02-26-2023, 11:56 PM
She hummed a little laughter for the comment so closely aligned to her own thought. Did he have any idea how easily that grin pulled at her, like sparks and flame and life? But she was relieved, too; to discover that whatever scars cut the skin and soul, she found something to recognise. The memory of his spiral was fresh. Older but just as potent was the last time they’d been as close as this, in Amengual’s pool; a funerary march of feeling then, but held together just as fierce.
“I would have been disappointed with anything less. There was this guy. He set a high bar.” She smirked, dismissive of the ruse that pulled her into his arms like lovestruck teenagers. Though she hadn’t moved away either. The heat between them was all the more intoxicating for the cool breeze of night. It blocked out a world she was quite content to ignore; wrapped her in every singular thing she had begun to realise was important to her. The potency wouldn’t dissipate with the moment, but she realised too that it was the first time they had not been caught in the urgency of flight. While the waters around them were calm she would not rush.
Her touch smoothed the path of his collar. “You know, I’m not going to answer that. And in return I won’t ask you who you mugged for this jacket.” Her gaze flicked up. Of course she noticed the details. But she only laughed.
“I’m glad you came.” It suggested she had imagined he might not, which was perhaps flippantly cruel of her, but Natalie rarely shied away from bluntness. At least when it suited her. In any case it was honestly meant, and such crystal cut glimpses into the heart of her were not often offered. Though this one was ended in the flash of a provocative tease. “But aren’t you a little underdressed? I take pancakes very seriously, Jay. At least you shaved, I guess.”
“I would have been disappointed with anything less. There was this guy. He set a high bar.” She smirked, dismissive of the ruse that pulled her into his arms like lovestruck teenagers. Though she hadn’t moved away either. The heat between them was all the more intoxicating for the cool breeze of night. It blocked out a world she was quite content to ignore; wrapped her in every singular thing she had begun to realise was important to her. The potency wouldn’t dissipate with the moment, but she realised too that it was the first time they had not been caught in the urgency of flight. While the waters around them were calm she would not rush.
Her touch smoothed the path of his collar. “You know, I’m not going to answer that. And in return I won’t ask you who you mugged for this jacket.” Her gaze flicked up. Of course she noticed the details. But she only laughed.
“I’m glad you came.” It suggested she had imagined he might not, which was perhaps flippantly cruel of her, but Natalie rarely shied away from bluntness. At least when it suited her. In any case it was honestly meant, and such crystal cut glimpses into the heart of her were not often offered. Though this one was ended in the flash of a provocative tease. “But aren’t you a little underdressed? I take pancakes very seriously, Jay. At least you shaved, I guess.”