death incarnate & night triumphant

His body grows taut, the teasing of the woman across from him unraveling piece by wicked piece. She had her moments of bold seductress but Lani seemed to be on an entirely different playing field tonight. Yes, alcohol was playing a part but it was still her words, her desires; he wanted it all. So when a slow spreading sultry smile drags across her lips, her words entirely mischievous, Andras can't help himself as his heavy lidded stare falls onto her face, her lips, "I swear it," he murmurs before their conversation turns to safer topics, blood still a raging fire through his veins and yet, it was pacified, barely. Yes. Memories from a different time, food, safe topics. They needed to get away from this... whatever it was. Flirtation? It always felt like something more, though the Lord tried to never give in to those desires and Lani seemed like she would do the same. Both stubborn but perhaps for the better, their... relationship didn't exactly have the best results.

Andras can't help but snort at the memory, his powerful shoulders shrugging, "I wanted to make sure your parents liked me," he pauses, "And you looked like you needed help, you were doing a horrible job," he teases, accented words thickened with playfulness. How easy it was to resume their banter, it didn't feel like three years had past, it didn't feel like anything had changed between them. Yet, he was so very wrong, just by looking at her, the male knew everything had changed. Pushing the unwarranted thought away, he quips at her, laughter falling from Lani's lips like music to his ears, relaxed, delighted, everything he had ever adored about her. "You're not sorry one bit," he remarks, "I'm going to starve tonight, I suppose you can owe me one - another meal." And though he is casual, he did want to see her again, on her terms, he didn't think he could just show up whenever he wanted to, not this time.

Then, it's as if a flip is switched. His devious little she-devil was playing with him. Her teasing words, sultry tones, that god damn mouth he couldn't rip his gaze away from. His body is very nearly crushing the table beneath him as they battle with words, his leash slipping and slipping. He can scent the change in Lani, even as blood pounds in his ears, the world forgotten about them. He was certain, so very certain that she would have reeled back, away from his hungry gaze, even in her state but she doesn't. She flames the fire that's growing within him, his body entirely frozen in place, as if afraid he made even the slightest of movements he would launch himself across the table and take her right there, on the ground. And when she tells him about those lacy underthings, he can't help the snarl that rips from his throat, just loud enough to catch the neighboring diners attention. Though they hardly glance at them long, realizing that the moment between Andras and Lani was private.

She was undoing him.

Then, the fumbling of the phone, the fire quickly banking in his veins. Leaning back, he has to... adjust himself, his pants feeling much tighter than when he had walked in. Though the feeling quickly dissipates once he realizes how very drunk she currently was. This was not how he wanted to take her, he wanted her awareness, her consent and he was certain, in that moment, that things would not have gotten so far if she had been sober. No, their conversation very well could have gone another direction, with her running off. Running a hand through those dark locks, giving him an almost disheveled look, he stands fluidly, gathering Lani and depositing the money on the table. Slinging the jacket over her shoulders, he leads them out of the bistro, her voice drawing his attention. Glancing down, he smirks, "You never could hold your alcohol," he muses, just as she wobbles and a strong arm slips around her waist, taking the majority of her weight as she leans into him.

"Southern Dupont? That's miles away," he says thoughtfully, another glance down at her. He didn't think that flying in her state would be good for her stomach, quickly nixing the idea. "If you can't remember your address properly, I sincerely doubt that taking a cab is the smart move to make," he quips at her, moving towards the fountain in the center of that busting street. He hums thoughtfully for a moment, "I'm going to take you back to my place, you can sleep it off and once you remember your address, I'll take you home," he says, glancing down once more, seeking consent that it was okay he did that. And once she gives it, his arm wraps a touch more tightly around her waist as they make their way down the street. It was far easier than he had suspected, her lithe frame tucked into his side, and though she staggered a few times, it was easy to take some of her weight to keep her from planting face first into the ground.

Still, it was decidedly distracting, her warmth soaking into his side and her very scent wrapping around him. He knew it was not the time for such thoughts but he couldn't stop thinking about what she had said at the dinner table. About those lacy undergarments, those very ones he had bought her. Though she had modeled the little black night dress, he had yet to see those other unmentionables on her. Something, he would one day, very much like to see. It doesn't take them long to reach his townhouse, their walk a comfortable silence, Andras worried he might say something to set off another round of... whatever was happening at the dinner table. It was hardly the time to do such things. Put Lani to bed, take care of her, send her on her way. That's what he was going to do, not anything else.

Carefully, he leads her up the four steps to the door, Andras disentangling himself from the woman as he leans her against the door, "Stay," he commands playfully, before snagging one of her hands and putting it on his forearm as he braces it against the entrance, near her head to keep her from falling off the concrete steps and into the bushes below. "I need to get my keys," he murmurs, his other hand digging into his pocket to retrieve them, dark eyes darting back to Lani to make sure she was awake, "Lani love, are you still with me?" He asks, just as he inserts the key into the door.

Andras Steinhello darling