Hot tea and sweet pastries (2)

Vera sipped her tea. The cup was almost over, and she had spent all that time staring at the man. She hadn't even asked his name yet. She didn't know how to call him.

Not that she had said many words. He also had been quite silent, enjoying the sound of the rain. As if he wasn't wary of her sitting on his sofa and eating him with her eyes.

She had noticed many small details, from the way his hair curled to the celestial line of his lips. Everything was made to be seen, and maybe caressed or kissed.

How could a person make her feel like that, it was a mystery. But it wasn't wrong. First of all, because his aura was pure. It was safe to stay next to him, for she wouldn't get any soul illness attached. And, secondly, because she was an adult.

She had the freedom to choose whom to desire, and she had every right to choose when to let loose and de-stress. For her, it was the first time she had such a thought. Yet, it was normal for other people her age.

«So... How is Paris?» she wondered. «I wanted to sightsee, but the weather is so bad.»

She curled her lips in a forced smile, and she could read in his eyes that he had noticed. Yet, he didn't point it out. He just smirked before answering. Her eyes stopped on his lips a moment too long.

If she didn't know angels weren't real, she would have believed he was one of them. She inhaled and relaxed on the sofa. His golden aura was powerful, burning around his body like a flame. However, it was warm more than hot like fire.

She blinked, dispersing the images of energies and auras. He was handsome in both worlds; how unfair.

«If the rain stops soon, I can show you a nice place,» he said, turning to her. «It's not far from here; they have the best cuisine in this whole area and, with this weather, I doubt their tables will be full. It's a rare chance.»

She got lost in his eyes and felt the chance escaping from her fingers. They weren't going anywhere for hours.

«The rain won't stop,» she sighed. Likely, it would last for the whole night if not even longer.

«No?» he chuckled.

She shrugged, biting her tongue. She should have kept her thoughts for herself, lest that handsome man thought she was weird... or crazy.

«Are you alone here?» he inquired. «Or you're here with someone else?»

«Uhm... I'm alone now,» she said. She had no clue where Ethan was, and she wasn't very curious about it. He was an adult and should have known how to protect himself.

«You fought with the person you came here with? What bad luck,» he said. However, he didn't seem displeased to hear that. On the contrary, his lips were curled in an intrigued, tricky smile.

Vera lifted her feet from the ground, finally realising she was going to be sitting there for a long, long while. She folded her knees to warm her cold heels and places the empty cup on the table.

«It was not a fight. We just parted ways,» she said. «There's no reason to visit a foreign city with a colleague, after all. Who in this world does that? It's still Paris. I'd rather see it on my own.»

Was he inquiring about her relationships? Why did he care? It was her own business whether she had a boyfriend or whatever... Were all people having one-night stands so nosy? She thought they wouldn't even talk, yet that man seemed curious. Too much for his good.

If the agency knew about the existence of a creature like him, they would do anything in their power to have him work for them. Something as beautiful couldn't be left out of their control, after all.

It was better for him if he knew nothing about her. Especially her name; but that was an old habit. Names had power over people.

As if reading her thoughts, he asked.

«What's your name?»

«Julie,» she said without thinking twice. It was her reserve name for such situations. «And yours?»

«Neven,» he said. «Neven Darga.»

She resisted the temptation to repeat his name and feel the taste. She was still inebriated by his presence, his looks... And also his scent. After sitting there for so long, her body leaned closer and closer until she could catch traces of his perfume. Being so close yet so far apart started to hurt.

Maybe, she thought, he had changed his mind. After seeing her from up close, he decided he didn't like her. What a pity, for once that she would agree. It was the first time in her life she felt attracted to someone, especially without knowing them.

«So, Julie...» he murmured, his eyes hiding his thoughts.

Did he believe her little lie? He used that name, so she was safe... Right?

But why did he look dangerous all of a sudden? As dangerous as to make her shiver.

«What would you like to do with all this rain? We need some entertainment until the weather lets us go out... Am I wrong, perhaps?»

She shook her head. How could he be wrong? But the dark light in his eyes while he asked for entertainment made her quiver in excitement.

«What would you like to do, Julie?» he asked, leaning his chin on a hand. His eyes were even more magnetic, like that, while his lazy movements made her think of a feline.

She couldn't stop her words. She couldn't refrain from agreeing with him.

«Whatever you want,» she said. Then, contrarily to how she would act in any other circumstances, she smiled back.

Hers wasn't as wily and hypnotic as his grin, but it was naughty enough to transparently expose her thoughts.