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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 23, 2010 8:08:17 GMT -5
Austin did not have any issues with any public displays of affection, of course as long as they weren't going too far. He was hoping that Paige would finally understand that he wanted to just take it slower. Tonight, he thought maybe whenever he left, it would be okay to maybe actually kiss her this time, even if it was just on the cheek. After all, they had been out a few times and maybe things would work out. He obviously had no idea what was still running through Paige's head.
"Good. That means I'm finally doing something right." Austin grinned at her. "And I promise that I was do my best to make sure that you are having a great time every time we go out. I like seeing you smile and being happy."
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Post by Paige Owen on Sept 6, 2010 23:55:04 GMT -5
He was making promises again. She wanted to believe him, she really did.... but so many other guys had made promises to her in the past. Promises that they hadn't kept, that they had never even intended to keep. And every time she had hoped and tried to believe that this one was different, that he really meant it. Now here she was, back in that same cycle. Maybe Austin really was different. He seemed different... but then, so had some of the others. How could she trust? How could she believe? There were only so many times a person could get burned before they learn to fear the fire.
She didn't comment, because they were now up to her apartment building. "Come on up," she said. "I have a really nice bottle of elderflower wine I got from an admirer back in my dancing days. I've been waiting for a nice occasion to open it."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Sept 8, 2010 8:32:48 GMT -5
He did have sort of a feeling that appeared to be warning him for what was going to happen. Austin had a suspicion that his idea of trying to think things slow hadn't gone through Paige's head yet, however, he was going to give it a chance, after all he could have been wrong.
It sort of made Austin feel honored that she considered him coming up sort of a special occasion, but then again 'special occasion' could mean a lot of things. He was just going to go with it and see what happened. "Sounds good," he said smiling.
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Post by Paige Owen on Sept 16, 2010 19:19:16 GMT -5
Paige's smile was mysterious as she led him into the little apartment building and up to her apartment. The building was really a large house that had been partitioned into apartments; each of the six apartments in the building was basically a whole wing of the house, containing a bathroom and kitchen as well as a living room and bedroom. Paige's apartment also had a balcony that looked out over a nearby lake. Because it was private and quiet on the grounds, Paige thought it would be a romantic place for them to have their wine.
"Wait here," she said when they were in the immaculate living room. "I'll get the wine."
She didn't wait for him to answer, and quickly headed into the kitchen, taking the bottle of elderberry wine from her wine rack. Then she picked out two crystal wine glasses, and set them both on a tray, which she carried out to the living room.
"Don't sit down," she said. "We're not having it in here. Follow me."
She led him through the small dining room to a pair of sliding glass doors in the back of the apartment. Pointing her wand at the doors, she said, "Alohamora!"
The doors slid open, and a soft golden light seemed to switch on automatically, lighting the balcony. It was set up with a table and two chairs, as well as a soft loveseat, which was pushed back against the wall. A small coffee table sat in front of it, and this was where she set the tray down.
"Nice, isn't it?" she asked him brightly, turning to him at last.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Sept 21, 2010 6:33:59 GMT -5
Stopping as they entered the living room, Austin placed his hands behind his back. Paige seemed excited, so he was going to let her do what she wanted without question. She seemed different from when they first left for the night. She sort of seemed unsure at first, but then she gradually changed to this excitement.
As she walked by with the tray, Austin was going to ask her if she would like him to carry it, but he just kept his mouth closed and let her do it. He didn't want to appear to want to do everything for her.
When they reached where she was taking them, Austin had to admit that it really was nice. He smiled as she turned to him. "Yes, it's quite nice here, fairly perfect. Do you come out here a lot?"
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Post by Paige Owen on Sept 22, 2010 1:24:25 GMT -5
Paige nodded and looked out at the inky black sky. Only a few lights were visible, casting a soft, ghostly glow on the lake. It was quiet on the balcony, and if they didn't talk, they could just hear the faint swish, swish of the water as it lapped gently against the rocky bank below.
"Every night, actually," she admitted. "I love it out here. It so peaceful and quiet... it helps me think and clear my head. Even when it's cold out.... I have to come out here."
She was surprised at how easily she had admitted that. She hadn't even intended to tell him about that... just bring him out here, serve the drinks, and then just engage in small talk until the time was right to go inside.... And yet, here he was, getting her to admit things she hadn't meant to say.
The truth was, this balcony was her sanctuary. When she was out here, she was herself, not the different faces she put on for the world. She wasn't Paige Owen, the hard-nosed reporter, or Paige, the anorexic former dancer with the bad knee. She wasn't even the insecure, neurotic neat-freak who had a desperate need to control something in her life. She was just... Paige. When she was out there alone, listening to the swishing of the lake below and staring out at the twinkling stars, Paige felt like anything was possible. All the pressures and fears and uncertainties faded away, lost in the darkness, and in their place was a world of infinite possibilities.
It meant a lot that she had brought him out here, she realized that now. She had thought it romantic... but now it seemed intimate in a way she had not intended. She was showing him a glimpse inside herself, and she was suddenly scared. A shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with the chilly night air, and she busied herself with trying to open the cork of the wine bottle, so she wouldn't have to meet his eyes.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Sept 27, 2010 10:12:11 GMT -5
Austin was glad that he was getting to know Paige better. It helped him learn ways to approach her and it showed him her likes and dislikes. "It's good you have found a place to do that. Everyone has to have their quiet areas. Yours happens to be a beautiful spot." He spoke in sort of a soft smooth tone. She had just opened up to him a little more, all on her own.
He knew what she was scared of, at least in the sense of when it came to something like this. Austin knew that Paige wasn't used to opening up to just anyone, especially with what she had gone through. It was his plan to make sure she didn't see him in the same light. He had a feeling that this was slowly happening now.
Quietly, he walked over to her, noticing that she wouldn't meet his eyes. Austin raised his hands and put them over hers as she tried to open the bottle. "I can try if you like," he said softly.
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Post by Paige Owen on Sept 29, 2010 0:42:58 GMT -5
She almost jumped at the touch of his hands on hers. She wasn't expecting it, and in fact, hadn't been paying attention to his movements. It surprised her that he was suddenly standing so close to her. It seemed like a metaphor for their relationship in a way; that he was always closer to her than she expected him to be. He knew her in ways she had never even known herself.
Somehow she managed not to jump or to drop the bottle. Biting down on her bottom lip, she looked over her shoulder at him while her stomach did a funny little flip. Slowly she relinquished the bottle to him, letting her fingers fall away so that he held the bottle instead.
"Be.... be my guest," she said, trying to recover the playful attitude but not quite succeeding.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Sept 29, 2010 12:02:20 GMT -5
He was relieved that Paige didn't jump back from him. This was an improvement, or at least he thought. Austin was intentionally close to her to see how she would react. It seemed that things were getting better, at least for the moment. Taking things slow was a good thing. He figured if he would have tried something like this eariler, then they would have gone straight back to square one, or she would have been completely frightened and ran away.
Austin made sure to keep a hold on the bottle so that when she did let go, it wouldn't fall. He let a smile cross his face as Paige let go of the bottle. She was doing a lot better with the closeness. He moved a hair away from her, just so nothing would hit her once the bottle was opened. He tugged on the cork and after wiggling it for a moment, he was able to open it.
Moving back a little closer to her again, he leaned by her to pour both of their glasses. He placed the bottle down and handed her the glass he poured before picking up his. "Here you go."
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Post by Paige Owen on Sept 30, 2010 23:34:51 GMT -5
How was it possible that such a simple gesture felt so very intimate? She had been with a lot of men in her time--more than she cared to admit, actually--and yet, no matter how physical things had been, it had never felt as intimate as this moment, him standing so close to her and taking the bottle from her hands.
Oh, Merlin, she was going to fall for him. Maybe she was already falling, she wasn't sure. No matter how hard she had tried to harden her heart to such emotions, she always let herself get her hopes up. And Austin was, quite honestly, perfect. Too perfect. So perfect he scared the hell out of her even as he filled her with a hopeful exhilaration she never would have thought possible.
Oh, please don't let him hurt me, she pleaded silently, though she wasn't even sure who she was pleading with. If she gave him her heart.... Merlin, she hoped he wouldn't break it. It was already so worn and patched that it was a wonder it still kept beating.
She took the glass from him hesitantly, and raised her eyes to meet him. A very strong urge to run away struck her again, but she stayed rooted to the spot, her legs shaking. She raised the glass with a trembling hand and said with a brave smile, "To us."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Oct 1, 2010 17:57:37 GMT -5
This was perfect. In a way, it was sort of a test, to see how far Paige had come. Part of him thought that she might have already run away. She was becoming braver, and that was something he was proud of. He didn't care how long it took for her to feel completely at ease with him, or trust him, he would wait.
Austin raised his glass as well. "To us," he repeated. He gave her a quick wink just as he took a sip from his glass. "Why don't we take a seat?"
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Post by Paige Owen on Oct 8, 2010 13:34:54 GMT -5
She couldn't speak. She didn't trust her voice in that moment, and she had no idea what she could possibly say. Nothing seemed quite right. It was lucky that the love seat was only a few steps away, because if she had to move farther than that, Paige was certain that her legs would give out, or that she would run away again.
Somehow she managed the last couple of steps and sank down onto the very edge of the love seat. This is ridiculous, she told herself. It was not like she hadn't been alone with a man in her apartment. This was just like every other time.... except that it wasn't. Why did it feel so different? Why was she suddenly terrified? It wasn't as though he was asking her to marry him or anything. He hadn't even given her a proper kiss yet.
But that was the problem. The tension had been building up, and she desperately wished he would just shag her and get it over with. And although she thought that was the intention in coming up to her apartment, she had a strange feeling that it still wasn't going to happen.
She took a very large sip from her wine glass, and looked up at him uncertainly. "Um... it's good, isn't it?" she asked, nodding to the wine.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Oct 11, 2010 6:07:22 GMT -5
Austin knew that there was still that level of uncertainty, but he was going to do his best to make that go away. He wanted her to be comfortable, not tensed. He took a small drink from his glass. Austin wasn't that much of a wine drinker, but he nodded his head in response to Paige's question. "It is," he replied.
He was sitting close to her, yet at the same time, he was sitting far enough so that she could have her own little space and possibly feel comfortable. "It's perfect out here. Not too hot, not too cold, and the surrounding are fairly peaceful. Even if it was cold out here, it would still be perfect. To be honest, this place is you. I can see how you get comfort out here."
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Post by Paige Owen on Oct 14, 2010 23:26:15 GMT -5
She actually wished he was sitting closer. And touching her. It was so weird.... she used to hate how guys objectified her and wanted her only for her body, but it had happened so many times that she just didn't feel like she had anything else to offer. She should have been glad that he was being respectful and not pushing her to do anything.... so why was it that she wanted to jump on him? She wanted him, that much she knew. But she also felt like she would be more comfortable if they got the sex out of the way. But then, would he be out the door?
Merlin, she needed therapy. She had no problem with sex... but talking to him, letting him get to know her... that terrified her.
"I sat out here even when it was snowing out," she confessed, not quite meeting his eyes. "I cast an Impervious Charm around the balcony to keep the snow out and then used a warming spell to keep warm. I love the snow... I don't like the cold, but I love snow. Everything gets so peaceful when it snows. Like the world just... stops."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Oct 17, 2010 21:05:57 GMT -5
Austin couldn't describe the moment in a few simple words. Paige was sharing something with him that he had a strong feeling that she hadn't shared with many people, or none at all. She was opening herself up a little more the more time they spent together. The whole point of Austin taking things slow with Paige was to let her know that it was okay to let go and that not everyone was the same. He was going to do whatever he could to prove to her that he didn't just want that one thing from her.
"I love the cold," Austin commented in a soft like tone. "It's the perfect time to have hot chocolate or a nice cup of coffee to warm you up." He let a soft smile spread across his lips. "Do you come out here to write any, or is this just a thinking place?"
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Post by Paige Owen on Oct 19, 2010 22:46:28 GMT -5
He was asking her questions that no one had ever bothered to ask. Even more unusual was the fact that he actually seemed interested in the answers. An image flashed through her mind, of lying curled up in his arms, telling him her thoughts, her dreams about the future. It seemed so warm and cozy and she ached for it.
"No.... I don't write out here. When I write, I actually need noise. If it's too quiet, I can't concentrate. Is that weird?"
She let out a nervous giggle and took another sip of her wine. She couldn't help it; she was still wondering when he was going to kiss her. What if he just wanted to be friends?
"I get cold very easily," she added. "It's because of my... well, my condition. The doctor says I don't have a lot of fat to keep me warm, so I get cold when it's 72 degrees out. So in the winter, I really have to bundle up or I get sick."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Oct 25, 2010 11:11:21 GMT -5
"Not weird at all," he said shaking his head. "I usually think of lyrics in the middle of resturants and have to scribble it down on napkins. I have a whole draw of napkins I think." Paige was a lot more interesting than she thought she was, at least in Austin's mind. He hadn't met anyone like her and she intrigued him, more than she knew.
"Well, we'll make sure you are plenty warm when winter rolls back around." Of course, that was a long time sort of planning, but if Austin could pull it off and Paige was willing, he would still be there. "You won't be getting sick anytime soon. Although, if you do, you'll get better quickly. I'll make sure of that."
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Post by Paige Owen on Nov 1, 2010 16:25:39 GMT -5
He kept talking about the future. Paige didn't know how to take that; most guys never seemed to think beyond the next week, if that. And here Austin was talking about next winter. He was even hinting that he might still be with her next winter, which was almost incomprehensible to Paige. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to cling closer to him, or run away and hide.
Without even realizing what she was doing, Paige set down her wine glass and edged a little closer to him. She wasn't sure whether he really meant what he was saying or if he was just saying it to get into her pants, but at this point, it didn't matter. She needed some confirmation, and there was only one thing she really understood.
Abruptly and without warning, Paige suddenly lunged forward and pressed her lips to his.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Nov 1, 2010 16:43:18 GMT -5
He wasn't exactly sure how Paige was taking the whole future talk, but Austin wanted her to know that he was serious about staying with her for as long as they could work out. He wanted to prove to her that there was more than what she knew. Looking to her to see her reaction, Austin didn't have time to process her reaction because before he knew it, she was kissing him.
The thought of kissing her did cross his mind before he left for the night but he didn't really think of this. This was the only thing that Paige knew how to really respond to and Austin knew if he pulled away again that she would probably feel hurt. He could work with this. Instead of pulling away, Austin returned her kiss, but he tried to make the kiss less intense. He didn't want to scare her, but yet he didn't want to give her the idea that he wanted to move faster.
Austin raised his hand and put it in her hair then he finally pulled away, but not completely. He looked directly at her as he caught his breath. "We're going to take things slow, okay," he said in an almost whisper.
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Post by Paige Owen on Nov 1, 2010 17:18:59 GMT -5
At least he kissed her back this time. Still, it wasn't quite what she expected, and she was left feeling just as uncertain as ever. Guys never wanted to slow things down. Where it should have been a sign to her that he wanted to build a careful foundation, that wasn't how Paige saw it. She saw it as a rejection, like he wanted to be sure of her before he went any further. He was just so confusing to her! One minute he talked of being with her in a year, the next he seemed to be telling her that he wasn't ready to take things to the next level. It made no sense to her.
She pulled back and grabbed her wine glass, taking a large gulp from her drink. "I'm sorry," she said. "I just... I thought.... I don't know."
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