Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble [Keela/Vin] 6

[Shava]

Keela was furious! After Lilli had left, she'd done her best to curb the urge find and subsequently hex her younger brother. Unable to focus on her studies anymore, she'd left first the dorm, and then out into the corridor in a bid to find something to calm the red haze currently framing her vision. How dare he?! Her mind raged. How dare he lecture and preach and parent and then turn around and... She knew he was sick, but it was an issue they shared, and she hadn't gone and jumped Vincent now had she? At least, she thought a tad irrationally, not yet She hadn't even bothered to change out of the clothes she'd opted to study in. Pulling the hood up, she paused a moment. There were only so many places she could go. Curfew was fast approaching, and even as a Prefect, she only had so much freedom.

She felt it then, like a solid presence in her mind. She wanted to go find Vincent, to pour out everything and have him help her work through this mess. She was so angry at her brother, but she was hurt too. How could he have let things get this bad without at least letting her know something was up. He hadn't gone to her though, he'd gone to Lilli instead. Whether that was entirely true or not, that was the way she felt, and the hurt was like a fist repeatedly pounding in her head and twisting her stomach. Too mad to cry, she had to resist the urge to stomp to where she more or less knew the Slytherin common room to be. When she arrived, she propped herself on a far wall and fidgeted restlessly. The first Snake to come along was going to get a first hand impression of what a truly infuriated Hufflepuff looked like. She didn't have to wait long for a second year boy to arrive. She hated to pull rank, even at a time like this, but she didn't have another way, other than to owl him, and that would take too long for her liking.

"You!" The second year jumped a foot as though he'd been caught doing something naughty, she wondered at the guilty reaction and then chalked it up to his being young naturally dispositioned to sneak about. "Yes, miss?" So he was a polite Snake. Feeling slightly guilty, Keela's tone and expression both softened somewhat. "I need to see Vincent Silver-Moon, right now. Tell him its Keela Summerby...and tell him its important." She had no doubt that her simply seeking him out this time of the evening would be enough to communicate that fact, but she wanted to be sure. After a moment, she added: "Please." Merlin deliver her from the gossip this would inevitably cause, she just couldn't find it in herself to care.

The boy nodded, dashing off, and Keela couldn't help wondering if he'd actually do it. It would serve her right after being so harsh with him to be left standing in the corridor, but she hoped not, she couldn't afford it right now. Her emotions were piling up, a dark mix of anger, betrayal, sadness, and vulnerability swirled in her brain and her stomach swam. The symptoms of her own struggles with SAD, which up to now she'd been trying desperately to stave off, were surrounding her, overwhelming her until she felt the blood drain from her face. Clutching the stone for support, she stood erect and waited.

[Shava]

There, laying on a couch in the common room was Vincent, relaxed with a book up on his chest. It was a text on unusual statues and transfirguration variations and was actually rather good reading for one who was thinking it would be a lifelong attraction. Behind him in the room two Slytherin seventh years were giving a fourth a rough time, threatening Peeves attention in particular and the boy was literally shaking in his shoes. Around the room a few others were either reading or playing wizard chess, but secretly listening in for the amusement value.

He wasn't sure what a career would be but honestly, he was good with transfiguration and especially with inanimate objects. Where that might head, he had no idea, but it certainly had his attention indeed. He was mid way through the section on stone work when something happened which cued in half the room something interesting was happening.

A second year darted in from outside nearly tripping off the steps, glanced around and then (as Vin looked up wondering what was happening now) made a beeline for the couch where Vincent was. Eyebrows raised, he didn't miss the flushed look on the boy's face and his gasped out "Summerby in the hall, girl, says it's important." Vin sat up, surprised. "Blond? Asking for me?"

[/color] The boy managed a nod and Vincent was up with the book in one hand and headed for the stairs in an easy move, not rushed.

As he went up the steps he wondered why she would seek him out. Had something happened, some emergency somewhere? When he exited the dorm door he saw her almost immediately and nearly stopped in the doorway; she looked...angry. Stepping to her he said quickly "What's up? Something wrong? I've never seen you look quite that way, Keela..." In fact it was darn disturbing really seeing her that way, not the Keela he was used to at all.

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[Shava]

She'd had her eyes closed to stave off the dizziness, and the sprang open when she heard his footsteps. Knowing she must look like she was ready to hex him on sight, she strove to relax her face. Reason was being clouded by emotions she rarely experienced, there was a heat in her blood that had very little to do with lust. Was something wrong? That was certainly putting it mildly. Her voice was lower than normal, tinged with the edges of her earlier fury. Still, speech failed her, and with a soft, frustrated, sound, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him as though her life depended on it, not caring for the public setting or the gossip that might result. She felt ill, seriously so, but the hospital wing was the last place she wanted to be. "Vin...I...Cern...they..." She couldn't get her thoughts straight. "Can we go to the room of requirement, please?" The anger was fading now that she'd found him, and its place came the sadness, the sense of having been betrayed, and the subsequent weakness that came of the overwhelming combination of tumultuous emotions.

When they'd made it, Keela wasn't sure what to ask for, but she hoped the room would sense what she needed. Unwilling to make any more of a scene than she'd already caused, she waited until they were inside to speak. The room had a look very similar to the suite she and Vin had danced in, only the coloring was different. There was a fireplace, against one wall, and near by a large couch that looked more welcoming than Keela could resist. On the far side of the room sat a bed, large and intimidating. Keela wondered why the room would have presented that, but then thought maybe it might be better to sleep here rather than have to face Cern in the morning. She could always send Vincent back with some made up line about how she'd already taken points.

For the moment, however, she ignored the bed entirely, crossed to the couch and collapsed. The room had begun to spin, and her legs wouldn't support her anymore. Taking a deep breath, she spat it from between her teeth. "Cernenus and Lilliane had sex." She trusted him to keep her confidence, and besides, if she didn't tell someone she might implode. "After all the lectures about being careful and not getting too attached and guys wanting only one thing...he slept with her." The red haze was coming back, and she was shouting. "I didn't even hear it from him! She came running to my dorm after it happened, begging me not to hate her." Keela's mood swung again, and she blinked back tears.

"It just happened, and I don't hate her...but I'm so bloody pissed at him I could hex him!" She felt enveloped by a heavy weight she recognized well. Feeling as though she might throw up, she laid out on the couch, breathing deeply. She hadn't told him yet either, she knew, but she bloody well hadn't slept with him! "He's such a bloody hypocrite!" She didn't mention his SAD or the role it had played. To tell him about her brother's condition might mean she had to admit to sharing it, and she wasn't ready for that yet. She would rather he thought she was crazy than stomach his pity just now.

Sitting up, Keela gave him a desperately vulnerable look that was very uncommon to her when she was in a right state. She couldn't think about that now, all she knew was that she felt broken, and she wanted someone to pick up the pieces. "Can you...will you just hold me for a minute?"

[Shava]

To say he felt taken aback would have been an understatement. This was out of character for what he was used to from her, but maybe this was one of those things he had to adjust to with dating her. Nodding, he slipped the book under his arm and reached out a hand for her, feeling if he was going to accede to requests he ought to at least be getting something for it, right? Holding her hand they went to the top floor and turned for the room; only then did he release her hand. After the three passes, they entered without her speaking yet and once inside his eyebrows rose again wondering what this was about. The bed in particular was a surprise extreme, though the room itself was about what he might have expected her to be looking for otherwise. As she threw herself down onto the couch and spoke, he felt a bit of shock. "But they just..." Damn that brother of hers was fast! "They barely started dating like two weeks ago!"

Clearly the boy knew little about keeping up a long term relationship or felt he could make it on dreams and promises. Foolish, Vincent thought. Following that thought was why was she telling him and what business of it was hers. He sat down on the couch beside her, setting his book down on the arm of the couch which was over-plush. "Wow, you all were that close?" He doubted Char would be happy with him if he had done that after his first girl. In fact, he had waited exactly a week then mentioned it as if bragging to which they had immediately entered an verbal competition comparing each other's skills, but he knew their relationship was not one shared by most. Char, like her mother, had few physical boundaries in her head and could be very descriptive. "I don't think I would have told my sister the same week much less the next day, but could this be because of him trying to talk you out of seeing me maybe?"

It most assuredly was, he thought, but didn't voice the opinion on that part. By then when she gave him the look he wasn't expecting anything typical from her anymore in this conversation and just turned his body to face her the arm of the sofa behind him and held his arms open for her. When she got to him he folded her inside his arms and stroked her hair with one hand saying softly "I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you by doing so, lovely...There has to be another explanation." The intensity of her emotions was so different then he had expected from her, usually she was very strong and reclusive with information; this was an entirely different side he had never seen!

[Shava]

Keela sighed, now that it was off her chest. The red haze had begun to clear, raising into a sitting position, she raised her arms so that she could rub her temples. Glancing up to meet Vin's eyes, she spoke softly. "Vin, I need you to promise me that whatever I say in this room is between us. I can trust you, can't I?" When he gave her the affirmitive, she took a deep breath. "Cern has Seasonal Affective Disorder. He battles a pretty intense form of depression when the weather changes. In his case, when it gets cold." She bit her lip. "He didn't warn Lilli ahead of time, so when she caught him in one of his moods, she panicked. My guess is that he wouldn't have denied her even if he'd been thinking clearly, but he wasn't, he was sick." Funny how explaining it to him also put it into perspective for her. Frowning, she lowered her head so that she could focus on the carpet. "The doctors, both magic and muggle, think its related to some sort of malfunctioning gene. It must be since...well, I have it too." She concentrated on her desire to bore a hole through the floor. "We don't know about the younger ones yet, but Cern and I both go a bit...moody when the weather turns cold." She shrugged, trying for off-handed. "It balances itself out in the spring." There was a lot more she could tell him, about triggers and symptoms and such, but she left it for a moment so he'd have time to process. "That's why I'm so out of sorts right now." Well, it wasn't the only reason, but it was the reason she'd nearly taken that second year's head off a few minutes ago.

She felt the urge to be angry, pulsing like a heartbeat in the back of her brain. For the moment, she just felt sad, heavy, as though there was a darkness she couldn't find her way out of. She knew it would pass, it always did, but for the moment, she felt lost. "We used to be", she muttered, sounding almost bitter. "Apparently he's outgrowing the age when he needs me to confide in." Which, on some level, she knew to be the natural order of things, but it didn't make it hurt any less, and his timing was impeccable as always. Glancing up at him in surprise, she thought about it. "Maybe", she conceded. "I hadn't really thought about it." In retrospect, it made sense that he'd need time to come to terms with himself before he tried to gloss it over for her. He wouldn't want her to worry, just as she tried to protect him. He had a right to his own life, it just upset her that he was growing up so suddenly and so fast. "I guess I just can't help feeling like he's a bit of hypocrite, you know? After all the hassling he pulled all summer, and then he turns around and does something like this." The anger pushed to be at the forefront of her mind.

She went willingly into his arms, stretching her legs out and relaxing against him. When he began stroking her hair, she closed her eyes, feeling some of the tension ebb slowly. Releasing a deep, relaxing breath, she nodded against him. "I think maybe he was trying to protect me, trying to keep me from worrying too much. It seems like something he'd do." He obviously hadn't counted on Lilli's need for full disclosure, the thought pulled at the corners of her lips. "I'm sorry, I probably gave you whiplash just now." She was just as guilty as her brother in that regard, for not telling him sooner. "I...might do it again...I can't promise..." She frowned, though her face was turned away from him. "I don't really know what my triggers are." Stress was a big one, but what sort of stress was a mystery. She reached for his other hand where it rested, turning it palm-up, she traced the lines absently with her fingertips. "I think the bed appeared in case I wanted to spend the night here", she felt the need to explain. "I don't really feel like facing the world tomorrow." It was a Saturday, so she might just hide out here indefinitely. Raising his palm, she pressed her lips to it before relaxing again. "Know what I mean?"

The level to which she was beginning to feel comfortable with him was startling, but not unwelcome. He cared, and all she really needed right now was someone to care.

[Shava]

Could she trust him? Of course! Like he was going to tell her secrets; no, those were for him alone to savor. "Oh Keela, of course you can trust me. What's between us goes no further, okay?" The description of the issues seemed an odd one to Vin. "So he turns depressed? Is that all of it or is there something more about it?" Why that would be-- ah ha. Once she explained it made much more sense. "I think I understand then. He probably hadn't noticed it starting up so forgot about it cause he was distracted by her, she though he was upset with her so tried to show him how much... Yeah I think I understand that."

Any girl who took off her clothes for you was hard to resist, he had to admit. How could he use this to his own advantage with Keela? She certainly was upset with her brother and turning to Vincent she showed how much more centered she was with him. Was this the time the two would stop being so close and he could step into that spot with her? "Oh, so you get just depressed too? Cause you seemed rather...well, off more then just depressed. Have they found a counter yet. something the Healers do for you?" She confirmed he would have a chance to get deeper in her confidence and he had never thought he could thank her brother for pushing her into his arms!

Enjoying her in his arms h noticed her weight was negligible against him and pleasant in the extreme. As she traced his palm he said to her "Look, Keela, guys have...well, an urge in their instincts, like a drive to have kids. Constantly on their mind. Sex comes up to the mind about every four seconds which is why they are always anxious to get girls alone and naked." He shrugged, knowing he was telling her something anyone could confirm who was male so no secrets there. "Some of us are better at hiding it then others, but I have more experience being around women then I think your brother does."

He cleared his throat; this was the trickier part. "What I'm saying is that if she initiated anything, most guys would go along with that without too much thought. It's kind of hard to resist when it's something your body is screaming at you to take every single minute of the day. I don't think it's entirely his fault, though he should have tried to hold back." She admitted she didn't know if she would do it again or what her triggers were. Triggers? As long as they weren't him he'd manage somehow. "Heh, I wondered about the bed. If you want me to stay here on the couch, I can. Promise," he held up his hands in self-defense, "I know how to keep my hands to myself."

Knowing her issues would help him though in keeping control. As she kissed the palm of his hand he felt a slight thrill; he really had won through. She was beginning to use little endearments like that to show her appreciation of him and that was a BIG sign to his mind! His mood turned upwards dramatically.

[Shava]

He made an annoying amount of sense, and she raised up slightly so that she could look at him. "It manifests different ways, here lately I've just been really confused, depression hampers your ability to control your emotions, and mine just sort of...got the best of me." She sighed, "mum and dad have looked into it, but short of putting us on muggle anti-depressents four months out of the year or keeping us stocked up in pepper up potion, there's not much to be done for something like this." She wasn't really a fan of what she perceieved as having her emotions reigned in and controled by a substance, any substance, it just wasn't livable to her. "It isn't normally this intense, at least, not for me. Cern can get into these moods sometimes that take a few days to wear off, but I think its mostly that what he's going through right now is new for him, just like it is for me. We wouldn't know how to handle these issues if we weren't dealing with anything else, so anything else makes it that much tougher." She felt like herself again, maybe even better. The warmth of the fireplace radiated in the room, sinking into her pores and relaxing her muscles.

Turning so that she could give him a sardonic look, she felt the need to rebuff his statement. "I don't think my brother had kids in mind, and I doubt you did either." She didn't like bringing up his history, didn't like thinking about it, but in this case, it was a fair point. "Oh Merlin, I hope they remembered to..." she didn't want to even consider it. "You don't think they'd forget the contraceptive spell do you?" She wasn't sure her brother even knew it, and she wondered if Lilli did. The blood drained from her face. "Surely..." but that was as far as she got before she had to change the subject. Thankfully, he distracted her a moment later, and she grinned up at him. "So", she rolled over so that she was laying on top of him, propped up by her elbows. "What you're saying is that If I were to 'initiate' something", she quoted his words, "you'd be unable to resist?" She was teasing him, mostly. The fact was she had an insatiable curiosity for most interesting subjects, and this one proved no exception. "Every four seconds?" her tone was disbelieving, "Really?" She grinned at him. "Well, we're already alone, but good luck getting me naked." She grinned cheekily at him. The mention of his experience deflated her bravado a bit. However, not to be outdone, she tilted her head and smiled. "So, you hide your desire to have sex in fear of what? Scaring everyone to death?"

She was hovering over a dangerous line, not really knowing what was on the other side of it but desperately curious to find out. Flirting was a mostly foreign concept to her, but she wanted to regain some of her emotional balance, she wanted to off-balance him.She smiled at his defense of her brother. "Maybe it wasn't", her tone was soft, "his fault I mean. Its like you said, its instinctual...natural." The logical part of her brain was screaming at her to shut up, roll back over and obliviate the last couple of minutes from his memory, but she'd had enough of feeling out of control, she wanted the upper hand for once. When he offered to stay, she smiled, simultaneously touched and unnerved. "We'll...see what happens." The statement was less sultry and more resigned. "Cern might kill me if he found out neither of us were in bed in the morning." Actually, he might give killing Vin a good solid try. "You don't have to sleep on the couch..." she let the sentence hang, and then grinned. "I'm sure the room could produce another bed if we needed it to...we've already stretched its limits far beyond that anyway." She was toying with him, or doing her best to do so. All the while, she wondered what the bloody hell she was playing at, she was smiling up at him. "Besides, if you stayed, what would we do all night?"

[Shava]

He could understand the resistance to being under the influence at the same time the idea of getting her 'potioned-up' seemed an advantage in some ways. Still, he'd rather have her clean of influence when she had their children. So no easy solutions then, he'd have to investigate the issue more later. he nodded at her explanation, making a noise to say he was following and thinking about her words as well. He was able to laugh quite easily at her next comment however. "No I doubt he was, but that's what's behind the instinct which drives us, trying to guarantee another generation."

Her thoughts about the spell made him give her a look as well. "How would you even ask? Its embarrassing enough for you I suspect to even approach the subject with him, but the spell too? Maybe you'd better leave that one alone" She needed distracting so he provided it but his explanation seemed to simply send her down a dirty path in her mind, something he certainly had not expected! "More like I'd put up some resistance, but it would be hard to maintain it a long time. A woman you love being interested in you that way is a moral temptation," he smiled at her, amused at the question.

Was she flirting with him? Really? His smile grew wider and his mind shifted in a new direction, not one he had thought of till now as being any time soon. "Is that a challenge, getting you naked? Something tells me you shouldn't be willing to challenge me to something like that." He ran a hand across her cheek and then down her neck, just his fingertips barely brushing her skin to let her feel the sensation. Vin laughed out loud at her other comment. "Not scaring, no, it's called being a gentleman, something my father has stressed many times."

He did frown slightly for a moment before he continued. "having him near by is a ...reminder of what he expects." The direction she continued heading in however was what he considered a dangerous line of thought for his self control for sure. "It's very natural, trust me. It's why I promise you I would keep control till you were ready, I don't want you to feel pressured..." But wasn't that what she was hinting at doing to him? The though of her brother out to kill him amused Vin and bothered him at the same time. He'd have to defend himself and quite likely lose Keela at the same time; in that way her brother would win anyway.

Damn it.

"I doubt anyone in my house would tell him a thing so he wouldn't hear it from my side." The idea of her already being interested in getting back at her brother by sleeping with Vincent, the guys Cern had been arguing with her about for a year now hadn't occurred to him before. His eyes grew wide and his hand still where he was running it down the side of her neck, searching her eyes for seriousness before she mentioned a second bed. His voice might have had a note of strain in it as he chuckled weakly and added "Tease. I think I was offering the couch and meant it. I doubt you want to think about me in a bed within reach of you while you slept yet." Wow, she was really feeling her oats! "Oh I'm sure I can think of something. I'd rather follow your advice and play it by ear anyway, see where things lead..."

[Shava]

His knowledgeable tone amused her under the circumstances. Only Vin would try to pass off his baser instinct to sleep with any girl he found reasonably attractive as a drive to further the species. She laughed softly though, in spite of herself, giving him credit for trying. She shrugged, "even some animals are capable of mating with one person for their entire life, eagles, emperor penguins, its not that miraculous a concept." Realizing she was being defensive, she changed tracks. "Besides, I'm fairly certain men would want sex the same way whether there were children to come from it or not." She couldn't be positive of that fact of course, she'd have had to ask someone for details she wasn't comfortable hearing. Brushing the back of her hand across her forehead, she realized she was sweating. Grining wickedly at him, she sat up, pulling the hoodie over her head, pulling her shirt up slightly as it went to reveal the majority of her midriff. Tossing it over the side of the couch, she stetched out again. "Much better."

She gave him a horrofied look. "I hadn't planned on asking", she assured him, remembering Cern's reaction when she'd brought up the subject of sex, even in passing. She shuddered, "I just hope everything will be all right for them, that's all." Her brain was spiraling with thoughts that both intrigued and terrified her. Was this what her brother dealt with every day? In that case the kid was a bloody saint! She nodded understanding, the feeling of being wanted in ways more than just the physical did help a bit in cooling the heat coursing through her veins, but not much. Focusing on his face, she traced absent patterns on his arm. "I've never been called a temptation before", she laughed. "I think I'll consider it an achievement." He was giving her an amused look, and she couldn't resist the urge to pout. "What's so funny?"

She shrugged one shoulder in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner. "I know better than to challenge a Slytherin, but then, I think I could resist you." She sounded more confident than she felt, and it amused her to think that the sensations currently coursing through her nervous system were very similar to how she felt diving on a broom. In the case of flying however, she knew how to pull out of a dive, in the case of Vincent Silver-Moon, she only hoped he wouldn't let her plummet farther than she could recover from. She closed her eyes at his touch, tilted her head. "Mmm" the sound rumbled from somewhere in her chest which she'd hereto been unaware of. Her eyes slid open lazily, and she blushed, biting her lip. "Sorry." She smiled up into his eyes, looking more like herself. "Being a gentleman is good", she agreed. She rolled around far enough to kiss his cheek as though giving up on trying to influence him. "I can respect that." She settled back into her place in his arms, squirming a bit until she found a comfortable angle at which she could both see him and watch the fireplace.

She nodded, having momentarily forgotten that his father was currently present in the building somewhere. "I bet that could be a heck of a mood killer", she grinned. "I don't know what I'd do if mum or dad were here every day." She'd change schools, that's what she'd do. She loved her parents, but the idea of serving detention with one of them didn't bear thinking about. Pressured? Not by him, but the hormones charging through her were a different story. She wasn't even sure what they were directing her toward, or how to ask if she had been. All she knew was that all of the sudden, without so much as a warning, her body felt as if an entire portion which had previously been disabled had come to life, bringing with it an entirely new set of wants, needs, and reactions she hadn't previously been capable of. If she survived it, she was going to kill him for it. "You're not pressuring me, Vin...at least...I don't think you are." She frowned, wondering. "Are you?"

He had a point, though Keela could easily see it falling through the gossip channels. She'd probably already turned heads going in search of him minutes before curfew, she could only imagine what would be said if neither of them reappeared before morning. It was just talk, she reasoned, but she didn't want Cern to get detention for beating someone up to defend her honor, it was just the sort of chivalrous stunt he'd pull. She could tell she'd shocked him with the couch comment, and her she grinned gleefully. "Almost had you there, didn't I?" In more ways than one... she couldn't help thinking, and the thought ressurected a remnant of her previous caution. "Tease?" she widened her eyes at him innocently. "I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to tease you, Vin." Though at the moment she was seriously giving 'making it up as she went along' her best shot. Processing what he'd said, she shivered. Whether she wanted to think about it or not, it was probably in her best interest not to. None the less, an image of tangled sheets and heavy breathing had her reeling. Striving to regain her calm, she pointed out: "I'm fairly certain if we wound up in bed together tonight, it wouldn't be for sleeping."

It was true, unnerving, but true. She tried to remind herself about all the warnings her mother had given about how painful the first time could be, even in the best of circumstances, she forced the logic into her addled brain, intent on chilling her ardor, but one look at the way Vincent's eyes were smoldering, and she forgot just as quickly every well meaning piece of advice her mother had ever spoken. She leaned up and kissed him, slowly, tentatively, revealing her own insecurities about the newness of it all, she was trusting him to lead her, certain she was incapable of logical deduction for the foreseeable future.

[Shava]

Despite the fact he knew he had the right facts about where the drive for the furthering of the species came from, she shrugged off his comments not putting much value in them. A trifle irritated at that, he was very much distracted when she removed her sweatshirt and revealed the shirt she was wearing which was quite possible designed to drive men mad. Vin, never having expected such an article on her realized he was instantly too warm and sweat appeared on his brow. Combine that with her making drawing motions on his arm and lying on him and Vin found himself aware of several changes happening in his body causing his mind to shift gears again.

Giving him a kiss, she turned slightly and Vincent was reminded that girls had no idea how sensitive that part of the body could be sometimes. A slight tug on his pants as she moved made him fully aware of how his body was reacting to her and he tried to get control back over his desires. Sliding his hand back over her neck he settled on the back of her neck and slowly began rubbing there, wanting her to relax. If she did maybe she'd stop setting off the reactions she was. "Nope, I don't want you to do anything you feel you're not ready for." Not that he didn't desire it very much right at that moment, but he knew his best chance of keeping her involved being able to hold out long term was for her to get hooked first.

"Wouldn't know how to tease?" He gave her an incredulous look surprised she could fool herself into believing that. "Let's see, lying on me in a skimpy shirt hinting at playful jokes involving self control on my part? I'd be stupid if I didn't point out my dear Keela that self control is needed on both sides for this to work. That's why I said you were in contr--" She kissed him, not in a slow or speedy desire way, but hesitantly, tentatively as if she wasn't sure what to do next. Without thinking (and partly on automatic), Vin kissed her back moving from tentative to desiring to deep as his hands ran up and down her back. By the time he tried tongue with her a few moments later, she was deeply wrapped up in the make out session and so was he!

When the moment was right (and going by experienced timing, not by thinking) he kissed his way down her throat and nibbled in the corner base of her neck, feeling her lean more into him as his hands cupped her rear with a stroke and squeeze. At the sound she made he made his way back up to her lips for another round of loosening up and was still using roaming hands when his mind suddenly snapped back to reality and what he was doing and who with! he had spent a year now planning this out and the plan was working; if he continue this way knowing her she'd bolt for good, scared of what he caused her to act like! His eyes snapped open, his mind argued against sanity and screamed against logic and he broke the kiss (though he did not pull back yet), breathing deeply and heavily, finding the peek of emotion a hard one to stop. His pants were painfully tight and by the look upon her face (and her shirt askew, not to mention her pants undone at the front some; when the hell had that happened?) she had been deeply there with him, a touch of what real desire was burning in her eyes.

"Circe's" his eyes fell to her shirt and then snapped back up closing them quickly "ah...Keela, I'm...sorry...you kinda...pushed all my...buttons at once..." Breathing heavy, he slowed down as he got more air in his lungs gasp after gasp between words. His face was flushed, his eyes slowly getting less intense as he got control back. His breath was still hot but he wasn't going to do this cause he'd lose her he was certain. "I want you, so much, and there's...nothing I would like more then to do it right now...But I think you'd hate me for it tomorrow...and as much as I desperately need you" his words were filled with emotion, clearly meaning how much he did "I want you as mine forever more then just now. So I'd better stop."

At least now (a part of his mind still capable of rational thought pointed out) she understood more about what emotions were felt at the moment of passion! It was then he realized what his hands were still gripping (and how nice she felt) and he quickly let go and slid them back up to her waist, his face flushing a bit more. "My M-merlin's beard, you were about to take me over the edge of no return. In about five minutes I'm going to hate my own guts for stopping I think."

[Shava]

She could see the irritation warring with his normally warm expression toward her. The way she'd brushed off his beliefs about guys hadn't gone unnoticed, and was obviously not appreciated. Still, he didn't broach the subject, and she snuggled into him, attempting distraction. She was so focused on drawing his attention, that she neglected to notice her own emotions climbing again. The darkness was fading, losing hold quickly in the face of new sensations. His reaction to her undershirt surprised her, since she generally considered it a comfort piece. Well loved and worn often, it hung loose, sliding off of one shoulder and just barely skimming the tops of her jeans. Still, she was pleased to have affected him so, becoming aware that she was able to do so did wonders for her confidence.

When he started rubbing her neck, she tilted her head down, all slightly, allowing him better access. "That feels really good..." her tone was relaxed, almost sleepy. It was a trick her mother had used when she couldn't fall asleep as a child, and the wave of comfort came, warm and welcome, turning her muscles to liquid wax and her mood climbed even higher. She nodded, realized she was drifting, and raised her head again, blinking to pull herself from her stupor. She appreciated the sentiment, but at the moment her body was screaming that she was ready for just about anything. Intelligent enough to tell reaction from reality, she remained silent, grasping for calm in the storm of new feelings. "Its easier than I thought it would be", she admitted, "being comfortable with you." She turned her head, shifted her body slightly, and placed a soft kiss on the spot where his neck met his shoulder. "I like kissing you....", she observed, her tone contrastingly nonchalant to the look in her eyes. "I like it a lot." Still pushing him, unaware of the dangers of doing so, she was beginning to enjoy participating in this game. For most of their relationship, it had been cat and mouse, and well, the mouse was ready to give chase...at least for a few minutes.

The look on his face made her laugh, soft and warm. She glanced down at her shirt, surprised and analytical. "Skimpy? What's skimpy about this?" She motioned to herself. "It covers everything...well, everything except my shoulders." Keela gave him a cheeky sort of look. "I have self control, I'm proving it now, watch." She hadn't meant for the kiss to progress like that, but once it did, she was lost in it. Suddenly his hands were moving in a way they hadn't before, spreading warm heat down her spine and into her muscles, which felt as if they'd suddenly caught fire. When he attempted to take the kiss farther, she was surprised enough to let him. After that, she gave in, surrendering to the insistent burning that had spread from their lips and down, until she was wrapped so completely around him, pressed as closely as she could get.

When he began kissing down her neck, she clung to him, tilting her head, and shifting her hair to her other shoulder clumsily to allow him better access. When his teeth grazed her neck, she tensed for a moment, bit her lip, and then gave a noise that was half sigh and half moan. She'd never felt anything like the reactions he was drawing from her body. She shifted, working her way up onto her knees so that she was straddling him. His hands as they drifted lower, drew little notice, she was simply too consumed to care. When he broke the kiss, her eyes flew open. She was flushed, breathing heavily, her pupils dilated and her eyes wide. She made a disappointed noise almost on reflex alone. It took another moment for reality to sink in, for her to realize she could feel his reaction to her, and for the embarrassed blush to bloom in the tell tale way of innocence.

Noting his reaction, she glanced down at herself, realizing her state of undress, she hurried to right herself, yanking her shirt up from where it hung, almost falling off and shifting so that she could button her jeans. Though embarrassed, she was determined not to blame him, yes things had gone farther than she'd intended, but she had indeed pushed all of his buttons, and she'd done so willingly. Now she knew beyond all reasonable doubt how much he wanted her. The thought was a warm afterglow in the midst of her other emotions, the most pressing of which was embarrassment. Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes, blinked, willed her body to stop pulsing with a need for more than she was ready to give it. No such luck, her normally bright eyes were dark with a longing she was trying desperately to repress. Unable to string together a complete sentence, she let him speak, let him apologize, and then continued to listen as he elaborated.

She didn't doubt him anymore, Cern had been wrong. After all, if he'd wanted to take her to bed, he probably could have just carried her across the room mere moments ago, but he hadn't. Going against all his natural instincts, he'd stopped, and he'd done it for her, because he cared enough about how she'd feel in the morning. "Vin..." her voice sounded odd, her throat was dry. Clearing it, she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips to wet them. "Don't be sorry...please." She struggled to explain, not wanting him to think her silly or worse, stupid. "I had to know...that is, I wanted to know what would happen if...I wanted to see if I could be the one to affect you for a change." The word 'forever' registered beleatedly. "Forever?" She searched his eyes, "really?"

When he moved his hands, she realized she was still straddling him, and blushed shifting so that she was curled up in his lap, still facing him. It wasn't much better, but she wanted to be close to him just now, for far different reasons than she had a few moments before. She grinned at him, striving to lighten the tense atmosphere. "That's okay, for a moment there I hated your guts for stopping too."

[Shava]

The easy connection they had, which she expressed as surprise she found it so easy to get close, was certainly a strong one, a year in the building he surmised. All that time she had been avoiding him she had also been trying to ignore her reaction to what had happened and his expression placed in her mind at how thoroughly he could educate her in that direction. In a moment that was proven in a very convincing way, oddly enough right after a very unconvincing statement of "I have self control..." Well, when he broke away from her it seemed of the two of them he had far more control as she made a noise of protest and it took her another minute to realize his form had changed.

That blush might have been the most desirable thing he had ever seen on a woman before.

When she could speak again (somewhat better covered as well) she admitted it was her fault, pushing him the way she had. Vincent had one hand on her leg from where he had removed it from lower and he looked at her, peering as he regained his former control finally. "I trust you will not be tempted to try and fine tune your control cause I doubt that I could stop myself in the same place each time, you're too...desirable for me to." it was then, still flushed with the discovery of forbidden knowledge in her eyes that the word occurred to her. he nodded, totally sincere as there was nothing at all fake in this part or even hidden really. "I can't tell you how far back, but I've thought that way for awhile, Keela. If I thought you would accept a promise ring, I'd get you one tomorrow without hesitation."

He reached out and pushed her hair aside as she turned a bit, searching for a better spot. "Keela. I wasn't kidding when I said how special you were to me. I'm seeking someone for the long term. As in the entire future, not some short term relationship. I want this to work in the worst way, especially if you kiss me like that again!" he said attempting his own sort of humor. In truth, he thought in her face she showed knowledge she knew she wasn't suppose to have, details about his body and reaction to her as well as his deeper motivations. Maybe, even a touch of what power there was that Cern might have also been sucked into. Possibly she had even learned respect for what he and Cern also resisted normally and how much it cost Vin to pull away at the height of it all. He found his eyes on the top of her shirt, her bare shoulder just peaking out again, beautiful and sexy and had to force his eyes away to find her looking at him.

"What? Like I can resist looking and remembering what you taste like? Torture..." Despite her moving in his lap, his hands still rested on her legs, direct and in a spot she might have objected to before, but felt good now.

[Shava]

She felt the tension between them, but now that she could see clearly again, she also felt an intense relief. What had she been thinking? Had she really almost jumped into bed with him when she wansn't even officially dating him yet? Shamefully, the answer was an absolute and resounding 'yes!' Guilt washed over her conscious, pummeling her in waves of embarrassment and disbelief. Amazingly, even those feelings didn't overshadow the desire still balled in the bit of her stomach. She willed herself to stop blushing, but only seemed to flush darker. She'd set out to seduce him, and she'd very nearly bitten off far more than she could chew. Or, rather, she'd kissed and touched and...No! She officially took back every snide comment she'd ever made about people not being able to control their hormones, it was bloody difficult, that's what it was!

She had noticed where his hands ended up, more due to an intense awareness of him in general than to any real disapproval. It hardly felt necessary to criticize his hand placement now, especially given where they'd been earlier. Still reveling mildly in her new found powers, she grinned at him. "Tempted maybe...but I'll behave." She made a cross pattern over her chest. "Cross my heart." Too desirable? That was like saying there was too much choocolate, there simply wasn't such a thing. "I'll be good, I promise I wasn't trying to torture you, I was just...curious." It sounded somewhat lame under the circumstances, but was no less true. Promise ring? The concept held all sorts of meaning for Keela. Her mum had one, a gift from her dad at the beginning of their engagement, she still wore it on her right hand. Looking into his eyes, she had no doubt he meant what he said. Avoiding a direct answer, she pointed out: "I think that might be more of a third date thing, don't you?" Cern would go ballistic, those sorts of promises were taken very seriously in pureblood families. How ironic, Keela thought, that she who'd had no real intentions of going in search of a pureblood, now found herself in love with one, and a Slytherin no less. "Besides, you'd have to ask dad first, and that probably isn't something you should come out with right of the bat." After picturing her dad's reaction, she reconsidered. "On second thought, that'd be one heck of a way to break the ice."

The seriousness of his eyes evaporated the humor in hers. He meant to be serious, and she respected him enough to let him, out of her element as she was. She smiled, warm and almost glowing with his admission. "So...so it was okay? I wasn't sure...I mean, I didn't know if you'd like it." It was a vulnerable moment, one that had her feeling like herself again, all uncertainty and innocence. Mostly, she'd just followed him, something that, while she wouldn't admit it, she'd enjoyed doing very much. She caught his gaze as it shifted, and lifted her left shoulder playfully, causing the elongated collar to slip further down her arm, revealing the black strap of the undergarment he'd gotten an eye full over earlier. It wasn't as much a calculated move as a natural one. She smiled playfully at him before leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Well, I'll try to be good." It had never required actual effort before, but it was his fault for awakening her to the mess that was a teenager's drive, so he'd have to deal with her desire to explore a bit.

She pouted at him playfully. "So if you don't have to resist doing what you want, why is it I have to resist doing what I want?" She grinned cheekily. "That, love, is good old fashioned sexism."

[Shava]

Trying to hold onto the memory of this last few moments, Vin felt her legs under his hands and smiled; he wouldn't be forgetting the feel of her nor the way she reacted to his doing that! And now she felt she had to promise she would behave? "Well at least you understand now how I feel. Imagine how I felt when you kissed me that first time!" Maybe she hadn't understood what she had been lighting inside of him but surely she did now. A rueful face; "Maybe torture wasn't the word till I had to resist..."

Oh really, a third date? Then he could give her a ring? Well they had moved way past kissing, but often before someone got a ring they had already slept together at least once. That might make the second date very interesting! "Agreed, I accept your offer of a third date," he said with a grin, knowing that had not been her intention, but it was too fun to jump on. He'd have to think about what to do in a ring though. "Actually, a promise ring is only between the two people. To put an engagement ring on your finger then yes, I'd have to speak to him first."

Mentally he made a note he needed to send a letter to her father requesting a private meeting sometime very soon.

"Ha, more then breaking ice I imagine springing that on him would get me a broken nose." Her father in the pictures looked big, sawed off shoulders tough and probably wicked with a punch. Maybe he'd been a wrestler or something before he went into farming... Shaking his head at her still innocent sound he said "Keela...getting a reaction like mine should be considered a positive reaction you might say. I know you're still new to all this. Remember, I said I would help you along the way if you needed it." And what did she do in response?

She flashed shoulder at him and a bra strap!

"So I offer you help and you start teasing me again? Interesting reaction. I think you have some control issues I rather like..." he winked as he said it, teasing her back to some degree. She teased right back not letting go of her concept and he grinned at her; she was opening up a lot more, releasing that self-conscious embarrassment she had shown so much of in the past and he found himself liking that. Well, as long as it was for him that is. "Oh no, no, not sexism. Knowing what my reaction would be you do it anyway says you want me riled up again. That, my dear, strikes me as confidence which you have every right to have long as you realize what doing it too much will cause in me..."

Running his hands down her legs and patting them in a congratulatory manner he added "And it makes you even more beautiful then before, love..."

[Shava]

The fog had cleared gradually, and Keela felt like herself again, albeit a very frustrated version of herself. She ran through several less-than-appealing ideas: the idea of her parents having sex, mucking out the stalls for the llamas, it helped, but not as much as she would have liked. She made to shrug at him before catching herself. "I still don't see what the big deal was actually, it was just a kiss, not like I jumped you or anything." Like she'd just done, like she'd like to do again. She grinned at him, "I know what you mean", and she did. It was a new concept, entirely foreign and decidedly difficult, having to control these new urges. "Well, now I do at least. Thanks for the life lesson." It would have had to have come some time, she reasoned, but being in close proximity with him, knowing they had all night with no chance of being interrupted, well, that was torture.

She opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again. "That's not what I meant!" and at the amused look on his face, he knew it too. "I offered no such thing. Besides, we have to get through the second date first, and it might be awful", she laughed at the look on his face. "I'm just kidding!" She glanced up at him from under her lashes, "I don't think you're capable of being a bad date." She listened to his explanation, acknowledging he was right with a nod. "Still, it might be best if I wrote mum soon, before Cern gets the chance to beat me to it." Which he certainly would if Keela appeared with any sort of ring on her finger. The thought was almost amusing, his reaction to the idea of her being that committed to a Slytherin, and especially this Slytherin for some reason. She grinned, "listen to us, we're not even officially dating yet and we're talking about promise rings and engagements", which truth to tell was a bit overwhelming for her since she'd only just stopped completely avoiding the idea of dating him all together. "Maybe we ought to see what happens first." Speaking of that..."any idea what you're doing for Christmas hols?"

She knew she'd be going home, there would be chaos and cooking and decorations flying everywhere, the kind of atmosphere that Keela thrived in. Still, the idea of not seeing him for nearly a month brought back the edges of sadness that had recoiled in the face of her feelings for him. She laughed at his estimation of her father. "I've never seen dad break someone's nose, but then, I've never brought anyone home before either." Looking thoughtful, she considered. "I wonder if Cern will invite Lilli", she almost hoped he would, since it might pull everyone's focus from her. Though she was sure if she didn't bring up Vin, Cern would likely do it for her under the guise of being a concerned brother. She shook her head, "its going to be interesting, being home again." Smirking at him, something she rarely did, she pointed out: "I think your particular brand of help might be counter-productive to the whole self-control thing."

She grinned, "actually, that one was an accident. I wasn't really planning on tracking you down when I changed clothes earlier." That had come after Lilli had crashed into Keela's dorm. "I was studying for N.E.W.T.S, I wanted to be comfortable." The wink made her blush, a bit ridiculous under the circumstances, but in the face of everything, she still felt a bit shy about it. Meeting his eyes, she searched them. With a small smile she righted her clothing. "I have an idea", she admitted. It wasn't so much confidence as a burning curiosity. She wanted to know what he would do, but was cautious enough to hesitate before giving in to that desire.She marveled at the fact that his hands as they patted her legs, brought a flash of memory from before, when he'd been rubbing them in a very different manner. She closed her eyes, took a fairly deep breath, and opened them again. "You're going to be the death of me", and at that moment she was completely positive it was true. She smiled, "because you get to kiss me now?" she teased lightly,