Caden
"Half? I was right - hard to please." The corner of his grin is visible where her head is tucked against his shoulder, but his eyes are riveted to the stretch of snow before them, and the runway of sand that lies beneath it. This may be for her - for everyone he'd pulled up onto Hugo's back - but it is also for his own experience.
He tilts his head into hers as her chin comes to his shoulder, ginger fire melting into golden strands. "Do you feel cold?" His fingers slide from the valleys of her fingers in a trail up the back of her hand, her wrist, her forearm. Flirtation, yes, but also to prove that her skin has only cooled from the pace of their run. "I don't need to make you feel it just to get you to hold me tighter - Hugo's got that covered." And it would dampen the thrill of the moment - something he values as much as her general comfort. He wants her to feel alive. If her laugh is any indication, he's on the right track.
Hugo slows his pace - coming out of his enhanced speed and then down into a canter - and Caden lets the illusion melt away. They are incredibly far now, nothing recognizable and hardly any beachgoers to be found. He turns to better face her, hand sliding back to cover hers. "Nah, no cult. You think I'm charming enough to convince you to join one? Now who's flirting?" Caden winks at her over his shoulder as Hugo slows again to a leisurely walk.
"Now, you can laugh - I give you full permission to - but honestly I just want people to live." He shrugs loosely, careful not to jostle her chin if she's still close. "Maybe the Family kills us tomorrow; what if we died not having experienced this? Died too scared to have done anything but keep our heads down?" It would be more philosophical if his sincerity didn't present through a steady smile and the spark of adrenaline-thrill in blue eyes. "It's just a bonus to bring people along with me sometimes. Force them to do it too." His free hand rises to rake through his hair with a dramatic sigh. "I know, I know - I'm incredibly philanthropic. You can hold your praise." He pauses for effect, hand cupping his nape before he turns his head to smirk at her. "Hold over - praise away."
He tilts his head into hers as her chin comes to his shoulder, ginger fire melting into golden strands. "Do you feel cold?" His fingers slide from the valleys of her fingers in a trail up the back of her hand, her wrist, her forearm. Flirtation, yes, but also to prove that her skin has only cooled from the pace of their run. "I don't need to make you feel it just to get you to hold me tighter - Hugo's got that covered." And it would dampen the thrill of the moment - something he values as much as her general comfort. He wants her to feel alive. If her laugh is any indication, he's on the right track.
Hugo slows his pace - coming out of his enhanced speed and then down into a canter - and Caden lets the illusion melt away. They are incredibly far now, nothing recognizable and hardly any beachgoers to be found. He turns to better face her, hand sliding back to cover hers. "Nah, no cult. You think I'm charming enough to convince you to join one? Now who's flirting?" Caden winks at her over his shoulder as Hugo slows again to a leisurely walk.
"Now, you can laugh - I give you full permission to - but honestly I just want people to live." He shrugs loosely, careful not to jostle her chin if she's still close. "Maybe the Family kills us tomorrow; what if we died not having experienced this? Died too scared to have done anything but keep our heads down?" It would be more philosophical if his sincerity didn't present through a steady smile and the spark of adrenaline-thrill in blue eyes. "It's just a bonus to bring people along with me sometimes. Force them to do it too." His free hand rises to rake through his hair with a dramatic sigh. "I know, I know - I'm incredibly philanthropic. You can hold your praise." He pauses for effect, hand cupping his nape before he turns his head to smirk at her. "Hold over - praise away."
You’re red wine and roses, sugar coated
Just a runaway carousel that spins me ‘round, ‘round, ‘round
Just a runaway carousel that spins me ‘round, ‘round, ‘round
