Beautifully Damaged(26)

"So a single man doesn't keep tea in the house?"

Humor danced in his eyes before he replied, "Not this man but since I know you like it, I will."

The warmth that burned through me in response to that was completely involuntary. I held his gaze as I smiled. "I like Earl Grey with lavender honey."

"I'll have it for the next time."

So there was going to be a next time; this was progress. The silence stretched out for a few minutes as we just stared at each other. I wanted to crawl over to him and curl up into his lap. I wanted to rest my head on his chest and wrap my arms around him but I managed to control that impulse.

"So, Trace, there's something I've been wanting to talk with you about. It's been bothering me since we spoke last." I leaned up as I held his direct gaze and asked, "How is it possible that you haven't seen Christian Bale as Batman?"

It took him a minute before a smile spread over his face as he pulled his hands behind his head.

"Never found the time."

"You must make time for movies."

He held my gaze as he asked, "Are you willing to watch them again?"

"With you?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely!"

"Done."

I smiled as I curled my legs up under me. "What are your thoughts on aliens?"

His expression in response to that was priceless; he looked completely confused. "I don't have thoughts on aliens."

"Interesting...dogs or cats?"

He grinned before he offered, "Dogs -- big dogs, not those yappy dogs."

"Agreed. Deep frying a turkey...good or bad idea?"

"If done right, it's probably really good."

"I agree but I'm not brave enough to attempt it. I'd probably end up with third degree burns all over. What do you think about Turducken?"

"Tasty or not, no bird deserves that end."

I laughed -- couldn't help it -- at the feigned seriousness of his expression.

"McDonalds or Burger King?"

"McDonalds."

"Coke or Pepsi?"

"Coke."

"Snickers or Milky Way?"

"Snickers."

I turned more fully to him before I said, "Okay, the questions are going to get more personal. If I get too personal, just say."

He moved then, closer to me, which made my heart rate speed up before he said, "Okay."

"What do you think of Scrappy Doo?"

He looked at me for a minute before he threw back his head and laughed; the sound was beautiful. His eyes found mine again before he offered, "I don't see the point in his character. He's annoying."

"I absolutely agree. Who's your favorite Avenger?"

"Hulk."

"The rage monster, interesting. Roman gods or Greek gods?"

"Greek."

"Who's your favorite of the Greek gods?"

He held my stare as some emotion I couldn't discern passed over his face before he said, "Hades."

"Barney?"

He shivered which was answer enough.

"Potato chips or pretzels?"

"Soft pretzels over potato chips but chips over hard pretzels."

I tapped my finger on my lips before I asked, "What are your thoughts regarding everything on a hot dog, I mean onions, ketchup, relish, mustard, cheese, chili, the works?"

"Delicious."

I grinned before I said. "I think so, too. Ginger or Mary Ann?"

He reached out and touched a lock of my hair before he said, "Mary Ann. I find I prefer brunettes with big, brown eyes." His finger brushed along my jaw before he added, "Actually, I prefer a brunette with big, brown eyes."

Desire -- pure and simple -- burned through me as I somehow managed to hold his heated gaze. His eyes moved to my lips where they lingered for a few moments before he lifted his eyes back to mine.

"What else would you like to know, Ember?"

I wanted to know if he felt it too -- the wild attraction and the connection. I couldn't ask him that though so we moved onto more television characters. I didn't know how long we sat there since time just seemed to slip by when I was with him. At one point, I fell asleep only to wake to the sight of Trace looking down at me. My pillow was his lap, a blanket was draped over me, and his fingers were lightly tracing my face. When I tried to sit up he wouldn't let me.

"It's late, Ember, just sleep. I'll see you home in the morning."

"What about you? Aren't you tired?"

His fingers pulled through my hair as his eyes held mine. "No. Sleep, sweetheart."

And so I did. I fell asleep to Trace's gentle touch as the heat of his body warmed me. It was, hands down, the best night of sleep ever.





Chapter Six


After my visit with Trace, I began to see more of him. He joined me most mornings for my run and afterward, we'd spend time talking at Starbucks. He still called me at night, too, and though I was seeing more of him we never seemed to run out of things to talk about.