A Face Made For Daylight

Tell me where's your hiding place

OMG FINALLY.  I hit publish a billion times yesterday.  This app is bonkers!!  I'm glad it's working, let me know if you get duplicates of it. 

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For the first time in decades, Alistair felt genuinely happy. And it was all because of her presence, her warmth. He felt the sun shine down on him even in the darkest and gloomiest of days just by being close to her. Stella has become his silver lining.

They spent the last few days dining at their meeting place, and spending the nights drinking, laughing, talking, and dancing in the cabaret, his pandora box of memories and nostalgia. He slowly allowed her in, treading waters so he doesn't sink.

Something was holding him back from fully accepting their connection. He wasn't sure if it was because he was used to being physical with women without the need to speak to them the way he has with her, or because his past was weighing on him. He felt like he was shackled to his past, felt it clinging to his neck.

He memorized Stella's face with all its imperfect features. Her expressions, the way she spoke, the sound of her laughter, the touch of her hand. He smiled remembering how her face beamed when she asked if they can go back to the cabaret the day after he introduced her to it. They went back down the rickety stairs to the secret door. It swung behind them. Stella stepped into his memory lane once again saying nothing, just giggling along.

Alistair decided that was his favourite memory of her. Even though this was his hiding place, buried with pain, she shone a new light on it.

It was just past 6:30 in the morning. He was laying in Stella's bed on his side, propped up on his elbow, his head tilted resting in his hand. His torso exposed and his gelled hair tousled out of place. He laid in his silk pyjama slacks. His silk kimono draped against his bare chest. She was sound asleep, laying on her side facing him. Alistair snuck in to wake her with an idea he had.

He studied her face as she slept, smiling to himself. When he first met her, she didn't stand out like the rest of the girls he has known, and now he couldn't think of a time when he didn't find her beautiful. His eyes drifted down to her exposed shoulder falling out of her shirt. Alistair swallowed sharply as his heartbeat sped up with the thoughts of wanting her.

With his face resting against his hand, he reached his other hand slowly to her shoulder, softly caressing it. His eyes went back to her face, she didn't flinch. Her skin felt dry, she wasn't perspiring, and wasn't burning his touch. His heart raced as he leaned down slowly bringing his lips to her shoulder. He softly kissed her skin shutting his eyes at the taste of her skin and the warmth of her body. He never thought he would feel nervous in the presence of a woman again, yet here he was trembling.

Alistair moved his head back and was hovering above, looking down on her. He smiled as he brought his hand to her head, his fingers brushing softly through her hair. He was careful not to wake her. His fingers caressed her forehead and they didn't burn to her touch. Stella moved a little in her sleep but didn't wake. He smiled licking his lips, and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

He grimaced instantly as his lips touched her forehead, the taste so potent and toxic. His face twisted up and he couldn't help but jerk his body back suddenly and make a sound.

"Bleughh!! Christ--" He leaned back startling Stella in her sleep. Stella opened her eyes and screamed jerking her arm up elbowing Alistair in the chin.

"Ah fucking hell!" Alistair grabbed at his chin. Stella scurried back in the bed, falling off the edge, taking the sheets down with her.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" Stella yelled from the ground near the side of the bed. She sat up on the floor, her head peeking through the side.