Pavi

GeneCo was like a battleground. The Genterns scurried about like tiny tin soldiers, hanging portraits and promotional posters around the ballroom. Some were setting the great table at its center, lighting candles and making everything look perfect for the banquet. Pavi however, could care less as it was only an hour away from the party and he had yet to find his date.

The sneaky little thing had slipped off somewhere, probably to escape him, and he was quickly getting irritated. Had he not told her she must come with him? Was she really going to keep defying him like this? He loved her spunk, it was endearing, but at moments like this, he could have dealt without it.

Dena, who was carrying a tray of clean crystal glasses for the table passed him with a smile. He returned it distractedly and looked back around the room. If she made him find her, he would be forced to punish her for the offence later.

The thought excited him more than it should have.

"Where is she?" he asked when Dena had come back to retrieve more glasses. The Gentern glanced about, trying to look confused and smiled amiably at him again.

"Who?"

Pavi's eyes narrowed in warning and he took her wrist pulling her closer. The girl was instantly tense, though she tried valiantly to hide it. He knew the extents of her fear of him though, even if she did her best to pretend it wasn't there. She had, after all been one of his projects and he had spent months making her life as difficult as he could manage.

"Is she'a coming back soon, or must I find her?"

Dena glanced around helplessly, as if anyone would save her from him. "She…" her voice trailed off and she tried to pull away from him, but Pavi's grip tightened until she whimpered from the pain of it and held up a placating hand.

"She went home! I found her name on the sign out sheet before lunch." Then at his expression (which must have frightened her) she shook her head. "I didn't know! I swear she snuck out on all of us!"

Pavi ground his teeth and dropped Dena's wrist, watching her a moment as she rubbed it. That little girl was trying to make him angry, she must have been. That or she was just stupid and he had been a poor judge of her character thus far. Whatever the case, he would be forced to retrieve her now, and for that, she would pay.

xXx

My room was hot tonight. So much so that my skin was now covered by a thin layer of sweat as I twisted on top of my sheets. Then again, the heat was not the only thing that made me sweat. Currently my head was tossed back between my pillows, hand tangled in my hair almost painfully while the other worked furiously between my legs. I'm not sure how this had all come to be, but damnit was I going for gold tonight.

I'd been at it a good 20 minutes now with no release in sight and was beginning to get frustrated. This was not something I was used to, as, generally, I was best in tune with what I wanted and did the best job of it when I was alone. Hell, I was even considering that stupid vibrator in the safe at this point! As it stood, I continued with fervor and bit my bottom lip, closing my eyes to picture anything but the bastard who had poisoned me. I didn't want his face to be in my head when I finished, but it didn't seem like I was going to get there any time soon anyway, so it didn't much matter now. Apparently I was broken, and fully intended to blame him for my lack of release.

"This better not be a new thing." I growled to myself.

"I don't think I'd mind too much."

I hadn't even heard my door open, but jumped up, not bothering to cover myself with the sheets because he'd already seen everything anyway.

"What the hell are you doing here, Grave?" I demanded.

The lecher's eyes were roaming down my body with an appreciation he didn't bother to hide either. The Graverobber arched a brow and glanced back up at me after far too long with a wicked smile.

"Just stopped by to see how you were doing, S&M", he chuckled and arched a brow, "I didn't know you'd be busy."

At that I sighed and got off the bed to grab my silk robe and pull it on. "You didn't know I would be here. What the hell were you going to do in my apartment?"

"Nothing as interesting as this." He replied, following me out into the living room. "I'd just like to say I fully support you, and if you feel the need to finish up, go right ahead. Hell, I'll help out cuz I'm such a gentleman."

I rolled my eyes and went to the kitchen to substitute my non-existent-orgasm for food. It wasn't the best plan, but fuck it, I couldn't finish anyway. Grave took a seat at one of the barstools and propped himself against the counter with a wide grin.

"So were you thinking of me?" he asked.

I didn't bother to look at him when I responded. "I started too, but then I felt sick and had to switch to someone attractive."

He laughed, we both knew I was lying and that I'd jump him in a second, had done so, many times in fact. Grave knew me well enough to take my hostility for what it was and just move on. He let me dig through my food and settle on a box of synthetic fruits, offering me the stool beside him.

"So, out of curiosity, why are you here?"

"I'm hiding." I sighed and munched down on the dried fake berries. Grave arched a brow.

"In your own house? Don't you think that's a bit, I don't know, counterproductive?"

"Well I didn't have anywhere else to go." I said sullenly, poking at what was supposed to be a raspberry.

"You could have come to me?" Grave replied slowly.

I turned to look at him, searching his eyes for humor and finding none. After a long moment, I shook my head.

"Yeah, and I could have led them right to you, jackass. Now who's stupid?"

Grave sighed and stood up, to walk into the kitchen. He went to my wall safe, passing his hand over the holographic image that hid it and tapped on the metal. "I can take care of myself, Sage."

"Of course you can." I said sarcastically, "You've only been on the run for a few years now."

"You're in a wonderful mood as always, S&M, any reason why?"

I shook my head and went to put away the rest of my food, suddenly losing my appetite. Of course I could tell him why I was so upset. I could tell him that the devil's lecherous son had taken a liking to me. That I'd spent my days at GeneCo avoiding the bastard. That he'd tried to rape me.

But then I would have to talk about it.

Instead I changed the subject and moved to my purse sitting on the end table in the living room. "I got you something, by the way."

"A present?" Grave grinned and moved to the couch, flinging himself down on it with a huge grin. "You shouldn't have."

"You're right." I said, pulling out the small plastic box inside and opening the latch. As soon as the lid lifted, the inside began emitting a bright blue glow and Grave's expression went serious. I handed over the box, sitting on the arm of my couch. "It's medical, swiped from the store room. That should be enough for at least a couple weeks, and you can jack up the price. As long as my cut reflects that, of course."

Grave pulled a vile from the box and held it up for inspection, after a moment, he put it back, closed the box and set it on the side table. I was going to question him, but suddenly he grabbed my arm and pulled me across his lap. I yelped in surprise but didn't fight him. I was safe with Grave, temper and weird kinks aside.

"You're always so good to me, S&M." he smiled, trailing his fingers down the lapels of my rope and opening it as he went. His hand stopped at my waist and the loosely tied belt there. He stared into my eyes as he tugged the knot free and flung it to the side, letting my robe fall open completely.

"We make good money together." I said, aware of the slight hitch in my voice, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Grave chuckled at that and leaned forward, one hand around the back of my neck while the other slipped down between my thighs. He kissed me, biting my lip hard enough that I hissed in a breath, and then my arms were around his neck, one hand gripping tightly to the fur on his collar. His lips moved to my jaw, then down to my throat and again he bit me hard enough that it hurt, but I didn't mind. I was just as much as a freak as he was.

"This is why I came over." He murmured into my hair as I shifted to straddle his waist and began fumbling with his belts. Why the hell did there have to be so many of them? "Couldn't stop thinking about you since the last time."

"Liar." I chuckled against his mouth and he grinned back.

"Sounded sweet though, didn't it?"

At this point, I'd finally gotten passed the belts and gave him a wicked grin. "I don't want sweet."

"Yeah," he laughed, "You never do."

Grave pushed the robe off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor below us and pulled me closer to kiss me again. His free hand went between us, and I groaned at the promise of what was coming. Apparently my problem earlier had been that I just needed a partner. Grave positioned himself, grinning up at me, while I braced myself on his shoulders and returned the smile.

There was a knock at the door.

"Shit." I hissed, turning to glare at the fake wood. It just wasn't my day.

"Ignore it." Grave said with a frown, but the knocking continued and grew louder. Whoever it happened to be was not going to take no for an answer, they wanted inside and they wanted in now. When I jumped off the couch and grabbed my robe, Grave let out a frustrated groan and let his head fall back against the couch, glaring up at the ceiling.

"You're a devil woman." He said, but I only laughed and motioned that he fix himself up while I checked the peephole. Then my smile melted and my blood ran cold. I spun back to Grave, checking that the door was indeed locked and rushed to make him stand.

"Are you serious?" he asked, "Who the hell is it? I'll kill them, fucking cock-blockers."

"GeneCo." I hissed, trying to keep him quiet. At the name though, his eyes widened just slightly and he finally fixed his pants. "You have to get out of here before they see you."

He nodded, looking around. "Um..how?"

"Fire escape at the window in my room, go!"

Grave hurried off and I turned back to the door, but spotted the Zydrate and groaned in frustration. Rushing to pick it up, I ran into my room where Grave was trying to open my window. Shoving him aside, I handed over the box and quickly opened the thing, ushering him out.

"Open the door, bella." I heard him between knocked and swallowed, hoping that he didn't have a troop of soldiers waiting for his signal to break down the door. I looked back at Grave, who had paused halfway onto the fire escape with a frown. He looked out into the living room, then glanced up at me in question, but I couldn't make myself explain. This was all just fucked.

"Get out, you jackass, before you get shot!"

Grave only stared at me, and I had the worst feeling that he'd recognized the voice. It wasn't until we heard the scrape of the lock being turned that he finally jumped out onto the metal grating and stuffed the small box into his coat.

"See ya later, S&M." he said, but his voice was a bit too calm for my taste, and the way he was looking at me made me feel dirty. I didn't reply, just shut the window and closed the curtain in time for the front door to open.

"I'm a bit'a confused, bella." He was saying as I tied my robe back into place and did my best to fix my hair. "I remember telling you about'a the party, and that it would'a be smart to come with me."

I moved into the living room where he was closing the door and setting a large thin box beside it. When he spotted me however, his eyes narrowed. He looked me over closely, then glanced around the room. Apparently I looked exactly like what I had tried to hide, with wild bedroom hair and a robe of all things. He was probably looking for the man and by his expression, he wasn't pleased with the idea.

"How did you get in here?" I asked, hoping that Grave wasn't going to be stupid and come back in. I hadn't locked the window, so it was entirely possible.

Pavi sighed, slipping out of his black suit jacket and folding it neatly over the back of my couch. I watched, frozen as he moved around it toward me, loosening his tie.

"Your landlord gave'a me the key." He replied simply, "Why? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Happy as a kid with terminal cancer." I smiled.

Pavi wasn't amused it seemed. He shot forward with startling speed and I found myself pressed back against the wall beside my bedroom door, his hand flattening against the plaster beside my head. I stared up at him, while he looked me over. He seemed to grow angrier the longer he looked at me, or, more accurately, the longer he looked at the evidence of another man on me.

"I'm not going to that party." I said, losing the fight against my smile. I just couldn't help it. He was far too close and his scent was filling my head, but his expression just killed me. He was jealous! HA!

"You are." He said between his teeth.

"Make me." I scoffed. "If you want me at that party, you're going to have to drag me there, asshole."

Pavi stared down at me a long moment, then his anger melted and he smirked. Warning bells began to go off in my head, but it was already too late. The bastard grabbed my upper arm, and jerked me away from the wall, only to shove me back against it. I tried to push back, but he twisted my arm up behind my back and snatched up the other one. When they were both secured, he took them both in one hand and used the other to grab the tie on my robe.

"What are you doing?" I exclaimed fighting weakly as he tugged the knot free and pulled the tie from its loops around my robe.

Pavi didn't answer me, simply held me still as he began to bind my wrists together with the robe's belt. He worked quickly, easily finishing before I could fight him off and spun me back around. I glared up at him as if it would do much good and tried not to panic.

"You will'a come to this party with me now, si?"

"Untie my hands." I said struggling to pull them free while he held me against the wall with a simple hand to the shoulder.

Pavi sighed, shaking his head and grabbed my upper arm. He pulled me along behind him as he retrieved to box by my door, then we were heading toward my room. I tried to dig my heels into the carpet, to catch onto something solid and hold myself in place, but he just dragged me along. When we got inside, he closed the door behind him and took me to the bed, sitting me down on the edge and setting the box beside me. I watched warily as he ran fingers through his hair and turned away, eyes closed and breathing meditatively. Apparently I'd really made him angry. Suddenly with him in it, my room felt so small and safety that had come with curling up in my bed vanished.

"You know, Sage, You can'a be needlessly difficult sometimes. Do not'a make this harder than it must be."

"What are you taking about?" I scoffed, "You just burst into my home and tied me up and-"

He continued to face away from me, supposedly to look at the art on my walls, but turn to glance back my way. His eyes was hard and intense when he next spoke. "Stai da solo?"

"What?" I frowned and Pavi turned back to face me, crossing his arm over his chest.

"Are you alone?" he repeated in English, expression severe.

My mouth bobbed open a few times in the shock of the question, but I shook my head. "Of course I am. Why would it matter anyway?"

He chuckled, though the sound was void of any real humor and looked to the window. "It wouldn't," he replied, "Not'a to you anyway."

I couldn't quite tell whether that was a threat or not, and if so, who had it been directed at. God, I was tired of this fighting, of being so utterly tense around him.

"Pavi, please untie my hands." I said this as calmly as I was able, trying not to balk at the smile he flashed then.

"Sure, bella. Tell me you're going to the show with me tonight."

"What show?"

"The diner, carra, where the beautiful Mag will sing for us and mi papa." He smirked, "Do not change the subject."

At this I rolled my eyes, "Yes. Yes, I'll go. Jesus, you're like a dog with a bone."

"Yes," he said slowly, stepping toward me to take hold of my jaw and tilt my head to the side, starring impassively down at my throat, at the marks Grave had given me, "But you like'a the biting don't you."

I jerked free and nodded toward the box, to change the subject, "What is that?"

Pavi sighed, his irritation palpable, and grabbed the box, setting it across my lap and then beginning on the ties around it. I watched a moment as he shed its layer of wrapping and pulled the two side apart to reveal a pool of…cloth? Setting the box down beside me, he grabbed my upper arm again and lifted me back to my feet, quickly untying my wrists. I was incredibly thankful he'd gotten over this kink so quickly, before it had become something dangerous.

"Denudare, bella." He tossed the tie onto the floor and titled his head, "Undress."

Gritting my teeth, I pulled off the robe and threw it onto my bed. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen me naked anyway, and without the tie, the robe had remained closed anyway. Pavi took his time inspecting me, head still tilted, arms crossed. After a moment, I got sick of it and grabbed for the robe.

"No." he said simply, and snatched my wrist spinning me back around and against his chest. His hand went to my ribs, just below my breast and he ran a feathering touch along the flesh there.

"Already pulling away'a from me? Hmm," he nuzzled into my throat, nipping at the placed Grave had bitten, and I had no doubt he did so on purpose, "Perhaps'a I should teach a lesson on'a loyalties."

"Oh yeah? Are you gunna punish me?" I asked softly, unable to give my voice any volume.

"No, bella. I will'a find your lover," he looked me dead in the eyes, "and I will kill him." Then he smiled, the expression was cold and just a bit crazed, "Perhaps then you could'a wear his face to remember him, si?"

"You're disgusting." I spat, while he chuckled, then a fter a moment, sobered and nodded toward the box.

"Enough time wasted on your infidelity, bella,"

"What? Are you seri-"

"Put on your dress and we can get'a going before the thing starts without us."

"Infidelity?" I repeated, comply blown. He arched a brow and nodded toward the dress.

"Yes, bella, but we will'a discuss it later."

Unable to think of a response I just moved to the garment box, Pavi, however was suddenly at my side and knotting his hand in my hair.

"After all, I must'a show you why it is such a bad decision."

I tried to glare at him from the side, fighting not to pull away from him and potentially rip out my hair. The shiver that passed down my spine then, however was not so easy to stop. I had no doubt that he meant this as more than an idle threat. Apparently the Largo prince refused to share.

It just wasn't my night.

Whoot! New chapter! I got a hankerin' to write after my friends put on the movie the other night. It's been a a little while since I last watched it, but now everything is fresh and I feel inspired. Oh the banquet shall be fun. Hope you enjoyed this