It was odd. The laughing glances, the twisting little smiles that fluttered too and fro between them in the gym, ever conscious of the passionate burning gaze of the other yearning across the room. Yet words seemed unwinnable, no moment was theirs alone in the hustle and bustle of The Rock. The small, secretive moment in Sasha's office remained, etched in the back of their minds, as they moved through the motions of their daily lives.

Payson's friends noticed the change in her, the confidence quietly exuding from her smile and look. And when they asked, she blushed and look up, remembering how she had someone on her side, someone who backed her and who believed in everything he did.

So when they finally found themselves alone together, they didn't know how to react anymore. Walking tiredly from his office, lazily flickering the lights off one by one, Sasha Belov strained his eyes as he looked at a lone figure twirling in the semi-darkness below. Despite himself, he gave a laugh.

"Payson Keeler!" he cried, running down the stairs and running a bewildered hand through his hair.

She jumped, twitching her head up in surprise. He discerned a fire in her eyes even from his position as he approached closer, a determination that he hadn't seen in her countenance for a very long time.

"Yes?" she replied, innocent eyed.

"Go home," urged Sasha, dropping his voice to a low, gentle murmur, "it's far too late."

There was a cheeky smile playing on her cheeks as she watched his concerned expression.

"It's fine, I just want to get this done."

He looked at her resilient expression.

"I knew giving you the pep talk about being determined and confident would be a mistake," he groaned with a laugh.

Payson grinned, turning back away from him. She expected him to leave her alone again, but he stayed still.

"Do you have to watch me Sasha?" she asked, flicking her hair back as she met his gaze.

"What else is there to do this time of night?" he smiled, throwing her a quick wink as he bent down and sat on the mats.

Payson watched him, disbelieving. She uttered an exasperated sigh, crossing her arms on her chest. God he loved that puckered mouth and the cross little frown in her forehead as she bore down a look of annoyance upon him. Even in that though, it was hard not to see the joyous, tender gaze filtering through it from her warming heart.

"I'm not going to practice if you're watching me," she declared, stubbornly, furrowing her forehead and digging her heel into the mat.

"Fine," Sasha shrugged, flicking his eyebrows at her, "but I'm not moving."

"Fine," Payson repeated, walking over to him and sitting resolutely down next to him.

There was a silence, as both of them became conscious of the pulsating centimetre of air separating their arms.

"So are we just going to sit here all evening then?" she voiced.

"Why not?"

She stole a glance at his face, poised straight ahead. It wasn't exactly an accident that her hand fell on top of his as she snaked it down to the mat.

Sasha felt a surge power through his arm as her fingers burrowed through to his. His head snapped round to face hers, wide-eyed, holding her breath.

"Sasha-"

But Payson's whisper was lost as he drew his finger across her lips, shushing her quietly as he leant forward, slipping his arm into the crook of her back so that she gentle leant back onto the floor as he moved towards her, his shining eyes and soft smile radiating into hers as he hovered now directly above her.

He moved his lips towards hers but she averted her own, turning her head so that his instead came to rest on the smooth arch of her cheek.

"I don't understand," she whimpered quietly. Her voice trailed off abruptly.

"What?" Sasha breathed, still pressed into her soft, warm flesh.

"You're the king of mixed signals Sasha," Payson murmured, struggling to get up from lying on the matt, watching as he shot up next to her, "first you kiss me, then you say it was nothing, and now-"

Sasha watched as her voice cracked with frustration, and she simply peered up at him from those large, oh so innocent eyes. Her plea seemed to reverberate around the room, the air vying with intensity as she looked at him for some explanation.

He tried to reach out, leaning in to touch her hand but instead she jerked away, standing up so she had the power over his kneeling stance.

"Don't Sasha," Payson whispered as she took her hand away from his, "please don't do this."

But he was up in a flash, grabbing her arms and staring right into those bewildered eyes. Sasha didn't know if he could find his voice but somehow, an odd strain managed to escape from his throat.

"I don't understand it either," he croaked, "but I do know one thing."

"What?"

He wasn't sure if the word had crossed her lips, if her quiet murmur was actually audible at all or if he just read the trace flicker across them but he felt his heart skip another beat until it was in time with hers as he drew Payson in closer.

Sasha gulped. The world was spinning, the colours around him blandly fading into some unrecognisable shade of grey but he didn't care because of the surge of ecstasy that was coursing through his veins.

"I just can't let you go."

Time seemed to hand, suspended for a moment until she was slowly reaching up to his face with her fragile little hand. Payson felt the unkempt stubble of his chin as she thrust her lips onto his, parched and dry as she deposited a gentle kiss. Even in the darkness they could feel each other smile as their hands ran through the others hair and their lips parted and met, gasping for each other as if it was the first time they had breathed air.

I'm not too sure about this chapter, I just couldn't leave it half finished any more! All comments would be appreciated :)