Alec Bennett sat on the coffee table watching the steady rise and fall of Rayven's chest. She lay on her back and her blond white hair fell over her breasts in a straight sea, stopping just below them. Her deep pink lips were slightly parted and her thick eyelashes lay across her cheeks, her skin a snowy white, like his own. Her eyes were closed, but Alec had memorized their color by heart. They were a dark green with flecks of chocolate brown around the pupils.
An odd combination, and rarely heard off, but natural for the line of Nikitin women. Not that she knew she was one. That surname had been lost when her grandmother moved to The States and married an American. A man by the name of Hall, apparently. Seeing as Rayven's beautiful mother never married Rayven had inherited the name. He shook his head absently, how Dimitra did it, he'd never know.
He looked back at Rayven. She was the mirrored image of her mother. Right down to…
Alec knelt down in front of the couch and held his hand just above her cheek.
…The single freckle on her right cheek.
Rayven's eyes shot open and Alec jumped back, hitting the coffee table. Rayven quickly sat up and reached out, touching his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with only concern.
Alec looked up at her stunned. She had never reacted that way before when got hurt. Alec couldn't think of anything to say, so he just stared into her concerned eyes.
"Alec…?" she said softly, moving her hand up to his cheek and stroking a strand of hair behind his ear. Alec reached his hand up and was about to grab hers when reality hit him. He jumped up in one fluid movement and took her hand in his own, offering to help her off the couch.
"I'm fine, my dear. And how was your sleep?" he asked, his tone perfectly polite and courteous, like price charming should be. He flashed a charming smile at her and kissed her fingers softly.
She smiled back slowly and said, "It was good." Using her other hand she straightened out her burnt sweater.
"Lovely." Alec nodded and gently pulled her into the kitchen where he proceeded to make her some soup. "You favor clam chowder, if I'm not mistaken."
"Um, yes," Rayven said, sitting in one of the stools at the bar.
"Excellent."
A few moments of silence passed as Alec fixed her chowder and Rayven pulled back her hair and gawked at the spacious apartment. Every so often Alec would steal glances at her and marvel in her beauty.
Final he set the bowl in front of her. "Bon apatite."
She grinned and Alec felt his heart flutter. He hadn't realized how much he had missed that grin until it appeared on her lips.
"Thank you." She said softly and took a big spoonful, then another, and another. And the next thing they both knew, half the bowl was gone. And Alec was content to watch. A few more minutes passed and the chowder had disappeared.
"What an appetite." Alec chucked as Rayven's cheeks turned light pink. He picked up the bowl and tossed it casually in the sink. He walked back to the bar and leaned his elbows against it, his hands clasped in front of him, leaning forward, engaging himself in her presence. Rayven straightened up a bit and leaned back.
"So...um...it must seem odd that I haven't freaked out yet."
"The thought did cross my mind."
Rayven smiled uncomfortably and Alec had to hold back a laugh. She leaned forward a bit and fanned her fingers across the bar. "Well, you see, the truth is, I feel oddly comfortable here…and around you." She glanced up at him and he smiled charmingly again.
"As well you should, darling." He said nonchalantly.
"And why is that?" Rayven asked, one blond eyebrow raised. Alec's skin tingled with how…enticing…he found the look on her face.
"Well, because we are currently seated at your table in your apartment."
"Really now?" Rayven asked, completely astonished.
Alec nodded. "On December 30th 2009."
Rayven's eyes widened and her jaw dropped, "What?"