The Ripper

William Jack Holloway

The Hunter truly couldn't help himself as he watched the witch threaten him with that knife against his chest. The girl clearly thought she was something or that his form should be afraid of the tiny blonde assassin. And perhaps to others she had been a source of fear and terror and pain, but to William... to William she was simply cute. So he couldn't help the tease that slipped through his lips, just as he couldn't help the chuckle that came from his lips at her suggestion at toying with him. Of course the girl that thought she had the upper hand here would believe that. For a moment, he allowed her to think that as he commented on the symbol on his blade. There had been a few in all of his years that recognized those three deer on the silver and commented on it, and each time it had caused a near pang in his chest at the mention of his old name, his old life. But things were different now. He'd found Sebastian: the friend he'd thought dead for so, so long. The name he'd worn with pride in his youth no longer caused him pain.

Still, he hardly had time to focus on that with the girl pressed against him with that icy stare of hers. He supposed he could get out of this by force - he was without a doubt stronger than she was, after all. But what was the fun in that? It was those thoughts alone that had him leaning forward so abruptly. Just as he expected, her attention was entirely caught on the hand that dared reach for her arm, leaving the girl entirely unprepared for the man's lips coming to rest upon hers. His lips were almost feverish on hers as he moved to wrap her wrists up in his hand and push her back against the wall. He could tell she was angry - he couldn't blame her for that - and yet he still found that she was kissing him back. He wouldn't deny that she was a beautiful girl, and once upon a time he might have kissed her just for fun instead of a means of distraction.

It was only when he was confident he had her pinned did he start to pull away. He couldn't help the small jolt of surprise that crossed his features as she dared to bite his lower lip, just as he couldn't deny the way he liked how that felt. It was so easy then, to tease her. He was so unprepared for the blush that crept its way onto her features. Had she - could she have - actually enjoyed kissing him? And ah, there was that smile on her features that he was quickly learning to enjoy, the girl assuring him that she had plenty of tricks. William grinned at her. "I can't wait to see them, kitten," he cooed, and then there she was talking about the bases again. He tilted his head to the side at the mention that it was first base, and for a moment he was alright to consider those words before she inquired - kind of - about his name. "You know my last name," William teased, his voice dropping into the playful sort he would have used with Sebastian rather than the cold killer he had become. His voice was almost boyish then, the tone of it matching the grin he wore so playfully. "But if you want my name it's..."

Always a surprise, the girl seemed to be, the way she leaned forward this time to kiss him. There was that biting thing she was so keen on again, and it seemed to work to draw him in closer to her. He wouldn't deny that kissing her was entirely pleasant. She tasted sweet, almost, and it was too easy to let himself kiss her back in those brief moments before she pulled away. The smile that appeared on his features as she pulled back was entirely genuine, as was the way it seemed to grow at her words. He chuckled then. It seemed that any hostility between the two had been broken up, and it was that alone that had William letting go of her wrists to let his hands fall to her hips. "Ah, who could ever not want to kiss you, kitten?" He said, reaching up with one hand to tuck a stray piece of her white hair behind her ear. He let his fingertips linger on her cheek as he leaned in once more and brushed his lips against hers in a nearly sweet kiss.

"But you're right," He chuckled, pulling his lips away though he remained entirely close to the girl, leaving one hand on her hip and the other gently touching her cheek. "It's decidedly improper for me to not introduce myself." He bowed his head slightly, that impish grin on his features as he allowed himself to speak his titles for the first time in nearly two hundred years. "His Grace William Jack Cavendish, Seventh Duke of Devonshire and Marquess of Hartington." He looked up, positively grinning at his companion. "And before I kiss the lady again, if she'll permit it, may I have her name?"

But darling -- it's only human nature.