To tempt a saint. [rp for lapsedsaint]

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlie took possession of her apartment two days before making the vague offer of drinks to John Everton. So far she had a king sized futon set up in the living room with a small coffee table in front of it and another futon set up in the bedroom. They were inexpensive and comfortable enough to hold her over until she decided how she wanted the space to look. Not to mention it might be a good plan to let the kittens get settled before making too many changes.

Asking John to bring paper cups was a matter of sheer necessity. She had one large mug she used for everything, one set of plates and two pans. Formally setting up housekeeping in the city was going to cost a fortune. Buying a $250 dollar bottle of booze for a man who thought she was an instrument of the devil didn't help. Sitting on the living room futon, she stared at the bottle for a long time. No matter how good it was going to taste, she thought it should sparkle or dance.

Aleister lay on his back at her feet, pulling on the hem of her skirt. She could hear him purring in satisfaction not only at the game but at her willingness to let the game continue. His sister Vivianne was curled into a tiny ball behind Charlotte's shoulder on the back of the futon. She also purred, but did so from a deep sleep. Without moving her body, which might have woken the kitten, Charlotte absently petted her as they waited for company Charlotte couldn't really believe would ever arrive.

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[aesthetic_mojo]

She felt oddly abandoned, the piece of furniture between them an unwanted obstacle. Still, she stayed where she was, kneeling behind it with her chin on the frame. Otherwise she would have done something ridiculously stupid.

"You have no idea how much I want to ask about the rest of them." She shrugged. "But that's just me wanting someone else to take responsibility for what should be my fight."

[lapsedsaint]

He nodded slightly and turned to look at her again. He raised an eyebrow at how she was. "Little late to be afraid I'm going to bite, don't you think?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

Her smile was slow. "Maybe I'm afraid you won't."

She stood slowly, taking the time to stretch her legs and back, twisting slightly with her arms held over her head. The movement was needed after kneeling for so long, but she recognized it for the defensive act it was. She came around the couch and headed toward him. "How close would you like me to get?"

[lapsedsaint]

He watched her stretch, then watched her approach, his eyebrow still raised. When she asked her question, he shrugged. "That's your choice."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"Really?" She came right up on him, pushing him more as a distraction from her own thoughts than to any goal. That didn't mean she didn't enjoy being so close that one more step would have her up against him. "And you'll let me be as close as I want?"

[lapsedsaint]

He looked up at her and shrugged. "Yes." He brought his drink to his lips and leaned back, taking a sip and closing his eyes.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She rolled her eyes, more amused than insulted by his complete lack of interest. Close enough that it would only take a slight movement to lean forward and kiss his throat, she chose to turn instead. Spinning so her back was to him, she back up the last bit and leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. She took his free arm and brought it around her waist, then waited for him to react.

[lapsedsaint]

For the briefest instant that was a flash of cold in the room, but it dissipated as quickly as it had manifest. He tightened his arm around her and took another sip of his drink.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She attributed her shiver to surprise that he didn't push her away. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head slightly so her neck was exposed to him. She didn't think he'd take her up on the offer, so she concentrated on the solid weight of him. They were almost the same height and she wanted to squirm against him to get a better sense of him. "You tell me if I do anything that surprises you, hmm?"

[lapsedsaint]

"I will." He glanced at her exposed neck and licked his lips. He could feel the conflict in himself, recognized it from being with Dagny. He exhaled slowly and downed the rest of his drink.

He leaned forward to set his cup down, changing how she was against him. As he leaned back, he pulled her a little bit closer and moved to whisper in her ear. "But you have to do the same."

[aesthetic_mojo]

She couldn't keep from arching her backside into him as they shifted. Part of the motion was to keep them balanced but not nearly enough of it. She put one hand on his arm, reaching the other back to his hip. "I can do that."

She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to decide how much of a white lie that was. It wouldn't surprise her in the least if they pushed each other to the breaking point, where ever that was. She squeezed his hip. "You smell good."

[lapsedsaint]

He raised an eyebrow at that. "I smell good? You like the smell of cigarettes, scotch, and sweat? I'm going to have to remember that."

He had no idea why he'd said it and certainly no idea why he would want to remember that. He pursed his lips for a moment, then gave a little shrug as he settled against her.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She inhaled slowly, cataloging the components of his scent. The tobacco smoke was strongest, but it couldn't mask the subtle masculine something. Smiling faintly, she nodded. "Why shouldn't I like it?"

[lapsedsaint]

"Smoking isn't the cool, social thing anymore. You'd be surprised how many people don't like the smell." He turned to look at her, an eyebrow raised. "But you don't care about that, do you?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

She met his eyes and his expression. "I don't care about what?" She shrugged. "I'm used to Europe where you can largely still smoke where you like."

She started kneading at his hip, pressing her fingers deep into the muscle. Realizing just how much the fabric between her fingers and his flesh bothered her, she bit her lip.

[lapsedsaint]

He tried to stifle his groan at her fingers against his hip. He shifted some and watched her, completely ignoring her question, as his arm tightened a little more.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She arched a little again, moving as though she was testing his grip on her. At the same time she moved her hand back to dig more into his ass than his hip. It took all her control not to add the touch of a third hand to the small of his back so she could pull him against her. "I don't care about what, John?"

Her voice went soft, but it was clear she wanted his answer.

[lapsedsaint]

He exhaled through his nose, eyes closed again. "Socially acceptable." He brought his other hand to her hair, brushing some of it away from her forehead without opening his eyes.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She chuckled softly. "Oh, I care, but only as a practicality. A single professional woman has to have the appearance of complete propriety." Her hand moved further back, inching around until it was finally fully on his ass.

[lapsedsaint]

Even as he railed against himself in his mind, the battle dropping the temperature in the room a few degrees, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.

[aesthetic_mojo]

It wasn't until she'd placed an invisible hand at the back of his head to hold him in the kiss that she felt the chill. Then she was too busy enjoying his lips to worry about anything else. She concentrated on only his touch to keep from thinking about using her magic to rip off his clothes.

[lapsedsaint]

He knew where her hands were, so the additional one on the back of his head made him groan, the temperature dropping a little more.

He pulled her as tight against him as he could get her without pulling her into his lap.

[aesthetic_mojo]

The chill was just becoming noticeable to her, but she was afraid if she broke out of the kiss to figure it out, he would take the chance to run. She turned in his arms so she faced him, brushing her tongue lightly against his lips. Her fingers dug into his ass.

[lapsedsaint]

He opened his mouth to her tongue and groaned again. He did pull her into his lap, his hand ending up on her ass.

With that contact, the temperature changed direction. Rather than getting colder, it started to heat up, quickly making up the lost degrees.

[aesthetic_mojo]

Careful of their positions, she shifted in his lap until she faced him and could put one arm around his neck. She caressed his neck, lightly running her nails just under his hairline. All her movement pressed her backside firmly into his hand, forcing a moan from her.

She explored his mouth tenderly, inviting him to deepen the kiss.