M Academy: Lark's Encounters VII

M Academy:  Lark’s Encounters VII

“I can assure you, Mr. Cameron, I’m only adorable like this…if that,” she said with a slight frown in return.  She didn’t want to upset him but she certainly didn’t want him to think of her own way that she obviously couldn’t believe.  But as for the rest of his statement…she had no doubt that he felt powerful.  Hell, the man radiated power naturally.  She couldn’t help but wonder what he was like in the real world…and as the same size as her.
And then that tearing sound came again and this time Julian didn’t miss it.
It wasn’t much of a rip, but to Julian, there wasn’t a ton of fabric to start with. She started to slip between the pads of his fingers and she let out a worried yelp.  He quickly readjusted and set her back into his palm, but not before a tiny part of her shirt ripped and the shoulder felt down the arm, exposing her collarbone and upper arm.  She blushed like crazy.  Rather than risk it for the chance of a bit of a thrill, he quickly plunked her into his free hand and stood up.
“Next time I’ll ask them to send me with thicker fabrics,” she said with a smile, tugging the torn sleeve back up over her shoulder.  Her stomach fell with vertigo as her giant rose to his feet.  Gravity pulled her deeper into his palm but something told her that he probably didn’t even notice.
“Well, we’ve tried ground play,” she said, hoping to keep the conversation light and airy, “is there anything you’d like to try with me, Mr. Cameron?  I mean…if there’s time to test the waters and make mistakes, what better person than me?”
He bit his lip. "I know we have to keep this inside the apartment, but I'd really like to get you wet." Julian's sultry grey eyed glinted with an innocent mischief. "I don't have a hot tub, but would you be up to a little bath? We'll keep it to boxers and bras, of course. First visit, after all."
Her face contorted slightly.  Was he kidding?  Her?  Wet?  In just her undies and a bra?  She didn’t want to wear her innocence all over face but at such a suggestion she was sure that Julian was reading her mind.  In fact…she was so overcome with nerves that she hadn’t even answered Julian, but he was already heading into a different room!
“W-wait…” she stammered out just as he turned on a light, squinting at the change.  Just like the rest of the apartment, the place was immaculate.  Everything had a place and everything was clean.  The granite countertops in the bathroom matched the ones in the kitchen and there was a huge garden tub tucked into the corner of the room.  The shower was of course, completely separate.
“Tax analysts must make decent money…” she murmured as his thunderous steps pounded against the floor.  In reality she was just trying to get him to think about something else.  But Julian was on the move now with a one track mind and it wasn’t long before he arrived at his bathroom.
Her grey eyes went to the seemingly enormous vessel sink in frosted glass.  “Do you…do you want me to bathe in that?” Lark asked.  Surely he didn’t expect them to be in that huge tub at the same time?  Where would she find something to hold on to?  With a swallow, she looked up at Julian’s face hovering over her.  She had a feeling she knew exactly where he wanted her to cling.  “I could…I could just use the sink and you could use the tub if that’s easier?” she tried anyway.
He arched an eyebrow at her, reading right through her.
"I know you're a little jittery," Julian crooned in a velvety voice. "But that's beyond the point, hon.  We're in this together, weren't you listening? You and me."
He was getting used to this; consorting the tiny to get them used to his propositions. It was kind of fun, watching her melt under his gaze. He only looked away briefly as he bent over to turn on the water and get it filled up.
"Besides…the hot water will do you good." He brought his other hand around to gingerly but liberally pet the tiny woman.
“Yes…but,” Lark tried to plead as her ears filled with the surprisingly loud sound of the tub filling, “…I don’t think…I don’t think you know what you’re asking…” Didn’t she explain to him earlier about how self-conscious she was about her body?  She glanced down at herself.  And with good reason?  Was Julian willfully ignorant or did he just not care?  Maybe this had nothing to do with physical attraction.  This was a mental game for him.  At this size, he probably didn’t give the slightest thought to her as a woman.
Yes.  That had to be it.  Upon this realization she was both relieved and disappointed.  He could call her adorable…but she was 5 inches tall.  Anything that height would be adorable.  She supposed her french bulldog would fit that bill as well, and she had a scrunched up face.  Julian could probably easily disregard her chubby cheeks and wide hips.  But that didn’t mean she had to show him.
“I think I’ll be alright just wearing my shirt and my boy shorts,” she said as he continued to pet her softly.  “Since you kind of ripped my shirt, it kind of works to something I would wear to the beach.”
When he paused to look at her, his look was unreadable.  He had also stopped smoothing her hair with his finger…which she obviously didn’t want him to do.  What was going on in that beautiful head of his?  “It’s just…” she stammered on, “…this night is going pretty well,” she said daringly.  “And he always said—” she quickly cut herself off before she brought up her ex again.  He would have never allowed her to display her body like this…tiny or not.
“Just…” she continued to stammer again, “…do you think we could compromise on this?  I mean…I don’t mind going in the water…but maybe I could wear my shirt?  I think it would benefit both of us…”  She frowned as it dawned on her.  She didn’t have anything else to wear for the weekend.  Dammit.
He frowned slightly, sitting on the edge of the tub.
"Uh... I guess? But Lark, hon, that's your only set of clothes, isn't it? You'll be soaking wet the rest of the night," he pointed out. “I can’t exactly put you in the dryer.”  He didn't understand what she was so afraid of. Sure she wasn't stick thin, but she had a nice view from behind...and not a bad rack either. Maybe it wasn't insecurity so much as a lack of trust?
"Listen, I'm not a scumbag. I'm not going to abuse you or anything nasty." he added in a low voice, genuine, but like he was telling a secret.
“I know that!” she squeaked out in a louder voice than she had intended.  She quickly covered her mouth and noticed that her cheeks were now burning hot.  Julian smirked slightly at her outburst as she took her hands down.  “I mean…I know that, Mr. Cameron.  You wouldn’t have made it past M Academy’s screening unless you were somewhat of a decent person.”  She looked away.
She couldn’t tell but Julian didn’t seem exactly pleased with this type of reasoning.  Was he expecting her to say something else?  She didn’t know him so of course she couldn’t trust him as a person.  And he was so beautiful…she was so nervous about showing her body to him.  She pinched her eyes shut and finally started to lift off the torn sweater.  “D-don’t look,” she said when the fabric was hiding her face, “…I mean…don’t look too much,” she clarified as she finally peeled it off.
Once she set the sweater in his palm she quickly hugged her body, particularly around the midsection.  She was only doing this because she didn’t have anything else to wear.  And if things were to get out of hand…she knew that her wristband was waterproof.  As Julian set her down on the edge of the tub she started to fumble with her leggings, relieved that they could slip off easily.  Before Julian could get a look, she quickly slipped into the tub, realizing it was still well over a six foot drop from the edge to the water for her.
She resurfaced, but she was still coughing a bit and her red hair was now matted over her head and face.  “See?” she said.  “I’m in.”  She wore slightly proud smile on her face.  “Y-you’re next, Mr. Cameron,” she said, growing a bit nervous again.
He fought the urge to roll his eyes at first...she was being so mysterious about it. She was harder to read than most people. But when she resurfaced within the still-filling tub, his hands were already at his collar, throwing his tie aside and working down the buttons of his starchy shirt
"Scoot to the right if you can, little bird," he instructed, nodding towards the calmer side of the big tub, away from the roaring faucet.
The shirt came off first, then the buckle of his pants sliding to the ground. He reappeared in merely loose blue boxers shorts, looking down at her. When she was far enough over, he carefully stepped in on the other side. He had never been more self-conscious as he plunked into the water bit by bit and turned the water off. He bent over to pull her down by his thigh so he could stretch his long legs out.
"There we are." He beamed down at her.
“There we are,” Lark repeated as she waded a bit in the warm water.  It was crazy.  When Julian needed her to move, he merely had to sweep his hand in the water towards her and he could use the force of his hand to pull her closer to him.  She could feel the water react to him…like a water god.  While she barely caused any movement.  But it felt good.  Maybe Julian was right about that.  This was much different than swimming in a pool.
“This…this isn’t so bad,” she called up to him.  It was hard to focus with him sitting in the tub like this.  The water lapped gently against the lower part of his chest and his shoulders and head soared above her.  There was no way she could have straight eye contact with him right now.  She swam back a few inches away from him so he could have some room…and she could have some space.  It was hard to breathe around him sometimes.
She ducked under the water again to get her hair wet, smiling as she resurfaced, bobbing like a little mino looking for food.  “As long as I’m here, I might as well wash this red mop,” she said to him.  “That way when we get in bed I’ll smell good.”  She winked playfully.  Lark was one of those people who was nervous about everything…until she was actually doing it.  Then she started to become more confident.
“Do you have some shampoo or conditioner I could use?” she asked as she swam a little further away to meet his face.
Julian was so wrapped up in his dazed thoughts, staring down at her, he broke out of his daze with a slight splash.
"Oh! Uh, yeah I do." He reached over the side of the tub to a plastic bottle on the floor. "It's actually one of those all in one type of things..." Julian squirted out a decent-sized drop onto his palm and lowered the hand to Lark. She scooped what she could of the blue gel into her teeny hands, and set to work cleansing her hair. Julian wordlessly cupped a hand under her, raising her up into a sitting position without permission.
He didn't need it.
His large fingers slid effortlessly all over her neck and back, coaxing a lather of men's body wash all over her.
"You're so soft.  I hope you’re done hiding from me for the night," he practically purred behind her.
At first, Lark was so frightened by his openness that she almost screamed.  It wasn’t that she was frightened…not exactly.  She just always seemed to forget the power he held over her.  How easily he could take her up if he wanted.  And it seemed as though he wanted.  Her shoulders hunched up at first when she felt those warm digits start to slide body wash at first but she realized…there was no point in being so nervous.  It wasn’t as though she could stop him.
And she wasn’t even sure that she wanted to.
“Ohhh…” she gasped out as his finger slid in-between her shoulder blades and his deep voice rumbled all around her.  From the warmth of his skin, to the warmth of the water, to the slickness of the body wash…she was a bit overwhelmed.  And to make matters even more intense, the soap smelled like him.  Just like his hands and skin.  Bergamot and grapefruit flooded her nostrils and overwhelmed her senses as she tried to wash her hair with shaking hands.
“Soft,” she said quietly, trying not to snort.  Though Lark knew it was meant as a compliment a tiny part of her wished she was more toned.  His request said he wanted an athletic woman.  Wasn’t he disappointed?  She tried to shake away the negative thoughts and focus.  “I don’t think I could hide if I wanted to right now, Mr. Cameron,” she said over her shoulder.
"Good," Julian said. His large hand caressed her curves sliding down to her waist, and her hips, slick from the sudsy lather. Dipping her a little more into the warm water, he started washing off the soap with ladles of bathwater.
"Lean back," he told her softly. He was pleased to see she did as he asked without any questioning. Her red hair fanned out as he lowered her just enough to soak the shampoo out. He gingerly stroked from her forehead down, feeling his breath catch for some reason. She was so TINY! Five inches was... gosh she was just so puny...so fragile.
"You know..."Julian said, watching her sit up as he raised her to chest level, pushing her wet hair out of her eyes.  "Maybe you could lend a hand...help me wash up too, little bird."
Her eyebrows rose up at his suggestion.  How was she supposed to do that?  She was shorter than his hand was tall!  There was no way she could…she tried to calm her nerves as she saw Julian’s expression.  He wasn’t expecting much…he probably just wanted her to try.  To not be so frightened of him.
“If…if that’s what you want, Mr. Cameron,” she said, trying to put her brave face on.  When he nodded, agreeing that yes, that was exactly what he wanted from her, she instructed for him to give her some body wash to work with.  “Uhm…if you could please lay back so your torso is sort of flat,” she said in a trembling voice.  Julian seemed to like it when she gave instructions so she wasn’t all that surprised when he listened and balanced the back of his head against the tub and propped up his feet near the faucet so he was in a lax sitting position, almost laying down.
Smacking the body wash between her hands and building up a lather, she instructed Julian to set her down on his chest and she knelt down in the center of his chest, keeping herself hidden from those huge and curious eyes of his.  Unless Julian lifted his head, he couldn’t see her.  She was hidden his jaw.  She started to massage the body wash into his skin.  There was only a peppering of hair there and she was easily able to maneuver herself around with the suds.  His huge chest rose and fell with each breath but she was able to keep herself stead as she continued to work, sliding around on her knees.
Julian didn't dare vocalize his ecstasy, less he startle the tiny thing. Even his raw voice held power now. His very lungs could move another being. Yet in a beautiful, strange way…something new and gentle was awoken in him in Lark's presence.
He was aware of how Evan talked about his tinies – like pathetic groupies all dying to get a piece of him. But putting such words against Lark...it didn't fit. She was precious, adorable, sweet.
He let his head tilt back, lips parted in a slightly smile. His hand rested on his abdomen – and shot into action to catch her when she slipped face-forward atop him.
"Whoa, you okay?" he asked, trying not to chuckle.
“I’m fine!” she blurted out.  “Completely fine,” she said.  “My mind was just wandering…” she trailed off with a frown and continued to work on washing him again.  It was a large task but one that she wanted to do right.  Julian had been so kind about not pushing her too hard but in that silence…her thoughts couldn’t help but drift to James.  She wondered what he was doing…what he was up to…and who he was up to it with.
“Just…your hand startled me,” she said, falling back to her knees and continuing to try and wash.  She wasn’t even sure how much she was enjoying it any more.  To her…it was a task that was asked of her and therefore it was a task she wanted to do well.  James would do the same thing…at this point…trapped in her own mind…cleaning Julian’s chest wasn’t that much different than James demanding her to clean out the kitchen cupboards of all her junk food.
The rubbing motion on his chest slowed slightly as she remembered his face.  “You know…” she started slowly.  She felt Julian freeze to listen to her.  “You know what you said about not abusing me or hurting me in anyway?”  She Julian gave his response she continued.  “Have you ever thought about how abuse doesn’t necessarily mean something physical?”  She started to scrub again as thoughts of James filled her mind again.  Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him now?  Of all times?.  “A little conversation to fill the air.”
And just like that, she was plucked up between a massive finger and thumb.
"Alright," Julian announced. There was no frivolity in his eyes, mostly business. "What am I doing wrong? Tell me. Because I'm getting whiplash between your little adorable routine and you acting like this is the biggest mistake of your life. You don't...you don't have to make up your mind. But no mind games, sweetie." He cupped her carefully in front of his face. Sitting up in the tub now, it was Julian's turn to grow a bit of self-doubt.
With a tiny squeal of surprise at the change of view, Lark didn’t know where to look or where to turn when suddenly Julian’s massive face was in front of her.  And he didn’t look pleased.
Her voice came out nervously and shook more openly than usual.  “I’m…I’m not trying to be adorable on purpose!” she stammered as she wriggled in his grasp.  It was weird to feel this thumb pressing against her ribs and waist.  “And I’m certainly not doing it because it’s a routine!”  Her eyes watered slightly as he didn’t relent but finally he changed his grip and let her sit in the center of his palm, helping her feel a little more dignified.  She coughed slightly.
“And…and I certainly don’t think this is the biggest mistake of life,” she said, still trying to regain some composure as his eyes searched her over.  That’s what he thought she was doing?  Playing mind games with her?  She couldn’t genuinely be scared?  Or nervous?  Or intimidated?  Or broken?
“I wasn’t trying to play mind games with you, Mr. Cameron.  I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of those games and I can tell you…it destroy you from the inside out.  What I meant earlier, was merely that.  I was making conversation with you.”  She frowned as she realized she hadn’t mentioned James.  No wonder he had taken it the wrong way!  But in her mind, it was too late, now.  She had already sealed her fate and ruined everything.
“When it got quiet like that…my mind started to fill with things that I just didn’t…I didn’t want to think about, okay?  I was hoping that your voice would make me feel better…but it seems all I’ve done is made things worse.”  She wiped her nose with the back of her arm.  “So I’m sorry for that, Mr. Cameron.”
His eyes slowly widened. This chick was way more damaged than he thought. He briefly thought about the ex-boyfriend she had mentioned earlier. How deep were her wounds?
"Maybe..." Julian started slowly. "…maybe we should just…slow down for a while." He brought the tiny girl to his chest with the utmost slowness. He hugged her gently, rubbing her side almost like a child.
“But that’s not what you want, is it?” she muttered into his damp skin.  “That’s not what you want…” she pressed her face against his chest, so completely and utterly disappointed with herself.  Her eyes trailed down to the wristband and though she knew she was going to ruin everything, this wasn’t fair to him.  She would explain everything to Kennings and Sharon.
“I’m…I’m sorry, Mr. Cameron,” she croaked out just as she started to let the tears fall.  If he could hear her shifting he probably wasn’t assuming that she was going to do what she was about to do.  “This…this really was turning out to be a lot of fun…but I don’t think…I don’t think I’m being fair to you…” she trailed off as she brought the wrist band to her face, staring at the little red button.  There was only one button.  And once she pressed it…odds are that Julian wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her again.  Maybe no one would.
“Next weekend when you can sign up for a tiny…do yourself a favor and find someone fun…and less broken.”  Her thumb finally pressed the button and a whir of smoke started to fill the air around her.  She felt herself slowly seeping out of consciousness and Julian’s voice started to shout, loud and panicked.  She heard water splashing around her as he rose out from the tub.  She didn’t want to do it this way…but she couldn’t think of anything else she could do.
She had blown it.