Ray didn’t move. Not when he stalked in front of her and crouched angrily down on his toesto look at her. Her eyes were cast away from him, stoking his irritation at this entire situation.
“That wasn’t a question.” She replied, and Angel could hear the mix of her words. Could see the hazy gleam of her eyes. He breathed out harshly, averting his gaze as he did so. His eyes landed on the half-whiskey bottle, and a tired breath left his lungs,
“Can I have some of that?”
Ray turned to face him at that, her eyes so…
Sad?
But then she rose her unsteady hand and all but shoved the bottle against his chest,
“Thanks.” He said quietly and took a large swig of the drink. Angel winced as it burned its way down his throat and kept the bottle down. He looked up at her, his eyes imploring hers. Prying her apart piece by piece.Why was she so sad? So lonely like this?
But he couldn’t ask those questions. So, he asked another.
“Why did you ask me about dancing on the beach, Storm?” His voice was soft, softer than he’d ever thought it could be. It surprised him. But Ray turned to him like she’d been hearing that voice for centuries.
“Because I’ve never danced on the beach.” She said simply and Angel blinked at her words.
“No one has.” He responded and saw her lips twitch. Saw her eyes go hazy.
“Hey, Angel?” she asked after a moment’s pause, and Angel, who’d been so lost in her depthless eyes, jerked.
“Yes Storm?” he said jokingly and saw her eyes turn back to him. So wide. So curious.
“Do you believe this alliance will work out?”
Angel blinked at her words. Everyone would have deemed them useless. Nothing but a drunk’s words. But knowing her for five days, knowing that gleam in her eyes, Angel knewexactlywhat she meant.
Are you with the Lions? Do you truly support them solely?
“With all my heart, storm.” Angel responded, and before she could ask any such questions again, he got up on his feet. Ray didn’t move though, but Angel was done waiting.
His mind was already a mess. He knew it could get potentially worse with time. With her questions. And with her crazy beautiful eyes.
Shit.
“Let’s go Storm.” he said, silently pleading with his eyes for her to get up. For her to stop. But Ray wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she just propped her chin against her knees and breathed out. Angel caught the sound of the waves washing over the sand and shivered as another breeze fluttered past them. He was going to either haul her over his shoulder and get her back to her room or shake her out of her drunk reverie by making her drink gallons of water. But when he looked back, all he saw was a girl sitting under the moonlight.
A girl with a million thoughts running in her mind.
“Hey, Storm?” he asked quietly and crouched down on his toes again. Her eyes didn’t turn to him, but he still placed his hand within her reach, “If you go with me now, I’ll make you a promise.”
That turned her eyes, and Angel gulped at the sheer emotion shining in that gaze. But didn’t back down from it.Couldn’t.
“If you go with me now, I’ll ask you for a dance on the beach.” He whispered. His heart pounded against his chest, thumping like a damned earthquake as he continued,
“Any beach. Wherever in this world, I’ll ask you to dance, without any music. With or without any people around.” He waited for a beat.
“I promise.”
Ray didn’t reply.
But she slowly placed her fingers in his.
Angel’s breath caught as they both got up together.
He was about to say something when he saw her sway on the sand and his hand reached out a laced around her waist like a habit.
