Ain't no Party like an Ariadne Party

[Ariadne Boroughs]

Thread title inspiration

Music could be heard far down the drive; the group of ten musicians somehow managed to sound like an entire orchestra as they played for the laughing dancers. A massive circle dance had been pushed to a fever pitch, and nearly two dozen women were all laughing breathlessly as they entered the center, clapped, twirled, and returned to their places. Gowns of all colors and cuts twirled into a kaleidoscope view under the torchlight and the glow of the setting sun. The men were next, just as elaborately dressed as their partners, their laughter deeper and their clapping louder as they hurried through the motions. The band sped up again, and the circle whirled clockwise, then counter clockwise, and when the dancers were meant to jump, more than one pair of feet went out from under the dancers, bringing the whole circle to the ground in a joyous heap. 

The hostess stood outside the circle, leaning against one of the tall torch posts with her glass of champagne at her lips. Her short hair had been slicked back away from her striking face, and large diamonds sparkled at her ears. Her dress was simple compared to the others, a rich olive green with a sweetheart neck and plunging back. The pale curve of her bare throat and shoulders almost glowed in the torchlight as she threw back her head and laughed at the collapse of the dancers. The party had been going on since dinner, a few hours, now, but people continued to come and go freely, as they always did at Willow's Edge parties. 

It wasn't unusual for her to step back from things at this time of night; she'd already done the proper introductions, asked about everyone's families and businesses, made good impressions on everyone as they arrived. Besides, they weren't here for her--they were here for the party.

She watched with a smirk as the couples tried to right themselves, several of them taking advantage of the confusion to sneak in a few less polite touches. She knew a few pairs would disappear into the gardens after this, and she didn't mind. The servants would clean up after them in the morning, just as they always did, and her children were tucked away safely in bed on the other side of the house. All was well at Willow's Edge, and Ariadne was the queen who directed it all.

for Theo Davore

[Theo Davore]

There was one she hadn't been introduced to. There was a face that wouldn't be recognizable, perhaps only by some. Theo had slipped in just over an hour ago, far past sundown and when many, if not all, were intoxicated with drink. It made it far easier to blend in, to carry on conversations he really only cared half about, so long as those constant pilfering hands got what they wanted.

Kissing the hands of the ladies with their very large and expensive rings was all too easy when their minds were already swimming and he laid on the charm. That also went for swiftly undoing the clasps on the necklaces around their necks, or slipping lovely hairpins from their hair. Subtly and patience was the key, and he had plenty of both.

One only had to spend a short time in court before hearing about the marchioness' extravagant parties, and what a party it was! He found himself enjoying a couple glasses of wine and dancing when the desire arose, yet not distracting himself terribly much from his real task. The thief knew that he would need to steal far more than this night could offer in order to pay his debt, and there was only so much he could feasibly take without alerting the entire manor that there was a pickpocket among them. No, he would need something else, something bigger. A long con, something he hadn't done in awhile.

Hazel eyes drifted over and through the gathered dancers, finding the lone woman enjoying her champagne. He noted those lovely earrings first, of course, but he also took notice of her classic beauty. That slender frame, the elegant curve of her neck, those diamond earrings again, the sharpness of her features, how her face lit up when she laughed...

Why couldn't he recall this one's name? He'd been here for at least a couple of hours now and must have somehow missed her. The real question was how he could have possibly bypassed her, but trying to recall the reason why was pointless. Theo was already adjusting the jacket upon his shoulders as he casually weaved his way through the mess that was the drunken dancers, narrowly avoiding flailing limbs as though he were untouchable. In reality, he was probably because he was the only semi-sober one in the room, or so he thought. Speaking of, he reached out to snag another glass of wine from a passing servant before his grinning face was blocking Ariadne's view.

"I couldn't help but notice that you were...alone," he said so matter-of-fact, as if it wasn't obvious to anyone else who had been looking. "A room full of people and you aren't even dancing."

[Ariadne Boroughs]

Ariadne noticed the man on his way to her--he stood out like a steady ship on a drunken sea. It was hard to tell in the low, flickering light of the torches, but she didn't think she recognized this one. Funny...she'd made a point to speak with each person as they arrived. Had she missed him in one of the larger groups? She guessed him to be about her age, and about her height, well dressed...but she couldn't place him. He didn't bear a resemblance to any of the major families, as far as she could tell.

If he hadn't met her, it was actually more likely he'd avoided her than that she'd missed him. She was the perfect hostess, she didn't just miss guests. She got plenty of 'party crashers' here, but seeing as there wasn't exactly a guest list, she never kicked anyone out right away. No, if she thought they were interesting, they could stay as long as they liked. And really, so long as they weren't a nuisance, they could at least stay for dinner. She couldn't begrudge anyone a good meal.

She watched him calmly until he came to a halt directly in front of her and grinned. It was a nice smile, actually; she liked it, even if it seemed a bit too confident. Like the cat who caught the canary, she thought. Something about it made her competitive streak sing. Charming he may be, but it wouldn't be that simple to lower Ariadne's walls. She raised a brow at him as she finished her glass of champagne in one smooth movement and crossed her arms in front of her.

"Oh? You say that like it's a problem, my lord. But perhaps I like watching everyone make a fool of themselves," she countered with a just a hint of a sly smile. "After all, can't I do what I like in my own home?"

She looked at him expectantly, curious what his reaction would be to hearing who she was. She had a good feeling about this one...he had the potential to be fun.

[Theo Davore]

He was good at slipping in unnoticed...or very much noticed, depending upon the day or the situation. Normally quiet and steady wasn't his forte, but tonight he was making an exception. Xilas was hounding Theo for his money, an amount that was still very far out of his reach. He did have most of it months ago, but there was this little problem he seemed to possess and he simply couldn't help himself. Who knew gambling could become such an addiction?

Now, his life was on the line. The Rogue King had already sent a couple of his men to "remind him" of the debt he owed, and the thief's hatred for the exuberant man increased tenfold. Theo had thought about running to whatever distant land he hit first, but that wold mean losing everything. Every little thing he had worked so hard for and to maintain. No, he wasn't walking away. He'd handle this, just like he always did. He had a life here that was off the streets, a life of title even if it was small. He wasn't giving it up.

"No, not a problem," he told her. "Just a shame, is all." But his smile faltered slightly, just for a moment when it became known that this was her party. This could either end very badly or very well. It all depended upon how much of a fool he wound up being. And that, my friends, was often like the flip of a coin. One never knew which side it would land.

Theo took a single step back as his free hand pressed to his chest and he dipped himself forward into a bow. "Well then, it is a pleasure, marchioness. I'm Theo Davore and I have heard quite a lot of things about your parties. Sorry to be terribly late to this one."

[Ariadne Boroughs]

The falter in Theo's smile was what prompted the beginning of Ariadne's. Not bad; he hadn't made some excuse to run for the hills. His retort about the dance rewarded him with a light chuckle, even. A shame that she wasn't dancing, hm? Perhaps she'd have to change that, then.

Manners be damned, Ariadne was several glasses of champagne deep; enough to still be in control of her faculties but blissfully distant from worries about rules, status, and appearances. No one else had asked her to dance with them tonight, so she'd been waiting on the sidelines since the dancing began. She could have told someone she wanted to dance, certainly, but she didn't fancy spending her time with someone who hadn't guts enough to approach her on his own. She waited for Theo to regain his posture after the bow then drifted past him, purposefully brushing her shoulder against his as she made her way towards the band. Her eyes didn't leave his until she was all the way past, expecting him to follow.

"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure," she called back to him as she walked with head held high and hips swaying, "And welcome to Willow's Edge, Lord Davore. There's no such thing as late, when it comes to my parties. You arrive exactly when you're meant to."

Now she did turn to grin at him for an instant before she put her hand on the band leader's shoulder, then whispered something to him. Immediately, the band ceased the somewhat disorganized atmospheric music they'd been playing after the circle dance fell apart, and began a dreamy-sounding waltz instead. She knew she was showing off, but then, wasn't this whole party just a way for her to show off? She thrived on the energy her parties generated, for a while, but she was beginning to get bored. This might be something more interesting. She set her empty glass on a nearby table, then turned back to Theo and gestured to the dance floor, raising her eyebrow at him in challenge.

"Here's your chance to remedy the problem, then. Ask me to dance."

[Theo Davore]

Music. Voices. Laughter. These melodies intertwined through one another, and yet, his interest remained with Lady Boroughs. Perhaps it was foolish to be speaking with the hostess with a stash of jewels he'd recently hidden away in his horse's saddlebags, as well as the few stragglers he still held in his pockets. Eyes glanced to her empty glass, though, and couldn't help but wonder if it even mattered. She didn't appear to be too far into intoxication; that purposeful bump into his shoulder had his body turning with the slight momentum, his gaze following, and there was a curiosity on his face that hadn't been there before.

He had work to do. He needed to find the proper target, he needed to get Xilas his money, he...well, he needed a lot of things and he was beginning to forget them temporarily. It was as if her eyes had hooked him for his feet were immediately moving, making him involuntarily follow her across the floor. She had said something, but he barely paid it any mind- casually letting his attention drop to the pendulum-like sway of her hips as she walked away.

'You arrive exactly when you're meant to.' Oh, he was starting to wonder just how true that was. He'd nearly forgotten everything up until this point. Theo liked the brazen ones...but she was also mistress of this estate. That was a target too risky for even him. Too high, too well known.

He wasn't going to be that stupid, right?

Yet, he still kept following her slowly as the gathered dancers began to break away, the spell momentarily broken when Ariadne spoke with the musicians. The music changed and she was looking at him again in challenge and he dared to let a quizzical expression wash over his face briefly before it was gone. 'Ask me to dance.' It didn't feel like much of a suggestion as it was a curious command, maybe? One he should have shied away from. Then again, when did Theo ever shy away from much of anything?

A corner of his mouth curled up in a lopsided grin as his steps never faltered on his way towards her, even if his mind was questioning everything. Even when he knew he should have made up an excuse to leave. He had lingered for too long as it was.

People began to step back into a dance, once more filling the air with laughter and gentle conversation. A couple twirled across the dance floor between him and Ariadne, and within those few seconds, he disappeared from her view. Perhaps he had fled and decided this was a bad idea. Maybe he slipped from her sight and was already rushing back to the stables to leave in a frantic hurry.

But she'd feel a presence approaching from her side; fingers gently trailing down the length of her arm before taking her hand into his own. His other arm crossed over behind her back, that hand settling innocently against her side as he coaxed her forward. "Dance with me." This was also not a question, but perhaps a curious suggestion as well. For someone so tall, he moved with a grace any noble should have been bred with, learned to achieve, his attention not falling to anything else around them, not having a care in the world if anyone was watching. Theo released her in the middle of that dance floor just long enough to twirl her beneath his arm and draw her back to him.

Guess he wasn't taking no for an answer.

[Ariadne Boroughs]

She saw the brief question in his face when she turned back, and her smirk only widened. Good. He was curious, clearly, and he was following, so she hadn't lost him, not yet. Was he up to the challenge? He knew as well as she did that he wasn't an invited guest, but whether or not that mattered in the slightest was up to him. Not only that, but there was good reason no one else had been bold enough to approach her--she was the lady of the house, married to a wealthy marquis who was never around. The others knew they could look but not touch. But the reality of the matter was that her husband only cared about her when something was out of order. If he heard about this, she'd be sure to hear back about it, which was part of the fun. But she didn't want to think about Neil right now.

The grin that Lord Davore gave her sent a little thrill up her spine. That was more like it. Finally, she might have found someone who could keep up.

But then another pair of dancers whisked between them, and he was gone. Her brows flickered downward, disappointment too sudden and forceful to be hidden. Really? Was he going to try and vanish? She was about to turn and find another drink to wash that away when she felt a hand slide down her arm, and looked up to find Lord Davore at her side. This time it was no self-assured smirk that graced her lips, but a brilliant smile that sparkled as much as the diamonds she wore.

"Dance with me.

Like hers, it wasn't a question, and she wasn't about to argue. It was exactly what she wanted. She followed his lead onto the dance floor and twirled neatly under his arm, her smile fading back to just the hint of one as she caught herself just shy of pressing against him and her free hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Well done, Lord Davore. Feeling better now that we've cleared that up?" Her smile might be hidden, but her eyes danced with laughter.

[Theo Davore]

Theo should've known better. You could go after the high targets, but you had to plan it out. You never just jumped into a long con without knowing the details, without having an exit plan if things went wrong. This woman was not a widow, that much he knew at the very least. Although having money, evident by those lovely earrings dangling from her ears and this lavish party, she was untouchable. In many ways. He didn't know what it was, though- he spoke to her for but a moment and he was already about to overstep.

He never was very good at following the rules.

Did he think she would be an easy mark? No, quite the opposite, and that was precisely why he was immediately so intrigued. There was something in those eyes, in the curve of her mouth when she grinned that lured him further in. It was in the way she spoke, the way she floated instead of simply walked that clued him in. But Theo always was aiming too high, wanting things he shouldn't. Sometimes, it couldn't be helped and he knew it would ultimately be his undoing.

It was exceptionally difficult to remember his place when that shining smile graced her lips, lighting up her entire expression. Even if it was brief, it held his attention and burned into his memory.

With her hand in his, fingers gently curling around her own, his other went back to her side in a modest place again as he searched his mind for the proper dance steps. He'd spent countless days perfecting certain skills, learning whatever was necessary to pass as a lord. He just happened to be a naturally good dancer, if he could say so himself.

But why say it when he could prove it?

"A little, yes," he answered quietly. While laughter glinted in her eyes, mischief was clear within his own as his hand traveled to the small of her back. Lord Davore was suddenly leaning forward, lowering her into a dipping circle where he was tauntingly slow to pull her back up, if only to see the lovely arch of that slender neck. When he did, he did so with a sudden, quick jerk, closing that small gap between them as he drew her against him. “Now I’d say I feel better.” He had the audacity to grin at her again, and it was rather sly. Barely waiting for a response, he moved her effortlessly around the dance floor as though there was no one else in the room. It was slow, with intermittent quick movements; purposeful, maybe even passionate, as much as a dance could be between two complete strangers. A lady and a thief. A lady and a possible dead man.

[Ariadne Boroughs]

She was about to reply, "Only a little?" when the sly look in his eye became clear along with the somewhat bold movement of his hand to the small of her back, and she knew he was going to explain without being prompted. She was expecting more clever words, not movement, and her eyebrows rose in genuine surprise when she was dipped backwards. Her grip on his shoulder tightened reflexively, but she found that she trusted him not to drop her. Now that was interesting.

She let her gaze drift for just a moment to look at the party through the eyes of a participant, for once. Stars and torches alike shown against the darkening night, creating a dramatic glow on the dance floor. Couples spun around them in graceful circles, their conversation and laughter a dim murmur under the music. It was beautiful.

She'd just had time to realize that, and to unconsciously relax in his grip, when she was suddenly being swung upward again and crashing gently against his chest. He'd purposefully erased any trace of distance between them, and Ariadne barely resisted the impulse to mirror his sly grin with one of her own, although even the muted smirk she gave him clearly told him she was impressed. Oh yes, she'd definitely been right. This was far more interesting than planning parties for everyone else.

The dance between the two of them was different in a way that caught her attention, and she soon forgot about the rest of the party around them. Something about it was strangely intimate, despite the fact that she didn't know a single thing about this man besides his name, and honestly, she couldn't even be sure of that much. She found that she didn't much care, if it meant she could dance like this with someone who could keep her on her toes. This was the most alive she'd felt in months.

She was disappointed when the song began to draw to a close, and the dancers around them slowed with it. She felt as if when the music ended, the spell might be broken, and she'd be right back to where she was. A desperate panic pressed against the back of her mind, trying to seep in any space her fading champagne buzz left behind. For a moment, she leaned her head forward to rest against his shoulder, in an attempt to stifle the panic and savor the moment. It was funny, despite the thrill of it all, she could honestly say she felt comfortable here. She wasn't ready to let that go, but she also wasn't ready to give up control. She was Ariadne Sellar, for goodness sake. She didn't scramble or panic.

She lifted her head only a few seconds later and gave him her dazzling hostess's smile. "Another song, Lord Davore? Or do we think that's enough for now?"

[Theo Davore]

Already he was being too brazen, and so openly in public. And this was him sober, mind you. Still, his head was beginning to feel a little clouded, because he knew he had to step away. Theo should leave her with some wry remark, kiss her hand, and dismiss himself. It was all he had to do, and yet he remained. When something intrigued the thief, it was often difficult for him to listen to any ounce of logic. More than usual, that is.

He felt the heat of her body against his own as they weaved in and out of the other dancers, his steps quick and light, spinning her when he dared to part from her for only a few seconds. The thief very much liked to dance, yet he was becoming acutely aware of how much he was truly enjoying it right now. Maybe it was the vague idea of this lady being forbidden fruit, that he had been the only one brazen enough to request a dance (although she had been the one to throw the challenge out first). Married or not, a lady deserved to enjoy her own party, did she not?

So, maybe he could help with that.

Yet, as wildly but reserved as the dance was, it had begun to slow down considerably, and their movements with it. Theo didn't bother to spin her beneath his arm anymore, he didn't dip her back again, he did nothing but slow that dance down to a calming sway until the music disappeared into nothing and he felt the gentle press of her head against his shoulder. It was brief, within a blink of an eye, and he was once again looking at her smiling face. However, this smile wasn't as truthful or glittering as the last. He much preferred the other one.

"I should be going..." he confessed, listening to the musicians quickly filter into another song. His brow furrowed slightly to hear his own voice, that tinge of disappointment he hadn't forced into the tone. He'd certainly overstayed his welcome, but he hadn't met her until now. And that changed things.

So, despite his words of almost refusal, the hand that still held onto hers brought it to the back of his neck where it could rest; his fingers trailing down the length of that slender arm slowly again before they settled at her side. The other, though, rose to mimic hers, gently grasping the back of her head before urging them into a slow, purposeful turn. And, after a few moments when he decided to spin her once more, it wasn't all the way around. Ariadne would be drawn back against his chest, yet his hands still did not wander to anywhere they shouldn't. "But, perhaps just one more song," came his voice so close to her ear.

Better to hear him over the music, of course.

[Ariadne Boroughs]

The disappointment in his voice echoed in her eyes as he suggested that he needed to leave. Did he really? The party would keep going for several hours yet. Couldn't he stay with her for a while longer? The panic squeezed in her chest again for a moment, but his actions belied his words as he lifted her hand to his neck and she took advantage of the opportunity as he trailed his fingers down her arm to lightly stroke the hair at the nape of his neck. Forward perhaps, but then, hadn't they both been this entire time? If he was surprised by it, she'd just raise one eyebrow and keep that little smirk resting on her rose-red lips.

She was brilliantly aware of his fingertips along her bare arm, sending a ripple across her nerves. She shouldn't be here, shouldn't be doing this, and somehow that made everything better, more intense. It was a thrill of adrenaline just to be dancing at all, and her partner magnified that exponentially. She wondered where he had come from, appearing as if he'd fallen out of the night sky simply to fill a need she hadn't been able to express. But it didn't matter, so long as he didn't vanish just yet.

Her smirk grew as he spun her, then pulled her back against his chest, and she instinctively turned her head into him, towards the sound of his voice. She may have caught herself before they touched, earlier, but now she was all too happy to lean into him, and her imagination was running in several very inappropriate directions. She knew better than to take this anywhere off the dance-floor where the entire crowd could act as her chaperone, but that didn't do anything to ease the way both her body and mind were reacting to being so close to the thing she'd been craving: passion, energy, someone who would pour as much attention and challenge into her as she did to them. Where her husband constantly tried to smother her, Lord Davore was fanning the flames. A terrible, delicious idea. She hoped he'd keep it up.

"Excellent decision," she answered in a contented purr.

Before she knew it, they were sweeping into another dance, and despite her best efforts, her smile gave away her incandescent happiness. Energy was humming along every vein, in every inch of her body, and no matter how many times she was twirled out and away from him, she was drawn as if by an unavoidable pull back to Theo Davore. She laughed as he pulled her back from one spin and let herself drop low, one leg bent and the other flung outwards before she slowly rose back up, just barely ghosting past him without sliding along his frame. Once she was back up to her full height, she glanced at his lips for just a moment, nearly giving in to the sudden impulse to taste them. Thankfully they were moving again already, and the moment passed. But if she found herself that close again, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop herself. 

[Theo Davore]

Yes, he really did have to leave. Every second was a risk, especially because he was dancing with the hostess of this party. What kind of a fool was he? A big one. A very big one. Theo was doing so well, then one look at this woman and he was tossing aside all logic. Because he was bored or intrigued? Maybe it was a little bit of both, but he wasn't questioning himself as much as he should be in that very moment.

Everything else was disappearing again, everything was blurred out. A strange quietness had befallen them and he barely heard the music, only felt it. Theo was keenly aware of just her and the warmth of her skin, moving without thought as though he were possessed by some other being. It guided him as they danced, made him hyper focused on his breathing, on hers, the color of her eyes beneath those long lashes, the sharpness of her cheekbones. Everything. The world had slowed once again, feeling her lean into him as though they had done this numerous times before, acting like they hadn't been complete strangers only minutes ago.

That was dangerous. But he couldn't seem to bring himself to realize this yet. Not fully.

He felt his heart thump a few extra times with those purred words, drawing him emotionally closer to her, pulling him deeper into that dangerous territory. And it would appear that the marchioness was going to make matters worse. Oh yes, a terrible, delicious idea, indeed. What caught him off guard, however, was her smile again. It wasn't the sly smirks that got him (although they certainly did something), it was the pure happiness that crossed her features every so often. It was beautiful, it was refreshing, and dare he feel like he wanted to keep seeing it.

Especially when she laughed.

Drawing her back from another spin, Theo hadn't expected her brazenness. Dark eyes widened in surprise when she dropped, only for her to rise back up at that agonizing pace and temporarily stealing his breath away. Her face was but an inch from his own; his hand lifting, brushing her shoulder and hovered near her cheek but still somehow dared not to touch that alluring visage. He, too, glanced down to her mouth in silent contemplation before that small bit of logic forced him to move, continuing their dance.

Now, there was soft confusion in those eyes, his heart pounding to a different beat. He both liked it and feared it, not understanding this strange spell that seemed to wash over him. As though she had quite literally bewitched him. Theo knew he had to leave before he made any further mistakes...but the thought of doing so was almost agonizing.

"Normally-" he began to speak quietly, a few moments later than he should have. "I make very poor decisions..." Well, maybe right now was one of those, or was about to be.

[Ariadne Boroughs]

Her smirk widened into a devilish grin as he admitted to making poor decisions. Her voice was quiet, as she answered, little more than a murmur. “Those are the best kind, didn’t you know? No reward comes without a little risk.”

After all, she was making plenty of questionable decisions of her own right at this very moment. Leaning into him, letting her fingers press a little deeper into his shoulder, watching the wonder in his eyes echo her own. She didn't know what to call the energy buzzing between them–it was more than just sexual tension, she knew that much. Something else was happening here, too.

Ariadne began to suspect that the musicians were improvising; the music swelled more dramatically as the tenor of their dance changed. It wasn’t the music directing them, rather, they had influenced the song. She glanced at the band over Theo’s shoulder and saw that they were already watching her. She laughed softly and winked at one who made eye contact. They were certainly earning their keep tonight, she’d have to throw in something extra. It would be worth every penny.

There was only one little problem: they were definitely pushing her to make more and more questionable decisions with every measure. The music grew to a crescendo just as Lord Davore pulled her back up out of a swirling dip, and she should have hesitated more than just one panting breath, one glance at his lips and eyes, before she kissed him. But that was all it took. There had been hardly an inch between them, and she could no longer resist closing the gap. Now it was up to him to decide how to handle that.

[Theo Davore]

Oh, he knew risks. He knew them very well. Sometimes he knew he shouldn't take them but did so anyway. Right now was one of those times. Although this wasn't completely innocent, he'd done nothing wrong in regards to her. Well, if you don't count stealing from her guests, that is.

Yet, he felt it deep down- that shift, that feeling of knowing he was bound to do something foolish and make a mistake. Somehow, he knew it from the moment he laid eyes on this woman. He was the confused and compliant moth drawn to her searing flame. He had to stop, but he couldn't. And he didn't know why.

Instead, he watched her carefully as they danced, grinning at her as if she was the most interesting thing in this place. Truthfully, she was. The marchioness was quite possibly the most interesting person he had met in quite awhile, and that was saying something, considering they've barely spoken much to each other. Theo knew many people, spoke with many others every day, he worked with thieves and cutthroats and in that very moment, none of them compared to her. None of them had managed to make the conman take this much notice of them...and he wanted to know why.

And then the flame was a sudden blazing fire.

He barely registered it happening until her lips were on his, stunning him out of his silent daze. Now, the sensation and scent of her was all-consuming, and a panic ran through him. All for but a second. Quite aware that eyes were upon them, that she was married, that he was a lowlife only here to steal riches- none of it seemed to stop him. For, after a moment of hesitation, his fingers at her hip subconsciously curled into the pliant flesh beneath the fabric and his mouth slanted harder against hers.

So. This was how the idiot died. A single second of weakness. Honestly, it was befitting.

[Ariadne Boroughs]

It was only a few seconds in which the two of them crashed together, his fingers pressing into her hip and her arms curled tighter around his neck. She could taste the wine he’d been drinking when he responded. It was everything she’d hoped, as the burn between them ignited with full force. And then her better judgment caught up with her.

She pulled back with a gasp, taking a step backward but keeping her hands on his shoulders as she caught her breath. She just looked lost, for an instant, but then a wild laugh took over and she grinned wildly at Theo. Her heart was racing like never before, and the feel of his fingers lingered on her hip. She wanted them back, wanted more. But she didn’t dare.

“I’d apologize, but that would be a lie,” she told him, shaking her head without ever losing her smile. “I’m not sorry at all!” She laughed again. “Oh, that was such a terrible idea. But I…” One hand drifted to her lips, where she still couldn’t contain her grin. Heaven help her, she was ruined and she didn’t regret it in the least. Oh, this was going to cost her.

She sighed and ran a thumb under her lower lip to fix her makeup. Too little too late, she was sure. She pressed her lips into a thin line, massaging them together, then pursed them slightly to try and force herself to stop grinning like a madwoman. She barely succeeded, managing to contain herself to a tiny lingering smile, like a child with a badly hidden secret. She dropped her hands from his shoulders and clasped them behind her back so she wouldn’t simply grab him and drag him back in.

“Now you can go if you must… But I do hope you’ll be back.” Her smirk turned devilish. “Although, that might be the worst idea yet…”