Beyond Time (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Sir Ashien." She said with a curtsy, almost teasing him as she straightened back up and grinned for him. "I've waited a very long time to see you again. I have to say that I am not disappointed in what I see."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien couldn't help a light chuckle. "I'd hoped so." He stepped forward and took her hand to kiss it, and that simple kiss tingled on her skin like electricity. "Tell me... how was this month for you...?" He was worried for the health of her emotions most of all, that much was clear.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It has been a rough month." She answered softly. "I took your advice and spoke to my fiancee. We decided that it was best if we broke up."

She shivered at the contact between his lips and her hand, the electricity sparking across her skin until she was sure that she would melt into the stone floor beneath her feet.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien lifted his gaze to hers with concern clear in his expression. "I'm sorry, my dear, I truly am. But you look well, so I assume things haven't been too harsh for you? I hope not." He brought her hand to his arm and escorted her from the ballroom to the small library where he already had tea waiting and he settled with her on a two-seat sofa.

"Other than the obvious... how are you?" He asked with genuine curiosity and worry.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I am well. I am still the best of friends with the man who I left. I don't think I could ever live without him in my life." She said with a smile as she took the tea that was offered to her, sipping the strong brew.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm glad," he nodded, sitting back with a soft sigh. It did his heart good to hear she was alright. "... You know, I was afraid you might not come back after what happened last time, after all those doubts came up. I'm sorry that I upset you so... it wasn't my intention."

He smiled over at her, but it was clear he felt guilty. "I'm so glad you returned... I've been itching to finish that painting, and I just couldn't seem to capture your face correctly."

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan smiled, blushing under his gaze as he talked about finishing the painting that he had started the last time. She'd never been an artist's muse before and the thought was a little heady. She placed her tea cup on the table and looked at him with a bright, shining gaze.

"I would be honored." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien couldn't help smiling whenever she did, her own smile was contagious. After they finished their tea, Ashien brought her to the studio. Ballas was there, asleep in front of the hearth until he heard the door. Then he was up on his paws and he hurried over to greet Dylandra. He nuzzled his broad head into her hip and hand with a rumbling purr before circling her and giving a soft attention-seeking growl.

 

[heartofcourage]

"There's my favorite tiger." Dylan cooed as she took Ballas's great head between her hands, scratching behind his ears until she heard the great rumbling purr that she enjoyed.

She leaned down and pressed her forehead against his, butting his broad forehead until she laughed softly. His whiskers twitched and he was very much like a lovable house pet.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ballas let out a rumbling sigh of contentment and sat at her feet while Ashien stepped past and fetched the unfinished painting from storage and set up his easel and paints. He shed his jacket and vest and rolled up his sleeves before looking to Dylan. "The rest of the painting is done, it's just your face that I need the details of. I tried painting on scrap, but I just couldn't get it right."

He motioned her over before he slowly began. He started with larger brushes, and it only took him about fifteen minutes before he was down to the smallest brush he had, adding eyelashes and contours to her face. And watching him, Dylan could see him slowly falling in love with her face all over again. When he finally finished, he was silent as he put his mark on the bottom corner of the canvas, and he still said nothing as he stepped back and looked at the painting. His breath was taken away, not by his work, but the memory of her beautiful form and how he'd kissed her before the hearth...

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan smiled sweetly with each longing look that Ashien gave her. The look in his eyes took her breath away and sitting so close to him was incredibly intimate. When he had taken a step back to look at both her and the canvas, Dylan raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side.

"Is it finished?" She asked him softly, not really wanted to interrupt his work.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien didn't answer for a moment, studying her face. It seemed he didn't even hear her until he lifted his brush and added one tiny detail: a bright glimmer in her eyes. "Now it is," he finally answered, in more of a whisper than anything else. As he looked over his work, his expression was incredibly intense and critical. It had to be perfect. Nothing less would suffice when his subject was the woman who'd stolen his heart and often his mind as well. He stared at the canvas for a good long while before he finally smiled softly, allowing himself to appreciate her beauty rather than criticize his own work.

And without thought or warning, he turned to her and put an arm around her waist, and he kissed her like he'd kissed her the day she'd modeled for him. After who knew how long, when their lips parted, he took in a breath and stepped back, rubbing the bridge of his nose with an embarrassed chuckle. "Forgive me... I've been wanting to do that all month..."

 

[heartofcourage]

The unexpected kiss was enough to make her gasp, her arms looking around his shoulders as he kissed her like he had a month ago. She smiled to herself, allowing that electrical feeling to pulse across her skin until the kiss ended and Ashien slowly backed away with a chagrined look on his face.

"I didn't mind in the least." She said with a grin, chuckling softly under her breath. "And after all, I'm no longer attached to anyone..."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know, but it's just not proper to do that sort of thing. Something about you makes me forget I'm trying to be a gentleman." Ashien shook his head and met her eyes. "You're a very enchanting woman, Lady Dylandra." He reached out to touch her cheek with his fingertips. "And incredibly beautiful..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan felt her heart melt at the gentle touch that he placed against her cheek. She smiled for him, her own hand coming to cup his. She turned her lips against his palm, pressing a kiss there before she turned her gaze back towards him.

"And you are a very handsome man, Ashien."

 

[KieranSoares]

He couldn't help himself, and he stepped in close, lifting his hands to her cheeks before kissing her ever so slowly. His hands soon left her cheeks and encircled her waist, bringing her closer still until they were pressed flush against one another, and Ashien lost himself in their kiss.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan welcomed his arms as he pulled her flush against his body. The long, slow burning kiss made her toes curl and Dylan had images of the two of them locked in a passionate embrace before the fireplace of the library passing through her mind. She let out a needy moan, submitting to the kiss that he was giving her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien had lost himself, pure and simple, and even when their lips parted, his did not leave her skin for long before his fiery kiss pressed to her throat and he cradled her body tightly with long-suppressed need. He'd fallen so hard and so fast for her... he just didn't know why, and he wasn't sure if he cared to find out.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan melted against his arms, whimpering as he kissed and nipped at the sensitive skin of her throat. She shivered, her arms wrapping a little tighter around his shoulders. She was panting, burning from the inside out as she allowed him to explore her skin.

"I feel like I've always known you, Ashien." She confessed softly, gasping as his lips latched onto a spot just beneath her ear. "I know everything about you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien smiled against her skin and muttered, "I imagine Van and Jennings are behind that..."

Then her back suddenly pressed to the wall. Neither had realized they were backing up til then. Ashien lifted his head and met her eyes, his breath catching in his throat. He realized what he was doing- what they were doing. And he found that he felt he wasn't out of place.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan shivered at the sound of his voice, looking up at him as she felt the sudden press of stone against her back. She looked up at him, panting as they both reveled in the moment. She was literally with the man of her dreams, the man that she thought about when she was with John, the man that she couldn't get out of her head. Perhaps this was a dream and she would wake up...

"Do you want to make love to me?" She asked him with a breathless tone to her voice.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do..." he answered softly, lifting a hand back to her cheek. Their forehead touched, and their lips nearly did once more too, but he stopped himself. "But it wouldn't be right of me to ask such a thing from you... We... we hardly know each other..." He was losing mental clarity rather quickly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We've known each other forever." Dylan said breathlessly as she looked into Ashien's heated gaze. "But perhaps we should take some time..."

She blew out a short breath, thinking about what they could do. "Let me stay here with you, Ashien. I want to get to know you more than just a few hours on a single night."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You are always welcome, it's your home as much as mine. But... what about your life on the other side? Your friends will be suspicious, and what of Darkwood in your time?" Ashien questioned. He did not want a rift to be caused in the future because of her disappearance.

 

[heartofcourage]

"My only friend is John and he can be told that I'm off drawing. As far as Darkwood goes, it's mine free and clear. My grandfather made sure that I would not be saddled with any debt as far as the house went." Dylan assured him. "If it were easier, I would say come to my time, but I know that isn't possible."