Cherish Every Moment Book 1: A Chance Encounter

2 Willing

As perceptive as ever, he caught a moment of heartbreak roll through Rayne's eyes. It was there and gone in barely a flash, but still he wondered what dark thought had fluttered through her mind to cause it. Avi watched her eyes slowly change from blue to green; the transition was fascinating. He felt helpless under her gaze as her words floated back to him. 'All I want right now is him. His hands, his strength, his breath upon my skin, his body...' she had whispered them, her voice low and filled with smoke. Avi wouldn't normally go for that sort of thing, but when she purred that, standing so close to her he could feel her body heat and smell her light perfume, he about lost it. He loved the way she had let the words hang in the air, the resonance and nuances in her voice and movement; suggestive and powerful. He wondered if she knew that, with those words alone just the hint of what could happen between them, she left him burning for her. Suddenly, Avi wished one of his friends would come down the hall and interrupt their little exchange; he felt self-conscious and awkward. He hoped they would show up and stop him from uttering something stupid; something he couldn't take back or that would make him look and sound more of the fool he honestly felt he was. He hoped someone would stop him from professing his own premature love, and his increasing desire for her. Then Avi remembered, of the five of them, he was the only one whose room was on that floor. There was no one but him, no hope of salvation; no one was going to save Avi from his stupid self. He needed to reign himself in, pull it together, and regain control of his thoughts and emotions. He was certain that all he was thinking and feeling was stamped clearly on his face; he wasn't wrong.

Rayne searched his eyes, her eyes following his, carefully reading the emotions he knew he couldn't keep from them. She rejoiced at what she saw. They stood, staring at each other, for what seemed an eternity, both holding onto the ice bucket with its dirty ice. He smiled and gave her a small goofy chuckle. Her eyes shone back at him. She was both relieved and nervous. The emotion she saw in his eyes was profoundly staggering. His unrelenting focused stare was unsettling in a very good way. She never thought she'd ever get close to him, especially like this; alone and in a hallway. For the moment, Avi was all hers, she didn't have to share him with a single soul. His attention was focused solely on her. She was literally the only other person in the room. It thrilled her and it terrified her.

"This is the third time that I have seen you today." Was all that he could foolishly utter. She was there, real, alive and conscious in front of him. He could talk to her, reach out and touch her and she would be aware of him; respond. Avi's mind simply went blank under the scrutiny of those gorgeous eyes. It was like she was looking into his very soul. He wondered if that was how he made people feel when he looked at them with so much intensity in his eyes. Her emotions were clear in hers. He didn't need to read her mind to see what was going on; it was all right there, so much life and love, mischief and joy, and a touch of sadness Avi couldn't ignore.

"Third?" she said, raising one brow, a simple and knowing smile clear upon her lips. More like seventh, she thought. Rayne had seen him so many times that day alone, she wasn't sure what to think. Was he trying to get her attention? Did he want to know her? What was Avi afraid of?

"Yes, I saw you here this morning, then again at lunch, and once more in the crowd. I almost called you up, but I didn't know how I would have handled that, given what I do." Avi shrugged and chuckled again as he realized how crazy and revealing what he just said was. He had definitely noticed her that morning. Her lithe form seemed to glide through the lobby on long limber legs. Her hips leading every step of the way. For a moment, he was certain that they made eye contact and she had caught him staring. Kevin sure did. He nudged him, gave him a look of curiosity, the nod of approval, and a gentle punch to his shoulder. She slipped out of the door before he could say anything to her. He was so shocked to be in the same place as she was, staying in the same hotel, that he most likely wouldn't have been able to speak anyhow and would have betrayed himself to her too soon; coming across as an uncool fool in front of everybody. He would have tripped over every word he tried to say. She would have had him tongue-tied and blathering. When he saw her out at lunch, Avi was surrounded by his friends and some fans and could yet again, only watch her from afar. She caught his eye when he was on the stage and it was time for him to sing his solo. He couldn't take his eyes from her face as he sang. Avi was completely surprised that he didn't forget the words to his own song; but, then again, he wrote it. He saw her several other times that day as he was in and out of the area, but they were just glimpses; they didn't really count in the scheme of things.