"Is he your boyfriend?" Carole asked as she made me tea, her lips curling into a smile as my face turned the exact shade of a ripe strawberry. "He's...interesting but not bad looking."
"He's not my boyfriend, Carole. Dack just happened to be walking in the forest when I fell off Solar." I explained, taking the cup she offfered me. "Stop making a big deal of this."
"I don't know. You two looked pretty cosy when I walked in." Carole answered, taking a sip of her own tea as I rolled my eyes. "Besides what were you doing on your own?"
"I went for a ride, that's all." I replied, sitting on my chair and she tilted her head slightly at me. "Alright, alright. Nalia challenged me to a race and I couldn't say no." I admitted and she sighed, sitting in the chair beside mine.
"You could have just walked away. You know Nalia is just being...well, Nalia." Carole answered and I nodded, taking another sip of my tea. "If you don't mind me asking why did you kiss Dack anyway?" She asked and I coughed, almost dropping my cup.
"Carole, it was an accident. I tripped and he just happened to have his mouth open." I explained, feeling my cheeks burn as she grinned at me. "I know just how that sounds."
"Whatever you say, Mina. Anyway I just came past to check on you so if you don't need anything I'd better get going." Carole said, rising from her chair. Leaving her empty cup in the sink she waved goodbye, giving me a quick smile as Dack returned.
"Solar's fine before you ask." Dack told me when I opened my mouth. "Maybe you should keep it closed before you cause another...misunderstanding." He told me, chuckling when I stared at the floor my hands tightening around the cup.
"Could you stop talking about that? It was an accident, like I already told you and Carole." I muttered, hearing his boots moving towards my seat. Without asking he sat beside me and I moved slightly towards the door. "You already know I'm fine so you don't have to hang around here."
"Actually I like this town. There are some very nice valuables here." Dack told me as I straightened, moving to the sink as he smiled at me.
"You had better not be planning on stealing any of them. This is my town and I won't just sit by and allow you to rob us blind." I told him, hands over the sink. Quick as a fast, or a thief in this case, Dack stood behind me.
"What if I steal you instead?" Dack asked, brushing a lock of my hair from my shoulders. I dropped my cup in shock, whirling around to find his face inches from mine. "Would you like that?"
"What I'd like is for you to leave. I'll already thanked you for saving me so we're even." I answered, not so gently pushing past him. "You do know where the door is don't you?"
"That's a little harsh don't you think?" Dack asked, leaning against the sink with his arms crossed. "I save someone's life and they won't even let me stay for a single night." He sighed and I rolled my eyes, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
"Alright. One night then out you go." I finally agreed and Dack smiled, stepping forward to shake my offered hand. "I have a spare room that you can use. One rule though; you have to stay there during the night. No wandering off."
This time Dack rolled his eyes at me and I casually pointed to the door, giving him a tiny smile when he frowned. "Fine it is your house after all. I'm behave." Dack agreed and I nodded, heading towards the bathroom and a well-earned shower. "For now anyway." He whispered once I was out of earshot.
"What was I thinking, letting a complete stranger stay in my house? And not just any stranger but a thief as well." I grumbled, dropping a clean shirt on the sink. "Just my luck...first cute guy I meet that isn't trying to get into my pants and he steals from people."
Taking care I unbuttoned my shirt, grimacing at the tear on the left sleeve before I reached behind me. The bra slipped off, dropping to the floor before I could snatch it out of the air.
"Mina, are you in there?" Dack called and I nearly leapt into the air as he cracked open the door. I had only just managed to wrap myself in a clean towel before he stepped fully into the bathroom.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I snapped, face flushed as he eyed me his gaze sweeping the entire length of my body. When he let out a whistle I narrowed my eyes. "I was just about to take a bath."
"Go right ahead. I'm not stopping you." Dack replied, closing the door behind him. My eyes on his face I growled when he gave me a smile.
"Excuse me but there is no way I'm taking a bath with you in the room. Get out!" I snapped and he took a step back as my eyes glowed a pale blue, the room dropping several degrees.
Dack opened his mouth to answer only to see a fog flow from it and he paused as I took a single step towards him, still glaring. Quickly muttering an apology, Dack hurried from the room and I took a deep breath as the door slammed shut.
In a few seconds the room warmed up again and I shook my head, crossing the room to make sure the door was locked this time. Should have done that first but it wasn't like I had vistors too often, other than Carole of course.
"Why did I invite him in?" I muttered, moving back to the bath. Slipping off the towel from my body I dropped it, giving the locked door one final glance before I slid into the tub. The hot water made me flinch at first but after a few seconds I sighed, relaxing as the water rinsed the dirt from my body. "Must have been crazy to let someone I didn't know stay here. Especially a thief...even if he is kind of cute. Mina, get your mind out of the gutter." I whispered, not knowing that Dack was standing just outside the door hearing every word.
When I emerged from the bathroom now dressed in a loose fitting white shirt and a purple shirt that stopped just above my knees, I found Dack lying on the couch. "Do you always take that long in the bath?" Dack asked as I opened my mouth and I growled, my fingers glowing a pale blue. "I was just kidding!" He quickly yelped as the very tips of his boots froze.
"You had better be. I'm nice enough to let you stay here and you have the guts to walk in on me?" I muttered, releasing the ice magic. "You're lucky I don't turn you into an ice sculpture." I added with a sigh, moving towards the kitchen table.
"Geeze I said I was sorry. Hey I've never seen someone use magic like that. What exactly are you?" Dack asked and I turned my head, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm a human if that's what you're asking." I replied, turning my back on the thief. "Anyway I'm going out for lunch. Not sure about you but I'm hungry." I added, grabbing my purse that Dack had (thankfully) left alone.
It wasn't until I was halfway to the door that I heard a loud growl and I stifled a giggle, my palm pressed against my mouth. "I suppose if I buy you a meal that makes us even." I told him with a tiny smile, enjoying the blush that turned his face a bright shade of red.
"It's the least you could do since I did save your life." Dack answered, stepping past me before I had a chance to react. "Well are you coming or not?" He asked, standing inside the doorway and I rolled my eyes.
