Chapter. 44

“Your hair is beautiful. Strong.” She shuddered at the ticklish sensation of his fingers parting her hair all the way down the middle. Then he seemed to focus on the left side and as he half stepped back into her field of vision.

“Are you a hair dresser too?” She folded her arms and pouted up at him. “Or do you do this to all the girls?”

“I have many skills. I have always enjoyed learning new things.” Ayal chuckled and used her hair tie to finish off a long thick braid over her left breast. He then took one of the many thin brown leather bracelets off his wrist and used it to fasten the top of the braid behind her ear. Ayal nodded with approval and got to work with the second braid. “I’m sure if you gave me the opportunity I could teach you quite a lot.” He was smirking as he moved into her right field of vision. His mahogany eyes were trained on his supple fingers weaving her hair. Another of his bracelets was used to fasten the end, and a third one fasted the top of the braid below her right ear. Immediately and without stepping back out of her personal space Ayal stroked his right hand from her hair to her jaw. He let his knuckles glide down towards her chin and ensnared her in his eyes. “I think you’d teach me quite a bit too.” Her face burned with a blush.

He’s the devil. He’s seductive and silver tongued and-er-he just-I can’t think with his fingers on my face. His fingers traced over her chin to torment the very edge of her bottom lip. Ayal leaned closer and his stare ignited something low down in her. His finger teased over to the crease of her lips. She gulped and saw the moment he decided he was going to kiss her. His eyes half shut and he synced leaning in for it with his finger pressing her bottom lip down to open her up to his assault.

The kiss never connected though. The sales associate blundered back over with the phone case brandished like the spoils of battle. Ayal licked his own lips and lifted his head up with a chuckle.

“Awful timing.” He murmured under his breath, but Diana caught it and bit her lips together to stop herself from snorting. If anything it was good timing. We can’t date. Even something casual is putting him at risk. She frowned and turned her back to Ayal to brace her hands on the counter top. The dark ones want to kill me for being a Couper. I’m only walking around right now because of the protection spells the coven put on me. Even then, they’ll have to top it up every month until they’re defeated. Oh, and not to mention the shadow beast. Her frown deepened and she chided herself. I can’t put Ayal in danger by getting too close to him. Causally or otherwise. He’s a handsome stranger, and possibly a way in for me to get a job, but we can’t be more than that.

“Thank you for shopping with us today. If you could please fill in the customer satisfaction survey on the receipt that would be super.”

“Yeah thanks.” Diana retrieved her cell phone and barely had time to turn around before it was taken off her. “Hay?”

“You’re not running out of here without exchanging contacts.” He smirked, halting her intentions right in their tracks. Ayal pressed a button on the left side of each phone and gently ‘bumped’ them together. Both phones pinged to signal the exchange had occurred. “And now to download the family tree app.” He swiftly tapped his way into the app store menu and set it downloading. “And done.” He handed it back to her with a wink. “Are you busy now? We could-”

“I’m sorry.” Diana cut him off with an apologetic and remorseful smile. We can’t do this. “I’ve got to get back home. This was my last errand.”

“Sure.” He put his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “When would you like to use the day pass I gave you?”

“Oh soon. I bought a costume today so I’m ready for anything.”

“Oh?” Ayal ran a hand back through his long black hair. “Well most of the guests go all natural beneath the provided robes.” Diana deadpanned him. “-but whatever makes you comfortable.” He comically nodded with a grin to try an redeem himself. “Are you free tomorrow?”

“…I think so.” Who am I kidding? Until Elaina is ‘recharged’ I’m just killing time before the dark ones can kill me. She smirked at her private albeit morbid joke.

“Then how about I meet you in town? 8am sound good?” Diana cleared her throat and nervously felt down her right braid. This can’t be a date.

“Or I could just meet you there? The address is on the card right?”

“Well I’d only have to come to the gate to let you in anyway, so I might as well drive you the whole way.” He pointed at the fountain they met at yesterday. “I’ll meet you here at 8am sharp. Don’t have any breakfast. It’s included in the package.” Ayal grinned lifted her hand up before she could realise he’d touched her. He turned his face to press a kiss to he inside of her wrist. She shivered at the chill that spread up her arm.

“…you’re cold.” The word slipped out of her mouth and she blushed.

“You know what they say about cold hands?” He smirked and winked at her as he lifted back up to his full height with his hands dramatically on his chest. “Warm heart.” Ayal backed away and waved her in farewell. “See you tomorrow morning.”

“Yes sir.” Playfully saluted him and made her way home…whilst sparing a coy glance over her shoulder at him. Ayal caught her and blew her a kiss. Crap. She marched home and chided herself. Get a grip! Magic and monsters or no magic and monsters. I shouldn’t have let a handsome stranger put his hands on me or nearly kiss me. I’m not so easily manipulated. Ayal is obviously one of those smooth talking guys who thinks he’ll fluster me right into bed with him.

Her cheeks were no longer burning by the time she made it back to the Couper residence. She unlocked the front door and headed to the kitchen to make herself a much needed cup of coffee. Her mind was back in the game as she waited for the kettle to boil. She was examining the receipt and grumbled at the price tag attached to the phone she so recklessly bought. Well done Diana you idiot. You let a hot guy persuade you into buying an $800 cell phone, a $19.99 phone case and $13.99 ear phones. Diana took a moment to do the mental maths and groaned. $868.98. That’s going to take a few pay cheques to pay back. I just thought with my groin instead of my head. She mocked herself and slapped her forehead. Stupid sexy ‘let’s bump our phones as a euphemism for what I’d like to do to you’ jerk making me-

Beep.

Diana unlocked her phone and saw the tree app had a notification. The avatar of a stag and the name Ayal beneath it made her smile and blush, despite having just been chastising herself over this guy. She opened the app and read his message bashfully.

*I have just confirmed your booking at the Restorative healing and therapy Spa. 8:30am you will arrive and bathe in an essential oil hot bath and be served a cleansing breakfast with a face mask. 9:30am you will have a full body massage, then a choice of hot rock therapy or the use of the sauna at 11am. Lunch is served at 12 noon and then you can use the hot spring to swim until 13pm, where we will ask you to shower and freshen up for meditation at 14pm. That is the last session included in the pass, though we do offer more services.*

Diana hummed with appreciation as she sat down at the kitchen table with her coffee in one hand and her cell in the other. That sounds really nice. She was just about to reply a nonchalant ‘cool, thank you’, when another message came through.

*Any allergies we need to know about? For the food? Also, don’t worry about how you’ll get home. I’ll come back and drive you home myself. I don’t work at the Spa myself so text me before you go into your last session so I can make my way over.*

“He doesn’t work there?” Oh no. If he didn’t work there, then Diana wouldn’t be in conflict if she got closer and perhaps intimate with Ayal. No. Still not an option. Diana shook herself and cleared her throat. Stiiiiiiiiil the target of the dark ones. And this shadow beast that isn’t a shadow beast, and may or may not be working for the dark ones. I’m still not safe dating material. No matter how hot or smooth the guy is. She schooled her features before replying. Even though he wouldn’t be able to see the all business line of her lips and brow, she hoped it came across in her text.

*That all sounds great. I have no allergies, and thank you for the lift.* She pressed the send button and pushed the cell along the table. There. Polite and to the point. She picked up her cup of coffee with both hands to take a sip.