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The Manor (DudeMeister&SHARPii)

"Ah...I see." he said. She was being coy. It only made the pursuit sweeter

"Might I ask you something else than?" he asked her, looking into her eyes
 
"May I kiss you?" he asked, looking into her eyes. Even through her mask she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever laid eyes on.

"If you don't want to that's fine...no harm no foul" he added
 
Her lips parted and her jaw dropped lightly. Did he just...did he just...ask...her...that? She gulped and her breathing increased, she breathing in and out through her nose and it being visible by the rise and fall of her chest. She snapped herself out of her shock.

"Y-You want to kiss me?" She breathed.
 
Whoa...that wasn't the reaction he was looking for. Maybe he misjudged her body language. Maybe asking it like that straight away wasn't the right thing to do. Hoping that it didn't cause too much awkwardness, he nodded to her, smiling slightly

"Yes I do" he said
 
"Why?" She almost laughed. Wow, she had to get a grip. If she acted this way, he'd see right through the mask she wore--literally too--and see the real Harper Collins. Not the woman she was pretending to be in this getup.
"I-I mean, good. Because I would love for you to kiss me." And she said that without any shakiness in her voice, which on its own was a marvel considering how her entire body was shaking right now a little bit.
 
Slightly relieved that she consented he moved in closely, cupping her chin gently. He slowly pressed his lips against her's, feeling their fullness. His hands traveled up her sides and up to her hair, his fingers entangling in her locks. As the kiss progressed slowly slipped his tongue in. Wow...she was a great kisser
 
She did consent. She wasn't shaking because she was scared. She was shaking because he overwhelmed her in a way she really liked a lot. So when he kissed her, her free hand moved to his arm as their lips first made contact. Her chin tilted up, her head back and she melting into it rather easily and quickly. Her tongue touched his and then she was lost, her hand moving over his shoulder. She made no effort to pull back. No, she made every effort to keep kissing him. Amazing lips. Amazing taste. Amazing kisser.
 
Closing his eyes and tilting his head to the side, he continued to kiss her. Her lips were soft and had an amazing taste, and her tongue moved around very well. Gently moving his hand to her arm, he took the bottle of water out of her hand and placed it on the railing, before embracing her fully. As the kiss heated up he began to breath heavily through his nose as their tongues wrestled. If she was so good at kissing, she must be great in bed! But than...what was he doing?

Sure he was enjoying the company, and sharing a kiss with a good woman was always a treat, but what business did he have being involved (albeit briefly) with a nice girl like her? He was in a shady business...and was in this shady business with dangerous people! On top of that the dangerous people who he was in business with had enemies! How could he do this to her? Sure he wanted to bed her, but she was different with the loose women he normally dealt with. She was a warm and nice person. Not once did she refuse a dance with any guy in the room, and not once did she throw any foul attitude around. Breaking the kiss he looked at her. He knew he was going to regret this

"I-Im sorry" he said to her, backing away slightly

"I can't do this...you don't know who I am. You are a great woman, and I can't put you in danger." he said, bowing slightly and backing away

"I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening" he said

(yay! Finally churned out a decent post!)
 
[Proud! Although you have never disappointed me]

It was an amazing kiss and one she melted into. Her hands were free and her arms moved around his neck, allowing her body to be closer to his even as he pulled her closer and she could easily be more comfortable in kissing him, easily lose herself. That’s exactly what happened. She had lost herself, so much that when he pulled away suddenly and abruptly, she wasn’t expecting it. Her lips followed, eager to taste his again but when her eyes opened, he saw he had backed away and she was left feeling like a fool.

He kept talking, saying they shouldn’t and it left her immensely confused. He asked her to dance. He approached her again and asked to take her out for some air, relieving her from the throng of horny and drunk men. He asked to kiss her. Yet now she just felt stupid and the charade she worked so hard to keep on tonight was crumbling bit by bit.

Harper stepped back from him and she looked away. “Yeah.” Was all she said and she turned to put her hands on the railing. The stab of rejection. Ouch. Maybe she was such a terrible kisser and he came to his senses. Realized that while she was all good talking, she was terrible at anything more. She sighed softly and shook her head. “Have fun at the rest of the party.” Fantasy over, reality kicked in. She took her mask off, looking down at it as she held it in her hands and sighed softly. She simply tossed it over the balcony and grabbed her bottle of water and went back inside. She just wanted to get paid and leave.

Harper went off to find Stephanie and when she did, she tapped her shoulder. “How do I get paid?”
“What?”
“I want my money. I think I lasted long enough. I want to go home.” Her voice was a little bit wavering.
“Are you okay?” She asked.
“Yes, Steph, I’m fine okay? I just want my money. I’m tired and cranky.” Which was a great excuse because she did get super cranky when she was tired.
“Wait here.” She put her hand on her shoulder and she scanned the room for him. Her eyes locked with his and she nodded her head towards a door for him to follow her into. She started walking towards it expecting him to follow. She’d get her friend’s money and then she’d figure out what the fuck he did to make her change so quickly.
 
After parting ways with Harper, Hawthorne was filled with disappointment and regret. Feeling weak in the knees, he pulled a barstool and poured himself a glass of whiskey, bringing the drink up to his lips with a shaky hand. He certainly felt horrible. Resting his forehead against his hand he sipped the hard liquor. It was true that he did the right thing in backing off, but he knew that it must have hurt her feelings, and upon this realization he felt even worse since she didn't deserve her feelings to be hurt. She must have had a fun night, and than he came along and ruined it. In the end it was his fault for approaching her in the first place. Taking solace in his drink he reassured himself that she will forget about it in a few days, eventually find some guy, marry him, and settle down. Still, that didn't make him feel any better. Pulling off his mask he downed his whiskey, and soon reached for some vodka before noticing Stephanie. Following her gesture to meet her in the room she walked into, he soon shut the door behind them, a bottle of vodka in his hand.

"What is it?" he asked, regaining his composure
 
Stephanie waited in the room until he came in and she took her mask off and sighed softly. "She wants to be paid. She's ready to go home." She sighed heavily. Sure, she felt jealousy towards her friend and roommate for getting his attention but at the end of the day, Harper was still her friend and in the short time they had been living together, she did grow to care for her, enough to be able to put aside her female jealousy and come to her friend's aid. Harper was a sweetheart, a really great teacher from when Stephanie went to visit her at one of the end of her classes one day and it was a true damper to see her so down in the dumps. "What did you do to her Hawthorne?"
 
'What did you do to her Hawthorne?'

The question rang in his head as he went behind his desk to his safe, not answering her. Surprisingly he was able to enter the combination despite having blurry vision from all the hard liquor he just consumed. Pulling out about 10 grand from the safe he separated the bills into two piles.

"Here you go. I'll call a cab for the both of you" he said, picking up a phone.

Despite putting on a show of complete indifference to Stephanie's disapproving looks, he felt really bad about the whole thing. After giving the cab directions to the hotel he hung up

"The cab will be outside in about 10 minutes" he said to her, uncapping the bottle of vodka and taking a long, huge swig. Pulling it away from his lips he grimaced and looked a Stephanie. It was the type of look to signal for her to piss off.
 
Stephanie watched him, confused and also alarmed for his lack of answering her. Instead, he produced the money and she stepped forward and collected it. "I'm not ready to go home. I was just about to charm a gentleman." She counted her stack and then Harper's making sure all was there before she put a band around one and then around the other, holding them to her.

When the cab was ready, she narrowed her eyes and sighed softly. "Goodnight Hawthorne. I hope you drown in alcohol." She grumbled, clearly annoyed with her boss as she made her exit and went to find Harper.
Upon finding her, she gave her her stack and watched as she put it in her purse and then sighed. "Are you staying?" She asked.
"Yes. Text me when you're home okay?"
Harper nodded and both girls exchanged with a peck to the cheek before Harper left. She felt down but she couldn't stop thinking about him, neither could she deny just how swollen her lips were from that massive kiss. Shaking her head to try and rid her mind of the thoughts, she walked outside, got into the cab and let it take her home. When she was home, she tried to give him money to pay but he said it was already taken care of. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "Thank you." She said softly as she got out and went to her apartment. Once inside, she just went straight to room, stripping and sitting on her bed in her strapless bra and panties. She opened her purse and took out the money and counted it. Holy cow, five thousand dollars. She had to go to the bank tomorrow.

Sighing softly, she put everything away, took her make up off, took anything out that kept her hair up and then brushed her teeth and washed her face. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Lips. Still. Swollen. Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
Getting into bed, she managed to finally drift thirty minutes later but her dreams were filled with masquerade masks, ball gowns and a really handsome gentleman in black with eyes that could pierce her soul beneath that mask.
 
Hawthorne would spend the rest of the night drinking booze. He retired to his room in the hotel as the party still went on. Stripping down to his boxers, he laid down on the bed, sitting up to grab a bottle of tequila and downed it ferociously. He fell asleep like that, with the empty bottle still in his hand. Unbeknownst to him, his sleep was contrary to that of the woman he kissed earlier that night. No dreams graced him as he slumbered.

The next morning he woke up late: 11:00 to be exact. The already bright sun seemed brighter as his blurry eyes opened. He sat up slowly, grimacing as he felt the pain in his head, the hangover seeking revenge for all the booze he drank the night before. The empty bottle of tequila rolled out of his hand, and the sound that it made as it clinked on the floor sounded like a grenade going off to his hangover-hazed ears. He staggered over to the bathroom, and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like shit. He felt like shit. Hell, he acted like shit the night before. Upon realizing how he was grounded in the shit, he suddenly keeled over and threw up. Carrots. Always carrots.

After washing his face and brushing his teeth he put on a pair of light blue jeans and a black sleeveless shirt that showed off his foreword bearing chest and chiseled arms. Staggering downstairs he looked at the ballroom, decorations hanging, and chairs overturned. They certainly made a mess. Sitting at the bar he took a bit of booze, hoping to get a hair off of the dog that bit him.
 
[I hope it's alright if I do a bit of a time skip ^^]

The next morning, Harper worked on auto pilot, her mind plagued with chaotic thoughts, all turning back towards The Manor and the man deep within who pushed her away. It felt like her lips still stung with that feverish kiss he lay upon it, it felt like her tongue still held the taste of his own and each time she thought about it vividly, her cheeks turned rosy red and she fought all urge to just barge into The Manor and hunt him down, assuming he was a regular visitor and frequenter.

The week went by fast. She was glad too because it made going into school easier, teaching her classes. She didn't know how it breezed by her so fast but at the end of it, she couldn't wait any longer. She didn't tell Stephanie where she was going and when she did often inquire about how she was doing, Harper shrugged it off, acting as normal as possible. She didn't want her to worry but she didn't want her to know the latest object of her slight obsession. Not a bad one. Just one she couldn't shake, a kiss she couldn't shake, a man she couldn't shake.

That Friday, later afternoon after she finished from the school, she went straight to The Manor, having gotten directions before she left. She was wearing a satin, white blouse with a black cropped vest over it with a lace back. She wore pinstripe black pants and black pumps on her feet. She always dressed professionally for school, probably more than she should but she was new still and soon she'd relax and dress semi-formal, semi-casual. Her hair was untied, laying down in loose waves as she walked up the steps of the establishment, turning the knob and walking in. It seemed quiet in the foyer until she walked in further, finding mild chatter about. Seemed this place was more hopping at night? She didn't know or understand. Either way, she kept on walking. She didn't even know how to find him or ask for him. She was just hoping he'd be there. A chance encounter.
 
(No problem. Helps things move along)

The week went by slowly for Hawthorne. Although the latest party was overall a success and proved profitable...it wasn't profitable enough for his 'distinguished' benefactors. The whole week he was keeping track of his finances and how much money he raked in, at his wits end to balance the budget. Not to mention that his benefactors were breathing down his neck, and had many threats issued to him (mostly concerning the breaking of his legs). Why didn't he study accounting instead of going to law school. It seems that all his law degree did for him was acquaint him with the charges that will be put against him if the authorities caught wind of this little racket.

Going into the foyer for a drink after a long day of crunching numbers, he saw a familiar looking girl. She was rather cute, if a little to business like. It was a moment later that he realized who it was, her elegant gait and body all to familiar. It was the girl from a week ago.
 
Harper looked around the place. It certainly seemed different from the party she had come to a week ago but the splendor was still grand and held the ambiance of something fine and high elegance. Her hand came up to brush a lock of hair from her eyes and when she turned, her eyes set upon a man that came there, who wasn't there before last she checked. She cleared her throat, smoothed down her shirt and vest and adjusted the strap of her bag before walking to him. She smiled a soft smile. She didn't recognize him. Then again, she never did see the mystery man's face. "Hi." Her hands slid into her pockets. "Um, I was looking for someone. About your height, um..." She looked him over and pursed her lips. That was all she had to go base her mystery man off of. Not much, nothing at all actually. "Yeah, that's all I have for description." She was so different from the girl she was that night. That girl was confident, living into the costume and mask she wore. This girl before him now, well this was the real Harper Collins.
 
Well, she certainly seemed different than the confident, charming, and flirty girl that he met at the party. Here she seemed withdrawn, shy...and rather socially awkward. Why would she come here just to see him? He kinda did a crummy thing to her, and yet she came back. And with very little of a description. It seemed that people were right: women did go for douchebags. Despite the thoughts that went through his mind, he gave her a friendly smile.

"Well...I'm sorry but could you be a little more specific Miss...?" he said, asking for her name. Although he knew it, she didn't tell him her name at the party. He got it out of Stephanie. And for all she knew, they never met.
 
She bit her lower lip and nodded. "Oh right, sorry." Her hand slipped from her pocket and she extended it to him, for him to shake. "I'm Harper Collins." She said softly. "I came to a party here last week." Oy, she had to be some desperate fool didn't she? This guy she met at the party never once took his mask off, never said who he was. He just charmed her, flirted with her, kissed her and pushed her away. Made it very clear she wasn't interested. Yet here she was, like a beggar on a doorstep. The realization made her take her hand before he could shake it and she glanced towards the door. "Sorry, I should just go." Her eyes widened a little bit and she shook her head, turning and heading towards the door. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She thought in her head. "Stupid." She muttered to herself.
 
As he was about to formulate some sort of answer for her, she recanted and began walking away. Wow, women were harder to read than he thought.

"Wait Miss...it is possible that the man that you met worked here" he said, going after her and gently grasping her hand

"Can you tell me anything else? Eye color, hair color, what he was wearing, what kinda mask he was wearing. Anything at all?" he asked her. He knew of course that she was talking about him, but for some reason he put up this charade. For what purpose, he didn't know
 
She halted in her steps when his hand clasped hers. Oh, that touch. She knew that touch. Slowly, she turned and looked at him and her eyes locked with his and she bit her lower lip. "I-I don't know. He was a gentleman that was here at the party. He seemed like he was just either a guest or something. Um," She said softly, looking down at her hand in his, to which she didn't take back yet. Then she looked up at him and her head tilted. "Were you there?"

Harper's eyes surveyed his face. His mouth, that mouth. She blinked her eyes a couple of times and shook her head. "I-I don't remember anything else. It all felt like a hazy fog." That and because of how much champagne she drank that night. As if to purposely make her forget so she couldn't come find him. "What were you wearing?"
 
Observing her he noted how different she acted than when she was at the party. Instead of the flirty girl she was, she was shy. Strangely she was even more interesting this way. When asked if he was there, and what he was wearing, logic told him to lie and say that he wasn't there. But, something else drove him to say:

"Well...I was there, but for work." he answered, letting go of her hand so he wouldn't look possessive. Technically, that wasn't a lie. He was the owner of the place, and had many girls work for him. Not that he was going to tell her the second part.

"I was wearing a simple suit..." he added. Technically that wasn't a lie either
 
She looked at him and nodded, a little sadly. She had a feeling but she wasn't confident enough in herself or in this situation to do anything. She wouldn't act on it and when he let her hand go, the amazing feeling went. She was sure it was him, especially those eyes. She wouldn't have forgotten those eyes. She had dreamed about them all week, about him, about his scent, his touch and his lips. Everything. Slowly, she took her hand back, moving her hands behind her back, clasped together. "Um..." She felt awkward and like she shouldn't be there.
"I'm sorry. I thought I could find him here. I'll just..." She looked at him and then at the door. "Go." She turned and in a hurried haste, walked towards the door to leave, her heels clicking on the marble floor in her rapid succession. She was turning red, bright red and embarrassed. She just showed up there without a worry or care as if she owned the place looking for someone she had no idea how to find? Harper Collins had officially lost her mind. And over a man.
 
It probably would have been wise to let her go. That way she could be safe from him, and they could both get on with their lives. Unfortunately, he wasn't very wise. He walked briskly to keep up with her.

"Was the guy wearing a red and black mask?" he asked her

"Because that was the owner of the hotel" he said to her
 
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