There’d always been risk of encounters with the Eureka pack, but they’d been admittedly quite gentle up until last week where there’d been taunting shoves. Fortunately, that was the worst of it, but they were still a niggling presence, evident from the crass graffiti vandalizing the walls of businesses on the way home. This was the same area where she had the previous run-in, but Carla was a stubborn sort and chose the same route that she had always done, because she wasn’t about to let vermin disrupt her day-to-day.
Her arm clutched a book to her chest, and a duffel bag was lazily slung over her shoulder. Another night at work, dull, maybe mildly entertaining at best. People didn’t dance here the way they did in Ecuador, but that was expected.
As she walked, her nose picked up the scent of someone from the Eureka pack. She growled lowly, sounding exasperated more than threatening. Of course, she ignored it, of course she tried her best to be nonconfrontational, even if it went against everything in her wolf nature. Wolves were temperamental and snappy, and she fit that trope quite easily. And then she saw them, two younger wolves, probably in their early twenties. It was the worse age for bravado.
Carla walked ahead of them, making note to quicken her pace as she began to shove her book into her duffel bag. Once she got the back open, one of them sped by, knocking himself square into her shoulder causing her book and the contents of her bag to spill onto the ground and into a conveniently placed puddle. Carla staggered, growled deeply within her chest. But her teeth caught her inner cheek, willing the fangs away, and looked up. The young man that had hit into her was walking backwards now, blowing her a kiss. The fucking bastard. She began cursing quietly in spanish as she began to shake off the wet book.
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If there was one thing eternity afforded you it was the knowledge of when to lie low and when to raise your head above the parapet. This was something that one Dimitri Volkov had mastered at a relatively young age, vital for his ongoing survival especially as he hadn't had the easiest start let alone the simplest. All of this culminated in an Incubus who valued his privacy and was careful about what he did or did not get involved in.
Turf Wars such as the one taking place between the wolves was certainly a situation he had no desire to get mixed up in, but Mercy Cove was his home and some elements of it at least were unavoidable. Elements such as the god awful graffiti marring a number of businesses and the presence of wolves that smelt very different from the ones Dimitri was used to. You could fool a lot of things but you could never fool an Incubus' nose.
He turned his head and frowned as he watched a young man knock into a pretty brunette causing her belongings to fly out of her bag. He briefly contemplated leaving well enough alone but then decided that on this occasion he wouldn't, he turned and began an approach.
"I see chivalry is dead," he commented as he crouched down, beginning to collect up the items that were still on the ground.
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Tire water dripped from the corner of her book. The annoyance shook in her shoulders, her violent impulses left unsated and nearly too distracted to smell the individual approaching. Nearly. Sweet, woody hints filled her nose, with an intriguing citrus scent mixed in. Carla looked up, her jaw tense and her brows furrowed, hardening the sweetness in her features.
Even as he began to pick up her things, only her eyebrows relaxed while her teeth continued to bite on her cheek. “You’re proving otherwise,” she noted, though wished there was a hint of humour in her voice.
“I feel like the pathetic school nerd being harassed by the big bad bullies.” She wrung out a pair of leggings before shoving in into her duffel bag that would’ve definitely needed a wash.
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“I like to beat the curve if I can,” Dimitri answered with an effortlessly disarming smile. He passed a few of the items he had over to her so she could return them to her bag however she wished. “What exactly is their issue?”
He waited until he was certain that all items had been saved from their attempted watery grave and then rose to his feet, a hand extended.
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Her expression faltered, and then unwillingly softened at the smile. His kindness didn’t go unnoticed, and her jaw relaxed significantly rounding the shape of her face. In fact, her lips pulled upwards in a grin, the mischievous kind that girls flashed to their friend when they thought someone was attractive. Using her dry hand, she took his and hoisted herself up from her haunches.
“Oh, I don’t know. Big dick energy, I guess.” Carla snorted, though it was a bit more complicated than that. But she wouldn’t bore herself or this person to explain. “It’s a good thing my savior swooped in to save me.” Carla feigned a longing sigh.
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Dimitri chuckled at the longing sigh before he tipped his head to rest his blue sometimes grey gaze on Carla, looking at her thoughtfully for a moment. “Why do I get the feeling that you are possibly the last person in need of a saviour?”
Call it a sixth sense or a gut feeling.
He glanced away from briefly and watched as the wolves disappeared around a corner.
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She arched a slender brow, surprised and amused by the comment. Although she’d always considered herself quite simple, she didn’t think she gave herself away that easily. “Oh I can’t stand perceptive men,” Carla teased, trying to mask the shock. “You guys are harder to lie to.”
Her gaze followed his, but her anger left alongside the other wolves. “Tell me your name.”
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He was very amused by her comments especially as even if he hadn’t been perceptive he was gifted with certain supernatural senses much like her as a wolf which certainly helped in a lot of ways that he couldn’t really speak of.
“Dimitri,” he replied. “And you?”
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“Carla,” she said absently, noting something interesting in his scent. Her gaze trailed over him as she wondered what was so intriguing about him. When she realised, her amused expression deepened.
“You are fae,” she realised, though still wasn’t a hundred percent. They didn’t have any fae where they lived in Ecuador and she only knew very few here. Her arms crossed over her chest. “Oh. How exciting.”
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“Correct,” Dimitri answered, comfortable to give that away at least. He was Fae after all, what else he was didn’t really need to be discussed. There weren’t many of his kind around after all and he knew the benefits to keeping a low profile.
He had many secrets after all.
“Did you want to get a drink? Distract from the big dick energy?”
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“I—,” Carla opened her mouth and then closed it. Her eyes squinted in suspicion, half mocking. “Was just about to ask you that question. Minus the big dick energy part, nice touch.” Though there was a hint of annoyance.
Carla stepped forward with her arms still crossed, tilting her head as if examining a specimen. “You can’t read minds, can you?”
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Dimitri remained seemingly unaffected by her close observation, almost amused by it. If there was a twinkle in his eyes and the hint of a dimple in one of his cheeks then it was completely irrelevant.
“Not one of my many skills, I will confess.”
He tipped his head. “So, is that a yes?
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There was something unbearably smug about his expression, though, not necessarily the big dick energy kind—the kind you only get if tempered by wisdom. It was the ease in the way he looked at her. How intriguing.
When he tipped his head, almost in mirror image to Carla’s, she grinned. “I mean, I was going to ask you first, just saying.” Her head nodded. “Lead the way then. Show me how undead chivalry is.”
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They were close to Heads + Tails and Dimitri knew from experience that they did some of the best wine he had ever had the pleasure to taste which was of course saying alot considering how old Dimitri actually was.
“Happy to, Carla.”
And with that he did lead the way, pausing at the entrance to open the door for, not going in until she’d stepped through the doors first.
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Carla did a little curtsey when Dimitri held the door open for her. “Oh, mija, if I knew this was where I’d end up tonight, I would’ve dressed up a bit.” Although Carla wore leggings, a sports bra and an open-zipped sweater, she walked as if she had a three-hundred dollar dress on. Now that was bravado.
She sat on top of a bar stool, leaving her duffle bag at her feet, Her elbow propped on the tabletop, and she rested her chin on her hand. “I’ll have what you’re having.”
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Dimitri definitely admired the confidence and self-assurance that Carla wore like a second skin, pausing only briefly to do so before he followed her in.
He ordered them a red that he knew was bold and fruity in equal measure with a sweet but not too sweet edge to it. The bottle, not just glasses, which in itself was expensive.
“I hope you like red wine then.”
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“I love red wine,” she confirmed. When he ordered, Carla poured them both a glass to prove a bit of chivalry on her end, handing him his and clinking them together. There was a satisfied hum when she took a sip, not bothering to do the whole smelling process.
“So Dimitri, before I start getting to know you, what are some questions you shouldn’t ask fae?”
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“Even better then.” Dimitri answered with a smile, chuckling softly as she poured him a glass and brought hers to his with a light delicate *clink* and he much like her didn’t bother with the swirling or the sniffing, just the sipping.
He feigned a thoughtful expression, going even so far to run the tapered tips of his fingers across his lips as he “thought” about her question.
“Well, for one, don’t ask if I have a tail.” Clearly he was teasing.
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Carla watched him curiously behind the glass that lifted to her lips as Dimitri seemed to be in deep thought. Once he teased, Carla laughed at the unexpected answer.
“Ah damn, that one was my first question.” Carla looked down, raising her eyebrows in jest as if she was trying to spot whether or not something grew out of his tailbone.
“And what about age?” she asked next. “Is that a rude question to ask?”
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“Possibly.” Dimitri smirked as he set his glass back on the bar. “How about this, you guess how old I am and I’ll tell you if you’re close.”
He knew his age was always a surprise especially with younger creatures.
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The devious curve of his lips intrigued Carla, because that must’ve been an indicator that it must’ve been a surprising answer. And because he was strikingly handsome, so that was a bonus.
“Were you around for Pompei,” she joked.
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“Before my time.”
By roughly five hundred years give or take, but Dimitri gave nothing away. He kept mum as one of his British friends was fond of saying. He took a sip from his glass and regarded Carla over the rim, taking the time to appreciate the beautiful woman in his company.
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No, he didn’t give anything away. Carla’s brows furrowed as she actually gave it serious thought, her teeth catching on her bottom lip.
“Were you around for the constitution?”
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The Incubus’ gaze was drawn to the way that Carla’s teeth latched around her bottom lip before it returned to focus on her face.
“I was as a matter of fact.”
A truly momentous day and certainly not one soon forgotten.
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Carla lit up, smiling successfully even though that didn’t nearly narrow down any options for her.
“And what about the pyramids?” That question was out of sheer curiosity.
“We’re going to be here forever by the way, and unless that’s your plan—,” she grinned, “I think I should have three clues.”
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Dimitri let out a warm laugh and shook his head. “Unfortunately not.” He lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. “And what if it was?”
He acquiesced a moment later. “Okay, three clues.”
“One, I have known what it is to be a slave. Two, I have watched empires rise and fall. Three, I witnessed the arrival of Christopher Columbus.”
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There was a slight pause when he had said he was a slave—not necessarily from pity, per se, but it almost emphasised how insignificant and small her life was comparatively.
“Only one of those isn’t vague,” Carla responded, her voice accusatory. She gave him three guesses, all answers shy of at least 1000 years or two.
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Well, yes, that was true. “You didn’t specify what sort of clues you wanted,” he returned, a flash of his teeth and a teasing wink. “But to answer your question I am currently at last count? One thousand four hundred twenty-one years of age.”
It felt oddly like what some might refer to as a ‘mic drop’.
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Carla was in the middle of sipping her wine when Dimitri revealed his age, and it was poor timing really because she nearly spat it out. Although she had been way off, it was still strange to realise she was essentially sitting next to a fossil–a very good looking fossil, but someone quite literally ancient regardless.
She blinked, processing it. “Ay dios mio…” She laughed. “How many GILF comments have you heard in your lifetime?”
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“Not as many as I think you might be imagining.” Dimitri finished off his glass and refilled it while topping up Carla’s. “It helps that generally speaking? I don’t really advertise my age.” Particularly with humans or rather uninformed humans, it just invited too many questions and Dimitri did not have the patience to deal with them.
He tapped his fingers lightly against the bar.
“So, Carla, tell me a bit about yourself. You look like you keep fit, is that gym or…?”
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“No, I can’t imagine you would,” Carla mused, watching as her glass being refilled. “But I’m still surprised at the lack of GILF comments. Bet people are just shy.” She took a sip of her wine, the sweet tannin taste lingering warmly on her tongue. Afterwards, she licked her lips to prevent a red stain from forming.
At the question, Carla looked down at the athletic attire she wore. She laughed. “I go to the gym, yes. But I’m a bachata instructor. The studio is just on the high street. Not very popular, but popular enough to pay the bills.” Her head tilted. “Do you dance? I bet you do.”
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Dimitri chuckled, drawing his fingers around the rim of his glass, observant and watchful as always. You didn’t live as long as he had without knowing a thing or two about keeping your eyes wide open, not to miss anything and be present.
“You’d win that bet,” he confirmed. “I do dance, but it’s been a while since I last did it.”
He hadn’t even danced at the Founders Ball.
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Carla sighed, wiping the metaphorical sweat from her forehead. “Oh good, at least I got something right then.”
She remembered her last date at the Founders Ball, and that was a pseudo date with her best friend because neither of them had been on one for quite some time. This, at the moment, was an impromptu date, but a date nonetheless—she wasn’t going to feign otherwise—and it was refreshing just sitting down, getting to know someone, and having a little flirt with the GILF of MC.
“You’ll have to come dancing with me, then,” she said decidedly. “You leave it long enough, and you’ll forget.”
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Dimitri feigned a shocked - no, wait - an appalled expression at the thought he might lose his dancing skills which he had worked on throughout his time of being on earth. “Can’t have that, now can we?”
He shifted a little, reaching into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out an expensive very modern phone which for somebody of his age might have seemed in contrast to his beginnings, but Dimitri definitely believed in moving with the times.
It was unlocked using his face and an empty new contact was on the screen as he offered the device to Carla.
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He got her for a moment—he truly did—with that phenomenally convincing look of his. For a split second Carla did think she had offended him somehow. But then she realised quickly after that the man could tease just as well as she could, and an amused giggle bubbled out of her.
Carla took the phone, her slender digits quick and deft over the touch keyboard. “You’re very smooth,” she said as she plugged her details in.
When she returned the phone, Carla sipped at her glass deeply, peering at him with long lashes as she had done so. “What do you like, Dimitri?” Carla asked curiously. “In a partner, in a lover.”
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Dimitri found he enjoyed the giggle that sprung forth from Carla, making a mental note to try and get that to happen as often as possible.
He briefly called her number and then cancelled the call so she had his number as well.
“Good question,” he replied. “I like somebody who is confident, knows what they want, isn’t afraid of adventure and honesty. I’ve found that to be a very important attribute in a partner, in a lover. I’m too old to play games so I much rather have an open direct conversation as well as somebody who has stamina, resilience and is not afraid to enjoy themselves.”
He took a considering sip of his glass. “And you?”
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Carla listened with attentive ears, liking almost the rehearsed honesty as if he didn’t even have to think twice about it. Honesty, directness, these were things Carla valued even though she found it difficult sometimes. But pussy footing around things, playing a game, she was incapable of doing either.
Her lips pursed, as if in deep thought.
“I like older men,” she said. “Normally go for someone around a thousand years old, so you’ve made the cut off.” Carla gave him a flicker of a wink, punctuated by a little laugh.
“I’d say that pretty much ticks all the boxes, you know. I like someone who knows what they want. They don’t leave me guessing. I think it’s cruel to do that. If you like someone, I think you should just tell them.” She spoke similarly to him, matter of fact, and open. Carla sipped her wine again. “Do you want to know what I think about you?”
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Dimitri let out a warm clearly amused chuckle at the remark from Carla, covering his top lip with his ringed index finger while the other framed his chin, eyes bright and the warm scent of bergamot, blackcurrant leaves and musk was particularly evident in that moment.
“Please,” he invited, picking up his glass to take a sip.
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Another long sip. Carla wasn’t very proficient at savouring things, especially if that thing was alcohol. “You’re very handsome,” she said matter of factly. “In a versatile kind of way. I bet you could tell the difference between French wine and Spanish wine, and I also bet you could replace a car engine easily.”
Her chin perched on her palm. “But you’re not just easy on the eyes. You intrigue me. Easy to talk to, charming, but at the same time you make me feel…” Carla paused to think. “Not insignificant. But you make me feel so small, in the grand scheme of things.”
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Dimitri’s lips curled in the corner and he mirrored her body language even going so far as to lean in so the space between them was reduced, the ring on his index finger being turned over as he considered his response.
“Would it help if I told you that you intrigue me too?”
Give and take, name of the game, wasn’t it?
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Carla felt it—nearly imperceptible—but it was there, a quick leap in her chest when he began to close the distance between them. If there was shock on her face, it’d probably translate as soft excitement.
“Oh, come on, Dimitri. I’ve got enough bravado in me to fill two alphas, but how could I ever intrigue you.” Carla didn’t speak in a self-deprecating way, but forward and honest. “You’ve lived so many lifetimes, and I’ve barely experienced one.” Her voice sounded far off, as if trying to fathom what being his age must’ve been like. As she did this, Carla reached over, the tip of her slender finger running over Dimitri’s ring as if to inspect it.
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“Intrigue, Carla, is less about the life you’ve lived and entirely about who you are as a person.” His ring whilst silver in colour was most definitely not silver, titanium to be exact, he’d stopped wearing silver a very long time ago.
Sometimes it had its advantages, but only if you knew you were looking to punch a werewolf in the face.
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“See, that’s exactly what an intriguing, worldly person would say,” Carla remarked with a tiny smirk. “You know, I was hoping you’d list off all the things you liked about me. God, can’t you tell when a woman’s fishing?” She was obviously teasing, indicated by a click of her tongue.
Carla pulled from her glass and emptied its contents, re-filling both of theirs which resulted in an empty bottle. “When was the last time you were on a date, Dimitri.”
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Dimitri’s laughed and helped himself to his newly replenished glass, taking a slow sip as he considered her question.
“So long ago I can hardly remember what it was we said or did.”
He didn’t tend to date, his needs were… unique from most and he knew that not everybody could handle that truth or even handle him for that matter.
“Why?” He asked, resting his intense blue gaze on Carla. “Are you offering one?”
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Carla let out a mocked gasp like the one Dimitri had done not to long ago. “I thought this was a date.” Though, she broke character quite quickly when she laughed, feeling the warmth from the wine spread over her cheeks and chest in a pink flush.
“But I mean, yes. Would you like to go on a date with me? I’m thinking a little hike, a picnic, maybe a daring swim in the lake.” Carla offered a cheeky, flirtatious little sigh. She’d never been afraid to be the one to ask someone else out. She preferred it, actually.
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Dimitri definitely enjoyed the easy back and forth they had and how full of life Carla was. Live long enough and that was what you started to look for.
“I would like that,” he answered without pausing to think. He’d meant what he’d said about appreciating directness and somebody who knew what they wanted.
He flicked through his phone to get to his calendar. “When are you free?”
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Carla shrugged with the glass tipping into her lips. “Whenever,” she said, licking her lips so as the wine wouldn’t stain it. “That’s the beauty of being your own boss.” Granted, her life wasn’t flourishing with cash flow, she was glad that she’d been able to choose her schedule as freely as she had.
Another coquettish, playful little smile. “So, I’m all yours, really.” It had been nice going out with Seth on NYE, it truly was. But spending time with someone beyond platonic intentions, well, that was nice too.
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“Well, the full moon is on fast approach, so how about we wait until the weekend after it’s been and gone? Gives you enough time to recover.” He knew well enough how rough a full moon was on wolves especially given the recent tensions arising in Mercy Cove.
He made a quick note in his calendar.
“Pick you up in the morning so we have a full day ahead of us?”
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Carla nodded. “Perfect.”
His consideration was noted, and it was nice feeling like he wanted to spend the whole day with her. They went through an additional bottle of wine, and perhaps a glass or two more, talking the night away, exchanging stories and laughter. And it was nice, really, to both talk about herself and learn about someone else’s life that was vastly different from her own. Dimitri had such an easy charm about him, and a quick wit that kept her on her toes.
But the night had to end, as they all did. Carla was properly giddy drunk at this point, not quite remembering what brought on her current fit of laughter, but when she realised the time her head shook. “Oh god, okay, okay. Seriously, I need to go home now. No more wine.”
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This had definitely been a very pleasant end to what had been an exceptionally boring day and Dimitri was very surprised which for somebody as old as him was a very welcomed change. Life truly was not worth living without the unexpected.
“Okay, okay, if you must,” Dimitri said with a chuckle as he held up a hand to wave off the bartender who had come back around with a fresh bottle considering how many they’d got through in their time there.
He reached into his jacket pocket and rummaged out his wallet, passing over a black card to pay for the drinks.
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“If I don’t leave now, then I’ll never leave,” she responded honestly, leaning down to pick up her duffel bag which suddenly felt heavy and an annoying weight to carry home.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a few bills to cover one of the bottles. Carla pressed it to his chest, keeping her hand there and feeling his warmth against her palm. “Take the money, don’t fight me on it. Yeah,?”
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As Carla pressed her hand and by extension the money to his chest Dimitri lifted his own to curl it around her wrist, squeezing softly. “Just this once,” he responded quietly before his touch caught on the money but most importantly her fingers, the same ones he drew up towards his mouth where he pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“It’s been a pleasure, Carla.”
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Carla’s breathing hitched excitedly when his fingers wrapped around her wrist. She felt dizzy, in a happy way—in a way that was probably caused by both the alcohol and the good company.
Carla paused, letting the silence linger before she went on her toes and pressed a sudden kiss on Dimitri’s mouth. Carla wasn’t shy, by any means, and if she wanted something she’d take it. At that moment, she wanted to kiss Dimitri, to feel him against her. Playing hard to get was never something she was good at.
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Dimitri’s response was immediate, from the way his hand tightened around her fingers to the exacting and confident way his arm wrapped her waist, lips parting to capture hers in a kiss that was neither shy nor hesitant.
Their bodies were flush, pressed close together, and it was only when air became a necessity did the Incubus lean back, a slow smile accompanying the parting.
“I’m glad you did that.”
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Carla’s back bowed when she felt Dimitri’s strong arm ensnare her and pull her close. A soft sigh escaped her mouth into the kiss, moulding her body into his and reacting almost instantly feeling the heat pressed against her.
The kiss was feverish and slow, and when Dimitri broke away she was feeling dizzy with want. Carla gazed up at him beneath half lidded eyes, her lips slightly plumped from their kiss.
“I’m sad to end it,” she admitted, her teeth snatching her bottom lip. Her hands found his chest again. “Call me, yeah?”
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Dimitri hummed softly in agreement and followed the sound with a nod. “I will.” And he meant that, never one to bullshit about something he genuinely thought and felt in his personal life at least, business was different, it always was.
Reluctantly he released her but did so in a way so she was able to stand back on her own two feet.
“Until then I’ll look forward to our date.”
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It was reluctant, the way they peeled off one another. On another day, Carla probably would’ve invited him home with her. It didn’t feel right at that moment, though she’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel a little lighter after tonight—an excited little flutter in her stomach she hadn’t had in ages.
“Bye Dimitri.” She walked to the door, but not without another look over her shoulder towards him. Carla flashed him another smile before leaving to head home.