| Logs |
2006-04-01
| Dreams |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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Through the Inferno
It's day. You know this because of the painful stabbing light behind you, which exacerbates the pain in your head. It feels like tiny creatures are hammering in there, trying to get out. Jason groans and tries to wrap his arms around his head to protect himself from the light. It hurts to think.
As you start to shift, you realize you're lying on your left side, with your right arm draped over something large in front of you. You're holding something in your right hand, too. The light seems to be coming from behind you, and oddly, you think you can hear the soft, faint tap-tap-tapping of the creatures hammering in your head. On the other hand, your left eye is mercifully protected from the horrible light by whatever this is your face is shoved up against.
Jason hesitates as he slowly becomes more aware of his situation. After what seems like an eternity, trying to sluggishly eke out a thought in this situation, he slowly, very slowly, moves his right arm up, and over what ever it is he's up against. There's a soft purring sound as he starts to move his right hand. Whatever it is in his hand doesn't seem to want to move though. Past a certain point, that is. It's soft, warm, and... sort of roundish? His pillow smells nice, though.
Jason finds himself nonplussed. He sincerely doubts he's holding a tribble, so whatever is going on is not necessarily a good thing. He tries to refocus, and at least look at what he's up against, if he can't move his arm. It's... black, and soft, whatever his face is pressed up against. His right eye isn't seeing blackness, though... now the light isn't quite so stabby, it's giving him... um... reddishness, in a curve, and over that, um... what is that... a room of some sort?
Thinking is still not easy, so while the answer to what is going on might be obvious from what he's already observed, Jason can't be completely sure of it. Squinting, he turns his head, trying to get a better angle to determine where he is... ah, that helps! Er... sort of. He's lying on what he'd guess is a bed, and the curious tapping is revealed to be someone typing. Looks like Mike, in fact, busily writing on a laptop set on a small folding table near the end of the bed. Oh! Hotel room, right. And he's lying against, let's see...
Adrenaline rushes are interesting ways to clear your head. He's lying against Diana, looking down the long, smooth curve of her side and hip. His arm is over her. He's cupping part of her. Your senses are giving you way too much information, way too fast. She sighs softly, shifting a bit, and her warm, soft breast slips free of your hand. Spider webs in bright light down her hip are really hard to notice! You thought for a second she was nude... you're not sure if you're relieved or not that she's still dressed. Wait, you're still dressed too. Your face was pressed up against her hair, and you remember that seductive, almost smoky scent very clearly. Mmmmyeeesss you could easily press your face up against the back of her neck again -- would she wake up, would she mind?
As the piece start to fall into place, his face tries to blush, but can't muster the necessary blood. He finds himself groaning, his head flopping back into Diana's hair, but not seductively in the least. Several thoughts wander through his head, each more embarrassing than the last... such as the idea that he had sex with Diana and can't remember it being the imp of the perverse playing tricks on him. Clearly though, this didn't happen. He thinks. "Fuck," he says dully.
Mike looks up, then grins, "Good morning." There's a soft, "mmmm..." next to him, and Diana rolls over and snuggles up into him, tucking her head under his chin. He can feel her lips against his throat in a small nibbly kiss-bite. One arm loops over him, while the other folds between you. You realize with another painful lightning-adrenaline moment that you'd better carefully shift soon, or her hand's going to notice things you may not want her to.
Jason's eyes open wide in surprise, gasping, and then close just as quickly, as that's too much light for his eyes still. He's sort of paralyzed by the nibbling at his throat... god, that's erotic. Never mind his sudden proximity with something less chaste than her backside. He does squirm at the wandering hand down his belly, but attempting to make a decision results in a stalemate, as his brain is vacationing in Mixed-Feelings City. "Help?" he suddenly squeaks, though the vocal response is less a plea, and more a question if he needs or wants help.
Memory is starting to return in blurry liquid flashes... watching Diana dance and draw people to her like moths to her flame... Mike grinning amusedly and ordering more energy drinks after advising you to not even try keeping up with her... dancing with Diana and suddenly clearly understanding the old saying about dancing being nothing more than vertical sex... feeling almost intoxicated from drinking in Diana for hours -- her throaty laugh, that seductive purr of pleasure she makes, the silky feel of her hair spilled like a sable waterfall across your hands, the sway and curve and graceful shift of her body under her clothing... wait. You didn't drink anything alcoholic. Why are you so wasted-feeling?
Mike chuckles, and you can hear him moving around and the sound of something liquid being poured. Diana shifts, tilting her head back enough so she can see your face. Jason's eyes open more cautiously, though still reflexively in response to Diana shifting.
This close Diana's pupils are clearly non-human... almost shimmering with light, as if she were glowing with an inner fire. She's watching you with a curious expression on her face... almost searching, or pondering... and then she smiles at you, and the alienness is washed away in warmth and beauty. Softly, wonderingly, the word, "...mine," slips from her lips, almost lost as she leans back into you and... god she smells delicious! -closes her lips around your earlobe and her tongue curls and her small, sharp fangs and she shifts her body against you and there is way too much sensation like you're drowning in her...!
Jason's only response is a moan, losing coherent thought to the bliss of her. Melting against the onslaught of her scent, her body, her teeth digging into his flesh. But if he could talk, there would be an awful temptation to agree with her monosyllabic proclamation. His hand finds her hip, squeezing it, no longer caring what she feels swelling around his loins... his whole body overcome by heat as he succumbs.
There's a long, eternal moment where he's utterly lost in the sensations of her... and then, almost shatteringly, she pulls back and he's an individual again in his own body. She's been interrupted -- ah, she's talking to Mike. Mike interrupted. They're nattering about something and she's not swallowing you up with pleasure any more. At first, the disappointment is almost crushing. But then Jason's brain reasserts himself, trying to assure him this might be a good thing. He finds himself trying to catch his breath and finally, to that end, flops on his back. Not to get away from Diana... not exactly. But just to breathe purer air, perhaps. "What the hell... I feel like I was run over by the Vodka express..." he finally croaks, as the pain reasserts itself.
Mike's voice murmurs quietly, "See?" A moment later Diana's face appears in your field of vision, hanging over you and regarding you with a worried look, "Baby? Does your head hurt?" Her fingers are very light and careful on your forehead.
"Is there a hole in my scalp? I feel like someone scooped out my brains and replaced them with shards of broken glass..." he whispers, eyes fixing on Diana partly because she blocks the light... that said, her face is still a rather comforting thing to look on, even when she's not in sexpot mode.
Diana gets a suddenly terribly guilty look, shifting to scoop you up and cradle your head very gently against her, "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry... here, try to drink what Mike's got for you, okay?"
Mike is sitting on the edge of the bed, which you now realize is wide enough for all three of you. He gives you a sympathetic smile, holding out a glass. "Hangover cure. You need to get your energy back. Go take a nice hot shower when you're done with this, too... it'll help."
Jason sits up bemusedly, not at all minding Diana's motherly concern... it's then he realizes how dry his lips are, and how Damn Thirsty(tm) he is. He reaches out and takes the glass. "Sure. Just someone reboot my legs first..." he grunts, sipping at the liquid eagerly... Diana still looks terribly contrite, lightly stroking the back of his head, and running her fingers through his hair. The drink does help a little... the tiny gnomes in your head quit hammering so much, and seem to be just stomping around now. Jason blinks owlishly, even as he leans into the stroking. That's nice. Hair stroking... very soothing. "Where are we?" he finally asks, his voice no longer sounding like he's gargling gravel.
Diana gives Mike a wistful look, "I screwed up, didn't I?" Mike just smiles at her, then answers you, "We're in my hotel room. It was late and I didn't realize quite how high you were on Diana, or I'd have made sure you had more liquids before bed."
Jason looks blankly at Mike. "High?" He holds up a finger. "Wait... does this have something to do with the fact I didn't actually have any alcohol?"
Mike nods. Diana says softly again, "I'm so sorry, baby. You're a bit... sweet for me. I didn't realize quite how much I'd drunk."
Jason takes a moment to process everything. "This is what you were trying to warn me about..." he rumbles, sitting up, trying to clear his head. Mike nods again. You realize he's got the pitcher of whatever this is sitting on the bedside table, waiting for you to need a refill. Curiously, even though she's still running the fingers of one hand through your hair in a gentle caress, Diana looks almost like she's... about to cry? Jason's face squinches into a concerned grimace. It's almost as if just the idea of Diana crying is akin to a gut punch. "Diana, what..." He looks at Mike for some explanation.
Mike is silent, although from the puzzled roll of the eyes you get from him, he's not sure what's up either. Diana sniffs once, rubbing her eyes with her free hand, then smiles a bit tremulously at the two of you, "Mother's going to be so cross with me... I finally find two lovely people to take care of and be all mine... and the first thing I do is really hurt one of you!" She sighs, looking down as she folds her hands in her lap, "I can't tell you how sorry I am, baby. I was so sure I was growing up so responsibly, too..." Mike blinks, looking like he's still parsing that one.
Jason finds himself speechless. He's still not entirely prepared to accept the fate that seems to have been dropped in his lap, but on the other hand... how can he hate Diana? He's relieved at least that the hammering in his brain has dropped to a dull thud. "Diana, it's just... I mean... it's just a hangover... kinda," he stammers, trying to find the words to reassure her. He looks at Mike and adds, "We all make mistakes, you know?"
Mike nods slowly at your comment, thinking, then says quietly, "Diana... I thought you couldn't feed yourself yet? So... if you can't, why does Jason have this hung over feeling?" Diana opens her mouth to reply, then pauses, a slightly confused look on her face... distractingly, the light shines on her lips, and you remember the sensation of them pressed against your skin... Diana says in slow wonder, "I... that's right! I fed myself! I drank more than just sips -- I really fed myself!" Her face lights up with excitement -- then she laughs delightedly, bouncing across the bed to fling herself on Mike in a hug -- urgh, bouncing bed, ouch! Whoa, bouncing Diana, be still my heart... !
Jason is taken off guard by the shift in movement, causing a wave of nausea, and he needs several seconds just to right himself without spilling his drink. He starts to speak, and then just sits and thinks about it, finally comprehending what just happened. Kinda. A second later he finds himself fighting back a dagger of jealousy as she hugs Mike. That's really not something he's prepared to deal with, especially not now. He distracts himself with wondering just how old Diana is...
Mike looks both pleased and slightly stunned as Diana leans back from kissing him -- is that how you look after she kisses you? She wraps herself around you now, purring, her eyes bright slits of promise and allure, leaning in to kiss you as well. Can you die of pleasure? At the last moment she catches herself, whispering, "Recovery... got to help with your recovery!" Diana takes a slow breath, then deliberately sits back, sliding gracefully off the bed and taking a moment to pull her spiderwebby dress back down where it belongs. The smooth curve of her rear as she leans over is outlined in the light for a few seconds... then she straightens. "I'm going to order you both something good from room service. Jason sweet, why don't you take a nice hot shower, like Mike suggested?"
Jason looks a little like a deer in the headlights, just from that moment where it seems he might start losing himself in her again. "Recovery... is good," he agrees, his voice a little thick even after she pulls away. "Er... hot shower, though?" In his mind a cold shower might be more appropriate... little too much heat going around...
Diana grins, "Whichever you prefer, baby. I've been told heat helps you absorb more liquid through your skin, though?" She walks over to the phone, calling room service to order food. Mike sighs slowly, smiling as he watches the sway of her derriere while she's walking.
Jason tries not to follow Mike's lead... no matter how much he wants to. "I'm just gonna..." he gets up, wondering if Mike is even hearing him as he slowly totters towards what would seem to be the bathroom. He finds himself needing to hold himself up for a while as he strips, legs still weak. After hemming and hawing, he settles on something on the warm side for water temperature, and finds that's likely the best idea... the heat is soothing to his aching bits, and he stands eagerly in the spray, soaking up said comfort.
Finally out of range of the source of his confusion, he finds himself apprehensive. Like Mike, he's walked willingly into something bigger than him, something it doesn't seem he can just walk away from... something he partly doesn't even want to walk away from, which is part of the whole problem. She's like a drug, but she's also a woman... a passionate, sexy, incredible woman that wants him, which is almost a contradiction in terms. And at the same time she's also a demon, with different rules, and clear and present danger. She's not human, and yet strangely still very human in certain qualities about her. What he wants from her transcends mere desire or craving. In the space of only a few hours there's a tie between them that is more than just sexual, and is very compelling.
Then, of course, there's Mike -- who knows more than Jason does, and would be an ally, except that he's seemingly as much in her thrall as Jason is. Beside that, he's also technically a rival for her attention, which just brings up a whole 'nother tangled web... about whether or not that's a good thing, and that jealousy, under the circumstances, is petty and pointless. This is no ordinary relationship, after all.
Jason sighs and brushes his hair back. The dynamics of what happened here are far too confusing. Too much, too fast, much like that moment when he woke up and found himself cuddled around her body in such a way that would get him slapped by a normal woman. His mind keeps coming back to the terms she and Beatrice used, though. Pets. 'Mine.' The idea of being 'owned' by Diana is more than a little unnerving. It certainly implies that however nice Diana is, she doesn't look at him as an equal... which could be a problem.
Without warning the bathroom door opens and you hear Diana walk in, cheerily calling over her shoulder, "Oh, he won't mind -- I'm helping!" A moment later her voice is clearer -- she's apparently facing the shower now and closer as well, "Hi, baby! I got you a nice high protein meal here. Want some nibblies now, or want to save it all until you're done?"
Jason tenses only briefly before realizing she can't see him. "I'll... I'll wait, thanks, Di." he finally replies. "I'm almost done, I promise..."
There's a slight clinking as something is set on the toilet seat, and Diana says, "No hurry, sweet. How're you feeling? Any better?"
Mike's amused voice drifts in the door, "No, Diana, I meant I bet he'd like to have some privacy to shower?"
Jason's immediate reply turns to an embarrassed laugh as Mike speaks up. "Uh... Mike, kinda has a point, Diana... feeling kinda... vulnerable right now..."
There's a moment of silence, then Diana's voice, sounding a bit surprised and puzzled, "He would? You do?" There's another moment of silence, then her curious voice, "Why?"
Mike gives a stifled laugh, then calls, "Diana, please -- leave the poor boy alone, and ask him that later?"
Her response confuses him at first, but he speaks up. "No, Mike... it's okay."
Diana makes a faint, 'hmf!' noise, but at your reply there's an immediate, "Oh, good! Um... would you feel less vulnerable if I were naked too?" Mike laughs for real at this.
Jason straightens a little under the spray. He feels he needs to respond, if only to stand up for himself a little. He starts to talk, and then almost chokes as she speaks up again. "No!" he says a little too forcefully. "I mean... that would only exacerbate the problem, Diana."
She still sounds a little puzzled, a bit curious, "All right, I'll stay dressed. So, um, why do you feel vulnerable?"
Jason tries to organize his thoughts. "Some people -- humans -- don't feel comfortable about being naked in front of someone. There needs to be a level of... familiarity and intimacy before that's okay."
Diana laughs, "Now I know you're teasing me! We get naked all night long in front of guys, and I know the other women don't want the guys to be at all familiar or intimate with them. That's why we hire Croaker as the bouncer!" You can hear the grin in her voice as she adds, "Tell me for real, now, please?"
Jason rubs his temples. "That's different, Diana... those girls are showing themselves off for money. Besides, you note I said some people. Not all people." He then gets an idea. "Let me put it this way. You remember when you danced for me, that first time?"
Diana's voice has a quiet purr to it, "Mmmhmmm..."
Jason finds himself blushing. "Now... I know you can sense emotions. And you very likely sensed from me what you sense from most others... lust, attraction, the whole bit... but didn't you also sense that I was uncomfortable and nervous?"
Diana chuckles softly... it's an oddly sensual, knowing sound, like velvet being rubbed against your skin. She purrs softly, and you can hear her slow, deliberate footsteps across the bathroom, approaching the shower, "Mmm... like now. Very inviting..."
Jason winces! "Diana, don't you get that what I was feeling then... what I'm feeling now... is vulnerability? That I'm not comfortable with the situation?" he says plaintively.
There's a long moment of silence -- even the footsteps stop. Finally she slowly says, "You mean... you don't want me to fix it for you?" She sounds quite confused, "You want to go on feeling vulnerable?"
"No, I don't, Di... but it's not something that's easy to fix. These things take time. They take familiarity, and trust. You can't just wave a magic wand and make it all better. Feelings aren't like that. People aren't like that," Jason finds himself saying firmly.
Diana still sounds confused, "...are you sure? I mean, I've felt the emotions change, when Mother touches someone enough -- they're not uncomfortable or worried any more!" There's a pause, then she murmurs worriedly, "Am I doing it wrong, maybe? Maybe I'm not touching you enough. You like when I touch you, right?"
Oddly enough this conversation is making him feel less self-conscious. "That's not the same thing, Diana. They're just thrown over what's already there, like a huge rug masking the feelings underneath. And as soon as your mother's, or your influence is gone, the feelings come back. You can make a person forget, but it's only a temporary thing. It's not real." Jason suddenly bites his lip, wondering if he's gone too far.
The curtain shifts a bit, as if someone sat on the edge of the tub on the outside. Diana's voice has a strange lilt to it, "You... didn't answer my last question, Jason...?"
Jason sighs, leaning his back against the tile wall. "I love it when you touch me, Diana. You make me feel better than anything else ever has, than anything ever could. But... Diana, we've known each other for less than half a day, if you count up the hours! I barely understand what I'm feeling, much less why! I feel like I've been torn apart and stitched back together... I need time to heal, to understand, to digest."
It's quiet for several minutes, except for the soft hissing of the shower. Finally Diana's voice, very softly, says, "Oh. I... hadn't realized; I'm sorry." The curtain billows slightly when she rises... and a moment later it billows again. Jason groans, his head hitting the back wall. Thud. Thud. Thud. The only other sound is running water. It's kind of relaxing, in a way.
When Jason leaves the shower, there's a nice healthy meal waiting for him on a tray, and a robe hanging on the back of the door. Jason towels himself off vigorously first, pondering what happened moments before. At first he regrets it, because he worries he somehow hurt Diana. But he also realizes what he said needed to be said. Otherwise he could very quickly lose control of this situation... well, not that he ever had control of it. Jason slips into the robe, after confirming it fits him... and ponders the tray. He doesn't know he's ready to go back out, but on the other hand it would be silly to try and eat in there.
After a few seconds of pondering, he instead opens the door a crack, curiously listening to see what's going on in his absence... no sounds that you can perceive. Not even the tap-tap-tapping of the laptop. Jason's brown knits in concern. He opens the door wider, peering out to see if they're even there...
You see Mike still in his chair, but with the little table pushed aside. Curled in his lap is Diana. She's in one of the robes the hotel provides, and her hair is a spill of shining ebony silk across its snowy whiteness. As often happens with robes, one small foot can be seen, and most of the other long, smooth leg, as the robe has fallen back to high on her thigh. Her face is turned into Mike's shoulder and she's wrapped her arms around him. He has one arm around her, and is gently stroking her hair with his free hand. From the quietly thoughtful look on his face, all she's doing is cuddling, curiously enough.
Jason looks slightly stricken, and he closes the door... perhaps comprehending something for the first time. "She really is just a child..." he murmurs, suddenly feeling like he just kicked a puppy. He absently ponders putting on his clothes... but no, they smell sweaty from his exertions at the club, and who knows what else. So he picks up the tray and steels himself, walking outside with it, bracing himself for the reaction, if any.
A moment after you exit, Diana sighs and slips gracefully from Mike's lap, standing with her back to you as she re-arranges the robe a bit. When she turns back around she's belted it snugly around her middle, with the collar turned up high and tucked very demurely. Her hands are deep in her robe pockets and her face is a bit turned away, so the only skin you can see is her small bare feet, and part of her face, which is mostly shielded by her hair. She murmurs softly, "My turn to shower," as she moves around you, staying carefully out of arm's reach. A moment later the door closes behind her. Mike watches you thoughtfully, relaxing in his chair with his fingers interlaced under his chin.
Jason shakes his head. "I screwed up, didn't I," he mumbles, sitting on the bed with his tray, idly picking up one of the sandwiches and gnawing at it listlessly.
Mike murmurs quietly, "She'll doubtless outlast us both." He pauses a moment, waiting until you've had a chance to eat a bit, then adds, "Want to talk about it?"
Jason nods dully. "I didn't want to hurt her... I don't want to hurt her. But does that make what I said wrong?"
"I'm afraid she didn't tell me what you said."
Jason blinks. "I thought you overheard... well..." He tries to go over in his head exactly what he said. "I guess I was trying to explain to her that things were going a little too fast for me. That just because she was happy, that didn't mean everything was peachy keen." He sighs. "I said a lot of things, really, but I guess I was trying to... I don't know... try to put a little distance between us."
Mike nods thoughtfully, listening. "Do you feel you succeeded?"
Jason scratches the back of his head. "Yes, but not the way I hoped. She... she really doesn't understand us, does she."
Mike looks out the window, a rueful smile crossing his face, "You... could say that, yes." He looks back at you, his tone quietly curious, "So what do you want from her?"
"I've been asking myself that question ever since I got in that shower. I... I don't know, not entirely. Part of me aches for her, aches for her touch. The way she makes me feel. Not just the power inside her, but that she's a woman, and she wants me... wanted me." He shakes his head. "Except I can't assume she's just like a woman. I have no idea what she thinks, what matters to her. I don't want to be without her, but I don't know that I want to be just... a snack."
Mike smiles, "Well, in that one case you can be reassured then. The very fact she was hurt shows you're not just a snack to her. For the rest..." he sighs quietly, looking outside as he speaks, "...I've been able to see the 'crazy things' since I was a very small child. At first I thought it was an elaborate joke friends were playing on me... but when I almost died from walking up to one, I got scared. And yet, even though it was clearly a biped that had severely mauled me, everyone was talking about feral dogs. No one believed me... I thought I must be mad at first, so I tried denying I saw them."
He looks back at you, his eyes tired, "That didn't work either... so I 'released' my need to talk about them in my stories. That worked really well, as you know... but... there was still this quiet voice inside me, wondering... was I just insane, but better at hiding it than most?" He smiles slowly, studying his hands, "Then I met Alu... Diana. I was so relieved to discover I wasn't mad, that they were real. Now I'd like to help her, if I can figure out how, as a thank you for returning my surety in my sanity, even if it was accidentally."
Mike's tanned hands are the strong hands of a pianist or typist. The right one, though, has several fine white scars spreading over it like fracture lines. Jason stares wonderingly at this man and his scars -- scars on his body and on his mind -- but for the grace of god, that might have been him. He's amazed, now, at how lucky he's been. "I rather wondered what your story was, Mike... I think we're both going to end up needing you," he murmurs.
Mike looks up at you thoughtfully -- he seems to do everything with consideration, now you think about it -- and gives you an inquiring look, "Mm? How do you mean?"
Jason spreads his hands. "Who else am I going to talk with about this? Maybe you're no Obi-Wan, but you're the closest thing to it... someone who knows more than I do, someone who understands what I'm going through. Well... at least part of it." Jason blinks, amazed at how much food he's put away as he looks back at the tray.
Mike chuckles quietly, then says, "Feel free to ask any questions you have, Jason -- I think knowledge is all that's going to keep us alive, if you come with us." He leans his head back against the padded headrest of the chair, considering you a moment, then smiles, "When I heard about you, initially I was jealous. But I suspect that will be a truly counterproductive attitude for us to take towards each other. Diana doesn't understand jealousy at all, and from what I can tell she'd gladly accept any woman -- or man -- we brought into this little group." He smiles again, with a touch of rue, as he watches you eyeing the tray with amazement, adding, "And... odd though it may sound, Diana may technically be a physical adult internally... but she's still growing, both physically-externally, and mentally-internally. I don't know about you, but I know I can't feed her adequately myself."
Jason smiles a little wryly. "There was some jealousy coming from my end too, I admit, at least before the whole bathroom talk. But this is only more confusing for me. I don't know about you, but my love life wasn't exactly full before this. To have her look at me the way she does, touch me the way she does... it means more to me than anything, even without her pleasurable mojo. And it only confuses the issue more. But let's put that aside for a minute." He gestures with a fry. "Why exactly do you think it's up to us, huh? I mean, Beatrice seems to get nourishment from the general mob, while dancing... is that not enough?"
Mike sighs, lacing his fingers under his chin again, "I suspect the issue here is more one of quality rather than quantity? If I'm understanding them correctly, you and I will heavily influence her, ah... I don't know what to call it. Her future psychic makeup? I know Beatrice is extremely eager to have none of Diana's, um... people die on her, or to have her be hurt emotionally by them." He considers a moment, then murmurs, "Maybe it's time to just flat-out ask her."
Jason grimaces. "After I 'hurt her emotionally' by making her think I didn't want her? That'll go over well. I think I need to apologize, first."
Mike smiles at you with quiet warmth, "I suspect she'll accept your apology with great pleasure, if that helps any. I know the, um... I don't have the vocabulary for this, unfortunately -- the 'first feeding,' perhaps? -is apparently something to be celebrated. Diana was planning to spend today just coddling you and making you feel good, I think, as a thank you."
Jason groans and leans back, hitting his head against the wall. "Oh god... I sure know how to pick the wrong moment, don't I..." He stands up. "I've got to do it now, then... I can't let her wallow in that kind of pain..."
Mike chuckles quietly, "It happens. We're still learning each other, after all." His grin gets unexpectedly rueful, "And in some ways she is very female... and as someone who's been married and divorced three times, I can assure you women can be quite confusing!" He smiles at you, "That would be kind of you, although you should know if you touch her she won't be able to resist drawing you into the shower with her. Still, if I understand Beatrice's behavior correctly, you should be fine -- Diana should be full and unable to feed for a few days yet."
Jason pauses in the act of reaching for the door. "Uhm... thank you for the warning. About the touching," he replies, his face heating up again -- and not adding that being pulled into the shower might be difficult for other reasons.
Mike chuckles quietly, drawing the little table to him again, "Any time. Enjoy yourself -- it makes her inordinately happy to know we're happy, after all."
Jason swallows and opens the door, slowly easing in. "Diana?" he queries tentatively.
There's the sound of nothing but the falling water for about a heartbeat... then from Diana comes a puzzled, "Mike? You... sound like Jason...?" She pulls the curtain aside a bit, giving you probably more of an eyeful than you were quite ready for -- gleaming water-sleeked skin and dark, dark, shining hair -- and says confusedly, "Jason? What are you doing here? I thought you... didn't, um..." She falls silent, just watching you in confusion.
Jason would laugh if it weren't so serious. "I am Jason, Di..." His words die in his throat, at seeing, well... so much of Diana. Even her previous choice of garments don't compare to seeing her completely naked. Her crimson skin, glistening, and that ebony hair wet, curled over her shoulders. He says nothing for a long moment, just entranced by the sight of her alone. "I'm sorry," he finally breathes, his throat having far too much blood in it. "I'd give anything not to have hurt you, Di."
Diana blinks at you once, the water droplets glistening on her skin... then her face lights up in the most unreservedly joyous smile you've ever seen. She steps out of the shower, still beaming and with water streaming down her, spreading her arms to hug you. How can he not respond to that? The ache in his heart is genuine, and her smile is a balm on that self-inflicted wound. He even focuses on it to the exclusion of her still tantalizingly naked body as he steps forward instinctively to embrace her, comfort her, made amends for his hastily spoken words. "Oh, Di," he whispers into her damp hair.
Some people hug you and you can tell they're thinking about something else. Other people hug you, but cautiously -- just a quick squeeze and step back. Diana's hug is very intimate feeling -- she's pressing her entire body up against you, her arms wrapped warmly and strongly around you. She sighs softly at your words, and you can feel her relax a little, her head resting on your shoulder. Interestingly, it feels like it's 'just' Diana you're hugging -- no 'pleasurable mojo' or attempts to tease you -- just her enjoying the moment with you.
And that, in and of itself, makes all the difference. The feeling of just being 'with' her, that is something not at all confusing or causing of mixed feelings. He desires her again, but in no kind of carnal way (mostly -- thank goodness he's still wearing his robe!). One hand pets along her spine, the other cradles that head leaning against him, combing her damp hair with his fingers. There's more he'd say, but he finds he doesn't want to break the moment... especially since he expects what she feels from him now is probably a better indicator than any verbal communication.