Complicated

Although she wasn’t cold, Rossanna couldn’t keep a chill of anticipation from slipping down her back. The thought of mere inches separating them, and too many glasses of wine made her stumble.

Sensing her discomfort with a small amount of satisfaction, Nokonis gently guided her to a settee near the fireplace. He pulled a foot stool near and sat down. He looked down at his hands, his hair falling into his eyes, “I cannot to begin to imagine the turmoil you must be fighting. I do, however, commend you on your strength and your resilience.”

Rossanna’s mouth dropped open, then quickly shut. She was dumbfounded. Nokonis looked up after the silence became a little too thick. Their eyes locked in silent combat. He wore the beginnings of a smirk, and she felt herself flush. She wasn’t sure whether is was the words he spoke or his posture or mental state, but she saw her hand reach up and touch his hair. As if trapped in a spell, she watched him mirror her movements. She sat unmoving as he brought one of her russet curls to his lips, closed his eyes and gently inhaled. When he opened his eyes, she could have sworn that they were on fire. She felt as though she were in a trance as she slipped into the golden corridors of his eyes. She began to feel quite warm and blinked and leaned back. She realized how forward she had leaned, trapped in the maze of his eyes, had she turned the corner she had found, their lips would have brushed. Reality set in when she realized she had brought her fingers to her lips, she looked at Nokonis, unable to breathe. He had watched her every move with the stillness of granite.

“How do you do that?” she asked suddenly. She cocked her head to the side thoughtfully. “Is that part of what you are?”

“Before, I was required to have certain skills…stillness was one of them. Although, I will admit that appearing as a statue has its advantages.” He replied. “I spent quite a bit of time among the Persians as well as in the Orient. I learned that being thought a part of the scenery was not necessarily a bad thing, and it has saved my neck more times than I would like to admit.”

Rossanna nodded, expressionless. She was once again caught in the flickering gold eyes, oddly touched by the beauty of the pain she saw there. ‘He really had been human, once.’ She thought to herself.

She heard Nokonis softly chuckle. She lifted her eyes and dared him to prove her wrong. “I was not reading your mind, my dear. You thoughts are quite clearly displayed.” He replied.

“It must be my reluctance to come to terms with the last two days. Normally, my brothers are humiliated with my skill with chess, and card games as well… I guess I really am scandalous!! Their punishment is going to their personal clothiers and commission items to be made in my size. They don’t like doing it and do not lose gracefully.” She grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“We shall have to play a hand or two once you’ve gotten yourself settled in here. If you aren’t too tired, I would like us to get to know one another. I think that we have more in common than at first glance.” Trying to reassure her that what ever happened between them, she would have an equal voice in. He felt he owed her that much.

She smiled shyly and nodded, “I would like that.”