For Whom I Love

Sacha looked down at the woman he held in his arms as they apparated outside the restaurant. "You may open your eyes, now," he told her, a small smile pulling at his lips. He placed a kiss on her cheek. "Surprise."

The man had promised Alise a night out with just the two of them earlier in the summer. Unfortunately, he had been unable to fulfill said promise until now. No matter; Sacha would make up for the delay and do so gladly.

"Now, you see why I told you to dress up," Sacha said, hands resting warmly on her shoulders. He bent his head to murmur in her ear. "And you look very lovely, Alise."

Alise opened her green eyes to the room around her, a soft smile on her face. Even though she couldn't have asked for anything better than this, her face couldn't seem to convey the gratefulness she had.

"It's perfect, Sacha," she murmured, "Perfect," She leaned into her touch, smoothing out her slim, red dress slowly and carefully. She let herself savor his scent for a moment, let herself bring back the warmth in her heart, before moving away from him. "Let's get a table,"

Sacha let her move away, gray eyes watching her with a sort of grieved fondness. He was losing her and he wasn't even certain how, precisely. The loss of their child had struck them both hard, but things had started to look up for them, again. Somehow, it had all slipped away, again.

Long strides brought him to her side, again, just as a waiter came to usher them to their table. Pulling her chair out for her, Sacha saw that she was comfortably seated before sitting across from her, gracing her with a small, warm smile, his melancholy of a moment before far from view.

"We ought to have come here much sooner," Sacha said as he opened his menu. "They have some of the best selections."

Rather than look at his menu, he studied her a long moment, instead, as though trying to commit every detail to memory. "You really are very beautiful," Sacha said softly.

Alise watched her husband with a quiet gratitude, her distant, despondent smile hidden by her ducked head as she took her seat. Flipping the menu open, Alise slowly looked over the choices at hand. Sacha's gaze tickled her skin, so the Czech looked back up to smile politely.

"It all looks very good," she commented, "I barely know what to pick,"

They locked gazes and Alise reached across the table to place her hand over his. "I've missed you. I'm glad we're here. "

"If you cannot make up your mind, you can choose something for tonight and we can return again so you can try something else as well," Sacha told her.

His lips turned up into a small smile as she laid her hand over his. "And I, you. I shall do better at spending more time with you."

Alise ran a finger over the menu, mouthing over the entrees before them. After a moment, she pushed it closed and sighed. Taking his hand in hers, she brought it up to her mouth and laid a gentle kiss on one of his fingers.

"You better," she whispered, trying not to break the delicate moment. She leaned back in her chair, her tight dress hugging all the right places. "Will you order us some wine, please?"

Sacha watched her actions, lips turning up a bit at the corners as she placed a kiss on the end of his finger. As she settled against the back of her chair, he allowed his gaze to wander over her figure, equal parts appreciation of her curves and concern at how thin she managed to remain even under Ketty's and his own watchful care.

He waved the waiter over, gaze never leaving the woman across from him. "Your finest wine, please," he requested.

Reaching underneath the table, her soft leg rubbed slowly against his- soft and deliberate. It's goal purpose was to distract, though Alise refused to show her smugness. Remaining neutral, Alise picked up her glass of water and took a sip as her leg continued stroking.

"I've decided with a want," she purred, "Have you?"

And now she just wasn't playing fair, anymore, Sacha decided as Alise rubbed her leg against his. Surely, she was attempting to distract him - and it was working rather well. His gaze watched her intently, taking in each movement.

"I most certainly have," Sacha murmured in response. There was no need for him to state that it was nowhere on the menu.

Alise pulled her leg away, ending the teasing for now. She picked up her glass of wine and set the rim of the glass against her bottom lip. With a troublesome smirk, the woman dropped her voice. Low and tempting, she let out a little sigh. "Well," she mused, "You better order it, love, before the opportunity closes,"

Alise took in a slow drink of wine, relishing in the taste. "I'd sure hate to see you unable to get what you want," she put the glass back down on the table, "You know I'm here to please,"

Sacha left his chair, lithely circling the table. Grabbing the sides of her chair, he pulled her back from the table a bit, bending to murmur into her ear.

"I think," Sacha purred back, lips grazing the shell of her ear, "that we might be in the wrong locality." He pressed several slow kisses down the side of her neck.

"I know a little place where we could have a bit more... privacy. Interested?"

Alise clutched on to the man's tie, holding his face close to hers. "Can't we just use the table?" she purred, "Or the bathroom? I don't think I can wait to get home,"

Pushing herself off of the seat, Alise let go of Sacha and stood beside him. "Well, you might as well decide. Wear the pants, if you will." she shrugged, "Because you won't be wearing them for much longer,"

Sacha's lips turned up into a small smile. "As tempting as that is, I think we might end up be officially escorted from the premises and ordered never to return," he returned. Pulling her against him, he gave a smirk reminiscent of those he'd frequently employed as a teenager.

"Wait no more," he murmured back. Turning right there, he apparated them from the restaurant. He hadn't paid for the wine, but he knew it'd be put on his tab. Sacha had more... important things on his mind.

Even before the two had fully apparated into the townhouse, Alise's hands had roamed to the back of Sacha's neck. With a small tug, she pulled the man's face close to hers- close enough that her lips passed over his when she spoke.

"Oh, Sacha," she purred, "Maybe we shouldn't do this. I know how upset you get when I don't eat," She was teasing now, evident in her roaming hands which had found their way to his back. Her lips left his and attached to his neck aggressively. "Or I could cover you in chocolate and eat you right up," Alise nipped his skin softly.

"Compromise," Sacha murmured back, a hint of teasing in his gaze. "We'll have dessert first and eat in, later."

His breath hitched in his throat as her lips found his neck, his skin tingling where her hands grazed across it. Sacha took hold of the zipper at the back of Alise's dress, slowly tugging it down even as he moved to trail nips and kisses down her own neck.