ALEX'S POV

My plan was to slip out unnoticed, but as I ease the door closed I catch sight of a figure leaning against the brick wall of the gallery. Her rich curves are tastefully displayed in a red dress fitted to her waist and black heels add three inches to her 5'6 frame. Gorgeous olive skin is accentuated by high, defined cheekbones and long black curls, making her look exotically beautiful.

I have the weirdest urge to kiss the tip of her small nose and trace her dark, elegant eyebrow with an unsteady fingertip, making my skin ache in the anticipation of hers as my stare drifts to her lips and mine part. Lush and the most alluring shade of pink, they look.. sweet. She looks sweet.

I hadn't even realized I was inching my way closer to her until my always wanting gaze somehow finds hers, making me stumble mid step as my heart skips a knowing beat. Thick, black lashes frame light gray eyes. I've never seen that color before, but the secrets, the pain that matches my own has me spellbound. I don't know if it's because of my past, but it's glaringly obvious to me that she is haunted, full of demons that fight to take over and rule this beautiful woman's heart. It's a constant fight, and she can't ever let her guard down. I know all too well. I fight the same war everyday.

Those endless lashes flutter before falling to fan her cheeks in what feels like slow motion. My heart unexpectedly aches at the simple, feminine move, but it stops beating altogether when a crack of thunder shakes the earth and brings a smile to her lips.

Her smile...? I've never seen anything so pure.

My lungs burn for air as I stalk towards her, but I burn for her.

"Dance with me" I rumble, offering my hand, having no idea where the request came from but aching for her touch.

She drinks me in so lazily I shiver, dripping temptation and maybe if I'm lucky salvation.

A pang hits my chest when she doesn't seem to hesitate to lift a small, delicate hand to mine, only stopping just short of touching me.

I inhale for the first time since catching sight of her. It's sharp and short, but it's a breath and somehow I know it belongs to her.

"If you can catch me" the husky quality to the five worded invitation fills me with the sudden need to hear my name from her lips. To taste it.

With effortless grace she spins on her heels and takes off at a run, soaked to the bone in seconds but not seeming to care.

I chase after her without hesitation, feeling more alive than I have in years as a smile that matches hers finds my lips.

God I can't remember the last time I smiled.

She throws a playful glance over her shoulder, laughing when she catches my gaze.

The smile slips from my lips just as suddenly as it appeared and I trip over my own feet.

Feminine and lyrical, her laughter washes over me from head to toe, making me.. clean for the first time in my life.

I close the distance with one purposeful stride, wrapping an arm around her waist, turning her around in my embrace and drawing her closer.

Her breath catches while I can't catch mine.

"I caught you" I observe lowly, my voice softer than it's ever been. Only for her.

"Looks like I owe you a dance" she counters on a heavy whisper, looping her arms around my neck.

I hold onto her tighter, feeling like I won't survive without her eyes. They turn hazy in a way that tells me that she can probably see that she's my lifeline, and maybe i'm hers.

Too far away to hear the music, we sway to the sound of our pounding hearts that somehow manage to beat in perfect sync, heightening everything.

Impulsively, I spin her under my arm, drowning in her laughter before drawing her body back to mine, feeling cold without her.

The world spins too fast or maybe it's not spinning at all, all I know is that I feel wildly unsteady.

She curls elegant fingers around my jacket as she stares at my lips with an intensity that feels erotic and the elegant line of her neck works with a thick swallow.

With a deep, raw sound of pain, I rip myself away from her and back away so fast I stumble.

She sways from the loss of support, making my hands spasm at my sides with the need to reach for her.

Her ragged breaths still managing to echo mine perfectly as confusion and.. hurt come off her in waves.

I close my eyes, but I still see the look in hers, knowing I won't ever forget it.

I won't ever forget her.

"I'm sorry... I.. I can't do this" I rasp so lowly the sound mixes with the rain, hitting the ground with the rest of the downpour, drowned out before it can reach her. She hears me though, because I see something shatter in her gaze and rain gather in it before I turn my back on her, walking away from the woman who somehow managed to become my angel without recognizing me as the devil.