"You always manage to surprise me, Elby," he told her, simply, eyes on hers, "you don't have to work for that." But it seemed, somewhere along the way, maybe the woman got the impression she did. Grayson was starting to see, as this bold approach of hers got bolder, she really had switched up her game. Was this all his doing? Like Ryker, had he somehow, unintentionally, fundamentally altered a person into someone else entirely?
Nah, no way.
This was Grayson Kasnoff in question here. Nobody would be foolish enough to get so hung up on him that he influenced the rest of their path in life. There was just no way that was believable in any context. He was an easy smile, a nice time. He wasn't special.
And the way he saw it, only special people had that kind of gift.
His tongue wet over his lips, because hers had caused the tingle. Barely there, not even a kiss, but he felt them. Or better yet, remembered them. How soft and sweet they were. Damn, she was testing him. "Not a single, solitary one, that I can promise you," Grayson swore to her, genuinely, his smile one of confident assurance because only he would have final say of that. He hadn't felt any time with her was wasted, even the minutes that weren't something nice to recall. They were still ones that shaped him and sorry, he wasn't one to regret even that. "You know at least one," he reminded her, adjusting just so that his nose grazed the tip of hers, gaze lowering rather obviously to her full lips. The stare in his eyes one of stark wanting.
Until...
Grayson blinked, head pulling back just enough so he had a clearer look of her face, a scoff of shocked disbelief escaping him. Not that it also hadn't sent a thrill straight down to the little guy between his legs, because, well, he was a man. An interested man. A highly interested, motivated man. No amount of time erased the fact he still wanted Elby Russo as much as the first day he ever met her. But this? The bold, forward proposition that just came out of her mouth..
Was that Elby Russo?
Or was it the woman she thought he wanted her to be?
"Wow," another chuckle, as he adjusted further away and stood up a bit straighter, shaking his head, "never thought I'd hear you say something like that before." And that took a lot of guts, too. It all made him wonder if that was how he came off? Was she just holding up a mirror to him? There was an uncomfortable ball in his gut, that wasn't too interested to know the truth in that. Grayson had never felt he was quite that bad. Flirty, sure. Direct, yeah. But it was at least buried under smiles and teasing jokes, a certain charisma to conceal that's what he wanted. Right? "As much as I'd want to, I don't think all this security.." with a gesture towards the obvious guard detail hovering the room in various areas, "is going to let us get away with that.. So, how about the dance, Elby? Just an innocent, uncomplicated dance where you can be mine, and I can be yours, tonight." His fingers slid over her palm, gentle, until it cupped over her hand and gave a tug in his direction, to encourage her to agree and come with him. "I want to dance with you, Elby."