Initial Plot 1 (Have We Met?)

She gazed up at the stars, they blinded her, her legs almost giving way under her. It had been ages since she wore anything other than loafers but tonight she was stepping out of her comfort zone, out of the life that disappointed her.

She inhaled deeply, trying not to slip, not to think. Amidst the speakers giving testamentary to an artist she never heard the only sound that echoed in her ear was the deliberate sound of her heels clanking on the floor. That seemed the only music her entire being was interested in.

She slid ungracefully into a stool at the bar. Her hands pulled at the hem of her dress in discomfort. Its length barely graced her knees. She cast a wandering eye, never in her twenty years of life had she ever solicited the gaze of so many people. It made her tense.

"Breathe Riley. It’s too late to turn back now," She muttered to herself as she sucked in air. She ran her fingers through her hair as she awaited her drink. Everything about her tonight was the opposite, her hair appeared nothing like the usual tangled waves, instead, the tendrils were straight, framing her face sultrily. Her face was pasted with makeup, which she always found a hassle. Her eyes were dark and mysterious, especially for a girl who held nothing back. Her lips appeared plump and emerged in bright red colouring.

Draven felt drawn, interested and perhaps a bit taken aback. It’s been a year since any woman was capable of interesting him. He was no saint and that led him to think that his interest was harder to spark when one was buried in work. Tonight he came to the loudest, most crowded club so that he could drown his identity in a sea of unknown faces. Yet he suddenly wanted to be seen. He'd been observing the woman with the tempting figure for two hours, from the exact moment she entered. She didn't seem sure, she was wide-eyed, her fingers clutching onto her purse, her steps lingering. He could have felt the intensity griping her and only when she slipped into a seat did he truly believe that she started to breathe again.

He smiled as she slowly began to relax, her body swaying to the melody as she sipped her drink. He prided himself a creature of instinct and that was what took over as his legs unfolded and he rose to his full height. He tugged at the collar of his shirt pulling his jacket into the crook of his arm.

Riley had resolved to give up. She was seeking revenge for being betrayed. She detested the stench of pity, of her being the 'poor' soul that had been cheated on. But it seemed, picking someone up at a club wasn't as easy as others made it out to be. Or perhaps, even with the makeup, clothes and the environment, she wasn't attractive enough.

She downed her entire drink about to leave. Her feet touched the floor, but her instincts called for her to gaze at her side. There were no thoughts fluttering around her mind she had been stunned by his gleaming smile and the way he gazed at her expectantly.

"Hi." his smile seemed to brighten. Draven was no fool, he was a highly trained assassin with a formidable IQ to boot. His instructors said he was a brilliant mind, and his mother lamented that he didn't use his gift for the betterment of mankind. That being he knew the effect he had on women. A pretty face and kind words excited them and he did not lack in that area.

"Hi." She breathed. Her eyes were unable to stray from this Celtic God.

"Leaving already?" he pretended to roam her features, the truth was he didn't truly wish to remember her after tonight. He thanked the dark atmosphere.

"There wasn't anything to interest me before." Riley replied boldly. Her feet planted firmly on the floor and Draven knew she had neither decided to stay nor leave.

"Is that so?" He smirked, "Do you..." he made sure to hold her gaze. "Do you want me to change that?" the smile had disappeared and Riley's breath caught in her throat.

Oh no, Riley. Breathe.

She swallowed hard, there really was no turning back. "Can you?" her voice came stronger than she felt.

"If you grant me the opportunity I will give it my best, but only you can be the judge," he said intently, his eyes smouldering. Riley felt her heart rate spark. she gave him a nervous smile.

Draven relinquished his seat, holding his arm out to her and she could no longer think. ]She breathed deeply taking his arm as he led her away from the crowd. Her vision blurred.

'Only you can be the judge' he'd said but Riley feared she hadn't the experience to judge. She was by no means a virgin, especially since she had been in a steady relationship for 3 years. Well, steady in her mind at least. But her ex was the first and the only. She had no track record in which she could compare experiences. But she was certain it couldn't be different. Sex was sex. It involved the same mechanism so then how could the experiences feel different?

"Are you certain?" their arms had unlinked as they stood in front of a door. His eyes drew her in, his body seemed powerful in the light and his features better than she remembered. She nodded not quite remembering how they got where they were. He pushed open a door, locking it after they entered.

Riley gazed around the room, its size seemed too small with his man next to her. She sensed him following her eyes move with his eyes.

Draven could sense her nerves, she hadn't even looked him in the eye since the door sounded behind them. "What can I do to make you comfortable?" he stepped in her line of view.

"Uh," she gazed around the room, contemplating what would break the awkward tension. "Skipping the small talk." She said, mustering all of her courage to regard him. He smiled at her as he stepped towards her, his hands cupping her face, pulling her face towards him. Again she forgot to breathe.

His lips smashed against hers. She was still, her hands clenching at her sides. His lips coaxed her, drawing her breath out of her, tempting her lips to respond and they did. Her body began to stir. She hadn't known she could feel so needy towards a stranger. Her hands buried into his hair, tugging slightly.

"Ahh," he rasped, pulling his lips away from her. For a second she thought he was going to complain instead he chuckled. His head nuzzled her neck, urging her to give him room. "I like your enthusiasm." he breathed against her neck, his tongue drawing heated circles. Riley's breathing began to increase as he trailed a line down to her collarbone.

She heard herself moan and felt the tingling pleasure that rushed through her entire body. His hand cupped her breasts as his lips met hers.

"I am going to take it all off." he rasped against her lips as his hands reached down to the hem of her dress, pulling it up and off her body. He removed his clothes as he pulled her towards the bed. Sat on the edge.

His face was millimetres away. "I need a minute." He smiled at her lips. His entire body was rigid and ready. From the moment he saw her in the bar he had wanted to taste her. He wanted to feel her body muddled with his. She was exquisite indeed, her waist-length hair giving her a Goddess image. Her body... he sucked in a ragged breath at the sight of her, her body was more tempting than he had initially expected.

He slipped the protective sheath on and smiled at the fact that she was trying to look only at his face. He found her shy embarrassment attractive, it made him feel all the more powerful.

Draven hovered over her, his lips following his previous trail on her neck, he felt her body squirm beneath him, her fingers pressing into his shoulders. He nudged her legs apart, his fingers making their way into her, testing her readiness. She was wet but ready? He wasn't so sure. He enjoyed a woman who challenged his skills.

His mouth caressed her breasts, her body arching against his. Riley swore she had never heard herself moan and gasp this much and yet his lips went further down. Her fingers entwined in his hair as he kissed her stomach, sliding a finger into her. His mouth went further yet, kissing and caressing the inside of her thighs.

He moved up to rest his body flush against her's pushing himself into her folds, his body shaking. He received some resistance, she had tensed up. His lips found their way to hers again.

"Just relax." He breathed and she nodded. He was bigger than she was used to and it scared her. He pushed again, this time she felt herself stretching to accommodate him. The discomfort soon turned into pleasure that she had never before experienced. He pumped into her, their breaths a medley of pleasure.

****************************

Riley wished that sleep would creep into her subconscious and take her into the world of darkness, but there was no such luck. Despite being exhausted, her body ached and she hadn't the strength to move. Her body instantly reacted to the loud thud that echoed through the tiny apartment she called home. It was the front door. She pulled the pillow over her face, annoyed that her body felt as if it was about to give up.

She rolled off her bed and dragged herself towards the door. As soon as it opened she was pulled into an impatient embrace.

"Oh, my baby, look at you!" Her mother dropped her bags on the floor, her hands being used to inspect the state her daughter was in. She led Riley back to bed, pulling the sheets over her.

"You should have come home!" Her mother had always been fragile, she felt her daughter's pain more intensely than her daughter.

"I am fine." Riley protested.

"Nonsense! I am sure you have been neglecting your health. I will stay with you until you get better." She inhaled deeply. "rest, I will prepare some food for you."

"Thanks, mom." Riley's eyes began closing; she was finally feeling at peace. The past week had been tiresome dealing with issues that Riley never thought she would have to face, especially alone, but with her mother beside her, her uncertainty and sadness floated away.

She awoke the next morning, her body feeling better than it had been the night before. The sight of her mother tidying up her apartment barely registered in her brain. "Mom, what are you doing?" she questioned, slipping out of bed.

"Are you hungry?" She completely ignored Riley.

"No. I just need to get a handle on the cases I need to read for my class this evening." She felt flustered, her heart going into panic mode. She hated leaving things for the last minute.

"Why don't you rest today instead?" her mother suggested.

"I am rested." she walked over to her mother and embraced her. "please stop worrying, I'll be fine."

Her mother nodded, patting her on the shoulder. "Perhaps if you had found a nice guy to take care of you while you're here, I won't be as worried."

"Mom!" Riley scoffed, walking out of her mother's embrace. "I just got out of a relationship, besides I don't need anyone to take care of me."

"Okay. Okay. I get it, I won't be nosy." She responded, but all she desired was for her daughter to be happy. Carter had broken her trust, and since then Riley hadn't been doing much other than drowning herself with work.

"Dear God!"

"What's wrong?" Riley immediately turned her attention back to her mother.

"Come look at this article in the newspaper." She said, drawing her daughter's attention to the missing persons' case. The article spoke of numerous students being missing, all of whom attended the same University as Riley and each a Law student. She hadn't even known that persons from her faculty were missing. This revelation was enough to fill her mind without room for anything else for the entire day. It was terrifying, especially since this series of abductions ran too close to home.

****************************

The effect was much greater than Draven anticipated. He smirked as he passed two students discussing the abduction allegations. His mind momentarily went off track as he spied her, perhaps it was time he learned her name. She still appeared pale and despite the heat, her body was covered in a drowning sweater. He paused, wondering if it would be wise to walk over there and insist she goes home to rest. He made one step in her direction--

"Mr. Thorn--"

His mind screeched to abort. He had to keep reminding himself that while he had an identity to protect he couldn't roam around freely. He would have to find another way to approach this siren.

"are you heading towards the seminar room for the meeting?" One of the female lecturers walked by his side.

"I am, but I seem to be a bit lost." he lied, attempting to appear nervous.

"I am heading there now, you can walk with me." She offered and he accepted. He had to admit, he was welcomed into the faculty warmly, well mostly by the female members of staff.

"Have you begun your tutorial sessions yet?" she questioned. Damn! He really needed to start learning the names of the women he interacted with.

He nodded in response to her inquiry. "My first session is the day after tomorrow."

"Impressive." She said. "I have never seen a new lecturer adjust so quickly." She praised. Draven tried to hide his smirk.

"If I am exceeding any expectations it's due to the aid of the faculty. Everyone had been patient and accommodating." He smiled charismatically.

Before she could respond the Vice Dean of the faculty entered, commanding the attention of the room. He apologized for the Dean's absence, she was away again. Draven vaguely paid attention to what he had to say, impatiently waiting for this to end.

He vacated his seat and made his way towards the Vice Dean, Nathan Black. He was mid-50s, sturdy and loved to intimidate. Draven could practically smell it on him. This was a man who craved power, only to be second to a female.

Most other members were already vying for his attention regarding the newspaper article.

"Is it true that these people all belonged to our faculty?" Ericka, who Draven believed was the criminal law lecturer, inquired. Everyone around the room waited for a response.

"When I saw the article this morning I did check the names through the faculty databases, and they were all students."

Draven pounced immediately on the technicality of the statement. "Were?" His eyes scanned the room lightly for any signs of a culprit.

"The reason our faculty never knew of such an incident is that those students have all been handed RTW's." He shrugged his shoulder as an act of brushing off the entire incident.

Draven found it difficult to swallow that every single one of those abducted students was given 'required to withdraw' notices. He kept this concern to himself. It seemed that the meeting proved to be a bust, he would have to search for clues elsewhere. This search proved more tiresome as days began stacking up. The hours he spent planning, teaching, and dealing with students making appointments to see him, kept him remarkably occupied. Although he did hope to see a certain student, especially after rummaging through countless faculty files to find her name, and illegally too.

Being avoided by a woman was uncharted territory for Draven. She was making him work for an interaction but he had a way of making her come to him. Riley Magner was already proving to be a delight. Draven posted the grades for the first assignment he had given, he mentally dared Riley to continue avoiding him. Who said the lion was incapable of luring the sheep into its den?

It wasn't that Draven was unprofessional, it was simply that he gave zero regard to the University's rules. His agenda prevailed, even if that agenda was still in the process of formulation. The only fact he knew for certain was that he needed to know where and how he had met the shy woman whose face kept haunting him.