Sugar and Spice - Darius and Crew

He nodded.

"You may."

She looked sheepishly at him, "Thank you." rubbing her temples as the look of pure sleep dep and exhaustion briefly looked back at him.

He nodded.

"You are welcome."

"May I Have a hug?" she said softly glancing at him with a blush to her cheeks.

Wordlessly, he held out his arms for her.

She went to his arms, hugging him tightly taking a deep breath, fighting back the tears, he was real, he was right here and she needed her brain to turn off. She nuzzled into his neck, where it met his shoulder taking in his scent and the scents on him.

He held her, his arms tightening around her. He was holding her, though he still seemed a bit aloof.

She winced as if he'd hit her but didn't say anything. She pulled away quickly as not to make it harder, then looked at him seeing what he wanted next for her to go till he was asleep, no longer sure on how to respond or act around him.

He didn't seem to want her to go. He just wasn't jumping for joy at the moment. He was still angry, that much was clear. Still angry -- but he was making an attempt.

She leaned up, then kissed him hard, her tongue pressing into his mouth and her arms went around him. She knew he was mad at her, but she was still wounded by him in a way she couldn't express or understand. The sleep dep hadn't helped but then again her dreams had been so odd she wasn't sure sleeping beside him would of helped.

She had been going through the motions but this was not a good place no matter what he said, and for the first time in a long time she was actually scared but that wasn't something she could say or explain it would just start another fight and right now she needed him.

He held her for a moment, stiff as she kissed him. Then his kiss answered hers, letting her tongue press into his mouth and letting her press her body against him. He wasn't taking control of the situation yet, but he wasn't pushing her away, at least.

She kissed him passionately, not giving up since he had not pushed her away, and she ran her nails down his back. Just wanting to touch him, as her hands then slid up his back under his shirt.

He still didn't push her away. He didn't answer her as enthusiastically as he normally would have, maybe, but he did shiver and groan at the feel of her nails raking down his back.

There was no warning, as she bit his shoulder hard enough to draw blood, her nails dug harder into him, maybe she was just trying to get a reaction.

His growl came louder and she could feel that his hands curled into fists. But he didn't hit her -- in fact, he still didn't touch her hardly at all. She got a reaction -- but the angry man that was her lover was still very angry. And funny thing about it -- he was honorable in a certain way. He wouldn't hurt her when he was angry.

With that she stepped back, "Yell - scream - something?" she said softly to him as her eyes searched him for something.

He stared at her and shook his head.

"No. That's unhealthy for us both, Savannah."

"So this is it?"

His brows rose.

"That depends on what you think 'it' is. The truth is, Savannah, that while I care for you, I am still very angry. You also know how I feel about reacting to most things with you when I am angry. I refrain, for the safety and the health of us both."

"Then I'll not push you but I need you and if you don't think you can handle me close, then you need to tell me." turning from him "But there was a time you would of sought me." She wiped her eyes but her back was still to him "and as a courtesy to your additions and they're safety maybe I stepped away as well."

He was quiet for a full minute.

"Savannah, you've been pushing me away from you. I do not know if it is because you want your distance or because you want me to chase after you. The truth of the matter is that I don't play those kinds of games anymore. You, of all people, should know and realize that. You do as you feel you need to do. And I will do as I have always done."

"But it's not as you've always done, I have not been pushing you away, you have pushed me away, and I feel I have no place with you." she said softly to him.

His brow rose.

"I have not now, nor have I ever, pushed you away. Excluded you when I felt it necessary. But that is not pushing you away, that is protecting you from both me and yourself."

"When did I go from a partner to a pawn?" she said looking at him, "IF I haven't I feel like I have. You maybe mad at me, but letting me know that I'm more than a piece you are moving would be nice Darius."

His brow rose.

"What of my actions, specifically, have made you feel like a pawn, Savannah?"