Is This How You Date?

Eli ceased dancing when he called her a succubus. "Woah, woah. I am better than a succubus. I am royalty."

She looked serious, but perhaps not as offended as she was trying to come off.

After getting this out, she started dancing again, lost in the vibrations of the song.

"Even in polygamy, he says. I love all of my lovers. Every one of them. I would defend them and give them anything I could to ensure their happiness." Her eyes were closed, but she opened one briefly to see his expression.

"Okay, let's play by your rules and say I do feel. What were you hoping to see through my eyes?"

Eliana groaned, rolling her eyes. "Oh God. Are you going to try and save my eternally damned soul next?"

She again stopped dancing, only to face him and cross her arms under her bust. "Also, I recall telling you when I dropped you off that I loved what was mine. And I know I wasn't talking in my head because in there it echos."

"I am versatile, darlin'. Think of me more like a girlfriend. I just have a lot of other boyfriends and girlfriends. I'm not a big fan of only booty calls; they're not as fun as going out and spending time with people.

"Hell, I have spare bedrooms because I tend to let my significant others sleep over here for up to a week.

"I text them. I talk to them on the phone. I listen to all their problems and help them talk through them. If they're lonely, I spend time with them. I wake up and make them breakfast when they spend the time."

The subject was one of pride to Eliana and the passion in her voice made that clear. Even Eli couldn't say why she had pride in it. Was it pride to make others feel better? Pride to love and be loved? Or just pride to be doing her father's work?

"I'm not off--"

Eli was cut off by his kiss. She wouldn't say it was unexpected, but the feeling behind it made her stomach drop and in that second of shock, she didn't return his kiss.

Her arms loosely wrapped around his neck, which required her to stand on her toes. She was more tentative than she meant to be. Explorative without the typical aggression she was used to displaying.

When he pulled back and moved away from her, she blinked. She felt very exposed standing and staring; the look on her face was that of a lost kid. Not quite frightened, but uncertain and torn by several strong instincts.

On a heel, Eliana turned and walked rigidly into her kitchen to pour herself a small glass of orange juice.

"Want some?" her voice was careful.

Eliana poured him a glass and brought both of them back to the table. She set his in front of him and greedily drank her own, eyeing the sapphire as he toyed with it. When she had finished a good quarter of the glass, she set her cup down.

"You look lost." The casual confidence in her voice was back, and Eli was glad for that. Inside, she wasn't feeling quite herself, but she could pretend well enough.