tampered | Log; Complete

Log; Complete

When; December 10th
Rating; PG-13
Characters; Mat

mrs_romany
Summary; Mat takes Lara to The Den to show of his luck.
Log; Mat arrived at the building location Lara had given him the other day. He had no idea who this woman was but he'd always had a weakness for them. Especially beautiful ones. Which was why he'd invited her to come with him to The Den.

Leaning against the wall, he noticed all of the mistletoe. He'd ended up kissing two people already just to get here. It wouldn't look good if he kissed Lara without knowing her a bit better or getting her permission.

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Lara was waiting for him downstairs, just as she'd said she would. Just from images she'd seen on the Network, she knew he'd be a fun time, and this "Den" he spoke of sounded interesting enough to keep her attention.

It had been some time since she'd tried to shack up with a man before. She hadn't needed to for quite some time. This place was proving to be a different story, though, and if she had to play the lost little doe, that's just what she'd do.

She looked over as he approached, recognizing him from her network device.

A smile crossed her face.

"Mat?"

Looking away from the mistletoe, he smiled back at her.

Especially the beautiful ones...

"That's me. You're Lara?"

He held out his gloved hand to hers so he could place a kiss on her knuckles. From what he'd learned here, that was old fashioned. Well, he didn't care. That what Mat had been taught.

She smiled as his lips brushed her knuckles, her demon telling her of his weakness for beautiful women. Oh, this would be too easy.

"Quite an astute memory you have, Mat." He was cute enough, that was certain. But was he worthy? That was yet to be seen. "And a gentleman as well. You're full of surprises."

"I'm told that I usually am. Will you be warm enough? It's cool out here."

He held out his arm for her. If he was going to be a gentleman, he'd be a bloody good one. Even if he was born on a farm.

"If not, we can stop somewhere to take care of that for you."

Her smile broadened. Oh, and he's sweet too? It was almost too good to be true.

"I should be fine, Mat, but tell me, just how are you planning on warming me up?" Her eyes held a deep, subtle hunger. Nothing out of the ordinary for someone who was deeply attracted to someone else, and she was very skilled in hiding it, so it didn't seem out of place. She slipped her arm through his.

Guiding her outside and towards The Den, he grinned. "I have a good imagination. Though, I was going to buy you a coat."

The look in her eyes was familiar to him. He'd seen it before in other women. And Light, he liked it. He always did.

"If you'll be alright. We'll hurry to The Den to get you out of the cold."

Her laugh was a living thing that wormed its way into all the masculine parts of a man, making them think all sorts of naughty thoughts.

"How can a girl turn down a new coat? It is winter after all."

She looked down at herself, taking in her appearance: a modest skirt, asymmetrical hem, all earth tones, and a loose blouse. It was spring back home, and she simply wasn't prepared for the weather. "The season is a tad off from home, if you get my meaning."

Burn him if he didn't love that laugh.

"We'll stop and get you one then. Don't worry about money. I have more than enough." He smiled at her again then changed directions to head into a shop. The only hesitation was the sight of mistletoe over the door.

"Do you know about the curses here?"

"You're such a sweetheart, Mat. You really don't have to do this, you know." Her smile said she was flattered and a little taken aback. So easy. So very, very easy. She didn't even have to try. He was eating out of the palm of her hand and he'd put himself there. It was perfect.

"Curses? I've heard a bit about them. Why do you ask?"

"I'm cursed today. I kiss anyone I'm caught under the mistletoe with. And look."

He pointed to said mistletoe. "We'll have to pass under it to get in there. It might be easier on you to go before I do. That way we won't be under it at the same time."

Lara's eyes flashed with hunger for a moment. "Well, maybe I want you under it with me."

Could this place be anymore convenient? She made to move toward the door, but never released her grip on his arm, and pulled him beneath the mistletoe with her. She pulled Mat's body against her and pressed her mouth to his before he could protest. She allowed her demon to lap slightly at his psyche before shoving it forcefully back into submission with promises of later. You can have more later. Cowed, her demon obeyed.

"You're delicious," she said, licking her lips and meeting his eyes with an intense gaze.

When she'd said she wanted him under it with her, he thought it had been a tease. But that kiss said otherwise. Light. And he thought he was good at kissing.

"You know what you want, don't you?" That got the mistletoe out of the way. What a kiss that went with it too. He almost felt like a boy needing to be taught how to do all of this again. Luckily, he was able to clear his head and Mat was back in control.

"This way." Over to the women's winter coat section. "Get what you want."

She flashed Mat an innocent smile, and she made it look naughty. Made all the more so by the flush to her cheeks that accompanied it. She made her way over to the coat racks, mentally noting there was no sign of Gucci or Chanel. What a destitute place this was.

"So," she said conversationally, without missing a beat. "Do you make it a point to buy girls things before you take them out?"

Mat laughed. "Yes, actually." And with all the money he had, he could afford to. Many times over. Crossing his arms, he watched her. He knew nothing about women's fashion. He'll leave that to her.

"Every time."

God save him, she pouted. "You mean, this isn't just for me?"

She kept leafing through the racks though, bored with all the mundane coats she found there. It wasn't until the fifth rack that she stopped suddenly when her hand fell on brown and gold paisley fabric. The corduroy felt like heaven beneath her fingertips and the eased the heavy, floor-length number off the rack in near-reverence.

Holding the coat up at arm's length, she smiled. Perfect. "Mat, would you mind?" She held the beautiful coat out to him, begging his gentlemanly assistance with a girlish blush and smile.

He tilted his head to the side as he looked at it. Between the pout, the blush, and the smile, he couldn't say no. This was impossible. Still, he didn't even look at the price. Mat just grinned and nodded.

"I don't mind at all." Going over to her, he took the coat and led her up front where he handed it over to the clerk to ring up. An indigo or two later, the coat was hers.

"There. That should keep you warm this winter."

She snuggled into the warm wool lining for a moment before taking his arm back again.

"Thank you, Mat. I love it. It's perfect."

Her smile was evident. She really did love the coat. It was unlike any she'd ever seen back home, and she hoped it would be able to return with her when she did.

"Now, where is this 'Den?'"

On their way out, he stopped them only long enough to get the kiss under the mistletoe in. This time, he initiated it. When that was done, he pointed to the building they were headed towards.

"It's not far."

Smiling at her, he led her that way. She was interesting company. He had to give her that.

"We should be there soon."

She laughed that wonderful laugh again. He's stealing kisses? Doesn't he think he's cute?

Her gaze followed in the direction he indicated. "Alright, then lead the way." She pulled her new coat closer about herself to ward off the cold. She actually liked this one. When was the last time that had happened? It didn't deserve thinking about. This was about food and money. She had to convince herself of that. If it turned into anything else, then she would have learned nothing...don't be a stupid girl, Lara.

"So," she said, both distracting herself and making conversation. "What do you like to to, besides gamble of course?"

"Not fighting a bloody war." And that was what he was doing back home. He frowned. He hated that he still thought about it every so often. But, he had to. His friends were all there while he was here.

He wasn't going to mention that he was a general though. Not when he didn't agree with that knowledge. Hated it even. No, he was just a humble gambler.

"That's what I like to do."

"A war?" Didn't that sound like home? Her family and their people had stayed out of it for the most part, but it was getting closer to their door.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"No need to apologize. It definitely isn't your fault." Thank the Light for small favors.

"It's something that has been going on for thousands of years."

"And it's a war you fight?" She snuggled closer into him. "Oh, you poor thing." Another pout.

He looked at her with mild confusion. Obviously, he wasn't used to that reaction. "I do. Rand, Perrin, and I got roped into it."

"War is never fun." Her eyes seemed haunted, but it never touched her face. "And what sort of war is it?"

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