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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3145286" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 186, “ More Magic“ , Sunday, March 26th, 1882, 10:00 PM Jake notices that Ruby's eyes start to change color as she stands, so he starts to talk fast, "Err I thought it would be funny... um, don't be mad I had bought the ring a long time ago... Harry thought I was crazy tearing my sleeve and putting the blood from the meat on it... I was trying to decide when to give it to you... I thought you'd laugh, you said you wanted to have fun.... ah, have I told you how crazy I am about you?" “Jake!” Ruby smacks him in the arm as she yells at him, “How could you tease me like that? You and your damn jokes!” Her pout has retuned and she turns her body away from him. She is quiet for a moment, her face hidden by her long hair hanging down. She looks at the ring in his hand and says quietly, “YOU bought the ring? I went to the store and it was gone. Did you really buy the ring for me?” Then she looks up at him, locking eyes, “No, tell me how crazy you are about me.” As he rises from the bed, "I thought you'd laugh...." Jake looks sheepish, "Crazy in love enough to buy you this ring? I wanted it to be a surprise. I guess I ruined that, huh?" Jake takes a step closer and stands behind her. He moves his hand holding the ring around in front of her and moves it back and forth. "Come on, don't be mad at me. I know you want it." He says in a sing-song voice. “Oh it was a surprise alright,” she replies. “I thought you were really hurt." She again glances down at the shimmering ring in Jake's hand. "I do want it.” She spins around and pushes her body against Jake's. Then she sticks her hand out, waiting for him to place it on her slender finger. Jake adroitly flips the ring around in his hand then wiggles it onto her finger. "Looks like it was made to be there, doesn't it?" He watches her move her hand and admire the ring. "Why did you think I would be mad?" “I thought you would be mad because I made you think you needed to get me that ring so badly that you would head to the store and steal it.” Ruby continues to look at the ring on her finger. “I really love it. And I really love that you bought it for me without me even asking.” She stands on her toes to be eye level with Jake and kisses him. “It was the spell; I thought it was the spell anyway. Well, I guess it didn’t work.” Ruby shakes her head, “I was trying to show you what someone would do under the effects of a certain spell. What I forgot to realize is that you are already charmed by me,” she laughs. “I didn’t know you already bought the ring,” she says again gazing lovingly at it on her finger. "What spell, what was it supposed to do to me?"  Ruby looks away from her finger and to Jake. “You heard me casting it. It was supposed to make everything I say seem favorable to you. Make you do everything I want you to,” she laughs, “Although not really, it’s not that powerful.” “But admit it, you were going to give me your gun, at least you considered it. I would never ask you for your Colt baby, you should know that. I know how much it means to you.” She takes Jake by the hand, leading him to the comfy chairs by the small table. Two bourbons are waiting there for them. “Anyway, see what someone can do to you, given a spell like that? I want you to be able to realize what can happen and to practice resisting letting it happen to you.” Ruby lets herself fall back into one of the chairs. While Ruby is talking Jake takes of his ruined shirt and throws it in the corner. Still standing he reaches for a bourbon and says nothing. Ruby happily watches Jake remove his shirt and admires him for a bit before snapping out of her reverie with a smile. “Some other things I want to tell you…” Ruby lifts her glass to her lips and takes a sip of her bourbon, “There are many different kinds of people who can use magic. Someone like me, I just have the magic inside me and I have to figure out how to let it out. Someone like Kate, she can study it out of a book and learn it that way. Her way she can choose the type of magic or spells she wants. I can only try to find what’s already inside of me. I suppose I could study too, but what fun would that be?” Ruby shrugs. “Booorringgg.” Ruby exaggerates the word. “Kate will be able to cast many more spells that I ever will. But people like Kate needs books to study their spells out of, people like Ringo, if he is a wizard, I’m not sure at this point. Anyway, without their spell books, once they cast a spell they can’t recast it until they study it again.” Jake sips the bourbon while she talks. Ruby can tell he is listening very carefully to what she is saying, and his eyes give away that he is thinking. “I also have my singing. Some people have told me it’s magical,” she smiles mysteriously, “Maybe it is. You seem to think it is.” Jake nods his head up and down in agreement. “So that’s your lesson for today. Do you have any questions?”  Jake continues to looks Ruby in the face and takes a sip of bourbon, obviously thinking. He remains quiet for a few minutes before he finally asks, "How would I know I was.... what do you call it? Ensorcerelled? Magicked? Would I know?" “Did you know when I did it to you just now? You’ve never felt me reading your thoughts before, right? If someone is powerful and good enough, no you wouldn’t know. But we can practice; you can try to resist me casting spells on you. You use your mind. If we practice you’ll get better. And we also have to find a way to fight against those who have other kinds of magic, like protections. We’re at a disadvantage with someone like Ringo, he can protect himself from things we can do, so if he just bides his time he’ll get us eventually. If we want to stay here and live here we have to be able to defend ourselves and our castle, right? We have to find a way, we’re all trying to get information, I know.” Ruby sighs, “Maybe Red could help us, for the future. I'd like to meet him anyway, maybe you and I could take a trip. And there is Mr. Gonzales. He’s been a really big help. But… he’s an elf, he doesn’t have the immediacy that we have.” Again, Jake is quiet sipping his bourbon. He finally sits down in the other chair. "No, I could not tell." Another sip and silence. "Am I now?"  "Yes," Ruby replies. "I tried to dispel it before but you stopped me. That particular spell lasts a long time, hours." Jake is quiet again, only his eyes are moving. Finally after what seems a long time he laughs. "Figures." He laughs again shaking his head before taking another drink. "If you are done teaching me for tonight, I'll try to behave this time and let you dispel it. "Well, I'm done with that kind of magic anyway. I still have a few more ideas, much more fun though." With a wave of her hand she says, "Eradico." Jake watches closely as Ruby dispels the magic on him. He feels nothing. He asks, “So, you can cast a spell and make someone do things you want or feel the way you want them to and it’s possible that person can’t even tell?”  “Yes,” Ruby replies. “I could make someone see my point of view, do things that I want them to do, even make them say they love me.” Jake thinks this through before he scratches his chin and tilts his head. "So there I am, walking into a candle lit room with the beautiful Ruby West. The curtains are drawn and she tells me the help has been instructed to leave us alone. Things are looking pretty good Jake thinks." Jake downs the last half of his bourbon and grins. "Then she says we are going to have fun with magic. So poor innocent Jake," Ruby raises her eyebrows and gives him a look but he continues, "... ahem, poor innocent Jake expects that she will make candles fly about the room or turn his hat purple or make pigeons appear or something. Once again Jake has guessed wrong. However in her wisdom Ruby has taught Jake some valuable lessons tonight, regardless of his comic interruptions. And her advice on what we do in the future to protect ourselves is also correct." He reaches over and refills both their glasses. "Now Jake thinks very highly of this Miss West, so highly that he trusts her with his life, and other important assets. So before we continue with the promised FUN part of the evening let me tell you this. Jake does not want to ever wonder if what he feels for the beautiful and talented Miss West is anything but what comes from that depraved little heart of his. Today he believes that to be true, like he said earlier and further more he believes that those feelings came about naturally in the way mortals with depraved hearts one day find out they are cursed with feelings of love and not some outside influence of any kind. That being said, I am now looking forward to the promised fun without further interruption by any work." Jake raises his glass in a toast. "To my always beautiful and frequently unpredictable Ruby West. To a long time together." Ruby takes a moment to let what Jake said seep in. She gets out of her chair and stands before him, taking his glass out of his hand. She takes his hands in hers. “I swear on my life I have never used any magic on you to manipulate how you feel about me. And I promise I never will.” Ruby stares hard at Jake. “I want what we have to be real; whatever comes with that, it’s all I really want. Please believe me, Jake.” "Damn it Ruby," he reaches out and pulls her to his lap. "Didn't you hear anything I just said to you? Hermes girl, I just told you I believed that before you even said anything, are you feeling guilty or something? I'll accept that promise too, I believe you! I said what I said because you know how I feel about magic, and I still let you use magic on me. Let me feel a bit squeamish over it will ya? Meirda!" Jake lets out an exasperated sound. "You don't have to beg me to believe what I already believe!" He grabs her by the shoulders and starts laughing, "Do I have to shake you until you believe me?" Still laughing he shakes her, gently mocking anger. Then he puts his face right up against hers, eye to eye and speaks very slowly. "I..... believe..... you...." Ruby puts her hands on Jake's face, "I just didn't know why you would say that..." Ruby's voice trails off as she sees Jake's eyebrow shoot up, "Ok, ok, you believe me, good. Enough of that. More of this," she leans in and kisses him passionately for a few moments before pulling away. “I told you were would have some fun. “I want to show you there are another ways to use magic. You’ve never asked me to dance for you since the night you asked me to be your girl. Didn’t you like my dancing?” She looks at Jake, her full lips slightly parted and mischief in her eyes. "I truly did enjoy your dancing." Ruby runs her fingers through Jake’s hair. “On the other side of the world there is a place called Morocco. It’s in Northern Africa, although I’m sure you knew that. Now, close your eyes and use your imagination. I’m going to tell you a story; it’s a true story, one I learned on my travels.” Ruby runs her fingers lightly over Jake’s eyes, closing them, before getting off his lap. As Ruby continues to talk he can hear soft rustling noises. She uses a dramatic voice as she speaks, “Imagine a dusty land, the Sahara Desert, but around it cities filled with color and life. The air in the streets is heavy, filled with the scent of exotic spices and music like you have never heard, it enchants you with just one note.” “And in this land there was a woman who loved a man. He was a prince, handsome and kind. She was a just a peasant who worshipped him from afar. But she desired him, so she went to the town elder, a woman rumored to be a witch. It turned out the woman wasn’t a witch, just a woman who knew how to get what she wanted, was taught by someone like her, a secret so great and powerful. The two became friends and finally the old lady taught the young woman her secret, dancing. Not just dancing but a special kind of dancing, a kind of dancing to make any man fall in love with the one who uses it. The old woman passed to her a weapon, one to help with her mission, an outfit to entice and tempt even the stoutest man.” “So when she was finally ready and fully trained she headed to the Palace and snuck in as a serving girl. That night there was a huge party with all kinds of food and entertainment. She had her special outfit on and she summoned all her courage as she made her way out onto the floor of the hall. She quietly started to sing and dance, focusing all her energy on the Prince, ignoring all others. Her sweet voice cut through the noise and captured the attention of the Prince. He watched her, entranced by her song and most especially her dance.” Suddenly Jake hears Ruby start singing a song, not in a language he knows but something much more foreign. He opens his eyes and sees her wrapped in layers of sheer fabric, not able to see what is underneath. She has a gold jeweled headdress in her long hair, hair that curls all the way down her back. As she dances around and slowly pulls off the wrap he sees Ruby wearing a red and gold two piece outfit matching the headdress. Ruby’s breasts swell over the jeweled cups of the top, held up only by ties around her neck and back. The skirt is in two parts, sitting very low on her hips. A piece of fabric barely covers her front and back, and the rest flowing sheer fabric being held on only by a couple of ties on her curvy hips. Her long legs peek out on both sides. Ruby slowly lets the wrap fall to the floor as she continues her song and dance. She glides around the floor gracefully, her hips swaying back and forth in ways Jake has never seen her move, her skin glittering in the candlelight. She turns her back to Jake and continues her lithe movements. “Now, Mr. Cook,” Ruby says in a low voice with her face turned over her shoulder. Colored by the candle light, her blood hued hair caresses her nearly bare back as it undulates in the shadowy glow, “I hope you are appreciating this; it’s called belly dancing. Only someone with a lot of money gets to see this dance, or…” Her voice trails off as she elegantly dances right up to Jake, her arms swaying in the air over her head, her bare belly and hips gyrating only inches away from his face, “Someone I love. Which leaves only… you.” "I will savor every moment," He replies quietly and blows a little air on her belly. “Good,” Ruby whispers back. As Jake blows on her she puts her hands gently on his face, and closes her eyes briefly, enjoying the sensation. Then she leans down, almost losing her top, and gives him a soft kiss. As she continues to dance back and forth in front of him she starts moving her hands in a circular motion, and singing what sounds almost like chanting. A small bubble of iridescent light forms in her hands, growing to the size of an orange. Ruby’s singing stops but the bubble stays in place. She brings her hands up to her face, purses her lips and blows on the bubble. As she does the bubble seems to explode into a million little bubbles some of which float down and pop on Jake, others that swirl and twirl around Ruby as she dances. As the twinkling bubbles pop the air starts getting heavy, the temperature rising slightly and the room fills with an exotic aroma of some sort of spice. There is a sound, a distant music, like twinkling chimes. Ruby continues to dance seductively around Jake as she speaks, “And if you close your eyes again you can imagine you’re really there…” she says softly. Jake starts to feel warm so he kicks off his boots. "Close my eyes?" He replies slowly and softy, "That seems a damn foolish thing to be doing right about now. I'll imagine with my eyes wide open." His nostrils flair and take in the wisps of spicy cinnamon. That fades to be replaced by the sharp smell of cloves and then that by the subtle and earthier aroma of saffron. He sips his bourbon and finds that even the subtle sweetness, burnt caramel and faint vanilla flavors seem to swirl on his tongue. He chuckles and licks his lips. Ruby continues to dance around the room swinging and swaying her hips to a song only she hears, closing her eyes as if she is imagining she is there too. Her skirt twirls out gracefully around her as she spins around, the remaining bubbles following her orbit. She stops spinning suddenly, her hair continuing to move until it rests equally over the front of her shoulders. She strides over to Jake with purpose, then turns her back to him, watching over her shoulder, waiting for him to undo the ties on her top. He reaches up and unties the lower one first and then the one on her neck. When the strings fall away he runs his finger slowly along her spine, from her shoulders to her lower back. Jake watches goose bumps run up Ruby’s back and she gives a small shiver before turning to face him. Her long hair is still hanging over her shoulders, covering her. Ruby starts backing slowly away from Jake, “So,” she says in a sultry voice, “Did you like your lesson, Mr. Cook?”  Jake gets up from his chair and follows her across the room, "I have new appreciation for dancing." "You do? I thought you would like that," Ruby raises an eyebrow but still continues to back away from Jake slowly. "But that's not what I meant, I meant the magic." Her back suddenly hits the post of the bed and she stops up against it. "It is your particular talent for using what you know that I find most alluring," Jake says and he walks slowly towards her. "I've met lots of folks who were a fountain of knowledge," he continues getting very close to her without touching her, "Ruby's fountain glitters like diamonds, the drops fall with the delicate sounds of wind chimes, and the wind is filled with the aroma of rare orchids." Jake finishes with his breath heavy in her ear. "I'm here to drink from the fountain." Jake could hear the sharp intake of Ruby’s breath with his last words whispered to her. She arches her back and slowly stretches her arms over her head, pulling her long hair over her shoulders to her back, revealing herself to Jake before closing the small distance between them and leaning against him. She closes her eyes and presses her soft full lips up against Jake’s, which are warm and inviting. She kisses him gently but gradually her kisses get more intense and insistent. He feels her chest rise and fall with each heavy breath she takes. The touch of her bare skin on his is nearly electric. Jake crushes her to himself, his arms pulling her tightly to him, aware of every contact of Ruby's hot flesh on him. He feels her yearning lips, soft arms, firm breasts, smooth belly on him and it is suddenly too much; he is crazed with desire. There is an awkward and urgent fumbling of four hands on the remaining clothing which falls to the ground. Jake is pushing her, while Ruby is pulling him and they fall deep into the blankets on the bed. Lost in the loose bedclothes, they writhe passionately and with abandon.</blockquote>

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