The Start of Something More
Sulien rubbed his hands together and put them into his pockets to warm them up. His patience, which was never as close to a small pond, had already worn down to thin threads. He was tired of the events for the night. He looked around unhurriedly as he descended the steps leading to his car.
The sleek black mercedes was parked along the stone path a little close to the entrance of the grand ballroom. Grimm, knowing Sulien well, had preheated the backseat before he came down, the engine humming low. He opened the door and slid into the car, his body sinking into the warm leather as he leaned his head back.
He was just getting comfortable when the opposite door opened without warning.
It was Valeriya.
She didn't ask for permission whatsoever, but instead, stepped in like she owned the car. Her perfume hitting Sulien's nose, making him scrunch up his nose in reflex.
Although she came uninvited, Sulien didn't mind. Quite contrary, he was pleased she came as he knew she was going to make a move. He couldn't help but returning Valeriya's smile with one of his own.
"I was beginning to think you'd left without saying goodnight," she murmured.
Valeriya wore no pretense, she was the sort of person to go for whatever or whomever she was interested in without caring what anyone else thought. She looked at Sulien with seductive eyes, while tugging at her gloves one finger at a time.
Sulien smiled, his head sinking back to the car seat's head rest. "You came."
"What's this?" She shut the door behind her, "You knew I'd come? Does this mean you know what I'm here for?"
Her perfume was softer now, less harsh and intrusive, or maybe it was because Sulien had adjusted to the strong scent. His muscles relaxed. Valeriya leaned across to him and brushed a stray hair from the top of his forehead. He let her.
"You have a very composed face, Mr. Vargrave," she said softly, the name sitting on her tongue a little moment longer. "But even you flinched when my father said he'd consider your offer."
Sulien glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. "Did I?"
Valeriya nodded. "Just the smallest twitch. It was delightful."
Sulien scoffed like she was saying rubbish. But didn't agree nor deny it.
She leaned in closer, her fingers trailing from his forehead, to his cheek, to the back of his ear. Her long polished nails brushing slightly against his skin in mild provocation.
"You know, you were more charming as Mr. Vargrave,"
Her mouth was close, warm breath heating up Sulien's ear. Her tongue licked the corners of his earlobes teasingly.
Sulien's hand slipped to her jaw, tilting her face to meet his eyes. "Tell me something useful," he murmured, voice low against her lips.
Valeriya looked with wide eyes, then laughed, her eyes turning to crescents. She held the hand on her jaw and led it to the back of her neck, and this time Sulien let her lead. Their mouths met, tongue swirling together. Her red lipstick smeared against his mouth, one hand curling behind his head.
"I could make it easier," she said between breaths. The diamonds around her neck scattered light in sharp prisms. "Convince him to listen."
The kiss deepened, harder this time, and more impatient. The car windows fogged as the backseat was becoming a little too hot but they didn't care at the moment. It was as if the rest of the world had burned away, leaving just them.
Her warm and wet tongue brushed against his as her hands trailed down his body, to his thighs and belt buckle. She undid the buckle and buttons like she'd done it a thousand times, and grabbed a handful of Sulien's length. He said nothing, only pulled away and rolled down the windows to get some air.
He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, his eyes watching Valeriya who's head had already gone down to meet his hardness.
He leaned back and blew smoke as her red lips wrapped around him softly. Her mascara didn't smudge, her rhythm was slow and deliberate, with eyes locked on his the entire time.
Sulien inhaled deeply, his free hand weaving into her smooth, golden hair, guiding her in controlled up and down movements. He grunted as he blew another puff of smoke. She knew what she was doing, Sulien could give her that.
After a moment, he pulled her head up by her hair, not letting her or himself finish.
Valeriya looked up, breathless and a little confused.
He pulled Valeriya close to him and blew smoke to her lips, which she returned sucked up the smoke with her mouth. This made Sulien's eyes darken, his lips curving to an amused smile. He kissed her once again, tongues dancing once more.
"Tell me," he whispered, his hand catching a handful of her hair, "you'll speak to your father."
She moaned between kisses, her hand still stroking Sulien.
"Say it."
"Yes," she breathed, barely holding composure. "I will."
That was when he stopped. He let go of her hair and gave her one more kiss at the side of her lips before pulling her away.
"Good girl." He smiled.
Valeriya looked at Sulien, her eyes looked cloudy and her breath was still shallow, but she knew that what they were doing was over, at least for now. She didn't object, in fact, she liked the suspense. What they couldn't finish today, they most definitely will later.
She fixed her dress as she stepped out, then she looked back. "I'll speak to you later when I've convinced him. Until then, if you ever want more, you know where to find me."
She winked at him before walking onto the cobbled path without looking back. Her heels clicking sharply as she disappeared into the darkness behind the mansion.
Sulien, watching her leave, leaned back in his chair once more and re-lit his cigar that had gone off. He exhaled a stream of smoke and let his hand rest a little on the window frame.
For some reason, his eyes drifted across the courtyard, there he saw the familiar silhouette of a man. It was Snow, and he was looking straight at him.
There was no mask now, just the sharp pale features of his face under the cool wash of the moonlight. Natural slanted eyes flicked briefly from Sulien, then towards the direction Valeriya had gone in, then back at Sulien, catching him mid-smoke. There was no certain emotion behind his gaze, it was almost like Snow was casually glancing at them.
Sulien tilted his head to Snow in greeting, smoke curling lazily from his lips.
Snow's expression didn't shift, not a flash of annoyance, not even a frown. Just a slow, blank glance before he turned away and slipped back into the crowd without a word.
Sulien's lips curled at the edges, more to himself than anyone else.
He could hear footsteps approaching nearby. Grimm had come down, he was about to open the driver's seat when he saw Sulien's blank stare. His eyes flicked to Sulien's cigar, then to the direction Snow had gone.
"What's wrong?" Grimm asked, his voice even but not entirely casual.
Sulien tapped ash from the end of the cigar and hummed as if there was nothing. "Saw the kid I was talking to earlier."
Grimm's shoulders tensed just slightly, completely out of his control. His gaze swept subtly over the nearby walkways, as if checking whether Jamie was also close by.
Sulien's smirk deepened. "Relax. He wasn't with your new friend."
Grimm's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply. His guard dropped slightly.
Sulien dropped the cigar to the floor, then rolled the windows back up.
Grimm reappeared a moment later at the driver's seat.
"Drive," Sulien said folding his arms and closing his eyes. "Back to the estate. I need a bath."
The Author Has Something To Say
Sulien: I just saw my wife
Grimm (looking around nervously):
Sulien (grinning with evil intentions): Is that the Ainsworth boy?
Grimm (Turning around abruptly, getting ready to hide)
Michael:...
Sulien (Laughing uncontrollably)