[Open - Area Around Irish Coffee After Midnight]

[everywere]

I check all the locks and alarms again, even though I did that all on my last sweep. Routine is both an enemy and an ally. As long as I don't use the routine to become lazy and remain alert, it's my ally. Not that this place is a likely target but lack of vigilance is an enemy.

I can hear the training drilled into my head, even if I don't remember where and when it came from. Like everything else I know it's just there. No memory of how or why, just there.

I hear a sound, faint, but definitely there. No human could hear it, but then I'm not human. I don't know what I am, exactly, but I'm not human.

I sweep the flashlight back and forth, although I keep it on more to blind others than help me see. I can see perfectly in the dark, just like I can hear things a human shouldn't. I take a deep breath and I can smell that whatever it is, it's a human. Or at least smells similar to a human.

"Who's there?" I call out.

Comments

[irishcoffee]

Maggie's fingers were back on his chest, his arms, fingertips skimming the slightly raised ink. "Now you've got me curious. How do I smell?"

[everywere]

"Like... the mountain," I say, wondering how to describe it. Scents are hard to describe, almost like tastes. "Clean air, fresh earth, cool water and... almost like a campfire. And sex. And now like me."

I like that she smells like me and I nuzzle her again, a very cat gestures.

[irishcoffee]

"You're smelling my magic somehow," Maggie said, a little awed. "I can call the elements, draw power from them. It's why I don't wear shoes, or much at all that keeps me from connecting with them. I've never met anyone who could do that. They can sense my magic, but not the elements associated with it."

Then she smiled. "I like smelling like you."

[everywere]

I'm sure it's significant that I can smell her magic, but right now I can't care. This is all... this is all good. Normal. Better than I've ever had before. I'm a bit scared it won't last though. I don't have a lot to offer besides the sex.

"You'll probably smell like me for a while after this."

[irishcoffee]

"I'm not seeing a downside," Maggie laughed softly and turned to press a kiss to his chest. "If I fall asleep...," she said, half smothering a yawn against his chest.

[everywere]

"If?" I ask with a chuckle, because I can already feel her getting tired. I feel like I could sleep if I wanted, which is rare for me. I like this, the idea of sleeping, especially of sleeping next to her.

[irishcoffee]

"If I fall asleep," she said and stretched up to hunt along his jaw for his lips, "will you stay?"

Tomorrow she'd remember rules. Right now, this felt too good. He felt too good.

[everywere]

"You took the day off, didn't you?" I ask, arching an eyebrow before leaning my head down to kiss her.

Kissing her like this feels strange. No passion or heat, just... nice. Comforting. Feels more like I should be licking her.

[irishcoffee]

"For the first time in....ever?" Maggie said, nodding. "Texted my assistant when we left the shop that I wouldn't be in." After that, there wasn't anything but melting against his lips, against him.

[everywere]

I kiss her back, more passion this time but still not hard, not heated like before. That's okay, this is good. I can taste her, taste myself on her, and I like that. Oddly enough, it makes this seem less like just sex, even though part of me knows it's just sex. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[irishcoffee]

"One more question." Maggie said when the kiss broke for air, "and I promise I'll stop being a pest."

[everywere]

"Not a pest," I reassure her. Not at all. I like that she's asking questions, although I don't know that I have very good answers. "Ask all you want."

[irishcoffee]

"It's a simple one. I just wanted to make sure of one thing," Maggie slid up his body and went for his neck again, "you don't have a problem with waking up with a woman taking full advantage of a man's normal waking state, do you?"

[everywere]

"Hunnnnnnn."

Not eloquent, but all I can manage at the moment. Apparently that spot on my neck is very sensitive. Never knew that. I slide a hand down her back and grip her ass.

"Don't know. But doubt it."

[irishcoffee]

Maggie purred and settled right where she is, breathing him in, feeling all soft, sated and sleepy. "Maybe we'll find out someday."