Steal Me Away

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Steal Me Away

"Pardon, I did not mean to disrupt you in the middle of your thoughts. Do you perhaps have the time?"

Marina couldn't tear her eyes from his.

Finally, he smiled. "Do I have something on my face? Mustard, ketchup?"

Marina still couldn't pull her eyes from his. He completely took her breath away. She moved her hand from the locket she had been holding around her neck, and pulling herself together, turned her wrist over, lifted her sleeve, and gave the man the time.

He flashed an odd smile. "Is something the matter?"

Marina once again realized she was staring. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said." She felt foolish, childish, and completely out of breath. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. Or had it? She unknowingly brought her hand to the locket around her neck again. It brought his attention there as well.

"That's a beautiful locket," he remarked. "Do you mind my asking where you got it?"

Marina felt completely foolish by her lack of an answer. "I don't really know. I think it was a gift."

He didn't look at her strangely. "I should get going. Thank you for the time. I must have misplaced my watch."

Marina watched in horror as he turned to leave. It felt like a piece of her heart was going with him. It was rather absurd and foolish as she stepped after him.

"Wait."

He turned.

Marina felt lost in his silver blue eyes again. Something was pulling at her heart to stop him from leaving. She couldn't explain the emotions he was causing her to feel or the pain that ripped through her heart at the thought of him departing. He was looking at her skeptically all the sudden and she knew she should say something, anything, to stall him, something that would sound reasonable.

"Is something wrong? You look upset about something." He asked for the second time.

Marina pulled her senses together. "I..." She truly had nothing to say.

He looked as if he suddenly felt sorry for her. "What is your name?" he asked.

Marina pulled her head together again. "Marina. My name is Marina."

He smiled. "That's a beautiful name for such a beautiful woman."

She wasn't sure, but she thought she was blushing. "Are you married?" She bit her lip. Heaven help her, but what would make her ask something so stupid?

He only smiled as if humored again. "I am, to the most remarkable woman."

Marina stepped toward him as if possessed. "Do you love her?"

He merely smiled again. "Yes, I love her with all my heart."

Of course, he was married. All she had to do was look at him to know the answer. His voice sounded almost pained, or perhaps it was an excuse to keep the man talking. Marina wasn't sure what had come over her. She had never been so forward in her life. "You're still together I presume."

He placed his hands in the pockets of his heavy wool coat. "No, she left me for another man."

"She left you?" That was surprising. "But you're still married?"

He only nodded.

Marina smiled. "I'm sorry." She tried to get a grip on herself. "I must sound awfully forward. I've never done anything so--"

"No need to apologize. I presume you're married as well." He said cutting her off.

Marina answered him. "Yes, I am."

He smiled. "And you love him?" He tilted his head slightly to one side giving the question he asked a little warmth.

"No." Her words were quick and not thought out. "I mean yes." She thought how foolish she sounded. He was a total stranger, yet somehow she felt drawn to him. She couldn't place her feelings with words or emotions, or perhaps reality itself drew her to react so brazenly.

"Well, which is it?" He looked amused.

Marina should feel insulted by the looks he kept giving her, but somehow she just felt cognitive, connected somehow, drawn to him. Why on earth was he still standing here having this insane conversation with her? "I... I don't know. No!"

He gave a more genuine smile as if her words somehow pleased him. "Then why do you stay?"

This was getting a little personal for a complete stranger, but then oddly enough, she had been the one to start it. "I don't know. I never really thought of leaving before."

"Does he love you."

"I'm not sure, perhaps." Marina couldn't think of a single reason to convince herself at that moment in time why she should think so.

"You don't know?" he asked sounding upset.

Marina looked at him strangely. Something about him was just eating at her. "We don't spend a lot of time together. He's very busy with his work."

"Too busy to make time for the most incredible beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes upon?" He smiled, his voice soft again. "If you were my wife, I would never let you leave my side."

Marina was sure she was blushing now. How would it be to have a man never want her to leave her side? She supposed if she were married to him, she wouldn't want to leave his side either.

He smiled. "I must go. I'm sorry if I've embarrassed you."

Marina stepped forward, heart racing, ready to beg him not to leave her there. Then suddenly upon realizing she'd lost her mind, she stopped herself. He looked at her quizzically.

"I hope you find the answers to the dilemmas you're facing. Time sometimes can seal your fate and then you're stuck without a choice." He offered another smile, one that took her breath completely away. Then he walked away from her, leaving her standing there with the most agonizing pain she'd ever felt.

Why? She had no clue. She hadn't asked his name. She took a step to go after him, but stopped. She'd been forward enough and asking his name would have been rude. She watched his figure getting further away. To heck with rude or forward, she'd already managed those nicely enough. She took off after him like a crazed, lovesick schoolgirl. It was really pathetic and yet she couldn't help it. She called after him as she ran, but it took a moment for him to stop and face her.

She stared horrified.

"Is there something else?"