"May I sit here?" I looked up, jolted from my thoughts, into a set of emerald eyes. The man in front of me gave a small smile, a set of dimples appearing in a pale face, as he swept a hand through black curls. He was tall and slim, dressed in black, which with the colour of his hair, made the tone of his skin stand out all the more.
"Yeah sure, feel free." I motioned to the seat opposite. "I was just about to head off anyway." I returned his small smile with one of my own, picking up the book I was reading and retrieved my bag from under the table. To be honest, he looked interesting, so I lingered somewhat, hoping he would strike up a conversation.
I looked through the windows of the small café that was my usual haunting on lonely Friday evenings and realised that it was already dark. The pale glow of a lonely streetlamp outside was showing a few people walking past but apart from that, it was peaceful and quiet. I caught my reflection in the glass, where pale skin and dark hair and eyes looked back at me.
"I think the term is 'Penny for them'? He asked, looking over the table at me, looking up from his book, concern on his face. "You look rather pale."
"I'm fine," I looked up into his eyes challengingly "...and if we're going to bring up skin tone, so are you. It's unusual to find someone paler than me."
"My excuse is I don't see enough sun." he replied eyes lowering once more to his book, which I was interested to note was Bram Stoker's Dracula, which was what I had just put in my bag.
"Funny how two people, pale skinned, black haired, meet at night reading Dracula... I'd just started it," nodding at the book in his hands.
He looked up then and gave a smile, and I noticed aptly enough that his canines were slightly pronounced. "I believe the term would be gothic irony. I have read this book quite a few times, and it's a pretty good work of fiction."
"Vampires always have fascinated me, I think it's their..." I stopped myself then, realising I was about to say 'sexual nature' in front of a virtual stranger "....fangs, and other things..." I finished lamely.
"And their sexual natures?" he grinned, again showing those pronounced canines. They had to be the result of some pretty specific dental work...right? "Vampires are sensual creatures, the erotic scenarios the blood is spilled, the comparison between pleasure and pain, its part of why they're given a bad press, because human's fear what they make them feel."
I had to admit I was getting a little heated from what he was describing, so I thought I'd better leave before embarrassing myself.
"Anyway, it's nice to see another 'vamp' fan. Have a good night." I stood up, picking up my bag off the table. He looked up at me "My name is Marius by the way, I just flew in. It would be nice to have some friends here...if you want to meet up again."
Surprised by the invitation, it didn't occur to me to say no, that I just don't accept invites from random strangers I met in a Café, "Yeah sure. Same time next week?" I was just about to leave when he responded, "I'll see you next week then...Amy."
I left the café with only one thought on my mind ...Had I told him my name?
Next week, I found myself walking towards the café again, knowing it probably wasn't a good idea. Marius was stunning physically, seemed intelligent and polite but there was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on. It would be flattering if there was a romantic interest behind his...well...interest, but I doubted it. Figuring I would give him a second chance anyway, I was approaching this date with an open mind.
I opened the door and wound my way around the tables to find myself a secluded table at the back, near a window, where I promptly sat and attempted to relax and look nonchalant for when he arrived. I wasn't looking into this as a romantic interest; I told myself firmly, he's not my type. To be honest, my recent type had been a bunch of arseholes, but that's just my bad luck.
I saw him walk in before he saw me. I'd give him credit, the man was graceful for someone his size. Lithe and muscular, he walked almost like he was a large cat, with precise loping steps. His muscles stood out against the long black shirt he was wearing and his jeans where tight against his thighs.
I couldn't help but wonder... if a man who looked that impressive clothed...fortunately his voice interrupted before I could finish that thought.
"I didn't think you would come, if I were to be truthful with myself. I tend to find I'm somewhat forthright in making new acquaintances and I was scared I'd frightened you off."
"That's okay, I wasn't put off." I wasn't about to say it was flattering to his face.
He sat down opposite me, popped his bag under the table and grabbed his wallet, looking at me expectantly. "Would you like a drink? I'm not drinking, but I'd be happy to buy you one. Hot chocolate?"
"If you're offering...How'd you know I was a chocolate fan?" I asked shrewdly. He raised an eyebrow. "You're a woman."
Fair enough, I thought to myself, man knows his endorphins.
I thought about that as I watched him making his way back to the counter; that he has made some surprisingly accurate assumptions about me, and in very little time of knowing me. It was kind of nice to find someone that paid attention to me that much and got me so quickly.
He came back laden with my hot chocolate and took the seat opposite me. "So how was your week?" He carried on with a smile "Still reading Dracula?"
"Attempting to..." I reply. "Trying to fit it around work really."
"What do you work in?"
"I'm an artist. I love to read, but it's a distraction from what pays the rent."
He smiled at that "Too true. It's never good to let your pleasures run your life, at least, not all of it." He looked into my eyes and smiled, and I was so caught up in his eyes I didn't realise he had carried on speaking.
"What area do you specialise in?"
I shook myself. "Erm...mainly illustrative work...but I'm trying to push into starting portraits as there's more money in it.
Taking a sip of his coffee, he seemed to contemplate that.
"Did you need models? I have done it before in my time. They were mainly done by quite old fashioned artists, so I'd be interested to see a more modern perspective."
