KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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"Good choice," I declare. I wait until we get to the front before I release Nic. I order his ice water with the request of fruit to be added to it before I order my drink. I still can't decide between peach and raspberry so I order both and pull out my card to pay since I'm getting more now.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I nod in encouragement as Kimiko goes through her first set fine and starts on her second round. I touch her left elbow, reminding her to keep in line. "Watch yourself in the mirror. It isn't vain. It helps you to maintain the right posture," I assure her.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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”Something iced with raspberries… or maybe peaches…hmm.” I wrap my arms around Nic's waist as I look at the menu over and over again. ”What are you getting?” I ask them.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I feel the corners of my lips twitch when she reacts when I ask permission to touch her. It's not an unusual reaction, but I find it amusing coming from her all the same. I gesture to the weights and take a step back.

”In your own time. When you lift, inhale and follow the breath. When you lower, exhale and relax. It'll help you keep pace of you follow your breath,” I explain.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I beam when Nic says yes, and then he's kissing me. I smile on his lips, kissing him happily for a moment before I pull away.

”Okay, iced tea time,” I say and pat Nic's arm before hopping out of the SUV.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Ready?” I ask Kimiko when it looks like she is done stretching. Once I have confirmation, I lead her over to a basic weight table and walk her through a basic routine I want her to do.

”Now if you start lifting and feel it's too light after your first set, let me know, but keep in mind I'm going to get you to do this multiple times. A heavier weight isn't necessarily bigger right at the beginning,” I say. ”Also, I'm going to be watching you to make sure you're doing it right and not hurting yourself. I might touch a muscle to get you to engage or draw your attention to a problem area, are you comfortable with me doing that?” I ask her seriously.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I roll my eyes at Nic but I’m smiling. ”You are such a dork,” I say. ”Yes, Nic. I am asking if you will be exclusive with me and be my boyfriend,”

Even after I said it out loud and he told me he wouldn't say no, my heart pounds in my chest, and my hands start to sweat on the off-chance he says no anyway, and I’ve embarrassed myself in front of this man for the third time in two days.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle and don’t defend myself. I am a show-off, the worst kind, but I enjoy it all the same. I enjoy Nero’s reactions, making them laugh, smile, or fall for me a little more, just as I fall for them a little more every day.

”I said you are my attractive, attraktive, loud høylytte, little imp lille imp,” I say, punctuating every word with a kiss to their nose, their cheeks, their throat, and finally their lips. I run my hands up Nero’s back, pulling the sweater, or rather my sweater, along with me. As much as I love teasing them, I am done now.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle and nod towards the mat. ”Stretch out a bit while I set up some of the weights,” I tell her. Normally, I work out without a shirt on, but since I’m just helping Kimiko set things up, I’m wearing a compression shirt and shorts.

I go about the gym setting up weights for her and changing some of the settings on the machines. I have an idea what weight she can lift just by looking at her, but I back off each machine or weight a couple more, because I want her to build strength properly rather than lift too much too quickly. I know her muscles would heal quickly and properly if I pushed it, but I would rather not. This wasn’t a contest.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I startle when the person in the car behind us honks their horn. I hadn’t realized how far I had fallen into my own desires after touching Nic like that. I was pleased to have gotten the upper hand on him for once, though.

I keep my hands to myself as we pull up to the cafe that specializes in teas as well as iced teas. I unbuckle my seatbelt once we are parked, but I don’t get out right away.

”About what you said earlier, your lips not touching another’s if I want it that way, were you serious? If I asked you not to date or kiss anyone else, would you?” I looked at him, nerves filling my body as I waited for his response.

What if he was just teasing or really wanted to be in an open relationship like I thought he was with Jane and Kat? I knew I could probably do it if it meant I could go on dates like this with him or keep kissing him, but I didn’t want to share him in that way with anyone else.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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My eyes dance with mischief even after Nero smacks me. I grin innocently while they glare. ”Do you want me to tease you in English, too? What about French? Or Italian? Maybe Russian or Norwegian? Min attraktive, høylytte, lille imp,” I taunt.

Translations

Norwegian - My attractive, loud, little imp.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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We part ways, with me leaving the house to go to the staff housing and change into something a little less formal. As I go, I think about the training I could get Kimiko to do. I also think about the conversation we had and how relaxed I was. My wolf wasn’t agitated once, and I'm starting to wonder what changed.

After dressing, I jog back to the house, warming myself up for strength training. I know I won’t be doing much, just working with Kimiko to get a good routine going for her and spotting her, but it’s good for me to be warmed up so I can show her how to do everything and verbally explain it.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I smile and brush my thumb across his bottom lip without really thinking about it. ”I know, but they may just want some one-on-one time with you as well,” I state.

My thumb tingles when it touches Nic’s lip and my eyes flicker to his lips, thinking about how he kissed me in the temple parking lot.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle on Nero’s lips when they squeal. ”Mein lauter kleiner Kobold,” I mumble, my lips barely leaving theirs when I speak. I hold Nero close to me as we kiss and reconnect with each other after spending an entire day apart.

Translations

My loud little imp.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Strength training it is.” I shut the TV up and stand. ”Ah, sparring is good, though; it helps to get the aggression out. I only ever go full out with Caden when I’m sparring, though,” I inform her. There were even times we shifted into our wolf forms and went at it that way. It was a great way to let out built-up energy.

”I’ll go change, and then I’ll meet you in the training room,” I tell her.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I nod in understanding and remove my chin from my hand to squeeze Nic’s arm. ”It’s a good idea to pull back. If just for your sanity and to keep from burning out. That being said, I don’t want to monopolize all your time either. If work needs you to work OT because there’s a crisis or Jane wants to see you one one-on-one or your dad, or if you just want alone time, I want you to feel okay doing so,” I say rubbing his arm as I talk before I pull back and just keep holding his hand instead.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I smile as my lips trail across Nero’s quickly warming skin. ”I missed you too,” I said. I find Nero’s lips with mine and kiss them deeply, taking my time. I slide one of my hands around their waist and lift them up.

I rotate us so I’m sitting on the edge of the bed with Nero straddling my lap. I run my hands up their back, playing with their hair.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I look over at Kimiko and check the time again. I nod my head from side to side as I debate it. ”We could. Is there something you are interested in doing? We can do just a basic workout, or strength training, pole training or sparring.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I feel a little sad for Nic, hearing that all he did was work. There's so much life in him, it was hard to not see him at the centre of every activity with many hobbies and interests.

”When you go back to work, how long is a regular shift?” I ask, wanting to know how I can best work with his schedule.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Aber es hat so viel Spaß gemacht, dich zu necken,” I declare. I lean in like I'm going to kiss Nero's lips to satisfy them, but instead I move to kiss their cheek at the last minute.

”I'm not sure what he'll do. He might try to goad Avery into another fight. I'll have to keep my eye on him and his pack,” I say and place kisses along their jawline and down their neck.

Translations

But teasing you is so much fun.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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Silence takes over between us and I find I don't mind it. I do look over at Kimiko a couple of times, thinking I want to ask her questions but I never do.

The game we are watching eventually ends and I check my phone. There are still a couple hours until supper. I start thinking of ways to kill time that doesn't involve going to the training room, but I can't think of anything.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I rest my elbow on the centre console with my chin resting on my hand and look at Nic. I squint my eyes at him in scrutiny, trying to get an idea of this man.

”Just how busy of a man were you before I stole all your time and attention?” I ask him.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle, letting Nero pull me down closer to them once I’ve removed my jacket. My eyes remain locked on theirs, even as I rest my hands on the bed and one knee in between their legs.

”It was quite entertaining to remind them there is something bigger than them in Chicago now,” I said, my voice filled with amusement, and kissed Nero’s lips once. ”Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s the last time I will have to deal with them. Levi is a funny one,” I declare.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Oh? I sort of miss waiting to see how you’re going to snap at me next,” I joke half-heartedly and turn my attention back to the TV.

I shrug when she apologizes, not feeling like she needs to. ”You were just defending yourself against my less-than-stellar personality. No need to apologize,” I tell her.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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”Renaissance fairs, I know, but they make me cringe. I haven’t heard about these balls, though. Have you been to one?” I ask, resting one of my hands over his. I can't help but think about Nic dressed up in either British traditional wear or that of China. I could see him turning quite a few heads from both sexes if he dressed that way.

Of course, I didn't go to many balls when they were prominent. If I went it was usual with Caden. He was of a higher status than I was. Back in those days, if people knew of me, my name was in hushed tones. Sometimes, it was fun; other times, it was lonely. I was grateful I had Caden to walk through those days with; even if he and I hadn't been intimate with each other in the last hundred years, he was still my best friend and longest companion.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I grin and slide my hand down the side of Nero’s body, over their hip and down their leg, feeling the warmth of their skin under my touch. [color= #006400] "Good choice," [/color] I whisper into their ear, my breath tickling their skin. My hand slides back up, and my arm snakes around their waist to pick them up and toss them over my shoulder. I leave Nero’s bedroom with their mountain of clothes all over and walk back into mine, well, ours now. I make sure the cats are out of the room before I toss Nero onto the bed. I smile down at them as I remove my jacket, feeling a rush of affection for them.

[color=#006400]”You know, I’m really glad I got you a cell phone. Texting you and looking uninterested in what Levi had to say made my pull with the pack better.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Okay, we can work in the weapons work with your training. Cassiopeia would be a good one to pull in for throwing knives,” I muse. ”As for the pole technique, I can walk you through the basics and set some simple drills for you to practice on your own. Then once you build strength in it, we can add that into a routine,” I offer.