=At the news that Lorissa was going to be on the move again soon he actually let out a long low sigh. Damned if they didn't have the worst timing ever. His fingers moved slowly against the seam of her jeans, tracing a line up and down the outside of her leg as he thought about what she said.=
"So you're thinking of moving to Salem? That's up in Massachusettes right?"
=That was much closer to Viktor at least, so it wouldn't be a difficult place to manage visiting. The only problem was that he'd hemmed and hawwed about being sent back to New Orleans to finish this job with the twins and now he was stuck with it. Licking his lips slowly he shook his head and chuckled.=
"I swear. If the day ever comes where we can just sit still for a damn minute and get our barings I'll start believing in the Almighty. I don't suppose there's anything I could say to change your mind? Keep you here a little longer?"
=Lifting his hand he slid his fingers against hers and stole her cigarette for a moment. Bringing the unfiltered end to his mouth he took a long slow drag and then blew big billowy smoke rings out before handing the cigarette back over to her. The flavor of the nicotine settled in his mouth and made him miss his old brand.=
"Ah can honestly say ah've never had that particular pleasure. I can imagine what it feels like though so I'll take the compliment. I think finding you again is just about the best thing that's happened to me in ages. Now we just have to come up with a plot for world domination so we stop getting drug apart all the time."
Lori was perfectly content to sit there in his lap while his fingers tantalizingly traipsing across the seam of her jeans, nearly driving her to distraction. Tilting her head to the side, she contemplated his question for a moment before giving a shrug of her shoulders and shaking her head in the negative. The truth was, the petite pixie had no idea what the future held in store for her, she only knew the possibilities.
"No, well... Yes..." For a moment she frowned, then gave a small giggle. "I mean, yes, Salem is in Massachusetts. But, no, I'm not exactly thinking of moving up there. I think Silent may be thinking of moving. Which, if she does, I may be going with her. I don't know. I just, I've always felt at home wherever she is. She's kept me safe through a lot of bullshit in my life. But she may not move up there. And if she does, I still have the Hookah to take care of. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't know if I'm moving."
She fell silent after that, snuggling into his chest giving another shiver as a cold breeze kicked up, lifting her hair and sent it flying out behind in a banner of dark tendrils. Feeling the rumble in his chest from the chuckle had a smile hinting at the edges of her lips, and his questions a moment later nearly stole her breath away. Tilting her head back, blue-green eyes settled on his face searching his gaze so intently she didn't realize he'd stolen her cigarette until bringing it up to his lips.
"Hey!" she exclaimed teasingly, giving a small laugh, "Thief!" she tried giving him a huffy look that failed miserably when her lips twitched with amusement. Curling up against his chest, she took a drag off the cigarette, blowing out the smoke while the fingers of her other hand found their way into his jacket, tracing tiny circles over his collar bone, "I suppose there might be a few things you could say to keep me to stay around..." She wiggled her brows flirtatiously but didn't give any clue as to what those things might be.
"World domination?" she queried with a grin, "Oohh! That sounds like it could be fun, as long as I don't have to be in charge... So, what did you have in mind?"
=The feel of her warmth pressed against him was exhilarating. He could feel the brush of her hair against his cheek and could smell her all around him. The fact that she was here at all seemed like half a miracle. The way she pouted when she called him a theif had him laughing even more.=
"If ya only knew Lori. I've been a theif since I was knee high to a junebug."
=She leaned back and cuddled up against him and he brought his chin down so he could brush his lips across her hair lightly. The fact that she wasn't quite sure yet what she was going to do was encouraging. At least it meant she wouldn't be gone in the blink of an eye, and lord willing he'd be sticking around awhile as well.=
"Alright, maybe not world domination to start with, but how about a real date? Y'know...dinner, a movie, the things real people do."
=Hell, he hadn't been on a date in decades. Was about time he took Lori out for real instead of just drinking beers and swimming in the ocean. Not that those things weren't nice, but he wanted a chance to actually be out in public with her. Maybe even see her dressed up. That would be a kick.=
When he confessed to being a thief since he was little, the tiny goth girl actually tried to picture Jessie as a kid, wondering what he would have been like. She tilted her head back so she could stare at his face and wiggled her brows at him playfully, "You should so tell me about that sometime."
Getting comfy against him again, she felt that light, sweet pressure of his lips against the thickness of her dark hair and gave a happy little sigh. Until this very moment, she hadn't been sure if she would ever get the chance to spend time with him again. "I liked the world domination....."
Her words slowed, and fell to silence when Lori realized he was asking her out on a date. For a shocked moment she was speechless, unable to say anything at all. A gloved hand moved so fingers could pinch her arm, making sure that she was really awake and this moment was truly happening. "A date? Like, a real date?"
She bit her lip before breaking out into a thrilled grin and threw her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tight. "I'd love to!" She brought her hands up to each side of his face, blue-green eyes shining with moonlight and excitement. "Anytime? This weekend? Next Friday?" She gave him options, finding it was always best, and then leaned forward, pressing her lips ever so softly to his.
=When her arms were thrown around his shoulders he liked the feeling. Welcoming her warmth in closer he chuckled and held her close to him. The feeling of her gloves at the back of his neck made gooseflesh stand out along the column of his spine. Here was a girl you could hold forever and not get tired of it.=
"Yea, a really real date with all the trimmings."
=The fact that she was so tickled pink by the idea made his grin get bigger. Jessie hadn't really known what kind of reaction to expect but he sure was happy with the one he'd gotten. As Lori pulled back and looked him in the eyes he had to fight not to want to grin and flash a good dose of those fangs her way. It was almost uncontrollable, but he fought it.=
"This weekend. I'll even trade in the bike for a proper car for the night so you won't have to worry about riding on it....y'know in case ya wanna dress up and such."
=Hell, Lori in a dress sounded like a good idea to him. He even had a few suits unpacked at the hotel that would do in a pinch. Besides, it'd been a long time since he'd taken a woman out on the town, and the only time he'd done so with any purpose to it so the occasion was a special one. Interrupting his thoughts came the press of her lips against his and for a second the world went still.=
=Sure all around him the Mississippi kept lapping against her banks, tourists strolled, tugboats whistled, but for him the world ceased to exist. His hands held tight at the small of her back and pressed her into him as he tried to make that kiss linger. For the rest of the night and maybe the rest of his life he would be warmed by that sweet kiss. They talked more and drank more, but later that night when he dropped her off it was the kiss he was thinking of, and the kiss he would think of until he picked her up again.=
"Dress up?" The petite pixie tilted her head to the side as she thought about the idea, wondering what kind of car he would trade in for. Of course, she didn't really care what he arrived in/on. She loved the closeness she was able to share with him when nestled behind him on his bike. On the other hand, she didn't think Jessie had ever really seen her all dolled up, unless of course he'd happened to come across some of her more stylish photo shoots in the past few years. Giving a grin she nodded her head, an idea forming in her mind for the perfect look. She would have to go shopping, and soon!
"It's a date then!" She responded with a beaming smile.
She wasn't sure at first how well her surprise little kiss would be taken, but the feelings that raced through her simply stole her breath away. The feeling of his hands whispering at her waist, pulling her closer was pure bliss. She let the kiss linger as long as she could, reluctant to pull away. It was sweet and exciting, making her heart race while the rest of her body trembled in his arms. When finally she pulled back, her eyes were bright and wide. Her tongue darted out to lick over her lips almost still able to feel the pressure of his.
The ride home after that amazing moment was kind of a blur, for Lori's mind was still dazed. Even after he'd dropped her off, and she'd made sure to lock up, showered and gotten ready for bed, her thoughts kept going back to the kiss. She couldn't wait until she saw him again, and as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep for the first time in a long time, she dreamed of happness to come instead of the nightmares of the past.