EARLIER IN THE DAY AND VAMPIRE FREE…
It seemed silly to fret about a date with the man you’re about to marry. Yet, that is what Juliette found herself doing for most of the morning. During the final fitting for her wedding dress, to be sure the alterations were correct, she agonized on whether or not she was steam-rolling him through something he might not actually be interested in. While shopping for an appropriate evening gown to wear for his charity event, she debated if it were even a good idea to get to better know her husband-to-be or if she should’ve rolled it all back to something purely professional.
In the end it was hard to tell if her decision was selfish or foolishly hopeful. The heart wanted what it wanted, and if there was any chance of seeing if she and Jordan could actually be something, Juliette needed to be open to trusting him. To give him the chance of knowing her beyond the shiny veneer she put on for the world. And in turn she needed to try and do better herself. Be better, so he might find in her someone he could trust as well.
There had to be some sort of irony in the fact that she’d disengaged from David in her quest to become a better person, only to find herself a year later wrapped up in a complicated affair with a vampire of all things. Was that karma at work, or something more akin to something nonsensical Hannah would spout about Destiny? Who knew!
Once her morning errands were out of the way, it was easy enough to focus on setting up the date itself. For there was no need for pompous extravagance to impress her fiancé. No need for a grand show of romanticism that would look good in photographs. Not a single thing necessary for them to do, except have a place they could both exist alone somewhere that was comfortable and enjoyable for them both.
The beach, then, was the perfect place – well – if she took the proper vampiric precautions! Jordan might’ve insisted he wouldn’t burst into flames at the mere touch of a single sunbeam, but she hadn’t failed to notice how he kept those shades of his on, and where along the sidewalk he most walked. Juliette texted him the address to the private beach and resort she had a membership to. Should sunlight be too much for Jordan and the ocean itself too much for her, there was easy access to lovely shaded areas at the resort itself, or the option to rent out one of their small sail boats for more daring guests.
She wore that green wrap dress again with a proper swimsuit underneath, as it was simple enough to get on and off if needed and had a large stripped bag over her shoulder with everything one might need for a date.
A weapon or two, as well. Just in case.
With a few matters straightened up, it felt like a safe reason to return back to the manor. Knowing that at least a couple of the loose ends had been properly tied back together. Sure that Felix wasn’t particularly thrilled with playing bodyguard. Already hearing the repeated words of that’s not what I do! Regardless if it mattered or not, the young chap would respond to what was given even after a few complaints about it. Convinced that Hannah just might be enough of a wild dirt-devil that would shake up the regimental former police officer. By all means, even he could tell Felix needed to let loose. What the hell did that say if he, as a immortal creature could look at a human and tell that their asshole was puckered tighter than a nurse on a sinful Saturday night!
The manor itself would be delightfully devoid of additional bodies. Elisa having most likely to return later in the night once the day had completed itself; leaving the volunteered guard and novelist to have it at their leisure until further notice.
He had known that Juliette wanted to set up their impromptu date for the sparing time they had. Leaving him rather perplexed on truly when had the last time been that he completed such a thing! Searching the annals of memory banks while hands tidied the space of workplace office. Sorting folders and papers alike that weren’t direly confidential into order. Struggling epically to locate even a semblance of a date that had been orchestrated without other motives in mind. Turning to pause and stare at the dark screen of computer. Like it was about to vomit forth the answers he was searching for. No internet search feature was going to help him with this!
Had it truly been a good decade –if not more- that he properly had courted a fair lady with no further intention than turning her neck into his snack? Surely not!
… Surely so…
“Christ—” Well suppose this was going to be a nostalgic reminder that he might have forgotten a bit of the methods of why people courted… dated another first. To learn of their natures rather than dropped head first into marriage as their originally had planned. At least for business
He couldn’t express entirely why the very thought of it being off the books suddenly brought him a bout of nerves, but to lie and say they did not exist would be just that. A lie.
Phone chimed with the telltale sound of the selected notification picked in a chimed favour for the bride to be. Bidding hands to give up on straightening the desk so he might glimpse upon her message, reading the styling of address that detailed its location towards the sea. A beach endeavour once more just far less coordinated by his own tactician hands. Leaving the details to the dark flowered dame instead as he pondered just what did she have in store. Suppose he would just have to find out rather than thinking heavily about it!
However if she wanted a beach venue, supposed he ought to swing back home pre-emptively and change attire. It would do him any good to wander the sandy side in dress shoes or a suit! Since well, someone would surely wonder where the formal event was! Doubly he would prefer to avoid getting sand in his shoes that were more of a pain to clean in such ways.
Guess this was his hint to get a move on, promptly replying to her address with at least a message that he would see her shortly.
“Let’s hope I still remember how to be charming even on a delayed first date.” Smirking more to himself with the private comment, finger pressed swiftly upon the desk intercom. “Heading out, Eleanor. Take messages, if you would.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Harrow.”
These damnable butterflies could feck right off though.
Likewise, Juliette could not remember the last time she actually dated. Her college years at best, yet she could not recall any actual dates that weren’t anything more than a casual hookup. Which meant the last date she could actually remember, she was sixteen years old suffering through some rich adolescent boy’s idea of the ideal way to woo a girl!
It had her laughing out right at the absurd memory!
Dating itself seemed like a lot of unnecessary trouble, when you had so many more important things to do. Not to mention the risk of getting to know someone, and have the entire thing go horribly, disastrously wrong in every way possible. Marrying someone like Jordan – at least before she had known him – seemed like a safe bet compared to the mess that was David.
Yet, here she was now spreading out a large blanket in the sand, trying to figure out how to get to know someone without turning it into a full on investigative interview. An interview Juliette could do! Researching background history and asking pointed invasive questions to dig out the most vital information was a talent few appreciated. Staging a pretend engagement dinner and playing the role of a witless affianced was a breeze! How was one supposed to behave with someone they were actually quite fond of in a way that wasn’t in every manner of the word aggressive. Juliette was aggressively defensive and aggressively affectionate! That’s just who she was!
She was nervous. This was ridiculous.
There had been the temptation to order strong drinks – anything to help temper that jitteryness and help her forget she’d spent plenty of casual days with Jordan. Instead she’d opted for water in her big bag of treats, preferring to keep in full control of her wayward mouth and not let slip anymore candid expressions of love before she was ready to. After a quick sip, she took a moment to adjust the giant sun parasol she was making their cozy nest under to be sure the shade angled in the right direction.
A King of Vampires on the beach. ALL of this was ridiculous!
By the time Jordan arrived to the resort and was directed by it’s employees to where his fiancé had taken residence, Juliette had arranged a nice spot for them both and was frowning so terribly at it, one would think she had a vendetta against beach blankets.
The small detour was greatly appreciated. Had they been holed up in an environment with air conditioning all day then the choice to come home to change would have never been considered. With the blaring heat from another warm day, this was the smart move.
At least he could enjoy for a time the cool A/C within the car before needing to dawn the shades once more as body exited the cool horseless machine. Glancing back at it while the lights flickered in time with the horn loudly proclaiming it was all locked up; visual darkened peepers considered the private club for a muted thought. Never having bothered with a place himself, it was interesting to think of his future wife as a yacht club frequenter. Idly wondering if she also had spontaneous interactions with same well off people for more than just polite conversation, but shooed the intrusive thought aside. Well aware it was simply his mind trying to focus on anything but the uncharacteristic nerves that harboured deep in one’s gut.
Thankfully his attire change hadn’t been considered too casual as he opted for shorts and easy to remove pale green shirt since he already knew he was prone to the water’s call. Giving the employee that had been gracious enough to aid him to pointing just where the midnight dove had claimed as her territory! Giving a formal nod that bid the employee to go away now, the movement of sand under sole was a strange but familiar sensation. Able to recall memories that were older than most people were in this world. Paired with the smell of salt lingering on the air, the urge to sail was still ever present in his blood. No matter how old he was, there was still a strong love for the unforgiving mistress that was gentle seas and thunderous waves.
Granted that mistress would have to take a proper backseat once his attention veered to consider the wrap dressed adorned future miss. Tugging a crooked smirk up while she was clearly having silent words with the way she was staring disapprovingly at the beach blanket. Encouraging him to meander up with a hand tucked into pocket, looking at the blanket himself. “So… what did it do to make you so dour looking, my love?”
“Called me a seagull and told me to get back to eating trash with the rest of the birds,” she answered instantly, without thought. Before she realized this wasn’t a stranger wandering up from the beach, but Jordan himself. After taking in a deep breath she turned to look at him – and had another pause. This time a slow, cheeky smile coming across her features as she reached nimble fingers out to pluck at the soft green shirt.
“Oddly pastel for someone that doesn’t like bright colors,” she mused out loud. “You are Jordan and not some strange body snatcher here to ruin my dear fiancé’s reputation?”
With her shoes already kicked off at the side of her blanket, she made a slow show of stepping around him. To look him up and down to be extra sure this was indeed Jordan Harrow and not some supernatural interloper.
“Not very King of Darkness, I think, but I do like the color,” she decided. Not that he needed her opinion on the matter, but it was her favorite color after all.
“Well that is rather rude for a inanimate object to say. I can understand the frowned state then.” Making a open handed gesture towards the article like it was about to sit up and tell him it’s piece of mind; it seemed she had to steal a second to clue in that he had in fact arrived. And not in a ball of flames that was typically suggested to happen to his sort. Although it could happen, he had never seen it himself. Decidedly not that interested in waiting to see how long it took for one immortal thing to burst into a barbeque.
Whilst she turned to lend him that characteristic bold grin with fingers making an obvious tug upon unfamiliar coloured shirt, if he ought to be surprised that was the first thing she wanted to talk about; he’d have to work on his startled expression. Rather than sliding palm over those plucking fingers. Taking them into grasp as though inspecting to assure she hadn’t come to some random damage.
“At this time, you are still graced with the one and only Jordan Harrow. I doubt we need more than one of me running about, fake or not. I doubt our fair city would survive if that were the case.” With such delicate digits in hand, it was only a slight beckon to lay lips across knuckles. Assuring that it was of course very much still him.
Released so she might take to vulture-ing around him with irises expending detailed consideration over frame. Giving a nonchalant shrug at the mention of attire not quite favouring the King of Darkness. “I may prefer dark shades but even I know lighter ones will do better for such a scene.” Motioning around them, “I’d prefer to avoid any heat exhaustion if possible, so consider this a rarity and well… perhaps I enjoy earning a bit of your approval, my dear.” Chest inflated as calmly as possible, still attempting not to think too readily about nerves biting at their ends.
“Now, Ms. Future Harrow; what is this you have planned for this event. You’ll have to forgive me as well. It would seem searching my thoughts that I am well.. ill practiced. Unless you want to be the palatable morsel at the end of this all?” Grinning deviously upon her, surely he couldn’t resist trying.
A kiss on the hand was indeed the needed confirmation that this was the very old fashioned Jordan – but more importantly, that this date would be just the same as their usual outings. A relief, honestly, as Juliette wasn’t sure she’d be able to be some well behaved little miss. Her arms slipped around his waist, for what was going to be a perfectly innocent hug-
Only for Jordan to, well, be perfectly Jordan.
Juliette laughed so suddenly, hug abandoned in the process of her head tilting back with merry giggling, and nearly taking a step away to recatch her balance.
“Biting right out of the gate! I was going to at least try to charm you first, Jordan! Before I started making salacious offers!” Juliette matched his devious, though, smiling easy and wide even as she attempted to temper her giggling. “I’ve made no plans today, if you must know. No schemes, no directing, no micromanaging… Although, now I think a plan,” she mused to herself.
“Do you truly expect any less of me?” Asking both in innocence and deviltry; laying heavily on the latter. “I cannot be entirely held accountable for my actions when they come to being subsequently unable to particularly find my attention anything but all ways devoted upon you. Salacious or otherwise.” That was worth at least a slight mental pat on the back, feeling rather good about that one. And it wasn’t even practiced!
However, there was a failure that had arisen due to his commentary that stopped her from completing the forward motion. Bidding that he ought to promptly fix this mistake. Slipping hand to intertwine from one side of hip to the other. Bringing closure of frames to properly greet in embrace. Leaving the humming sounds to ripple up from chest as she expressed that her plans of the day were in fact, none. “Are we sure we trust ourselves equally to go without a pre-planned agenda?” Jordan continued in tone, “Who knows what wild un-foretold happenings could arise we as equal tactical minds were left with freedom of having nothing organized prior!” Lilt dipped deeply within a jesting nature as to avoid any actual worry that they would need such regimented itineraries to keep them from straying outside the figurative lines.
Laying lips to press upon an affection linger to that of brow, “Hello my lovely dove,” Giving her now a proper greeting that wasn’t worried about why she was frowning so deeply. “I hadn’t expected the idea of a date would have come so swiftly, surely you mustn’t be that eager to learn further terrible things about your prospective husband, now are you?”
Jordan seemed to be all too pleased with his verbal wordplay, and Juliette wasn’t about to tell him that his nonsense was so reminiscent of an ancient old man. Truthfully, she was finding it to be an endearing sort of quirk. No doubt evolved from centuries of language and flowery prose filled books! Something so distinctly Jordan that if there ever were some handsome doppelgänger on the loose, she’d know the difference from speech alone.
It helped too that he’d pulled her in for hug proper, chiming on with his usual teasing only to finished off with a belayed greeting, that she was growing quite fond of hearing. Juliette lingered in his embrace for as many moments as she could get away with, finding that now he was here it wasn’t so hard to let go of all those jittery and second guessing.
“I am not so used to going about my day without every single minute planned out,” she laughed against his chest before pulling back and using gentle fingers to tug and guide him to her blanket nest.
“Sit! I fully intend to spend every spare moment I can with you, before we’re both so busy building empires that we barely say two words to each other. Unless you want a scheme, Mister Harrow? I am a bit tempted to see if I can walk out of here today owning this resort and it’s properties.”
Such a foreign entity it was to actually reciprocate the idea of enjoyment at another’s presence. Far too used to the mannerisms now that had him simply toting around some name on his arm with no more attention that eventually dallying their minds to the burst of intoxicated euphoric so he might feed without too much notice. Of course it was never perfect, it wasn’t exactly a pleasant endeavor upon first bite but that was what being a creature of the demonic night was for, if he didn’t have his own little uses of doling out methods of keeping said being attached to mouth, hushed.
Just as the welcomed close of Juliette came in proper by his guiding, did he find he wasn’t disliking the interaction. Not that he ought to be to overtly surprised since well… her presence was favourable. One of those selected few that he didn’t want to toss out like yesterday’s garbage. Merely the thought that he soothed somewhat under the easy embrace was more of the need to pluck at. Inquiring internally just how she had bypassed those barriers that even he wasn’t sure were there at all times.
Although, there was little to no use rolling such matters over his thoughts now. “As am I. The concept of being without even a margin of minute planned out is questionably unheard of.” He could sit still with no plans but they were rare. Typically paired when he was absolutely and completely worn out of company. Tucking away like some grand beast into the narrowest corner he could to hide for days with next to no interaction with anyone! Squirreled away like lost acorns.
“Suppose we will be learning this together then.” Less he not move hastily enough to her erected little haven of blanketed territory, he came promptly to her guidance. Complying with a easy laugh himself that took the command of sit to heart.
Sitting down with more of an noticeable attention to use the provided parasol shade so he could at least feel some of the sun coming off the beat of back. Shortly lived as head swiveled backwards to consider the building of the resort. Perching shaded lenses back and forth like a scheme were already forming. Yet he was methodical in the slow turn back to face her, “Surely if we wanted to take over a resort, we’d spare it for somewhere a little more tropical than this. And not in our backyard.” He suggested before adding, “A little more remote with less potential of running into someone either of us may know and wish to toss off the nearest balcony.”
Leaning back onto the flat of palms, shoes were only then departed. Put aside to avoid as much collection of sand as possible. Filling lungs deep of the salty breeze once more, “Though the ocean breeze does make me slightly consider the idea of plotting a takeover here.” Head moved then with no obvious reason to look at her, “You did bring yourself sunscreen?” Thoughts randomly attaching to that idea then and there.
Juliette laughed then, bold and delighted for a multitude of reasons.
First and foremost, once he was settled, she too dropped down onto the blanket on her knees. Inching over to grab her striped bag and dig inside for the very expensive looking bottle hiding inside. Then she scooted to sit comfortably close, popping the top to squeeze a bit onto her hands.
“Sometimes I think you can read minds. You are certain this isn’t one of your strange vampiric skills?” she asked, eyeing him as if she wasn’t sure she’d believe him if he did deny it. “I brought you sunscreen.”
Juliette stole his sunglasses to set aside, and as suggested took to spreading the stuff across her fingers before taking to gently apply it to his face. As someone who clearly did her own makeup on a daily basis, there was no hesitation of where to stroke fingers and thumbs to smooth the cream where it needed to be. And it must’ve been expensive indeed, as there was no flowery or chemical smell, nor did it have that awful sticky or greasy feeling most products tended to have. It was simple, and light… and he wasn’t going to look like a painted white mannequin of zinc!
“You also assume I want this resort for fun and not more… conquesting reasons,” she mused out loud, that wicked mysterious smile playing at the corner of her mouth as she made sure the sunscreen was well applied to his skin. “I might take this entire coastline if given the chance.”
“…I think I might like your idea better,” she considered it with a thoughtful tilt of her head. “You love the sea this much, why didn’t you purchase a beachfront estate? Or is it easier to hide secrets in gothic mansions?”
“I certainly hope not.” Came the counter, “I can’t imagine hearing someone else’s mind and the jabbering nonsense that is going on. My own is too much to take at times.” Thus far there hadn’t been another vampire since the old era of the king that had been gifted with telepathy. Truly he meant every letter to the word but thank god. It was such a pain to do much of anything with that little rat lurking and probing into thoughts with no consideration to even mentally knock. One had to learn ways of thinking of something completely different than what you were intending otherwise well, they’d know whatever the hell thought you had. Some good, some terrible and plenty that were terribly humiliating! “Don’t give me that look like you aren’t convinced. I might have a multitude of unique feats but that is truly not one of them.” Returning the suspicious eye before she was announcing the idea of sunscreen had been brought for him. “Wha?”
Off went the sunglasses and it was barely seconds before he was suddenly accosted by slathered fingers! Feeling the same sort of rebellious streak that young children had when their parent’s sought to protect them from the devious burning rays of the sun. Squinting lids to thin peeks while she took to diligently coating him in the stuff. “It is a good thing I find you enthralling, I hope you know.” Widening one eye to truly peer at her with minor annoyance that he was not a fan of this sort of sloppy wet seal on his skin. Not sure he could recall burning under the sun even for the state of red but he didn’t stay out that long. So it was unfair of him to simply assume he didn’t!
One could only imagine that as a human teen and young adult, the idea of sunscreen on the reflective ocean would have been a gift from God. Rather than him being a disgruntled child now.
Noticeably there was no chemical stink attached to the lotion. Allowing a passing that he wasn’t going to actually fight her –doubtful he would have anyways- before she declared that his thoughts formally for this resort had been slightly askew. “Now love, you have to share with the others.” Jordan hummed, “You can’t just have it all to yourself. Even a queen has to be kind to her subordinates.” Daring even further to widen gaze upon the dark hair maid, “Let them eat cake, and that.” Not that it was a correctly correlating comment to make to this moment but it would suffice.
Eventually freed from her dedicated grasp to make a hard swipe of thumb across his own cheek. Making sure he wasn’t suddenly going to be looking at chalky mess on hand from being attacked by sunscreen.
Turning finger on the same hand upwards. Pointing to the sky to the very reason why he had not purchased on the beach. “I may not animatedly burst into flame or melt, but it still isn’t pleasant. The light reflecting off the water is beautiful but less so when it’s glancing off any polished surface in the house. And it would be a waste to have black out curtains throughout the entire building. Plus, people.” He sighed, “Too many people on the beach-side. If I was truly going to do something near the sort of living by the lady of the sea, I would have just lived on the water.” Dusting fingers upon another for a final check, “Again.”
But shook his head, “I am not a young man anymore. The ocean is grand to visit, not to live. And I’ll have you know when I bought my manor, it was when the area was being developed.” Rings of blue resided upon her thus more, “It seemed at the time a good place to secure solitude when I needed to be scarce. I can’t be in the public eye for extensively long periods of time otherwise someone is going to wonder how I managed to be so youthful.” Head tipped slightly in an invitational way, “Our home is not the only one I own after all. Perhaps in our future, we could consider a beach front. So long as there is a dark space for me to sit in.”
Petulant as he was, Juliette was concerned he might try to wriggle and roll out of her grasp and right into the ocean rather than have something protective applied to his skin. Luckily he remained in place, only putting up the smallest of huffings… which honestly only made her smile ever wider and take even longer to be sure it was well massaged into his skin.
Not just his face either, for as he chided her for wanting to snatch up the entire west coast and kept pressing fingers to his own cheek to see what he could rub off, Juliette made sure to get the exposed skin of his neck and then moved to steal his arm. As expected, a vampire on the beach was a strange thing indeed. He needed the sunscreen.
“Strangely, I have only lived here in this city,” she reciprocated in turn the bit of personal knowledge. “You would think my parents would’ve sent me off to boarding schools in Europe, but I suppose that might’ve been too pricy in the pocket. The dorms were nice, at least. Though I certainly decided early on that living with roommates is not a pleasant experience.”
Even thinking about it now had her wrinkling up her nose at the absolute nightmare of sharing a space with other entitled rich children. Maybe she herself was also just as awful as the rest of them, territorial and spoiled, and a terrible living companion. At least it was what she thought when she was too small to realize her parents were just awful people, and it wasn’t her fault directly that she’d been sent away to live in another building. As if she weren’t welcomed to exist in their own house.
“You’ll have to take off your shirt,” she murmured, after squeezing a bit more of her torturous pomade into her hands and capturing his other arm.
“We may as well move your lair farther up north, where the sun only shines for half of the year. At least there will be no worries of others encroaching with urban sprawl. I might enjoy being escort about by teams of huskies, I think.”
Surely he was to be freed after the application to face but there was no such measure. Rather the elegant little harpy right now was dead set on dousing him down that he was truly starting to ponder an escape route! Doubtful that he would get far as he figured she might just suddenly turn Olympic athlete to chase him down into submission. And on this terrain? By no means did he want to be caked in sunscreen and sand. He might as well be tarred and feathered!
With a expressive exhale to show he was being barely patient with her dedicated attention, lips tugged into a deep frown. Mentioning her parents in time with how she had only ever lived here within this city. “Really.” He found that actually interesting. Having expected that she would have travelled across the globe even for a while to experience a new setting. But she had remained here only to find the worst bit of trash that was turning into a thorn in both their asses. “I’d assume you would have gone to well…” Pinching his chin in grasp searching for an exotic place but coming up with too many to list. “Anywhere else. Just for the sense of adult freedom that comes at the relief of no secondary schooling or attentive parents.” Choosing those words specifically to dig at Sir and Madam no fuck’s given.
Yet even as she exposed she had no appreciation for roommates, the comment made him smirk. “You don’t say.” Feigning his surprise at such a reveal. Her whole living in a hotel only accented that vibe she didn’t care for extra people in her comfort space! Home included. Less it was a mandatory holiday sort of situation but guessed she might keep a hard drink nearby to suppress her tongue for a limited time.
There was a thought that crossed his mind watching her wrinkle up the button of nose before he was so rudely interrupted by the declaration of taking off his shirt. Looking to where hands released and were being coated once more. “Buy me dinner first at least.” Jordan uttered in quick succession. Making a cross of arms over chest like he was suddenly timid. “Someone’s after my body… and so soon! Out in public, Juliette! I wouldn’t have taken you as a exhibitionist.” He was stalling of course, “Do you think I will be leaving this shade much?”
Yet she gave him a comment to the space of living coordinates. Lips turning into a wide grin, short fang and all. “I do like winter. More cloud coverage and well, the snow is always pretty. But a team of huskies? I can only imagine the wet dog smell.”
“Jordan!” she exclaimed in exasperation, trying not to laugh at this scandalized ploy he was trying to put up. “You are not a virginal damsel! Take it off!”
Juliette certainly wasn’t going to chase him across the beach to see it done, no matter how entertaining the thought might be.
“I intend to go out there,” she explained, stretching an arm to point out at the sea itself. “I’ll have enough to worry about without fearing you’ll toast up if it takes too long.”
Just in case, however, she shifted to her knees and scooted until she could sit on his legs. Which likely appeared to be even more inappropriate and scandalous for public, drawing her to give him a pointed, smug grin. But at least now he’d have to comply, or throw her off if he wanted to escape.
“I did consider going to university somewhere as far as possible, but I suppose I was still holding out hope that things would be different as an adult.” she admitted with a careless shrug of her shoulder. Of course she cared, but that part of her life was long enough ago that it no longer mattered. After all, she’d already had her vengeful phase, and really didn’t want to relive it.
“I’ve traveled since, at least. On occasions I’ve had the chance. There’s not been time to think about where I might actually like to live long term with the business and all.”
“Maybe I am, you can’t be too sure!” Tensing fingers for emphasis that just maybe he was a virginal damsel! Even if the very thought was making it rather difficult to keep up this guise of being potentially taken advantage of. “What will the people think!” Going for the full dramatic flare to assure it was properly suggested that he was going to behave like a embarrassed ninny. Following the point to where she motioned to the blue green lapping tides with a suggestion that was where she was going.
Which for a moment he smirked but it dropped away immediately. “Wait,” hands similarly dropped, “You can’t swim.” He hadn’t forgotten that tidbit, “By the nines, you little demon; what makes you think I’ll sit my merry rump here knowing that you’ll be out there. All it takes is one good ebbing tide to suck you out.” Head shook at such a ludicrous thought. “I’d sooner be toasted than let you get swept away.” Slightly humming as she ever so effortlessly made a little lap throne upon him with a grin that was rather devious. Considering even a bare second that he just might pick her up and affirm that he would be a little brat. But the thought moved away.
Urging fingers up to pluck away the buttons from keeping the lapel of shirt properly sealed. In turn it gave him a chance to watch her thus more. Undivided attention with each button being looped free. “I cannot fathom how parents can be so generally blasé to their own child.” He spat this a little stronger with venom than one might have believed. “It has never made much sense to me and I cannot particularly shirk it now even if you may have come to terms with their lack of care for you.”
Sighing with hands finalizing the last to motion at her it was done. “And… have you now then? Had time to consider where you might like to live long term?” Not that a hand was so tempered to stay idle. Reaching upwards to brush tip across jaw to cheek. Turning palm to cup said space, brushing thumb pad lightly across. “Or is that still waiting in mid air?”
“I didn’t intend to go out there without you, but now at the sound of ebbing tides and being swept away I might not ever go out there at all ever,” she mumbled with another wrinkling of her nose. Though there was a small bit of flushing amusement that his first thought was to panic over her getting taken by the sea. As if she’d even dare step that far out without being tied directly to the shore!
“Did you think I was covering you in sunscreen just for an excuse to put my hands all over you?” she continued instead with an examining perusal of his person. Waiting patiently as he pulled away buttons, until she could once again resume her mission of being certain he’d had a thorough sun barrier. “What filthy thoughts for a deviant damsel.”
Juliette did not want to waste her energy lamenting about the carelessness of her parents, choosing instead to answer those statements with a quick leaning in and soft brushing of kiss. The soft shrugging of her shoulder spoke volumes, in that there wasn’t much else to be done on that front.
The thought of where she might want to live in the future, though, and the soft cupping of his hand drew out a smile equally as soft.
“I am content where I am now. Perhaps for a decade or more. With plans to find a wintery lair elsewhere, not directly on the beach but maybe with a lakeview and lots of heavy trees. That is, if you survive the day without being toast and I do not drown in the sea.”
Truthfully? Yes! He did assume that she would go into the waters without him since well, he hadn’t thought that ahead to consider his presence would be within reach. Granted he didn’t wish to scare away from the water either, “I wouldn’t wish for you to be that resistant to the water either, otherwise at home I will be assuring each time you are near the pool to be sufficiently covered head to toe in floating devices.” And he wasn’t kidding. The last thing he wanted was for the new bride to take an accidental sidestep that brought her into the waters. Fluttering like a drunken bird at a bath till she either had fortune to grab the side or faired in a less favourable end!
The very idea was banished. Not to be allowed to even ruminate a idea of existing!
Lingering the rings upon her own darkened chocolate at the query of whether he thought she was just wanting an easy excuse to get handsy with him. Following the extension of look one way and another. Making sure the plucking of buttons were given way to eventually shirk the light fabric to pool behind. Goosebumps naturally prickling up at the introduction of cool lotion once more, “As if you weren’t thinking something similar.” Daring his fate to suggest certainly he was not the only filthy one here. Nearly tempted to grab at her hips to drag her closer like that would get the point across. Well it would get the information that he was a deviant damsel certainly.
However he was distracted before the devil thoughts could come to fruition. The mere mention of the carelessness of her parents proved to rile his hackles. Raising while she was doing her best to quell down the very perch. Dulling with a mere flutter of lips, turning his expression to contemplation at the shrug of shoulders. Disliking the nonchalance there as well.
Truly, the pair of donors that created her ought to get a right earful as the least of things they deserved. “I dislike it, Juliette.” He wasn’t going to pursue the topic but he would make clear his obvious distaste.
Softening by dramatics when the idea of a place to live was mentioned. Sparing lightened caresses till lips of warm colours gave a tender grin. Listening dutifully with a slow smirk of his own once more returning. “A mountainous area or lake. I could handle that. It would be peaceful,” Boldness once more replaced any lingering ire that could have risen. Drawing the length of jaw so he might lean forward to flirt lip upon the swell of her own. “Well then, I best not become burnt toast and you soggy bread. You’re giving me future thoughts that I wish to see through all the sudden.”
“I wish I could say the same! I think I would rather not be grabbed and wrapped in plastic bubbles every time I step near a pool!” Despite the way she exclaimed it, so full of shock and distaste, Juliette laughed out at the thought. As if it would be so easy for her to tumble in by accident.
“Behave and let me finish,” she chided, doing her best to make quick work of it – no matter how much he made it tempting to actually take her time and see how she could make him flinch and jump. If they were home, maybe she would have, where there was no potential audience out and about to spy on every little thing they were up to.
Once she did finish with an acceptable amount of the sunscreen on his chest, stomach and sides, she finally deemed it safe enough to rise and scoot off him, so she could finish up quickly with a fine layer on his back.
“Forget about my parents,” she urged softly, with a squeeze of her fingers into his shoulders. “You have yours with you still, I hope that is because they were far more pleasant?” she asked curiously.
It was a dangerous dive to ask him about things that far in the past. But as Myra had said, they didn’t quite know each other the way they needed to. And family certainly played a huge part in making someone what they were.
Between amusement and quite enough of this whole assuring that parts of him were sufficiently covered in the sun blocking glop, he was having a hard time deciding which way it was going to go. To be ill behaved or the opposite. What he could take with a sense of consolation was the ever lingering presence of hands making their passes in attentive ways. Assuring that nothing was missed regardless if he wanted to be finished with it.
It wasn’t nearly as fun when there was a behave aspect to this.
But rather than huff and puff like some sort of unruly dragon, he relented. Letting her finish with the task before she was escorting rump from keeping him in place. Urging no sooner after words of displeasure were announced that he ought to forget such people. Hard to do when they were still a lurking presence of the very woman before him. Moreover, Juliette was becoming rather crafty at interrupting potential tirades when she mentioned similar topics in his favour. Leaving him to lean once more back on palms while keeping view on her. Glancing at the bottle of stupid sunblock for good measure.
Eventually turning visual peepers out towards the sea for further contemplation. Not to ignore her but to organize his thoughts. “Troublesome at times. But all parents are in someway or another.” He had to be careful how he spoke after all. Just in case some passerby had eavesdropping ears. “I was their third child.” Jordan frowned, “Third child, first breathing one.” Expressing so she understood that there were siblings he had never met due to their untimely end before their beginning started. “I would say I was sufficiently spoiled from the very first moment because of that, but they meant much to me. Even in my most rebellious of ways, they were still important.”
Then he frowned a little looking towards the hundreds of millions particles of sand around them. “The love of the sea came from my father as a man who was a simple fisherman. I think I spent more time on the wooden boat than I did on the shore. Worrying my mother profusely while my father just laughed about it. Urging that I would be alright… that having sea legs was good for character or something nonsensical.” Waving that one off, Jordan found her under scope yet again. Almost impossible to veer away too long. “It wasn’t particularly common but when my father was absent for a while due to his work, I spent plenty of time under my mother’s foot. Within the kitchen. There are days now that I yearn to be able to taste something proper, just as a sort of reminder of what I’ve learnt from her. So yes… my parents were far more pleasant.”
A wistful smile appeared, then chuckled. A soft sound that was thankfully of good nature. “I doubt half of my good qualities would be in existence had it not been for them. Though you may have to give me time to try and list five of those qualities.” Palms opened as body shifted them. “Come then, I wouldn’t want you to burn either. Red wouldn’t be such a fetching colour upon a body such as yours.” Pointing at the sunscreen and indicating he wanted her closer to properly douse her at least upon hard to reach areas.
The wicked sort of look she gave him suggested she was debating a flipping of the script – to create a scene and kick up a tantrum much the way he did. To maybe screech and wail, call him the rogue, and even jump off and dash off just for the delight of it. It’d serve him right too for having such a fuss about a little sunscreen!
There were more fun ways to set Jordan off-kilter, however.
“That is good, then. I’m glad one of us had pleasant parental experience. I was starting to think you might have risen up out of the sea to plague mankind long before becoming a vampire,” she teased, softening the words with a quick kiss to the back of his neck before complying to his beckoning.
Nonchalant as could be, she inched along on her knees to a more accessible seat, gently tugging the tie on her wrap dress until the knot came loose. Making no grand show of shrugging the dress off her shoulders to reveal the black swimsuit underneath. After all, it was perfectly modest and nothing too spectacular beyond a cheeky style of tie. Juliette reached for the bottle and handed it to him with a simple, innocent smile. He could do as he pleased!
“How did the scar come about?” she asked instead, leaning a bit to reach out and brush her thumb over the spot at his shoulder. “A vicious bit of fishing or later when things were upside down?”
That twisted pucker of lips might be the only reason he would entertain the idea of reading minds. Able to guess that she was thinking something of a devious intent but the depth of it would remain unknown. Perhaps better that he didn’t know what schemes were being hatched for he wouldn’t have to swiftly counter!
Resorting to harmless eyes that were silently bidding he was watching her but speaking no sooner on the aspect of two people that made him easily who he was. At least the human aspects, he wouldn’t dare put blame on his parents for his monstrous side. They didn’t deserve that curse even in death! Yet it was such a strange moment to think back to them. Knowing what he knew, it almost felt like he avoided talking about them simply because surely everyone else knew about them too. That wasn’t the case but it may have just been attributed to the fact that he just believed them to be of noteworthy thoughts. Making it feel like he had already spoken about them in great length.
“Ah, one of Poseidon’s unwanted and unspoken about brat children thrust upon the mortal world before I became truly corrupt. That would seem fitting, perhaps there may be truth to that?” yeah he would be the sort of hellion that was spat from the realm of water to harass some of the mortal life before made into a worst version!
Before he could turn into a proper appearance of a brooding dark creature that was beset upon the unlikely visit of the enchanted vision of maiden, mouth parted the motion that she ought to be doled upon as well. Following her shuffling approach right up to the moment that the green shimmery fabric was loosened to shrug down and let the reveal of beneath attire demand attention. The sweep of eyes and the pause of grasp even attempting to pick up bottle. It was modest but it was also properly alluring that he highly doubted she just had this hanging around for any ol’ beach day to catch some rays. Dully taking the bottle only after she passed it and needing additional moments to force his mind to work on the question she gave next.
“Huh?” Bumbling out dumbly settling the sunscreen aside but putting use to hands all the same. “Oh uh… the former. Learning how to fish and was a bit over zealous. Swung the hook back and torn myself a nice rip.” Teeth grazed across the inside of lip, “I don’t scar as I am now.” It was like putting a damn buffet in front of a starving man and telling them not to have a single bite! Which he was not good at obeying such orders.
Letting the pass of heated breath move across the exposure of trapezoid towards the back of neck. Using her own previous motion to lay a lingering press upon the back of ivory column. Crawling the dominant of hand along hip towards front. Simply to suggest he was exploring the satin of suit. “Do you always wear such tantalizing things to the beach or is that just to assure I fail to pay attention to anything else but you?” This was supposed to be a date to learn about another but to say he was a being that would withstand the plethora of allure before him would be utter bullshit. “You’re making it hard to focus, I hope you know.” Flirting mouth back to nip pointedly at the slope from neck to shoulder.
Perhaps her actions had backfired after all, for a few brush of lips left her with lovely involuntary shivers, and all of her attempts to play it all off as innocent nothings failed into a fit of soft giggles. Juliette caught his hand with hers, tilting her head back against his shoulder to grace him with that impish grin.
“I wear what I like. If you are scandalized and tantalized, that is all your own problem,” she insisted. That, at least, was absolute truth. It’s not as if she had a closet curated full of things to seduce dark and broody vampires in all manner of scenarios. The only garments she’d purchased specifically with Jordan in mind were her wedding dress itself, and the gown she’d ordered for his charity event.
Juliette did however at least try to stop giggling!
“You have to focus, Jordan! By the end of today I need to be able to keep my head above water. I refuse to walk down the wedding isle whatever manner of nonsense life vests and flippers you attempt to strap me in.” she explained most patiently.
“Besides,” she continued, that wickedly suggestive tone lacing her words. “A delicate damsel like yourself couldn’t possibly handle public spectacles. Quickly think of dull boring things!”
“I am scandalized.” Punctuating with a renewed pressed across the bend of neck being offered in her newest position. “And tantalized. It may be my problem for now but it will become ours eventually.” He didn’t entirely have to guess that ocular lamps may have made a subtle alteration. Peering at her with that delightfully impish grin, he could only hope that he’d keep a moderate check on himself to not suddenly go wondering around with rather blood red irises that would be hard to dismiss. He could get away with their close proxy at least being private that she might have only glimpse the short narrowing of pupils into a rather oblong tense before rounding once more. At least the sound of her easy giggling wasn’t telling him he was stepping on a precarious ledge.
“Wear what you wish indeed, just know that they may have effects that outside your control.” Was he truly above making a spectacle right here? It shouldn’t have taken such a depth of brain power to mull over, but mull he did.
Eventually sighing in a dramatic manner that withdrew mouth from idly peppering affection across the bare of skin. “Flippers would be a bit much. I think that might clash with whatever gown you wear.” Oh yeah, that would be the only problem. Not a large bloated yellow life vest attached to her. Certainly not that!
Sliding lids closed like if he had no visual, he’d meet that idea of focus. But damn this woman for she was very good at uttering nonsense like it was gospel. Tugging him out a potential of a meditative state to stare. “I feel as though you are trying to tempt fate. To see whether or not I will leap to prove you wrong and you may be right.” Once more he leaned close though avoiding her slender space of shoulder and neck to favour tipped features resting upon shoulder. Laying a chaste press upon kissers but barely pulled back to murmur upon them, “Don’t tease a peckish vampire, love. I will quickly turn to a very hangry one that will latch on to that pretty little neck.” Brandishing tongue to brazenly tilt modest into very much the opposite.
“Less you want to be the front page of the local news, perhaps it is time then to try and get you to at least float so you can avoid the clash of style on our wedding day.”
Dangerous territory indeed, tempting a vampire – not that she was attempting to do so on purpose! …well. Not entirely on purpose. Yet now he had her breathless, her heart thumping softly against her chest, and Juliette wondered why she thought a date out in public was the way to go. They could be at home, in bed, comfortably alone having all of these conversations, free to do whatever they pleased in the process. Wasn’t that what pillow talk was for, after all?!
Juliette laughed again, forcing herself to disengaged and sit up. Turning around to rest on her knees as she bent to very boldly steal her hands into his pockets to make sure his phone and car keys could be safely set aside. Not sure if he would remember such things, being so scandalized and tantalized as he was.
“At the very least, you might wait until we are home tonight before sinking teeth into me,” she suggested, as if making such an offer was a normal everyday thing to do. “So that you can easily fetch me a snack afterwards.”
By now, Juliette had surmised that vampiric feeding need not be a deadly affair – not if they wanted to continue to survive after all! With as easily as he’d brought up simple date n’ dine meals, she didn’t have any real fear of allowing Jordan to have a bite. Lord, she’d probably done kinkier things in the past! But at the very least, she wanted to be at home where she’d be safe if there were any unexpected after effects.
True blue contemplation placed itself upon the straight features. Considering her words about how at the very least courtesy, they ought to wait till they returned back to the safety of the manor. Where things weren’t liable to scandalous precious eyes. Or have someone realize potentially whom they were to just decide to snap some candid photos. Though he doubted that last one. So while a strong portion of his thoughts were promptly collecting on the side of fuck it, he knew better. Truly did.
Leaving her to attack pockets to be emptied of vital items and him to fill lungs with a dramatic exhale. “I suppose that would be the wisest of choices. I wouldn’t wish to leave you lethargic after all.” Such a strange thought. Yes, in the past he had used the method of sex as a distraction to feed. The thrilling rush of excitement was often a good cover for pain and plus he was generally vocal to suggest he was certainly a biting sort. So it was never too unexpected but never to the point that the fair damsel at the time might realize he was latching on to properly feed when he didn’t much want to just pour a cold bloody drink downstairs.
It was just a little strange to hear that Juliette wasn’t particularly fussing over the idea of being both wife and lunch to him. Leaving thoughts to mellow somewhat. For their favour certainly! It would be safer for her to be comfortable and where he might provide after care. Leaving that additional what thought as he was actually considering such things.
He was getting soft.
“Alright,” Assuring that the keys and wallet with phone were tucked aside to avoid water damage and thieving fingers, hands outcast themselves. Motioning to the sprawling view of open blue ocean, just that he stopped. Looking at her and the whole entire reason this had started in a innocent way firstly. Making a proper grab for the bottle so he could at least assure her back was protected before suggesting going into the reflective waves. Only after it had been properly applied did he continue his former thought. Coming up to stand himself even if sunglasses were snatched once more to avoid too much of the glaring light hitting him in the eye. He’d handle the flecks of water as unimportant but there was no reason he was going in too deep anyways to the salty current. “Do you know any of the motions or basics of swimming, my dear?”
“I know to keep my mouth closed,” was her wry answer. Screaming her head off was a surefire way to swallow gallons and it was a lesson she learned real quick.
Juliette entwined her hand with Jordan’s, not really leading toward’s the gentle tide, but more… taking slow meandering steps. Despite this being her own idea, she wasn’t exactly excited about dipping toes in the water. In fact, now that it was setting in that there was no sane way to take it all back, an sense of dread began to curl and slither it’s way into her stomach.
She feared nothing. …she feared one thing!
There really was no choice in the matter if she wanted to actually enjoy her wedding day out at sea.
“I’ve not actually attempt to try,” she readily admitted. “Ocean, pool, or otherwise. People also seemed to be thrilled when you confess that you can’t swim at all, as their first instinct is more often than not to shove you right in and see what happens. I’ve made it point to avoid being at the water’s edge.”
With the safety of hand neatly tucked into his own; had it not been for that literal attachment, he just might have walked right in without a further care. Adapted to the environment with a falsified example at home that was still a place he would slip into when a chance arose without interruption. Just that end of his hand was slow and taking toddling steps that could have been an answer itself to his former wonderment.
Bidding him to slow to her pace and watch.
Much akin to a nervous cat that was probably giving a mental talk to the ebb and flow of water; mouth turned inwards at their corners. Amused at her cautious nature while she came to tell him that the avoidance of water had been strictly maintained. “Fair point. People are prone to stupidity when someone expresses a particular lack of something. Testing it out for their own amusement.”
Inching his fingers up to assure they stated mingled between her own, using the length of arm to give a tug so she would close the distance at least to him. “We’ll take it at your pace, Juliette. So long as it is not backwards.” Stepping closer to the wet portion of sand, feeling it squish under bared feet. Practically wiggling tooties at the sensation that told him to take a few more steps out. Keep going!
Greeting the lukewarm tide as it lapped up to breath out is exhale. “You’ll have to trust me that I won’t let you go out to sea, dove.”
“When merely moments ago you were fretting about the undertow sweeping me away?” She said it easily enough, but it was so close to that tone she used when she was about to snap at someone, that even she heard it. This wasn’t a fight! Yet, it was very much the same sort of feeling. Twisting up in her stomach with nowhere to go. She couldn’t very well fight the ocean, it was absurd.
So she squeezed his hand that much tighter and scowled her most vicious of scowls, making sure to at least not aim it in Jordan’s direction.
“This is the stupidest thing, I’m fine,” she insisted. Powering through it, one little step at a time. The water wasn’t too cold, and she was thankful for that. Almost even relaxed as they waded out further, up to the knees without incident or startled screaming.
A few steps further it all went wrong – her foot sank just a little too far in the sand, nearly making her lose her balance. The tide swept by an inch higher than she was expected. Juliette could swear up above a bunch of seagulls were cackling about her soon to be demise. She couldn’t breathe. All the color must’ve washed out of her face as death brushed his cold bony fingers down the back of her neck.
Juliette froze in place, very slowly, very softly shaking her head. Backing up was exactly what she was going to do! The second her legs worked!
“That’s what one might call caring, my little peristéri. I don’t want you to be swept away but if I am right here, then it surely can’t. Now can it?” He didn’t actually read into her tone turning into disgruntled snarling. Well aware that when met with a personal discomfort that people could respond in such ways. This was a hard situation that was not so easily tempered when it came to just taking control of her fears. It needed gentle guidance and patience alongside after all.
In reply he squeezed those gripping digits. Smirking at how she was scowling with a fierce determination that well expressed itself no sooner. “Love—” it wasn’t nearly as stupid as she declared. It was fine to have fears, everyone had them. It was how one chose to combat then but ploughing headlong may not have been the answer thus far. At least up until it seemed that her balance within the squish of shifting wet sands begun to dissipate.
Making her lopsided.
He’d been right there. Moving at her pace though maybe he should have given a fair warning how the sands under foot would move and how to brace one’s weight to counterbalance.
He still might need too but for now as it showed swiftly that she was meeting her potential maker in the angle of terror, Jordan hummed softly. Stepping inwards to sweep the strength of arm around hip and bring the weight of her frame into his own. Ignoring the way she was shaking her head, “Breath, love.” Speaking in slow calm tones private for her, “I’m right here.” Squeezing his grasp around her for added measure before assisting her from being sucked into the muck. Taking a step backwards that led them only a bit further but keeping her weight into his own.
Once sure that their leverage was balanced, the remaining grasp came to intertwine similarly. Turning secured hold into embrace. Letting prints themselves rest upon the cross of hips and mouth lightly pressing close to her crown. “Now, just take a moment to calm yourself. At your pace. Use me if you need too to ground yourself. I won’t let you slip.”
She was like a little stick of dynamite ready to go off at any minute. When she did finally manage to snag a breath, she sucked in so sharply, and so deeply, that there was a genuine possibility that she was about to belt out a scream that’d rival any harpy.
Thankfully, instead she kept to the breathing. Forcefully trying to let it go as slow as possible, hoping along with it that heavy thumping in her chest would slow to a steady rhythm. A subtle wiggle of her fingers was the first test, then a rotating of her wrists. Once Juliette was confident that her arms could still move, they immediately went around his waist, where she latched on tight enough to dig her nails into his skin.
“Amazing how one awful day can make a simple thing ridiculously impossible,” she muttered darkly, hiding her face at his chest. Damn the sun and damn the ocean! Damn her own over ambitious ideas! All his wicked fanged gremlins, at least the ones like Emery Hart would be delighted to know their future Queen was terrified of a little water. How intimidating could she be if she couldn’t even set foot into the ocean without wanting to sob.
Juliette wouldn’t stand for it!
It seemed she would never truly change her colors – spite was still a good motivator. Though, not entirely on it’s own. Jordan was solid and stationary. He didn’t try to drag her out further, or retreat her back to the beach. There were not teasing words, or sugary encouragements. He was simply present in the way he needed to be.
Somehow that was going to make her cry more than the blasted sea!
She found her bearings though, aside from a quick sniff and a swipe of her fingers at her cheeks she could breath steady again. Even loosened her grip on her to retract her arms – mostly. She didn’t stray far, ready to grab him the second a wave swept through too fast.
“Okay,” she murmured, nodding her head softly to signal she was ready to continue this insanity.
The nails were certainly rather sharp to latch into him, but it was of no need to call attention to! After the very manner they stood in right now was a difficult situation. Requiring a little bit of finesse and a bit of patience to assure that she took the time to calm the wild beat of heart. Almost worried that he might start to hear it beating himself much akin to a over stimulated hamster. His hearing was good, but it wasn’t that good. There would be a great deal of concern if he heard that!
“It’s alright.” Sweeping fingertips in slow circles across back, “It was a traumatic experience. Surely you can’t expect yourself to be completely unaffected within moments.” If she could, then he might have to ask for pointers. For he certainly had his own pressurized bothers that could truly rile up his temperament when they weren’t coming to fruition with a snap of fingers.
Laying chin across crown then, there was no insistence to hurry up. Content to remain as such till she was good and ready. Simply being the pillar in the water that was a clung too point. Needing no reason to utter flowery mutters of vain encouragement or to scold her for being afraid of something that she had explicitly avoided!
When she was good and ready to pull features from being buried upon him, he might have thought to aid in swiping away those tears. Just he didn’t want to particularly separating grasp from her in case she assumed he was just going to release.
“Turn your back to me.” Jordan hummed keeping the ring of arms around to act as that safety net. “Don’t look at what’s behind me but rather, look at how far you’ve come.” Tipping chin towards the shoreline. “Let yourself get the bearings of just being this far and allow yourself to be comfortable first. Once you feel that is achievable, then we can go back a bit. And try just getting you to sit in the lapping waters.” For added measure and maybe because he did actually want to encourage her, did he peck lips across her temple. “Don’t expect perfection on the first go. It’s overrated. It’s okay to go slow and it’s okay to fail. But in this moment, you aren’t doing this alone and you won’t slip without me assuring that you never go beneath the waves.” He lingered a moment more, “It’s okay to be human, love.”
“I am not used to being human,” she responded softly. Not without recognizing the irony either, as she followed with a soft shaky laugh. Juliette had spent her whole life building herself up into something immoveable and flawless. Having that slip even for the tiniest moment was a difficult thing.
She wanted to though. Being vulnerable was a scary thing, but here she was standing in the ocean water for the first time since she was child with someone she did truly believe would hold on and not let go. Almost made the mortifying embarrassment worth it.
Juliette did as instructed, making the slow turn in his arms to face the beach, and did honestly find it far less intimidating than staring out at the endless, limitless sea. She did keep a tight grip on his arms at first, until she decided leaning against him was enough and gradually loosened her grip.
Even though it couldn’t have been more than a minute or two, it seemed like ages before her heart rate settled down to a steady, calmer rhythm and with it the ability to breath normal.
The thing was, Juliette really did love the sea. Invigorating salty air and warm breezes, the sound of roaring waves rushing back and forth with the tide. She even liked the sand, despite it’s ability to get into everywhere and everything. Not being able to enjoy the ocean proper was living only half a life.
“I need to not think about this,” she declared, finally standing strong on her own feet and not seeming like she was going to crumble into a puddle of terror or go running back for the beach. “Tell me something distracting! How did you end up with a minx like Myra as an advisor? She is… not what one would picture for a King’s Hand.”
“You’re doing fine.” If he was about to lament about how she ought to know the difference between human and not, such commentary was banished somewhere deep within him. Settling for focusing on just trying to aid her in calming the rush of adrenaline that was probably feeding her fight or flight response. Coming up with the idea that it was wiser to look towards the shoreline of steady ground. Rather than the gaping ocean that had no obvious landmarks besides distant ships dotting its horizon!
It would do neither of them any good should she panic and flail about like a car dealer’s inflatable minion.
So baby steps. Look at something that was familiar. Letting thoughts grasp that nothing terrible was going to happen. Even at its riskiest of battering light waves, he would still be right there. The anchor if one would.
Saying nothing as she got her bearings and came to release the clawed tips from holding tightly. Resting into the strength of frame before she made a declaration of necessary distraction. If that was what she needed, then he wouldn’t suggest otherwise. One generally knew their own limitations in stressful situations. If this would aid, then he couldn’t tell her that it was wrong. He didn’t know her internal workings.
“The Castiel family is contracted to me for life.” Jordan said with a easy acceptance of it. As though he wasn’t just talking about how someone was basically his servant forevermore. “Her ancestor had originally been one of the few proper hunters of their time. We came to an agreement that should they work for me, they would be taken care of. In whatever way they needed, but there must always be one of their own being a human advisor. As I can’t always be everywhere and know the way of the mortal realm. Especially when I need to disappear for a few years to avoid detection.” Squeezing his grasp lightly upon her. “Myra is the eldest and well, her father had served me faithfully for forty some years. I’ve watched Myra grow from a screaming infant to the grunge inspired queen she is now. She is… the first advisor I’ve got a familial bond with. While being very much not what one would expect as a proper advisor, she is…” he thought about it in depth, “Irreplaceable.”
Of course he made a face then, “Don’t you tell her that. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
After spending some time with Myra, Juliette was fairly certain he was right in that assumption. The young lady would enjoy needling him every chance she got. To be fair, Juliette was also certain Jordan had plenty to harass her with as well. Having never been able to experience a sibling-like relationship herself with someone, how interesting and special that a vampire king eventually ended up with one!
If she didn’t move, though, they were going to end up standing there all day and really testing the limits of Jordan’s resistance to sunlight.
Taking a slow deep breath and squeezing her eyes shut, Juliette made that slow turn again to press her palms against his chest and give a very light push for him to keep drawing them deeper into the sea. Trusting that he would pause when they needed to pause and keep her being snatched by undertows and errant waves that he (and certainly not she, definitely not she) was so afraid of.
“I am surprised the family has been with you for so long without errant rebels,” she commented, eyes still squeezed tight. The conversation was doing it’s job of being suitably distracting, as there were so many things about Jordan’s long life that Juliette didn’t quite yet have in perspective.
“How long exactly have you been the illustrious vampire king? Honestly, the way you speak about things often makes it sound as if it was only yesterday. But forty years with the elder Castiel, it surely must’ve been much longer than that.”
By her silent bidding did the slow steps begin once more. Keeping his grasp attentive but not tight as to restrict but obviously ever present. Moving with methodical steps with no insistence to hurry along to find some sink hole or a dip in the sand that would take them both down into the water’s depth. Surely knowing that wouldn’t go well even if that was accidental. “Protection and wealth are powerful tools. Especially once a family has become accustom to such a lifestyle. They aren’t left wanting thought to say there wasn’t an errant one or two would be a lie. Just, they were often tempered.” He didn’t say how but he could vouch with utmost certainty that such things were never completed by his hands. Leaving it in those of the one who had slipped into the role of advisor to deal with their own first.
If that didn’t work, then he would be involved. But thus far, nothing had ever been so necessary.
Giving her elbows a light pat in a sort of doing good measure of encouragement. Stopping when the water was just resting below hip to let her acclimatize to the current depth. Once more taking the bearings of sturdy grounding.
“Hmm?” Her question was one he had been expecting. At some point, less so now. Leaving him a need to search over thoughts for the proper answer. “Nearly three hundred years.” He said it, paused as though the statement needed further probing. Rather than the reality of it just sounding strange. Hard to believe he had removed Charles from his seat that long ago when as she stated, it felt very recent. Knowing that came with just the prolonged life. Some things truly felt like they had only occurred simply days ago. Rather than decades! “Strange to say it as such.” He admitted, “But your observation is correct, there are plenty of things that truly just feel like they were recent. When I think about them with more effort, does the reality appear that such a time has been far more… extensive.”
Her eyes blinked open in surprise, ocean terrors momentarily forgotten in the face of three hundred years a king. Pausing to examine his face as if she could see where he’d hidden those three centuries away. Lord, it was no wonder that he sometimes slipped into such archaic forms of speaking with the way language could change so fast. With that much time, of course things would start to blur and blend together.
“That begs the question, how much of that time has Miss Emery Hart been an uppity little shit,” she ended up asking directly.
Juliette couldn’t help it. So far she knew Emery was part of the ‘old guard’, but did that mean the old way of thinking or literally the former king? She was well fed up with the woman after one meeting, and ready to dump her body out into the cold sea. Juliette couldn’t imagine having dealt with her for years, decades, centuries.
“…I think it is fair warning that I am going to have opinions that might overstep,” she mused out loud with great humor. Jordan said he wanted a partner in all things, and Juliette did mean to be that.
In the meantime, she pressed the back of her hand against his chest, oh so subtly checking to be sure he wasn’t heating up to a boil.
There was a selection of ignoring the way she obviously was taking in the information that he had at least been around for a few centuries –give or take- using the light lapping of waves as a sort of reason for his diversion of focus. Made to be shortened with the commentary that had been not so latched onto him but rather another that shared an very similar existence. And for much to long as well.
Disrupting any chance he had of just being a patient buoy for her to remained tethered too so he could break into a earnest laugh that was truly rare as it bore no malice, sarcasm or other hidden intent. Simply simple. Till he was laying the shaded optics upon her with a modest innocence that could probably be taken to appreciate her candour. “I think she has always been an uppity shit. From my knowledge she was a noble from… somewhere in Europe when she was overtaken. Although unlike many of the leeches of the night, I believe Emery gave herself willingly. Most likely due to greed and promises.” He could only theorize though he wasn’t technically much older than her. They were about ten years apart from when they had been taken into the eternal fold. Just from different parts of the world.
And he found no use for Emery then as he barely did now. Just that she was old blood that had plead for her life at the time when he arranged the internal munity to distract Charles so his neck would be exposed. In more ways than one.
Even while she was pressing the knuckles across his chest, he dared to lay a press across her brow. Expressing a fondness with tethered affection to how she might worry of overstepping. “So long as we can work together, say as you wish. Sometimes conflicting opinions and ones that take a largest step are at times disguised as better than the original one.” Looking down to her hand then, did he take one of his own over top. “I’m fine, love.”
Oh, she liked that. Hearing him freely and genuinely laugh was such a rare treat that immediately it had her grinning wide and leaning forward. A shame that he needed those sunglasses, as she very much would’ve liked to pull them off to see those sparkling blues.
“I have many, many invested interests in being sure you do not boil alive, one of which involves testing just how sharp those teeth are,” she murmured, voice laced with suggestion along with that soft wicked grin of hers. And though it wasn’t easy to tilt up onto her toes with the wet shifting sands, she made sure to reach up with a hand to guide him down for a very brief, very chaste kiss.
“Three hundred years a king,” she continued with her curious questioning. “So then how long a vampire? Were you a matter of convenience or a targeted thing to snatch?”
A grin and a mild shudder racing up ones back with the prospect that for once he might not have to particularly scheme with both worry and hunger that he would have to try and distract his meal. Having one offer instead to learn was certainly something that sparked a whole new fancy. Or it was the way her tone paired well with that devious beam that assured there was no room for accidental miscommunication. Leaving him certainly regarding her with evident interest. Not even shades could hide that at this current moment with the slight tip of head that was reading her up and down like a new book. Devouring words and being welcoming enough to have the innocent press act as the bookmark.
Speaking later without needing to breath a wisp of air into it.
“I’ll be gentle with you.” He simply added on just on that off note she might worry he would get overzealous with a violent latch on.
Scooping sea water into palms to purposefully spoon across back and modestly attractive suit upon the slinky canvas of flesh; interest rose. Brows in turn. Leaving them to be the most animated piece on face. Picking apart her few questions then to shoo one of them to the side to wait. “Targeted.” Jordan shrugged at this as no big deal. “I came from a fisherman’s family. Nothing of importance there besides knowing where schools of fish like to linger. But I was well…” He thought about this for a moment, “I was very good at trade. So much that regardless of being taken in with the Ottoman hands, I had drawn attention. I was just old enough that I avoided the tribute of children to be military dogs. But I did catch attention of the Grand Vizier at the time.” Another shrug was given. “Just I hadn’t known my way of trade then would also pull the former king’s attention. Though the governor beneath the Grand Vizier were one in the same. I had no real hope of escaping whatever diluted thoughts Charles had.”
Expressing that Charles had been part of the very people that may have wanted to use his intellect at the time for their own pockets. Just one with fangs was a little harder to say no too, when he didn’t get a choice in it!
But he didn’t wallow upon it now, rather looking at her. “So what does that information tell you for my age?”
To suggest he’d be gentle with her nearly had her erupting into laughter, but Juliette tempered down to a simple broad smile. She suspected such a statement might’ve been for his own reassurance just as much as hers. It seemed he rarely if ever got to have opportunities where he could exist as he was, in all his fangy glory without a charm or charade involved.
Of course he’d scooped water down her back, which thank goodness wasn’t icy cold! But it was plenty enough for her to give a soft swat to his arm – oh so tempted to splash a bit of water at him too, if she weren’t still leery.
To her own surprise, she found herself far more comfortable with the ocean water itself. Enabling her to disengage from him enough to take a few testing steps or her own outside of the safety of his arms. The imperious look of triumph that followed as she rest her hands on her hips and stared at the water was something to behold.
“Four hundred, maybe five hundred years a vampire,” she answered, fairly confident in her guess. History was not Juliette’s strength, but she was fairly certain the Ottoman empire began somewhere in the 1300s, so he might be that old at the least.
It was quite the number to wrap her head around. But that much time under the thumb of someone, who by every story so far, sounded like the greatest of nightmares. Terrible enough that even with three hundred years of the man being gone, the trauma still left mental scares that still reared their heads today. It made dealing with her parents and even stupid David seem a pittance in comparison.
“Do you keep journals in that hidden library of yours, Jordan?” she asked with that mysterious impish smile. “I might like to read them, if you let me.”
There was no shortage of information supplied with purpose for her to discover the one before he was certainly sitting on an age that was easily longer than some countries had been that. Countries! Though his mind flitted back and forth between what he was offering at her asking and watching how she moved at her own pace to move from the net of his grasp.
Daring her own strength to test the lapping movement of gentle waves while seeming to have successfully curbed the terror from rising up once more. Proving that she was certainly not without her measure of bravery. It gave him a chance them to slip maybe one or two steps back allowing more of the ocean to take his being. Soon taking to floating with hands idly fluttering at his sides to be treading water. Watching has she came to finally decided when his age was. Or between rather. “Four twenty seven.” He gave the additional numbers to the first reply. Seeing as the Ottoman empire was quite the lengthy reign.
There was half an urge to just dip completely under the surface. To cool the heat upon his hair mostly but if he wasn’t worried about losing his shades or making Juliette panic, he would have.
Just that he gestured a sort of weeble wobble motion of hand. “I did at points not often. Mostly when I was younger though I am not sure if you are proficient in Greek?” It was both slightly accusing and curious since he wasn’t sure of her way with languages. “Truthfully, I didn’t learn to speak English until I was well into my first hundred years. But if you can discern them, you are welcome to learn about a more angry version of myself. Though I suspect my private library will have far more interesting things.”
But now he lingered on the idea of languages, “Do you speak any others? Pardon my thoughts but it would seem for a woman educated as yourself, it would at least be an additional one.”
“Hmm, I was close,” she murmured. Four hundred and twenty seven years on the planet. That was at minimum twenty generations back, possibly even more depending on how eager her ancestors had been to have first borns.
Juliette wondered if he knew her well enough now to realize she was going to get lost in researching everything she could about the time period, about where he was from, even the language. She’d be lost in centuries worth of research. It would be thrilling good fun!
“I can recognize Greek when I hear it, but not yet speak it. Yet,” she warned with a wide smile. After all, should she not learn her fiancé’s native language?
Keeping a watching eye on him as he treaded water, Juliette tested her own mettle against the ocean waves. Taking to careful pacing through the wet sand until she felt more confident in her footing and dared to ease herself into deeper waters. The bulk of her terrors seemed to have abated for now, and as long as she had him in her sights, they would stay that way.
“To answer your question, yes, I am in fact fluent in French,” she laughed, as it was very much the expected second language for a wealthy lady of the world. “I can hold a casual conversation in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Read a good bit of Latin. Really, the Romance languages were easy enough to tackle. I thought I might try Germanic languages next, but it seems if I want to read my lover’s ancient journals I might need to change directions.”
Crafty was she. Expressing she could at least known when the dialect of his original home was spoken to know it was that tongue. Some confused it with other language as it certainly could blend with a few of the Mediterranean dialects without intention. Though if one confused Greek with French then one had to wonder what the hell they thought they were listening too in general! But it wasn’t that in which drew him amongst the treading tides that pulled mirth to smirk. But the way she smiled as she expressed yet! “It is a good thing I only speak good things when I use my native tongue about you then, for I would hate for you think I express sour things for you to catch.” Of course he didn’t think that was her reason for wanting to pick up the vernacular.
Of course he was now curious in reply. She grew up away from her parents, true; but she was still wealthy. At the time from his understanding. It would have been potentially strange that her years in school in a dorm might not have produced a second language from her. So as she eyed him to turn an attempt of paddling in place, he in turn inched a bit closer. Just to make sure she wasn’t getting too bold and over articulated her confidence. Ready to snatch her at a moment’s thought!
“I should not be surprised that French is first. But the question is, whether it is Parisian French or Canadian-French.” They were in fact, different. The former being elegant and posh, the latter being well… low brow. Though he suspected it was the first for Juliette. But he waited further as she expressed she had some balance with a few additions. Latin being one that caused him to smirk. “Romance languages certainly. My Portuguese is… rusty at best.” He admitted alongside a few others. He was well versed in plenty after all he spend many years on this planet but there was certainly those he struggled with. “Though if you need a tutor for that change of direction, you have one at the ready. I might even be willing to give out special treatment.” Wicked he smirked then. Certainly not shading any implication with flowery words.
“Parisian French, of course.” she confirmed, finding amusement in his reassurance that he only muttered good things about her in his native Greek. As if she could not tell the difference between the difference from his usual tone and those moments he was very blatantly cursing. It didn’t matter the language, there was always a good tonal indicator when someone was cursing up a storm!
The way he was slinking about in the water with that wicked smirk reminder her very much of a lurking shark. Juliette placed her hands on her hips again, at first refusing to even acknowledge the salacious things he was suggesting… but found it quite hard to resist smirking in return.
“I don’t doubt in the slightest that you’d be an attentive teacher,” she mused out loud. “Although, I suspect there would be very little in the way of actual lessons. I’m not so sure I would learn anything I could repeat amongst polite company.”
That said, if she were going to be bold enough to tease a vampire all day, then she was clearly bold enough to try risking something even scarier. Once she’d waded out at least chest high, Juliette took a deep breath to steel her nerves and ducked her whole body under water. Just as quick she popped back up, brushing strands of wet hair out of her face, her heart beating a thousand miles per hour, but otherwise completely in tact. Victory.
“But of course.” Replying to the confirmation that it surely would not be anything less than the language of love. Smooth and articulated with a swirl of heady romance to every syllable. He could understand the appeal though of course, maybe less so for the idea of it being so flirtatious. It had uses when one travelled and well maybe a bit of use when it came to swaying eyelash batting dames that swooned a bit too easily over such language.
Of course he had to continue and kept the idea that should she wish to learn the tongue that had been his since birth; he would help her. Being the professor in all ways of the Grecian argo. With benefits that surely would not be offered by another without incurring a swat or lawsuit! Yet her musing caused him to laugh once more. Daring to slip closer for feet to find planting upon sandy bed. “Oh you want actual lessons, well I suppose I could do that too.” He thought about this like it was truly worth the effort. Humming for added amusement, “Though I would be neglectful not to assure that such a devious tongue was unable to say cruelties and bedroom quivering dialect as well.”
Another step closer was made. Watching her slip beneath the salty tides. Being acute to follow where she was even as she popped back up. Sliding chocolate strands away. As though that was the bidding of invite for him to slide properly close. Slinking palm across hip to give her little choice but to come to him. “Are you ready to go further into the tides, then?”
“Yes, actual lessons. Although, this suggestion of bedroom dialect has a certain appeal. Especially if I get to hear it first hand.” She better hear it first hand. Juliette’s grin went wide and bright, answering his beckoning of hand to hip with drawing close and sliding her arms up around his neck.
Jordan was a bit of something special. The whole intent of having a day to get to know each other better had seemed so unnecessary, but honestly, she couldn’t remember another day where she’d been so at ease. …even despite trying to tackle a childhood fear. Had she not already embarrassed herself by blurting out she loved him in a drunken haze, she might have been tempted to murmur it now when her guard was down and there was nothing left for her to be afraid of.
To say it now would be… well, pitiful!
Brushing that mix of thoughts aside, Juliette nodded, still with that wide smile.
“Out to the deep. I’ll try not to scream.”
“Whom else would hear it first hand?” Playing off the reply like he was genuinely confused to the very idea would be. Of course neither of them were going to be convinced by his attempt to seem a innocent fool considering the whole topic was rightfully turning lurid due to his commentary. Not hers.
If asked, he was going to play it off as the intrigue of the night. Where they might lead from this lackadaisical day. The guess was truly limitless.
But their time in the water would not be. Less he wanted to challenge the theory of him eventually combusting into a burnt wick because they were bobbling around like buoys in the ocean. Urging mouth to skimp away from wordplay of bad intent to the fact that they ought to keep getting her accustom to the element they were within. Less she actually wanted to see how a lifejacket might clash with her gown.
“I would highly appreciate the lack of screaming. I doubt my ears would like the pitch of terrified squeals.” Tensing his grasp lightly across the sprawl of being so he might bring her alongside. To skimp where feet could reasonable touch the sand below for the favour of starting to needing tippy toes to ground. Deciding that he wouldn’t just go further since he still wanted her to get accustomed to the lapping swish of tides and of course for her to actually put use of legs and arms to tread in the water. Just not letting go of her either since that would defeat the whole purpose of getting her to swim.
Squeezing once more upon her. “Alright, I can still touch the ground.” Mostly, enough that he have leverage, “Now we just need to get you coordinated to keep legs moving and you above the surface. Luckily I will be your lifejacket.” He gave her a look through the tinted lenses, “Remember how generous your future husband is, hmm? I need all the brownie points I can muster for whatever future scenarios cannot be solved by a fight and sex.”
“I did not realize solving all of our problems with sex could be an option!” she exclaimed with a light laugh. If that were actually a viable option to resolve issues, Juliette might never have a fight again. Just a quick roll in bed and consider every argument vanished. It was enough to still have her giggling, even while she was very carefully trying to relax her grip around his neck to test her own buoyancy in the water.
He truly was a literal lifejacket at this point. The only thing keeping her from being swept away by the sea! Juliette tried not to think about it, loosening her grip enough to let herself sink down, down, down, to see how far she’d have to go to touch her toes to the sand. He had a good foot of height on her, but at least it seemed if she did lose her head to the waves, she could bounce back up quick enough.
“There is some… muscle memory to it,” she muttered first with a shaky breath, trying to let herself relax enough to attempt floating on her own. “I didn’t drown the first time, I imagine I flailed and splashed and figured it out well enough to cling to the nearest thing. It just… I never dared to even make another attempt after that.”
He could have said something in remark to the whole if sex could solve problems, but decided to leave it well enough alone. Otherwise they might be stuck on the topic for a while and it was probably not the most polite conversation to have on repeat. Even if his thoughts could happily stray there like a alley cat for scraps! Personally having to stifle it since he didn’t really wish to be stuck in the water all day till he boiled alive due to the blazing heat above! Only able to resist for so long before that irritating prickle became a frustrating mental rash turning him into a snarling asshole!
So came the means to follow her beckon. To lead them out further till at least he had enough of a distance that he could still touch with toes but not need to float them each together. Chuckling at her no sooner, “Well if you had, I doubt you’d be willing to come this far.” Suggesting that had she actually sucked down leagues of water to the point of needing violent resuscitating, she would likely avoid the mere idea of water less it was in a shower! “All you need to do is relax as much as possible. The moment you start to panic and flail, then you lose coordination. Dragging yourself down rather than letting the water’s natural buoyancy lift you.” It sounded easier than it was of course, he knew that.
“Right now, just try to tread water. Kicking your feet and legs leisurely as though you were going for a more brisk stroll.” He smirked a little in attempts to encourage, “Focus on that part first while keeping grip on me and then we can work on getting your arms next. One step at a time, little dove.”
“As you have come to know, relaxing is not something that comes so naturally to me,” she murmured conversationally, already attempting to follow instruction as best she could. It honestly, wasn’t that difficult to keep her hands on his shoulders and lightly kick her feet. The water did most of the work, and so long as she wasn’t flailing wildly or tensing up, it was a simple thing to allow herself to drift. Then when she did actually manage to relax her whole body and not be a wound up coil of tense muscles, Juliette found she didn’t have to kick so hard or work at it at all to float along. As long as she kept breathing evenly, she floated just fine!
The real trouble was her impatience to be done with the entire thing. Juliette wanted her instant results, no practice involved. To be good at it now, not have to go through all these steps! Were she not growing increasingly enamored with her ocean wedding, she might have dragged him back to the beach and not bothered with any of this nonsense at all.
But she was enchanted with her plans of an ocean wedding – and what a surprise that was! To actually be excited about a ridiculously extravagant party where a boat full of mostly strangers, clients and family were going to be staring at her the entire time. At least when they weren’t trapping her and Jordan both into some awful conversation. If she weren’t concerned that maybe one of his vampire members might have the bright idea to throw his human bride overboard, why need to swim at all!
Well, beyond the reason that it was a favorite pass time of Jordan’s. That, at least, made her current practicing worth the effort. If they did spend their honeymoon on the beaches of Dubai, it’d be lovely to have moments just like this, but without the looming fear of swallowing the sea.
“I’m letting go,” she warned him first, tilting back as she slowly lift her hands from his shoulders and let herself drift back. There was a brief panic when her head nearly went under the water, but a slow deep breath kept her on the surface long enough to get the rest of her body floating up as well. Until she was safely treading water on her back and giggling about it as if she were a child!
“Oh, the world is in trouble, Jordan…!” she exclaimed with another laugh. “I will be fearless and there will be no stopping me!”
“That too shall come with time.” A smirk even if he knew she was telling him something that was hardly a secret. Suspecting patience tied with relaxing was sharing the same bus seat. Wanting to be done with it now and satisfied with the results. Recalling himself that dire expression as a youth himself. Feeling like if something wasn’t completed within the most minimal time, then he was surely never going to be pleased with the slow progress. Still having plenty of those moments even into his immortality, but time did demand that one waited and developed said fortitude eventually. Just give it a few hundred years.
Leaving her to the means of enacting this task of wadding feet through the eternal sea, he gave attention over when she spoke after a moment or more that she was letting go. Urging his hands to depart similarly but to remain well within reach. Taking to copying the action of treading easily in one spot horizontally.
It took a moment as she bobbled close to slipping beneath, making a swift return to balance breath and to rest above the surface. Giving freedom to bubbling chirps of laughter that turned his own lips into a easy grin. Spreading with the way she decided to claim victory. “I feel like there was no stopping you previously, dear.” Rings moved behind those of shades keeping somewhat his cheeky glimpse to a minimal. “You may just have the right knack for swimming. All it took was a bit of your wilful determination.” A peek rose skyward just out of habit, “Now that you have the balance for paddling, do you feel better with the idea of being without a lifejacket, or do you wish for more tutoring at this particularly time?”
Feeling vastly more confident in the water, Juliette shifted from gentle floating to attempting to paddle around. It certainly wasn’t the elegant or graceful sort of thing she would have preferred – and thank goodness there was no one she knew watching! What a laugh her social circle would have about Juliette Byron doggy paddling circles around her soon to be husband!
“I do believe I can proudly walk down the aisle without being strapped to a floatation device or wearing that sparkling princess monstrosity, which honestly was more likely to have me sinking to the ocean floor with how many crystal stones were sewn into the thing! It weighed a good fifty pounds!” Juliette exclaimed with a laugh. Of course she loved a dress with a good shimmer, but there was classic beauty and then there was ostentacious extravagance!
Before she risked tiring herself out, she paddled her way back to Jordan, slinking her arms around his neck from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder with a relieved sighed. With all of her pleased giggling, there might have still been a small part of her still afraid to be let loose in the water and now that she had a hold of him again it was that much easier to breathe.
“We should get you out of the sun now,” she murmured into his ear. “Where shall we go next? What does a vampire king do on sunny afternoons?
“Well if we ever want to try scuba diving, at least we can have that dress for you for quick plummeting.” Thinking about the idea that something like that was so damn heavy and meant to be used for a woman wandering down the aisle, it made him wonder. Were they crazy or were they trying to complete a builderman’s workout because they had to get their gains in at every moment of the day? “Though now I am all the more curious to know which dress my future wife will be dawning upon that walk on such a day. Maybe I was getting mentally attached to the marshmallow hell design?” Not really but at this point hearing her elation and pride that came from having managed to concur some of her fear, was enough to keep him siding on the idea of joy. Rather than dipping into potential dour conversation topics.
Soon however his request to perhaps slip back to the safety of dry spaces with sandy to cling to feet and ankles, she sought the strength of his being. Coming to twine close upon spine, declaring the means to remove him in a far more forward way than his had been. Even if he might not be able to dull the spread of goosebumps crossing flesh from the flush of breath whispering upon ear. “Oh what every immortal bloodsucker would do on such a blazing day. Hide inside in the darkest corner, debating whether or not I ought to sleep in my bed or coffin with a fine glass of the deepest red.” Daring a peek towards her from the side of eye. “In laments terms, work. I’m quite boring you know. This is the most adventurous thing I’ve done in a good long while!” Taking his accomplice to be with a swing of arm to waist, tugging her around so she couldn’t be his human sized backpack, at least he could start towing them back to the shallows.
“Surely you wish to dry first before we dare go meander about? I wouldn’t be against taking a walk along the beachside if you wish, just allow me to sit in the shade for a solid fifteen minutes first. Then I can be at your disposal and steal sly peeks upon you while we wander. Entirely discretely of course.”
With another round of soft giggling at being snatched and stolen, Juliette readjusted her arms loosely around his neck and let him pull her along. Only pausing long enough to brush a quick giggling kiss against his cheek.
“It is bad luck for you to have even the faintest of ideas of what my wedding dress might be! You’ll simply have to wait and see. Though, if you were truly so attached to the idea of having a frosted princess for your wife, I might go back and request the awful thing. But I like to think you won’t be too disappointed with what I’ve chosen.”
Especially now that she wouldn’t need to be wrapped in neon orange foam just to safely wander a ship!
Juliette tilted her head back, her broad smile aimed at the sky as she considered what dark corners of the city they might tuck themselves into for the rest of the day. He’d said this was the most adventure he’d had in a long time, and based on some of the conversations she’d had with Elisa, Juliette could believe it. It was quite funny how his reputation amongst business and social circles were so vastly different from whom he was in reality.
And that didn’t even account for the vampire aspects!
“A bit of lounging in the shade sounds perfectly acceptable to me. Although surreptitious glances my way are completely unnecessary. Have you not seen plenty of me enough already?”
“Bad luck?” As if he couldn’t believe such words were ever uttered as they made their slow drift back to solid sandy land, “You do recall that you are speaking to a man that may have had the worst case of bad luck being made into things of storybooks. What could be more bad luck than that?” Query for the pondering, “Though to hear the idea that I won’t be too disappointed not to see you puffed up one as a whipped delight, only pulls my interest further.”
Said pulling being certainly made in the tugging he was doing for them to shallows. Of course the whole idea of what could be next on this spur of the moment date that they were both informally prepped for, he could not resist a bit of shade. Sure that the black strands upon head were only bidding in silence to tempt the sun to try to see if he might truly become that of a charred wick. Although what sort of things he might offer in the idea of next, the offering was limited. Giving clues of his workaholic tendencies that might have only focused in a gravitational rotation of work, bite and repeat!
So came the idea of wandering this lengthy body on the grainy shores after. Smirking once said feet pressed upon loose footing where they each would be less likely to slip beneath eager waves, to laugh easily at her question. “The romantic in me requires I tell you that you shall never be enough for me to gaze upon. The puckish part dares to suggest that I may need examples of such an idea to be sure that it could be done. They merely agree in some form that you are worth every evident, clandestine and in-between looks that could be given!” Hands happily took hold of feminine form with intention to hoist like he had been more of a lifeguard saving her from an imagined shark! “Don’t deny me simple pleasures, Juliette. I’m a simple man with many appetites.”
Juliette was well used to direct flattery – in terms of people calling her beautiful or other simple descriptive words they may have chosen in their efforts to boost her ego or catch her favor. She’d never been one to be insecure on that front, and thus those sorts of compliments always seemed so superfluous and hollow. The same old statements people have said a thousand times with ingenuine inflection.
That wasn’t the case with Jordan. Maybe it was that he seemed to pass compliments so rarely, that when he did it actually meant something. Or maybe that the way he said things was so often filled with round about descriptions, in a way where it was merely a statement of truth from his perspective. And somehow that was so much more endearing than someone laying the charm on thick that it left her stuck between beaming wide with unspoken delight and the desire to laugh and ask him what he does when he was actually pursuing a woman!
Well. Perhaps this day was a perfect opportunity to test it out.
“I wouldn’t dream of denying you anything,” she answered with that cheeky smile. Content to let him sweep her up and carry her back to the bank if that’s what he wished, she adjusted her arms for such. “I am in the business of giving you your every wish — minus any peeps at my dress. Such an ancient suffering thing as you are, a little mystery to look forward to will do you well. Will I be in a sea of layers and layers of chiffon and satin that you will have to navigate through just to get at the buttons, or will I be a sleek and sinuous siren in corseted silk that needs a bit of untying just to peel me out of it. Who knows!”
With them each slowly rising out of the dwindling waters, his thoughts were both polite and involved with deep flattery. Giving willingly rather than being forced from lip over a tense sneer. Assuring that she was well attached to his being less she go plopping back into the waters to find out just how shallow said area was! Smirking along as she suggested she would hardly deny him much of anything. Finding it humorous in its own way.
Of course it came with a stipulation that was continuing the path of he wasn’t allowed to see said dress. Left with an verbal question mark of what it would be.
Something of layers that would require a miner’s hat to navigate through or something that had a single magic string that would strip it all away. “Well if I was to venture a guess from what I know thus far, even you aren’t willing to be stuck inside something that would hinder your ability to either walk or run. Especially at such a big event. Nor would you have patience for me to tediously dig through all those layers.” Sand stuck to feet, seemingly taking the self appointing task to grind away soles with its exfoliating scrub. Backpacking her right to the safety of umbrella so she could be deposited without also collecting thousands of grainy guests.
Though he wouldn’t be sticking phone or wallet back into water soaked pocket any time soon, he did push them aside once Juliette was sufficiently settled. Allowing him to seek recluse back into the created shade.
Seemingly enough to even action him to push the darkened shades up onto the top of his head. Squinting to the outside world like needing to remind himself that not all colours were muted with blue undertones. “I think whatever frock you have in mind for the charity event in the next day would prove to be an insight to what you are thinking for wedding gown.” Jordan suggested like he knew how to read her intentions.
Juliette settled herself comfortably atop the beachy blanket, not bothering to wrap herself back in her dress, though it was made for such beach excursions and would’ve been fine. Instead she took a moment to comb her fingers through her wet hair until it was smoothed enough to pull over one shoulder and set herself to putting it in a loose braid, to be sure that when they did go for their walk, she wouldn’t look like salted sea siren.
“My wardrobe may not prove to be so predictable,” she responded with a wrinkle of her nose and a soft laugh. “Although I do suppose I favor certain cuts and colors. Really, I’m not fond of the social aspects of all these necessary events, but I do very much love tailoring just the right look.”
She leaned, gently bumping her shoulder against his. Even reaching up to steal his sunglasses now that he’d removed them from his eyes, only to put them on herself.
“The event isn’t about me, so I’ve chosen something subtle in a nice friendly shade of blue. A fitting gown to match my blue-eyed fiancé, I think.”
One her hair was braided loosely and out of her way, she set her hands to more important things – gently pressing the backs of her fingers to his cheek to be sure her vampire lover wasn’t over heated.
With a pixie thievery making off with the glasses that did well to cast him in movable darkness, she suggested her wardrobe was not so predictable. “Then I haven’t seen the lengths of such things yet. Colour me intrigued.” Doubtful that he might see her wandering about in oversized joggers and a moomoo frock of a shirt that hung to her knees! Sure that her pedigree might shame her even to think of such things, let alone enact them!
Doubly amusing since she was telling him she did enjoy the way a properly tailored item completed the proper look. Nothing really said chic as something made specifically in your exact dimensions. It was something even he couldn’t say otherwise about. For his own wardrobe houses plenty of business attire to casual that was still stitched, hemmed and prepared for his particular body design.
Still, as she made off with the aviators to a couple inches to his side, her face was properly blotted away by to big reflective surfaces. Wrinkling his nose with a boyish smirk, “Don’t know if they fit your lovely face quite the same way.” Almost thinking that some vintage fifties style cat eyes might be best suited to both lend Juliette that stardom appeal while influencing her sassy zip.
Yet the event itself that he had no desire to entertain brought about both the thought of knowing said wardrobe and the fact that she selected something in blue. Referencing slyly to the hues housed within his own head. Encouraging them to look askance upon her playfully. Developing some sort of clever remark that was hushed before it could come out.
Greeted with fingers once more making their placement upon his being. “I’m alright mother hen.” Twining hand around wrist, “I appreciate your worry but I am starting to feel like you are about to wrap me up in a blanket to whisk me away indoors.” One sought to lean forward then, closing distance to nearly touch nose to nose. “Do you think I would truly crumble to ash before you? I will be sure to express if I am about to expire like sour milk.”
Her eyes went wide with surprise, not that they could be seen beneath the dark lenses. There was just that wrinkle of her nose again, and the tilt of her mouth suggesting she’d been caught in an embarrassing truth. She didn’t pull away, however. Merely wiggled her fingers and close the gap for a quick chaste kiss to the lips.
“How am I to help it?” she asked simply, laughing with the words. “You work as much as I work, and you say yourself you’ve not had a day of reprieve in ages. Would you tell anyone at all that you were tired or sick or exhausted or on the brink of scorching. Or would you wait until the very last second and your very limit before you scurried off to safety?”
“Besides,” she murmured, dropping her voice low enough it was almost wicked. “Why would I want to wrap you back up again. If I am to whisk you away indoors, it won’t be to put more clothes on.”
Much like a fish, his mouth opened. Shut and repeated the whole process whilst she so easily had made the kiss former seem like it was just a prelude to her convincing knowledge. How he could suggest that he knew his limits with a casual flip of the hand and yet, she was not wrong. Would he actually say something? Searching his being wasn’t very deep since the answer was a resounding, of course he wouldn’t! In the last few decades, he was entirely self reliant. Did as he wanted, lived as he wanted and thusly didn’t give any idea of potential weakness to anyone. The mere idea that he could be tired or sick or exhausted to a point of becoming a soylent barbeque was not so unheard of. It wasn’t unfathomable.
It was damnable that she could read him in that second. Turning gaze upon her like Juliette had somehow weaseled out a treasured secret that was now to be flaunted. Just in a gracious manner when the miss had yet to suggest that her earnest words were anything but!
“I don’t know if I ought to curse you for seeing through me or applaud you that you figured things out faster than any other.” It was going to be difficult, wasn’t it. To realize that he could effectively drop his guard or some macho expression that he was fine, fine, fine—
Especially when she was so good at being devious. “Careful dove, you’ll make more than just my heart throb with such talk.” Even as he sighed, “So I might neglect even in my best intentions of saying anything. Though I don’t think you ought to worry as much about me as you have. After all, this day is about the two of us. Not just one who is the sun’s newest enemy.” With such a plenty of bared skin, it was no doubt he sought soon enough to stroke but no more than a finger across the round of shoulder. “You’ve asked plenty about me today yet, I still feel as though you are an enigma. Like, I don’t even know favourite foods or drinks? Or how such seemingly polar opposites as you and Hannah became such friends. Though I’m starting to guess it was over some raunchy romance novel, at least.”
What a shame they were out in such a public space – then again it was a wise decision to do so. It seemed they were both liable to skip all attempts at meaningful conversations to pursue other interests. Although, there was no reason why they couldn’t also have any of these discussions as quiet pillow talk! Nothing wrong with a deviant streak here and there.
It seemed he wasn’t wrong about her impatience with things. Juliette was not one for doing things slowly. This was truly a test of her restraint!
“Hmm, impossible to say what my favorite drink is,” she responded first, pushing his sunglasses up to sit on her own head. Finding it a much nicer view in full color, despite the brightness on the sun. “I’m trying to think of a single one, but then I have to know what meal we’re having or situation we’re in, as for some reason that matters.”
In an attempt to behave and not put her hands all over him, Juliette opted instead to lean against his arm, shoulder to shoulder for that bit of physical contact. Casting a mysterious smile right in line with his idea of her being an enigma, even though that was the farthest thing from the truth.
“My favorite food is mushroom soup, or rather just mushrooms in general as I will gladly eat them in whatever form they take.” she exclaimed, thinking out loud with it, even tapping her chin with her fingers as she considered it.
“As for Hannah…!” Juliette laughed. “We met by shouting at each other from across the common room at our college dorm! I honestly can’t remember over what? Lord knows, it was probably some lofty opinion about a book and neither of us are apt to let those sort of opinions go. I quite liked her, though. She is a bit like you in that she says what she means. …except when she’s creating her romantic scenarios to trap someone in, but that’s always felt more along the lines of chaotic good!”
This was after all an intended event where they got to learn about another as one would do at the start of dating. Rather than launching head first into the original idea of an arranged marriage with no feelings besides potential spite! Nor did he want this entire day of discussion to merely focus around him and said following topic that was never further away than a whisper in his head of mythical status.
If she could figure him out swiftly about his lack of ability to say much about himself should it come to near disaster, then he ought to promptly start learning the minor and major things about the lady to become queen. Starting away from the basic question of what’s your favourite colour! Going instead towards the mention of drink and food, since well, she needed both. And if he was going to start lessening his guard, then it didn’t seem like a bad idea to maybe once in a while spend an evening cooking for her said thing and providing said drink as a romantic but endearing gesture.
The drink portion ended up with a lingering question mark. The food bit less so. “So what pairs well with mushroom in any form?” he didn’t actually know the answer to this one though he was a little surprised that mushrooms in general might be considered her favourite dine. Unknown to him what he would have guessed either, it just didn’t seem like something that was commonly a preferred food choice! Though he did know a good stuffed mushroom recipe.
Later thoughts for a different day—
However his curiosity was more so sparked on the idea of Hannah and Juliette being best friends. The pair looking, sounding and seeming like they would be awkward acquaintances more than anything. “She is very blunt, that is certainly a fact.” He gave her a prolong look then, “Dare I ask what romantic scenarios she has come u p for you. Preferably the most outrageous one.”
Who knew something as simple as what drink to pair with food would be the most complicated question to answer! But perhaps it was a hint that Juliette tended to be incredibly focused on even the most minute of details. Truly a micromanaging monster if there ever was one.
“Hm, a white wine, a refreshing glass of iced tea… I really have to know specifics!” she insisted.
Luckily the topic of Hannah was a simple one and Juliette had more than enough amusing and frustrating stories to share. Especially since it was quite plain by his expression that he found them an incompatible duo.
“It seems I have a fondness for those who give blunt honesty,” she mused with a smile, lifting her hand to pointedly tap him on the chin. For if anyone was painfully blunt about things, it was certainly him!
“The most outrageous of her match making plans? Let me think.” she responded, looking out towards the ocean as if it had all the answers there to pluck out of her memories. “I suppose that is the weekend camping trip. I’m not a fan of sleeping out in the woods, but it was meant to be a pampered girls trip in a nice cabin. Except Hannah didn’t book a cabin, she booked a campsite with tents and on top of that invited a bunch of – what she called – eligible singles. One chosen for the each of us. Oh, everyone had a good enough time, I think she even paired a successful couple. But I was furious and miserable the whole weekend. She thankfully promised to never wrap me up in her nonsense ever again after that.”
With nose momentarily scrunching at the suggestion that white wine or potentially ice tea would be the suitable fill in, he could at least file such things away. Arranging a mental list of thing that were related to Juliette.
Perhaps all the more reason why he ought to learn more about how the two thought of unlikely friends had even come together. Finding that her first reply wasn’t too crazy that would have brought him an uh huh thought. Rather that was the second portion of it. Where he thought to see just how zany of Hannah’s romantic theatrics had affected the business tigress.
Something he was about to not be disappointed in. Soon to be staring rather comically at her with the reveal of a few things. One she was not the woodsy type –which he wasn’t bothered by, truly neither was he. Second was the fact that it sounded like she had been set up on a swingers excursion that had only a minimal success. Granted he gave her a rather conspiratorial look up and down shortly after. “I suspect there might have nearly been no Hannah Lucas if she hadn’t promised to never do such a thing again. It sounds like you were duped into a potentially hazardous event.” It made him think a little deeper about Hannah then. “Such an innocent face holding such deviant whims. I shouldn’t be surprised. I ought to maybe feel terrible for pairing her up with Felix then.”
Juliette gave such a deep, world weary sigh, that it surely meant Hannah hadn’t quite learned the lesson then and there, but she quickly came back around to laughing and giving a soft shrug of her shoulders.
“Well. I can say she learned to be a lot more considerate of people’s actual interests and comfort. You’d think she was born of Aphrodite herself with the way she simply can’t help but dip her toes into the love lives of everyone around her.” At least when it came to Juliette, Hannah recognized when to back off. It never stopped her from making suggestions and having opinions – but at least Hannah knew who she could and couldn’t meddle with these days!
Laughing again at the mention of Felix, Juliette tilted back until she could comfortably lay on the beach blanket, only shifting enough to cross a leg over her knee and bounce her foot as she spoke.
“They had quite a conversation this morning! He may have accidentally pushed himself up to the top of her matching list. I think she enjoys the victory of seeing us grumpy serious people getting ensnared into romances. If he ever tells you he’s suddenly meeting pretty eligible young ladies randomly at every corner, you can bet that is Hannah’s doing.”
“I’m starting to feel like Hannah would be better described as cupid with a shotgun.” The woman seemed quirky thus far, which was never a bad thing. But the way this was starting to broaden, it almost could have been described as an obsession! Involving to a point where she wanted to be a present figure in other’s love lives. She ought to take up watching old soap opera’s perhaps? “Should I begin to worry that I might have to stress about her putting more than her two cents into what we have or trying to have? It may not be easy to believe, but I may not take well to another sticking their nose into a place where it could be cut off.” It could be suggested that he might be defensive to think there could arrive a time that Hannah would be standing in a doorway. With lightning flashing behind her and the vendetta that she wanted to talk about a plot for the involvement with their budding romance.
It was enough to even give him the willies!
Yet within seconds his mind migrated over to the unintentional arrangement that may have put Felix in the line of assassination! Under the crosshair with a finger itching to be pulled. Which seemed like it might be happening as Felix wasn’t exactly the man that would entirely keep his tongue in a stationary position. “I think there is a more likely chance for the moon to turn into cheese than for Felix to say he was going out on dates with anything less than his couch.” Stealing a hand forward to idly shoo away some particles of sand that seemed to have migrated upon a arm. Or he was just taking the chance to be touchy, who could say! “The man hasn’t been too involved with the feminine persuasion after his wife passed away. Content to be a widower and an idle con artist when it comes to duping people in card games.” Slightly bitter one might say that he had been one of said people. “Though if Hannah finds him someone, I might have to reward her with something. What, I don’t know. And I don’t think I want to leave that as an open invitation.”
“Oh no, not a widower,” she remarked with a widening of her eyes and the pantomime of shock and sympathy. That delicate curl of a broad smile was right around the corner though. Wicked, perhaps, to be laughing at Felix’s expense. Juliette absolutely felt for the man’s loss. But she couldn’t resist the humor in knowing that he had the proverbial target on his back.
“That might be irresistible. Bringing a difficult man a second chance at love. Hopefully she won’t draw him into too much personal conversation to learn such details. Or at the very least, I hope Myra and Dominic will have her plenty busy on her own hunt. May it last long enough for Felix to escape!”
On that note, it did give her a moment of curious pause. To twist her mouth up and file away important details of her own plotting.
“…although, if she focuses on Felix I won’t have to worry about her getting curious about Augustus Steele. We may have accidentally piqued her interest on that front. Best to never mention his name around her again, and let her get wrapped up on tormenting someone that isn’t liable to get furious and eat her.”
Blast it. Juliette really needed to actually have time to meet the man proper. Not because of Hannah, as she was to stay as far away from vampires as possible, but for Juliette’s own purposes. Of course she trusted Jordan’s opinions and observations, but she’d feel so much better getting to know his people on her own terms to form her own thoughts.
“Hmn. Luckily for you, my love, she thinks we are destiny so she has no need to meddle. Apparently Fate has done all the meddling for her.”
He gave her an inspective look once her smile was peeking through after the whole reveal of widower mention on Felix’s behalf. Considering the vixen under the shaded canopy of umbrella while she in turn expressed why this might be beneficial for Hannah. Or Felix –he wasn’t sure yet. “I feel as though she was just handled the key to a vault that no one realized was laden with treasure of her fancy.” Hopefully Felix wouldn’t hold this against him since he personally hadn’t know how deep the author’s meddling might go. Though in the very same breath the expending of snort came out. “I doubt Myra would be of help to deviate Hannah’s attentions away. Rather to aid her with landed the target. Dominic might just be a camera boy, recording everything for use at a later time.” Blackmail or evidence.
They could do with a few drinks at this point, he suspected. Lingering rings of oceanic blue upon her, making sure all sand that had been found was now removed. Till he was narrowing said space in a way that might have been less than enthused at the idea of Hannah proving to be a stubborn teenager. “I did not know that she would shirk warnings of others to instead fall into the arms of someone far more dangerous than she can rightfully know.” Jordan exhaled heavily. “I’ve seen teenage girls behave like this, less so adult women. What is the fascination with being warned for one’s safety that they disregard it?” It was a true wonder. Just he still had a failsafe in this all, “If she can’t be curbed, then I suppose I just have to assure my associate value’s his own safety over his hunger.”
He had plenty of ways of making sure Augustus obeyed what he was told, even if Hannah wouldn’t heed her friend’s advice.
“Destined.” The word repeated with curious dissection. “And Fate? Hmm, well I don’t know how much they would be earning kudos if your best friend knew the truth of what sort of arrangement they may have played. She might turn to meddling in ways to get you safely out of my reach.” Daringly he shuffled a might bit closer, “Though, I can’t allow such things to happen now. Not when I’m quite fond of you, I hope you don’t mind if I forbid the idea that she may try to rescue ever in the future?”
“I think it is quite natural when someone says don’t you dare, to immediately want to dare.” she remarked with that wicked faeish grin. “We might be careful to be sure we don’t make Hannah sound like some sort of forbidden tasty treat.”
If what Myra said was true, and vampires were no different than humans – though perhaps a little more amplified in what they felt and desired, then it was a wise assumption to think any big deal they made about Hannah was just going to rile up a nest of curious vampires. That was well and fine when it was about Juliette herself – she could handle it – that wasn’t a world she wanted for Hannah, no matter how much the girl kept wanting to flirt with bad ideas. Let the girl live in her world of unicorns and rainbows, Juliette would manage the dark and devious underground.
One of which she was quite enjoying the view of as he leaned in closer, prompting her to reach up and tippy tap that goateed chin of his,
“I am not a forbidden tasty treat either,” she mused. “Definitely not forbidden. A perfectly willing treat that needs no rescue. A shame there is all this sand and public beach and spectators. No treats for Jordan!” If she thought she was going to get that out as a serious statement, she failed miserably. Instead it was a light and sing-song exclamation followed by light laughter.
He wanted to conflict that very statement! Yet, his tongue didn’t even made a turn in mouth because he knew she was right. “I believe that is typically called fuck you energy, is it not? When someone tells you that you cannot, you make a point to prove them wrong. I just hardly thought it would be as applicable to dating.” Though he really shouldn’t be. He had eyes and seen enough bad choices when it came to people to know that surely there was those out there that had been given enough red flags about their respective partner, they could have made a scarf from them. “Although you may not realize the control I have upon my advisors. If he even thinks of trying to go against my will, he might as well start typing out his own.” It wasn’t up for discussion when it came to him and Augustus. Surely the youth could try to see whether or not he might be exempt from being a colourful streak on the wall, but it wouldn’t be in his best interest.
When it came to Juliette and now her nearest friend, he wasn’t in the mood for the try me behaviour. “If worse comes to worse, I suppose he could be turned into a eunuch.” Words flowed with a calmness that was better suited for ordering dinner, rather than casually suggesting having another man’s parts aggressively removed.
How much she might have believed him either could have been shooed aside when it came to the tapping of finger upon chin. Replying in turn that she was hardly forbidden but still a treat. Attempting to ride her musing commentary all the way to the end with a lack of twisting lips, for it to fail in a winsome song. Turning his own to follow, “Nice try. And what makes you think that if you keep teasing me that I won’t just whisk you away to some private area? I am not above being a degenerate when the mood calls for it.”
There were moments that Jordan would make a statement that actually gave her pause – especially now, knowing exactly what he was, where he came from and how he got there. She couldn’t pretend to be some delicate little lady, aghast at the thought of violence – not when she herself often immediately thought of it whenever she was furious! Yet, there was that little tiny voice in the back of her mind, whispering worries and fears that she was an absolute fool to be willingly marrying a literal monster. That maybe his casual mentions of murdering his own people when they didn’t meet his standards wasn’t something so casual after all.
An ill-timed insecurity that wasn’t welcome in the present moment. Not when Juliette was having a genuinely delightful time. Mentally, she squashed those thoughts away to deal with later, choosing to focus her attentions to the here and now.
“Well, now what I am supposed to say?” she mused out loud, as if it were truly something that needed a great deal of consideration. “I could try the don’t you dare to test my theories. Yet then… it may be more fortuitous to say do dare and see where a vampire king might whisk a treat away!”
“Hm, I do know you can’t possibly be a degenerate at all, I think,” she announced confidently with that broad smile. “You have fallen to the wayside of romance and sentimentality. Truly the dark prince of Hannah’s literary dreams.”
“Well now, you may have caught me unprepared. Usually these types of things in my past were under the cover of night and usually with some simple doll that was easy to bid out of their protective shelter. When one is so willingly telling me to go ahead, seems I would need more time to think it out. As I don’t think some ruddy back alley is good enough for either of us.” A round won by her to successfully call him on a barely a thought of schemes. More like threads that were still attempting to be woven. Not to mention he wasn’t that familiar with their current location to see what sort of secluded areas were available nearby.
Nor was he about to really put the effort in. Besides daring to take back lenses perched upon her head for them to be back upon his own features. “I’ll need a tour.” Decided said king. Shuffling to gather walking limbs so they could be of use and hand to offer to not so damsel, damsel. Almost ready to plop her back on her butt the second she suggested if he was truly that much of a deviant, he might be fit to fill in a slot within Hannah’s delusional fictitious schemes! “By the nine hells… I don’t think even I could be as terribly cheesy or as gut-heaving as one of those two dimensional prats scratched into paper! Nor do I really want to find out either, or give her ideas.”
That cheeky expansive grin was doing him no favours, “Though am I the dark prince of her literary dreams or are you projecting such things?” Waggling fingers to insist that he was still intending that she come and complete the means of walking alongside. “Now that beg’s the question just want you do want in a husband, something I supposed I ought to know now before we tie that knot. Hopefully not some pinhead lunk.”
“A charming romantic sir indeed to believe I deserve more than handsy paws in the nearest dark corner!” Juliette laughed outright, all in good nature. Should she be worried that he might prefer the ease of luring some woman outside around dark corners to woo and chomp on at his leisure? Why now were all these little intrusive thoughts popping into her head! It almost felt like a sabotage, a self sabotage trying to weasel it’s way in when she was finally in a moment of peace.
Accepting his hand, Juliette pulled herself up to her feet. Deciding to forgo grabbing her dress to pull back on, as letting the sun do it’s work to dry her proper would be better for it. His question about what she desired in a husband was actually welcomed. Aside from getting to know each other better, it gave a perfect opportunity to help shush away those lingering thoughts.
“I never did have the patience for dumb and pretty,” she admitted, keeping ahold of his hand by entwining her fingers with his. “Fun for an evening, but I do actually like to have conversations.”
What did Juliette want in a husband? She’d honestly never thought about getting married before in a serious way! Sure, as a little girl she’d thought about the perfect wedding. But that was all the party aspect, there was no perfect man in the picture! In her experience, there was rarely ever someone that even seemed worth the idea of marriage!
Her parents sure didn’t set a good example of a marriage either. For a moment she chewed into her lip, almost stumped by the question.
“To be honest, I am not sure what husband material could be! I keep thinking in terms of partnerships and contracts, and mutual benefits, and future goals lining up. But that… isn’t really all that enticing is it? I envy Hannah, sometimes, in that she can so easily let herself find joy and romance in every tiny thing. That is not so simple for me. All I can think is that I would be content just living with someone that isn’t trying to wound me at every opportunity.”
“My lady,” Voice rose in his best suggestion of posh expression that he believed he could muster –hardly really thinking about his old way of tongue on a daily basis- “My hands shall not paw upon you… until there is at least a proper confined space that we won’t be entertaining a whole audience. I am very greedy, I’ll have you know. That’s the only reason why I haven’t had you making lurid whines even upon the beach blanket.” Tugging her upwards so they might once more be set to wander the beach side and of course to maybe give him a better visual of just what sort of place they were actually walking amongst.
Even while his mind wandered to a quizzical wonderment of just what on earth did Juliette actually seek in the means of marriage or rather, husband material.
He might be antiquated but he did believe in winning qualities. “Hmm, you get used to the dumb eventually. But it does tire.” Fingers cinched upon her own with a few pulsing squeezes as he thought to his own conquests. Preferring stupid since they didn’t ask questions that could get them into trouble.
And there was the difference. Juliette was no dunce. So surely she had some sort of mental checklist of what would be best suited for her to have an arm linked to another. Having expected a near immediate reply only that such things didn’t happen. Leaving him to tilt a curious brow like she needed his prompting to continue. To find that her reply was well… on point and entirely miserable for obvious reasons. “I suppose when your adult life has been spent more on the idea of work and agenda’s, it isn’t so farfetched to think as you said. Partnerships and contracts. How another could be beneficial with goals and of course, an escape clause.” Adding that in, it was surely how they both started.
Where his mouth turned into a grim line. “I cannot believe I am about to say this but, perhaps you ought to try and think about it in the way Hannah might think about it. What would she think would be best suited to you and see if you agree? I have some standard to uphold that ought to be more than, I do not wish to cause you harm any every opportunity. Or any for that matter. The bar is low and I think it ought to be higher for someone who deserves certainly more than that.” Shoulders shrugged, “So… put aside the critical thoughts that are Juliette Bryon and channel your… infectiously love stricken cupid with a shotgun and expend frivolous ideas without the fear of being gawped at. Less you ask for a man in tights, then we are going to have issues.”
Ever so often he could sneak in these purely filthy comments, almost so slyly that it could nearly make her blush. Deviant behaviors seemed to be where she felt most comfortable, and how tempting it was to continue down that avenue of conversation instead of all the reasons why she was not of a romantic type. Why was it so much easier to be an object of desire than to be affectionate!
But Jordan seemed to have suggestions of his. Offered so seriously and in earnest that Juliette burst into laughter before she could temper it. Not at all to mean laughing at his expense, as she made sure to squeeze his hand and hug his arm to soften the reaction. But still! That ridiculously wide grin was hard to wipe off her face.
“You reminded me of Mother’s idea to have a very Georgian Wedding. Powered wigs, and giant layered dresses, and oh yes, a groom in tights.”
After a simmer of giggling, she did stop to consider the suggestion fully.
“Alright then, to channel Hannah. Tap into the ethereal romanticism of one slightly ludicrous author. Well! Sword fights and horses would be involved no doubt. Dramatic declarations of love in rainstorms is a favorite for certain.” Juliette wrinkled up her nose. Hannah was a brilliant story teller, and of course her romances made for a lovely read. …they just didn’t feel applicable to the real world. Not in Juliette’s opinion, in any case!
“That’s all too much. I would like to come home to someone who is just as happy to sit by the fire and read in silence, as they are to talk with me about whatever it is we’re talking about. I want to be happy to see them across a crowded room and know there is where I will be at the end of the day. I don’t need anyone to rescue me or give me the world, I can do all that well enough myself. It would simply be nice to have someone that is my person.”
“I don’t say this lightly, but I swear to god if you even consider idly humouring your mother in such ways—” The laughter was fitting but the mere idea that even for a split hair of a second she could have considered something so perfectly gaudy in all its tacky wonder, he was going to toss her over his shoulder like a sack of potato’s to be dunked into the shallows of the ocean. Left there to be a drowned rat while he stared and hoped that the water might have cooled whatever dangerous fantasies she momentarily had been struck by. “I wonder if your mother suffered a clunk on the head if she thinks such things are fit. Even then, powdered wigs and dresses making one’s backside look seven times larger than necessary was the height of humanities age of fashion crime.” By no means was he a fashionista but there were just some things that screamed I’m drunk and shouldn’t be trusted with making choices of any type! “I’m still convinced people should have been burnt along with the plague in that era.” Muttering more so to himself.
The human race was drugged at that time. Surely.
Less he steam his own clam with memories best left to the historians, the peak of curiosity rose when it seemed that her giggling came to an end to allow consideration of thoughts to multiply. Allowing short silence and wandering bodies to stroll across the sandy beach. Lending plenty of time for her to channel Hannah and him to roll his eyes at the idea of dramatic declarations. “I feel you are missing the ivory tower and the balcony you lay perched upon as one confesses their undying love with passionate cries and torn shirts. Making each gender’s heaving bosom glint in the rain.” Damn that was cheesy, even for him.
All the more reason to evade Hannah’s stories. They sounded better suited to desperate housewives.
Releasing her hand or shaking it loose so he might in turn give freedom to cinch it about the tender waist, Jordan kept his listening ears on. Pointed in the sense of actually hearing she agreed with the too much and gave him an insight to something far more manageable and far more up an alley of agreement. “Are you saying you don’t want me to promise to liberate a small continent in the favour of announcing my love for you?” Smirking to imply he was hardly the one to do this. It was far too much work. “Seems my plans must be rearranged then. Would you settle for a stop at my favourite bookstore so I might give you plenty of things to read that aren’t part of my library? And change a bit of your idea for your person, to be rather, your vampire?”
It was good to know, if she ever wanted to hear Jordan rant and rave all she needed to do was bring up powdered wigs and tights! What an easy thing to imagine him getting sloshed and then ranting about unfavorable moments in history.
Now that sounded like a fun evening to add to their list of future dates.
Leaning quite comfortably into the curve of his arm, at least in such a way that kept walking at ease, Juliette made a soft humming sound of approval.
“I will never say no to a day of browsing books, regardless if it is hidden library or a favorite bookstore.” she agreed. “As for my vampire, you might need to be aware that I also do not like to share. My vampire would indeed be mine, and I do not wear jealousy well. Might that be trouble for you?”
She did hesitate then, a thoughtful tilt of her head even as she chewed into the side of her cheek again.
“…it’s also fair to ask what you envision in a wife. Lord, a vampire and king’s wife as it is! I was never a mortal man’s ideal wife to begin with, it seems a tall order.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t enjoyed being shared myself. Too much work and far too much drama can ensue from such things. Best not to even engage though if your jealously is anything like your anger, I think it is best that we don’t encourage it. For we don’t need to start covering up elaborate schemes that result in missing limbs.” There was really no need for her to worry about the jealousy aspect, even if he might have an extensive history; he wasn’t one that liked to carry it around like a bag. Ready to dig into like a grandmother carrying around an entire kitchen for a moment’s notice!
There was no pause either when she sought to return the question back to him. In her own way of course. Curbing the idea that she was hardly the vision of marriage when it came to the mortal sorts. Spurring a smirk to cross upon features. “People rarely know what they have is a good thing until it leaves. You might have been more ideal than you may ever know.” However there came contemplation at the returned query.
Mulling it over with concentrative hold due to the fact that well, he hadn’t entertained this thought before. At least not within the most recent hundred years. Having no need too.
Their path continued for almost a solid minute before he was able to breech the means of conversation. “Truthfully? And I don’t intend this to be some sort of tongue in cheek romanticism; but you are the ideal. Thinking about it in a broad term, you know what I am. That tends to be the biggest glare of obstinacy that has made it a very good reason not to search for anything particular. Now that you are aware, the means of an envisioned wife just comes down to you. Neither a flake or an airhead. Someone I know I can trust even if it takes me a bit to overcome that measure of climbing that boulder to do so, it is already becoming yours.” Jordan shrugged stealing a glance upwards, “Suppose I might enjoy the worry you lend,” Indicating to her frets that he might formerly melt like a ball of wax.
“I never sought an ideal but the very thing came to find me without me knowing it.” Glimpsing down towards her again, “I should be gleeful that I wasn’t seeking a fair lady that knows how to cook!”
Juliette was not sure where her jealousy might lead. Much like those affectionate feelings that managed to sneak their way in and she still wasn’t quite willing to talk about, jealousy was also new experience. What need did she ever have for it before? When she wanted something, she found a way to have it – and she certainly never cared about a relationship enough prior to be concerned or insecure about what her partner was up to! Now she was painfully aware there was something she could lose if anything were to go wrong.
She also found it quite hard to believe she was an ideal wife, despite his quite lovely explanation. Convenient for certain, as now he didn’t have to hide a think and she’d not become a liability. An excellent and loyal partner, absolutely, for they could do great things together and she very much valued a relationship of mutual respect and care.
But wife? In her opinion, that involved a great deal of feelings. Quite specifically the ones she very much wasn’t ready to have a conversation about. In fact, if she could shove those in a box and never speak of them again, she’d be quite happier for it.
“At least one can learn a skill!” she countered, unaware that some of those dubious thoughts might’ve been reflected in her features. “Truly, Hannah may be right about Destiny, after all. You get a dove with teeth, rather than a gentle miss fainting at the thought of fang and blood. Though it does amuse me to think of you trying to work around a clueless damsel in white living in your gothic manor. Fussing about you missing meals with Elisa. Occasionally being terrorized by Emery or some other uppity little snot trying to cause trouble.”
“That may be true but I don’t particularly see you making the kitchen your environment either.” Chuckling at the idea of her maybe a bit more dramatic than what would actually happen, he didn’t need to express such animated thoughts vocally anyways. Shortening to shake his head at the nonsense of destiny. “Let’s not give such admissions to the void, unlike the stories created by one’s own hand, this is hardly a fictional piece.”
Even if there was plenty of supernatural elements added to it! Though he would take those over the idea of even vaguely entertaining the horror show that could have been if Juliette had been a gentle miss empty head. “I think I’d sooner disappear from our fair city than even give into such a terrible idea. I don’t mind care, but needless fussing?” head was given a shake to affirm that was hardly anything worth the effort.
Frowning some further at the mention of Emery or any other little snot causing terror. Finding the two pieces had resonation that made him think about things that were probably best left alone while they were here. The way things were with Emery and her previous behaviour to Juliette, he knew things weren’t going to be settled calmly. “I prefer things as they are starting to become. Less of a dwelling and more of a home. Even with the noisy construction to fit you comfortable into said gothic manor.” Now he could work with that to keep away from dour thoughts, “On the topic of such, what else are you intending on doing within. Or outside of it? How often do I need to disappear to avoid the volume?”
“Moving in and making myself at home was not what I was expecting, but I am finding it much preferable to the hotel or honestly living on my own as before.” she admitted easily. Not that she would ever in her life admit such a thing to anyone else! But she found herself far more in tune living with someone, rather than all by herself. As much as she enjoyed a quiet life, it was quite empty when one was all alone.
“As a good wife, I will be doing my best to make sure all renovations are done while we’re busy elsewhere,” she confessed with a quick laugh, “No need to have your delicate senses bombarded by wood saws and hammers. Lest my construction crew find themselves devoured, I think.”
Staving away any further giggles, she did take the question seriously, as in truth she did have many plans. Juliette was always planning and plotting for the future, and that didn’t stop at the house threshold. A life built together meant everything together, and the home was possibly the most important of all.
“Despite the fact I don’t cook, it would be nice for Elisa to have a proper modern kitchen. Beyond that, the only true construction that might be needed is my own library. You may keep your secret crypt of books down below, but I would prefer my own collection to be a little more accessible. The rest will be nothing more than visual, perhaps furniture pieces and change of color here and there.” A few cosmetic and comfort changes would make the rest of the house far more usable for the both of them. Something to lure them out of their respective offices.
“…I haven’t even thought of the outside yet! It might be a curious project to create a sort of midnight garden, best viewed in the darkest of evening. I don’t give a damn about camping, but gardens are lovely.”
“I wouldn’t snack upon your construction crew. I have more taste than that. Construction workers are low food quality.” As if he even knew. Nor did it even matter. Blood was blood –to a certain extent- but in this matter if he was going to have to suggest that he had a sort of expectation for the sorts that he filtered a feast from, those who were employed to give her the chance to expend upon living in a home rather than a hotel, then he wouldn’t bother.
Just don’t ask him what or where the blood came from in the kept bottles within the house. Because he sure as hell couldn’t identify them like they were particular vintages of spirits! “I’d prefer to keep you happy and not busy hiring new employees because your monster of a fiancé had decided to get fangy about clattering commotion.” It may not have seemed like a lot to most, but the mere idea that he was willing to overlook annoyances or a biting snap did mean something.
Granted many things he was seemingly allowing where previously he would have hardly thought about it, were in fact gestures. Lending visual shaded optics to bid further attention when she voiced that she wanted to revamp the kitchen to be a gift for Elisa to use. “Suppose that might be nice.” Alongside another library that might just be cosmetic more than use. “Whatever you need to make you comfortable, then I don’t see any matter with it. Just do not ask me for any advice on garden things. There is a reason the land itself of the house is barely tended too. So long as it is maintained, it was less of a thought on my black thumb of a mind.”
“What a thing to have such a large house, only to spend all your time lurking in so few rooms,” she marveled out loud. Only to follow shortly with another laugh. “Although I suppose, when one needs large underground hidey holes away from the sun for extensive libraries and personal coffins, you can’t exactly squeeze them into penthouse lofts or suburban townhomes.”
Juliette could picture him in a grand penthouse suite for sure. Something akin to the large Rosendrey office building. But trying to picture him in a little tiny house in suburbia was sure to send her into a fresh fit of giggling. He didn’t belong there any more than she did!
Tempering that need to giggle, she wrapped her arms around his waist, which did make for a bit of awkward walking for a few steps, but was well worth the squeeze of physical affection. After a beat, she released him just as quickly. Though now seemingly comfortable enough to excitedly talk with her hands as she spoke.
“Of course, that is our space here. I imagine once I am able to expand out into Europe, I am going to want something a little more permanent there as well. A summer house? A winter house! Honestly, it really depends on what country is most convenient for travel and business arrangements, especially if we spend time there long term. I am done with living in hotels.”
“It may have been questioned by builders had I purchased land asking for them to build only that of a foyer and a bedroom above ground while having access to an elaborately large basement that still had to be unseen. Purchasing a large home with the ability to create it the way I needed even if rooms were neglected, felt a little less likely to have needling questions.” Sure that the oddity of the place in his description would have warranted enough questions that there would be waggling tongues in troves. Maybe nothing too dangerous but annoying enough that if his imagination was already getting annoyed with it, the measure of it being practiced in real life was better never given!
“Though mayhaps I should have just became a librarian to keep my extensive collection.” Thinking this over with more of a mulling hum, the movement of herself slipping close for the taking of affection drew him out of that comical thought. Leaving a easy breath of chuffing chuckles to extend. Apparently the conversation had been a breach of something interesting for her hands became introduced to be part of the conversation. Giving animated gestures to echo the idea that there might be the need of something more permanent in other parts of the world when she finalized the spread of her shipping empire. Entertaining the idea of a summer or winter house. Both from the sounds of it, depending what suited the means of convenience.
“Shouldn’t be difficult to find a few places that fit your fancy.” Jordan mused though is absent thoughts in the back of his head were scoffing a little. Due to other points of knowledge that would of course require much later attention. “Though you would have to hire other bodies as well to be able to run this sprawling business that you wish to have. It would be difficult to have you bouncing from each port and building even when you succeed these plans.”
“That is true!” she remarked with a bit of joyous surprised. Not that it was a true surprise – Juliette knew well she was going to be hiring quite a few new employees to make her business empire run smoothly. From the people on the ground loading boats, to the very top management running branches on other continents. After all, Juliette was only one woman! She couldn’t manage them all herself!
“I will need my own team of personal assistants,” she mused. “Still tempted to steal Myra for myself, but yes! At least two, for certain. One to manage business tasks and another to help with personal. I honestly should prioritize getting a manager for the new corporate office the second we are back from honeymoon. That way I will have full freedom to work on setting up other branches. If I time it right, I could be working in Europe while you are–“
Juliette paused in her tracks suddenly, stopping on the sandy beach to tilt her head back and sigh. Possibly with more drama than it actually deserved.
“…I am not to be talking about work today! Work is a banned topic,” she declared, following it by placing one hand on her hip and gesturing at him with the other as if she were giving orders to her minions. “Opening a library is actually a grand idea for a long lived vampire. You could amass both an extensive public collection as well as a closed private one and always be able to return. It would also provide a useful peaceful meeting ground for a King, I’d imagine.”
There was nothing quite like watching her come to life when it meant talking about her business. Getting a personal view of how the idea of it coming from the idea of potential ruins into that of a flourishing empire that would require her attention, dedication and tenacity to assure it would be a roaring success. Turning him to even smirk about it while finally seeming able that they might have met the market side port style arrangement of shop’s that were tourist traps for beach visiting sorts. Themselves potentially part of this as well, only for her to come to an abrupt stop that he was looking all the way around them for what had put her into such a stunned possum mode.
Raising a brow no sooner as if that was the prompt needed for her to declare that work related topics were strictly banned from being mentioned. “Well now, best not continue that.” Jordan made a over the top motion of searing on some nonexistent book that he would cease this topic here and now. Instead lending her curiosity that turned a smirking visage upon her. “I don’t share well, that’s the only problem.” As they previously discussed. “I don’t know how well I would take even hinting at the idea of a public domain being set upon.” Though the idea of a library was still interesting enough that it ought to do well for the future. Little notices for when his inevitable disappearance had to come about as not to warrant questions to the immortality part of himself. “Suppose I could create one when my kingly time for silence comes. I wonder if I can find someone to make a underground place that will house such things.” Smirking at it, he pointed a shoulder towards said tourist trap.
“Are you brave enough?”
With thoughts of work pushed aside, so that Juliette might keep her attention where it properly belong in the present, the grin quickly reappeared across her features at his dramatic flourish of sealing them away. Then only grew ever wider.
Brave enough to wander a tourist trap in naught but a swimsuit? What a scandal! Juliette was tempted to announce she’d be perfectly brave enough to stride down the boardwalk in nothing but the skin she was born in, if she deemed it worth the effort. But one did need to be careful about the whens and hows in teasing their vampire fiancé.
Didn’t stop the impish fae look sneaking it’s way onto her face, even when she oh so sweetly reached out to clasp his hand again.
“Plenty brave enough to follow where ever you might lead. Though, lets think this library through thoroughly! What King, or wealthy CEO, mind you, doesn’t build up some monument of status to leave behind. Certainly none would think twice about oddly similarly looking future generations of Harrows returning to a privately own library built by their very ancestor. And none would be the wiser about the halls and corridors deep down below, full of not just a private collection but of an entire vampire court.”
“I do admit,” she paused with a wrinkle of her nose and that soft laugh. “It is an idea in my own interests too. Where else would I house my future collection amassed over decades. And a hidden dungeon or two good and far away from the house.”
“Such tempting words.” One would not typically give such a bravado of affirmation when it came to being led along. At least perhaps not someone who was like Juliette. With a steadfast mindset and a stubborn tenacity! The mere idea that she would follow wherever he might led, could be very dangerous. In a handful of ways. Mischief or danger being the top two things that stood out. Yet for this conversation sake alongside their unplanned date day, the direction of him to wander would be simply towards said tourist trap. To oogle gaudy trinkets and flashy bobbles that were hopefully stupid enough to be wanted for someone’s unfortunate family member because they would simply love to have it. After all, who wouldn’t want a hundred different snowglobes from around the world!
With a slight tilt and a insistence that their direction was to mingle amongst the frock of gawping wanderers, the mention of him building a library to be a sort of monument temporarily had him thinking. Her pointing out that it wouldn’t be unheard of for later generations of said Harrow’s to return to such a place. Never mind the fact that he would be that very person. Though he gave her a slight look that may have hardly liked the idea of welcoming a vampire court into a place that had written treasures. Knowing they could wild little bastards and he most likely would ring necks by the dozen as if they were chickens if any one of his books had even come close to being damaged! Attributing such passionate protection to something akin of parent to child.
It was about as close as he could guess.
Leave it to her however to turn over an idea that she would have her own intentions for such a place. To aid and help grow its wealth with her own. While having the tickling idea that a hidden dungeon would be good. As such things would be better not within a home. “You do have a way of words. Dangling such an idea before me that I may have to give it a earnest consideration. Perhaps the intention would to make it become to next Alexandria Library.”
“Wouldn’t that be the most beautiful thing,” she remarked in earnest, her attention only slightly divided as they melded in with small array of wandering folks out an about on their nice day at the beach. It had become a habit as of late, being so hyper aware of her surroundings, always keeping a check of faces nearby. First because of David, and now with curious vampires.
Of course, it was daylight, but there were always work arounds.
“I cannot think of anything that would be better than building the next Alexandria Library – except perhaps two libraries. One in each hemisphere, so that we might have two copies of every book we get our hands on.”
Truthfully, what an indulgent and lovely dream that was to just build libraries all over the world. Had she not enjoyed the challenge of her family business (and too the necessity of having to save it), Juliette might’ve taken a completely different turn in her schooling and traveled the world curating a fine collection of antique pieces. There was simply not enough time in a single lifetime to do all that she wanted to do.
Not true for a vampire however. It was one of those things she’d have to think about at some point.
For now, daydreaming on quiet afternoon was nice in itself.
“You’ve had enough time to do all this and more, yet haven’t. I suppose it’s been far more complicated being King than you ever imagined?”
It was truly interesting to have someone encouraging his potentially unhealthy addiction to the literary word. Going so far to humour the idea of why just one new Alexandria when they could have two! Duplicates of books on either large land mass ready for easy reading. “I feel as though you are encouraging me and it may not be the wisest of choices!” Smirking in such a way that could probably simply read as jesting. “Giving me leeway to entertain a mistress of books rather than you.” Suggesting that if he was ever going to cheat, it would be with a tome. Reading it and ignoring everything else in the world.
It did have a certain allure.
Still it was of no real importance here besides a comical little word, whilst they were attempting to look more like the everyday wildlife of humans within the wandering tourist world. Already his gaze picked out a few ugly trinkets that someone was trying to sell. Just more of his attention was given over to her when she asked him a question that drew a long questionable silence. Only for it to turn over into a reply that didn’t come from just anywhere. “I won’t lie and say my original ambitions weren’t already lofty. Assuming things would just come easily when in fact, it was… still is the opposite. But it is nothing I cannot manage still. Even if it’s far more complicated than I originally thought.”
“You seem to think I would not be there with you, on your lap, reading that same book,” she responded first with a scoff. As if she wouldn’t be lost in a library herself, ignoring all else for the beautiful quiet of a peaceful space and whatever novel she found interesting at the moment. Juliette already knew they at least had some crossover in what they chose to read, so they would not always be at opposite ends. It was honestly, one of those domesticated things she was looking forward to, as she’d never had a partner before that actually enjoyed the activity!
His silence was curious, though, prompting her to squeeze his hand and use her other to affectionately smooth over his forearm in quiet support. Almost subconsciously, really, as her eye had been caught by air-brushed tshirts of vibrant sunsets and colorful unicorns that she couldn’t fathom someone would actually want to wear. Only to remember Myra’s current bright green hair, and to suppose maybe some just wanted that sort of attention.
“I hope that I might help make it less complicated,” she murmured softly, leaning in close. “Though it might take me some time to learn about an entire history of fangy peoples. Now that they know I exist and I am not some porcelain damsel in your tower as a toy and a meal, I imagine some more formal introduction might be necessary. Or would you like to add a few more interesting guests to our wedding? One or two individuals may be eaten – we could offer up problem people.”
Comically brows lifted at such a suggestion. Sure that her idea of using his lap as the perch of cushion would be less used for that of actual sitting and more of a war to see whom might overwhelm the other first. Surely not above being a deviant even in thoughts. However he couldn’t lie and say the very mention wasn’t pleasing. “I suppose I still need time to come to terms that you find such things enjoyable. I’m working from many years of selected solitude after all. An old dog does not learn new tricks in a manner of days.” Countering the idea that he had simply required more time for his thoughts to gather together and accept that she was in fact not just a fixture in his life, but a person.
Something that surprisingly weighed on the back portion of thoughts. Best thrown out the window rather than uttered.
Lending him time to pass sunglass hidden eyes across the heads of plenty. People observing while searching for the most constructed answer that was for both of their sakes. Aptly aware that as a rather spritely fledging of the vampire sort, his drive to ruin the former king may have properly blindsided him. A lust for power and control didn’t tell him how hard it would be to control this immortal circus. Simply assuming that with a snap of fingers, all would jump. Rather than the reality that when he snapped, they snapped. Resulting in bloodshed more often than he should ever admit.
They truly were no better than hyper fixated animals that used violence as a tactic first and brains as a last resort.
With a soft comfort being lent by hands, he could not resist the look upon her. Softening features as if it would be enough to say his thoughts without voice. “Perhaps my greed to keep you away from such antics is still in full charge. I am… not ready to entirely let you see the fullness of it. Not because I think you could not handle it but rather, it would be nice to allow you time to stay blindly innocent to a point. Focus on your work rather than the bumbling three ring flea circus. At least for now. I will need to introduce you to the other mortal advisors besides Felix and Myra. There are two more and they will be the best people to help induct you into the fangy business.” Selecting a word of her own, “And I’d rather none of them attend our wedding. I don’t need to be miserable, nor do they deserve a treat of even problem people.”
There was a time Juliette might have assumed that this was some sort of cut on her character, her skill, or some other perceived slight about her not being good enough. But that was all born out of her insecurities and bad experiences. Strangely enough, in the here and now she could see those worries in Jordan too. As he was even saying it plainly now, he wasn’t ready for her to entire his vampire world, and from the sound of it he was simply fearful about the chaos that it was going to bring into her life. There was no need to argue about it – it would happen eventually, whether he was ready for it or not. With the likes of Emery Hart already pushing his timeline of revelations, it truly was only a matter of time!
For once someone was actually trying to shield her from something, and Juliette intended to take that with grace.
“True. I do need as much focus on my own work as possible to get things back where they need to be, and beyond if my company is going to be of any good to you as well.” she agreed, easily and without without protest.
That did not stop the soft broad smile she gave him or the quick gentle tug on his arm,
“But maybe keep in mind, I am an asset beyond a fleet of boats. Even when you keep me all to yourself. And if your other two advisors are anything like Felix and Myra, I may very well better company as well!”
Juliette followed with a dramatic sigh.
“This blasted wedding. Do you think if I parade around as a Bridezilla I might frighten away any potential guests? Surely no one will want to come if I make insane demands of all my guests. Force them into some obscene dress code. I’ve already banished all cameras and phones for your sake with the excuse that I have a professional and devices will ruin my pictures, but I am not sure that’s enough to ward them off.”
Never let anyone thing that he wasn’t incredibly territorial. Because, he was. To a point that it was incredibly perilous for any that wanted to find out just how deep such a thought went. Almost to blend the line of possessive without actually doing so. As he didn’t like keeping things to himself that were considered living. Free will was still very much a thing! In the matter that arose with Juliette’s suggestion of vampires and his broken coven, well the idea of her going to have a formal introduction to them all was enough to almost trip the thin wire that could have announced that defensive trait! Knowing in his heart that she was not needed him to protect her like she was some new born babe! She was a young independent woman that was perfectly capable of handling the stresses of life and the supernatural.
However, if he could spare her a while longer then he damn well would. Making sure she heard that he wasn’t confining her to this side of the world but rather expressing that he was not ready for her to start juggling the mortal realm, the vampire insanity alongside her own business and personal items! If he wanted that, he might as well throw in some loaded bombs and watch to see how long she could keep it up with a criminal glee!
With a soft exhale when she came to agree that it would be better for as much time as possible for her to focus on her own business, it warranted a easy simper to appear. Nodding before chuckling at the idea that she wanted to make sure the business was valuable for him as well.
Soon greeted by the warm grin of her own accompanying the pull on arm. “Thankfully the other two are considerably less wild. At least by Myra’s terms. Though with all four of them I think you will find yourself with diverse company.” At least with the last remaining Eden and Baldwin, they were older able to maintain a level of professionalism that was both personal and down to earth. Sure that Juliette would find Eden to be favourable with her gentle nature. Yet her dramatic sigh had him momentarily glancing to see if there was something wrong. Given the details that the wedding clearly needed her to be more dramatic to keep away any guests they highly wanted to fall into the ocean instead.
“Why I appreciate the care you’ve taken for me not to be photographed, I hope you don’t think I won’t show up in them. Or is it for potentially others?” He arched a brow at her considering he had been in newspapers before. Even if he was entertaining the idea of her being a bridezilla. “Start asking people to pay for their own dinners and that they have to put a small payment on the wedding itself. Would be a surefire way to promptly chase out any that would be highly displeased with such demands.”
“Hmn, what seems to be a reasonably unreasonable request for a reception plate. A low end fundraiser dinner might start with a few hundred, so surely mine is better in the thousands. Surely even the most curious sorts to see us both married off will balk at such a price.”
The thought was enough to have Juliette bursting into laughter once again. It might actually be an ingenious idea! That’d certainly be one way to help fund her business back to life! All those vultures that enjoyed circling around, trying to reap the benefits with as minimal investment as they could, having to empty their own pocket. She almost wished she’d thought of it before, as there was no way to pull something like that off so last minute.
Tempering her giggling laughter, Juliette resumed their conversation, resting her head fondly against his arm for a brief moment.
“With the way you glared at Myra hard enough to send her flying into the stratosphere while she was trying to snap pictures, I suspected any cameras aimed in your direction might risk someone going overboard. But truthfully, I gathered that the technological age must be difficult for a vampire’s need to occasionally disappear.” she confessed. Now that she knew the truth of things, it was easy enough to reframe their first meetings in the right context. As well as helped her consider things for the future a little differently. There were issues that would arise from having a vampire for a husband, and Juliette did not like things to go unaccounted for.
“I’d like everything to go smoothly, regardless. It’ll be difficult to put myself on pause for a honeymoon, but I do believe I’ll need that time to… gather up the strength, I suppose! We’ll have so many things to accomplish in a very short amount of time.”
“A casual thousand should in fact balk most guests into a state of horror.” While it still much seem like very little, people tended to think about it a bit more frugally the more zero’s were at the end of a number. In this matter, it seemed like a thousand would be worth a double look and a scoff of are you serious. The very thought alone was worth a grin! Or a bursting laugh that was turning him to nearly joining in.
They could be a pair of right terrors had they wanted too. Or if they wanted to throw the effort into doing so. Which with the approaching date drawing closer, he was sure if they even hinted at apply such a fee to the dinner plates, many of the people would suddenly back out. Which was that not the desired effect?
He’d leave that to her discretion.
Lending his being to instead be present further as she leaned close enough to silently bid for it to come, to comment on his camera remark in which had ears perked effectively. “It was less because of the photos and simply because of Myra.” She surely knew the relationship he had with the demon scamp now to know he probably would have found irritation in her regardless of what she had done, or didn’t do. However she was addressing more of the items. Promptly having him offering a roguish crooked smile at her, “The latter is certainly more of a problem. I should never doubt your cleverness to see what the root of the potential problem is.” An honest compliment it was. While photos couldn’t be spotted entirely, he didn’t prefer to have his face plastered everywhere either. A bit of a stretch of thought that was but the comment in his thoughts were still valid.
When he needed to disappear for the years to assure people simply assumed he had either died or ran away with some fluttering lashes to be never known again, it was easier to reappear later as a potential progeny of the suggested assumption.
“I would not expect perfection, peristéri. The very thought itself would be liable to drive you mad.” Yet he drew them to a pause to look about due to the sweet smell of something terribly deep fried that bid some direction of attention. “Gather your strength? Is there a salacious implication there or are you attempting to bait me once more to seek what you have in mind in totality so I can been roped into helping you finish things on a timely manner to avoid you having to gather strength.”
“My love, if I ever need your help with something I am simply going to ask directly, perhaps sweetly if it is something particularly awful,” she mused out loud. Asking him instead of demanding his assistance out right would indeed be a new skillset for her to learn. That is, if she could urge herself to ask for help when she needed it in the first place! That was something they’d both have to work on, she already knew, but likely easier for her to adapt to than her aged vampire fiancé.
“What sort of salacious implications were you thinking of, Jordan? That would require so much rest and recouporation?” she asked, pretending as if she didn’t have plenty ideas on her own. In fact, she even paused in their walking, playing up the confusion on her features as if this were something that really needed the moment to consider. Releasing his arm to rest a hand on her hip, and to tap thoughtfully at her jaw.
“You make it sound as if I’m up to some plot or another. I’ll have you know, I’ve given up all of my plotting in regards you and shall keep you on your toes in other much more harmless methods. Oh! Look over there, I think your seaweed haired assistant has taken up sign holding-“
In direction that Juliette pointed with that perfectly manicured finger was nothing more than a few more cobbled together trinket huts and some awkward looking seaweed covered octopus holding up a sale sign.
Of course Juliette herself had taken off in a dash in the opposite direction with barely concealed laughter again.
Humming at the very idea that she might just outwardly ask for assistance –perhaps with a sweetening effort should whatever task be at hand was terrible- he still held a bit of suspicion in features. Arranged ornately to be both casual and attentive. Not so sure she would quite yet ask for help. They had only begun to recently make amends where they could earnestly rely on another. Things that were unfamiliar took time to re-write. If her efforts were made in sincerity, then he had no doubt eventually it would be come true.
For them each.
Yet she was the wonderful little deviant no sooner. Asking him a question that deserved a fangy grin, “It is our wedding night. I think that is implication enough.” There was no need to detail such ideas in a public place. Better for her to play with in her thoughts than to be given a preview of what could or could not be! Especially when she was making such an obvious ploy of thought that maybe her profession ought to be a actress, because she was purely theatrical. Meeting her means of coming to a pause. To witness this means of thought until she suggested that her intentions of plotting had all been given up when it came to him. “Harmless methods? What were the less harmless methods before?” Asking out of his own need for curiosity filled, he ought to have damn well known better! A prime example of said harmless was in tandem with her final words. Tugging attention to the side to believe that Myra may have made an appearance to simply scope them out! It wouldn’t be past her personality to do so, causing him to look towards the direction Juliette pointed and frowned dramatically at the view that was greeting him.
Alongside the fleeting dash of the woman going the direct opposite way. “Safós o diávolos se échei kyriéfse. [Clearly the devil has possessed you.]” Words muttered lowly as he dared a glimpse towards a few curious looks their way. Tempered that nothing was actually wrong due to the sound of fleeting laughter, causing him to sigh no sooner. Debating his actions of course. Surprisingly dipping into play rather than stiffened refusal. Springing miraculous in a similar dash after the young lady, evidently not about to be outdone or left behind by her impish antics!
Not being some impetuous sixteen year old with no respect for others, Juliette was mindful of the few tourists at the boardwalk and didn’t dare weave him through little shop huts or busy people. Luckily for Jordan too, young people having mischief with each other was rather par for the course for a day at the beach!
Juliette ran first towards the sea, but in a quick split second decision decided she wasn’t quite ready to risk a battle near water when she was still only freshly acquainted with it again. She made a sharp turn and a pinwheeling of arms to switch direction, before turning to half run backwards and throw out her taunts.
“So slow, Jordan! Our wedding night may be nothing more than an early sleep!”
Was it wise to taunt a vampire? Likely, not! But it was quite entertaining!
Had he been concerned what the local public thought, he mostly wouldn’t have given chase at all. Instead been potentially embarrassed with a bashful turn of head while trying to look like he wasn’t associated with the mad woman at all. Rather than taking her insistence to turn into a running teenager to follow. Being wise not to bulldoze or ram someone over by accident because he didn’t care to lose track of her.
Never mind the smirk that stole upon visage as though he were really enjoying something so dumb as a chase!
Though if she thought he wasn’t above playing unfairly, she had much more to learn about him. With their direction returning to that of the beach and the abrupt change of direction that hardly earned her any finesse points with arms flailing around, her taunt was enough to draw out a gruff chuff. There was two ways he could do this after all.
And both were cheating technically. But one was far more flashy than the other which would draw attention one way or another, so it meant the second idea of at least putting effort into his run after her had to be done! “An early sleep, for whom?” he asked though he needed no reply as the effort to throw some strength into the free gallop was at least made! Not looking to become the new Usain Bolt on the beach front but enough to at least close the distance. Forbidding any great length between them so he might be nearer, “Surely you aren’t thinking at my age I am so feeble!”
“An early sleep for an aged old man, for certain!” she shot back with a cackling laugh. Of course when Juliette shot a look over her shoulder, she found him gaining on her far too quickly. Oh! What a wretched man, of course she’d forgotten he might’ve had a few vampiric tricks up his sleeve! Juliette herself was no marathon runner, but she wasn’t slow either. Causing her to make a frustrated squeak and attempt to run that much faster.
“You’re CHEATING!” she yelled, sprinting past their cozy little blanket and umbrella, only to make a new split second switch. Now it wasn’t just fun and games, but a matter of pure principal – and he wasn’t going catch up so easily if Juliette could help it.
After all, if he could cheat, so could she!
Juliette snatched up her abandoned dress from it’s resting place, having just enough time for him to catch up close enough for her to fling it at him. Then she was taking off in a whole new direction with another triumphant laugh.
Surely she was not about to start believing that while his age was purely astronomical, he was that of a old codger meant to be wandering around with a cane at hand! And a wheelchair on emergency call! Finding that his daring affianced was purely mischievous at the current time, needing a gentle reminder that he was not nearly as decrypted as he maybe should have been. Quickly utilizing some of the efforts of a body that was not nearly as human as it once had been. Making the means of distance to come to a closure where he was soon caught up and finding that she was giving him a look that spoke long before the words were yelled at him! “Cheating? I would never.” The very idea preposterous as the very act itself was being done currently!
However in his mental gloat it would seem that his thoughts should have heeded that the little dame of ingenuity would not take his means of fraud, lightly. Or with just a scoff!
Veering towards their original resting place to grab something and use it as a additional move. Where he had caught up only to be netted in the means of her dress. Full on requiring a hard stop! Less he go stumbling down into the sand in an ungracious manner. Rather fighting with the frock that had been used like some sort of pocket sand, while trying not to tear the damn thing in a manner of split horror! Wrangling down the item to blink in a comical fashion as she decided to go sprinting off once more.
Disbelief at her antics ruling for a time. Turning thoughtful and then resigned! If she wanted to go trotting off then, so be it. Adjusting the gown in hand to be smoothed and eventually folded as to pardon it from forming unslightly wrinkles! Dusting it for good measure like it had gathered pounds of sand that needed to be returned to the beachfront, an glancing eye was made towards her in the distance. Adding on a go hither sort of wave that indicating he would give no further chase. She had bested him and therefore would need no further trots to determine the value already claimed. Turning to settle down the folded article beside the other items of her selection before his own rump found returned placement under the safety of umbrella.
Unfolding limbs to stretch lower half down. Propping elbows as cantilever’s to support the upper portion that only calves ought to be sticking back into the sun. Addressing the view with interest rather than give over that he might be keeping an eye out from the peripheral for her.
Juliette slowed to a stop once she realized he was no longer giving chase, watching with a wide grin as he made a great show of folding her dress and plopping himself down on their private little beach blanket. She laughed quite loud at that – how he could be both bested by her and allowing her to win! Making a small silent fuss about her victory, when he could’ve so easily caught her.
This sort of harmless fun was so much less stressful than trying to navigate the whims of bored socialites.
Continuing on that theme, Juliette didn’t return immediately. First she took the time to unplait her hair, combing her fingers through the dark strands to find that it had mostly dried by now in salty beach waves. Surreptitiously she kept an eye on her sitting fiancé as she wandered over to the stone breakwall that surrounded the resort’s back end to protect the structured pools and patios from storm tides.
Leaning over the edge of the short wall she beckoned one of the cabana boys in their crisp white polo with a wiggling of her finger, requesting a bottle of water using her most charming smile. After a few brief moments of waiting he’d dashed back with a bottle, letting Juliette casually wandering back to her waiting fiancé.
With nothing but that faeish, almost smug grin on her face, Juliette didn’t say a word as she practically collapsed as a puddle of limbs next to Jordan. First, taking a drink of her water before sealing it tight again and laying down flat on her back.
“…what do I win for besting a King?” she asked, untampered in her grinning. It seemed she couldn’t resist the tease after all!
Once she had noticed that he was no longer going to give chase like a working herding dog, amusement clearly bordered that of distant features. Chimed with a sound that he was sure was laughing while she drug out this victory in a method of meandering her feet everywhere else but back towards him. Perhaps lending him a chance to contemplate the distance she had and whether it would be seen as nothing more than a freak moment of wind if her dress made a sudden fly in the wind to attack her much like she had him.
With assistance of unnatural abilities of course! Just he decided it was too likely that it would be seen as highly peculiar.
Leaving the dress folded and himself the direct opposite upon blanketed beach towel. Cutting down any urge to bid at her like a plucky youth to return this instance! Needing to wait for her majesty to return on her own desire with lips curled in the most impish of twists. Bidding the raise of eyes to find her while she made a tumble down to claim the spot she may have deemed hers. Taking this air of nonchalance to the next level while he was merely single audience member watching the tamed theatrics of lady. “A ride home.” Jordan returned almost immediately, “Lucky you!” Toothy was his offered grin, “Though you might have preferred it had I actually won, but sometimes I suppose I have to let others win even if they too, cheated.”
“Only a ride home!” she laughed, even if she wrinkled up her nose in disappointment at her prize. The King of Vampires did not handle losing well, even if it had been his own choice to let her win. She might have needled him a little bit, to continue the teasing and see how far she could push it, but Juliette was far more interested in his following statement.
“I didn’t cheat, I adapted,” she defended her own actions easily enough, punctuating it by lifting a hand to give a gentle poke to his shoulder. “What would you want with an easy catch, regardless.”
“Hmn, but for future reference, should I allow you to win next time, what might be my much better prize?” she asked, quite curious as what it might be.
“Oh were you expecting more? Well we didn’t set any terms since someone took off like said rocket after duping me –far too easily might I add- to looking away so she could run down the way.” Using fingers to tiptoe in mock walk across the air to indicate her whole rascally play. “I would say getting to ride in the car with me home is surely a prize. Unless you prefer strange cab drivers in smelly vehicles?” Truthfully and probably already figured out by the likes of herself, he had no idea what to offer as a sort of reward. Surely nothing as terribly cheesy a victory kiss!
Yet she would suggest that her actions hadn’t been falsification. Pulling the fall of lids to rest upon her like he might have smelt something beginning to turn foul. “I could say the same. I never cheated either, just used what came naturally.” Shooing at poking finger, “Though one ought to ask what I wouldn’t I do with an easy catch. There are times I like to be uncharacteristically lazy.” As if the shrug given was to cement that reply as fact.
But of course came the query to what would have been better for her had she lost? Dancing oceanic blues across the languid form, “Well now, I might have let you have a promise that I would do one thing for you. Whatever you wanted and with no complaints. Be it absurd or not, it would have been given. Alas, such a thing is of no value now.” Inching closer to lower his voice for some sort of secret exchange. “Should I be a gracious loser then and ask what it is you want for throwing your dress at me like some sort of fish net? I may be willing to entertain an idea if it suits me.” Jordan smirked, “Or, I could be a beach front bully and just throw sand and pout! Could be colourful too.”
For one who did not like to fight, Jordan certainly enjoyed being as contrary and difficult as possible. At every single opportunity! It really was no wonder that Myra loved trying to get under his skin at every chance she got. It was almost exasperating! Yet she herself would never have been happy with someone simple, whether it was in temperamental or mind. Being frustrating made him interesting, and she was a fool for it.
“You say all of this, as if I am not on the daily having cars come to pick me up and drive me around town,” she muttered first. He’d swatted her poking finger away, which really was just encouragement for her to more boldly put her hands on him. First to dust a bit of sand from his arm and then to sneak her poking fingers gently under his ribs.
“I thought you might be used to women throwing their dresses at you by now, Jordan.” she surmised out loud, with that wide teasing smile. “And since I’d rather you not bully an entire beach with angry vampire nonsense, would you take me out for an early dinner? I will save my more absurd ideas for that small, tiny chance you do indeed manage to best me.”
“Then with that reminder you ought to be thrilled as punch to have a chance to ride home with your affianced.” Brows lifted to throw home his point even further. Certainly not above added more cheek to that. As though the means of shooing away the pecking fingers was an invite to have her add more! Brushing away little particles while attempting to his best guess, whether or not he was ticklish. Supplying little more than a few dull blinks.
Appropriately broken as she caught him off guard with that comment. Laughing delightfully at the very idea, “I don’t think we need to get into that, now do we? And if we do, I’d much rather you were throwing it at me when there is four walls around. You know, for reasons.” But of course her very idea of not allowing him to be some crass blundering dunderhead ruining other’s day with whatever zesty bleating he decided to try for theatrical measures, her asking for a early dinner was tame to what could have been given.
“Hmm?” Thought puckered at the wanting idea. Steering being close enough to finally give into her ever so horrible idea, “I suppose I best keep you overjoyed.” Turning to bring the means of bristled chin and lips alike to lay affectionately across lady’s cheek. “Alright fine, an early dinner. And a wonderment for me to question just what sort of absurd ideas are lying for me in waiting for a future debacle.” Suggesting that he suspected she would win more often while giving no fight left to that. “Just treat me well after you ruin my pride.” Grinning foolishly to repeat the method of peck cheeking before turning to look outwards. “Just tell me where I ought to take you so I might properly spoil the winning majesty.”
It seemed to Juliette, that it didn’t matter if she won or lost, the prize either way appeared to be her getting anything she liked as long as she asked sweetly, which was enough for her to give a soft huff of a giggle. There wouldn’t be any need for her to ever test the limits of what he would and wouldn’t do – she much preferred his playful fussing compared to when he was genuinely upset. But Juliette did enjoy having him wonder and worry, just the tiniest bit.
After all, he himself didn’t want a boring wife.
Raising herself to lean on an elbow, Juliette reached up to cup his cheek with her hand and pull him back to her and give him a kiss proper. Affectionately soft and not at all salacious, though by the way she ended it with a wicked grin against his mouth, maybe her thoughts weren’t so pure!
“Better specify which four walls, as I am sure if I threw my dress at you during dinner it might be quite a problem. You know. For reasons.” she murmured, full of all kinds of promises in her tone that she was fully intending to keep. “But I think a substantial meal is in order. Something fulfilling so that I might keep up my stamina. More Reasons, of course.”
She was perhaps getting a little too good at assuring the means of staying on his toes was a common placement in skull rather than fleeting thought. Having not really expected her to be so forward with a idea of proper kiss till he was released. To be shown the grin that decorated features with a spread that hardly suggested the innocent in press was within smile! Drawing attention to linger for a long second while words were being processed to raise optics to rest once more upon the spoken deviancy. “Reasons.” Echoing such things with astute confirmation, “I think I would be a little more caught off guard if you were bold enough to throw your frock at me in the middle of a dinner service.” And he didn’t know if he would be horrified or absolutely interested.
Deciding such thoughts flopping back and forth were better left unspoken.
Rather nodding to agree to the idea of something substantial for her to keep her stamina for reasons. Tickling a thrill down spine with a demonic intention, “Alright, well now if that is the case—” He trailed off. Thinking about this rather than just prolonging the means of delay. Contemplating a placement that might both be beneficial for her to get her snack on while still entertaining the means of quality. Not about to just suggest a stray questionable burger joint like it was a great date idea before tapping chin with maybe a choice. Or rather glazing focal cue back to her to assure that he knew what she would want rather than taking a blind stab in the dark. “Fancy or standard restaurant?”
By the look on his face Juliette was certain she’d suceeded in being charming… and what a delightful feeling that was! To know in fact that he could be caught off guard and invested in her, when he’d caught her up more than once in the conversations.
While he worked through that surprise and pondered his choice, she rest her face at his shoulder. That soft grinning never leaving her features as she waited both comfortably and patiently. Had it not been genuinely necessary to have a meal, she might’ve been content to stay there on the beach long past sunset.
“We are not dressed for fancy,” she surmised when he posed his question. “And should we return the house to undress, I suspect we’ll stay undressed. We’ll need somewhere casual, preferably quiet. Private if you want me to yourself. With drinks if you’d like to see me dance on a bar top?”
It was truly terrible that she had a knack for inviting his mind to deviate from any previous thoughts with a few selective words. Tilting to consider the very being that certainly he had every intention of keeping private since now the idea was out there. Just it still posed something of a thought which perhaps might be curious that he might even come across the idea at all.
“Alright then,” Here it came, the oddest offering of life that one might not have ever expected him to say. “Let’s make sure things are packed away properly and I suppose if I want to make sure we both have a fitting dinner than I better do it myself. And I’m not interested in seeing you dancing on any bar top, lap… maybe. I am sure those college party girl years are still in there merely a flirt and a drink away.” Jordan shuffled a little to start looking for his discarded shirt and items that had been taken from pockets by feminine hands. “I’ll be your chef this time seeing as you’ll be my dinner later.”
Delighted, quiet giggles slipped out as Juliette sat up proper herself to reach for her folded wrap dress and slip her arms through the short sleeves. Served dinner by the King himself was not something she had been aiming for, or even expecting, but the way he said it so seriously – as if it were a decreed command instead of something decided in the moment – who was she to give protest?
“Dinner and lap dancing. You know, I am not sure who won this game of chase any more,” she mentioned with a breezy laugh. As designed she wrapped her dress around her form and tied it neatly at her waist. Only needing to shift to her knees to tug and smooth down the skirt to make sure green fabric covered what it needed to cover. Somehow she could see Jordan trying to wrap her up in the beach blanket and carrying her off to the car should she dare flash any tourists!
“It was tequila shots back then,” she revealed upon climbing to her feet. Once he’d gathered up his own things, Juliette plucked up the beach blanket and gave it a few gentle shakes before setting to folding it up. It belonged to her and would go into her large bag. The umbrella was property of the resort and would remain right where it was.
“…But as this is a special dinner, it should be… aged bourbon?”
Gathering up properly as to make the means of becoming decent for any scenery besides the beach, her verbal thought of wonder to who really won turned a chuckle from him. Dusting away any sand that sought to cling on for dear life before moving to intend on helping her gather up any bits of valuables. “Guess it’ll be a mystery then.” Playfully leaving it unspoken if there really was a said winner.
It appeared she has most of her gear well handled. Enough that she was able to make a comment that her days in college had been spent throwing back shots of tequila. Venturing a look up and down her that was trying to decide if he found that tidbit surprising or not. Slowly gravitating to not. “Here.” Offering to take her bag as to be a gentleman even if his commentary was hardly suggest such things.
Which seemed to be their theme today even if it had been intended on having a date like a normal couple might. Was that what this was? A normal date?
“We can decide that at the store if we want to entertain my tastes or see if there is others we can explore. It is supposed to be a day where we discover another in more ways than just how swiftly I can make that dress disappear.”
“At the store,” she repeated with a pause and audible surprise in her voice. Of course, she regretted it immediately, as blast it. That made it sound like she was such an out of touch wealthy heiress she’d never stepped foot in a grocery store or market before! Worse yet, Juliette was having a difficult time trying to remember the last time she actually had. She never bothered cooking for herself and most of her personal items came from far more posh establishments, or else she had an assistant run out and pick up anything she couldn’t just have delivered directly to her door.
At least it brought it back around to her trying to imagine Jordan shopping for, well, anything, which inevitably drew a wide smile across her features. Why would a vampire king be out and about doing his own shopping when he house a house keeper and menagerie of minions to do his bidding.
It was indeed a day of learning things about each other.
“I am being spoiled then,” she decided with a wrinkle of her nose and that amused smile. Juliette did pass him her bag, as silly as it was to let him carry it, if only because it gave her the opportunity to wrap her arms around one of his in a way that was almost as possessive as it was affectionate.
If he had noticed her oddity about the store, he didn’t seem to overly exploit it. Rather a humoured laugh that waited for her to get to the acceptance of what they were to be up too next. Of course his thoughts were already well running ahead of him to determine that returning back to the manor would be practically useless. For he wasn’t sure when the guests were to be out of the home for a while and he certainly didn’t want to run into anyone currently.
As he took the bag that was relented at his asking and arm to be claimed as her own, airily he huffed with light wittiness; “I thought today was about learning about another properly. Less spoiling and more a visual show that I can in fact provide for my future wife even in the means of something that may not be necessary for me to have. And not just cooking eggs in the morning.” He almost said any idiot could do that, but refrained. Just in case. “And well, maybe it is a little spoiling, as I intend for us to take claim in one of the upper penthouses within one of the hotels that works with Rosendrey. So… maybe a bit spoiling. But the grocery store would be required first to help pick a meal choice that would be suitable for you to keep your strength and well… supplies the four walls of privacy.”
Falling into step with Jordan on the way to his car (and she knew it would be his car, for she was sure now the man would probably prefer to walk a thousand miles on foot than let someone else drive him), Juliette gave a soft chuckle of her own and slipped one of her hands down to entwine her fingers with his.
“A fair trade, I believe. My resort club membership and your private penthouse suite.” Interesting too, that he had such spaces for a multitude of reasons. Rosendrey’s diverse portfolio of different business meant it had a good solid foundation, safe from risky endeavors and potential bankruptcy should any one of them tank. That was all business she was trying to put out of her mind for the time being.
More interesting was the other tidbit of information.
“Is this the place you usually take your pretty tidbits, as to not disturb your gothic manor?” she asked, fully curious but without any sort of offence. Honestly, she might have done it herself before if she’d thought about when she was vaguely dating. Maybe then it would’ve just been a manner of sticking David Gates with the bill on an expensive hotel room rather than him pushing her out of her own apartment!
“You do make me wonder what I can bring to the table as a good wife. Being a delightful treat doesn’t quite seem to do the trick. I’ve never been particularly domestic. Although, I suppose I can be a gracious hostess and entertain unwanted house guests until they give up and leave.”
Now that was the question, wasn’t it. “Surprisingly, no. Though I won’t pretend to have never brought someone there.” Lying about it just felt stupid. They were both adults with past encounters and truly if he was about to start lying about things that they both knew he did, then what would that say about them trusting another. Not to mention he didn’t think Juliette would suddenly turn into a excited fluff that would not set foot in another room where he might have had a trophy on his arm. Or on the bed. Had she been someone else, maybe he might have been far more careful about it.
But had she been someone else, he probably wouldn’t have told her what he was either.
With the trunk of the car opening so the means of her bag could be put into its safe keeping, the means to gravitate towards the passenger side was as natural to him as breathing. Pausing only temporarily to look upon her as she spoke up about wondering what she brought to the table as a good wife. Holding the door and handle hostage with a prolonged stare, “What makes you think that I require you to fit into some preconceived socialistic idea of a good wife? Perhaps originally my goal was to assure you just fit the idea of wife but now?” Shoulders shrugged, “I do like the idea that you are far more willing to entertain guests than I but in the most matter of fact way, Juliette. Whether this question was rhetorical or not; perhaps just being you is good enough for being a good wife.” Tugging open the car door for her, he said nothing to add to that statement.
Wretched was the man that could so easily sneak under her defenses, leaving Juliette with that flutter of stomach and creep of warm flustered blush to her cheeks. She hadn’t made her comments in any way of seeking validation or compliment, just a genuine wonderment of what she could bring the table. Yet Jordan had this way of saying just the right thing so seriously, so blasé, as if it were a fact the entire world already knew, that it’d catch her by surprise. It was exactly what had tipped her into have feelings, and frankly it was embarrassing! They were both far too old for her to be crushing over him like some daffy teenage girl!
Ignoring that warmth in her cheeks and glad for the motion of settling herself down into the seat as not to have look him directly in the face, she quite primly adjusted the skirt of her dress and buckled in her seatbelt. Continuing the conversation as if nothing particularly special had happened at all.
“I might just find your eclectic amount of skills and hobbies inspiring, is all” she responded breezily. “Mind you, I am not saying I am without my own talents, just that I suppose I am a bit of a perfectionist even in things I ought not to be. One can’t win at marriage, but I still have that dreadful urge to be the best possible.”
Within a sweep of the door being shut and himself rounding to the proper side of the vehicle for the means of driving said horseless carriage. Sliding into place with the means of buckling up for safety with every intention of setting them about to drive along to the next little target.
To become one of the common folk in the effort of shopping at a local grocery store. The idea was wild.
Or the way she spoke up after seemingly being ignored by the way her cheeks seemed to warm. Not something that went unnoticed but rather unmentioned seeing as he didn’t want to take a vague risk of saying something that could ruin her generous mood. Instead busying by putting the very car into thrumming live and eventual motion to sneak glances at her when the means of topic seemed to be continued. Like nothing had happened. “The amount of hobbies I have merely comes with the length of life. I’d have gone mad sooner if I hadn’t.” An obvious statement, “But entertain me then. If you had this dreadful urge to be the best possible wife… then what is it you want to be best at. With no inference from me or society. What gives you the idea that you ought to be good at to accomplish such a thing?”
“It doesn’t take half a millennium to become a well rounded person,” she responded first with some amusement. “At least not for we mortals.”
At least she did recognize he did have the unfair amount of advantage with time on his side when it concerned skill building. When you had all the time in the world to do anything you want and more, eventually you start to run out of things and must have to go out a seek something new to fill the time. Oddly enough, it had it’s appeal. She so often felt like all she could do was work if she wanted to achieve everything she wanted to accomplish before she died. That left very little room for pleasant things and personal interests.
And she was discovering today, having the time to just exist doing pleasant things was so nice. Genuinely relaxing moments was not something she experience often enough.
At his following question she ended up laughing.
“With a question like that I am almost tempted to answer something purely filthy!” she delightfully admitted. “I suppose my answer might differ depending on if I tried to consider what I thought you might want the best possible wife to be, versus what I feel the perfect wife is. But-” she said before he could chime in, “since I am sure you want my own opinion, let me think.”
Thinking was definitely required. For as she sat there, mulling it over as she chewed into her bottom lip, her first thoughts and instincts were so dramatically romantic they’d be far too embarrassing to say out loud. That as his wife she’d conquer the world for him. Wrangle all his blasted vampire minions personally, if that was what he needed. Make his enemies disappear. Shield him from nuisances and strife. It felt a fitting trade for someone who had opened up the world for her.
But she couldn’t just say all that! No one SANE ever said these sorts of things!
“I suppose, as a good wife I’d want to make everything easier for you, opposed to more difficult.” Also the truth, but a far less ridiculous declaration. “How I can manage to do that remains to be seen.”
A playful narrowing of the eyes could be given at the suggestion that it certainly didn’t take so long as he suggested to become a well rounded person. Throwing in the reminder at least it wasn’t the case for those of mortal influence. Deciding that he was just going to let that one fly by without a comment. Because it surely didn’t need one!
Pressing attention on managing to take the vehicle for its moving ability along the streetway to decide which place was best to of course do the menial task of grocery shopping. Lending time to of course query her next about just what on earth it was that she wanted to either perfect or dominate in the means of being a wife. Perhaps missing some key part that didn’t exactly grasp that the title was meant to change anything besides availability status. Glancing to her for both the suggestion of potentially giving a teasing remark of something filthy into the need to think about this a little more.
Having no need to demand an answer for now, it seemed to come about at its own occurrence. Shortly smirking gently at her declaration of just wanting to make things easier for him. “I think—” Jordan paused for mere effect, “That takes two of us to do. After all, I can easily say the same. Wishing and intending to make things a easier for you as a good husband. But that of course takes us both working together.” The man shrugged with a nonchalance, “I don’t know if you realize this, Juliette but you’ve already made things easier for me. If I didn’t think so, I don’t think I’d be sitting here beside you doing something as mundane as grocery shopping with the intention of making you a meal.”
It was Juliette’s turn to twist slightly in her seat to give him a dubious sort of side-eye. Examining the line of jaw and simple smirking looking for some hint of untruth. Not that she didn’t believe him, or that he’d say things just to placate her, as he had well proven he didn’t have the patience for that. More that Juliette couldn’t see it herself.
“For your business, yes. With Rosendrey and your ambitious coven blending. It was the entire point of bothering to get married at all.” she responded matter-of-factly. That much was obvious anyway, he didn’t need to be reminded of it anymore than she did.
Then the slow spread of a wicked grin crept across her lips as she relaxed into her seat, pulling her hair over one shoulder to comb her fingers through it once again to smooth it out. She gave him then a bit of a sly look before she just as quickly put on the air of complete natural innocence.
“I suppose you are making me a meal, aren’t you,” she murmured with pointed inflection, absolutely delighted with the double entendre, whether he meant to do it or not. “I am a good wife, after all!”
Head shook lightly no sooner at the various of remarks. Finding it partially amusing that she would swiftly remind that when it came to business avenues, it was self explanatory. Which fairly, it was. Just when he was able to glimpse at the way she was sitting into her seat, all sly like the cat about to get the mouse? Well he surely knew what he was about to get into.
Coming out sooner with her handpicked words. “I am starting to think you are enjoying the idea of being bitten a lot more than I would have originally assumed. Good wife indeed.” Giving life to the remark that he thought was true even if it was cheeky.
“And you were worried you weren’t going to be decent at all. If this was the olden years, the mere fact you keep me fed would be good enough.” Squinting at her mischievously ought to be clear he was now playing once more. Far less with an innocence, naturally.
Juliette laughed, bright and easy, finding joy in the thought of the olden years.
“If it were olden years, you would have been traded a virgin bride!” she remarked, barely containing her amusement. “Pure of soul and flesh, and likely with any sense she had already long since throttled out of her.”
It might have been entirely easier for him to deal with than Juliette herself, although… the more she got to know Jordan, the less she could believe that. There seemed to be enough of pains in his ass wandering around in his life, if he had to worry about a delicate little wife on top of it, there would be nothing but trouble! Probably end up killed before a year had even passed!
Favoring the teasing tone of their conversation, Juliette was happy to continue along the lines of subtle and unsubtle flirtations.
“Of course, before you even came into the picture I was no demure lady. Biting is quite fine by me, amongst many other things, but I suppose it wouldn’t be fun at all to just tell you what they are! Much more fun to find out together, I think.”
If it weren’t for the fact he was currently driving –whilst simultaneously avoiding the means of accidentally killing them in a wreck- he would have thrown her a look that was somewhere amused and abhorred at her little jab. Probably because her latter half of commentary was frightfully on par! “Traded a virgin bride for a goat or three.” Decidedly muttering as not to suggest he was the sort that would have throttled any sense out of her.
Never mind the fact that he was caught even without saying it!
But for the favour of their conversation being rather jesting, he put on his best listening ears. Nodding along at the statement that she had not been any sort of demure lady previously. Their first meeting easily showcased that! “Other things? Juliette, I am starting to wonder what sort of wild antics you got up to prior any previous encounters of the unfavourable cockroaches, that stirred you to other things. And I am starting to wonder how easily I can locate them while stumbling about blind.”
“Well, now you have me imagining you scouring the world looking to crush the former paramours that dared do me wrong and I suspect even moreso the ones that did me right,” she mused aloud, erupting into another round of delighted laughter. He was lucky Juliette wasn’t the sort of woman who enjoyed making her lover furiously jealous by flirting with others. She couldn’t stand that sort of dynamic herself and suspected Jordan didn’t have the temperament to tolerate it either.
“I didn’t have the time for dating, honestly,” she admitted once her giggling tapered down. “I also do not care for being lonely and frustrated. It’s always been easier being direct and most men give a very enthusiastic yes at the offer of sleeping together, no strings attached.”
Leaning back in her seat comfortable, she tilted her head to regard him with an examining gaze and a soft smile.
“I suspect it’s never been difficult for you either. If the signs of being a very wealthy man weren’t enough, you seem to be apt enough at being charming when you want to be. Though, with you being so scandalized at little things, it does make me wonder if biting is all you dare get up to!”
The chariot of a horseless variety finally had entered the lot that would be their temporary stopping point for the common man’s means of shopping. Lending him time to listen to her giggling little reminder of needing not to bother with dating when one was eager enough to flop around in or on whatever surface was suitable for a romp of no expectations, and to select a suitable parking spot away from other vehicles. Perhaps a little more vain about his mode of transportation being without grand dings and dents from other inconsiderate shoppers. Rogue carts or wild bozo’s flinging open their car doors as though they were some distressed damsel in some B rated drama flick of the late sixties!
Certainly proving when the car was pushed into park allowing prying optics to range across the young woman’s comely face at her query of both pointing out it was probably very easy for him to have lured or promised a enjoyable evening to any sort he wanted. Should he put on his best charismatic efforts. While suggesting in turn that she wasn’t sure if biting was all he thought of getting up too.
Folding arm to bend upon console that separated front seats. “I would think the whole idea that I am prone to eating the former occupant that had been tempted into a tryst ought to be up there for devious acts. After all, what I did and still do is not the same as eating in ways that most men think they are clever with.” Jordan paused for the innuendo to be heard. Rolling eyes no sooner, “Granted from my unfortunate eavesdropping at times, some don’t even appear to be good at that.”
He could have decided then and there that their conversation deserved a mental pin. To either press at later once they completed their entry to market or far into the future; rather than taking a long breath to consider the maid in the passenger seat. Looking all sorts of playfully mystical before he was raising brow to her. “Is this a suggestion of an open ended offer that you may wish to unravel or reveal all sorts of scandalized ideas?” Jordan lingered on that thought a second longer, “I’m always willing to try new things unless it’s ideas of ropes and chain attempting to make its way around my wrists or neck. I doubt you would now that you are aware, but just in case my vixen of a queen thinks she would like to try. On a whim.”
With that otherworldly fae smile, Juliette rest her own arm on the center console, skin to skin. Leaning in close with that air of someone about to reveal the deepest of secrets, despite them being perfectly alone within the confines of his car and parked far enough away from other cars they might as well have been out of city limits.
“If I am going to hold you down in bed, it won’t be with ropes and chains,” she murmured, with no need to allude or elaborate on exactly what that would entail. In fact she was quite hoping that’d linger in the back of his mind for hours, days, maybe even weeks to come!
Breaking that mystifying spell, Juliette gave him a brief peck on the cheek and laughed.
“In fact, I do have every intention of seeing all the different ways I can have you scandalized. I’ll be the first woman to make a vampire king blush.”
Now there was an easy success. Posed in expression as eyebrows lifted up at her murmur. Leaving his mind to promptly latch on and decide that it would in fact like to investigate its depth without actually having an immediate answer too. Using the statement as a mental rubix’s cube to play around with while the deviant woman leaned close enough to flirt lips in a chaste pecking.
“If you manage to make me blush, I think you may have a powerful tool on your hands, dove.” Jordan squinted at her. Daring not to suggest that she might not be able to do so. Figuring if he gave such life to such words, she would make it a quest to complete! Rather than a happenstance that appeared one day on an random encounter.
For now, “Come on vixen, it’s time to do the mortal’s means of shopping. Time to be a common folk.” Patting a hand over her own before departing the car –less they continue passing banter within- the idea of simple every day grocery shopping really shouldn’t be so amusing. Granted, neither of them was what one could call, normal.