still.” She said, a mock serious expression on her face, she couldn’t hold it for long though and she had to duck her head to hide the mischievous smile quirking the corners of her lips. ”I don’t want to accidentally set you on fire.” Before her words could really sink in and Dacian could get annoyed with her or back out she muttered the spell under her breath and accompanied it with flick of her wrist. ”There, that wasn’t so bad was it?”

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[Dacian]

Bed was definitely preferable to the floor, though Dacian had slept on enough of them that it wasn’t the comfort that made Cassie’s bed so appealing. Inviting him so close was just asking for him to reach out and touch. He doubted she would appreciate his frozen extremities, however, so he would have to soak up some of her ambient heat first. He wondered briefly if she knew any spells to warm him up, then decided he wasn’t sure if he could stomach more spells. Harmless, he scoffed. ‘Lumos Solem’ was harmless, was it? Vampire acted strangely to some magic, what was to say this wouldn’t horrifically backfire?

The vampire watched anxiously as she jumped up, taking the slightest step back as she clasped her wand in her hand. She became much less attractive holding that wand, as if it were some horrific accessory sapping her pretty little features. His nose wrinkled a little and he shuffled back a little more only to be thwarted by the wall. No escape now. Maybe he could bolt to the door.

Cassie was telling him to hold still. Great advice. She seemed intent on doing this despite his discomfort, so perhaps he should listen. Wait, fire? “Fire?!” Too late, she was casting. He flinched and closed his eyes tightly. There was that familiar tang of magic in the air, and then silence. Nothing happened. He cracked an eye open. He didn’t seem to be on fire, and he also seemed to still have both legs. He touched his jeans hesitantly. They were dry and apparently cleaned as well. He grumbled under his breath and shot her a glare.

“Alright, that’s my side of the bargain over with. Now it’s your turn.” Dacian moved away from the wall, sparing a quick glance to her wand as he approached. The slight limp made it less sultry than he would have liked, but the burning light in his eyes made up for it. He held out his right hand for her left as he came to a stop in front of her, maintaining steady eye-contact. They were on a perfect level, and though Dacian was a little disconcerted about women as tall as or taller than him, he could see how it might have advantages. Less stooping for one.

His smile warmed, and he tilted his head. “I propose a second deal.” The man said softly, resisting the urge to step closer. “Let me steal a kiss now, and from then on, I’ll behave myself. I’ll provide plenty of opportunities for you to kiss me, naturally, but it will be your responsibility to take them. However, I’ll be permitted to use persuasive tactics when I deem them necessary. I said I wouldn’t lie: I want you to kiss me.” Distracting himself with this intimacy dulled the pain a little, and as if the effect were narcotic, it was getting addictive. “I’ll warn you now, if you decline, I’ll steal one now and at every opportunity I get.” He wanted her to say no. He was usually the one in control. But if she refused, he was sure he would drive her away with his growing obsession. “Say yes. Please.” He breathed, leaning in just a little bit. No Edward, no boundaries, and that excited him. With rules in place, he might be able to resist. His voice was barely a whisper now. “Please.”

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie had to grin at the look of panic on Dacian’s face. Cruel? Yes, but damn funny too. About time she had a turn at setting him on edge, he’d been throwing her off kilter ever since they’d met again the previous evening. Still amused she lowered her wand, feeling at least a little guilty as she watched him tentatively pat at his legs as though checking they were still there. He hadn’t actually thought she was going to set him on fire had he? Cassie was a better witch than that.

She smiled sweetly as he glared at her, but the smile faltered a little as he started making his way back over to her. Her turn? Hadn’t the deal been a share of her bed in exchange for dry trousers? Which, come to think of it was hardly a fair exchange. The intensity of his gaze brought back the familiar flutter of her heart and she took his hand despite herself, not entirely convinced that the goose bumps that prickled up her arms were down to cool touch of his skin on hers.

”I’m listening.” Cassie said, curiosity clear on her face. It probably wasn’t such a good idea to make deals with a vampire, but Cassie had never exactly been one to only do something if it was a good idea. Kissing. When had they strayed into this territory again? Her breath hitched. It definitely wasn’t a good idea to kiss him again if the previous outcome was anything to go by. Her lips tightened into an uncertain line. One kiss Ed would probably forgive her for, but two? Or more. Her heart sped up in anticipation anyway.

Dacian’s voice sent a thrill down her spine, the way he looked at her, like there was nothing more he wanted in the world than to kiss her, was irresistible. As was the delicious realisation that whatever happened, whatever she said, this kiss was inevitable. Cassie leaned in too, pausing less than an inch away from his lips. ”Yes,” Her tongue darted out to lick across her lips. ”You have a deal.” Part of her wanted to add more rules, as Dacian had done with their previous arrangement, but standing this close to him somehow managed to make her forget anything she might want to include. Just feeling his lips on hers would be enough.

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[Dacian]

The wait was intolerable. She was close enough that kissing her was just a matter of inches away. He didn’t need her permission, but he wanted it. Why? He couldn’t explain it. Usually he took what he wanted without playing these ridiculous games. This whole charade was driving him mad, yet still he entertained it. Was this all for Cassie, or had she just been in the wrong place at the right time? Had the fact that she had been Edward’s prompted him to steal her away? Was the fact that Edward drove him off making this all the more appealing? So many questions he had not the answers to.

Cassie wasn’t his usual type. Too tall, too slim, not nearly buxom enough and he preferred an hourglass figure to her lean curves. Yet he wanted to kiss her, hold her close, and investigate those lean curves with his hands. His left hand gave a twinge and he felt growing annoyance toward the boy who had incapacitated him. So far he had just felt humiliated, but now the ire was beginning to rise. Not being able to embrace Cassie with both arms was only the beginning.

Dacian squeezed her hand impatiently. He wished he could hear her heartbeat more clearly and he stopped himself from pressing his ear to her bosom to see what effect he was having on her. He strained to hear it, and he was at least content with the fast pace of it.

After what seemed like an eternity, she leaned in painfully slowly. This was going to be a cruel rebuff or a glorious acceptance. If he had breath, he’d be holding it.

Yes.

A rush of relief filled him. He ignored the fact she might be saying it to keep him at bay after what could be their last kiss and concentrated instead on standing upright. He watched so intently as he tongue wetted her lips and as soon as her confirmation was out of her mouth, he made his move.

His hand still grasped in hers, he walked in to fill the distance between their bodied but he did not stop. He walked her backward, finding them an unadorned section of wall to trap her against. This was his kiss, and she would not be escaping prematurely. Not to mention a wall provided much needed support for his tired body. He could lean against her, and was not expected to have to hold her up too. He had briefly contemplated dragging her to the bed, but that would probably frustrate him more.

Pressed up to her, he could gratefully feel her heart beating against her ribs and it was soothing. Unlike this evening, her heart was a comfort rather than a dinner bell, and he couldn’t get enough of it. He delighted in the feel of their bodies matching up as his front pressed to hers. Their jeans met uncomfortably at the waist, but perhaps that was just as well. He wasn’t sure how much more temptation he could take.

With the slightest of groans, he licked his own lips and leaned in painfully slowly. The first brush of their lips was electric, and he was soon pressing them closer, his tongue tentative at first but gradually gaining more confidence and purpose. He couldn’t help pushing his body against hers, glad for her warmth and the heat it added to the kiss. This was not the gentlemanly composure he had displayed last night. It was no less precise but it had a desperate edge to it.

Dacian’s hand released hers to cusp the back of her neck while his fingers splayed over her scalp, buring under her hair. He was able to draw her closer that way, but it was maddening to keep from kissing her too deeply. His fangs could easily slice her tongue or lips and if blood was once again added to the equation, the vampire would be promptly dragging her to the bed, promises be damned.

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie let Dacian lead her backwards, taking awkward, hesitant steps as he completely consumed her personal space. It was either move with him or end up on her ass when he walked into her. That was part of the thrill though, this was Dacian’s kiss and she would follow wherever he chose to take them. Wouldn’t they be reaching the wall if they didn’t stop soon though? Cassie’s elbow collided with it first, not too hard, but hard enough to knock the wand from her hand. It clattered to the floorboards and rolled slowly away from them.

Then the rest of her was being pressed into it too as Dacian stood flush against her and Cassie suddenly realised that they were the same height. It didn’t make her feel any less overwhelmed by his proximity though, her heart thudding out a needy rhythm in her chest and her grey eyes flicking from his lips and back to his gave again impatiently. She wanted this. Needed it. She wished he would just hurry up and kiss her already, before she forgot how to breathe.

A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine as Dacian leaned in excruciatingly slowly, but when their lips finally met Cassie was gratified to find it had been worth the wait. She matched every move he made with increasing urgency, her mouth opening under his at the tentative press of tongue on her lips. Her arm braced against the wall as though it was the only thing holding her up as she pressed back against him, drinking in his desperation and fuelling it with more of her own.

This was better than the kiss they’d shared at The Hog’s Head. That had been a one off, an all too brief taster with a rather bitter ending. This time Dacian was not holding back and Cassie didn’t have the weight of Edward’s gaze playing on her mind. Dacian’s hand was in her hair, making the skin on the back of her neck prickle, although this time the reaction was purely down to his cool touch and not fear as it had been when hunger of a different kind had consumed him.

Cassie’s arm slipped around his waist, fingers brushing across a scar from some kind of puncture wound before she let her hand settle on the small of his back, trying to pull him impossibly closer still. She wanted more, she definitely didn’t want this to end any time soon. Unfortunately her lungs seemed to have other ideas as they burned for oxygen. Cassie pulled away by the slightest amount, gasping for air before pressing a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. ”More.” She insisted, not bothering to clarify whether she meant more kissing or more than kissing.

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