The Answers We Seek

[Alice Calder]

[Continued from the Yule Ball]

Alice had probably seemed too eager as she linked her arm through Nathaniel Starke 's, but to be truthful, the ballroom was much too loud now. The air felt heavy and she thought she might collapse if she didn’t step away soon. Now that he wasn’t quite so close, she felt like she could breathe. She felt solid in her resolve again, though a small part of her feared her resolve was not as strong as she would like it to be - as strong as she would need it to be. But, maybe if she pretended it was, convinced herself it was, then it would be. Maybe..

A servant opened one of the large double doors as she and Nathaniel approached. Alice dipped her head slightly, muttering a thank you as they stepped onto the terrace. The winter air felt soothing as it hit her bare skin and it hadn’t yet occurred to her that she should have grabbed her coat. But for the moment, it didn’t bother her. In fact, it was more than welcome.

As the door closed softly behind them, the quietness compared to the ballroom was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the indoor event. Alice took a calming breath, suddenly very aware that they were alone. She couldn’t seem to find the words to speak as she looked up at Nathaniel, dropping her arm from his and taking a step away. She was thankful for the distance. It quieted her racing mind and eased her fear, even if only slightly. Deciding that she wouldn’t let this moment turn into an awkward silence, she looked back at Nathaniel with a curious expression. “So tell me,” Her tone was nonchalant as if she hadn’t been nearly lost in him just moments ago. “Did you ever think you’d have this much fun with such a hideous woman?” She sank easily into their playful banter, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

[Nathaniel Starke]

Nathaniel was quiet as they walked out of the ballroom and outside. His mind, however, was far from silent. He couldn't help but think about kissing Alice. She had teased him at the end of the chase, leaving him wanting more. Yet he was terrified of it at the same time. He found himself thinking that perhaps he should not have come tonight, that he shouldn't have approached Alice. Maybe even that he shouldn't have participated in the chase. He wouldn't be here, feeling like his heart was about to give out on him. He could just resume his dull...boring and safe life.

He forced an uneasy smile and nod to the servant as the door was held open for them. The air felt amazing and despite it being cold, Nathaniel hardly noticed.

His gaze followed her as she stepped away from him. There was a moment of awkward silence for a moment, and he struggled to think of anything to say. Whose turn was it to ask a question? Had he asked one yet? He couldn't remember.

As he tried to think, Alice was suddenly breaking the silence, which made him feel grateful. And he was even more appreciative that she brought back their playful little banter, rather than to keep things serious. Nathaniel grinned and laughed softly, nodding his head. "Fun? Who said anything about fun? I'm bored out of my mind here," he said sarcastically. She did warn him that she was a bore, but so far, he felt that was far from the truth.

Could the two of them just forget the topic of kissing? Could they move on from it as if it was never brought up? Why did he feel disappointed at such a thought?

He turned his gaze from her and moved further away from her, to the edge of the terrace where he glanced out in thought. There was a seriousness that appeared through his whole core. His posture, the features of his face, the way he seemingly was clenching his jaw in thought. Maybe it was obvious he was troubled or deep in thought about something. Did he really want to continue with any of this? Perhaps it would be better...easier, to quit while they were ahead.

But before she'd be able to question him, he turned to look at her and smiled. "How difficult do you find it to trust others?" It was another deep question, one that Nathaniel wasn't sure he, himself, would be able to answer. But he was curious to see if the woman in front of him had similar troubles as he, or if she trusted people easily.

[Alice Calder]

Alice’s thoughts mirrored Nathaniel’s, though neither of them seemed to be any the wiser. She could just excuse herself to her room, say she was tired or had a busy day tomorrow and she needed rest. Simply imagining herself lying to him made her feel guilty. Who knew that all of the palace ladies and Eleesa talking her into participating in the chase would have led to this?

She breathed a sigh of relief when he fell back into their banter as easily as she hand. A soft laugh escaped her. “In that case, I give up on trying to entertain you. It’s clearly impossible!” She declared dramatically, her tone heavy with sarcasm as she teased. For now, she’d put the idea of kissing him out of her mind, though she felt her body warm instantly against the cold as the feeling of his hand on her cheek and the look in his eyes returned to memory. She swallowed against the thought, clearing her throat softly as he stepped to the edge of the terrace. She felt better with the added distance between them and moved to stand next to him, though she was still far enough away that she couldn’t touch him even if she reached to her full arms length.

Her gaze lifted to the sky, where stars had begun to appear behind the dark clouds that had yet to disperse. Looking back towards Nathaniel, she gave him a curious look. Perhaps it was just the cold, but he seemed visibly tense and Alice again questioned if being alone with him was such a great idea.. However, before she was too lost in her thoughts, he was looking at her and smiling, asking her about her ability to trust others. She looked away from him, wrapping her arms around herself though it wasn’t from the cold. Why did him asking her that question make her feel so much more vulnerable than his other questions had?

There was a long silence before she finally spoke, smiling as she kept her gaze fixated ahead. “I struggle.. To trust others.” She admitted slowly, rubbing her arms gently. “But it is not their fault.” She added, deciding to leave out that most of her distrust was placed on men rather than women. While even trusting other women did not come easy to Alice, it was more common for her than trusting men. Yet, she almost felt she could trust Nathaniel.

“How easy or difficult is it for you to read others?” She asked him curiously, wondering if he’d been able to see through her all evening.

[Nathaniel Starke]

Nathaniel found himself trying to think of a way out should things start to get uncomfortable for him. But he found himself at a loss, feeling unsure if he really would want to leave. His curiosity was getting the best of him and he couldn't help but feel he wanted to know more about Alice.

He let out a small laugh as she claimed to give up trying to entertain him. "I wouldn't say it's impossible..." He tilted his head and gave her a cocky smirk, some slight insinuation in his voice. Now that they were away from the public ear, she'd have no excuse to avoid telling him what she had said previously. He thought about asking her again about it but decided not to. That moment had already passed.

He turned to look at her, watching as she came to stand beside him, though kept her distance. It nearly made his heart sink and he couldn't help but wonder if she was regretting telling him that she wanted him to kiss her. She didn't want to stand close to him and he wondered if he had done something wrong, perhaps he had pulled her too close to him during their dance, and he suddenly felt guilty for that.

His gaze followed hers up to the sky and he smiled as he recalled their conversation earlier and her enjoyment for stargazing. There weren't too many visible at the moment, but perhaps if the clouds cleared up eventually.

When Nathaniel glanced back over at her, he noticed how she wrapped her arms around herself and he wondered if coming outside was a good idea. Was she cold, or was she closing herself off from him? Either way, he too began to wonder if being alone was the smartest decision either one of them could have made at the moment.

Alice did not look at him as she answered his question, so he turned his gaze away, in the same direction hers went. He listened to her as she spoke and he understood all too well her feelings. He wanted to agree with her- to admit that he too struggled to trust others and it was not anyone's fault but his own and what he had experienced growing up. Like Alice, most of his distrust was placed on men too. Though from his experiences with women, he wasn't sure most of them were any better, either.

When she asked her question, Nathaniel kept his gaze straight ahead as he thought about his answer. It might have seemed for a moment that he hadn't heard her, but he eventually turned his attention to her and looked her over, his expression serious. In all honestly, he wasn't sure how to answer her question, because he was never sure if what he read off of people was accurate or not, or if he allowed his own thoughts to interfere and cloud his judgments. He finally smiled at her as he shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really know," he spoke honestly. Honesty was key here, wasn't it? But he would explain. "I read someone and have never bothered to ask if I was correct or not... Although my first impressions of people typically end up being right." He smirked and tilted his head as he watched her. "But as far as in this moment type things go-" He paused and looked at her as if studying her so he could tell her what he saw.

He took a deep breath and sighed it out. "For instance... Right now, as I look at you, keeping your distance from me... I can't help but wonder if you regret telling me that you wanted me to kiss you. That I held you too close during our dance and that made you uncomfortable, which I feel horribly sorry for..." He looked away from her, letting his head drop, almost in shame, before he shook his head and lifted it, looking sidelong at her, afraid, or maybe even embarrassed, to fully look at her. Briefly, Nathaniel wondered if he had gotten it all wrong, and that scared him even more.

Nathaniel took another deep breath and shrugged his coat off. He was about to take a slight chance as he closed the distance between them and moved to stand behind her, draping his coat over her shoulders. Whether or not she was cold, he couldn't help the guilt he felt for dragging a lady outdoors in the wintertime, especially in the dress she was wearing. Though he did not linger, he took a step back before putting that same distance between them. "If you get too cold... We can go back inside." He spoke gently.

After another lingering silence, Nathaniel asked his next question, it nearly slipping out his lips before he could fully think of it. "What is your impression of me, so far?" He was nervous to hear the answer no matter what side of the spectrum her thoughts landed on (good or bad). He wasn't sure his resolve would be able to handle it if she said something good about him.

[Alice Calder]

“I wouldn’t say it’s impossible...” Her gaze had snapped to his face and Alice raised a brown at him as he tilted his head, smirking at her. Her own face was expressionless save for the humor that played in her eyes, especially as she caught his.. Underlying meaning. A smirk formed on her lips then and she looked back out over the palace grounds. Part of her began to worry that he was going to resume their earlier conversation, but when he didn’t, she took a breath, the crisp air almost making her lungs ache as she inhaled. “Yeah? Then what would it take?” She challenged after a moment, still not looking in his direction. She’d almost wished the question wouldn’t have passed her lips.

The cold was hardly noticeable. There was too much going on inside her head for her to even care about the cold. Wrapping around herself… it made her feel like she had a physical barrier between herself and Nathaniel, even if part of her desperately wanted to wrap herself in his warmth. Before she could get too caught up in that idea, he was answering her question and she finally looked at him as he spoke.

Alice had always been an excellent judge of character, but Nathaniel surprised her. It was unnerving and exciting to not be able to be one step ahead. She never knew what was coming from him next and it was.. Exhilarating. The newness was almost intoxicating.

When he seemed to be studying her, Alice turned her body to face him, lifting her chin as she smirked, awaiting his assessment. But as the words rolled off his tongue, Alice stared at him, her expression serious. “I have very few regrets and that certainly isn’t one of them.” The words were quiet. She could feel her heart beating in the pit of her stomach. “Nor did you make me uncomfortable.” She pulled her brows together and looked away from him, pressing her lips into a hard line. She wasn’t sure what else to say.

The motion of him shrugging off his coat caught her eye and she turned her head back to him, giving him a curious look as he stepped behind her, draping it over her shoulders. She didn’t realize how cold she actually was. The jacket was warm against her bare skin and it smelled like him. She resisted the urge to pull the jacket tighter around herself, but as he put distance between them again, she felt her resolve break entirely, and all she could manage at his offer was to shake her head no as she stared at him.

At his next question, she tilted her head slightly and smiled. “So far..” She repeated absentmindedly, a single laugh escaping in a breath as she looked away from him again, this time pulling the jacket tighter against her as she swallowed against the terror that began to rock her body again. She turned her gaze back to him. “I think you are incredibly smart and kind. You have a wonderful sense of humor..” She laughed nervously, looking away from him again. “I’m not sure there is anyone else like you..” The words were slow, her voice almost trembling. Her eyes had fallen to her feet now, her heartbeat causing her chest to ache. Her resolve was already gone, she didn’t dare look at him. Her mind raced a million miles per hour, causing her to forget that it was her turn to ask a question, so instead, she remained quiet, letting her eyes fall anywhere but on him. At this moment, she felt terrified.

[Nathaniel Starke]

"Then what would it take?" Nathaniel almost found himself cringing at her question. He hadn't expected her to ask him what he meant and hoped she would get an idea just from his tone. Then again, she had dodged him when he had asked her to clarify her insinuations earlier. He smiled, though, and looked her over briefly, "a true gentleman should never speak such things to a lady." Yes, that response was quite fitting, he thought. It was more or less the same answer she had given him before.

He didn't even look at her as she responded to his assessment of her and why he thought she was standing at a distance from him. Her words made him close his eyes for the briefest of a moment and he caught himself clenching his jaw. Not out of anger, but of trying to keep his self-control in check. Hearing her deny his worries made his heartbeat quicken as he forced every ounce of his being to remain grounded and to avoid going to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her the way he so badly wanted to. 

Alice let out a laugh before telling her impression of him. He raised a brow and regarded her, drawing in a slow and steadying breath. He barely noticed that he held it as she spoke until he could feel his chest burning to release. His exhale was just as slow, strangely feeling relieved by her answer. That is until she added to it. “I’m not sure there is anyone else like you...” His heart leaped into his throat and he stared at her, feeling as if he couldn't breathe. What had he ever done to give her that impression? Was he really so different?

Now she wouldn't look at him and he wondered if she felt the same as he did- nervous and scared to find out what would come next- what would happen if they allowed this to go any further? Nathaniel took another deep breath before he stepped towards her again, almost as if something took control over him against his will. He stood in front of her and grasped hold of his jacket around her, pulling it tighter around her to ensure she would keep warm. She didn't ask him a question, so instead, Nathaniel answered as if she had asked him the same question. 

"I think you are incredibly beautiful... Intelligent... Witty, intimidating, spoiled, high maintenance... but mostly kind. You have the best sense of humor I've ever seen in a woman and you're not afraid to use it. You're real..." He smiled and paused for a moment as he mulled over his thoughts. "You make me smile when not a lot of people do... You make me want to know everything there is to know about you..." He breathed a quick huff of a laugh out his nose. "I'm not so sure there is anyone else like you." He repeated her words, though his tone was genuine, proving that he meant the words just as much as she did.

He wanted to run. To just turn away from her and run as fast as his legs could carry him. But he couldn't move. Not away from her. His heart was trapped and beating wildly in what felt like his throat. Almost instinctively, Nathaniel lifted a hand, placing a couple of fingers under her chin to gently urge her to look at him before he moved them to tuck strands of her hair behind her ear. He looked into her eyes, staring rather, trying to read her thoughts, to look deep within her to try and gain the strength and courage he needed for what he was about to do. 

He leaned in closer to her as his hand moved to cup her cheek, fingers weaving into her hair at the nape of her neck. His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek as he continued to stare at her, that look of desire forming in his eyes again. Without another word, he slowly found himself drawing closer and closer to her until his lips were mere inches from her own. His eyes remained on hers until he pressed his forehead against hers, his lips still unable to find hers just yet. He lingered there, his breathing slow and shallow as he hesitated, now watching her lips. "Alice...I..."  Nathaniel fought back the trembles he felt trying to shake through his body. He could not let her know just how afraid he actually was to do this. Finally, throwing that hesitation away, he quickly closed whatever gap remained between them, his eyes falling shut before he could convince himself to stop, and he pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, until he knew for certain she would not pull away from him. If she returned the kiss, he allowed that feverish desire and hunger he had been holding back to finally release and he deepened their kiss as if every emotion he felt could be spoken by it.

[Alice Calder]

‘Of course.’ She thought to herself with a smirk. He’d used the same tactic that she earlier had, changing the words to suit himself. Alice laughed quietly, giving him a single nod. It was a fair statement and she’d actually expected something along those lines of a response from him. It almost seemed like maybe she was starting to figure him out after all.

It felt like he was staring at her, and as if to confirm, she glanced at him from beneath her dark lashes, her gaze diverting elsewhere as soon as they met his eyes. She hadn’t asked him a question, and the silence that stretched out between them was more than enough time for Alice to be consumed by her thoughts. She heard his footsteps and looked up just as he stopped in front of her. She watched him curiously, her head tilting as her face fell blank to hide the panic that gripped her at his sudden closeness. He grabbed the jacket, pulling it tighter around her, almost causing her to lose her balance. She pressed a hand against his chest to steady herself, almost laughing as she thought about falling on her face in front of him a second time.

The silence and her thoughts were interrupted when he started speaking and Alice could feel her entire body stiffen. She barely managed to force down her anxiety. ‘No..’ She thought to herself. Was this his way of admitting that he felt the same things she did? Bright eyes regarded him with a confused expression like she couldn't comprehend what he was saying. She felt like her heart was going to burst, her breath catching in her throat. He concluded by using her own words against her again, and she laughed nervously, looking downwards, attempting to hide how panicked she was inside.

She wanted to push him away, to make up some excuse as to why she had to go. She needed to breathe. This was going entirely too far. ‘I can’t handle this.’ Her heart constricted at the thought. She tried to steady her breathing by closing her eyes and counting to herself in her head. Just when she thought she might be calm, his fingers curled underneath her chin, lifting her face towards him. Her entire body went numb as she slowly opened her eyes to him with a soft expression. She barely felt his fingertips as they tucked a few stray curls behind her ear. Her breathing was slow and shallow as his eyes met hers. She was paralyzed despite her own voice inside her head, screaming at her to run. It was all she could do to just stare back at him..

When he leaned closer, fingers at the back of her neck while his palm cupped her cheek, it felt like a fire had begun to travel down her entire body, spreading to even her limbs. Then he looked at her like that and the entire world melted away. It felt like electricity was flooding from her chest and she nearly trembled with anticipation. The hand she’d pressed to his chest traveled up his tie, stopping at his collar where her fingertips trailed along his neck as he leaned closer still. She looked up at him, her eyes never leaving his. She was sure that she looked as terrified as she felt. He pressed his forehead to hers and Alice used the opportunity to close her eyes and breathe, though her breath sounded loud against the quiet night. Hell, she would be surprised if he couldn't hear her heartbeat as clearly as she did against the stillness that surrounded them.

Her eyes opened slowly when neither of them moved for a moment, but his eyes were focused on her lips causing the corners of her mouth to twitch up in a smirk. Standing taller in her heels, she titled her chin slightly, her lips brushing so lightly against his that it almost wasn't felt. Then he was speaking her name and it sent chills down her entire body. She only had a moment to wonder what he wanted to say before she was lost in anticipation of his kiss again. “Nathaniel..?” Her voice trembled on his name. Both of them were silent for a moment and then, her eyes closed as his lips finally met hers, a bittersweet relief washing over her. Her lips pressed gently against his before she pulled away from him, a smile and that same look of desire coming over her features. She couldn’t stop herself. She pulled him gently closer by his tie, her eyes falling to his lips before closing as she kissed him again. She met his hunger with her own, letting herself slip into the depth of their desires, feeling more breathless with each kiss they shared.

She did not want to stop, did not want to pull away from him, but her entire body shook and her head was spinning. She wanted more and she knew she had to stop herself now before she did something she might actually end up regretting. Even with that thought, she couldn’t tear herself away. “Nathaniel..” She whispered against his lips before she kissed him again softly. There was no turning back now. Still, fear had already crept up her spine, replacing the excitement she felt moments earlier.

[Nathaniel Starke]

Nathaniel wouldn't have allowed her to fall on her face. Although his clothes hid his physique, making him look slender and not as strong as some of his fellow soldiers, he was actually built quite sturdily. He stood tall at six feet and it took a lot of force to knock him off balance if he stood his ground. As she pressed her hand against his chest to steady herself, Alice would have felt just how solid his frame actually was.

Her touch sent waves of panic, excitement, and electricity through his body, only becoming stronger as she moved her hand up, fingertips trailing along his neck. It caused him to shudder ever so slightly, her touch sending a feeling of pins and needles to shoot down to his limbs, and he nearly forgot how to breathe.

He noticed the terrified look in her eyes, but yet, she did not turn away from him, she did not run. And at that moment, Nathaniel felt or sensed that her fear mirrored his own. She did not fear him, but rather the unknown of what was to unfold between them if they continued down this path.

He barely heard her say his name in question, most likely in response to him saying hers. He had wanted to tell her, to say many things in that brief moment. He wanted her to stop him, to tell him no, to push him away. He wanted her to be stronger than him and to tell him this wasn't a good idea. Most of all, he wanted to apologize for wanting to kiss her, for dragging her into his life that he had no doubt she would later regret. This wasn't fair to her and he knew it. Yet, why couldn't he just stop himself? Why couldn't he pull away, make up some excuse, some distraction to pull himself from her? Yet, she drew him in further- the way she looked at him, her scent, the way her lips twitched with the slightest of a smirk as his lips neared hers. Alice admitted that she wanted him to kiss her, and that was enough to pull him even closer to deliver the kiss.

As she pulled away from him, he felt his heart sink, not wanting the kiss to end so soon. His eyes slowly opened to find her own and he saw that same look of desire he held for her in them. He smiled just before she pulled him closer to her and kissed him back. His arms gentle snaked around her body, pulling her against him as he kissed her deeply, longing for more and to remain lost in this moment with her. He wanted to forget everything- to forget his worries and fears, to forget his past and stay here, in this small window of where everything felt...perfect and made him feel alive. 

She pulled away from the kiss again, though only slightly, and only to whisper his name against his lips, it took his breath away and he began to open his eyes to look at her, to question her for saying his name. "Hmm?" He quietly hummed in response. Did she want him to stop? But she was already kissing him again, quickly making him forget his concerns. 

Nathaniel kissed her deeply, pouring his emotions and all of his fear into their kiss as if that alone would take it all away and he could just feel or allow himself this one moment of happiness. But the longer the kiss went on, the more he began to get this sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, panic slowly rising through his very core as images of his past rushed through his mind, replacing that excitement that had almost taken over him. He pulled his lips from hers but lingered close to her, moving his hands to rest on her shoulders to maybe prevent her from kissing him again. He breathed heavily as if he had been underwater this entire time and was coming up for air, but there was something else behind that desperation for air. Nathaniel couldn't look at her then, his eyes diverted downward, though he kept his forehead against her own, as if he were considering kissing her again, or perhaps arguing with himself on what to do next.

He pulled away from her abruptly and turned away from her, lifting a hand to scratch the back of his head as he tried to hide the panic from her. No, this wasn't happening right now. His chest heaved, desperate for air as he felt it constricting, depriving him of it. For a moment, he felt if he turned around he would see that man standing there, looming over him. He didn't want to turn around. He knew he wasn't there, but instead, an Alice, looking at him with a confused expression. He had seen it before. 

He closed his eyes and took a couple deep, calming breaths before he quickly turned to face her again. "I'm sorry...I--" He fought with all his might to push away the panic that shook through him. He did not want her to see him this way--to know or sense anything was amiss. Yet, when he looked at her--why did he get the strange urge to tell her everything? He shook his head and forced a smile. "I went too far..." He tried to pin the blame on himself, making it seem that had he allowed the kiss to go on, he might have lost himself deeper in her and lost his resolve, only wanting more from her. He'd rather her see him as a respectful gentleman than a cowardly child of a man. He hoped she would not be able to see right through him as he tried so desperately to hide the panic.

His chest still rose and fell with his heavy breaths as he looked at her, his expression changed to admiration, in hope that she would not feel bad for him pulling away from her. He was at a loss for words though, so he said the first thing that came to mind. "I think you may have cured my boredom..." He smirked, the faintest of a laugh escaping him.

[Alice Calder]

Alice knew this wasn’t a good idea. She knew the consequences of being alone with him, knew that her resolve wasn’t strong enough. His arms wrapped around her and she felt herself smile against their kiss, wrapping her small hands around the back of his neck. How was she supposed to think straight when her heart and mind constantly tugged her in opposite directions? One moment, there was nothing but the two of them in the quiet - her entirety focused on him and the way his body pressed against hers, the way each breathless kiss made her limbs feel heavy. The next moment, she would be almost hesitant, knowing that the longer they remained intertwined like this, the more she’d want. She couldn’t trust how she felt right now..

Their kiss deepened and Alice felt her chest begin to heave as she tried to steady herself and clear her mind. She felt each emotion wash over her in waves. Happiness, terror, calm, lust… Each time they came over her, she felt them with more intensity until it was overwhelming. She felt the tell-tale sign of her heart constricting, forcing her to inhale a stuttered breath. Each hungry kiss he placed against her eager lips, she returned with a matched fervor.

Then he pulled away, his hands at her shoulders, breath just as heavy as her own. She wanted to pull him back into her, but instead, she let her forehead rest against his, her eyes remaining closed until he pulled away completely. Cold air crashed around her where the warmth of his body had once been and Alice’s heart stopped for a fraction of a second. She looked at him with a mix of confusion and concern. When he turned to face her again, her expression softened, though the worry was still there. She began to shake her head at him when he apologized, brown eyes searching his face for anything that might be off. Why did everything suddenly feel wrong?

“I went too far..” It clicked then. She let the silence linger in the air as she wrapped her arms around herself, pressing her lips into a hard line as she looked at him with a blank expression. She closed the small gap between them, her eyes still on his face. Her hand slowly reached for his, her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand lightly. If he didn’t pull away from her, she would bring his hand to her cheek, kissing his palm softly as it was placed against her skin, brown eyes staring lustfully into his. Keeping her hand on his, she leaned into the touch, closing her eyes, a nervous smile touching the corners of her mouth. “You say you went too far.. But I-” She huffed a shaky laugh, diverting her gaze to the ground. “I wanted more.” She admitted slowly, hesitantly, almost too low to hear over the muted sounds of the ballroom. “So you have no reason to apologize.” She let her hand fall to her side, allowing him to drop his hand from her cheek if he wanted.

If what she thought was correct, then he was just as terrified as she was. That was relieving in a way. Perhaps her sudden affections weren’t so one-sided after all… Although, she wasn’t sure if that made her feel better or worse. She wondered then - if she was seeing through him, could he see through her? Did he realize how afraid she was of the spark that burned between them? She finally looked up at him, seeing that look in his eye. It wasn’t a look of desire.. No, this was softer and it made her feel.. Safe.

“I think you may have cured my boredom…”

Her brows raised, quickly returning to their resting position as she exhaled a laugh. “Hm. Guess I was wrong about it being impossible to entertain you.” She admitted with a shrug, a hint of playfulness in her tone. She took a step away from him then, pulling his jacket tighter around herself and staring at him for a moment as if trying to carefully gauge his reactions. She offered a nervous smile, sighing softly through her nose. “If I may ask, though-” She kept her voice steady as she spoke. “Why did you apologize to me?” She looked at him curiously. He had to know she’d wanted to kiss him, right? That she still wanted to kiss him and so much more.. She took a deep breath against that thought, suppressing it. She barely knew him and the very idea of anything between them extending beyond tonight was absurd. Then again.. Just as he’d said about her - she wanted to know everything there was to know about him.

[Nathaniel Starke]

He had been correct to assume that Alice would be standing there, looking at him with confusion. It was the same look he got from most of the women he had kissed and pulled away from. He had gotten better at masking his panic and fear though, and better at blaming himself, or playing the gentlemanly type that respected women too much (or maybe he actually really did). The strange difference, however, was that there was also a look of concern in Alice’s eyes.

The silence that had lingered between them was enough for his mind to go mad with far too many thoughts. He knew it was a bad idea to kiss her, to allow this to go any further than just the dance. He should have insisted that they remained in the ballroom and just danced the night away, asking and answering innocent questions. It was Nathaniel’s longingness that got in his way. He longed for affection and acceptance in his life that he often got caught up in the moment, forgetting and pushing himself far too close to his limits and then the harsh reality sank in- reminding him that he most likely would never have what he wanted. He would never have a normal life. He would never move past this thing that had happened so many years ago. Why was it so hard for him to let go and move on from his past? He didn’t understand any of it. 

His brown eyes followed her as she moved towards him and they remained on hers, watching as she took his hand, placing it on her face and kissing the palm of his hand. His gaze was intense and filled still with admiration and longing. Maybe even some of that fear or nervousness shown through his eyes as they remained fixated on her. 

“I wanted more,” she told him. Nathaniel clenched his jaw and inhaled a deep breath through his nose, his gaze growing slightly more intense with emotion. He had every reason to apologize- she just didn’t know it yet, and it made his heart ache. He needed to end this now before anything more happened between them, yet the thought of walking away from her pained him. It was easier when they walked away from him. 

Nathaniel didn’t know what to say to her and he allowed silence to linger between them. As she dropped her hand from his, he kept his hand on her cheek, feeling unable, or unwilling to move it. Instead, he brushed his thumb against her skin, his eyes clearly showing that he was thinking of something to say, maybe searching her own eyes for some kind of response, anything. 

Instead, all he could think of to say was that she cured him of his boredom. He smiled at her laugh and her witty remark, though his expression remained serious. “You might be wrong about a lot of things when it comes to me…” If she hadn’t been standing so close to him, she might not have heard his words as he spoke them so quietly, with a hint of solemnness in them. 

He let his hand fall from her face as she stepped away from him and he wondered if he should not have said that. If she was feeling put off by him or something he had said. His gaze did not leave her eyes though and he watched as she pulled his jacket tighter around herself and caught her nervous smile. He was about to ask her if she was cold and wanted to go back inside. It would probably be for the best if they did. But before he could ask, she was speaking, asking him something he wasn’t sure how to answer. He had already told her that he thought he had gone too far. Yet, with her putting those worries to rest and as he remembered that she had never pulled away from him- she had returned his kisses with just as much fervor. So what was his reason for apologizing? 

He stared at her with a blank expression as he tried to think, but his head was swarming with far too many things. After a moment, the corners of his lips twitched in a forced smile and he pulled his gaze from her, glancing down at the ground as he shook his head. “I…” He hesitated before he looked back up at her and breathed a sigh out his nose. “I wanted more too…” He frowned slightly and shook his head, quickly dropping his gaze down as he nervously scratched the back of his head. It wasn’t a lie. He did want more… He just couldn’t handle it, and what kind of man would admit to that? “But…” he hesitated as he thought of his next words carefully. “Sometimes I can get too carried away… I did not want to frighten you… Or disrespect you in any way.” Yes, Nathaniel… Just portray yourself as a lust-hungry man who can’t control himself. Because that’s much better. 

He looked back at her with a nervous and uneasy smile. “Perhaps it would be better…” He paused, studying her and her expressions, unsure of if she would see right through him or not, but he was trying like hell to be genuine and as honest as he could be. “If we take things slow…” He nearly cringed as he said the words. He had used the line various times on women before, and he didn’t know why it continuously slipped past his lips. They usually took it as he was uninterested, and they moved on. The thought of never seeing Alice again after tonight, though, made his chest tighten, and without realizing it, he let his head drop in shame for the briefest moment, as if he were preparing for her to get offended and storm off. But after a quick moment, he glanced back at her and found himself saying something he never had previously. “That is… If you would be interested in spending more time with me after tonight.” 

His expression changed to a more hopeful one as he regarded her. And almost without his control, he found himself saying more. “I certainly wouldn't mind spending more time with you.” No, why did he just say that? He was going against everything, he was making this more complicated for himself in the end. But when he looked in her eyes, he knew it might be a little too late to prevent complicated.

[Alice Calder]

Alice was, for the most part, a purposeful woman. She meant the things she said and did. There wasn’t a single thing that happened tonight that would have if she hadn’t wanted it to. She couldn’t explain it to herself, much less him, but something about him drew her in, not allowing her a chance to escape. She’d only barely met him during the chase and still, he’d lingered in her mind until he stood next to her again and she’d.. She’d instigated this, hadn’t she? So if he felt bad for anything, if she’d done anything wrong, it was entirely her fault.

She’d shaken her head slightly, smiling softly when he finally broke the silence between them. “I think you’re wrong about that.” She lifted her chin stubbornly. But then it was quiet again until he answered her question and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes, pursing her lips into a hard line. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but his answer didn’t seem entirely truthful. But she didn’t press the matter. Instead she laughed at his last statement. “You couldn’t frighten me if you tried.” She said firmly, cocking her head and raising a brow as if she thought him bold to even assume such a thing. Again, she attempted to be playful.

She wondered again if she should have perhaps declined attending the ball with him. All of this could have been avoided and she could have remained in her comfort zone. But something told her that he still would have been present and part of her knew that she wouldn’t have been able to play keep-away all night. If she believed in fate, she might have thought that no matter what happened, this would have been the outcome of their night. It wasn’t that simple, however, and fate was such a fickle thing, after all. All she knew was that she desperately wanted to return to embrace and stay there forever.

His voice jerked her from her daydream and she regarded him with curious eyes as he paused, watching her face carefully. She felt her heart beat in her throat and she swallowed against the sensation. Her mind was already filling in the blanks. ‘If we didn’t see each other anymore. If we pretend this didn’t happen. If we...’

“Take things slow..” She exhaled the breath she’d been holding, relief washing over her, as she looked at him and smiled. His gaze had fallen to the ground before meeting hers again and Alice couldn’t stop the look of adoration that came over her face as she looked at him. He didn’t have to say anything else, but even as he did, she listened to him. It wasn’t until she was certain he was finished speaking that she offered him a genuine smile.

“I would enjoy spending more time with you, Nathaniel.” She said softly, a huff escaping her. “And I also think it might be best if we take things slow. Otherwise...” She sighed, looking down at her hands. Clearing her throat softly, she looked back up at him, smiling as if to hide an uncertainty she still felt lingering behind her brave facade. “Are you cold? We can go back inside if you’d like.” She said, wrapping herself inside his jacket as if she were terrified that everything would crash into pieces the moment they stepped back into the ballroom. She was afraid he hadn’t fully meant some of what he said. What if he declined to see her after this? Why did the thought of not seeing him again terrify her as much as the thought of getting close to him?

[Nathaniel Starke]

Much like Alice, Nathaniel also meant the things he said and did. He felt there was no point in lying. Even though he seemed to withhold information, mostly skirting around it, avoiding it- but he never lied. If he didn’t talk about it, if it wasn’t brought up, no one would know to ask him, and so he could avoid the truth of his past as much as possible. He often wondered if he would ever tell anyone else and wasn’t so sure he would. Surprisingly, his father had never mentioned it again to him- or to his mother. His own family was clueless about him and how screwed up he had become. 

Alice seemingly did not believe him when he said she would be wrong about a lot of things regarding him. Perhaps it was bold of her, or rather trusting, for her to argue him. Regardless, it made him smile and he shrugged a shoulder to his ear, tilting his head slightly as he gave her a look as if to say “suit yourself.” He allowed that cocky grin to appear once again before he spoke, “I think, you'll find, that I might surprise you with a lot of things, actually...You've just met me," he playfully reminded her.

“You couldn’t frighten me if you tried.” Nathaniel's expression softened and he looked at her with that same intense seriousness. How could she think such a thing without knowing him? He tilted his head as he regarded her curiously. "How do you know that?" He quietly asked. 

Maybe it was just that she wasn't so easily frightened. Alice could surely handle her own, he imagined. He barely knew her, but she put off such a confident and tough vibe that Nathaniel wouldn't doubt that she could handle a lot of things. Maybe she already had. 

He noticed Alice’s expression of adoration when he returned his gaze to her and it nearly made him confused. Nathaniel didn’t even try to hide his confusion as he stared at her nervously. He didn’t want her to walk away from him as so many had. 

“I would enjoy spending more time with you, Nathaniel.” He realized he had been holding his breath until she spoke her response. Though her words should have made him smile, his nervous expression lingered, as if expecting her to say but… It’s not a good idea. We should forget this happened and move on… But those words did not follow.

“And I also think it might be best if we take things slow. Otherwise...” His features softened a bit, his eyes never leaving hers. Otherwise… He watched her during the pause, wondering what she would say, scared of what she would say. But instead, she questioned him about being cold. Brows furrowed as he looked at her curiously, watching as she wrapped herself into his jacket, and he wondered if she was cold and hoping he would agree to want to go inside. The faintest of a smirk touched his lips and he shook his head. “Are you cold?” His tone insinuating that he cared more about her comfort than his own. He was fine, the cold didn’t really bother him, especially when it was the last thing he was thinking of at the moment. He moved closer to her until he was standing in front of her, blocking the cool air from hitting her. 

Nathaniel hesitated briefly before he finally lifted a hand and placed it on her cheek again. He smiled at her and shook his head, speaking quietly to her. “I am enjoying the quietness with you…But I don’t want to keep you out here if you are cold or uncomfortable. We could go back inside… Even if it’s not in that ballroom.” He assured her, not wanting her to think that he’d leave her the moment they went back in. He lowered his hand from her cheek and let it rest on her upper arm. “I have no intention of leaving your side tonight unless you grow tired of me and want me to leave you alone… Or it gets too late and we need to retire.” He smiled and let his hand run down her arm until he found her hand and held it on his own. 

“I am curious, though…” He started, “You said you agree we should take things slow...And you said Otherwise…” His brows furrowed slightly and he looked at her curiously. “Otherwise, what? What is it that worries you?” 

[Alice Calder]

She shrugged at his statement, a relaxed expression resting across her face. “That’s fair.” She said with a single nod. “And I’m sure you may possess qualities that are, in fact, surprising, but-” She paused, shrugging again. “It seems apparent to me that we are actually quite a lot alike. With that being said, I think I know enough to stand by my statement.” She added with a cocky smirk.

Alice glanced away from his briefly, dark eyes looking through the glass of the ballroom doors, settling upon the faces of the other ladies and her Queen before she turned her attention back to Nate. He looked serious again and she eyed him curiously. As if on cue, he questioned how she’d know that he could never frighten her and Alice laughed quietly, folding her arms in front of her as she smirked. “I’ve never feared anyone and I don’t plan on starting now.” She huffed a laugh. “Besides, I’ve dealt with much worse than you.” She teased, giving him a playful wink.

She rolled her eyes at him when he asked if she were cold, shaking her head as she chuckled. “I’m quite warm in this, actually.” She put her arms through the sleeves, holding them up on either side of her. The jacket nearly swallowed her, the sleeves covering even to the palms of her hands. He moved closer to her and she looked up at him. “That’s why I asked if you were cold. You’re the one without a jacket.” She said with another shrug.

His hand found her cheek again and just like every time before, she leaned into the touch. Her eyes closed for a fraction of a second to enjoy the warmth that spread from her cheek through the rest of her body. Why did she feel like this? How had she begun to feel anything for him so soon? She didn’t want to - or so that’s what she told herself. But the more she tried to suppress it, the worse it seemed to get. She could only hope that after tonight, and with some time away from him, perhaps she could think more clearly and everything could go back to normal… Back to before they met, when she didn’t feel so confused and wasn’t waging an internal war against herself.

She almost missed the words he spoke. Blinking a few times to readjust her mind before she responded. “I am neither cold nor uncomfortable. Quite the opposite of both, really.” She said with a reassuring smile. She really didn’t want to return to the ballroom. The quiet was nice, being able to speak to him without the hum of music and chatter was nice. “If it is preferable to you, there are two common rooms past the kitchen.” She offered. The common rooms were open, separated from the space of the hallway by floor to ceiling archways. While it was possible they may be by themselves, they wouldn’t be truly alone. She thought, perhaps, it might ease the tension and help her settle more easily into their earlier banter.

She listened to him as his hand traveled down her arm, taking hold of her own hand. Her fingers intertwined with his and she offered a smile, squeezing his hand gently in response to his statement.

“I am curious, though…” She should have known this question was coming. As it passed his lips, a brow twitched and Alice sighed an uneasy laugh. “Well, I did tell you I had difficulty trusting others.” She shrugged. “I feel like I can trust you, but that is not something I could know for certain yet..” She said, choosing her words carefully. She did not want him to think that she thought badly or negatively of him. “So even if I am to always trust what I feel, I still must think with my head and not my heart.” She explained, hoping her words made sense to him and didn’t give him the wrong idea. The heart was too hopeful, too eager and too fragile. Her mind, however, was strong and resilient. It allowed her to see past things her heart did not and she didn’t think she could bear him having significance in her life, only to be wrong about him the way she had been wrong about Darion. About King Edward. Two of the four most important men in her life had betrayed not only her, but their fellow men and women, their morals and values. They’d let her down, both in ways that were unthinkable. Part of her could tell Nathaniel wasn't like them, almost like she knew. But she wasn't willing to take the emotional risk. She couldn't carry anymore burdens not meant for her.

[Nathaniel Starke]

Nathaniel smiled softly at her. She wasn't wrong about them having similar qualities, as he had made the same observation. From the short amount of time they've spent together, the way they interacted with each other, and her answers to his questions, he felt strangely closer to her, maybe for those reasons. "I suppose we are." He laughed and shook his head, "I'll let you think what you wish to." He smirked. "Then again...maybe you're right… there isn't much to me aside from what you've already learned about me." No, there was a lot more.

Ever since their kiss, Nathaniel had seemingly grown more serious. He was letting his past seep into his mind. The thought of spending his life alone scared him more than anything and he was having a difficult time coming to terms with it. Perhaps it was why he allowed himself to try, despite knowing the outcome and the disappointment he felt in himself.

He watched as she glanced back into the ballroom, his gaze following hers, wondering if she was looking for anyone. She had asked him if he had a wife, but he hadn't asked her. Then again, he hoped she wouldn't be flirting with and kissing him if that was the case. But that would be just his luck.

Nathaniel looked into her eyes again as she turned back and was looking at him curiously. "Besides, I’ve dealt with much worse than you.” Her words made him frown and now it was his turn to look at her curiously and concerned. Nathaniel wasn't a bad man, and he knew firsthand that there were worse people in the world. "I'm sorry to hear that." Even though he was curious, he wouldn't ask her to explain because he knew he wouldn't want to if she asked him what his experience was with horrible people.

He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he watched her put her arms into the sleeve of his jacket. He wasn’t a large man, but his jacket still seemed to swallow her up and for whatever reason, Nathaniel thought it was the most adorable thing. “I’m fine,” he assured her. “I’ve dealt with worse climates and weather wearing less than this.”

His brown eyes watched as she leaned into his hand as if she welcomed his touch. It made him smile and made his stomach flutter. He, too, didn’t know why she gave him these feelings when he had gotten so good at being cold and distant, maybe even emotionless. Perhaps he shouldn’t stand this close to her, shouldn’t touch her, because it only made him want to kiss her again. It made him want to find a way to keep her near him and to just be in her life. She seemed to be as interested in him as he was of her, but he couldn’t be certain. Maybe she was just being kind.

As she explained the other common rooms they could go to, Nathaniel nodded in agreement. He was sure it would be a lot more comfortable than standing outdoors and maybe it would alleviate some of the tension he felt now.

His gaze dropped down to their hands as he felt her fingers intertwine with his own. Why did such a simple thing make him feel warmer and made his heart start to beat faster again? He squeezed her hand back gently and didn’t let go as she answered his question.

Trust. Nathaniel nodded in understanding. He would tell her that she shouldn’t trust him, she had no reason to and he hadn’t proven himself worthy of such a thing. To him, trust, honesty, respect, and loyalty were above the most important things to offer another person, all of which needed to be earned.
He found himself smiling as she claimed she needed to trust her head and not her heart. He shook his head as if in disagreement. “No…You should always trust your gut… Because your brain can be fooled...You’re right about not trusting the heart- The heart doesn’t know any better… But your gut doesn’t know how to lie…”

He thought about his words for a moment and wondered if that’s why he was beginning to feel so strongly about her. He could feel it in his gut that he wanted to spend more time with her--wanted to know more about her and wanted to see her smile more often. Nathaniel squeezed her hand again and gently twirled her under his arm and around, his arm resting against her back and never letting go of her hand. “Let’s go inside… I will have to take you out on a warmer and clearer night to sit under the stars with you.” He smirked and led her back to the door, holding it open for her.

Just as they stepped through, they were nearly crashed into by a woman who had her back turned, giggling at the man she was with. Nathan let go of Alice’s hand to quickly place his arm in front of her to shield her from being knocked into. The woman suddenly turned and looked shocked for a moment before a sly smile appeared on her face.

“Well if it isn’t Mister Nathaniel Starke…” She gave him a displeased look before her gaze shifted over to Alice, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at her curiously, and as if she were judging her. She stepped closer to the man she was with and wrapped her arms around his, smirking as if showing off. “This is my fiancée, Thom.” She looked back at Alice and laughed, “this is what a real man looks like, honey.” She looked back at Nathaniel and stuck her nose up at him. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

Nathaniel felt his stomach drop and there was an uneasy tension that took over him, though he tried to hide it, forcing an easy smile as if not bothered by the woman’s presence. He said nothing as she went on her rude little display that he wouldn’t put past her. His eyes glanced up at the woman whom she introduced as Thom, and he nodded to the man in a slight greeting, offering him a friendly smile. The man looked confused and watched as his fiancée seemingly was displeased with the man she had almost bumped into. “Audra... It’s good to see you as always.” He sounded sweetly sincere as if the woman hadn’t said anything at all, though maybe Alice would be able to pick up on the sarcasm in his voice. “This is Alice…” He honestly did not know what to call her. Were they even considered friends yet? “Alice, this is Audra.”  A vague introduction perhaps, but he really didn't want to get into it. 

“Is it really good to see me?” She laughed and rolled her eyes, “of course it is… You must not be over me still… Can’t say I blame you.” She brushed her hair off her shoulder and looked to Alice again, not saying anything to her.

“Right… Well...It was nice to meet you, Thom...And congratulations to you both on your engagement.” He nodded and offered a smile before he turned to Alice and gave her a slightly apologetic smile, offering her his arm. “Enjoy your night, Audra.” If Alice took his arm, he led her away without another word and walked through the ballroom silently and brought her into one of the rooms Alice had mentioned. Only then did he let go of her arm and turned to face her, letting out a nervous laugh. “As I've said...Clearly, I am not a good man to be involved with.”

[Alice Calder]

The look she wore was of mock disbelief as she, again, rolled her eyes at him playfully. “I believe that even less.” She laughed, perhaps the first time her laugh had ever been so genuine since their interaction began. But again, she was shrugging. “Either way, there’s only one way to find out, right?” The words sounded dry.

Still, he looked at her so seriously and she returned the expression as soon as the word ‘sorry’ passed his lips. “Don’t be.” She said casually, her gaze falling to the ground for a split second as she spoke again. “They got what they deserved.” She shrugged her small shoulders, looking back up at him with a blank expression. She didn’t just mean Darion and Edward. Alice had done some horrible things in her life. Sometimes for the sake of Tresteria and the royal family, sometimes because it was the right thing to do. She had her fair share of blood and sin on her hands. At the end of the day, she knew she did what she had to do to protect those that couldn’t protect themselves, even if the price was heavy.

His voice always seemed to ground her back in reality. It happened far too often that someone would be speaking to her and Alice wouldn’t hear a single word muttered. But with Nate, he seemed to always pull her from her musings with ease. She was glad to see a smile return to his face, though his statement had her imagination running just a little wild before she cleared her throat softly. “Well, if you change your mind..” She muttered.

The gentle squeeze to her hand brought a small half-smile to her red lips and she looked at him when he shook his head in disagreement, explaining his thoughts on the matter. Alice pressed her lips into a hard line, debating if she should speak the words that lingered on her tongue. How was she to trust her gut when it tangled into knots every time he smiled at her or touched her? Deciding not to speak up, she nodded her agreement. “Perhaps you are right.” She said simply.

She was caught off guard when he spun her, but regardless, she laughed, allowing herself to follow the motion. Her gaze turned up to him as he spoke and she nodded again, smiling at the words that followed his suggestion to go inside. “I’m going to be looking forward to that now.” She half-joked as he held the door open.

The ballroom was deafeningly loud compared to the quiet of the terrace. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by the warm air, her body relaxing. She hadn’t realized how cold she’d actually been. Then, Nate’s hand was no longer in hers, but instead was outstretched in front of her as a woman backed into them. As the woman turned, a sly smile spreading across her lips, Alice stared at her with a deadpan expression. “Well if it isn’t Mister Nathaniel Starke…” Brown eyes looked to Nathaniel before settling back upon the woman. Still expressionless, Alice’s gaze met hers, an eyebrow raising as the woman narrowed her eyes. At her words, Alice barely managed to suppress a laugh, forcing herself to keep a straight face. A real man? Hardly. His balls were so far in her purse that he couldn’t even seem to speak for himself. Yet she had the audacity to refer to him as a ‘real’ man? Now she was spewing some nonsense about being introduced.

Nathaniel seemed unbothered and Alice commended him silently. It had been less than twenty seconds and she already had quite a few choice words burning at the back of her throat. She caught Nathaniel’s sarcasm then, smirking as her brown eyes looked up at him, only turning back to this… Audra as Nathaniel said her name. Disinterest was written across Alice’s face as she turned her gaze back to the strangers. “You must not be over me still…” Oh.. Oh.

Audra’s gaze had returned to Alice who lifted her chin, a cocky half smirk pulling at the corners of her mouth. Nathaniel continued with pleasantries and Alice looked at him as he offered her an apologetic smile and his arm. She linked her arm through his, giving his a gentle squeeze. The last of the pleasantries were uttered and they were walking away, Alice’s gaze never going back to Audra or Thom.

As they entered one of the common rooms, Nathaniel dropped her arm and turned to face her. He looked a little bit nervous, but it was kind of cute. She moved off to the side of him, facing the same direction he did and placing his jacket over his shoulders, much like he’d done for her on the terrace. His words, however, caused her to freeze in place momentarily. “I am not a good man to be involved with.” It sparked a memory that made Alice dizzy as the images rushed to the forefront of her mind. She swallowed hard, wrapping her arms around herself as she silently moved towards the massive stone fireplace. She looked back over her shoulder at him, offering the best smile she could force. “I think we all have at least one crazy ex.” She said as her gaze turned back towards the fire. The heat felt nice as it engulfed her small frame. Now that he couldn’t see her face, she frowned. “It hardly means you’re not a good man to be involved with.” Even as she said the words, shockwaves of panic flooded over her and she had to take a few steadying breaths. She looked at him then, affording him a small smile as she moved to sit on one of the small couches closest to the fire. She patted the spot next to her.

“So is that the type of woman you’re usually into or..?” Alice teased as she looked at him. “Because I definitely would have never guessed that as your type.” She laughed lightly, attempting to find her sense of humor again.