He had wanted to turn his head just that distance. It had been only the last shred of willpower that he didn’t do it. Just to feel what her lips would feel like. What she tasted like. He still felt the warmth of her fingers against his bare skin. He hadn’t given in, even if it was a very close thing. He had wanted to. He still wanted to. The desire for it sang in his blood as he watched her step away from him. It pulled on him, and he nearly acted on it. He shifted forwards just slightly as he watched Beth before slowly forcing himself once again to relax. He drew in a deep breath to steady himself before he turned his deep blue eyes back towards her.
“I could tell you a few things,” he allowed with a wry smile as he noted her mild case of frustration. “But that defeats the purpose of a surprise gift doesn’t it?” He fell silent as he watched her. He wondered for a long moment what she was thinking. He wished that she could know just what to get him, that she knew him better. His plan worked so well that now there seemed to be almost a gap between the mage and the Templar. It was a gap that he wanted to bridge, but didn’t know just how to begin to do that. He wanted to console her, but he knew that would lead right back to the awkward situation. He didn’t want to put her through that again.
He would worry regardless, but she didn’t need to know that. He smiled slightly before he nodded once. “I thought you might like too. You two seem to be getting along rather well, and I’m glad for that.” She needed more friends. He knew that, he felt guilty for that that. For leaving her to her own devices at the Tower. He had hoped that Constans would fill some of that void, but that hadn’t worked out as well as he had hoped.
He had dragged her into quite a few adventures in the past. He always needed a lookout, even if he had never gotten caught. She always warned him in time, always watched after him. Any scolding they happened earned then he always took the lion’s share of the blame. After all it always was his idea, wasn’t it? He watched her for a moment, letting the ache of wanting to take her in his arms fade slowly. “There isn’t anything that could make you more memorable. I already can’t forget you Beth, not even if I wanted too.” He finally replied to her with a wry smile. “And you are right, cookies do sound appealing right now.” Aurin stood with a shake of his broad shoulders before fixing the woman with a half-smile. “Shall we raid the kitchens then? For old times sake? I already know the way.” He always knew the way. He was a bottomless pit she knew. That was one thing that never changed. Slowly he extended one hand towards her, that smile staying easily on his face. The hand was offered to her palm up, a tentative offer towards Beth if she wants to come with him.