ELYSE'S POV
"Don't look back, Elyse! Keep running!" A blur of blonde hair and dark leather rushes past me, grabbing my arm and pulling me along. I can see a town in the distance. A few more minutes of running and we'll be alright. Someone will help us. Someone has to. It's our last option. Orange and blue lights streak by us. They've found us again.
As we charge toward the outskirts of town, we round the corner of a train station. It looks like it's been abandoned for years. There are old documents and train schedules scattered everywhere and boards hanging from the ceiling. The wallpaper and pictures are faded with time. It's both creepy and beautiful.
I feel myself being pulled through the station and out to a train car to hide. Climbing up into the car, I bend down to rest my hands on my knees in an attempt to control my breathing.
Feeling his warm hand on my lower back, I slowly stand and turn around toward him. Toward Groden. He swiftly checks me for any injuries. His fingers linger on the small burn on my shoulder. Looking up at him, I feel a heat climb up my neck to my cheeks. His forehead is creased with worry. Gently, he brushes strands of black hair from my face and touches the pad of his thumb to a cut on my bottom lip. As he leans down to close the few inches left between our lips, I hear a horrible screeching sound.
I roll over and slam my hand down on the alarm clock. Not opening my eyes, I try to fall back asleep. Wanting still to feel his warm lips upon me.
After a few minutes pass without me falling back into my dream, I decide to get ready for the day. Sitting up and sliding my fuzzy slippers on, I turn and pull my cream-colored sheets and comforter set back into a neat layout.
I take a quick shower and dry my hair. I decide to leave it down, so I run the brush through it a few times. It's naturally straight, so I don't have to use any styling tools on it. I rummage through my closet in hopes of finding something to wear. I want to look sexy without looking desperate. I find a brand-new pair of dark-wash skinny jeans and slide them on, wiggling a little when they get to my hips. Purple always makes my eyes pop and gives my skin a nice look, so I grab a plum purple top that is basically a tank top with a ruffled bottom. I shrug on my black blazer over the purple top and dig through my shoes for a pair of black high-heeled ankle boots.
Walking into my bathroom, I pull out my makeup box. I don't normally wear a lot of make-up but today I feel like making an impression. I add a light layer of eyeliner and smudge it out with black eyeshadow, giving it a winged look. I quickly add some black mascara to my eyelashes.
One last look in the large mirror. I feel like I look decent enough to meet Groden at the coffee shop now. I grab my purse and head out to my car, noticing a new black motorcycle in the parking spot beside my red mustang.
Walking into the coffee shop, I noticed Groden standing up. Not that I wouldn't have noticed him in the first place. I mean, how could you not? Every girl in here was staring open-mouthed at him. Okay, maybe not every girl, but come on! The man was mouthwatering! Wait. Did I really just say that? Ugh! Head out of the gutter, Elyse!
After giving myself a silent pep talk, I make my way over to the table he has selected for us. Groden swiftly pulls out my chair for me and I take a seat in front of him. Whoever said chivalry is dead, obviously never met this guy. Taking a seat on his side of the table, he drags his hand through his light blonde hair and gives me a small smile.
"Hey. I'm glad you made it."
He says with his accent that I can't seem to place.
"Yeah. I wouldn't have missed it!"
Oh god. That came out way too desperate! What is going on with me today?! It's because of the dream. It has to be. Right? Wouldn't any sane woman act like a schoolgirl around a hot guy if she had a dream like that just hours before? Trying to center myself, I wave over to the closest waitress and order a black coffee. I pick up the newspaper lying on the table as Groden orders his coffee and breakfast pastries.
We make small talk while waiting on our order. I find out that Groden is an only child, his parents live in the town surrounding the castle he works at. Yeah. Castle, like with a king and queen and guards. He tells me about his time in training and how he got into the Royal Guard, about how he became their general. This guy is the whole package. He's sweet, gentlemanly, strong, hot and a freaking soldier for a King!
I tell him about myself. I tell him about how my parents died in a car wreck when I was a baby and how I grew up in a church home for orphans. He asks about my job and if I like being in California. I guess I never really gave it much thought, although I have never felt like I belong here.
After eating and finishing our coffee, Groden offers to walk me to my office building again. This time he offers his hand as we walk, and I muster up just enough courage to take it. His lips are moving, and I can feel the words vibrating through my body but all I can concentrate on is the course fingers entangled in mine. How they fit perfectly together even though his hands swallow my small thin fingers.
I think back to this morning's dream, to how his hands were placed on my body and how close his lips were to my own. I must have stopped walking because I felt a gentle tug on my arm.
"Are you okay, Elyse? Is something wrong?" It takes a minute to realize that he's talking to me and that those hands are on my face. I close my eyes tight and take a few deep breaths. He probably thinks I'm an incoherent freak. How long have we been standing here? Why isn't he moving his hand?
Blinking, I finally look up at him. His brow is furrowed, and his beautiful eyes are searching my face. "Sorry, I had a long night. I guess I zoned out for a minute." Looking around, I realize we are in front of my office building.
Groden walks me to my office on the second floor and takes a seat beside my small wooden desk. I ask him if he would like to stay for a while since we aren't normally busy until around eleven. We talk for a while longer, and he helps with shredding papers.
I wonder if he knows that being beside him is driving me crazy. His lips move so smoothly, and I can't help but imagine what kissing him would be like.5RT