She smiled up at him, "Thanks for saving me."

"Well, you looked uncomfortable, and he couldn't keep his hands to himself."

She nods, "So, are you feeling better?"

Ash sounded amused. "Yes. There was enough glamour in that one corner to choke a dragon."

She laughs, "I could tell."

"What exactly are you accusing me of?"

She frowns, shrugging. "Nothing, just agreeing with you."

"Ah." Ash brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, catching a loose strand of hair between his fingers. "Ive seen thousands of mortal girls," he said softly, "more than you could ever count, from all corners of your world. To me, theyre all the same." His finger slid below her chin, tilting her head up. "They see only this outer shell, not who I really am, beneath. You have. Youve seen me without the glamour and the illusions, even the ones I show my family, the farce I maintain just to survive. Youve seen who I really am, and yet, youre still here." He brushed his thumb over her skin, leaving a trail of icy heat. "Youre here, and the only dance I want is this one."

A small smile appeared on her face as she stared up at him.

His nearness was overwhelming, his face and lips just inches away. He stared at her, and the hunger in his eyes wasn't exactly well hidden.