Poetry, Art, Life

He saw her through a smoky room, just her back and heard her laugh. He wanted to see her face and smile and wondered if it would affect him the way her laugh did. Every time he heard it a chill would run down his spine and he absently shook his head as if to clear it. It wasn’t helping.

She stood leaning against the balcony and her hair spilled over the edge. An animated talker, her hands waving back and forth till he could almost imagine what she was talking about. Someone called out from the dance floor and she turned, and as her face came into full view, his breath caught in his throat. Not a classic beauty, but a beauty to be sure, her face full of laughter and animation. She waved to someone below and then turned to slide down the stairs, easing her way through the crowd effortlessly. A man grabbed her arm and tried to stop her, but she brushed him off with an easy laugh. “Another time perhaps.” carried over the crowd’s noise, said with enough firmness that he stepped back and let her by.

He could feel warning bells going off in his head, both out of fear of moving to fast and getting brushed off like the first man or frightening her and having her bolt. She was so close, her scent was carried to him, and he took a deep breath to memorize it. She came to the bottom of the stairs and as she turned to go around the corner, she collided with his chest. Laughing, she put her hands on his chest and raised her face to apologize. Then she made eye contact, and he felt all of the air rush out of her. “Wow” She whispered, “I didn’t think they were made like that.” She could feel his chest moving beneath her hands and the warmth radiating through his shirt was making her feel…….decidedly odd.

He smiled; a slow smile that made her toes curl, and when he spoke, her stomach joined the club.

“I’ve been watching you.”

“Like a stalker?”

He chuckled, and she felt the vibration through her hands, her fingers curling slightly into him. “Not like a stalker.” He clarified, “More like seeing something so fascinating, you can’t take your eyes away.” He smiled again, “I’m fascinated.”

“Like a snake charmer then.” A gleam was in her eye, and as it traveled down to her mouth to raise the corners, it was his turn to catch his breath. He raised his hands to her shoulders and ran them lightly down her arms. She shivered slightly, and then looked back at him. The gleam was still there, but the flavor of it was changing, becoming darker.

“Are you here with someone? No?”

He blinked slightly, “Um.”

Laughter bubbling up “I thought you would be a little more articulate then that. Sorry, I’m probably more blunt then most people like.”

“You took me by surprise.” He admitted.

“Are you feeling what I am? There was no hesitation in her gaze, only a crystal clear gaze that went through his core.

“If you mean, do I feel like I’ve been hit by lightening, then yes.” He admitted with that easy smile again. He leaned into her and rested his forward on hers. “And….”

“Yes?”

He chuckled, “I can’t remember what I was going to say now.”

“Well, I’m fairly certain that answers my question.”

He raised his face and murmured against her hair “This much heat should get you arrested for being in public.”

She shivered in response. God, if his voice could do that, what would his hands be like. Or his tongue for that matter. She turned slowly, allowing her body to brush against his, little by little, and watched slanting green eyes almost glow in response.

“I’m game if you are, but why don’t we try the dance floor first?” Her voice was low and husky, betraying how her body was reacting to his.

He stepped up behind her, putting his hands on her waist, brushing her hair with his mouth again.

“My lady snake charmer, may I have this dance?”

She smothered a chuckle, feeling his answering grin. Grabbing one of his hands, she started pulling him towards the center of the floor.

“I thought you would never ask.”