death incarnate & night triumphant

Each time he met her, the more she seemed to want to be brash with him. Though her racing heart and her flushed cheeks told otherwise, he was delighted to hear her voice come out a bit steady; defiant almost when she responds to his challenge. Chuckling darkly, he arches a brow at her, "Like I said, Lani darling, tell me by the end of the night. No price is too high when it comes to you," he purrs at her, that wry grin so toying at the corners of his lips. When she mentions her parents, he can't help the surprise that so lingers on his face, so he inquired about meeting them and he's pleasantly surprised that they would be traveling to Sacrosanct next week. Amused at Lani's next words, he gives a small shake of his head, "Clearly, you inherited nothing of your father if he's a cautious man," Andras rumbles, humor coating his lyrics dryly as he's once more transported back to that night with Lani covered in blood. He wouldn't allow such a memory to tarnish their time now, so he abruptly shoves it away.

"If that was an invitation, I'd be happy to attend dinner with you and your parents," he responds, tilting his head at the girl curiously. Before their topic shifts to Fae holidays. When he invites her to attend the Winter Solstice, he's not truly shocked when she readily agrees to attend with him, he's more pleased than anything. Though, he hadn't attended a festival in... well, a very long time; at least he had something to look forward to this year. When he agrees to pick her up the following day, her statement has his dark hazel eyes snapping down to her blues, a lazy smile dancing upon his lips, "Not able to sleep, hmm? I can think of a few things to keep you busy at night if you would rather not sleep," he murmurs down at her, laughter weaving through his words as he watches her, wanting to her squirm just a bit more. And as their conversation eventually leads to his senses, he's pleased to see her reaction so clearly written on her face, the pounding of her heart picking up pace as astonishment coats her features.

Tilting back his head, he roars with laughter at her expression. Once he finishes, his eyes bright with amusement, "Lani, you're terrible at hiding your emotions, your question was written on your face," he chuckles again a bit quieter as she forces them to change topics once more. Eyeing her, entirely humored at her reaction, he allows that shift in the conversation though he had a mind to continue to tease her. "Some faeries will, though it's mostly one big party. There's dancing and drinking, eating, coupling, some of the younger Fae have adopted human traditions and will celebrate it with gift giving, though most of us ancient Fae tend to follow the old traditions," he shrugs in the explanation, though he tosses her a look when he mentions 'coupling'. "If you wanted a Christmas gift, darling, you could have just asked," he winks at her, "I'll find you something rather splendid for Winter Solstice," he grins at her, his mind already working on just what he was going to give her. And before he knows it, he finds her hand in his chest and her lithe frame pressed tightly against him as he tugs her forward, rather enjoying that speechless that so dances across her features. And when he purrs down at her, he can feel her body flush against him, that heat radiating off her, he was so entirely ready to lose control with her there that he debated stealing a kiss or two.

He's mind is elsewhere, filling expecting Lani to simply pull away from him with that shyness that so seemed to follow her when he was being... well, being Andras. What he did not expect was that sultry smile to tug at her lips and those purring lyrics to escape that delicious mouth. His eyes flick up to hers in surprise, his mouth parted slightly as a look of utter dumbfounded so explodes onto his face. Snapping his jaws closed, he has to release her, lest he kick the shopkeeper out and take her right there on the desk. Moving a good few paces away from her, Andras allows that mask of coolness to so cross his features. He needed to distance himself from her, he could feel his blood boiling beneath his skin. "Lani dear, you are a fiend," he calls over to her as he pretends to look through the racks just as the human girl does as well. Her soft words draw his attention once more and making sure he was completely in control of his actions, he moves back towards her, whispering in her ear before he drags her to the back of the shop and sitting down.

Honestly, he's a bit surprised when she readily agrees and as she disappears into the room, he tightens his grip on the arm chairs until he's almost ripped the leather. That damned woman was going to be his undoing; he was certain. It doesn't take long before she's exiting the room and moves into his line of sight. Those dark hazel eyes snap to her as he allows his gaze to travel her curvy form. His eyes have a momentary lustful glaze to them before he's quick to shove it away, and finally when his eyes reach hers after the slow travel up hey body, he grins that wicked smile, "You look ravishing," he responds, pushing himself out of that chair and moving around the corner before finding a pair of heels he had noticed prior to walking into the changing room. When he returns, he once more lowers himself before her, his knees hitting the floorboards quietly as he very carefully takes one of her feet and slip it into the shoe, and then the other, though his eyes remain locked with hers the entire time.

"Now, you're good enough to eat," he murmurs, trailing slender fingers along one of her calves before he stands and retrieves her clothing from the changing room and handing them to her. Taking her hand once more he leads her to the desk, quickly pays for the clothing and exiting, his jaw clenched a little tighter than normal as he attempts to keep his control from shattering completely. And as they leave that shop, the first thing that comes into view is a glorious black limo, the driver standing patiently by the car door, opening it just as the couple walks out. Grinning down at Lani, he moves towards the vehicle allowing her to slide in first. Once she's situated, he slips in beside her, the leather seats warm; heated even as they take off towards their next destination. Leaning forward, he grasps the champagne that is being chilled in the ice, pouring her a flute and handing it to her before he pours one himself. "I very much think you are going to love where we are going," he grins at her, clinking his glass against hers before taking a step. It only just occurred to him just how bad of an idea it was being in such close confinement with the woman that so desperately wanted to shatter that carefully constructed control of his.

Andras Steinhello darling