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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 5:52:21 GMT -5
Katie chuckled hollowly. "I certainly hope so." She said as she leaned back in her chair. "You've been very kind to me, Mr. Masters. I want you to know i'm truly grateful." She reached out over the table to touch his hand as she spoke, and when she did she started, as she had done so without thinking, and startled, she looked up at him, keen to see his reaction.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 6:00:12 GMT -5
Gently he took her hand within his, then cupping it with his other hand. "It's been a pleasure my dear, if you need anything else do let me know.." Elliot smiled, his own action fueled by the alcohol and other underlying desires and drives. "You did find a place to stay didn;t you?"
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 6:05:50 GMT -5
Katie found herself leaning in towards him once more, but this time it wasn't an action she was controlling, rather it was controlling her, and it scared her. She paused. "Yes, thank you, it's modest but it will certainly do until I make a path for myself here." She smiled somewhat shyly at him, hesitating between what she wanted to do and what she should do. After all, she felt she could have trusted the man who had basically sold her into a life of slavery twelve years ago, she wanted to trust Elliot Masters, but age and experience and hard taught lessons prevented her from making a leap of faith. She bit her lip, and smiled apologetically at him.
"Mr. Masters, I've had a long journey and I think I may have overstepped my limits by trying to jump into work tonight... I think it may be best if I retire for the evening, so I can be fresh for business tomorrow.." She didn't want to go, but she was scared to stay, and so very confused...
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 6:10:21 GMT -5
Masters felt a pang of disappointment with her words but he was unsure as to why. Carefully he withdrew his hand from her and nodded understandingly. "You're free to go of course, The ride between here and Phoenix alone is a long one.. I surely understand that." he smiled, though wondering still where she was staying. "Though, do tell me.. Where are you staying?" Hopefully she was staying somewhere along Fremont, but if it was Paradise? well that was a slight problem in his eyes, but also an opportunity..
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 6:15:50 GMT -5
Katie hesitated once more, embarrassed to say... then shrugged. "Well, for tonight and probably the rest of the week, I'll be staying in some madame's establishment or another. In one of the rooms upstairs. It's a right nuisance, of course, being as it's also a place of business, but it's what I can afford at the moment and have I mentioned how grateful I am for such gainful employment?" She managed an amused grin as she stood.
She wondered if he would regard her any differently for the environment she chose to make her home, even temporarily. Little did he or anyone here know she was more accustomed to that environment htan any other, ahving spent half of her life in one brothel or another. Hopefully no one here ever would discover this.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 6:20:50 GMT -5
"I could have helped you out with a place to stay.." he responded quietly, but given what she'd told him, he knew all he needed. Elliot got up from his seat and picked up his hat. "I'll walk you 'home'" The way he said it left confusion as it was more of him stating a fact that he'd walk her home then an offer. Lost Haven was a rough town, especially along Paradise street at this hour. "The streets at this hour aren't safe for a lady such as yourself, unless you rather up your acomadations?"
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 6:27:22 GMT -5
It was sweet, really, such a gallant offer from a gentleman. She'd rarely gotten those, and when she did they were usually the guilty older men who felt bad for what they were paying her for. She felt the sincerity behind Masters' offer though, and although she was fairly certain she could navigate the streets of a small town such as this with little difficulty, she was happy to take his arm. "I will as soon as I can afford to, sir, but I am not looking to be beholdin' t'anyone.."
She didn't want to be rude, but it was very important to her not to accept favors. She wanted to work, honestly and on her own terms, for what she earned. Otherwise she was little better here than she'd been before. "Thank you for your offer, however, it's muchly appreciated I do assure you."
Ah! Such guilty pleasures, she considered to herself as she delighted in the strength of his arm against hers in such an innocent way, she allowed herself a moment of enjoying the closeness to another human and was surprised to find hidden hints of desire sparking inside her, something she rarely felt even in the most intimate of circumstances. Looking up at him in surprise, she smiled. "You're quite the gentleman, Mr. Masters." She said quickly, to cover her surprised reaction.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 6:34:06 GMT -5
"Why Thank you Miss Parrish." He said with a slight nod before leading her out of the bar and into the cool night air. Elliot Masters arm & arm with a woman wasn't unusual, often did he have the company of various women of different status around him and in that regard this felt no different. But he was still curious about her, though he had no underlying motives for her tonight. "It is a lovely evening if I do say so." He cocked his head back to gaze upward at the heavens, the sky appearing as black velvet with a scattering of diamonds strewn across it. "Though the view from the ranch is better I must admit.."
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 6:41:53 GMT -5
"You have a ranch, then?" She asked with mild interest, closing her eyes and letting him guide them both through the streets as she enjoyed the warm breeze upon her face. The noise in the streets was increasing as they crossed over towards the side of town where she would be staying, and unconsciously she stepped closer to him as they walked, opening her eyes again to look around. "Ye weren't jestin' about this lot, were ye now?" She said in mild wonder. She'd thought thugs in New York were bad...cowboys and miners and whiskey seemed to create quite a wild scene, there was a fist fight going on in one establishment they passed.
When they got to her door, she paused, tilting her head up to see meet his eyes clearly. "I do appreciate the escort, Mr. Masters. This is me, I'll be alright from here, I believe." Still, she hesitated, intensely curious about this man who kept surprising her.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 6:48:00 GMT -5
"A few miles outside of town." He explained as the noise from the more rowdy customers of Paradise street grew louder and louder. "And, No I wasn't." Carefully he stepped over the man as he continued his escort. "Paradise street offers every sin and vice you could think of with no need to worry about the local law, as long as they keep their killing and drinking down here? Noone cares." And that was an important nugget of truth she could take home, Lost Haven literally was split down the middle. But soon he was at her door, their eyes fixed on each other. "You're very welcome, but I do wish you could've accepted my offer.. You should be spoiled a little." He grinned a little as he unconsciously leaned in a little closer towards her, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation or reservation. "Atleast you could do is let me spoil you in other ways.." Softly he spoke, intending to tease her a little.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 6:57:05 GMT -5
"Ah, but I only worked an hour or two so far for you, sir. I have not yet earned such treatment, although I do appreciate the offer, I would hate for you to regard me as a charity case. Give me time, you will see I am capable of being so much more..." she said this last in almost a whisper, for she was well aware of how close he'd gotten to her, and she found herself wanting something, a kiss perhaps? Surely not! Kisses were the bane of a prostitute's existence, kisses were something that made sex personal and yet this urge...
Katie licked her lips, and gazed up at him wonderingly. What were these powers he had? Why wasn't she scared of him anymore? She should be, You will be! Just watch yourself fall for another one, get hurt all over... where will you run next, Miss Parrish, hmm?
But these thoughts were drowned out as she stepped closer and whispered. "So, I guess this is good night, Mr. Masters.."
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 7:05:57 GMT -5
"I have no doubt of what you're capable of.." He murmured to her, himself unable to break the gaze from hers. Masters shifted his weight from one foot to another as his mind began racing with the possiblities and the risk of over thinking this moment and what it could be. And then it happened, something over took him as he slipped one hand behind her back and drew her towards him, pressing his lips softly against hers in a tender yet deep kiss. It happened all so fast, and as he realized what was happening he certainly didn't understand why. So many women, why her? Getting this far with a woman or even into bed was no problem for him, there were plenty, even a few in his own bar but this urge or thirst for her was beyond reason.. But obviously reason had just flown out the window as he locked lips with her.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 7:11:59 GMT -5
for a split second, Katie froze on the spot, shocked not by his pulling her to him or planting such a delicious kiss upon her but that she was delighted by it... then she melted into him, her arm sliding up around his neck for support as she leaned into a kiss she had not anticipated or ever hoped to want again... none of this, none of it was supposed to happen. She was done with this kind of behavior... but somehow, for an inexplicable reason she could not define... she wanted it, and she had never wanted it like this before... murmering slightly as they came up for air, she looked up at him in happy surprise, but made no effort to speak, just took his hand and started moving backwards slowly into her modest little room.
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