Only a job, like any other. [RP with gradyforhire]

[aesthetic_mojo]

The old man could be heard salivating when Charlotte called to tell him she would take the job. He’d raised the offer so many times without her accepting, he didn’t believe it when she first said yes. He believed her when she told him the price. At fifty thousand more than his last offer, it was still a pittance compared to the value of the collection. She would give the last bump to her bodyguard. Not bad for three days work, she hoped.

She told Richard Crevecoeur that she would arrive in the morning, take a cursory look at the collection, but that her real work would not begin until her associate arrived. It was clearly understood that by associate she meant muscle. She didn’t talk him up; instead she underplayed her desire to have someone there. Just a formality, due to the value of the collection.

The collection gave her the shivers. More of it was familiar to her than she’d imagined would be. Parts of it called to her, making it difficult to repackage the items in their archival boxes and put them away. She had to give Richard credit, he treated them correctly. Every piece would be at its maximum value because the condition was so good. Most interested buyers would overlook the binding materials.

The estate’s main house was half again bigger than the one she grew up in, but the grounds had shrunk over the years, encroached upon by urban sprawl. From the balcony in her assigned bedroom she could see the nearest village. Close enough to run to if the need arose, which was a comfort. Small comfort, but a comfort none the less. She had no idea what, if anything, lived on the grounds.

After changing into less professional clothes, Charlotte took a walk through the public areas of the house—the library, the sitting and dining rooms, and more. It was all so familiar. She could feel the wards on some doors, sense the magic in items mixed in with the normal decorative items any house amassed over the years. None of it helped clear her uneasiness, so she risked going outside.

She would take a turn close around the house before heading upstairs to lie down.

Comments

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

Grady was making his own prowl of the grounds before he joined Charlie in the house. So he was stalking along the perimeter when he smelled her.

He gave a loud yowl to announce himself, then came out into the clearing to her side.

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlotte jumped a good foot in the air, squeaking like a little girl. When she caught sight of him, she swore as loudly as he'd cried. "What the fuck! If I drop dead of fright, you don't get paid."

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He came up next to her and pressed against her side. If you drop dead, I'll just eat you. Win/win for me.

He started walking with her, his body pressed against her thigh and hip.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She dropped her hand to his shoulder, using her fingers and magic to caress him. "I admire that kind of pragmatism." She pinched his ass without moving her hand. "I feel safer already."

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He growled at the pinch and pushed at her with his body. So, what should I be watching for, anyway?

[aesthetic_mojo]

She glanced down at him for a moment, then took a deep breath. "People like me who shouldn't be here. There's only one who should be--our host." She stopped walking and looked around the clearing. "And any number of small, annoying magical things that might be eavesdropping."

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure. Easy work. He laughed in her head, then trotted off a few feet in front of her to sniff at something. With his head down, he gave her a chance to catch up, then smacked her with his tail.

[aesthetic_mojo]

"You say that now." She grabbed at his tail, risking pulling it a little. "The eavesdroppers won't be tasty, but they'll probably be easy to catch. The ones like me?" She looked down at him. "Not so nice."

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He growled his amusement at her pulling his tail. Sarcasm, my love. Sarcasm. He flicked his tail free, then turned and sat in front of her, looking up at her and waiting for her to touch him. When she did, he licked her hand. I do have an advantage, though. I can appear on top of them.

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

"We could." He pressed back against her and smirked. "But, somehow, I don't think that is what you are thinking about right now. I know I'm not thinking about it right now." Instead of pulling back, he stepped closer and pressed his lips to her neck, nipping slightly.

[aesthetic_mojo]

"I did tell Richard I wouldn't start working until you were here. And settled." She slid a hand down to his ass, digging her nails in to encourage him toward her. "Maybe we should settle you."

She wanted to feel him, to see how much she could make him feel, before she attempted to read any of the collection. The more she stretched her skills before hand, the better. "Let me show you upstairs?"

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He pressed his teeth to her neck and growled, even as he nodded. "Settled, yes. Lead the way." He pulled back a little and grinned, grabbing her ass, then pulling her in front of him. "Go."

[aesthetic_mojo]

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Now, if you make a noise like you did before, people will come running. There are servants lingering in all kinds of places." She didn't think anyone actually would. The wards she'd put on the room should keep them from being heard, but it had been a while since she tried that in someone else's space.

She didn't bother giving him a tour of the place on the way up to her bedroom. She did show him that there was a second bedroom connected to hers that was meant for him. The way she presented it made it clear she'd much rather he didn't take advantage of it.

Once inside, she made Grady stand in the middle of the room by himself while she closed her eyes and adjusted the wards to include him.

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He stood still while she adjusted the wards, humming softly to himself. The moment she was done and made the mistake of coming near him, he grabbed her and pulled her into a rough kiss. His teeth pressed against her lips, drawing a bit of blood before his tongue plunged into her mouth.

His hands started pulling at her shirt, fingers in search of flesh. Truth be told, he wanted her naked. But he could only make his own clothes disappear at will. Hers would have to be peeled off, a layer at a time. He was fine with that.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She made another noise when he grabbed her, but this time it was a deep moan of anticipation. Feeling skin break made her arch into him. She went up on her toes, bucking her hips hard into his and using magic to hold her against him. At the same time she grabbed his head, directing and deepening the kiss.

Some small part of her thought there was more he should know, more details that would help, but they were going to have to wait. More than his hands on her, she wanted her mouth on him. Not sure she could manage undressing him or her with out actual contact, she moved her hands down to his belt.

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He caught her hands and directed them to her own clothing. I'll handle mine, baby. He growled against her mouth, even as their tongues battled for dominance.

While he left her to deal with her pants, he started unbuttoning her shirt, scratching at her with each bit of skin he got access to.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She shook her head in confusion, not pulling out of the kiss enough to ask. Instead she did as asked. First she kicked off her shoes, dropping herself down a full three inches. Then she got her pants undone and pushed off her hips. She left the thin strip of silk that passed for panties on, just to amuse him. She knew the black made her skin glow.

She could taste the little bit of blood when he let up with his tongue, almost as if he were giving her more. It served as even more of a tease than their clothes and she started to whimper.

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

His hand tightened around her throat as he bowed his head. His teeth closed on her lower lip, immediately biting hard enough to bring blood. Pressed against her, his erection trapped between them, he started rocking a very little bit, teasing her more.

Tasting her blood, he kissed her, brutal and deep. She'd teased him to the point of his need being held barely in check.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She licked at her lip, then pushed her tongue into his mouth answering the roughness of the kiss with intensity. He had her pinned in such a way that even if she bucked against him, she couldn't get at his cock. That didn't mean she couldn't feel it. Every shift of his hips took a little bit more of her breath away. She craved him.

Glancing up at him, she took a chance and used her mind to smack his ass.

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He snarled into her mouth and pulled away from her, his hand tightening around her throat. Then he was off her, rolling her onto her belly with a single, deft move.

He forced her legs open as he lifted her head by her neck. His hand stayed tight as he growled in her ear. "Is this what you want?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

She nodded as best she could, every forward movement pressing her throat against his hand. Really she wondered why he bothered to stop and ask. Her legs were as far apart as she could get with him right against her. She was soaking wet, more than ready for him.

She pulled at his nipple again at the same time she pushed at the small of his back. "Please."

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

His hand tightened on her throat as he pushed into her. He pushed hard, burying himself deep in that first stroke. Starting to move immediately, he was not gentle, slamming into her even as he tightened his hand more, starting to cut off her air now.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She was too busy trying to move with him to notice at first that her panting was gaining her less and less result. Instinctively she grabbed for his hand, digging her nails into it. It was another moment before she realized it wasn't really her nails. Both her hands were reached out in front of her, clutching at the blankets.

With no air to form words, she tried speaking directly to him. With everything, it came out as a whisper. Am I as tight around your cock as your hand is on me?

[gradyforhire.livejournal.com]

He nodded against her cheek, then bit her earlobe as he slammed into her again. Maybe even tighter. Now, let go of my hand. Even his tone in her mind left little question that it was a command.

His fingers squeezed even more and he started moving harder against her. The sound of their combined breathing and the loud slap of skin on skin was the only noise in the room.

[aesthetic_mojo]

In an act of trust almost as strong as the one that drew her to invite him in the first place, she dropped her hold on his hand. She forced her breathing to become more shallow so she could get some air in.

She opened to him for a moment, letting him get deeper into her, then she clamped her muscles down hard around his cock. Whimpering at the fullness, she knew she wouldn't last long with him hammering into her.