(no subject)

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia blames this on boredom, or curiosity, whichever you prefer.

She has a small wooden box in hand, another present since he so disliked the previous one, not that this one is intended to appease him, not precisely. She knocks softly twice, checking to see that the hallway is clear. She would not like to be seen. ]

Comments

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia busies herself with the wine. It really is good. ]

What reason would I have to do that?

[assassino]

Your face says it all.

[He leans forward in his seat.]

I see it.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia hides her face behind her glass, downing the rest of it. There. She holds it up for him to see. ]

You must tell me what my face says. I often can't decipher it.

[assassino]

[Conniving. Disappointing. Secretive.]

I see a young woman who is surprisingly curious about a man's sexual habits.

[heloise]

Hardly curious. [ She holds up her glass so he can pour her some more. ]

I know more than you would hazard, Auditore.

[assassino]

[He pours her more.]

You are the one asking questions.

[He sips some of his own wine, then goes for it and drains the glass.]

What do you know, pray tell?

[heloise]

[ Good boy.

Lucrezia places the glass under her nose but doesn't drink yet. ]

Enough to imagine how you feel.

[assassino]

[He pours himself more.]

Go on.

[heloise]

[ She chuckles. ]

You would have me tell you how you feel?

[assassino]

I would know how perceptive you are.

[heloise]

[ She lowers her eyes in thought. ]

And if I prove to be right, what would be my reward?

[assassino]

You can have whatever you'd like from me.

[He smirks. It's a gamble, but he is fine with that.]

[heloise]

[ She smiles, satisfied, and set down her glass so she can lean forward. ]

I imagine you will regret opening your door to me.

[assassino]

And why is that?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia smirks and stands so she can circle round the back of his couch. ]

Telling you would be cruel and unnecessary.

[assassino]

[He keeps looking straight ahead, though his attention is clearly on her, his arms across the back of the couch tensed.]

Is it really cruel when I have asked?

[heloise]

[ She trails her fingers across his arm, pleased at how tense he seems. ]

We don't always ask for what pleases us.

[assassino]

[He leans his head back.]

I know that well, as do you.

[heloise]

[ She looks down on him, venturing a hand to his lips. ]

I find it foolish.

[assassino]

[This is so fucking wrong, he thinks. He lifts a hand to capture hers.]

You still have not answered my question.

[heloise]

[ She doesn't try to wrest it free. ]

You are beginning to believe it is not worth even pride.

[assassino]

Oh? And who, exactly, weighs against my pride?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia leans closer. ]

Yourself.

[assassino]

[a low chuckle]

I already told you, I do not count self-pleasure when it comes to abstinence.

[heloise]

[ She lowers her lips to his ear. ]

I wonder who.