>> "I am good at identifying my property."[/color]

Hehehehe…

“Heh,” Akshay grinned a little stupidly at the remark. Really, what was he to say to that? It was actually pretty hot but he obviously didn’t want to tip his hand just yet. Instead the young man could only keep his smile on his face.

>> "All that learning did leave me kinda thirsty,"[/color]

“Then shall we?” he beamed as h showed the way back to the bar. He barely got the words out before two fingers hooked onto his collar and began to lead him away from the dance floor.

What a woman…

Now that the dance battle was over, regular dancers (no longer cowering in fear due to Akshay’s masterful skills,) returned to the dance floor with their own partners and began to dance along to the beat of the next song. Akshay would have been happy to join them, but he had other matters on his mind right…

…very important matters…

…5’1 matters in slinky black outfit…

..ahem…

>> "Thank you,"[/color]

Akshay blinked away his confusion when he looked to up see the bartender handing the young woman a credit card. Poor thing! She was lucky she actually had it returned! There were so many people who were never as lucky as all that because credit cards were hardly ever found by honest people. Thankful the young woman seemed to subvert disaster by a kind-hearted and honest barkeep. It was almost like a fairytale.

Then there were hands on his chest.

>> "So can you get me something sweet, you sweetie?"[/color]

He beamed! Eager to please and grant her any wish she desired. Not, that, you know, he let that be seen on his features. He was far too cool for that.

“Sure!!” Smooooooooth. He cleared his throat and attempted to take his voice down a couple of octaves as he turned to the bartender. “One Heineken and…” he turned and study Chrysanthemum briefly. “You look like…a San Francisco woman to me.” Again his attention returned to the order at hand. “And on San Francisco.” Once the man that shuffled on start on the drinks, Akshay returned to Chrys’ gaze. “I don’t think I’ve seen you at this club before. You new around here?”

Small talk. Let the seduction begin…

>> “Sure!!”

Oh yes. She quite literally had him in the palms of her hands. It would be feeling almost too easy if he was not a man and she was not incredibly confident in herself.

>> “One Heineken and… You look like…a San Francisco woman to me. And one San Francisco.”

Chrys was not one to picture herself as a large west coast city or a drink named after a large west coast city, but when she saw the bright enticing color of the cocktail, she was more apt to agree. "I think you've got me figured out then." Pretty and sweet and bad for you!

>> “I don’t think I’ve seen you at this club before. You new around here?”

Chrys had been to the establishment before, but she was not a "regular" or anything; it was far too low scale to be her favorite place. The smaller, low-key clubs were just very useful; they were common in New York, so she could hop to and fro without being too recognizable.

"If you mean to town, I'm a New York girl through and through." She took a sip from her cocktail glass, very pleased by the sweet mixture tingling on her tongue. "Mmm. As for this club, I've only been once or twice. Normally I end up being dragged to upscale clubs by my other rich friends, so it's nice to come to a place like this sometimes."

Was it rude to mention that she was rich? It was honest, and even guys liked money, right? "I certainly don't find dancers of your caliber where I normally go." She figured it would not hurt to add a smile and a compliment after blurting out her affluent status.

>> "I think you've got me figured out then."[/color]

Akshay had to grin. He liked to pride himself as somewhat was a people reader; he liked the idea that he could look at someone and be able to glean some bit of information, whether they meant to or not. Having people watched for so long, it was no wonder that Akshay prided himself in being able to do this. He liked people, he liked watching them go about their days. It was because of this that he hoped he was able to learn something about this mysterious young woman.

He got something from her. What it was, he didn’t know though. She was interesting, to say the least, and he figured that there was more about her than she was letting on. But he was not going to press her to talk. With the way things were going tonight, he should surely be able to find something about her.

Only time would tell.

Their drinks arrived, and Akshay beamed as Chrys took a sip of her own. The satisfaction on her face only made his smile broaden.

>> "If you mean to town, I'm a New York girl through and through… Mmm. As for this club, I've only been once or twice. Normally I end up being dragged to upscale clubs by my other rich friends, so it's nice to come to a place like this sometimes."[/color]

Rich friends? Akshay didn’t pause long on the words. In all honesty, that could mean anything. Sometimes just having a friend who made a little bit more money than you could be classified as that. Akshay knew at least one or two friends like that when he was working his way through art school. He wondered is maybe Chrsy was in that same boat?

In all honesty, though, he was not interested in the woman’s friends. Though it seemed like they knew how to have a good time! Upscale clubs, they were…okay. Akshay and his friends had only been able to crash one or two, but they were really nothing special to write home about. Expensive drinks, popular music, maybe one or two people on a wooden dance floor who attempted to dance. It was funny most of the time.

Nah, to get the real clubbing experience, one had to slum. It was really the only way to live.

>> “I certainly don't find dancers of your caliber where I normally go."[/color]

He smirked and looked utterly innocent as he took a sip of his beer.

“What can I say?” he grinned. “I’m an original.”

That probably wasn’t true. Akshay knew that there were better dancers out in the world. People who have spent their entire lives training, practicing, working to make their dancing seen by the world! But Akshay had no interest in that. He loved to dance, but it was purely for his own enjoyment. Nothing else. Well…maybe to impress sexy young ladies too.

“You should come around more often,” he smiled brightly. “My friends and I always come here. We all work together just down the street, at the comic shop around the corner? One Comic to Rule Them All? Heard of it?”

That, of course, was the final test. Though maybe he shouldn’t have played the comic geek card so early, Akshay had to try. If she was a comic fan, or tolerated it, then SCORE![/b] If not, well, there were plenty of other ladies on the dance floor.

>> “What can I say? I’m an original.”

Chrys giggled before taking another sip of her new favorite drink. "You certainly are!" Akshay had his own brand of charisma. Even if she had not tagged him as her property for the night, he could have quite possibly won her over with that personality.

>> “You should come around more often. My friends and I always come here. We all work together just down the street, at the comic shop around the corner? One Comic to Rule Them All? Heard of it?”

The young woman's eyes lit up at the mention of a comic shop. "No, but I love comics! I just usually get them delivered because daddy thinks they're a silly waste of time." It was one of Chrys's habits that her father disapproved of and actually voiced said disapproval, but she was a grownup now and could buy what she wanted with her money.

It was convenient having her comics delivered, but if she knew a shop owner as fun as Akshay, it could be fun to try a more personal purchasing approach. "I'll definitely have to visit," she added excitedly in an almost sing-song voice.

>> "No, but I love comics! I just usually get them delivered because daddy thinks they're a silly waste of time."[/color]

Oh yesssssss…. Akshay beamed inwardly. He knew that he had hit the jackpot. Not only was his woman sexy, mysterious, and a joy to be around, but she was also a comic fan!! What corner of heaven did she fall from? And curse him for just NOW finding her! He was definitely going to have to make up for lost time with her.

At least he hoped that she liked him enough to want to see him again. He would be able to tell once the night was through.

>> "I'll definitely have to visit,"[/color]

She leaned in a little closer when she said that. And in her voice aws such a lightness that Akshay found himself intrigued. Maybe she really did like him and this was not just a case of slumming for a single night for her. The thought made him grin.

“You should, Chrys,” he nodded. “The owner will definitely give you the V.I.P. treatment. I know because, heh, the owner just happens to be standing in front of you.”

He beamed wide. Women like men who owned their own, successful businesses didn’t they? What woman could possible resist it?

>> “You shold, Chrys. The owner will definitely give you the V.I.P. treatment. I know because, heh, the owner just happens to be standing in front of you.”

Chrys was not expecting Akshay to be the owner of his own comic shop. Ironically, that tidbit of bragging could prove to be a saving grace for the dancing man. Any thoughts of killing Akshay were out the window; people were less likely to question the disappearance of a coworker over the disappearance of an owner. It would be too messy a situation to put herself in.

The second, more selfish reason for keeping Akshay alive was the guarantee of VIP comic access! She would get to play with him and then be treated to special access at his shop. It would be like having a long-term pet with benefits!

The positives of choosing Akshay were overwhelming, so it was settled. Chrys fiddled with the orange peel on the edge of her glass coyly. "I do love getting special treatment... I'll have to take a look."

She looked up from the glass with her best bedroom gaze and smirked. "Maybe in the morning?" So she was going to come across as easy; it did not matter now. She had her hook deeply lodged in Akshay, so she was not going to see him slip away as she reeled him in.

Chrys seemed to be mulling things over in her head. Maybe Akshay had hit her too hard with that information? Maybe she really wasn’t all that into comics than she let on to be? After all, there was a fine line when it came to comic fans and nerds. She may not have been all that wanting of being with someone who made it their entire life, and Akshay definitely made comic books his ENTIRE[/b] life! After all, he wrote and produced his own!

But was she really that into the world of fan-dom that he was? He began to have his doubts and considered maybe changing the subject before he lost whatever miracle-esque attraction he was having over the young woman--

>> "I do love getting special treatment... I'll have to take a look."[/color]

Oh! Well never mind! It seemed that she was rather into the situation. A glance at her posture and demeanor seemed to show that she didn’t mind the idea at all. Even though it would have been pretty shallow to dump a guy just because he liked comics and worked in a comic store, Chrys seemed to dispel such a thought.

Akshay was pleased.

Now, if he could just figure some way further get into this woman’s good graces…

>> Maybe in the morning?"[/color]

…

…

Akshay looked up at the passing bartender (who could apparently not help overhearing the conversation due to “REALLY?” look on his face) and beamed at him.

“Check please,” he said as he turned and flashed his best smile at the young woman. He really didn’t want to appear as overly eager or accidently misread what she may have been letting on so he attempted to play it as cool as he could. “Um, that could most definitely[/b] be arranged,”[/color] he finally said in response to her inquiry.

This night was awesome.

>> “Check please. Um, that could most definitely be arranged."

This night was amazing.

Akshay was all in with Chrys, and they were near the end of the path to a more private place. They both realized they were in for a great night, if not for different reasons. "Sounds like a plan." She allowed Akshay to pay (because men had to do that part; she learned at some point that it was important,) and they left the incredulous bartender.

Outside, it was a cool Autumn evening typical of New York. Chrys started digging through her pocketbook, but her sedative syringe was near the bottom of her junk. She had to be careful, lest she knock herself out on the sidewalk and blow a sure thing.

"Hey sweetie, if you don't mind, could we bring things to my penthouse? I need to... um, feed my kitten." She did not have a kitten, but she needed to fill her searching time for something other than silence. Regardless, his decision would not matter once the needle was found, but how many men were going to refuse a night at a rich girl's penthouse?

>> "Sounds like a plan."[/color]

Yessssss!

Akshay could not have been happier. As he paid the shocked bartender for the drinks, he really had to think back over the night. Though it was short, he could not stop counting his lucky stars. This woman was hot, exotic, and a complete mystery to him! And, not only all of those things, she was the one mainly coming onto him! What luck, right? Though he didn’t know if this night was going to lead to anything extensive, he was just as happy living it in the here and now.

Hell, whether or not this night continued on past tonight, who cares!? This girl definitely seemed totally worth it.

After paying the drinks, he let Chrys lead the way outside. He was not sure how she got here but he would have been more than happy to give her a ride to either his house or hers. He was not about to start getting pushing and full of assumptions. He would let Chrys call the shots for now.

He paused the second the night air lashed across his skin and he smiled. It was cool tonight and that made things all the better. A glance to Chrys and he watched as she began to dig through her purse. Maybe she did have a ride here?

>> "Hey sweetie, if you don't mind, could we bring things to my penthouse? I need to... um, feed my kitten."[/color]

…

…ahem.

“Sure! I love cats. Um, if you want I can get us there,” he said as he fished around in his pocket for his keys. “So long as you don’t mind riding on a ducati!” He said as he motioned to the silver ducati parked down the way. He then nodded for her to follow. “Come on,” he said as he turned his back to her. “I have an extra helmet you can wear.”

>> “Sure! I love cats. Um, if you want I can get us there, So long as you don’t mind riding on a ducati!”

Chrys looked up and spotted Akshay's ducati. She actually did not know what a ducati was, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a motorcycle waiting for her. She found herself conflicted; it would be beneficial for her to deal with him there rather than have him drive to her place, but at the same time, the impressed girl part of her brain wanted to take a ride on the bike. "That works."

>> “Come on. I have an extra helmet you can wear.”

The temptation was great. For a moment, she considered taking him up on the offer and hitting him mid-ride. (Logic tragically derailed that plan.)

When he finally turned away from her, she could feel the plastic of her sedative syringe at her fingertips. The moment was too perfect. She concealed the small bottle-like object on her palm and approached him from behind.

She rested her lips close to his neck, so anyone around would think she was giving him a taste of what was to come for the night.

And she was, but it was not the intimate kissing; at the other side of his neck, her fingers concealed the metal breaking his skin and the sedative entering his system.

Before he could react, she turned him around by the shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss as a means of shutting his mouth. The kiss lasted until the substance took effect. A bond was forged and she could feel her muscles lose tension as Akshay faded away.

Chrys propped him up long enough to call for a taxi. Before the driver could make a comment, she giggled and explained Akshay away with, "My silly boyfriend can't hold his drinks." It was enough to keep the man quiet.

It was not only going to be a fun night; with Chrys's relatively open schedule for the upcoming week, she might have just nabbed herself a fun new pet to keep around.

**to be continued...***