He was as still as a figure made of stone, but the workings of his mind were anything but as he let his thoughts race towards the past once again.

He remembered how his face had gone still at her words, void of any emotion or change that might betray his thoughts. How did she know? What did she know?

As if sensing his unease, she had smiled at him and leaning forward she had kissed his cheek, her warm lips just barely brushing against his cold hard flesh. In the end, that had been a very good distraction indeed. He could no longer keep his face impassive and the shock at her action became clearly registered on his features.

At his incredulous look she had giggled, blushed, and leaned back on her arms, her eyes never leaving his. He would have grabbed her and pulled her in for a real kiss if it wasn’t for the fact that she had started to speak again, distracting him with the sound of her lovely voice.

“You know my name, but I have not had the pleasure of hearing yours.”

Smiling at her words he leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand. She was like a magnet, drawing him towards her as she leaned back. He wanted to stay close, he couldn’t help it.

A smile played on his lips as he spoke. “I am Marcus.”

She grinned at him, flashing that perfect smile, and continued, “Marcus. What a lovely, noble name. May I ask you something, Marcus?”

He loved the way her full lips formed his name, the sound of her voice as it formed the syllables. He decided not to answer her right away and just looked at her in the hopes that she would say it again.

His patience was rewarded by her impatience as she spoke his name again. “Marcus?”

Hearing her say his name once again, one of the sweetest sounds he had ever heard made him grin even more widely. “Of course you may ask your question, fair one.”

She laughed softly and then, imitating his posture, she leaned forward once again and rested her own elbow on her knee and chin in her hand. “Did you figure out what my gift is?”