Thread: In Cold Blood [Mach & Merc]

The words caressed her ears, and Iris cheeks turned the softest shade of pink in response. To be protected it felt foreign. Of course the government had protected her when she was a teenager, as much as the laws and tax dollars allowed, but that felt more like imprisonment. Confinement. Punishment. This to have Nicky look her in the eyes and tell her it was old habit to make sure she was okay sent a storm of butterflies free in her stomach. She couldnt stop her smile. She knew in her heart that David would protect her if the moment came, and that he actively sought to keep her safe even when she couldnt see it, but it was just different coming from Nick. It was more coming from him. And then he accepted her dinner invitation. She smiled brightly, exhaling a short breath she hadnt realized shed been holding in anticipation. See you then. As he disappeared around the corner, Iris shut the door of her new room and pressed herself against the door palms against the cool wood on either side of her forehead as she gave herself a few minutes to just breathe . When she pulled back, Iris realized she was trembling. All the adrenaline from the last forty-eight hours dissipating as she was finally left alone with the certainty that it was Nicholas Occisor who had abducted her, and that she was completely attracted to him. She idly thought that at least part of her mission would be easy, and let out a snort as she shook her head. Reaching up, she raked her fingers through her hair and then turned, looking out over her room. She needed to keep her mind busy. Focus on the task at hand, and not let herself be overwhelmed with how fucking guilty she was suddenly feeling about David. Moving through her room, Iris explored. She ran her hands over the cold, marble tops of the dressers and bedside tables. She looked through the drawers, finding all of the items she had had with her were here and organized - except for her gun. That little detail didnt surprise her anymore than the admission that there were cameras in the room. There were other items, too, of course. Things she needed, but hadnt had with her when shed been taken. Hygienic items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Things for her hair, for makeup, the works. In fact, the more she searched, the more she found. Things even like tampons. She rose her eyebrows, smirking and then shaking her head before tucking the things she found back in their places. Whoever had done the shopping had not missed a single thing. The closet also had more than just her jeans and jacket. The clothing inside ranged from comfy and casual to haute couture. She ran her fingers along one of the dresses, her eyebrows raised as high as they could go when the lace ensemble proved itself to be completely lace. She shook her head, not able to imagine a scenario where shed wear something so exposing like this, before hanging it back up and exiting the closet with something a little less revealing in her hands. Draping the garment across the bed, Iris made her way into the bathroom and made her way across the tiled floor to the ridiculously large shower. She was pretty sure her first apartment could fit in the bathroom alone, and the thought both amused her and made her heart ache as she reached for the gauges and started the water. It wasnt long before steam was billowing out from the glass walls. Iris removed herself from the tank and panties and stepped inside hissing initially from the sudden heat but eventually melting under the spray. The water helped her relax helped take her mind off David, and Nick, and everything in between. She exhaled a low, slow breath and just closed her eyes letting the shower just envelope her for a while. Unfortunately for Iris, the emotions and the thoughts she kept trying to push down were not going to be ignored. They forced their way to the surface, and not three minutes after she entered the shower, she couldnt stop herself from crying. The stress, the exhaustion, the fear... It crushed her. And shed been playing with a brave face, but it had caught up now that she was alone. She imagined David was outside, listening to her on the other side of the door and waiting until she came out, pretending everything was okay, and just took her into his arms. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself sinking down to sit on the shower floor as the hot water poured over her. Sobs wracked her body, and Iris had no choice but to just ride the wave. She wasnt sure how long the emotions had spilled out of her for, but the water was still as hot as before when she was done. Numbness weighed over her, and Iris stared off into space as her mind reeled. Eventually, Iris managed to push herself up. She finished scrubbing herself clean of all the dirt and grime and sweat the last two days on the run had accumulated, and when she was finished, Iris felt a thousand times better. Once dry, she made her way back out to the main room not a scrap of clothing on her naked body. A piece of her mind thought to cover up, to have some degree of chastity, but then she wondered why She had seen how he had looked her over. The desire and curiosity apparent. Why not give him a little peek? Shed never been ashamed, or shy, about her body. And, truthfully, she wanted him hungry for her. If seduction was going to be her easiest technique why not use it? By the time Iris was done getting ready, it was only half an hour until dinner. The weather outside looked gorgeous, and she thought instead of exploring the house, to instead take a look around the property. She had plenty of time to go exploring the house later. She missed the fresh air after being cooped up for so long. Making her way out of her room, she eventually found her way to the second floor balcony Nick had mentioned. She let her eyes dance over the table that was prepared briefly before she found her way to the railing. The heat was pleasant, not pressing, and Iris found herself leaning against the balcony with her elbows the white full-sleeve dress she had put on a delicate and gorgeous contrast to her decorated and dark features. It probably would have made her appear innocent, almost angelic, if the flashes of blue and black ink and wicked glint in her eye werent just as obvious as the outfit. She rolled her shoulders back, eyes closing and head tilting back as she inhaled the scents of the flower bushes Nicky had planted along his property. I could live here forever, came the unbidden thought, startling Iris out of her own mind. She lifted her hands up to brush her hair out of her face as the breeze played with her natural curls, just as she realized she wasnt alone on the deck. Turning around, Iris eyes met Nickys and she smiled seemingly relaxing back onto the railing as she faced him. Quite the contrast of attire from the outfit hed first seen her in when shed arrived by van. Licking her lips, Iris let her eyes fall down to the dress clinging to her waist and hips in a manner that showed off her curves and shape without being too revealing, and coming to feather softly around her bare feet. She had thought of putting on a pair of the heels or sneakers that had also been in the closet, but had decided against it once she put the dress on. Something just felt right about being barefoot in a summer dress. Funny, I dont remember packing anything like this, and yet its perfectly my size Lifting those chartreuse spheres back up to his, she couldnt hide her smirk. Was she accusing him of something? Who knew. She seemed to amused, and too enthralled in him, to care.