[Open - Irish Coffee]

[detectivecontrary]

Levi had been enjoying the pleasant weather they were having lately, which had been a nice change after the storms of a week or so ago. It wasn't quite warm enough for him to switch away from his regular morning coffee, but it was getting there.

Sipping from his mug, he took another bite of pastry before checking that morning's news paper. Since Folly was relatively small, nearly everything was news. There wasn't anything too interesting though, nothing he didn't already know from work, so he folded it carefully and left it for the next person.

Taking a bite of his Danish, Levi leaned back in the booth and enjoyed the idea of a relatively relaxing work day.

Comments

[detectivecontrary]

"Well, I hope that reason is to make you very, very happy," Levi said, giving her a genuine smile. He was still going to find out what was up with this guy, but he did hope the guy turned out to be a good person.

"Also, you should take up yoga. Whatever it is you two are doing, you're the one walking funny this time."

[irishcoffee]

The hum that came from her lips was downright sultry as she remembered just how...yeah, she needed to stop that train of thought right now.

"You may be on to something there. Flexibility would be a definite plus."

[detectivecontrary]

"Oh come on," Levi said with a laugh at the look on her face. "You've got to give me something. Is it all kitty-style, whatever that is, all the time?"

Levi realized that talking about their sex lives was an odd way for them to remain friends. He wondered if years ago they had subconsciously done so in order to keep a sort of barrier between themselves.

[irishcoffee]

Maggie suddenly found the table very interesting. "He, ah, found out my little secret. And, ah, well, I discovered a few things, too."

She had hinted over the years that she sometimes tended towards submissive, but she wasn't sure how much she'd let slip about that.

[detectivecontrary]

"And what did you discover?" Levi asked, arching an eyebrow. If she was avoiding telling him right out then it had to be either really embarrassing or really dirty. Either one would be just fine with him.

[irishcoffee]

"I'm not just a little submissive after all," Maggie said, eyes still on the table top. "It was like nothing I've ever experienced. Ever. Being with him. The before, the during, but it wasn't just that. Not even close. I didn't want him to leave after. I wanted to stay in that bed, curled up and talking to him all night long. I hated when he left that morning. I still have his shirt and I wear it to bed now so it's like he's back there with me. And not for sex, not entirely. Just...just for him."

She chanced a peek up at him, gauging his reaction.

[detectivecontrary]

"Because you feel safe," he said, giving her a small smile as he reached over and squeezed her hands. He could understand how that was a huge draw for her, why she would want that.

"Because he's strong and will take care of what you want. It's something you don't have to worry about. You're so used to taking care of everyone, so someone that wants to be in charge of you... I get that."

[irishcoffee]

Maggie blinked at him. "Well, shit. Until you put it that way, even I didn't understand it. I thought I was just...strange. On the slightly kinky or perverted side. Like I was weak or something."

Her eyes were back on the table, her shoulder shrugging slightly before she looked back at through her bangs. "It was just so...freeing."

[detectivecontrary]

"You are strange and if my dreams of you are any indication, also kinky. But not because of that," he said with a shake of his head. Maggie had enough of feeling strange in her life, she didn't need to feel it over what went down in the bedroom.

"Lots of people who have a lot of control over things in their life go the other route when it comes to sex. When you have a partner you trust and feel safe with, it's an especially big deal."

[irishcoffee]

"How did we even get on this subject?" Maggie gave a little half-laugh, "and can we get off it soon? And I really, really don't want to know about what kinky things I do when you're sleeping." Her eyes widened. "Please tell me you don't talk in your sleep. Because I don't want Bella coming after me in a jealous vampire rage."

[detectivecontrary]

"Oh, I have a feeling you've been getting off quite a bit, Mags," Levi said, unable to resist as he flashed her a broad smile. She had practically walked right in to that one.

"And I don't think you have to worry. She was surprised to find out we hadn't ever slept together but, I think... at least I hope she knows, she doesn't have to worry about anyone else."

[irishcoffee]

She couldn't deny it, and she really, really didn't want to. Hell, she didn't even care that she'd walked into his joke. She was too busy trying not to freaking purr again. "More than I ever thought possible."

Maggie picked up her mug and blew warmth back into it. "You hope she knows? Love, that's danger right there. If you want to make sure she knows, tell her outright. Assumptions are only going to come back and bite you in your rather well-formed ass." She paused, grinned, "and not in the good way."

[detectivecontrary]

"I have made it clear to her, she just... doesn't accept things like that so easily, sometimes," he said, frowning a bit. Bella had trouble believing good things about herself sometimes. Levi hoped that, gradually, he could change that about her.

"She's seen herself as a monster for so long it's hard for her to see herself as anything else."

[irishcoffee]

"If anyone can convince her, it's you. You could probably convince a polar bear to buy air conditioning," Maggie smiled fondly. "Give her time, she'll see herself through your eyes eventually. Took me a while, but I got there, too."

[detectivecontrary]

"I am very charming and convincing, aren't I?" he said with a grin. If Maggie thought that he could get through to Bella then he was pretty sure that it could happen. He just hoped it didn't take quite as long as it did with Maggie.