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Heartbreaks, especially first ones, changed you. There was a tendency to write it off and tell you that you would be fine, or that you’d grow out of it. And you did grow because you learned to second guess yourself, to resist any feelings that were too intense. That first heartbreak taught you that no matter how much you might love someone, you couldn’t make them love you.
That didn’t change the fact that the pain changed a person. Sometimes it made them forget their senses and react recklessly. Then again sometimes it made cowards out of those who’d once been brave. Evangelina fell into the second category. She hadn’t quite been the same since she’d made such a fool of herself over Nikos. The worst part was, that the pain wasn’t even over him anymore, but about her. About the fact, that she’d started pulling punches on the things that mattered to her. That wasn’t her.
‘I don’t know,’ The calm in his voice made her ache, he continued talking about how the boys had ended up with the kitten but she’d stopped focusing on the words. She wanted that calmness, she wanted to wrap herself in it and just be. It was in that moment that she realized that it didn’t simply stretch to wanting Gavriil, but needing him. He wielded a power over her that scared her, it made her want to be fearless.
Somewhere in all of the pain of not being enough for everyone, she’d stopped reaching out. She’d stopped trying when things had become hard. She told herself it was for the better. It was better to stop something hard before she failed, and before it tore her apart.
Capturing her bottom lip between her teeth, she looked back at the sand. When had she become that person who’d burned their hand grabbing something hot and then refused the balm that would ease the pain because it might burn applying it? Her arms loosened and fell to her sides. Sometimes her own need to look out for herself got in the way of actually looking out for herself. That was a hard truth to swallow.
The man next to her drew her in like a moth to a bonfire, it scared her, but there was also something so comforting in his presence that she could feel in her bones that whatever was wrong with her… he could fix that. When was she going to be honest with herself about that? She definitely needed him.
He’d stopped talking about the cat and silence once again filled the space between them. Her brows furrowed, she needed some help with finding her courage. Her tongue across her bottom lip as she picked through the words in her head. She wanted to tell him something but she wasn’t sure what it was nor did she know how too. Why hadn’t she been born with the ability to communicate her feelings like her cousins had been?
‘I’m not sure which part of what I said hurt you, but I will be candid and say that you’re perfectly fine the way you are. And I like speaking with you. I regret that I obviously made you feel otherwise.’
Coming to a halt, she fixed him with a searching look. Did he mean that, did he think she was perfectly fine the way she was? Something cracked inside of her and her eyes started to well up with unshed tears. No one had ever said that she was perfectly fine the way she was. There was always something that could be better, something that needed fixing… something that was not quite good enough.
“Perfectly fine the way I am?” Evangelina’s voice trembled, she tried to swallow that away, “You don’t wish I was quieter or more prudent? Taller?” She found that biting her bottom lip didn’t stop the way her body was gently shaking. Did he mean that? Did he really mean that?
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Heartbreaks, especially first ones, changed you. There was a tendency to write it off and tell you that you would be fine, or that you’d grow out of it. And you did grow because you learned to second guess yourself, to resist any feelings that were too intense. That first heartbreak taught you that no matter how much you might love someone, you couldn’t make them love you.
That didn’t change the fact that the pain changed a person. Sometimes it made them forget their senses and react recklessly. Then again sometimes it made cowards out of those who’d once been brave. Evangelina fell into the second category. She hadn’t quite been the same since she’d made such a fool of herself over Nikos. The worst part was, that the pain wasn’t even over him anymore, but about her. About the fact, that she’d started pulling punches on the things that mattered to her. That wasn’t her.
‘I don’t know,’ The calm in his voice made her ache, he continued talking about how the boys had ended up with the kitten but she’d stopped focusing on the words. She wanted that calmness, she wanted to wrap herself in it and just be. It was in that moment that she realized that it didn’t simply stretch to wanting Gavriil, but needing him. He wielded a power over her that scared her, it made her want to be fearless.
Somewhere in all of the pain of not being enough for everyone, she’d stopped reaching out. She’d stopped trying when things had become hard. She told herself it was for the better. It was better to stop something hard before she failed, and before it tore her apart.
Capturing her bottom lip between her teeth, she looked back at the sand. When had she become that person who’d burned their hand grabbing something hot and then refused the balm that would ease the pain because it might burn applying it? Her arms loosened and fell to her sides. Sometimes her own need to look out for herself got in the way of actually looking out for herself. That was a hard truth to swallow.
The man next to her drew her in like a moth to a bonfire, it scared her, but there was also something so comforting in his presence that she could feel in her bones that whatever was wrong with her… he could fix that. When was she going to be honest with herself about that? She definitely needed him.
He’d stopped talking about the cat and silence once again filled the space between them. Her brows furrowed, she needed some help with finding her courage. Her tongue across her bottom lip as she picked through the words in her head. She wanted to tell him something but she wasn’t sure what it was nor did she know how too. Why hadn’t she been born with the ability to communicate her feelings like her cousins had been?
‘I’m not sure which part of what I said hurt you, but I will be candid and say that you’re perfectly fine the way you are. And I like speaking with you. I regret that I obviously made you feel otherwise.’
Coming to a halt, she fixed him with a searching look. Did he mean that, did he think she was perfectly fine the way she was? Something cracked inside of her and her eyes started to well up with unshed tears. No one had ever said that she was perfectly fine the way she was. There was always something that could be better, something that needed fixing… something that was not quite good enough.
“Perfectly fine the way I am?” Evangelina’s voice trembled, she tried to swallow that away, “You don’t wish I was quieter or more prudent? Taller?” She found that biting her bottom lip didn’t stop the way her body was gently shaking. Did he mean that? Did he really mean that?
Heartbreaks, especially first ones, changed you. There was a tendency to write it off and tell you that you would be fine, or that you’d grow out of it. And you did grow because you learned to second guess yourself, to resist any feelings that were too intense. That first heartbreak taught you that no matter how much you might love someone, you couldn’t make them love you.
That didn’t change the fact that the pain changed a person. Sometimes it made them forget their senses and react recklessly. Then again sometimes it made cowards out of those who’d once been brave. Evangelina fell into the second category. She hadn’t quite been the same since she’d made such a fool of herself over Nikos. The worst part was, that the pain wasn’t even over him anymore, but about her. About the fact, that she’d started pulling punches on the things that mattered to her. That wasn’t her.
‘I don’t know,’ The calm in his voice made her ache, he continued talking about how the boys had ended up with the kitten but she’d stopped focusing on the words. She wanted that calmness, she wanted to wrap herself in it and just be. It was in that moment that she realized that it didn’t simply stretch to wanting Gavriil, but needing him. He wielded a power over her that scared her, it made her want to be fearless.
Somewhere in all of the pain of not being enough for everyone, she’d stopped reaching out. She’d stopped trying when things had become hard. She told herself it was for the better. It was better to stop something hard before she failed, and before it tore her apart.
Capturing her bottom lip between her teeth, she looked back at the sand. When had she become that person who’d burned their hand grabbing something hot and then refused the balm that would ease the pain because it might burn applying it? Her arms loosened and fell to her sides. Sometimes her own need to look out for herself got in the way of actually looking out for herself. That was a hard truth to swallow.
The man next to her drew her in like a moth to a bonfire, it scared her, but there was also something so comforting in his presence that she could feel in her bones that whatever was wrong with her… he could fix that. When was she going to be honest with herself about that? She definitely needed him.
He’d stopped talking about the cat and silence once again filled the space between them. Her brows furrowed, she needed some help with finding her courage. Her tongue across her bottom lip as she picked through the words in her head. She wanted to tell him something but she wasn’t sure what it was nor did she know how too. Why hadn’t she been born with the ability to communicate her feelings like her cousins had been?
‘I’m not sure which part of what I said hurt you, but I will be candid and say that you’re perfectly fine the way you are. And I like speaking with you. I regret that I obviously made you feel otherwise.’
Coming to a halt, she fixed him with a searching look. Did he mean that, did he think she was perfectly fine the way she was? Something cracked inside of her and her eyes started to well up with unshed tears. No one had ever said that she was perfectly fine the way she was. There was always something that could be better, something that needed fixing… something that was not quite good enough.
“Perfectly fine the way I am?” Evangelina’s voice trembled, she tried to swallow that away, “You don’t wish I was quieter or more prudent? Taller?” She found that biting her bottom lip didn’t stop the way her body was gently shaking. Did he mean that? Did he really mean that?
He hadn’t expected her to stop and so he kept walking a few steps. Once he perceived that she wasn’t right with him, he turned, tilting his head at her and frowning. She looked thunderstruck and he wasn’t entirely sure why what he said would elicit such a reaction. Then, in the last of the light, he saw something that made his own eyes widen.
There was no sun to reflect off her tears, but the dim gray of the sky still shone across her eyes and he stepped toward her. “Evangelina, don’t cry,” he began, unsure what he’d done now. Why could he not win with her? Why was everything wrong? She was going to hate him by the time they got back to the city.
He could see it now. She would relay something about this experience to her mother, who would then no doubt tell Konstanos, who would then no doubt spread around some sort of rumor. He trusted Evangelina enough to leave out the naked parts, but he knew that daughters spoke to their mothers about their woes. And he was definitely a woe. He’d made her cry.
“Perfectly fine the way I am?” she asked, her voice unsteady and seemingly ready to break at any second.
“Yes,” he drew in a slow, deep breath as he watched her open her mouth to speak again.
“You don’t wish I was quieter or more prudent? Taller?”
Something more than what he’d said was going on. She was shaking and telling her she was fine the way she was couldn’t possibly make someone tremble this way. He frowned at her, knowing that she was attempting to joke with the last comment, but she didn’t really look like she was trying to be funny. She looked like she might fall to pieces.
Slowly, to spare the cat, he set the basket down in the sand and looked up at her. Entirely unconcerned with his current state of undress, he moved to her to put his arms around her. She was trembling hard. “No,” he said calmly. “I do not wish you were taller.”
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Check out their information page here.
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He hadn’t expected her to stop and so he kept walking a few steps. Once he perceived that she wasn’t right with him, he turned, tilting his head at her and frowning. She looked thunderstruck and he wasn’t entirely sure why what he said would elicit such a reaction. Then, in the last of the light, he saw something that made his own eyes widen.
There was no sun to reflect off her tears, but the dim gray of the sky still shone across her eyes and he stepped toward her. “Evangelina, don’t cry,” he began, unsure what he’d done now. Why could he not win with her? Why was everything wrong? She was going to hate him by the time they got back to the city.
He could see it now. She would relay something about this experience to her mother, who would then no doubt tell Konstanos, who would then no doubt spread around some sort of rumor. He trusted Evangelina enough to leave out the naked parts, but he knew that daughters spoke to their mothers about their woes. And he was definitely a woe. He’d made her cry.
“Perfectly fine the way I am?” she asked, her voice unsteady and seemingly ready to break at any second.
“Yes,” he drew in a slow, deep breath as he watched her open her mouth to speak again.
“You don’t wish I was quieter or more prudent? Taller?”
Something more than what he’d said was going on. She was shaking and telling her she was fine the way she was couldn’t possibly make someone tremble this way. He frowned at her, knowing that she was attempting to joke with the last comment, but she didn’t really look like she was trying to be funny. She looked like she might fall to pieces.
Slowly, to spare the cat, he set the basket down in the sand and looked up at her. Entirely unconcerned with his current state of undress, he moved to her to put his arms around her. She was trembling hard. “No,” he said calmly. “I do not wish you were taller.”
He hadn’t expected her to stop and so he kept walking a few steps. Once he perceived that she wasn’t right with him, he turned, tilting his head at her and frowning. She looked thunderstruck and he wasn’t entirely sure why what he said would elicit such a reaction. Then, in the last of the light, he saw something that made his own eyes widen.
There was no sun to reflect off her tears, but the dim gray of the sky still shone across her eyes and he stepped toward her. “Evangelina, don’t cry,” he began, unsure what he’d done now. Why could he not win with her? Why was everything wrong? She was going to hate him by the time they got back to the city.
He could see it now. She would relay something about this experience to her mother, who would then no doubt tell Konstanos, who would then no doubt spread around some sort of rumor. He trusted Evangelina enough to leave out the naked parts, but he knew that daughters spoke to their mothers about their woes. And he was definitely a woe. He’d made her cry.
“Perfectly fine the way I am?” she asked, her voice unsteady and seemingly ready to break at any second.
“Yes,” he drew in a slow, deep breath as he watched her open her mouth to speak again.
“You don’t wish I was quieter or more prudent? Taller?”
Something more than what he’d said was going on. She was shaking and telling her she was fine the way she was couldn’t possibly make someone tremble this way. He frowned at her, knowing that she was attempting to joke with the last comment, but she didn’t really look like she was trying to be funny. She looked like she might fall to pieces.
Slowly, to spare the cat, he set the basket down in the sand and looked up at her. Entirely unconcerned with his current state of undress, he moved to her to put his arms around her. She was trembling hard. “No,” he said calmly. “I do not wish you were taller.”
Evangelina was crumbling from the inside out. She was perfectly fine the way she was. Gavriil had happened upon the one phrase that could speak straight to her heart. She fought back tears as he turned around to face her. The color of his eyes seeming to fade to an indistinguishable shade as they widened in surprise. The look didn’t help her trembling.
‘Evangelina, don’t cry.’ He stepped towards her. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to prevent them from falling down her cheeks but the instant she opened her eyes to stare up at him they ran down her cheek against her will.
She barely got her question out without sobbing, and his simple answer of yes. Had her hissing in a breath. She’d never thought she was a complete failure, well most of the time she didn’t think she was but never had she been allowed to believe that she just fine the way she was. That some part of her wasn’t lacking. Something could always be changed and nothing was every just fine.
At her next question, her eyes widened in a moment of panic. What was he doing? He wasn’t fixing to leave her, was he? She shouldn’t have been crying. Her mouth fell open and her lips trembled. He couldn’t just break her as he had and then leave her. Her dark eyes begged him where her words failed. Please don’t leave me… I need you right now.
Her mouth closed as she saw him put down the basket and then look at her. He wasn’t leaving her. He wasn’t abandoning her. He was still there… That thought caused a fresh wave of tears to roll down her cheek. Gavriil might have moved towards her but she was already moving towards him. Her arms wrapping around him as she buried her face into his chest.
‘No.’ The calmness in his voice shook her and she relaxed enough to simply cry into his chest. ‘I do not wish you were taller.’ Relief was found there at that moment pressed against him. Why was it so easy for him to accept her with all of her faults when her family could not? She sniffled or maybe it was a hiccup. Realizing how tightly she was holding onto him, she forced herself to loosen a little.
“I’ve never been perfectly fine just the way that I am…” Her raspy voice offered quietly in way of an explanation, “Ever.” She didn’t have the words to tell him how important hearing him say that had been for her. So she just pressed her face closer to him. She let herself sink against him, for the moment he could hold her up. She was going under with him and there wasn’t a single thing she could do to prevent it. To prevent herself from feeling things for him. Her hands tightened again around him, “Please don’t let me go…”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Evangelina was crumbling from the inside out. She was perfectly fine the way she was. Gavriil had happened upon the one phrase that could speak straight to her heart. She fought back tears as he turned around to face her. The color of his eyes seeming to fade to an indistinguishable shade as they widened in surprise. The look didn’t help her trembling.
‘Evangelina, don’t cry.’ He stepped towards her. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to prevent them from falling down her cheeks but the instant she opened her eyes to stare up at him they ran down her cheek against her will.
She barely got her question out without sobbing, and his simple answer of yes. Had her hissing in a breath. She’d never thought she was a complete failure, well most of the time she didn’t think she was but never had she been allowed to believe that she just fine the way she was. That some part of her wasn’t lacking. Something could always be changed and nothing was every just fine.
At her next question, her eyes widened in a moment of panic. What was he doing? He wasn’t fixing to leave her, was he? She shouldn’t have been crying. Her mouth fell open and her lips trembled. He couldn’t just break her as he had and then leave her. Her dark eyes begged him where her words failed. Please don’t leave me… I need you right now.
Her mouth closed as she saw him put down the basket and then look at her. He wasn’t leaving her. He wasn’t abandoning her. He was still there… That thought caused a fresh wave of tears to roll down her cheek. Gavriil might have moved towards her but she was already moving towards him. Her arms wrapping around him as she buried her face into his chest.
‘No.’ The calmness in his voice shook her and she relaxed enough to simply cry into his chest. ‘I do not wish you were taller.’ Relief was found there at that moment pressed against him. Why was it so easy for him to accept her with all of her faults when her family could not? She sniffled or maybe it was a hiccup. Realizing how tightly she was holding onto him, she forced herself to loosen a little.
“I’ve never been perfectly fine just the way that I am…” Her raspy voice offered quietly in way of an explanation, “Ever.” She didn’t have the words to tell him how important hearing him say that had been for her. So she just pressed her face closer to him. She let herself sink against him, for the moment he could hold her up. She was going under with him and there wasn’t a single thing she could do to prevent it. To prevent herself from feeling things for him. Her hands tightened again around him, “Please don’t let me go…”
Evangelina was crumbling from the inside out. She was perfectly fine the way she was. Gavriil had happened upon the one phrase that could speak straight to her heart. She fought back tears as he turned around to face her. The color of his eyes seeming to fade to an indistinguishable shade as they widened in surprise. The look didn’t help her trembling.
‘Evangelina, don’t cry.’ He stepped towards her. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to prevent them from falling down her cheeks but the instant she opened her eyes to stare up at him they ran down her cheek against her will.
She barely got her question out without sobbing, and his simple answer of yes. Had her hissing in a breath. She’d never thought she was a complete failure, well most of the time she didn’t think she was but never had she been allowed to believe that she just fine the way she was. That some part of her wasn’t lacking. Something could always be changed and nothing was every just fine.
At her next question, her eyes widened in a moment of panic. What was he doing? He wasn’t fixing to leave her, was he? She shouldn’t have been crying. Her mouth fell open and her lips trembled. He couldn’t just break her as he had and then leave her. Her dark eyes begged him where her words failed. Please don’t leave me… I need you right now.
Her mouth closed as she saw him put down the basket and then look at her. He wasn’t leaving her. He wasn’t abandoning her. He was still there… That thought caused a fresh wave of tears to roll down her cheek. Gavriil might have moved towards her but she was already moving towards him. Her arms wrapping around him as she buried her face into his chest.
‘No.’ The calmness in his voice shook her and she relaxed enough to simply cry into his chest. ‘I do not wish you were taller.’ Relief was found there at that moment pressed against him. Why was it so easy for him to accept her with all of her faults when her family could not? She sniffled or maybe it was a hiccup. Realizing how tightly she was holding onto him, she forced herself to loosen a little.
“I’ve never been perfectly fine just the way that I am…” Her raspy voice offered quietly in way of an explanation, “Ever.” She didn’t have the words to tell him how important hearing him say that had been for her. So she just pressed her face closer to him. She let herself sink against him, for the moment he could hold her up. She was going under with him and there wasn’t a single thing she could do to prevent it. To prevent herself from feeling things for him. Her hands tightened again around him, “Please don’t let me go…”
Maybe he should have foreseen it, but he hadn’t expected her to meet him in the middle, or to hang on like she was drowning. If he’d given much forethought to it, he’d have expected her to stiffen up or push him away, or, maybe to return the hug, but not near this earnestly. Without her having to explain, he’d already realized he’d hit some kind of nerve. With people, it was impossible to tell where their scars lay and what might trigger emotion. For him, the off handed comment he’d made, for example, wouldn’t have triggered anything at all.
He rubbed her back in slow, smooth motions while she sobbed. Because her cheek was against his skin and not clothes, he could feel every tear as it slid off her chin and onto him. At first he’d looked down at the top of her head but then he turned his attention to the darkening water. They’d lost most of the light by now and it was definitely night.
Her grip slackened and he looked down at her as she finally spoke. “I’ve never been perfectly fine just the way that I am…Ever.”
That made him genuinely angry. Families should not be the way hers obviously was. She’d tried to tell him but he’d refused to see it, and, even if he had, he couldn’t have done much. Her plea for him to look out for her little brother was making more and more sense now. She feared that he would turn into her parents. Again, not that there was much he, personally, could do for her. What he could do was allow her to cry, and as she finally seemed to lose the will to stand, he let them both sink down onto the sand. Moving his legs, he let her kneel and stay leaned up against him.
Her grip tightened again and she said, “Please don’t let me go…”
“Evangelina…” he began, intending to tell her something about they really shouldn’t be sitting half on top of each other, but he stopped with her name and nodded. “I won’t,” he said instead. He was pretty weak around teary women. Likely how his daughters got away with murder, but she didn’t feel like his daughter. There was the strongest urge to kiss her and distract her from crying, but he ignored the impulse. Instead, he kept his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head, content to let her stay right where she was for as long as she wanted to.
By now, everyone in his house was probably preparing for bed. He would probably be expected home but he was lord of his house. If he chose not to go home, no one would dare say anything. He could not say the same for her but if she was this broken with just the simple utterance he’d made, he wasn’t in any hurry to send her home.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Maybe he should have foreseen it, but he hadn’t expected her to meet him in the middle, or to hang on like she was drowning. If he’d given much forethought to it, he’d have expected her to stiffen up or push him away, or, maybe to return the hug, but not near this earnestly. Without her having to explain, he’d already realized he’d hit some kind of nerve. With people, it was impossible to tell where their scars lay and what might trigger emotion. For him, the off handed comment he’d made, for example, wouldn’t have triggered anything at all.
He rubbed her back in slow, smooth motions while she sobbed. Because her cheek was against his skin and not clothes, he could feel every tear as it slid off her chin and onto him. At first he’d looked down at the top of her head but then he turned his attention to the darkening water. They’d lost most of the light by now and it was definitely night.
Her grip slackened and he looked down at her as she finally spoke. “I’ve never been perfectly fine just the way that I am…Ever.”
That made him genuinely angry. Families should not be the way hers obviously was. She’d tried to tell him but he’d refused to see it, and, even if he had, he couldn’t have done much. Her plea for him to look out for her little brother was making more and more sense now. She feared that he would turn into her parents. Again, not that there was much he, personally, could do for her. What he could do was allow her to cry, and as she finally seemed to lose the will to stand, he let them both sink down onto the sand. Moving his legs, he let her kneel and stay leaned up against him.
Her grip tightened again and she said, “Please don’t let me go…”
“Evangelina…” he began, intending to tell her something about they really shouldn’t be sitting half on top of each other, but he stopped with her name and nodded. “I won’t,” he said instead. He was pretty weak around teary women. Likely how his daughters got away with murder, but she didn’t feel like his daughter. There was the strongest urge to kiss her and distract her from crying, but he ignored the impulse. Instead, he kept his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head, content to let her stay right where she was for as long as she wanted to.
By now, everyone in his house was probably preparing for bed. He would probably be expected home but he was lord of his house. If he chose not to go home, no one would dare say anything. He could not say the same for her but if she was this broken with just the simple utterance he’d made, he wasn’t in any hurry to send her home.
Maybe he should have foreseen it, but he hadn’t expected her to meet him in the middle, or to hang on like she was drowning. If he’d given much forethought to it, he’d have expected her to stiffen up or push him away, or, maybe to return the hug, but not near this earnestly. Without her having to explain, he’d already realized he’d hit some kind of nerve. With people, it was impossible to tell where their scars lay and what might trigger emotion. For him, the off handed comment he’d made, for example, wouldn’t have triggered anything at all.
He rubbed her back in slow, smooth motions while she sobbed. Because her cheek was against his skin and not clothes, he could feel every tear as it slid off her chin and onto him. At first he’d looked down at the top of her head but then he turned his attention to the darkening water. They’d lost most of the light by now and it was definitely night.
Her grip slackened and he looked down at her as she finally spoke. “I’ve never been perfectly fine just the way that I am…Ever.”
That made him genuinely angry. Families should not be the way hers obviously was. She’d tried to tell him but he’d refused to see it, and, even if he had, he couldn’t have done much. Her plea for him to look out for her little brother was making more and more sense now. She feared that he would turn into her parents. Again, not that there was much he, personally, could do for her. What he could do was allow her to cry, and as she finally seemed to lose the will to stand, he let them both sink down onto the sand. Moving his legs, he let her kneel and stay leaned up against him.
Her grip tightened again and she said, “Please don’t let me go…”
“Evangelina…” he began, intending to tell her something about they really shouldn’t be sitting half on top of each other, but he stopped with her name and nodded. “I won’t,” he said instead. He was pretty weak around teary women. Likely how his daughters got away with murder, but she didn’t feel like his daughter. There was the strongest urge to kiss her and distract her from crying, but he ignored the impulse. Instead, he kept his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head, content to let her stay right where she was for as long as she wanted to.
By now, everyone in his house was probably preparing for bed. He would probably be expected home but he was lord of his house. If he chose not to go home, no one would dare say anything. He could not say the same for her but if she was this broken with just the simple utterance he’d made, he wasn’t in any hurry to send her home.
His hands moved in a slow, hypnotic way that seemed to reach inside and stroke every broken piece of her. Was this how coming home felt? Taking a deep breath, Evangelina closed her eyes and lost herself in the feel of the warmth of his skin against her and his sensuous masculine smell tinged with the briny ocean water. Was she doomed for more heartbreak with the way every wall she had crumbled down to this man’s feet? Gods, she hoped not.
Melting against him, she dropped down onto the sand between his legs never breaking contact as she did. She was little more than a wet rag in his arms. Her palms flattened against his back. She needed the contact. Needed to feel the safety he made her feel. The plea she made had been intended to be a silent plea but somewhere along the way it’d found her voice and echoed out of her.
Every time she thought about how kind he was being to her, brought another, softer than the last, bout of tears. She’d gone from sobbing to quietly crying.
‘Evangelina…’ Here it came. He was going to push her away now. Burying her face against his skin again she tried to relish it before it was yanked away from her. Whatever had been on the tip of his tongue seemed to drift away as he nodded his head. His words replaced by the simple, ‘I won’t.’
Another piece of her crumbled off at the meaning there. He wasn’t going to leave her. He wasn’t leaving her for the darkness. She relaxed against him and the tears slowly dried up. Her shoulders rounded and she nestled as close as she could get to him. His state of almost undress had been forgotten as had the fitting of his chiton on her. She wasn’t sure how long, she’d sat there in silence wrapped in his warmth.
The longer she sat there the more aware she became. She became aware of the way her breath hitched at the nearness to him. And the way heat curled down her spine. Evangelina couldn’t pull herself away though… even if she could have she wasn’t sure she wanted too. How could she be this close to him and still crave every him of him to be closer still?
Tilting her head backward to look up at him. Her face was still puffy and tear-stained but it didn’t matter. The warmth of her gaze was focused on him. The darkness of night had settled in and she could only make out hints of his face. She flicked her tongue across her bottom lip. Not that he could see it really well, but her lashes swept downward as she looked up from beneath them at her.
“Kiss me.” She barely recognized her own throaty voice. It wasn’t her asking him, but rather a soft demand. “Don’t think about, just… I need you to kiss me.” Her fingers moved softly up and down stroking his back. “I am not asking," Evangelina murmured quietly to him. Shifting she tilted her head to better watch him. She needed to quill this need a little.
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His hands moved in a slow, hypnotic way that seemed to reach inside and stroke every broken piece of her. Was this how coming home felt? Taking a deep breath, Evangelina closed her eyes and lost herself in the feel of the warmth of his skin against her and his sensuous masculine smell tinged with the briny ocean water. Was she doomed for more heartbreak with the way every wall she had crumbled down to this man’s feet? Gods, she hoped not.
Melting against him, she dropped down onto the sand between his legs never breaking contact as she did. She was little more than a wet rag in his arms. Her palms flattened against his back. She needed the contact. Needed to feel the safety he made her feel. The plea she made had been intended to be a silent plea but somewhere along the way it’d found her voice and echoed out of her.
Every time she thought about how kind he was being to her, brought another, softer than the last, bout of tears. She’d gone from sobbing to quietly crying.
‘Evangelina…’ Here it came. He was going to push her away now. Burying her face against his skin again she tried to relish it before it was yanked away from her. Whatever had been on the tip of his tongue seemed to drift away as he nodded his head. His words replaced by the simple, ‘I won’t.’
Another piece of her crumbled off at the meaning there. He wasn’t going to leave her. He wasn’t leaving her for the darkness. She relaxed against him and the tears slowly dried up. Her shoulders rounded and she nestled as close as she could get to him. His state of almost undress had been forgotten as had the fitting of his chiton on her. She wasn’t sure how long, she’d sat there in silence wrapped in his warmth.
The longer she sat there the more aware she became. She became aware of the way her breath hitched at the nearness to him. And the way heat curled down her spine. Evangelina couldn’t pull herself away though… even if she could have she wasn’t sure she wanted too. How could she be this close to him and still crave every him of him to be closer still?
Tilting her head backward to look up at him. Her face was still puffy and tear-stained but it didn’t matter. The warmth of her gaze was focused on him. The darkness of night had settled in and she could only make out hints of his face. She flicked her tongue across her bottom lip. Not that he could see it really well, but her lashes swept downward as she looked up from beneath them at her.
“Kiss me.” She barely recognized her own throaty voice. It wasn’t her asking him, but rather a soft demand. “Don’t think about, just… I need you to kiss me.” Her fingers moved softly up and down stroking his back. “I am not asking," Evangelina murmured quietly to him. Shifting she tilted her head to better watch him. She needed to quill this need a little.
His hands moved in a slow, hypnotic way that seemed to reach inside and stroke every broken piece of her. Was this how coming home felt? Taking a deep breath, Evangelina closed her eyes and lost herself in the feel of the warmth of his skin against her and his sensuous masculine smell tinged with the briny ocean water. Was she doomed for more heartbreak with the way every wall she had crumbled down to this man’s feet? Gods, she hoped not.
Melting against him, she dropped down onto the sand between his legs never breaking contact as she did. She was little more than a wet rag in his arms. Her palms flattened against his back. She needed the contact. Needed to feel the safety he made her feel. The plea she made had been intended to be a silent plea but somewhere along the way it’d found her voice and echoed out of her.
Every time she thought about how kind he was being to her, brought another, softer than the last, bout of tears. She’d gone from sobbing to quietly crying.
‘Evangelina…’ Here it came. He was going to push her away now. Burying her face against his skin again she tried to relish it before it was yanked away from her. Whatever had been on the tip of his tongue seemed to drift away as he nodded his head. His words replaced by the simple, ‘I won’t.’
Another piece of her crumbled off at the meaning there. He wasn’t going to leave her. He wasn’t leaving her for the darkness. She relaxed against him and the tears slowly dried up. Her shoulders rounded and she nestled as close as she could get to him. His state of almost undress had been forgotten as had the fitting of his chiton on her. She wasn’t sure how long, she’d sat there in silence wrapped in his warmth.
The longer she sat there the more aware she became. She became aware of the way her breath hitched at the nearness to him. And the way heat curled down her spine. Evangelina couldn’t pull herself away though… even if she could have she wasn’t sure she wanted too. How could she be this close to him and still crave every him of him to be closer still?
Tilting her head backward to look up at him. Her face was still puffy and tear-stained but it didn’t matter. The warmth of her gaze was focused on him. The darkness of night had settled in and she could only make out hints of his face. She flicked her tongue across her bottom lip. Not that he could see it really well, but her lashes swept downward as she looked up from beneath them at her.
“Kiss me.” She barely recognized her own throaty voice. It wasn’t her asking him, but rather a soft demand. “Don’t think about, just… I need you to kiss me.” Her fingers moved softly up and down stroking his back. “I am not asking," Evangelina murmured quietly to him. Shifting she tilted her head to better watch him. She needed to quill this need a little.
The Aegean surged and ebbed in a continuous, rhythmic, comforting flow of sound. Grasses whispered from somewhere behind them, on the edges of the beach and the breeze carried the song of crickets humming to the moon rising over the water. He focused on the scent of the sea and the occasional rustle of the cat in its basket as it shifted. But the little thing didn’t make many sounds. After mewling for so long, now that the basket was nestled in the sand and seemed like it was going to sit there for a while, the kitten lost interest in trying to get out and chose to sleep instead.
He knew that he should move her. She would have to go home eventually and this was definitely just delaying the inevitable. It wasn’t like he could prevent her from being hurt all or any of the time. But, he felt that everyone needed a respite every now and then. Possibly this was a little more of a hands on approach than he was normally prepared to give but of all the unlikely and odd things that had happened already, they were so far beyond what was usual that he was obviously past the point of real propriety anymore.
Just as she was becoming increasingly aware of him, he was hyper aware of her. The sleek path his hands took down her back, stopping short of the base of her spine and gliding back up just to her shoulders was not enough for what his base self wanted. It was what he would content himself with, though, for her sake. That was what he told himself. She had other ideas.
As soon as she lifted her head, her face tipped back, eyes trained on his, he knew he was in trouble. He knew what she was going to say before she said it and he had his answer ready. No. They’d been through this several times already. However, when she licked her bottom lip, he couldn’t immediately recall his reasons.
“Kiss me.”
He didn’t move a single, solitary muscle.
“Don’t think about, just… I need you to kiss me.”
His pulse quickened and he couldn’t have thought about it even if she hadn’t basically ordered him not to. Every thought he had slipped and slid over each other, unable to fully form until he was left with a tangle of half reasons for staying and leaving. The loudest reason was that they were in very different places in life.
As though she could read his mind and saw that he was again, forming the word ‘no’, she said “I am not asking.” Her fingers trailed up his back, and she watched him. For some of the longest seconds of his life, he looked back at her, and before he quite realized when he’d done it, his lips brushed hers and his hand had traveled up her back, along her neck, and buried itself in her hair.
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The Aegean surged and ebbed in a continuous, rhythmic, comforting flow of sound. Grasses whispered from somewhere behind them, on the edges of the beach and the breeze carried the song of crickets humming to the moon rising over the water. He focused on the scent of the sea and the occasional rustle of the cat in its basket as it shifted. But the little thing didn’t make many sounds. After mewling for so long, now that the basket was nestled in the sand and seemed like it was going to sit there for a while, the kitten lost interest in trying to get out and chose to sleep instead.
He knew that he should move her. She would have to go home eventually and this was definitely just delaying the inevitable. It wasn’t like he could prevent her from being hurt all or any of the time. But, he felt that everyone needed a respite every now and then. Possibly this was a little more of a hands on approach than he was normally prepared to give but of all the unlikely and odd things that had happened already, they were so far beyond what was usual that he was obviously past the point of real propriety anymore.
Just as she was becoming increasingly aware of him, he was hyper aware of her. The sleek path his hands took down her back, stopping short of the base of her spine and gliding back up just to her shoulders was not enough for what his base self wanted. It was what he would content himself with, though, for her sake. That was what he told himself. She had other ideas.
As soon as she lifted her head, her face tipped back, eyes trained on his, he knew he was in trouble. He knew what she was going to say before she said it and he had his answer ready. No. They’d been through this several times already. However, when she licked her bottom lip, he couldn’t immediately recall his reasons.
“Kiss me.”
He didn’t move a single, solitary muscle.
“Don’t think about, just… I need you to kiss me.”
His pulse quickened and he couldn’t have thought about it even if she hadn’t basically ordered him not to. Every thought he had slipped and slid over each other, unable to fully form until he was left with a tangle of half reasons for staying and leaving. The loudest reason was that they were in very different places in life.
As though she could read his mind and saw that he was again, forming the word ‘no’, she said “I am not asking.” Her fingers trailed up his back, and she watched him. For some of the longest seconds of his life, he looked back at her, and before he quite realized when he’d done it, his lips brushed hers and his hand had traveled up her back, along her neck, and buried itself in her hair.
The Aegean surged and ebbed in a continuous, rhythmic, comforting flow of sound. Grasses whispered from somewhere behind them, on the edges of the beach and the breeze carried the song of crickets humming to the moon rising over the water. He focused on the scent of the sea and the occasional rustle of the cat in its basket as it shifted. But the little thing didn’t make many sounds. After mewling for so long, now that the basket was nestled in the sand and seemed like it was going to sit there for a while, the kitten lost interest in trying to get out and chose to sleep instead.
He knew that he should move her. She would have to go home eventually and this was definitely just delaying the inevitable. It wasn’t like he could prevent her from being hurt all or any of the time. But, he felt that everyone needed a respite every now and then. Possibly this was a little more of a hands on approach than he was normally prepared to give but of all the unlikely and odd things that had happened already, they were so far beyond what was usual that he was obviously past the point of real propriety anymore.
Just as she was becoming increasingly aware of him, he was hyper aware of her. The sleek path his hands took down her back, stopping short of the base of her spine and gliding back up just to her shoulders was not enough for what his base self wanted. It was what he would content himself with, though, for her sake. That was what he told himself. She had other ideas.
As soon as she lifted her head, her face tipped back, eyes trained on his, he knew he was in trouble. He knew what she was going to say before she said it and he had his answer ready. No. They’d been through this several times already. However, when she licked her bottom lip, he couldn’t immediately recall his reasons.
“Kiss me.”
He didn’t move a single, solitary muscle.
“Don’t think about, just… I need you to kiss me.”
His pulse quickened and he couldn’t have thought about it even if she hadn’t basically ordered him not to. Every thought he had slipped and slid over each other, unable to fully form until he was left with a tangle of half reasons for staying and leaving. The loudest reason was that they were in very different places in life.
As though she could read his mind and saw that he was again, forming the word ‘no’, she said “I am not asking.” Her fingers trailed up his back, and she watched him. For some of the longest seconds of his life, he looked back at her, and before he quite realized when he’d done it, his lips brushed hers and his hand had traveled up her back, along her neck, and buried itself in her hair.
He tensed under her hands and she just knew was about to scold her for her forwardness. Not moving a muscle at her gentle demand. She swallowed. The look on his features stole her breath. The whys and why not's of this had left her. Everything faded around her and for that moment she existed only there against him.
She encouraged him a little stronger, this wasn’t her asking him to kiss her. This was her telling him what she needed and he could choose to reach out and embrace her or… Evangelina’s heart skittered at the thought of him choosing to leave her cold and alone. Please don’t let him leave me.
The silence that passed between them created a combination of warmth that spread through her and left her feeling dizzy with the need for comfort. How long had she stared up at him waiting? She felt if she moved too quickly he might overthink this situation and be gone… not that she could move quickly at this very moment anyway.
Then his lips were on hers, his hand stroking up her back to entangle in her hair. The softest of moans floated out of her. Her arms came up to wrap around his neck, holding him captive. Please don’t let me go. The softness of her lips opened wider as her tongue ran over his lips.
It was a combination of thanking him for his kindness and the tension he created in her. She lost her senses when it came to him. He had a way of tearing the things apart that were broken about her. Her eyes closed as her body hummed to life. Embracing him closer, she tilted her head and deepened the kiss. If he thought he was going to get away with a quick peck on her lips he was wrong. She didn’t know if she’d have this opportunity again and planned to make the most out of it. Her teeth caught his bottom lip and pulled it into her mouth to tease her tongue across it.
One hand had fallen to softly stroke his back with the tip of her nails. Pulling back, to pause the kiss, she leaned her forehead against his and smiled tenderly, “Thank you.” Tilting her head, she placed another kiss along the corded line of his neck, her teeth scraping against his skin. With a soft sigh, she placed a sweet kiss against his skin where she’d nipped him before nestling her face against it, “I’ll try and behave now.”
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He tensed under her hands and she just knew was about to scold her for her forwardness. Not moving a muscle at her gentle demand. She swallowed. The look on his features stole her breath. The whys and why not's of this had left her. Everything faded around her and for that moment she existed only there against him.
She encouraged him a little stronger, this wasn’t her asking him to kiss her. This was her telling him what she needed and he could choose to reach out and embrace her or… Evangelina’s heart skittered at the thought of him choosing to leave her cold and alone. Please don’t let him leave me.
The silence that passed between them created a combination of warmth that spread through her and left her feeling dizzy with the need for comfort. How long had she stared up at him waiting? She felt if she moved too quickly he might overthink this situation and be gone… not that she could move quickly at this very moment anyway.
Then his lips were on hers, his hand stroking up her back to entangle in her hair. The softest of moans floated out of her. Her arms came up to wrap around his neck, holding him captive. Please don’t let me go. The softness of her lips opened wider as her tongue ran over his lips.
It was a combination of thanking him for his kindness and the tension he created in her. She lost her senses when it came to him. He had a way of tearing the things apart that were broken about her. Her eyes closed as her body hummed to life. Embracing him closer, she tilted her head and deepened the kiss. If he thought he was going to get away with a quick peck on her lips he was wrong. She didn’t know if she’d have this opportunity again and planned to make the most out of it. Her teeth caught his bottom lip and pulled it into her mouth to tease her tongue across it.
One hand had fallen to softly stroke his back with the tip of her nails. Pulling back, to pause the kiss, she leaned her forehead against his and smiled tenderly, “Thank you.” Tilting her head, she placed another kiss along the corded line of his neck, her teeth scraping against his skin. With a soft sigh, she placed a sweet kiss against his skin where she’d nipped him before nestling her face against it, “I’ll try and behave now.”
He tensed under her hands and she just knew was about to scold her for her forwardness. Not moving a muscle at her gentle demand. She swallowed. The look on his features stole her breath. The whys and why not's of this had left her. Everything faded around her and for that moment she existed only there against him.
She encouraged him a little stronger, this wasn’t her asking him to kiss her. This was her telling him what she needed and he could choose to reach out and embrace her or… Evangelina’s heart skittered at the thought of him choosing to leave her cold and alone. Please don’t let him leave me.
The silence that passed between them created a combination of warmth that spread through her and left her feeling dizzy with the need for comfort. How long had she stared up at him waiting? She felt if she moved too quickly he might overthink this situation and be gone… not that she could move quickly at this very moment anyway.
Then his lips were on hers, his hand stroking up her back to entangle in her hair. The softest of moans floated out of her. Her arms came up to wrap around his neck, holding him captive. Please don’t let me go. The softness of her lips opened wider as her tongue ran over his lips.
It was a combination of thanking him for his kindness and the tension he created in her. She lost her senses when it came to him. He had a way of tearing the things apart that were broken about her. Her eyes closed as her body hummed to life. Embracing him closer, she tilted her head and deepened the kiss. If he thought he was going to get away with a quick peck on her lips he was wrong. She didn’t know if she’d have this opportunity again and planned to make the most out of it. Her teeth caught his bottom lip and pulled it into her mouth to tease her tongue across it.
One hand had fallen to softly stroke his back with the tip of her nails. Pulling back, to pause the kiss, she leaned her forehead against his and smiled tenderly, “Thank you.” Tilting her head, she placed another kiss along the corded line of his neck, her teeth scraping against his skin. With a soft sigh, she placed a sweet kiss against his skin where she’d nipped him before nestling her face against it, “I’ll try and behave now.”
He had expected a small, tentatively, nothing kiss. Something that she would then pull back from, perhaps nod at him, and then mention that it was time to leave. What she would have done with the kiss then, he didn’t know. And he didn’t know why she wanted it either, but he found himself strangely compelled to try and make this particular girl happy. It bothered him deeply that she wasn’t.
They were embraced now because he’d sensed she needed it more than most, and they were locked together now for the same reason. Except that her arms were around his neck and his arms encircled her body. He wasn’t sure whose tongue was in whose mouth anymore and before he had quite realized some sort of sense to put a stop to what was happening, she’d deepened their kiss.
In the intervening years since he’d decided to journey through life alone, save for his family, he’d learned to master and control nearly every impulse. Always a man of integrity, he’d strengthened that kind of resolve into a shield and used it to keep himself above desire. If he couldn’t have it, he didn’t need it. Though, he realized he must need it in some capacity because she was invading his senses completely.
Time didn’t mean all that much. It felt like eternity and too soon when she finally pulled back to rest her forehead against his. His eyes were on her lips as she spoke a quiet thank you. He made a sound from deep in his chest to indicate he’d heard her but didn’t say anything in return. His grip on her tightened as she nipped and kissed at his neck. This was straying into dangerous territory and even if she didn’t, he knew exactly where this would go if he let her continue, because she was drawing him to the point that he didn’t want to stop.
“I’ll try and behave now.” She said and he smiled ruefully.
“We’re a bit past that.” The break was sent from above, because he could take in the clean night air. His sense was returning and he removed his arms, opting for his hands on her waist instead and actually picked her up to place her beside him in the sand, rather than on his lap.
He stood but in a way that made extra sure she couldn’t see everything she’d done to him. No need to give her that kind of satisfaction that he’d almost lost his mind and put her on her back. “Let’s get you home,” he said, trying to reach for some semblance of calm, even though he felt anything but. His lips still felt the ghostly touch of hers.
Reaching for the basket, he took it up and kept it in front of him. His tone hadn’t been reprimanding of her. Just struggling to not sound like he was trying to catch his breath or let her know that he’d wanted to keep going.
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He had expected a small, tentatively, nothing kiss. Something that she would then pull back from, perhaps nod at him, and then mention that it was time to leave. What she would have done with the kiss then, he didn’t know. And he didn’t know why she wanted it either, but he found himself strangely compelled to try and make this particular girl happy. It bothered him deeply that she wasn’t.
They were embraced now because he’d sensed she needed it more than most, and they were locked together now for the same reason. Except that her arms were around his neck and his arms encircled her body. He wasn’t sure whose tongue was in whose mouth anymore and before he had quite realized some sort of sense to put a stop to what was happening, she’d deepened their kiss.
In the intervening years since he’d decided to journey through life alone, save for his family, he’d learned to master and control nearly every impulse. Always a man of integrity, he’d strengthened that kind of resolve into a shield and used it to keep himself above desire. If he couldn’t have it, he didn’t need it. Though, he realized he must need it in some capacity because she was invading his senses completely.
Time didn’t mean all that much. It felt like eternity and too soon when she finally pulled back to rest her forehead against his. His eyes were on her lips as she spoke a quiet thank you. He made a sound from deep in his chest to indicate he’d heard her but didn’t say anything in return. His grip on her tightened as she nipped and kissed at his neck. This was straying into dangerous territory and even if she didn’t, he knew exactly where this would go if he let her continue, because she was drawing him to the point that he didn’t want to stop.
“I’ll try and behave now.” She said and he smiled ruefully.
“We’re a bit past that.” The break was sent from above, because he could take in the clean night air. His sense was returning and he removed his arms, opting for his hands on her waist instead and actually picked her up to place her beside him in the sand, rather than on his lap.
He stood but in a way that made extra sure she couldn’t see everything she’d done to him. No need to give her that kind of satisfaction that he’d almost lost his mind and put her on her back. “Let’s get you home,” he said, trying to reach for some semblance of calm, even though he felt anything but. His lips still felt the ghostly touch of hers.
Reaching for the basket, he took it up and kept it in front of him. His tone hadn’t been reprimanding of her. Just struggling to not sound like he was trying to catch his breath or let her know that he’d wanted to keep going.
He had expected a small, tentatively, nothing kiss. Something that she would then pull back from, perhaps nod at him, and then mention that it was time to leave. What she would have done with the kiss then, he didn’t know. And he didn’t know why she wanted it either, but he found himself strangely compelled to try and make this particular girl happy. It bothered him deeply that she wasn’t.
They were embraced now because he’d sensed she needed it more than most, and they were locked together now for the same reason. Except that her arms were around his neck and his arms encircled her body. He wasn’t sure whose tongue was in whose mouth anymore and before he had quite realized some sort of sense to put a stop to what was happening, she’d deepened their kiss.
In the intervening years since he’d decided to journey through life alone, save for his family, he’d learned to master and control nearly every impulse. Always a man of integrity, he’d strengthened that kind of resolve into a shield and used it to keep himself above desire. If he couldn’t have it, he didn’t need it. Though, he realized he must need it in some capacity because she was invading his senses completely.
Time didn’t mean all that much. It felt like eternity and too soon when she finally pulled back to rest her forehead against his. His eyes were on her lips as she spoke a quiet thank you. He made a sound from deep in his chest to indicate he’d heard her but didn’t say anything in return. His grip on her tightened as she nipped and kissed at his neck. This was straying into dangerous territory and even if she didn’t, he knew exactly where this would go if he let her continue, because she was drawing him to the point that he didn’t want to stop.
“I’ll try and behave now.” She said and he smiled ruefully.
“We’re a bit past that.” The break was sent from above, because he could take in the clean night air. His sense was returning and he removed his arms, opting for his hands on her waist instead and actually picked her up to place her beside him in the sand, rather than on his lap.
He stood but in a way that made extra sure she couldn’t see everything she’d done to him. No need to give her that kind of satisfaction that he’d almost lost his mind and put her on her back. “Let’s get you home,” he said, trying to reach for some semblance of calm, even though he felt anything but. His lips still felt the ghostly touch of hers.
Reaching for the basket, he took it up and kept it in front of him. His tone hadn’t been reprimanding of her. Just struggling to not sound like he was trying to catch his breath or let her know that he’d wanted to keep going.
It wasn’t any light matter that Evangelina needed him. She had spent her life learning how to depend solely upon herself, to not show weakness, and any admittance even to herself that she needed someone else wasn’t easy for her. Nestling her face against the rough skin of that sensitive spot at the curve of his neck, she closed her eyes and smiled faintly against him at his reply, ‘We’re a bit past that.’
“Just a bit?” She murmured with a tender tease. Her eyes closed as his hands untangled from her hair. It was the beginning of the end of whatever had happened between them. He pulled her away and set her in the sand next to him. It suddenly felt cold and lonely.
Pulling her knees up, she wrapped an arm around her legs and rested her chin on them. Her other hand grasped a handful of sand and held it so that the sand could drain from her hand slowly back to the ground. His response to her kiss removed any doubt that he was attracted to her but there was still a great distance between being attracted to someone and wanting to marry them.
Taking a deep breath, she ignored him getting up and putting even more distance between them. Why did it bother her so much? Dropping her eyes to her toes in her sandals. Wiggling them, she captured her bottom lip to bite. His taste was still on her lips. Because you want him. All of him. The thought made her dizzy.
‘Let’s get you home.’
Tilting her half-hidden face toward him, she watched him once again pick up his basket. An invisible force squeezed at her heart. She was very much on the path to falling in love with him. Tilting her face up from hiding, she offered him an apologetic smile and brushed the remaining sand off her sand against his chiton before offering it to him to help her up.
“Mmm…” She replied. Evangelina wasn’t exactly pleased with the idea of going home right now but something told her he needed a bit more time, time that didn’t include her pressuring him. “I am sure you’re ready to return that kitten to your daughter.”
On her feet, she shifted her weight, her hands behind her back, “I um… Thank you for not leaving me alone.”
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It wasn’t any light matter that Evangelina needed him. She had spent her life learning how to depend solely upon herself, to not show weakness, and any admittance even to herself that she needed someone else wasn’t easy for her. Nestling her face against the rough skin of that sensitive spot at the curve of his neck, she closed her eyes and smiled faintly against him at his reply, ‘We’re a bit past that.’
“Just a bit?” She murmured with a tender tease. Her eyes closed as his hands untangled from her hair. It was the beginning of the end of whatever had happened between them. He pulled her away and set her in the sand next to him. It suddenly felt cold and lonely.
Pulling her knees up, she wrapped an arm around her legs and rested her chin on them. Her other hand grasped a handful of sand and held it so that the sand could drain from her hand slowly back to the ground. His response to her kiss removed any doubt that he was attracted to her but there was still a great distance between being attracted to someone and wanting to marry them.
Taking a deep breath, she ignored him getting up and putting even more distance between them. Why did it bother her so much? Dropping her eyes to her toes in her sandals. Wiggling them, she captured her bottom lip to bite. His taste was still on her lips. Because you want him. All of him. The thought made her dizzy.
‘Let’s get you home.’
Tilting her half-hidden face toward him, she watched him once again pick up his basket. An invisible force squeezed at her heart. She was very much on the path to falling in love with him. Tilting her face up from hiding, she offered him an apologetic smile and brushed the remaining sand off her sand against his chiton before offering it to him to help her up.
“Mmm…” She replied. Evangelina wasn’t exactly pleased with the idea of going home right now but something told her he needed a bit more time, time that didn’t include her pressuring him. “I am sure you’re ready to return that kitten to your daughter.”
On her feet, she shifted her weight, her hands behind her back, “I um… Thank you for not leaving me alone.”
It wasn’t any light matter that Evangelina needed him. She had spent her life learning how to depend solely upon herself, to not show weakness, and any admittance even to herself that she needed someone else wasn’t easy for her. Nestling her face against the rough skin of that sensitive spot at the curve of his neck, she closed her eyes and smiled faintly against him at his reply, ‘We’re a bit past that.’
“Just a bit?” She murmured with a tender tease. Her eyes closed as his hands untangled from her hair. It was the beginning of the end of whatever had happened between them. He pulled her away and set her in the sand next to him. It suddenly felt cold and lonely.
Pulling her knees up, she wrapped an arm around her legs and rested her chin on them. Her other hand grasped a handful of sand and held it so that the sand could drain from her hand slowly back to the ground. His response to her kiss removed any doubt that he was attracted to her but there was still a great distance between being attracted to someone and wanting to marry them.
Taking a deep breath, she ignored him getting up and putting even more distance between them. Why did it bother her so much? Dropping her eyes to her toes in her sandals. Wiggling them, she captured her bottom lip to bite. His taste was still on her lips. Because you want him. All of him. The thought made her dizzy.
‘Let’s get you home.’
Tilting her half-hidden face toward him, she watched him once again pick up his basket. An invisible force squeezed at her heart. She was very much on the path to falling in love with him. Tilting her face up from hiding, she offered him an apologetic smile and brushed the remaining sand off her sand against his chiton before offering it to him to help her up.
“Mmm…” She replied. Evangelina wasn’t exactly pleased with the idea of going home right now but something told her he needed a bit more time, time that didn’t include her pressuring him. “I am sure you’re ready to return that kitten to your daughter.”
On her feet, she shifted her weight, her hands behind her back, “I um… Thank you for not leaving me alone.”
The way that she sat told him that she was back to feeling the way she had before. Sad and forlorn. Or, that was how it looked, at least. With her knees pulled up tight against her chest and sand pouring from her palm, she couldn’t have been more loud in her feelings. Short of telling her that she could stay at his home, there wasn’t anything to be done for her. She had to go home and he could not sit with her all night.
“I am sure you’re ready to return that kitten to your daughter.”
“My hope is that she will be asleep by the time I return. She still has that blind faith in me that children do, so I don’t think she will stay up waiting to see if I was successful.” There was no need. He almost always caught whatever he was tracking. Whether this was due to skill or tenacity, it was hard to say. More than likely, the answer was both. But Alexa had learned to trust that whatever Gavriil promised, he would do.
Evangelina smiled sadly at him and dusted off her hand before asking silently for him to help her to her feet. He braced the basket against one hip and reached for her, easily hauling her up. Once standing, she took back her hand and fixed it inside the other behind her back. “I um… Thank you for not leaving me alone.”
He considered her for a long moment. His first inclination was just to tell her that she was welcome but that didn’t seem adequate. Especially since they hadn’t just sat side by side, either. She’d asked for him to kiss her. No, actually she’d demanded it.
“Why…” he motioned for her to walk with him. It was a little awkward to ask the question, but he wanted to know her reason. Because, now that he thought of it, that hadn’t been her first kiss. At all. She was too good at it and, remembering what she’d said earlier, he put two and two together. But it still didn’t answer why him, of all people. “Why did you want me to kiss you?”
If she said something like winning a bet or just to see, he was going to leave Vasiliadon tomorrow morning. He didn’t being toyed with, not that anyone really did. But for him, being toyed with was especially insulting. Teased was one thing, but manipulated was another. One he could handle, the other he would not allow.
They moved along the beach, closer to the end than they had been, but still a ways off from the path that would take them to Vasiliadon. He looked over at her, waiting for her reason and not pressing her to answer immediately. But he would have an answer before they were within the city walls again.
Luckily, it would now be hard to tell who they were at a distance. Night had fallen and they were two shadows moving along the white sand at their feet. The moon was not full. Only enough light was cast that they could see their way, but not clearly make out the features of the other. Still, he found himself looking over at her more often than not.
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The way that she sat told him that she was back to feeling the way she had before. Sad and forlorn. Or, that was how it looked, at least. With her knees pulled up tight against her chest and sand pouring from her palm, she couldn’t have been more loud in her feelings. Short of telling her that she could stay at his home, there wasn’t anything to be done for her. She had to go home and he could not sit with her all night.
“I am sure you’re ready to return that kitten to your daughter.”
“My hope is that she will be asleep by the time I return. She still has that blind faith in me that children do, so I don’t think she will stay up waiting to see if I was successful.” There was no need. He almost always caught whatever he was tracking. Whether this was due to skill or tenacity, it was hard to say. More than likely, the answer was both. But Alexa had learned to trust that whatever Gavriil promised, he would do.
Evangelina smiled sadly at him and dusted off her hand before asking silently for him to help her to her feet. He braced the basket against one hip and reached for her, easily hauling her up. Once standing, she took back her hand and fixed it inside the other behind her back. “I um… Thank you for not leaving me alone.”
He considered her for a long moment. His first inclination was just to tell her that she was welcome but that didn’t seem adequate. Especially since they hadn’t just sat side by side, either. She’d asked for him to kiss her. No, actually she’d demanded it.
“Why…” he motioned for her to walk with him. It was a little awkward to ask the question, but he wanted to know her reason. Because, now that he thought of it, that hadn’t been her first kiss. At all. She was too good at it and, remembering what she’d said earlier, he put two and two together. But it still didn’t answer why him, of all people. “Why did you want me to kiss you?”
If she said something like winning a bet or just to see, he was going to leave Vasiliadon tomorrow morning. He didn’t being toyed with, not that anyone really did. But for him, being toyed with was especially insulting. Teased was one thing, but manipulated was another. One he could handle, the other he would not allow.
They moved along the beach, closer to the end than they had been, but still a ways off from the path that would take them to Vasiliadon. He looked over at her, waiting for her reason and not pressing her to answer immediately. But he would have an answer before they were within the city walls again.
Luckily, it would now be hard to tell who they were at a distance. Night had fallen and they were two shadows moving along the white sand at their feet. The moon was not full. Only enough light was cast that they could see their way, but not clearly make out the features of the other. Still, he found himself looking over at her more often than not.
The way that she sat told him that she was back to feeling the way she had before. Sad and forlorn. Or, that was how it looked, at least. With her knees pulled up tight against her chest and sand pouring from her palm, she couldn’t have been more loud in her feelings. Short of telling her that she could stay at his home, there wasn’t anything to be done for her. She had to go home and he could not sit with her all night.
“I am sure you’re ready to return that kitten to your daughter.”
“My hope is that she will be asleep by the time I return. She still has that blind faith in me that children do, so I don’t think she will stay up waiting to see if I was successful.” There was no need. He almost always caught whatever he was tracking. Whether this was due to skill or tenacity, it was hard to say. More than likely, the answer was both. But Alexa had learned to trust that whatever Gavriil promised, he would do.
Evangelina smiled sadly at him and dusted off her hand before asking silently for him to help her to her feet. He braced the basket against one hip and reached for her, easily hauling her up. Once standing, she took back her hand and fixed it inside the other behind her back. “I um… Thank you for not leaving me alone.”
He considered her for a long moment. His first inclination was just to tell her that she was welcome but that didn’t seem adequate. Especially since they hadn’t just sat side by side, either. She’d asked for him to kiss her. No, actually she’d demanded it.
“Why…” he motioned for her to walk with him. It was a little awkward to ask the question, but he wanted to know her reason. Because, now that he thought of it, that hadn’t been her first kiss. At all. She was too good at it and, remembering what she’d said earlier, he put two and two together. But it still didn’t answer why him, of all people. “Why did you want me to kiss you?”
If she said something like winning a bet or just to see, he was going to leave Vasiliadon tomorrow morning. He didn’t being toyed with, not that anyone really did. But for him, being toyed with was especially insulting. Teased was one thing, but manipulated was another. One he could handle, the other he would not allow.
They moved along the beach, closer to the end than they had been, but still a ways off from the path that would take them to Vasiliadon. He looked over at her, waiting for her reason and not pressing her to answer immediately. But he would have an answer before they were within the city walls again.
Luckily, it would now be hard to tell who they were at a distance. Night had fallen and they were two shadows moving along the white sand at their feet. The moon was not full. Only enough light was cast that they could see their way, but not clearly make out the features of the other. Still, he found himself looking over at her more often than not.
Have you ever known you had to go home but knew that you didn’t want to? That what awaited you at home would be no comfort? Evangelina was still coming off her the emotional wild ride of her crying and then the kiss. Just the thought of that kiss had her reaching her fingers up to softly graze across them. Her heart fluttered as she slid her gaze back up to him as he spoke.
‘My hope is that she will be asleep by the time I return. She still has that blind faith in me that children do, so I don’t think she will stay up waiting to see if I was successful.’
Letting her hand fall away from his lips, she tilted her head upwards to offer him a smile shadowed by the darkness. That wasn’t all the darkness shadowed, there was a tender warmth there lingering in her eyes. She could read in between the lines, his daughter had never had a reason for her faith to waver. That spoke of him more than his daughter.
“Blind faith is only given when there as been a reason to question it,” Evangelina’s softly throaty voice replied before she dusted her hand off to offer to him.
He shifted and reached out pulling her as if she were nothing to her feet. How easy would it have been for her to stutter step and press herself against him again? She could have felt his warmth again, nuzzle his neck, taste his skin… She pulled her hand away before she acted on those temptations. Evangelina put her hands somewhere safe, somewhere where they wouldn’t be reaching out for him. Somewhere where he’d be safe.
He fixed her with a look, could he tell how much she wanted him? Nibbling at her bottom lip, she looked at him sideways as the moonlight cast just enough light to be enticing. He didn’t offer the expected answer, a simple polite, perhaps gruff, ‘you’re welcome.’ No. It left her feeling unhinged. What was he thinking about? One thing was for sure, his mind seemed to constantly be working.
‘Why…’ She blinked as he simply motioned for her to walk along with him. What was it he wanted to ask? She didn’t have to wait long before he managed the question out. ‘Why did you want me to kiss you?’ That wasn’t a question she’d have expected. Why did she want him to kiss her?
Her head fell softly as she stared at the sand, letting the silence build between them for a minute or so as she considered her answer. Why had she wanted him to kiss her? She hadn’t wanted him to kiss her. She’d needed him to kiss her. But that didn’t seem like an adequate explanation. Running her tongue over her lips, she could feel his gaze flicking often to her. How could she be both profoundly comfortable with him and acutely aware of him, even in this darkness? Sucking in a deep breath, she hoped she didn’t make a little fool of herself in front of him.
Reaching her hand out, she caught him softly on his bicep to stop walking, so she could explain herself without having to worry she was going to get flustered and trip over her own feet. When he stopped, she turned to face him, “You really don’t know?” She asked quietly. Her heartbeat could be heard in her ears and the blood flushed her skin. Never had she been so thankful for the cover of darkness. Her head tilted downward guiltily, she didn’t pause long enough for him to answer that, “You make my head spin. I want you but it’s not just that…” Not that he could see, but her head tilted as she checked on him from beneath the cover of her lashes. “I want you, like all of you… I need you. I…” She caught herself. Did he have any idea how much she wanted to flee to somewhere safer? This was ridiculous.
“You make me so crazy,” She squeaked out accusingly. The pint-sized Leventi let out a frustrated growl accompanied with a stomp of her foot, “Why is it that everything I want never wants me?” Taking a self-soothing breath, she let it out and tilted her head up to look at him, “I want you to want me as I want you…” She sagged a little, “I understand you are happy with your life the way it is… but I wish you weren’t. I wish you needed me.” Realizing it didn’t really answer the question about the kiss, she blinked and offered a sad smile. “The kiss was me taking advantage of you in the situation. It was me greedily taking something I knew I couldn’t have but I wanted anyway. That’s your answer. The kiss was me being greedy.”
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Have you ever known you had to go home but knew that you didn’t want to? That what awaited you at home would be no comfort? Evangelina was still coming off her the emotional wild ride of her crying and then the kiss. Just the thought of that kiss had her reaching her fingers up to softly graze across them. Her heart fluttered as she slid her gaze back up to him as he spoke.
‘My hope is that she will be asleep by the time I return. She still has that blind faith in me that children do, so I don’t think she will stay up waiting to see if I was successful.’
Letting her hand fall away from his lips, she tilted her head upwards to offer him a smile shadowed by the darkness. That wasn’t all the darkness shadowed, there was a tender warmth there lingering in her eyes. She could read in between the lines, his daughter had never had a reason for her faith to waver. That spoke of him more than his daughter.
“Blind faith is only given when there as been a reason to question it,” Evangelina’s softly throaty voice replied before she dusted her hand off to offer to him.
He shifted and reached out pulling her as if she were nothing to her feet. How easy would it have been for her to stutter step and press herself against him again? She could have felt his warmth again, nuzzle his neck, taste his skin… She pulled her hand away before she acted on those temptations. Evangelina put her hands somewhere safe, somewhere where they wouldn’t be reaching out for him. Somewhere where he’d be safe.
He fixed her with a look, could he tell how much she wanted him? Nibbling at her bottom lip, she looked at him sideways as the moonlight cast just enough light to be enticing. He didn’t offer the expected answer, a simple polite, perhaps gruff, ‘you’re welcome.’ No. It left her feeling unhinged. What was he thinking about? One thing was for sure, his mind seemed to constantly be working.
‘Why…’ She blinked as he simply motioned for her to walk along with him. What was it he wanted to ask? She didn’t have to wait long before he managed the question out. ‘Why did you want me to kiss you?’ That wasn’t a question she’d have expected. Why did she want him to kiss her?
Her head fell softly as she stared at the sand, letting the silence build between them for a minute or so as she considered her answer. Why had she wanted him to kiss her? She hadn’t wanted him to kiss her. She’d needed him to kiss her. But that didn’t seem like an adequate explanation. Running her tongue over her lips, she could feel his gaze flicking often to her. How could she be both profoundly comfortable with him and acutely aware of him, even in this darkness? Sucking in a deep breath, she hoped she didn’t make a little fool of herself in front of him.
Reaching her hand out, she caught him softly on his bicep to stop walking, so she could explain herself without having to worry she was going to get flustered and trip over her own feet. When he stopped, she turned to face him, “You really don’t know?” She asked quietly. Her heartbeat could be heard in her ears and the blood flushed her skin. Never had she been so thankful for the cover of darkness. Her head tilted downward guiltily, she didn’t pause long enough for him to answer that, “You make my head spin. I want you but it’s not just that…” Not that he could see, but her head tilted as she checked on him from beneath the cover of her lashes. “I want you, like all of you… I need you. I…” She caught herself. Did he have any idea how much she wanted to flee to somewhere safer? This was ridiculous.
“You make me so crazy,” She squeaked out accusingly. The pint-sized Leventi let out a frustrated growl accompanied with a stomp of her foot, “Why is it that everything I want never wants me?” Taking a self-soothing breath, she let it out and tilted her head up to look at him, “I want you to want me as I want you…” She sagged a little, “I understand you are happy with your life the way it is… but I wish you weren’t. I wish you needed me.” Realizing it didn’t really answer the question about the kiss, she blinked and offered a sad smile. “The kiss was me taking advantage of you in the situation. It was me greedily taking something I knew I couldn’t have but I wanted anyway. That’s your answer. The kiss was me being greedy.”
Have you ever known you had to go home but knew that you didn’t want to? That what awaited you at home would be no comfort? Evangelina was still coming off her the emotional wild ride of her crying and then the kiss. Just the thought of that kiss had her reaching her fingers up to softly graze across them. Her heart fluttered as she slid her gaze back up to him as he spoke.
‘My hope is that she will be asleep by the time I return. She still has that blind faith in me that children do, so I don’t think she will stay up waiting to see if I was successful.’
Letting her hand fall away from his lips, she tilted her head upwards to offer him a smile shadowed by the darkness. That wasn’t all the darkness shadowed, there was a tender warmth there lingering in her eyes. She could read in between the lines, his daughter had never had a reason for her faith to waver. That spoke of him more than his daughter.
“Blind faith is only given when there as been a reason to question it,” Evangelina’s softly throaty voice replied before she dusted her hand off to offer to him.
He shifted and reached out pulling her as if she were nothing to her feet. How easy would it have been for her to stutter step and press herself against him again? She could have felt his warmth again, nuzzle his neck, taste his skin… She pulled her hand away before she acted on those temptations. Evangelina put her hands somewhere safe, somewhere where they wouldn’t be reaching out for him. Somewhere where he’d be safe.
He fixed her with a look, could he tell how much she wanted him? Nibbling at her bottom lip, she looked at him sideways as the moonlight cast just enough light to be enticing. He didn’t offer the expected answer, a simple polite, perhaps gruff, ‘you’re welcome.’ No. It left her feeling unhinged. What was he thinking about? One thing was for sure, his mind seemed to constantly be working.
‘Why…’ She blinked as he simply motioned for her to walk along with him. What was it he wanted to ask? She didn’t have to wait long before he managed the question out. ‘Why did you want me to kiss you?’ That wasn’t a question she’d have expected. Why did she want him to kiss her?
Her head fell softly as she stared at the sand, letting the silence build between them for a minute or so as she considered her answer. Why had she wanted him to kiss her? She hadn’t wanted him to kiss her. She’d needed him to kiss her. But that didn’t seem like an adequate explanation. Running her tongue over her lips, she could feel his gaze flicking often to her. How could she be both profoundly comfortable with him and acutely aware of him, even in this darkness? Sucking in a deep breath, she hoped she didn’t make a little fool of herself in front of him.
Reaching her hand out, she caught him softly on his bicep to stop walking, so she could explain herself without having to worry she was going to get flustered and trip over her own feet. When he stopped, she turned to face him, “You really don’t know?” She asked quietly. Her heartbeat could be heard in her ears and the blood flushed her skin. Never had she been so thankful for the cover of darkness. Her head tilted downward guiltily, she didn’t pause long enough for him to answer that, “You make my head spin. I want you but it’s not just that…” Not that he could see, but her head tilted as she checked on him from beneath the cover of her lashes. “I want you, like all of you… I need you. I…” She caught herself. Did he have any idea how much she wanted to flee to somewhere safer? This was ridiculous.
“You make me so crazy,” She squeaked out accusingly. The pint-sized Leventi let out a frustrated growl accompanied with a stomp of her foot, “Why is it that everything I want never wants me?” Taking a self-soothing breath, she let it out and tilted her head up to look at him, “I want you to want me as I want you…” She sagged a little, “I understand you are happy with your life the way it is… but I wish you weren’t. I wish you needed me.” Realizing it didn’t really answer the question about the kiss, she blinked and offered a sad smile. “The kiss was me taking advantage of you in the situation. It was me greedily taking something I knew I couldn’t have but I wanted anyway. That’s your answer. The kiss was me being greedy.”
Because he hadn’t expected an immediate answer, he was unbothered by her silence. Her unbound hair cascaded down to shield her face as she looked towards the sand at her feet. The question was definitely an awkward one to have to answer and he wasn’t sure how she would do it. That she would give him some kind of reason was a foregone conclusion. He’d worked out that Evangelina didn’t really have secrets and that if he wanted to know something, good or bad, she would most likely tell him bluntly.
When she took a deep breath, he expected her to speak; not reach out and brush her fingertips against his arm in an effort to get him to stop walking. He turned to her, not allowing himself to grow concerned about what she was about to say. Perhaps one of his worst habits was thinking ahead of what someone was going to tell him and guessing at their responses. He did not voice his thoughts aloud, but he sometimes found that what he had assumed and what was reality were different. For her, he chose not to assume anything at all and let her speak for herself. No guessing. Having guessed before had led the two of them down the unpleasant paths of conversation.
As she spoke, he found heat creeping up into his face. Maybe if she hadn’t kept assuring him that she did not feel as she obviously did, he wouldn’t have ignored the very loud signs she’d been giving off. Or...had he ignored them? No. He hadn’t. He’d put her on her guard several times, always (to him) gently, having assumed that she had some sort of fleeting inclination.
Her words, which had come out so confident at first, rose in pitch until he was sure that her voice my give out before she was done with the rush of words. She spoke as though she didn’t want him to interrupt but there was zero chance of that. He stood, pretty much naked in front of her, carrying a cat in a basket, while she wore his clothes. It was safe to say that someone expressing their outright desire could do so under any circumstances.
When she was done, he continued to watch her. This was a lot to process. Specifically because their time in each other’s presence had been fairly short - though that wasn’t a good gauge. He knew her better than any other woman who wasn’t family. More than that, some people forged alliances without so much as meeting the person.
He wasn’t going to quibble with her about needing a person. This wasn’t the time. Nor was he going to tell her that he’d found out the hard way that no one ‘needed’ anyone. They wanted them.
It didn’t seem right not to give her some sort of answer after she’d essentially spilled her soul, or what counted as deeply personal, to him, anyway. She deserved to hear something from him and he was trying to gather some sort of way to speak, because he seemed to have forgotten how. The crickets sang and the silence stretched between them. Finally, “You did not force me to do something I was unwilling to do,” he said, but it didn’t feel like it was enough. Probably, after a confession like that, she wanted blood.
“I do want you.” This was wrenching things from him that he really, really didn’t want her to know, but, fair was fair. He did not love being vulnerable to someone and for him, this was as vulnerable as it got. “But because I respect you, I went no further than the kiss and I set you beside me to stop. You deserve better than being used for just what I want.”
He thought again of the options she’d named off earlier of men she could feasibly see marrying. The list had precious few and aside from Iason, who was already engaged, no one he thought would make a good match for her. Even Iason probably wouldn’t be a fantastic match. His son would have been unbelievably kind to her, but Iason had the sensitive nature of Sybil and Gavriil had a sneaking suspicion that Evangelina’s temper, when roused, was formidable. The Leventi’s had that reputation well in hand.
“May I see you tomorrow morning? At the same tree you were at yesterday?” He had an idea that either cure her of her want to be around him, or make it something neither could ignore.
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Because he hadn’t expected an immediate answer, he was unbothered by her silence. Her unbound hair cascaded down to shield her face as she looked towards the sand at her feet. The question was definitely an awkward one to have to answer and he wasn’t sure how she would do it. That she would give him some kind of reason was a foregone conclusion. He’d worked out that Evangelina didn’t really have secrets and that if he wanted to know something, good or bad, she would most likely tell him bluntly.
When she took a deep breath, he expected her to speak; not reach out and brush her fingertips against his arm in an effort to get him to stop walking. He turned to her, not allowing himself to grow concerned about what she was about to say. Perhaps one of his worst habits was thinking ahead of what someone was going to tell him and guessing at their responses. He did not voice his thoughts aloud, but he sometimes found that what he had assumed and what was reality were different. For her, he chose not to assume anything at all and let her speak for herself. No guessing. Having guessed before had led the two of them down the unpleasant paths of conversation.
As she spoke, he found heat creeping up into his face. Maybe if she hadn’t kept assuring him that she did not feel as she obviously did, he wouldn’t have ignored the very loud signs she’d been giving off. Or...had he ignored them? No. He hadn’t. He’d put her on her guard several times, always (to him) gently, having assumed that she had some sort of fleeting inclination.
Her words, which had come out so confident at first, rose in pitch until he was sure that her voice my give out before she was done with the rush of words. She spoke as though she didn’t want him to interrupt but there was zero chance of that. He stood, pretty much naked in front of her, carrying a cat in a basket, while she wore his clothes. It was safe to say that someone expressing their outright desire could do so under any circumstances.
When she was done, he continued to watch her. This was a lot to process. Specifically because their time in each other’s presence had been fairly short - though that wasn’t a good gauge. He knew her better than any other woman who wasn’t family. More than that, some people forged alliances without so much as meeting the person.
He wasn’t going to quibble with her about needing a person. This wasn’t the time. Nor was he going to tell her that he’d found out the hard way that no one ‘needed’ anyone. They wanted them.
It didn’t seem right not to give her some sort of answer after she’d essentially spilled her soul, or what counted as deeply personal, to him, anyway. She deserved to hear something from him and he was trying to gather some sort of way to speak, because he seemed to have forgotten how. The crickets sang and the silence stretched between them. Finally, “You did not force me to do something I was unwilling to do,” he said, but it didn’t feel like it was enough. Probably, after a confession like that, she wanted blood.
“I do want you.” This was wrenching things from him that he really, really didn’t want her to know, but, fair was fair. He did not love being vulnerable to someone and for him, this was as vulnerable as it got. “But because I respect you, I went no further than the kiss and I set you beside me to stop. You deserve better than being used for just what I want.”
He thought again of the options she’d named off earlier of men she could feasibly see marrying. The list had precious few and aside from Iason, who was already engaged, no one he thought would make a good match for her. Even Iason probably wouldn’t be a fantastic match. His son would have been unbelievably kind to her, but Iason had the sensitive nature of Sybil and Gavriil had a sneaking suspicion that Evangelina’s temper, when roused, was formidable. The Leventi’s had that reputation well in hand.
“May I see you tomorrow morning? At the same tree you were at yesterday?” He had an idea that either cure her of her want to be around him, or make it something neither could ignore.
Because he hadn’t expected an immediate answer, he was unbothered by her silence. Her unbound hair cascaded down to shield her face as she looked towards the sand at her feet. The question was definitely an awkward one to have to answer and he wasn’t sure how she would do it. That she would give him some kind of reason was a foregone conclusion. He’d worked out that Evangelina didn’t really have secrets and that if he wanted to know something, good or bad, she would most likely tell him bluntly.
When she took a deep breath, he expected her to speak; not reach out and brush her fingertips against his arm in an effort to get him to stop walking. He turned to her, not allowing himself to grow concerned about what she was about to say. Perhaps one of his worst habits was thinking ahead of what someone was going to tell him and guessing at their responses. He did not voice his thoughts aloud, but he sometimes found that what he had assumed and what was reality were different. For her, he chose not to assume anything at all and let her speak for herself. No guessing. Having guessed before had led the two of them down the unpleasant paths of conversation.
As she spoke, he found heat creeping up into his face. Maybe if she hadn’t kept assuring him that she did not feel as she obviously did, he wouldn’t have ignored the very loud signs she’d been giving off. Or...had he ignored them? No. He hadn’t. He’d put her on her guard several times, always (to him) gently, having assumed that she had some sort of fleeting inclination.
Her words, which had come out so confident at first, rose in pitch until he was sure that her voice my give out before she was done with the rush of words. She spoke as though she didn’t want him to interrupt but there was zero chance of that. He stood, pretty much naked in front of her, carrying a cat in a basket, while she wore his clothes. It was safe to say that someone expressing their outright desire could do so under any circumstances.
When she was done, he continued to watch her. This was a lot to process. Specifically because their time in each other’s presence had been fairly short - though that wasn’t a good gauge. He knew her better than any other woman who wasn’t family. More than that, some people forged alliances without so much as meeting the person.
He wasn’t going to quibble with her about needing a person. This wasn’t the time. Nor was he going to tell her that he’d found out the hard way that no one ‘needed’ anyone. They wanted them.
It didn’t seem right not to give her some sort of answer after she’d essentially spilled her soul, or what counted as deeply personal, to him, anyway. She deserved to hear something from him and he was trying to gather some sort of way to speak, because he seemed to have forgotten how. The crickets sang and the silence stretched between them. Finally, “You did not force me to do something I was unwilling to do,” he said, but it didn’t feel like it was enough. Probably, after a confession like that, she wanted blood.
“I do want you.” This was wrenching things from him that he really, really didn’t want her to know, but, fair was fair. He did not love being vulnerable to someone and for him, this was as vulnerable as it got. “But because I respect you, I went no further than the kiss and I set you beside me to stop. You deserve better than being used for just what I want.”
He thought again of the options she’d named off earlier of men she could feasibly see marrying. The list had precious few and aside from Iason, who was already engaged, no one he thought would make a good match for her. Even Iason probably wouldn’t be a fantastic match. His son would have been unbelievably kind to her, but Iason had the sensitive nature of Sybil and Gavriil had a sneaking suspicion that Evangelina’s temper, when roused, was formidable. The Leventi’s had that reputation well in hand.
“May I see you tomorrow morning? At the same tree you were at yesterday?” He had an idea that either cure her of her want to be around him, or make it something neither could ignore.
There wasn’t anything left for her to tell him, she’d poured everything that mattered of her into him and she was turning it over to him to do with what he wanted. It could have been the beach or the moonlight or the way the waves lapped at the beach with a constant rhythmic beat, but she knew it was none of those things. It was him.
At that moment, she could have told him that here or there on the balcony at the Palati surrounded by every person of the royal court. It was embarrassing and she felt foolish but it was also freeing. That is what she was going to focus on… it was freeing to let go of that weight.
Silence crept between them as she grew quiet, she gave him the time to process what she’d said. One thing was for sure, she didn’t do things halfway. Dipping her head, she looked back to the sand as if it had some kind of mystical powers to tell him what he was thinking.
‘You did not force me to do something I was unwilling to do.’ A faint smile played onto her lips. No, she hadn’t thought she’d twisted his arm in that. He didn’t strike her as the sort of man who did things that he didn’t want to do. His strength of character was something she softened her to him. He had principles, steady, unwavering principles… ‘I do want you. But because I respect you, I went no further than the kiss and I set you beside me to stop. You deserve better than being used for just what I want.’
Craning her head, she looked at him as she reached out to touch his elbow softly again, “It wasn’t about just what you wanted.” Raising her head up, she jutted her chin out just a little, “If I hadn’t wanted it… I can and would have walked away.” It wouldn’t be the first time. Evangelina had learned a long time ago how to cut a man to his knees and never drawing blood. He could think Nikos for whatever backbone she’d grown in regards to picking herself up after a disappointment. Her fingers squeezed his elbow then dropped to her side, “Thank you though for being respectful and looking out for me.” Even if I didn’t want you to be. She let the silence rise from the sand and settle between them until he spoke again.
‘May I see you tomorrow morning? At the same tree you were at yesterday?’
Her head jerked as she looked up at him, her dark eyes narrowed at him. He wanted to see her again? Blinking, she didn’t immediately answer him. Still too surprised to form a coherent answer. Her hand raised and she bit the nail on her thumb. After a moment, her hand fell away and she cleared her throat, “Um… Well...I…” Straightening she put her hands on her hip and tilted her head at him, “Are you sure?”
Something just past him caught her attention as it moved with the gentle breeze in the night. Fabric. Her chiton was hung like some sort of flag upon a stick a few hundred steps behind Gavriil. Without answering him, she touched his arm again and nodded towards the chiton flag behind him. Without letting him answer or giving him her answer she walked past him towards her chiton. Except she wouldn’t be able to grab it without ripping it off the wooden pole.
She nibbled her bottom lip and sighed, why was everything so difficult?!
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There wasn’t anything left for her to tell him, she’d poured everything that mattered of her into him and she was turning it over to him to do with what he wanted. It could have been the beach or the moonlight or the way the waves lapped at the beach with a constant rhythmic beat, but she knew it was none of those things. It was him.
At that moment, she could have told him that here or there on the balcony at the Palati surrounded by every person of the royal court. It was embarrassing and she felt foolish but it was also freeing. That is what she was going to focus on… it was freeing to let go of that weight.
Silence crept between them as she grew quiet, she gave him the time to process what she’d said. One thing was for sure, she didn’t do things halfway. Dipping her head, she looked back to the sand as if it had some kind of mystical powers to tell him what he was thinking.
‘You did not force me to do something I was unwilling to do.’ A faint smile played onto her lips. No, she hadn’t thought she’d twisted his arm in that. He didn’t strike her as the sort of man who did things that he didn’t want to do. His strength of character was something she softened her to him. He had principles, steady, unwavering principles… ‘I do want you. But because I respect you, I went no further than the kiss and I set you beside me to stop. You deserve better than being used for just what I want.’
Craning her head, she looked at him as she reached out to touch his elbow softly again, “It wasn’t about just what you wanted.” Raising her head up, she jutted her chin out just a little, “If I hadn’t wanted it… I can and would have walked away.” It wouldn’t be the first time. Evangelina had learned a long time ago how to cut a man to his knees and never drawing blood. He could think Nikos for whatever backbone she’d grown in regards to picking herself up after a disappointment. Her fingers squeezed his elbow then dropped to her side, “Thank you though for being respectful and looking out for me.” Even if I didn’t want you to be. She let the silence rise from the sand and settle between them until he spoke again.
‘May I see you tomorrow morning? At the same tree you were at yesterday?’
Her head jerked as she looked up at him, her dark eyes narrowed at him. He wanted to see her again? Blinking, she didn’t immediately answer him. Still too surprised to form a coherent answer. Her hand raised and she bit the nail on her thumb. After a moment, her hand fell away and she cleared her throat, “Um… Well...I…” Straightening she put her hands on her hip and tilted her head at him, “Are you sure?”
Something just past him caught her attention as it moved with the gentle breeze in the night. Fabric. Her chiton was hung like some sort of flag upon a stick a few hundred steps behind Gavriil. Without answering him, she touched his arm again and nodded towards the chiton flag behind him. Without letting him answer or giving him her answer she walked past him towards her chiton. Except she wouldn’t be able to grab it without ripping it off the wooden pole.
She nibbled her bottom lip and sighed, why was everything so difficult?!
There wasn’t anything left for her to tell him, she’d poured everything that mattered of her into him and she was turning it over to him to do with what he wanted. It could have been the beach or the moonlight or the way the waves lapped at the beach with a constant rhythmic beat, but she knew it was none of those things. It was him.
At that moment, she could have told him that here or there on the balcony at the Palati surrounded by every person of the royal court. It was embarrassing and she felt foolish but it was also freeing. That is what she was going to focus on… it was freeing to let go of that weight.
Silence crept between them as she grew quiet, she gave him the time to process what she’d said. One thing was for sure, she didn’t do things halfway. Dipping her head, she looked back to the sand as if it had some kind of mystical powers to tell him what he was thinking.
‘You did not force me to do something I was unwilling to do.’ A faint smile played onto her lips. No, she hadn’t thought she’d twisted his arm in that. He didn’t strike her as the sort of man who did things that he didn’t want to do. His strength of character was something she softened her to him. He had principles, steady, unwavering principles… ‘I do want you. But because I respect you, I went no further than the kiss and I set you beside me to stop. You deserve better than being used for just what I want.’
Craning her head, she looked at him as she reached out to touch his elbow softly again, “It wasn’t about just what you wanted.” Raising her head up, she jutted her chin out just a little, “If I hadn’t wanted it… I can and would have walked away.” It wouldn’t be the first time. Evangelina had learned a long time ago how to cut a man to his knees and never drawing blood. He could think Nikos for whatever backbone she’d grown in regards to picking herself up after a disappointment. Her fingers squeezed his elbow then dropped to her side, “Thank you though for being respectful and looking out for me.” Even if I didn’t want you to be. She let the silence rise from the sand and settle between them until he spoke again.
‘May I see you tomorrow morning? At the same tree you were at yesterday?’
Her head jerked as she looked up at him, her dark eyes narrowed at him. He wanted to see her again? Blinking, she didn’t immediately answer him. Still too surprised to form a coherent answer. Her hand raised and she bit the nail on her thumb. After a moment, her hand fell away and she cleared her throat, “Um… Well...I…” Straightening she put her hands on her hip and tilted her head at him, “Are you sure?”
Something just past him caught her attention as it moved with the gentle breeze in the night. Fabric. Her chiton was hung like some sort of flag upon a stick a few hundred steps behind Gavriil. Without answering him, she touched his arm again and nodded towards the chiton flag behind him. Without letting him answer or giving him her answer she walked past him towards her chiton. Except she wouldn’t be able to grab it without ripping it off the wooden pole.
She nibbled her bottom lip and sighed, why was everything so difficult?!
For someone so sure of herself, she second guessed quite a bit, which led him to assume that it was all a front. She could be confident, given the correct set of circumstances, but the way her life had apparently gone up to this point, she would make a decision and then immediately reconsider. That wasn’t always a good thing. She was doing it now, pouring out her heart and soul, and then when he asked to see her tomorrow, she blinked in shock and tried to give him a way to tell her no. Whatever happened tomorrow, he’d break her of this habit, even just as her friend. It didn’t serve her the way she wanted it to.
He was about to tell her that, yes, he was sure and to give her a time but noticed her eyes were not on him anymore. They were on something behind him. Evie gently reached out to touch him and nodded in the direction she’d been looking. He half turned. There, flapping about like a beacon, was her dress. How they hadn’t noticed it before was a mystery. It wasn’t like they’d been able to walk too far from where they’d kissed. If either of them hadn’t been so wrapped up in what the other was attempting to say or do, or not say or not do, they might have noticed the tall shadow and understood it for what it was.
She moved around him and he turned with her, watching as she trudged up to the pole. By now, his wet chiton was definitely dry but it was stiff from the salt in the sea and looked like a bulky shadow on her frame. He frowned when she didn’t immediately grab her dress and then he realized why. Setting down the kitten’s basket once again, he followed her and stepped around her, this time, to gently ease the fabric off of the pole. Except there was something wrong with it. As he held it up, he realized there was a giant hole in the dress, right where her stomach would be. It looked as though the boys had torn it on purpose.
“I don’t know what happened with those boys, but they are not your friends,” he said as he handed over her dress. Fully expecting that she’d put it on right away, he turned around and held out his hand, waiting for her to give his clothes back. He was mostly looking forward to not looking like a fool, wandering around practically with a basket in hand.
They were still on sandy ground, but they’d strayed into the territory of the long, waving grasses. The wind rustled through them and he listened to the soft hiss of the stalks sliding over one another. He looked down, still waiting, finding that he was oddly content and not ruffled in the least, though he felt he should have been. The earth didn’t explode and he felt very much the same, even after this whole afternoon.
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For someone so sure of herself, she second guessed quite a bit, which led him to assume that it was all a front. She could be confident, given the correct set of circumstances, but the way her life had apparently gone up to this point, she would make a decision and then immediately reconsider. That wasn’t always a good thing. She was doing it now, pouring out her heart and soul, and then when he asked to see her tomorrow, she blinked in shock and tried to give him a way to tell her no. Whatever happened tomorrow, he’d break her of this habit, even just as her friend. It didn’t serve her the way she wanted it to.
He was about to tell her that, yes, he was sure and to give her a time but noticed her eyes were not on him anymore. They were on something behind him. Evie gently reached out to touch him and nodded in the direction she’d been looking. He half turned. There, flapping about like a beacon, was her dress. How they hadn’t noticed it before was a mystery. It wasn’t like they’d been able to walk too far from where they’d kissed. If either of them hadn’t been so wrapped up in what the other was attempting to say or do, or not say or not do, they might have noticed the tall shadow and understood it for what it was.
She moved around him and he turned with her, watching as she trudged up to the pole. By now, his wet chiton was definitely dry but it was stiff from the salt in the sea and looked like a bulky shadow on her frame. He frowned when she didn’t immediately grab her dress and then he realized why. Setting down the kitten’s basket once again, he followed her and stepped around her, this time, to gently ease the fabric off of the pole. Except there was something wrong with it. As he held it up, he realized there was a giant hole in the dress, right where her stomach would be. It looked as though the boys had torn it on purpose.
“I don’t know what happened with those boys, but they are not your friends,” he said as he handed over her dress. Fully expecting that she’d put it on right away, he turned around and held out his hand, waiting for her to give his clothes back. He was mostly looking forward to not looking like a fool, wandering around practically with a basket in hand.
They were still on sandy ground, but they’d strayed into the territory of the long, waving grasses. The wind rustled through them and he listened to the soft hiss of the stalks sliding over one another. He looked down, still waiting, finding that he was oddly content and not ruffled in the least, though he felt he should have been. The earth didn’t explode and he felt very much the same, even after this whole afternoon.
For someone so sure of herself, she second guessed quite a bit, which led him to assume that it was all a front. She could be confident, given the correct set of circumstances, but the way her life had apparently gone up to this point, she would make a decision and then immediately reconsider. That wasn’t always a good thing. She was doing it now, pouring out her heart and soul, and then when he asked to see her tomorrow, she blinked in shock and tried to give him a way to tell her no. Whatever happened tomorrow, he’d break her of this habit, even just as her friend. It didn’t serve her the way she wanted it to.
He was about to tell her that, yes, he was sure and to give her a time but noticed her eyes were not on him anymore. They were on something behind him. Evie gently reached out to touch him and nodded in the direction she’d been looking. He half turned. There, flapping about like a beacon, was her dress. How they hadn’t noticed it before was a mystery. It wasn’t like they’d been able to walk too far from where they’d kissed. If either of them hadn’t been so wrapped up in what the other was attempting to say or do, or not say or not do, they might have noticed the tall shadow and understood it for what it was.
She moved around him and he turned with her, watching as she trudged up to the pole. By now, his wet chiton was definitely dry but it was stiff from the salt in the sea and looked like a bulky shadow on her frame. He frowned when she didn’t immediately grab her dress and then he realized why. Setting down the kitten’s basket once again, he followed her and stepped around her, this time, to gently ease the fabric off of the pole. Except there was something wrong with it. As he held it up, he realized there was a giant hole in the dress, right where her stomach would be. It looked as though the boys had torn it on purpose.
“I don’t know what happened with those boys, but they are not your friends,” he said as he handed over her dress. Fully expecting that she’d put it on right away, he turned around and held out his hand, waiting for her to give his clothes back. He was mostly looking forward to not looking like a fool, wandering around practically with a basket in hand.
They were still on sandy ground, but they’d strayed into the territory of the long, waving grasses. The wind rustled through them and he listened to the soft hiss of the stalks sliding over one another. He looked down, still waiting, finding that he was oddly content and not ruffled in the least, though he felt he should have been. The earth didn’t explode and he felt very much the same, even after this whole afternoon.
Poor Gavriil. He’d have probably been surprised that it wasn’t indecisiveness that had her pausing to answer him. Granted there was a certain amount of shock at his invitation but he was right in one regard. After spilling so much of herself to him, standing there making a complete fool of herself, she wanted blood, or at the very least her dignity at not jumping when he asked.
The pint-sized Leventi stared up at her chiton, her hands resting on her hips. To her side, he settled the basket onto the ground and moved past her to retrieve it for her. As he held it up, her eyes settled on the very large whole in the midsection. Sucking in a breath through her teeth she reached out and gently took it from him ignoring the comment about the little scamps who’d stolen it from her.
Before he could turn away to let her change, she tapped his arm again and looked up at him, “Yes.” Her hand fell away, “In the morning at the oak… I’ll meet you there.”
Half out of his chiton as he turned around she didn’t bother hiding as she disrobed. He’d already seen everything, and just the few pieces he hadn’t seen… they weren’t that much different than what any other woman would have. Not that he was looking or sneaking any glances.
Putting his chiton still warm and smelling of her in his hand, she tried to ignore the coolness against her bare skin. The darkness added a touch of cover and she would relish the feeling without too many worries… well for the moment. A glance over at Gavriil, a sigh escaped and she stepped into her chiton and pulled it up the length of her before she started tying it off.
As she finished, her eyes darted towards him noting he was dressed. Letting her voice drop an octave, “Too bad, I was quite enjoying your previous look.”
Her hand skimmed the breezy opening in the midsection that left her abdomen bare. How was she going to explain this to her maid? Walking over, she reached for the basket and picked it up to offer it to him, when he reached for it she held onto it, “I meant everything I said. I want you but if meeting you tomorrow is a pity invite or you simply letting me down easy. Don’t.” Her hand fell away from the basket after she was sure it was still in his grasp, “Don’t hold your punches with me.”
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Poor Gavriil. He’d have probably been surprised that it wasn’t indecisiveness that had her pausing to answer him. Granted there was a certain amount of shock at his invitation but he was right in one regard. After spilling so much of herself to him, standing there making a complete fool of herself, she wanted blood, or at the very least her dignity at not jumping when he asked.
The pint-sized Leventi stared up at her chiton, her hands resting on her hips. To her side, he settled the basket onto the ground and moved past her to retrieve it for her. As he held it up, her eyes settled on the very large whole in the midsection. Sucking in a breath through her teeth she reached out and gently took it from him ignoring the comment about the little scamps who’d stolen it from her.
Before he could turn away to let her change, she tapped his arm again and looked up at him, “Yes.” Her hand fell away, “In the morning at the oak… I’ll meet you there.”
Half out of his chiton as he turned around she didn’t bother hiding as she disrobed. He’d already seen everything, and just the few pieces he hadn’t seen… they weren’t that much different than what any other woman would have. Not that he was looking or sneaking any glances.
Putting his chiton still warm and smelling of her in his hand, she tried to ignore the coolness against her bare skin. The darkness added a touch of cover and she would relish the feeling without too many worries… well for the moment. A glance over at Gavriil, a sigh escaped and she stepped into her chiton and pulled it up the length of her before she started tying it off.
As she finished, her eyes darted towards him noting he was dressed. Letting her voice drop an octave, “Too bad, I was quite enjoying your previous look.”
Her hand skimmed the breezy opening in the midsection that left her abdomen bare. How was she going to explain this to her maid? Walking over, she reached for the basket and picked it up to offer it to him, when he reached for it she held onto it, “I meant everything I said. I want you but if meeting you tomorrow is a pity invite or you simply letting me down easy. Don’t.” Her hand fell away from the basket after she was sure it was still in his grasp, “Don’t hold your punches with me.”
Poor Gavriil. He’d have probably been surprised that it wasn’t indecisiveness that had her pausing to answer him. Granted there was a certain amount of shock at his invitation but he was right in one regard. After spilling so much of herself to him, standing there making a complete fool of herself, she wanted blood, or at the very least her dignity at not jumping when he asked.
The pint-sized Leventi stared up at her chiton, her hands resting on her hips. To her side, he settled the basket onto the ground and moved past her to retrieve it for her. As he held it up, her eyes settled on the very large whole in the midsection. Sucking in a breath through her teeth she reached out and gently took it from him ignoring the comment about the little scamps who’d stolen it from her.
Before he could turn away to let her change, she tapped his arm again and looked up at him, “Yes.” Her hand fell away, “In the morning at the oak… I’ll meet you there.”
Half out of his chiton as he turned around she didn’t bother hiding as she disrobed. He’d already seen everything, and just the few pieces he hadn’t seen… they weren’t that much different than what any other woman would have. Not that he was looking or sneaking any glances.
Putting his chiton still warm and smelling of her in his hand, she tried to ignore the coolness against her bare skin. The darkness added a touch of cover and she would relish the feeling without too many worries… well for the moment. A glance over at Gavriil, a sigh escaped and she stepped into her chiton and pulled it up the length of her before she started tying it off.
As she finished, her eyes darted towards him noting he was dressed. Letting her voice drop an octave, “Too bad, I was quite enjoying your previous look.”
Her hand skimmed the breezy opening in the midsection that left her abdomen bare. How was she going to explain this to her maid? Walking over, she reached for the basket and picked it up to offer it to him, when he reached for it she held onto it, “I meant everything I said. I want you but if meeting you tomorrow is a pity invite or you simply letting me down easy. Don’t.” Her hand fell away from the basket after she was sure it was still in his grasp, “Don’t hold your punches with me.”