An Aur Diamond in the Rough [Kinsey]

[Rune Shamalain]

The barkeep sauntered by, which was a peculiar choice of word to describe his movement if not for the fact that he did seem to carry on in a sultry manner. Eyeing the pair with a wry, sanguine smile, the man offered Rune a wink, pausing to deposit a few glasses in the sink behind the bar before moving on to another couple further down the other end.

Rune's easy smile slowly grew strangely mischievous as she turned the propriety back on him. The woman's poignant sass had always been a source of amusement since it first appeared, but now it was something more. Something attractive. He was suddenly and inexplicably glad for the news that she was not currently spoken for. Another drink from his glass, deeper than a sip. His lips tingled, the malbec biting at the back of his throat.

"I'm not really sure," there came the self deprecation, "I've never run a company before, let alone a shipwright of this magnitude. I suppose I will spend a good deal of time making mistakes and being chastised by my Aunt. Perhaps I will find need to get away from the desk for some leisure time..." his gaze settled on her with a bold hint of suggestion, "how often do you frequent that area of space?"

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Brows lofted. She had the sudden urge to finish off her drink a lot quicker than she’d intended. Grip tightened slightly on the glass as an easy smile flashed at Rune. Flirtatious even.

Free hand came up to glide the hair she normally wore up, off her shoulder. Another gesture she wouldn't normally do. But she was too relaxed to wonder why things felt off or to even recognize that they felt off in the first place. And it was easy not to ask these questions when Rune was giving her his full attention. And it was hard not to let her eyes travel down his clothed form.

“Well,” she took another gulp of smooth amber. “I tend to stick around a place if I have a good enough reason to. If jobs are to be had. Mister Shamalain, are you offering to keep me entertained?”

Sparkling blues flashed with mirth.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

A slyness crept into his expression, subtly defined by the faint narrowing of his eyes and quarter up-turn of the corners of his lips, "I am certainly willing to try."

Somehow he wondered if a man such as himself could keep a woman like Kinsey entertained. From what little he knew of her she was a wild and free spirit, seeking adventure and finding trouble across the stars. He the quiet, introverted, space-allergic not-assassin. What could he possibly offer her that would keep her coming back?

His heart was reticent but weary of these thoughts, but his mind was fully willing to take some risks and say stupid things that he would only recall and regret later, after this haze wore off.

"Once I teach you how to play dejarik you just might get hooked," confidence now. Kinsey also seemed like the type to keep trying at something until she got good at it, and he liked to think he was quite formidable at the game. His mother taught him and she had never lost a match.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Rune had said they were friends earlier, so all this was just a bit of fun and games.

Right?

Right.

"Perhaps," Kinsey finished her drink with a warm smile. "Maybe we should make a wager of our own." It reminded her of when they first met, negotiating terms of the contract. Rune was a natural-born negotiator, as he'd demonstrated with Lord Umber.

But Kinsey was a scoundrel.

"If I beat you once at dejarik tonight, you'll let me have a test flight of one of the new ships your company is building and....," finger tapped her chin thoughtfully, "tell me one more secret of your past. Sound like fair terms?"

 

[Rune Shamalain]

He was indeed gifted with negotiations and diplomacy. Groomed for such a station since birth, the man had been set to inherit a throne to one of the many planets ruled over by his immediate bloodkin, but such a life had not seen fit to manifest. He wasn't complaining in the least. He also wasn't looking to negotiate with Kinsey.

So far as he was concerned in that moment, with malbec on his tongue, the gentle tunes of music in his ear, and Kinsey sitting next to him without a care to etch her brow, he'd give her whatever she wanted and then some.

Rune finished his wine, finding the slyness lingering into his easy smile, confidence edging his tone in perhaps a playful challenge to her terms, "And what do I get if you don't?"

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

“That’s a big ‘if,’” she breathed, mock-seriousness in her tone. She had no idea how hard the game was. And more importantly, she had no idea how good Rune was.

“Why don't you name two things you want and if I don’t win you can have one of them?”

The bartender came by again, asking if they wanted more drinks. Kinsey had firmly decided she was only having one tonight. But she found herself motioning for a refill against the better judgement that had so quickly faded.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

Only one? A thought unvoiced. Hardly fair, but he cared very little.

"A dance," he replied, attention honed so strongly on the spacer he did not notice his wine glass refilled, "with you."

Just one thing. There were plenty of other things he could have said and certainly a second option, but he really liked the idea of dancing with Kinsey and didn't want to risk not getting it. So one thing it was.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

She blinked.

He was being serious.

Kinsey had done plenty of dancing in her teen years. Not the kind of dancing she imagined Rune was requesting. Warm smile turned soft, leaking a bit of her self-consciousness.

“Okay. Deal.”

“You two should shake on it. Bet isn’t official a lot of place until people shake. Some places it’s a kiss on each cheek,” the bartender winked in their direction. “Looks like we have a dejarik table open at the end of the bar.” He motioned with his pinkish chin. Kinsey’s eyes fell upon the round, checkered table. Curious.

She’d seen them before but never played.

Rune offered a hand as she stepped free from the high top and she found herself taking it without hesitation.

She was in heels, after all.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

A brow lifted towards the barkeep, ice shifting shortly from the man to the full wine glass. ...Had he?

Huh. Waste not, want not (two full glasses? Lysander, this is not going to end well...).

A hand offered and taken, she was in heels after all, he lead the way to the open table and set his glass down on the side drink stand.

"It's a bit like Chess and Moebius, if you don't know the rules," Rune explained, helping Kinsey up onto her new stool as he flipped on the table switch and engaged the training session. He remained standing beside her while he explained the rules, following the holographic pieces as they displayed their stats and special moves. Knowing the rules forwards and backwards helped to abate the alcohol quickly settling into his system, the red of the wine turning his world rose-colored and warm. He sipped while he explained and then moved to his side of the table after she indicated she was ready to play.

Six moves in and she was losing. Rune wasn't a cocky man, but he could not help the amused smile faintly pressed into his lips.

"Nothing, I swear-" after a what's so funny? from her, "-haven't played in years. I forgot how much fun it is."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Had she not been a glass and a half of lum in, her face may have soured at how poorly she was losing. Kinsey Starchaser could be, at times, quite competitive. Fingers drummed on the tabletop. One of her pieces was being picked up and thrown across the board.

Holograpically.

As quickly as it began, it was over.

Best out of two turned into a plea for a best out of three. “Maybe third time will be my charm?” She’d grinned at Rune who’d only smiled and shook his head slightly, quick to placate but probably knowing she wouldn't be able to pull off a win tonight. She DID start the game off better.

Fingers tucked hair behind ears as she leaned forward.

“Wipe that smile off your face Mister Shamalain because I might just have you this time.”

She didn’t. In two moves, she’d hear the consolation sound of a third loss.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

"Ooohh," the bartender arrived just as Rune pulled the last sip of wine from his glass, "was that game three? Ouch. Please allow me a consolatory dessert for the unfortunate Lady, on the house of course."

Rune could not stop the smile. It wasn't a big smile, it wasn't a loud smile, but it was most certainly his way of showing some small semblance of pride in his skill. He watched as the bartender, who they learned was named Skye, served Kinsey a small platter of gourmet chocolate ganache topped by a wedge of a rare fruit and sea salt.

"Hm," Rune remarked with a raised brow, "that might be better than winning."

"Ah ah, it's for the Lady," Skye smiled charmingly, laying it on thick as he quietly removed their empty glasses to replace them with fresh drinks.

"Best four out of seven?" the white-haired man offered, taking up his glass without a second thought for another sip, blue eyes settled somewhere at a half-mast.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Normal Kinsey would’ve been slightly suspicious of an ‘on the house’ dessert. But lumed up Kinsey thought this was one of the best nights she could remember.

And chocolate.

A treat she didn’t normally indulge in or spend the extra credits on when Pibs and her ship needed constant upgrades or the blue milk needed replacing. “Yes, no bites for winners,” in hindsight that comment was a little awkward considering Rune. But his eyes were so intently on the dessert, right?

One hand pressed against the side of her face, elbow perched on the board. Her skin felt tingly and warm and there was an itch to laugh in the back of her throat. Other hand went for that bite of chocolate and fruit.

“If I get to savor this while we play?” Kinsey took a slow, small bite, empty fork coming out of her mouth to point in Rune’s direction. A curl of a mischievous smile as she swallowed. “Then yes.”

At this point, she’d play with him all night. She wondered if he was cheating but as quickly as the thought came, it vanished. This was Rune. He didn't do things like that.

And then, she wondered if she could figure out how to have Pibs hack into a board and help her cheat.

Heh.

Maybe one day.

She lost the next two games. It was hard to say if she was improving or not when the room was fuzzy on the edges. There was a small smear of chocolate on the corner of her mouth that she’d missed and was completely oblivious to. Even as she spoke to Rune.

“One day Mister Shamalain, I will see the utterly surprised and astonished expression on your face when you lose this game to me. Mark my words.” Fingers came to cross her heart as if she were completing a very serious vow. Blue eyes caught the casino lights overhead and dazzled.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

The bite comment grew a fleeting half-smirk in response, gaze shifting up to her face as she indulged. No, no biting for him. Not with her, anyway. That bartender though...

Skye seemed to be rather in-the-know (or perhaps intuitive, or maybe just even sober) and also managed to catch the unspoken entendre as well as Rune's gaze. "She's a feisty one," Skye chuckled, leaning towards Rune as he moved to head back to the bar, "but you let me know if you need anything. Anything at all..." Real thick there.

Were Rune not so focused on Kinsey as she ate her dessert he might've trailed a gaze after the bartender, "Of course."

Two games later, an empty dessert dish, a mostly empty tumbler of lum, glimmering blue eyes, and a chocolate smudge later he was entirely smitten. Couldn't take his gaze off her, couldn't stop thinking about how he wanted to kiss that smudge from her lips. He'd thought her attractive from the start but the more he got to know her the more she grew on him and the more he found himself wanting Ceto to be farther away. Kinsey's stubborn certainty and thinly veiled threat probably sealed the deal.

The man gave an amused chuckle, "I look forward to it," and followed her as she shifted on her stool, looking as though she were meaning to unseat herself, then watched in what felt like slow motion as she toppled off and spilled to the floor instead. Four drinks in and he was in no state to catch her, but he'd been standing for a while now so getting to her wasn't too delayed.

"Are you alright?" alarm was slow to filter into his expression, but by the time he was kneeling at her side and helping her sit up it was there mixed with surprise and all muddled manner of other things.

"Goodness goodness, what a tumble - saw it from the other end of the bar, is she ok?" Skye was there.

"Could you get us some water?"

"Coming right up," and off he went.

Rune lifted a hand to Kinsey's chin to check her eyes - dilated but responding to the lights of the bar. No concussion, "I think that's enough warfare for the night," a smile then as he thumbed the chocolate smudge and shortly licked it from his finger, "hm -" he winced, "bit too sweet for my tastes."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

A burst of carefree giggles left her throat as she hit the ground. “These gorram heels,” she swore as Rune came around. The world came into strange focus as he took her chin. The the swipe of his finger. It was only Rune that was in focus. Everything else was blurry around the edges as she sat on the casino floor, her derrière thankful for the thick carpet.

Had his jaw always been that strong? Eyes so blue and crisp? His voice stirred something within her. She already knew he was a good looking man when they first met. And learning his character through their journey together only made him more attractive.

For a moment, she felt herself lost in a dreamy-dopey stare. Normal Kinsey, buried beneath several layers of lum, would’ve never done what she was about to do. Rune Shamalain was a client and this was all inappropriate, no matter what her feelings were beginning to be. And she still doubted herself. He’d been with another woman at the bathhouse. He'd lost a wife. And Kinsey, was, well Kinsey. She figured she’d never match up to expectations of a man like Rune.

And they were certainly different people. But all those thoughts and hesitations were muted as her pulse quickened. There were glasses clinking and laughter in the background.

Bit too sweet?

“How about this?”Hand reached up, Fingers enclosing around his vest as she tugged him and herself closer until her lips pressed against his. Briefly she wondered how one kissed someone else with fangs. And then she didn’t care about the question at all. Didn’t notice Skye as he came back, hovering with the water.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

Skye was doing well to subdue his grinning pride. The barkeep had just won 100 credits in a bet with the hostess who swore up and down they weren't a couple and he couldn't get them to kiss. Never test a Zeltron when love is on the line, he always said.

Rune, on the other hand, was at a loss for words. Brows pressed upwards in surprise and for a moment he hung there at the whim of the smaller woman on the floor, taking in her scent and the sensation of the warmth she radiated. The shock of suddenness quickly dissipated into a simmering appeasement of his previous concerns. Kinsey was just fine.

And this was more than fine.

The rumble of a pleased hmm followed her as she broke from his lips, snowy hair framing off his face to mingle with auburn waves. "That..." Rune briefly pulled at his lower lip with his teeth, the smallest smirk forming at the taste left behind, "I would savor all night." And then some. Just a hint of lum - he'd never been much for hard liquor but he didn't mind lum. Reminded him of many years and long nights spent at the Scarlet Oasis. At one point in his life he'd have sold his soul to go back there again, back to those long nights, but tonight he couldn't think of anywhere else he'd rather be.

Except perhaps somewhere a bit quieter and more private...

Looking at her, sitting there in her heels and her dress, he tried not to think too strongly of them on the floor of his suite but the image readily jumped to mind. The man gently cleared his throat, trying but failing miserably to clear his thoughts, "Ready to go?" and offered her a hand to help her up.

Kinsey nodded and then returned with a go where? as he stood and lifted her to her feet.

Rune knew where he would have liked to go but far be it from him, even four drinks in and riding the zeltron high, to drag a woman there against her will. His easy smile returned, frosted blues keen with unspoken want as he passed his thumb over the knuckles of her hand. He leaned in towards her as if to share a secret, gaze never breaking from her own, and raised those same knuckles to his lips, "Wherever you wish."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

If Rune's eyes were so intently focused on her. If the mouth she'd just kissed hadn't just brushed the knuckles of her skin, she might've caught the wink and broad smile of Skye behind them. And a quick salute he offered with his hand as they began walking out.

"The room," she breathed. His room. Back to his room.

It would be much more comfortable than her ship.

Besides, she still had to pick up her dried clothes. And boots. Practical as ever, said a very small voice at the back of her head.

Her hand was curled with Rune's as they walked out of the casino and back across the plaza toward the hotel. The walk seemed forever and too short at the same time. Her skin still felt tingly and numb except for where his side brushed against hers. Where his fingers entwined with hers. "Wait, wait," breathless words as she tugged on his hand to slow down and stop.

With a quick lift of her leg and balancing act, she tugged each heel off.

"There, much better," she squeezed his hand, ready to continue. Even though she hadn't been on her feet much tonight, these new shoes were killing her toes. How had she worn these so much growing up? Going to all those parties she dragged Dax to?

They were just entering the hotel. Her lips still tingled from where Rune's had just been.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

He wasn't in any particular hurry - as a matter of fact they might've been strolling along the promenade for the speed he kept. But Rune Shamalain was a tall man and even his languid stride covered ground, so when Kinsey pulled up he experienced likely the same reem of thoughts any man did.

Only to have them come to a screeching halt as he paused and glanced back, blinking while the woman teetered and pulled her heels off. Momentarily struck, his gaze fell at the squeeze of her hand in his, and he offered her a small smile in response.

Seven hells, she was adorable.

Stepping beneath the brilliant lights of the plaza and through the open doors of the hotel, Rune lead her back to the lift where they joined another older couple in the dulcet tunes of the elevator. A short exchange of pleasantries between them, the wife of the other couple side-eyeing them and their clasped hands before quietly admonishing her husband for never holding her hand anymore. Two floors later and the older couple departed, leaving Kinsey and Rune on their own for at least a few minutes more.

Rune had never been a man to rush anything in his life, especially not women, but considering his present state of mind he was feeling a bit more confident than usual. The hand clasped in Kinsey's remained coiled through her fingers as he moved it around the small of her back, taking her own hand and arm with it, to gently bring her towards him. Fingers of his free hand found her jaw, coaxing it upwards to taste her lips again. Every movement was firm, yet gentle, and slow enough to let her respond in kind, including the deepening of the kiss. Had to give her a chance to explore the points of those fangs - double sets on both top and bottom - as well as the edges of the rest of his teeth. The tools of a predator: couldn't just leap into that without some practice. Rune knew quite well how to be careful with them but she'd have to mind herself as well.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Rune didn't have to pull too much to get her to curl into him. With a clunk, her free hand dropped those pesky heels to the floor of the lift, her fingers finding his side, resting at the base of his rib cage. She could smell the hint of malbec on his lips just above the sweet spice of her own lum. Lips parted further than before.

Kinsey Starchaser was drunk and tipsy and piloting her tongue in this condition was not like piloting her ship.

Inevitable sharp asteroids were hit.

Brows knit together, a small wince leaving her mouth as the taste of copper bubbled from her tongue. Knowing Rune would be concerned, she broke the kiss for a moment to rush breathlessly. "I'mfineI'mfine."

But then added.

"That's the last taste you'll ever get so enjoy it," couldn't help mixing in sass with reassurance as she demanded another kiss just before the lift doors dinged a warning that they'd made it to their floor. She may have lost at dejarik but Kinsey would be damned if she didn't figure out how to kiss someone with multiple sets of fangs.

A wookie grunted as it saw them, waiting somewhat patiently for them to exit.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

Rune had not kissed very many women in his life and, so far as he could recall, most all of them had their own sets of fangs and knew how to handle them. The number of flat-toothed women he'd enjoyed could likely be counted on one hand and he didn't think he needed all five fingers to do so. Always forgot the learning curve. He was certain the lum wasn't helping her case.

A frown of brief concern quickly shifted to a smirk at the sass, the arm he held looped around her back pulling her in against him for that last kiss.

Mmmmmmrrrrrrrgggh. said the wookie.

A blond brow quirked at this, the man turning slowly from her lips to see it standing there as patiently as a wookie could. Ah, welp, this was their floor anyway. Free hand gestured to Kinsey's discarded heels, calling them into his grasp with a small play of the Force as he lead the barefoot spacer pilot out of the lift and down the hall with a glance back at the wookie with a chuckle.

He released Kinsey's hand as they made it to his room, fishing the cardkey from an inside breast pocket of his jacket. Swiping it across the keypad the door chimed and unlocked, opening with a soft hiss. Rune looked to Kinsey, offered her a quiet after you, and followed her in. The suite was large and spacious - pretty much what one would expect for a man of his apparent power and position.

Heels clunked against the floor once more.

Rune shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of a chair, shoes discarded just beneath, glaciers still intently honed in on sapphires.

"I won't draw your blood purposefully," slow, measured strides carried him to her, some amusement in his gaze as his hands found her hips to bring her near again, "but you'll have to be more careful."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Mixed feelings crossed her face at his easy-use of the force in public. But none of the deeper things she was feeling or had to process through stuck. And any further introspection erased as his hands tugged at her hips.

Tongue slid along the outside of her upper lip as she gave a slow nod in understanding and trust. This wasn’t the primal man with crimson-golden eyes. The curve of her lips quirked into a lopsided grin. Hands lifted to tuck between the blond curtain of his hair, palms wrapping around the back of his neck. Thumbs brushed along the sides of his neck, grazing his jaw.

“I suppose I’ll just have to practice.” Toes lifted her higher. Eyes traveled from glacial to his mouth as she made contact, the sensation becoming more familiar. Natural. This time, she went slower, exploring the relatively unknown and making it known. Her focus was becoming a little sharper. The pheromones were beginning to wear off.

Briefly, she wondered how Rune’s wife handled this or if she’d been like him with fangs of her own.