A lovely paradox

While Steve was contemplating about some things, with Maria hidden away in his arms, she was telling him, "I am glad that you are here now to help me take Laila's mind off things. Who knows, maybe a male perspective on things will help her see things differently as well. At the very least you got her to leave the couch and snap back to reality. Now all we have to do is keep her in reality. I am very much counting on you for that part."

As Maria's head was filled with worries about Laila, and using those thoughts to silence whatever awkwardness she was feeling over having hugged Steve so suddenly, Steve had been thinking about different things. Asking himself why he had been holding himself back for so long and wondering if he still needed to be doing that. He had been holding himself back in order to not scare Maria away or force her into doing something she did not want to do. But seeing how Maria was taking more and more steps in his direction, Steve began to wonder if there was still a need for him to hold back or if he should take another go at asking her to become official with him.

He had been thinking this for a longer time. Wanting nothing more to claim her for himself while giving his all to her. But Maria's response to his earlier advances had made him take a few steps back to give Maria a bit more space. Allow her to think about what it was that she wanted. If it was him or someone else. Now it seemed that she knew the answer to those questions and he had known known since the very beginning. So, what exactly were they still waiting for?

Steve knew it was fast, that they didn't know each other all that long. Even if that was the case, Steve was a firm believer of the 'When you know, you know' mentality. In fact, he was ready to call her his wife. Let alone something as small as his girlfriend. He also knew that by making it official, it would make Maria feel more secure and allow for them to grow that much more as a couple. But for now, he would just enjoy his hug with the woman that he loved. Soak up every second of it and allow her to recharge as he did the same.

In a soothing, warm voice Steve said, "Yeah, you can leave that part to me. I'll do my best not to disappoint", as he gently rocked Maria from side to side, his head resting on hers. After an encouraging stroke on her back on her back, Steve let go of her and as he held her by her arms he said, "Let's go. Laila must be waiting for us. Any longer and she'll come looking for us and I have a feeling you wouldn't like it very much for her to catch us in such a compromising situation". After his last sentence he added a wink and a chuckle to indicate that he was just joking but it was enough for Maria to blush as she realized the boldness of her own actions.

She cleared her throat and as she frantically looked in away to avoid eye-contact, looking for an escape, a place to hide. Then Maria pulled her arms away as she turned towards the dining room door and said, "Yeah, you are right. Let's head into the dining room as well. Dinner awaits and you must be wanting to get that mystery dessert of yours to the kitchen before it is ruined."

Leaving Steve no room to respond, Maria made a run for the door and disappeared in the same way Laila had, just moments before. Steve couldn't help but chuckle as he felt so amused by Maria's reactions. Feeling that she was as easy to read as an open book and yet so shrouded with mystery that he would probably never be able to fully understand her.

Though there was much more to it, at the beginning, it was essentially this quirky side of hers that had pulled his attention to Maria in the first place. Her needy and hungry eyes, wanting nothing more than to be loved and have someone to love, yet shying away the moment it was presented to her. Not knowing how to respond, whether to submit to her feelings and see what fate had in store or run away from them for fear of getting hurt. Wanting to immerse herself in a relationship but not wanting to lose herself. Such a lovely paradox, adding to her charm every day.

One hand in his pocket, the other carrying the dessert he had bought, and while shaking his head in laughter, Steve followed the women into the dining room. This is where he was confronted once more with Maria's way of thinking and communicating. Combining her love for running away with her love for him.