Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Snowfall and Kisses

Alina was excited and nervous all at once. It had been so long since she had looked twice at a man much less enjoyed a conversation with one. Obviously her brother and Luis were the exception but Evan was not like anyone she had ever met. He was sophisticated yet down to earth. He had flare yet he was more conservative. Not to mention he was Adonis in the flesh. Normally she would have admired his physical traits but would have left it at that. Somehow he managed to circumnavigate her carefully constructed fortifications making himself a necessity in her day to day life. Talking with him daily on the phone had given her plenty of time to gauge what she was feeling. Right now however, they were face to face and the tension was palpable. Every move she made she felt as if though he watched her with hungry eyes. It didn't frighten her but instead it created a wanting for his attention and proximity. She had been in a relationship before and it was life changing in the worst sense possible. Instinctively she knew Evan was not like Michael. Both were handsome but the similarities ended there. With Michael she had been overwhelmed by his intelligence, confidence and appearance. She had been attracted to his bright mind and easy way of speaking. She had thought he was wonderful but she had been completely wrong. Before things had turned into a nightmare, she had realized that his life goals were not similar to her own and that their mutual attraction would not be enough to form a lasting relationship like that of her parents. She was too small town for him and simply not sophisticated enough although he never asked her to be anything different. She had decided to slow the relationship down and first decide on her own path before really forming a tighter bond. He had said he understood. All that changed the night he betrayed her trust and changed the opinion she had of him. She decided there and then to stop seeing him and told him so in no uncertain terms. That was a mistake and it changed her entire life. Evan was not Michael, she knew that; and he never could be.

"Thank you for such an amazing lunch. I'm most impressed with you! I mean your skills, uhh what I meant to say is....ah I'm impressed with your cooking skills". Alina felt herself turning red at how she had blundered that conversation. They had been sitting on the couch and the whole while Evan starred into her eyes and smiled an open and beautiful smile. "I was happy to prepare it for you and I'm glad you enjoyed it and approve of my.......skills". At that they both laughed and he reached out and tentatively touched her cheek with his fingertips. She didn't back away or flinch. Instead she turned into his touch and they both felt as if though the tension they had both been suffering under suddenly evaporated and they were left with the very powerful awareness of each other in a physical and emotional sense. Evan continued to look at Alina watching as she blushed but she never averted her eyes from him. Tilting his head and pressing his lips together he slowly moved his hand from her face and placed it on her folded hands that lay in her lap. "Alina, I want so badly to kiss you. But I wouldn't ruin this moment for anything if you don't feel the same". His voice was husky and deep. She shivered involuntarily as she looked at him. He looked at her, watching as her reactions played across her beautiful face. He swallowed hard as she bit her lower lip while she looked down at his hand and then back up at him. "Evan. I'm.....I'm....."She pulled her hands away and covered her face with them while turning away from him. He wasn't sure what was happening just now but he knew in his gut that she felt something for him. He watched as she slowly turned back to him while removing her hands from her face. He looked for her to take the lead in what might happened next. "Evan.......you have been nothing but kind and sweet. But....." Suddenly he realized what was about to happen. She was going to reject him. He knew in his heart that she was attracted to him but for some reason she wasn't going to allow herself to get closer to him. He felt his stomach clench at the thought of loosing this opportunity to find out where this feeling he had for her might go. Without a further thought he interrupted her "Alina....I don't know what you might be thinking about me, but please know something right now. I have every intention of courting you. Maybe you haven't made up your mind about me or maybe your thinking I'm just a guy that blew in on the wind and I'll be gone just as quick but...." she reached across to him and put her index finger on his lips as she looked deep into his eyes. Her eyes misted up and she took a moment to gather her thoughts and then said "I had a bad experience with my one and only real relationship. I trusted someone blindly because I frankly didn't have much experience. He ruined my life". She looked away for a moment and closed her eyes to gather her wits. He frowned and furrowed his brows at the thought that some idiot could have hurt her in such a way. Opening her eyes and looking at him a little unsteadily she continued. "It's taken me a long time just to get myself to this point"....he watched as she trembled and struggled to take hold of her emotions.... "I'm afraid....I...." Evan reached up and gathered her hands in his. Looking at her eyes, face and lips he kissed her fingers and said "I'm not in any hurry, in fact I'll take as long as you need to show you with my actions that I'm not like this fool who hurt you. Please don't be afraid of me". Alina looked at him through tear filled eyes and couldn't help but smile at him. She marveled at how gently he held her hands, at how soft his lips were and how tenderly he was looking at her. He was gorgeous. His broad shoulders and large hands with slender fingers felt good on her own. She felt herself drawn to him. Drawn to his gaze and his warmth that flowed off of him like the sun. "Evan I'm afraid of me more than I'm afraid of you". She looked down at the space between them and willed herself to move closer to him. He realized quickly and instinctively that she wasn't afraid of him but rather afraid of the moment and the unknown. Slowly, and with as much care as he would use to approach an exotic and elusive creature that he intended to photograph, he leaned across the chasm of space that separated them on the couch. Never taking his eyes off of her he cupped her face with his hands and placed a whisper soft kiss on her lips. He felt as though his body was jolted with lightning. Tentatively he pressed further and felt her relax and then felt as she placed a hand on his shoulder. Slowly and softly he moved one hand to the back of her head and adjusted their position so as to have greater access to each other. Seconds ticked by and she still allowed his gentle embrace and kisses. They separated a bit, and with eyes half opened they looked at each other while they caught their breath. This time she leaned into him and placed her lips on his as she wrapped her arms slowly around his neck. He in turn cradled her neck with his hand and with the other drew them closer as he placed the palm of his hand across her back. The kiss began as sweet and tender as the first but grew in intensity as it deepened and lengthened. With his tongue he asked for entrance into her mouth beyond her lush and swollen lips. A soft moan escaped her as she opened for him and he invaded the sweetness of her mouth. The connection was instantaneous. They both felt the electricity that their touch and warmth created between them. The fire crackled in the fireplace but the flames that were ignited between them grew with more intensity. Evan  ended the kiss and leaned his forehead onto hers. "Alina" he said her name breathlessly as he kissed her temple and cheeks. "I need to slow down with you. I want you to feel safe and in control of everything we do". He embraced her as she cradled her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder. He felt her shaking and tightened his embrace. He reached for the woolen throw that lay over the back of the couch and wrapped her in it. Repositioning himself on the couch so that she continued to be nestled into his arms while relaxing her legs across his own he cocooned them in the warmth of the throw and the moment. Alina was sure she was dreaming. She hadn't dared to envision this moment. Over the last week she doubted herself constantly and changed her mind as many times as to wether she would even come up to see him. She couldn't know how much better reality was than any dream she could come up with. He certainly knew what he was doing. No doubt he had plenty of experience and yet she felt cherished rather than maneuvered, doted on rather than cajoled. She still was trepidatious but not fearful. The thought of that alone made her heart soar. She looked up at his gorgeous face through her eyelashes and wondered what prayer she had prayed that was answered with him. 

Somehow they had fallen asleep on the couch as they sat nestled into each others arms while he had been stroking her arm and she gripping onto his shirt. Alina opened her eyes and looked out through the floor to ceiling windows as the first snow fell outside. If she was dreaming she never wanted to wake up. Next to her slept a handsome as heck man that somehow decided she was worth pursuing. She realized that it had grown darker outside and that while she had really only been at the cabin for less than half the day she felt as if they had known each other a lifetime. She's arrived in a sundress and was thankful that she had also brought warmer clothes with her. The walk they had taken earlier was beautiful. While  they wandered down the trails they discussed her book and how she wanted to incorporate the illustrations of cats into her storyline. He simply couldn't stop looking at her and several times she caught him staring. When they finally came back to the cabin she was a little cold and the red wine he handed her gave her the warmth she was craving and a little bit of courage. She knew down deep that she hadn't just come up here to talk about her book. She had come up because she hoped that what she felt in her heart was mutual with him. She was so grateful right know that she had taken that chance.

Evan stretched a little and slowly woke to a pair of beautiful eyes looking up at him. "Hello there" he said looking down at her. "Hi" she replied. They didn't take their eyes of one another until she shifted in his embrace and sat up lowering the throw  from their bodies. "It's snowing. It's got to be the first snow of the season"...she walked to the windows and peered out and up. He moved off the couch and walked up behind her placing his arms around her shoulders gently and peering out with her. "It's perfect" she said "Uhmmm.....yes. Sumptuous and perfect". Alina turned around as he lowered his hands from her shoulder but stretched them out so that his hands touched the glass on either side of her. She was effectively caught between his body, arms and the back of the windows. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she looked up into his face. His beard was short and perfectly trimmed, his lips were a deep pink and so plump it made her suck in her breath. He was so close and yet he was giving her plenty of room to move. She felt heat coursing through her body and closed her eyes as she felt slightly dizzy with emotion. Evan noticed her sway and wrapped his arms around her protectively bringing her body even closer to his. Again he felt a shock to his system as her soft and supple frame fit up against his harder bigger one. "Alina.....". Her name uttered by his lips felt smooth, breathy and so sensual she melted into him even more. Looking up at him she reached with her hand to cup the side of his face. He lowered his head to hers and took her mouth in his. Again their lips met and what started off as soft kisses turned over into deep and sensual ones. He couldn't get her close enough and as she put her hands up into his hair and ran her fingers down it's length he felt her take pleasure in their kissing. Thick and silky, his hair was just past his neckline and she availed herself of both of her hands to grasp it even more. Feeling Alina give herself over to his kisses he moved his hand across her back and waist and squeezed and pulled her impossibly closer. She let out a soft moan that made his stomach clench and his pants tighten at the crotch. She was killing him with mere kisses. He would happily succumb to them and die a happy man. He pulled away just enough to look at her with hooded eyes and his smile was seductive and overwhelming. "Evan, I haven't ever kissed anyone on the first date. I don't even know if this is a date". She said as the words tumbled out of her mouth. "Oh, this is a date Ms. Alina Salvatierra don't you worry about that" he said slowly all the while rubbing her back. "C'mon, let's see what we can make for dinner". He shifted and moved to her right all the while holding her hand in his. She looked down at their hands and smiled to herself. Oh my God she thought, how can he be real! She allowed him to lead her into the kitchen and looked forward to the manny hours that lay ahead!