The drive to Dublin was not very long.  Narrow, winding brick lanes led them past gaudy storefronts and quaint little pubs, flower carts and rows of bicycles parked along cobblestone sidewalks.  Its sturdy, timeworn buildings and whimsical charm was a façade for a hotbed of criminal activity – it was far more ambitious than London, and a greedy market for luxury goods that had been overlooked for too long.  As they turned onto Grafton Street, the morning sun was peeking through the clouds, turning the pond in St. Stephen’s Green to watery gold.  Across from the pond, the pale, stately gray brick hotel awaited them.  Heather wasn’t sure exactly what to expect… perhaps something flashy and flippant, just like Castor… but this surely wasn’t it.

            As they crossed the lobby, the lush green woven carpet muffling the squeaky wheels of the bellhop’s cart as he dragged the luggage cart behind him, she wondered blindly about what Pollux had meant.  Had he been in suspicion of her all this time?  They must have realized the risk they were taking by kidnapping an FBI agent, even if they had known about her for some time. 

            The hotel staff was familiar with him, gracious and obviously offering far better treatment than most guests would receive.  “I have another surprise for you.”, Castor whispered in her ear as they waited for the elevator.  She turned to look at him, then at his brother.  Pollux was staring at the ceiling - she knew he had a lot on his mind.   

            “Are you spoiling me… or placating me?”, she responded, knowing she was pushing the line with her teasing.  Castor was unfazed.

            “It’s beneath me to placate.  You should know by now that I never give anything without getting something in return.”, he said, squeezing her ass and hissing lustfully as the brass elevator doors opened.  His mouth opened to say something else, but Pollux interjected.

            “Cas…”, his needling voice echoing over the walls of the carriage,  “There’s a certain aspect of business to be discussed… and that would be family business.”, he added pointedly, looking over at Heather coldly.

            Castor looked at him, puzzled.  “Is there a problem?”.

            “Isn’t there always a problem somewhere?”.

            Heather gently squeezed his hand, tickling the fleshy palm and slyly rubbing it over her thigh.  She could tell this caught his attention, as he glanced at her with a playful gleam in his eyes.  “Bro…”, he murmured as he stared ahead, straightening his shoulders, “There’s no problem that can’t be discussed later.”.

Gently snaking his fingers up the hem of her dress, Heather was enjoying the way she could manipulate him with her body – she wasn’t about to let Pollux twist things around this late in the game.

            Pollux blinked in disgust and disbelief.  “Are you prepared to qualify that statement?”.

            “Like a brand-new Visa.”, he quipped as the doors opened to reveal an airy hallway lined with windows overlooking the Green.  Nudging his younger brother, he gestured to the far end with one hand, caressing Heather with the other.  “We’ll meet you for dinner tonight… do you think you can find a way to amuse yourself that doesn’t involve breaking things or setting something on fire?”.

            Staring down at his feet and rubbing the back of his neck in frustration, Pollux turned and walked down the hall without another word.  She listened to his tennis shoes squeaking on the marble as he trudged away.

            “What was that all about?”, she asked innocently.  “Did I do something to set him off?”.

            Castor shrugged and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close.  She could feel him nudging her, grinding into her and aching to explore every inch of her body all over again.  “C’mere…”, he whispered as he took her hand and led her to an ebony door lined with pewter and brass inlay. 

            Given his money and power, it was no surprise when Heather found herself in a spacious penthouse.  The travertine walls and shag rugs, a symphony of creams and whites, played against the deep brown of the acacia floors.  In stark contrast to the exterior of the hotel, there was modern Italian furniture everywhere… the low sculptural ceiling echoed the geometric patterns of the fireplace and décor, and as she gazed at the lights above them, glowing ethereally from various corners of the room, she heard a piano begin to play.

            “Is that my surprise?  You hired a piano player?”, she asked as she turned to face Castor, who was fiddling with a remote control.

            “No… it’s all preprogrammed.”, he said, clicking at something in another room.  A black baby grand piano, surrounded by scarlet walls and a glass-topped dining table, was providing the music – a classical tune she couldn’t identify.  Now she was starting to see more of Castor’s tastes, and as she gazed out the windows of the main room she wondered what else he could have in store.  Arms encircling her waist again, she was being drawn closer to eager lips and tense muscles.   “Ready for your surprise?”.  Without another word, he guided her to a bedroom, where she found an emerald satin dress.  Simple and elegant, with matching shoes and diamond drop earrings, she marveled at how it all matched her bracelet perfectly.  “You were gonna need something for tonight.  Do you like it, baby?”.

            Her throat went dry.  “Yes… it’s amazing.  It’s perfect!”.  She held the dress up to her and looked in the mirror near the bed.  It would fit very well… a little too well.  She was still trying to wrap her mind around the idea of this man knowing so much about her.  “You had said something in the lobby… about getting something for everything you give?”.

            Castor nodded, looking deep into her eyes.

            “Well…”, she purred, laying the dress on the bed before stepping closer to him, “what do you expect to gain from buying me this dress?”.

            A playful grin spread across his face.  “Sinclaire… you know I can’t resist seeing your beautiful ass wrapped in satin.  I’m the guest of honor everywhere you go… so I get to dress you the way I like!”.  His cockiness was cute, charming… he knew exactly how to turn her on and keep her turned on, to make her do things she hadn’t ever considered before.  She’d forgotten her boundaries a long time ago with this man.

            “Do you want me to try it on now?”.

            “No.”, he responded dryly.  Taking off his jacket and unbuttoning his shirt with a cool, detached weariness, he took his wallet and cell phone out of his pocket and left the room.  Heather followed him, and realized there was a built-in safe behind a picture next to the fireplace when he tossed his belongings inside.  Something about this act hurt her deeply for a moment – a heightened awareness of just how different they still were and always would be.  He loved her ass, he loved her mind, and in a strange sort of way he probably loved her soul… but he still didn’t trust her.

             Castor finished removing his shirt, his back turned to her.  The morning light bathed the whole room in a soft yellow-white glow, and it defined the sleek muscles of his body in such a way that made her mouth water.  As he bent over to untie his shoes, she watched him, silently chastising herself for doing exactly what Archer had predicted… she was getting wrapped up in him, in his whole life, and forgetting who she was.  But at that very moment, all she wanted was his fiery touch and aggression… Heather was getting wet and hot just thinking about it, and as he walked into the other bedroom she knew she wouldn’t be able to control herself this time, either.

-- Edited by Damaris at 20:21, 2006-04-23