I glance down at my barely touched Carbonara and the empty glass of red wine. It's a pity I've already finished my wine. I'll need more to deal with this date. I couldn't even procure a decent Valentine's date.

I inwardly cringe when he starts chewing again. All I hear are the sounds of him masticating. I glance up when he pauses for a moment. He was looking at me expecting an answer to something he asked.

"Um, sorry what was that?" I ask because I've tuned him out to the point I no longer even know what the conversation is about. The date has been absolute torture.

I can't believe my best friend thought this date was a good idea. The feeling this wasn't her idea snuck up. Assured now that it was Mari's husband that set me up on this date by telling her it was a good idea.

I'm going to kill him. Erik will die a slow painful death at my hand.

"I asked; what made you decide to become a psychologist?" Not this. Not the part of the date where you get to know one another. As much as I wished he would stop eating so loud, I take it back. I would prefer his loud chewing as opposed to his small talk.

"It just seemed to fit." That was a lie. I couldn't tell him who I was or what my actual job was. If I told him I was a highly skilled assassin and a powerful Witch trained to protect humans from dangerous people, I doubt he would have believed me.

I watch as Rick, I believe his name was, pick up a fork full of food and shove it into his mouth.

"I get that. When I became an accountant, it just seemed to fit." I might actually throw up. He spoke around a mouthful of food. I couldn't take this anymore.

Slipping a hand into my purse, I plastered a fake smile on my face. I used my other hand to raise my wine glass to the waiter who joined our table. I used the distraction to unlock my phone and send an emergency message to Mari.

I've become trained enough to send the message discreetly. I always know where my text icon is on my phone, then I always prepare an SOS message to Mari before I sit down for a date. Obviously, I've had my share of bad ones.

Mari will know what to do. I should receive a call any minute. The awkward silence continues to grow as I wait for my phone to ring. I take a few more sips of my wine and allow the delicious flavor relax me. The restaurant has an elegant feel, and it's picturesque in a romantic way.

That doesn't improve my mood on the situation. This, Rick and I, have absolutely nothing in common. No ground to stand on together. We haven't had a single conversation since we met that points to us ever sharing a meaningful and genuine connection.

I give another attempt at a sweet smile, but I'm out of ways to keep this date going. My fingertips restlessly tap on my wineglass with anticipation of receiving my phone call that will allow me to escape Rick's loud mastication tendencies and boring conversations.

"Did you not enjoy your Carbonara?" Rick asked. I glance down and realize I was barely picking around at what should be an amazing dinner.

I open my mouth to come up with a lame excuse, but I was saved by the sound of my ringtone. Oh, thank God. "Excuse me, I'm so sorry." I reach into my purse and pull my phone out.

"It's okay." Rick nodded for me to go ahead and answer as he returned to eating. I swipe my thumb and lift the phone to my ear. I have my prepared speech ready to go.

"Hello?"

"Your date can't be that bad already." I hear Erik's voice, and I grind my teeth. With a clenched jaw, I try to save this phone call.

"What can I do for you, Sir?" Rick looks up with questioning eyes. I'm sure he's wondering who would call me this late.

"Oh, that's just perfect." I hear Erik laughing on the other end of the line. I'll kill him. "I thought you would enjoy your time with Rick immensely."

I knew it was him. I allowed the scowl to cross my face. Used it to my advantage. "I'll be in right away. I'll handle this situation myself." I ended the call before Erik could say anything else.

I growled under my breath and looked to Rick. "Everything okay?" The puzzled look clear on his face.

"I have to go. I'm sorry I can't finish this date, but I have to handle this situation personally." He looked surprised I would end the date so quickly but recovered.

"Well, can I call you sometime and pick up where we left off?" He asked and the hopefulness was evident in his voice. I took in his features. The clean cropped hair, the pressed oxford shirt and his clear set of blue eyes. He was a good man. I couldn't even use him for a short time as a distraction. I could never actually be with someone like Rick even if we had shared a few shreds of common interests.

"I'm not sure Rick. I had a nice time but..."

He cut me off before I even finished. Another thing that drove me crazy. He had done that numerous times tonight. "I get it. It was nice meeting you, Molly."

And we both called it an end there. I smiled and stood. I turned to leave the quaint little restaurant without another word to Rick. I stepped onto the sidewalk and could finally breathe again. I inhaled the crisp night air as it blows my honey hair around my face.

I always love the winter air in the city at night. So I set a path towards downtown.

I glanced at my phone and sent a quick message to Mari. "Your husband is an ass. Erik, I'll get you back for that. Just wait."

The message came back almost immediately. "Bring it on Guardian. I'm not scared of a half-pint witch." I laughed and turned my phone off. As much as a pain in the ass the man was I couldn't even really hate him. He meant too much to my best friend. Mari loved the ridiculously gorgeous man, and he saved her life and rescued Mari's daughter Gracie when she was kidnapped. That meant, despite who he was, I loved him too.

With a smile still on my face, I realized I walked until I reached my favorite place. The club drew me in, not because of the loud dance music and the strange crowd that frequented, but the other ridiculously gorgeous man I knew would be inside.

I was finally exactly where I wanted to be.

*

The music and writhing bodies surrounded me. I forced my way deeper into the club with one focus. To find Alaric. I had met him months ago when Mari brought me to the club. Apparently, Alaric had saved her from consuming a spiked drink last year when Mari had been to the club hunting down its previous owner.

Let's just say now Alaric owns the bar, the previous owner is dead (thanks to my amazing best friend) and I have a ridiculous crush on a man I shouldn't.

I finally made my way through the throngs of dancers. I highly doubt it should be called that. It was a far cry from dancing, though, I can't say it doesn't look fun. To be out there held close, sweaty and touched by a man that way.

I step up to the bar, but Alaric was further down helping another customer. Despite being the owner, he continued to bartend so he could keep an eye on everything. I wait patiently and continue to observe the dancers.

My eyes immediately zero in on one couple. They move seamlessly together. The dancer's arms were wrapped around the woman's body. The flimsy material was barely enough to be considered clothing. The material shimmers from the strobed light above. And I'm captivated.

The dancer's hands are everywhere. It's like he can't get enough of the feel of his partner's skin. His hands move the material up her thighs, and I watch as she moves seductively in his arms. She's desperate to be there. To feel his hands on her. She was teasing him with the promise of her body.

His hands move up her waist and higher to cup her breasts above the material of her dress. He places his mouth on her neck to taste her skin. She tangles her hands into his hair as she continues to squirm on his leg that's placed perfectly between her legs.

They might as well be having sex on that dance floor for everyone to see. It's like it's just the two dancers and no one else in the world. They are so overwhelmed with desire that they have to touch. Have to feel the other.

I feel a presence behind me, and I shift. Trained to never let my guard down, I'm shocked to find someone standing so close. It's Alaric. His look consumes me and my breath catches. His direct gaze unsettles me and causes an old familiar feeling to stir.

He was watching me look at the dancers. I don't know what my face revealed, but he seemed to enjoy it because the most heart-stopping smile spread across his face.

"Hello, gorgeous. I didn't expect to see you here again." His deep voice can still be heard over the pounding in my ears and the steady beat of the music. I gave myself a moment to recover.

"I need a drink." He nodded and reached down to make my drink. I was shocked that he remembered I drink a Jack and Coke. I feel myself blush at the thought he took the time to remember.

"So what happened tonight that calls for a drink?" He glanced up the worry obvious on his face.

"Don't worry it wasn't work related," I said as I reached for the drink he extended my way. I took a drink and waited for him to return to his work. I hoped my response was sufficient and he wouldn't try to dig deeper.

It wasn't. "Well, that's good. I've heard you've been off protection duty and back to hunting." I narrowed my eyes. How did he know that? We've only met once before. "Sorry, Mari talks. She said you were placed as her Guardian but now that she's unlocked her magic you're free to return to work."

"Mari sure does like to talk doesn't she." I sighed. "Shouldn't you get back to work? You don't have to keep me company."

Alaric nodded and stepped away. He walked to the end of the bar without saying another word. I was saddened by his abrupt departure. I shouldn't be surprised, I was the one to send him away, still thought he would at least give a goodbye.

A little dejected I returned to my drink. I watched the ice sit in the dark liquid and nursed my sadness. Why had I come tonight? I knew nothing would come from talking to Alaric. He was a Ravensguard. An elite group of Witches sworn to protect the rulers of Irela. The fact he was here in the human world was a shock. It also meant he wouldn't be here long before he returned to his own world.

So why did I find myself walking to his club? My life was here in the human world. I was a Guardian sworn to protect the humans from the dark creatures that roam this world. My life was here, his life was temporarily here. Why was I even bothering?

"Is this seat taken? His dark voice sounded behind me, and I felt the shudder run through my body. I've never had him so close that I could even smell him. He smelled faintly of Irela and the forest at night. His nearness alone evoked memories of when, I too, called Irela home.

I just nodded. I was speechless and lost in distant memories. Alaric took the spot and signaled the bartender. A petite purple haired woman appeared and brought him a drink.

I refocused myself back to this moment where I had Alaric's attention on me, and only me.

"Another Jack and Coke too." Glancing down showed I had finished my drink. He seemed to notice even the smallest details. "Now where were we. What happened tonight?"

He was a patient man as well it seemed. And demanding, refusing to drop the subject. I gave in immediately. I've never given in so quickly before. "I was on a date, okay? It was terrible, the guy kept talking with a mouthful of food. We had absolutely nothing in common and Erik knew that, but had Mari set us up anyway."

He laughed. A loud, full laugh that made me smile despite the joke was on me. I felt the side of my mouth quirk up.

"It's not funny! He chewed so loud I couldn't hear myself think." I placed a hand on his arm and shoved while noting the feel of his muscles beneath the shirt he wore.

He finally stopped laughing. "Sorry, Erik has been known to prank people like that. It might be a surprise, but that means he actually likes you."

"You could have fooled me. I had to sit through thirty minutes of dull conversation and loud mastication before I texted my SOS. Then, it was supposed to be Mari calling me, but it ended up being Erik so he could rub it in my face more."

I couldn't help but grin wider when I saw the laughter dancing in Alaric's eyes. "Should I kick Erik's ass for you, will that help? And wait, you keep an emergency text ready for when you go on a date?"

"Trust me, I'll get him back. And yes, I don't have the best track record." The look I gave caused his cocky masculine grin to spread. I wish I could make out his features better, but the dim light made it difficult. I glanced down at my glass and spoke. "Thanks for coming out here, you didn't have to do that."

"You seemed like you could use someone to talk to. I know it's difficult dating while pretending you're something you're not." He seemed lost in thought.

He was someone who knew exactly what I was going through. "Like pretending you're a bartender?"

"Yes, Doctor, or pretending you actually care about human problems." He took a drink "I like it, trained assassin turned into a shrink."

"You seem to know my credentials well." When I looked his way, I realized how close we actually got. It is hard to hold a conversation over the music playing so we had naturally come closer to together so we could hear each other. Alaric's body instinctively drew me in. He radiated a raw and primal strength. He was, and always would be, a ruthless warrior, even when hidden beneath a soft cotton tee and jeans.

"Like I said, she likes to talk." Mari didn't like to speak that much. She must have taken a liking to Alaric after he saved her life. Had Mari taken the drink he warned her against, she would have fallen victim to a terrible man. Luckily, Alaric was there and called Erik to let him know what was happening. It was before Alaric knew about the circumstances of why Mari was at the bar, to begin with, Alaric just protected everyone.

I had asked my share of questions that day we left the bar. The first time my eyes took Alaric in, I wanted him. Something fierce inside me reacted to him.

We had grown silent and just watched each other. The distant longing grew the longer I stared into Alaric's lust filled eyes. My pulse quickened, and my breathing deepened.

I had to get away. I could never have something with Alaric. I need to leave and not give into such horrid fantasies. Fantasies that would keep my up late with a longing I would never satisfy.

"I have to go."

*

Shoving through the dancers, I made a quick exit. I didn't even give the man an opportunity to say something more before I was pushing my way through the crowd. I felt him close on my heels, but my pace increased. I felt him tracking me, my senses hyper-aware of his presence.

I made it outside to the calm February night and took another deep breath. The escape of the outdoors, again, allowed me the air I needed.

"Molly!" Alaric approached but kept his distance. I looked ahead at the bustling city night and tried to gather myself to turn. I didn't want to see the look he would give to me underneath the moonlight of this winter night.

I didn't want to want him. Neither of those things stopped me from turning around. I don't know what he saw upon my features, but I saw a longing and desire in his.

This desire I felt made me want to take a chance with him. To make the leap that would inevitably end with a broken heart and empty feeling. I would take the risk if it gave me a few more moments with him.

Even if I had only one night to know his touch, I would still chance it. A fleeting moment with him was worth the debt that may come.

I stepped closer and sealed my fate. I took a chance with each step that closed what felt like, a vast chasm between us. He, too, knew what each step meant to me and I saw it reflected in his eyes and the look that caused his brows to furrow.

When I was close enough, our chests touched, and I had to tilt my head back to see him was when he raised his hand to cup my cheek. The warmth of his rough hand felt both foreign yet essential and right. Like he was always meant to touch me.

He slowly lowered his head until his lips were a mere breath away from mine. Hesitating only slightly before they brushed mine. One by one every brick in my wall slipped. And when he deepened the kiss those well-crafted walls crumbled.

Before I knew what was happening my hands tangled in his hair, and I kept a firm hold as I forced him to part his lips.

He was worth it.

Alaric reluctantly pulled away but kept his hold on my face. Both of our breathing more erratic than before. Then he smiled. My tongue slipped past my lips, and I bit my lip. I could kiss him all night and not grow tired. You could tell, he too, wanted to return to our previous activity, but he pressed only a soft kiss to my mouth.

"Care to grab a coffee?" I laughed and felt the smile spread. I wasn't sure what a coffee date entailed, and I didn't care.

"Yes," I slid my hand into his. I would take these stolen moments with this gorgeous, mysterious man and risk the damage later.