What's Wrong With Me?
Oh. Oh, no. He had upset her, hadn't he? Alarik felt his smile loosen and fade, ears tilting back a bit to mimic hers as she looked away in shame. He truly hadn't meant to be disrespectful. He'd only wondered what language it was that she spoke. He in no way condemned her for being unable to fluently speak his own.
The young man sighed quietly as she watched the waves again, and he watched her. She really was a sight to behold. Like all the fair maidens he'd imagined when he was boy, pretending to be the brave and charming knight. And just look how that was turning out for him. It was quiet for a while, but eventually she sat. She still looked as uncomfortable as when he'd first spotted her lounging on the sand, but Alarik was no closer to understanding why. Perhaps she didn't even understand why. But he had to admit, it brought a sense of relief when that hesitant smile came to her lips once more. She spoke with that same appealing lilt as she explained her situation. Born here, but the woman who raised her spoke a different language. Spanish, she called it. She knew some of the common tongue, of course, but it sounded to him like she hadn't had much opportunity to practice it.
Alarik smiled at her all the same. He was fascinated by the idea of hearing another language. "Spanish?" he said, tail swaying gently behind him. "Perhaps I could hear it sometime. If your accent is any indication, it must be a lovely language." His words were earnest and sincere, and he reclined in the sand a bit, which inevitably brought him closer to her. She still smelled so... nice. It was a hard scent to describe in words. Musky, but faintly sweet? Whatever it was, it was intoxicating, but Alarik knew better than to comment on it. He tried his best to relax, ignoring the tightening of muscles in his abdomen.
Shoving all other thoughts away, the male turned his attention back to the woman beside him. "Ashelynn." This she said with more strength. More certainty. Alarik gave her a charming smile.
"Ashelynn," he repeated, tasting the name on his tongue for the first time. "Talk" "You" Think |
