Chapter 6
Edur
No matter how much I try to focus on the day's lectures, I can't seem to manage, with my mind constantly thinking over how well the date with Lexi went.
I thought bowling might be the right choice, allowing us to break the ice and have a good time, without the pressure of anything like a formal dinner.
And it had gone even better than I'd expected. We'd laughed, she'd definitely flirted with me, and if I hadn't been so nervous about pushing her too far, I would have asked if I could kiss her.
I walk down the corridor, lost in thoughts of what I should suggest for our next date, only to pause when the haunting notes of an expertly played violin float out from one of the music rooms.
It's not a trance that pulls me towards the sound. I'd recognise the music and the flare anywhere. Years of hearing Lexi practice isn't something that can be erased from my mind, especially not when it comes with the magic of a nixie in it.
The door is cracked open, and I look through to see her in the middle of the room with her eyes closed. Her dark green hair is pulled back so it doesn't get in the way of her playing, exposing the gills on the side of her neck and the slightly darker green patches on the tops of her ears.
Her lips are parted, and the expression on her face would be enough to make anyone fall in love with her.
The first time I watched her play, I thought that my reaction to her was just because of the inherent magic she holds as a nixie.
I'm not sure why they have a connection to violins, or exactly how it works, but I know there is one.
Over time, I've come to realise that the reaction I have to watching her has nothing to do with magic at all. There's no way I could watch this and not feel like I'm falling in love.
"I know you're there, Edur," she says, not even breaking her stride in the notes she's playing.
I clear my throat and push the door open, stepping into the room. "Sorry."
"It's fine, you've watched me play before." She opens her eyes to look at me, the emotion in them almost startling me.
She finishes her song and removes the violin from under her chin. She sets it down on the stand and grabs her bottle of water.
"I didn't realise you still played," I say, looking at it.
"All the time," she responds. "Especially when I want to think."
"What were you thinking about?" I ask.
The pale green skin of her cheeks darkens as she blushes. "Our date."
"Me too." I set my bag down. "A lot."
"It was really fun," she says.
"More than you expected?"
For a moment, I think she's going to deny it outright, but instead, she seems to pause and think. "Yes and no."
"Intriguing." I don't really know what to do with myself. There's a stool by the piano, but I'm not sure that's the right place to sit, especially when she's still standing.
"I thought I'd have fun with you," she says. "So yes. But I also find dates stressful, so that's a no."
A horrible feeling constricts in my stomach. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for," she promises, stepping closer. "I had a great time, and I didn't feel stressed at all."
"Good. I don't want you to." My words come out as nothing more than a soft whisper.
She looks at me, her dark green eyes sparkling in a way that has nothing to do with the light in the room. She's so breathtaking. I've known it ever since we met, but it's entirely different now, especially when she knows the reaction I've been having to her for years.
"So, does that mean that you might be willing to go on a second date with me?" I ask.
"Absolutely."
"Good, because I think I have an idea."
"Is it playing cards and eating our body weight in sweets?" she asks.
"Is that what you'd like?"
She nods.
"Then we can do that. We can probably book one of the recreation rooms, or something," I suggest.
"Or we can just use one of our rooms," she responds. "It's not like we haven't done that plenty of times before."
I nod, a little surprised that she's suggesting it, but glad that she feels comfortable enough to. "Yours or mine?"
"Well, my next-door neighbour likes to have loud drinking sessions in the kitchen multiple times a week, so I'm going to say yours, if that doesn't impose."
"It's not the first time you've invited yourself around to my home," I point out.
"I can uninvite myself," she offers.
"Absolutely not." I step towards her until she's so close that all it will take is one movement, and we could touch.
I'm surprised when Lexi is the one who makes the move, reaching out and cupping my face in her hand. Surprise flashes over her face the moment she does.
"What is it?"
"You're cold."
I laugh. "I'm a frost elf, what did you expect?"
"I don't really know," she admits, smoothing her thumb over my cheek. "Were you always this cold?"
I shake my head. "I lost a few degrees in the past couple of years. I'm not really sure how it works, something to do with the end of puberty, no doubt."
"Is that where the new crystals came from?" she asks, her fingers brushing against them and making me very aware of her touch.
"Yes." I clear my throat to try to ease the tightness I feel through my entire body. "There are new patterns on my skin too." I pull the collar of my shirt down so that she can see the hint of them. They don't stretch to my face, but I know the patterns line everywhere else.
"They look good," she says. "The crystals do too. They suit you." She traces her fingers over them again, her touch a little firmer than before, as if she's growing more confident in how she wants to respond, both to me and the situation we're in.
"I'm glad you think so." Something in the air is making me feel bold, and I want to lean in and kiss her, but I stop myself before I do. The last thing I want is to ruin this because I can't keep myself under control and do something she doesn't like.
"Edur? Are you okay?" She looks up at me, her deep green eyes shimmering like the depths of a lake.
"I was thinking about kissing you." The words slip out without me meaning them to, but I think that might be a good thing, especially as I don't want to hide anything from her.
"I'd like that," she responds.
My heart constricts as her words register and I realise that she means it. And that she wants me to kiss her.
I brush a strand of hair out of her eyes, taking in every inch of her face before I proceed. The gills on her neck move with her breathing, even though I know she'll be using her nose when she's above the water, but watching them creates a sense of anticipation that I don't expect.
"Well?" she prompts.
"Well?" I respond.
"Are you going to kiss me? Or do I have to be the one to make the first move?"
"Would you?"
She rolls her eyes and steps closer, wrapping her arms around my neck. The familiar scent of mint engulfs me. I'm not sure if it's something she uses on her hair, or if she just smells like water mint, but the smell has always reminded me of Lexi.
The moment her lips touch mine, all thoughts vanish, and I wrap my arms around her waist so that I can pull her closer to me, enjoying every moment of having her pressed against me, maybe a little too much.
She threads her fingers through my hair, tugging me closer, but not deepening the kiss.
I let her lead. As much as I want to take this further, I know acting on that thought won't do either of us any good in the long run.
I don't want to lose her because I've pushed too far when I shouldn't have, and that means letting her be the one to take control.
She breaks away from me, and I have to admit to being a little disappointed, even if I know this isn't going to be the last time we kiss.
"That was good," she says without me even asking.
"I'm glad you thought so," I murmur.
"I do." She leans closer again, and before I know it, she's kissing me again. All of my senses are consumed with Lexi, with the way it feels to have her arms around my neck, and her body pressed against me.
In fact, there's a little more of a response than I would like, given what she's told me.
I pull back and clear my throat. "I need a minute."
She frowns, but then understanding seems to dawn. "Really?"
"You're a good kisser," I mumble. "Sorry."
"Why should you be sorry?" she asks curiously.
"I don't know if this kind of thing makes you uncomfortable."
She shakes her head. "You're fine. I know that if we kiss a certain way, it's going to affect you."
"And that's okay?" I try to think about anything that isn't her, particularly things that will make my cock less hard right now, but it's hard when her taste is still lingering on my tongue and I want nothing more than to kiss her again.
"Yes. I mean, it's okay with me if it's okay with you."
"I want to kiss you," I respond. "But maybe a little less intense to keep things at a manageable level." Though I'm not sure that's going to matter. It won't take much for my body to respond again.
"Less intense, got it."
"Good, because I have things back under control." I think.
She laughs. "You know I came here to play, right? Not to kiss you."
"I can leave."
She reaches out to touch my chest. "I don't want you to go."
I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer, anxious to kiss her again. She melts into my arms, responding with kisses of her own. Nothing can beat the feeling of having Lexi in my arms after years of missing her, and I intend to make the most of every moment.