Darcy seemed incredibly attached to that singular piece of paper as he remained so close to the door, positioning himself in an undoubtedly strategic way to put distance between them. Risque remained at her desk, her slender hand idly stroking the content feline that sent a luxurious heat that spread through her cool legs. She seemed unsurprised and yet ruthless in her intent to deal with their suppliers, unwilling to put up with a single soul who dared to take advantage of her. Not even willing to spare a single droplet. Had they truly forgotten who they were dealing with? Risque was ultimately an efficient apex predator in all aspects of her life, including when it came to her business affairs. She struck with deadly precision. Even when she spent frivolously on her own personal whims, she would dare spend a cent more in her business dealings that as not rightfully accounted for. She was ultimate fierce in her dealings. Fearsome at the best of days and deadly the rest. However, in that moment, she seemed serene, not even the feline in her lap could pick up on a single ounce of what stitched together in her mind. How she relished in the feel of that soft coat upon her fingertips, but her piercing stare all but remained on her strangely behaved mate. How determined she was to flush him out, as her arisen suspicions of him were already with funneled focused on her lover. How very few things seemed to avoid her notice when that being was on her radar. How soon until she unraveled him? He was... nothing but adept in her ways. Darcy remained at ease, at least outwardly so, especially as he remained so easily out of her grasp. He nodded in firm agreement at her plan to deal with those suppliers accordingly. The pandemic, it would seem created a ripple effect... and many a fool acted out of desperation, creeping up prices when there was a contract that was designed to keep inflation minimal until they renewed. Such a brazen attack was something that she would not allow to go unpunished. That mention of meeting offered to her mate, allowing him that false sense of security with his beloved paper... at least for the moment.

Risque rarely questioned Darcy's evidence and findings after having proven himself time and time again in his numbers and business savvy. His records were near immaculate. And yet... Risque rose and opened her waiting hand, the pose embodied perfect elegant nonchalance. How willing she was to steal that paper he wished to remain almost coy behind. Her mate was many things... but coy was not one of them. That paper would become hers, simply because deemed it so. He wouldn't defy a direct order now would he? The fraction of a moment's worth of hesitation made her wonder and yet she stood her ground, almost far too patient for the inevitability that he could not escape her. He had to know it. That locking her office door was but a mere brush of that hand that remained so close to the concealed button beneath her desk.

Her cowboy moved to do as was required of him with so few options available to him. She found his movements almost bizarre as he slid her that very paper across her desk, as if attempting to retreat so soon after. The vampire queen could practically feel his anticipation, as if she might grab any limb that might be within reach. How unlike him to act so much like prey. It immediately piqued her interest even more, but far from the good way. Although he didn't quite retreat to where he stood before, to do so would exude far too much guilt that she would refuse to slide.

Risque did not bother to truly assess that paper by any means, her pale blue eyes only brushing across those prices and neat comparable lists that made it easy to confirm those plain numbers. The tone of her voice mimicked the way she appeared, the embodiment of nonchalance infused honied sweetness meant to draw him in. She didn't offer him a moment as she inserted that comment of his whereabouts the night before. The cunning woman gave him no moment to offer his doting distractions this time as she had one little question that she demanded an answer to. One little question. No harm could come from that, could it? Oh but her lover knew her too well.

That sound of Darcy's grating teeth echoed within the room, it would seem that he was just aware of her as she was of him. Her gaze refused to waver from her mate as she saw his jaw clench and shift beneath his skin. He seemed to weigh out his limited options and how well she knew with the utmost confidence that there was only one outcome.. and that was to give her exactly what she wanted. It was better to come clean with his antics and be at her mercy than to get caught in that lie no matter how small. To draw it out, only served to make things far worse for him and yet how inspired she could become in her punishments and it had been a while. Ah.. dare she say that she was almost looking forward to it. The pair remained in what seemed like a standoff, his expression so perfectly unreadable in an impressive poker face.

Darcy seemed to visibly relax, as if he might admit his defeat, as if to ready himself to speak... Surely, he wouldn't do something so foolish as to try something on her. A small smile seemed to barely just touched his handsome face that did nothing to save him now except rise her suspicious. But he moved so fast. A burst of unanticipated speed, her own hand froze within mid pet as if in preparation to react. How certain she was that he meant to run away... not run to. Darcy, in that moment seemed aware of that. He was suddenly behind her chair that was far more like a throne. The sudden movement caused the feline upon her lap to hiss and spit as careened its neck in agitation toward the cowboy vampire, his apparent dislike clear at that rapid movement disturbing his peaceful sanctuary. Although it hardly took long at all for that feline to once more fall into a deep contentment upon her life, as if hypnotized by Risque's resumed stroking. What was he playing at, Risque wondered and yet allowed it to play out.

Darcy, unperturbed by the feline whatsoever began to recall his tale, as he lowered to draw in close to his mate. His chin almost rested upon her exposed shoulder as his lips seemed unable to resist her skin like he was addicted to her feel, to her taste. How quickly those devoted lips found the porcelain flesh he sought to lavish her in affectionate, teasing kisses to toy with the sensitive skin he sought out as he knew exactly where kiss to be the most efficient lover. How desperate he must be to appease her before he uttered that tale into her skin. A hunter that her lover had killed but not before he had been injured by him. Yet he was almost cautious at how much he revealed as to not exploit weakness or appear foolish enough for bringing a threat to their doorstep. He made his victory clear. His carefully chosen words were a trickle upon her exposed skin. But how odd she found it that he needed to resolve the issue in the morning. How intriguing that his injuries were so severe that he could not heal them with the blood of his kill and a sound sleep. How badly she wanted to see lover in his damaged state... he knew this.... And yet he found the need to deny her examination of his injured form?

His lips ended up a press just below her ear just her own hand reached for him, slow and intentional. The feline was all but ignored to then stroke her lover's face, to feel his chiseled jaw, tracing it with her gentle fingers. She could practically feel him melt beneath her touch, much like the feline on her lap. She could have him a boneless mess at her feet in no time.

How the she-devil seemed far too settled and appeased by his short but sweet tale that he offered her. He brought her no issue that she was forced to deal with. Surely there was no true fault. How easy it was fool him into that sweet lulling trance of her touch. "Tell me more about that big bad hunter.." She cooed, enjoying the feel of his lips upon her skin and yet she was with single minded focus. Risque seemed nothing but a relaxed queen upon her chair as those delicate caresses of hers only slightly lower and tease along his neck. She sighed as though it were a sound of appeased contentment as her fingertips brushed against the cool metal of her chain or marked ownership around his very throat. Her fingertips easily slid beneath it in order for those snaking fingers to curl and close her iron grip around that strong metal that she had used to restrain him, more than once. That chain tugged ever so slightly but it enough to alert him that he had been caught.

His reaction was not one she anticipated. The man reeled backwards wildly in a manner that was so entirely unlike him. How certain it only pointed to his guilt as he attempted to so desperately to conceal it. She refused to allow him to go, instinctually unyielding which only caused that chair to do so. A sharp French curse escaped her, half expecting herself to fall, but her other hand had already reached out to stabilize herself on the edge of her desk. But the movement was far to fast for that feline upon her lap that was all but launched into the air. Unfortunate thing was forced to sail across her office with a mangled cry and flailing limbs that so desperately tried to align his paws with the ground. Although, she was not at all aware of that cat and far more engrossed with her own predicament. Piercing eyes flashed in irritation, that composure so rapidly fled her. How unamused she was...

The hellish queen remained perfectly balanced upon those two back legs of that chair alone even though she could feel the chair teeter so precariously. How awkwardly she was positioned, either hand occupied to keep her braced. Darcy didn't dare move as he was certain if she crashed to the ground, he would suffer for it. Darcy seemed ever aware of his positioning and the rare upper hand he possessed. Neither seemed willing to back down as if to force his mate to choose. Outrage rippled through her along with confusion of her skittish cowboy's actions.

Just as she was about to demand him to stand down, his lips parted just enough to witness that obvious gap within his teeth from where one of his fangs had been broken off. It was just enough visibility that her vicious glare shifted at once as her eyes widened, followed by a rare but audible gasp in the wake. That tooth was broken and even she knew that it would not mend. She could not help but stare at her lover's mouth for several moments as he spoke about how her refused the dentist anywhere near his mouth.

"Darcy." His name uttered in a furious rush of warning, the French lilt of her voice held the complete breathless shock at what she had seen. Fangs were everything for their species. How she could see that gap a mile away and yet he was quick to seal his lips as if she hadn't seen it. Her mate had broken a fang.. such a thing was sacrilege! "Qu'avez-vous fait?" 'What have you done?' She exclaimed in her mother tongue upon an exhale.

"You said you had yourself fixed up... This is not fixed." She didn't know if she was more shocked or enraged by him at that very moment. Just as though her mind seemed to settle on a mood, her grip tightened upon that chain that earned her a threat! A threat with 'love' but no matter how he dressed it... it was still a threat.

"You wouldn't dare." She practically bristled with an undercurrent of anger even though the look in his mismatched stare had her questioning what she believed to be a bluff.

Precariously positioned this way she had so few options and she refused to crash to the floor, sprawled out like a brand-new fawn. Her hand on that table tightened as if she could feel him vibrating with that wild energy of a feral animal. She reluctantly released her hold upon his chain... eyes narrowed as she pulled the desk to help right the chair she was on. The moment she landed safely to the ground she placed her heels to the floor and ended up upon her feet with vampiric speed, turning to face him with a body that was coiled like a spring. He threatened her with love?! What blasphemy was that? He could not go on with a chipped fang for the rest of his immortal life... She forbid it!

"Let me see." She demanded as if assessing was all she wished to do... one deliberate step toward him turned into two as if to circle in on her wild mate.