Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 303
A Kiss for Shelter
Impressions
The shoji slid open and then closed.
He turned to her.
She bowed and upon rising met his gaze. Then as though compelled by an unseen force her eyes roved over his beautifully defined features. Unconsciously she took a breath.
He was gorgeous! Not simply handsome as her mistress had described, but a truly enviable beauty.
Her eyes flicked back up to his when she realized she had been shamelessly eyeing him. She drew in another breath, hoping he had not caught her and been offended. But he gave no sign of having noticed her scrutiny.
They stared at one another across the small expanse of the single room.
She felt a knot of anxiety in her chest, but she steadied herself as she reached up to unclasp her cloak at the neck, never wavering in her now tempered gaze.
He watched as she slowly pulled the cloak from her shoulders and draped it over one arm. He knew the gesture was meant to distract her. He was well aware of the gaze she had favored him with- felt her scan his features and body. A smirk had tugged at his lips for a moment, which she had missed as her eyes fell to the floor.
For the girl, this was the kind of man she was wary of- powerful and attractive and aware of both. She was not one to judge a man by his appearance or station however. It was the idea of being only an object in someone's mind that caused her hesitation. It was why she had for so long avoided this part of being a courtesan.
But she could not flee now.
As it was he spoke in a voice that men bowed to, "Your name."
"Xochitl. I am called, Xochitl, my lord."