Breathing always seemed to become something the fae woman had to practically remind herself to do whenever she was around him... Even more so, there is a vaguely familiar lightheaded sensation that was trying to creep in over Lani in this moment, as if it had been awoken from its forced slumber over the last three years. As the moments passed, the fluttering of her heart only seemed to grow, as though it was very nearly trying to escape from its place within her chest. All the wishful thinking in the world that she might manage to steady her breathing and slow the swirl of astonishment at seeing the half-naked fae man, infused all too well with embarrassment as baby blue eyes can't seem to not explore the contour of rippled muscle and consequential confusion from the wine she'd clearly indulged in far more than she should have, had no hope of saving her. Just as things had been once before, Lani is all too aware of how things would go when Andras would dare to act so boldly. She would figuratively trip over herself trying to gather some semblance of control over the feelings running rampant within her thoughts, making it very much impossible for the fae woman to hope that she didn't say something foolish, or worse still, encourage Andras to enlighten her on whatever she might have said in that drunken state last night. The absolute last thing she wanted to be reminded of was how she might have acted like a fool at the bistro, the fae woman's thoughts shuddering at the idea that she might have been shamelessly flirting with him in front of the strangers who witnessed the first moments of their reunion. While it had been initially unexpectedly pleasant, those broken moments she could barely recall before the wine had truly set in over her, where they'd been talking about Ida, about Somnia, about the possibility of employment there within that hidden world, she fears entirely what else may have passed blush-colored lips.

If she had almost no recollection the morning after her birthday three years ago when she'd first indulged in that sweet crimson drink with him over dinner, she can only imagine what could have happened last night. And, if she knew anything of Andras, it was likely part of the reason he was smiling so wickedly at her from the kitchen this morning.

He closes the distance between them, and Lani can feel the fluttering in her chest becoming very nearly frantic, swallowing as though in some vain attempt to try and calm the rapid beating. Still, the fae woman is bewildered at how all it had taken was one afternoon, one entirely unexpected meal together... and one drunken night spent in the covers of his bed that could have everything she'd tried fighting, tried burying somewhere in the deepest parts of her soul as far from her mind as she could, completely and utterly unraveling. It almost felt like she'd never even bothered to build those weak walls around her heart, never spent an unknown number of sleepless nights within the safety of her room in Willowhaven lost in grief for the life she'd lost and the uncertain future she faced. When it came to him being so, so close that all she needed to do was lift one hand without being mindful and those slender fingers would surely brush against the bare, sun-kissed skin, she couldn't help but think of all those moment where he'd made her feel like this, having the blue-eyed blonde almost entirely helpless and struggling just to think straight. And there, somewhere within Lani, she feels a pull towards the fae man. It was both achingly familiar and somehow subtly changed... Was it.... why did it feel... stronger? It felt almost... instinctual, this pull to him. That didn't make sense. What had happened last night that she couldn't remember? Her mouth feels almost dry as he towers over her with that devilish smile, their fingers brushing as Lani moves to take the cup from him, and she feels that pull seeming to ever so subtly tug at her, but the fae woman desperately forces it away, although still he is struggling inwardly to slow down the rapid beating of her heart that she was certain he could hear. She is barely able to utter that 'Thank you' before very nearly tiptoeing around Andras, although entirely aware of how he moves to follow her into the kitchen again. . She needed air. Cold, crisp, Dupont Circle air...

Just drink the coffee, thank him for everything, and get out... These are the words she currently repeats silently to herself. The sooner she could place a little more space between them than she was able to in his kitchen, the sooner her head might actually have the chance to calm down and clear up. She'd have more than enough explaining to do today.

Pouring the sugar and cream into her cup before stirring it with a little more attention than one typically would, the fae woman welcomes the milliseconds of relief she gets from the small gesture. Breathe in, breathe out... Midnight tenor tones break the silence as he asks after how her sleep had been, and she replies honestly. Perhaps drinking so much hadn't been the smartest choice she made last night, but it really had been nice to sleep so deeply that not even her own thoughts could find her. His response to her returned question is given in am all too cheerful way, that simper still lingering upon his lips as dark, hazel eyes remain settled over her gaze of baby blue."You sound pretty chipper for someone who didn't sleep at all", she replies almost without thinking, her tone casual, and yet she realizes in that moment that perhaps that hadn't been the best choice of words, worried that he might see it as... what, more playful banter? That had gotten her into trouble plenty of times before with the fae man, and it was all too early in the day to spend it flustered."Uh, I mean... Well, I didn't think you were such a morning person", she adds, heart quickening ever so slightly as she clumsily tries to take back the first thing she says. Lani lifts the cup to her lips, deciding to distract herself with another drink, though it is of course short-lived. He laughs now, insisting that her apology was hardly needed, that she was welcome to indulge herself as much as she wanted, wherever she desired."I'd hate to make a habit of needing you to escort me whenever I have one too many. Thank you, by the way, for doing just that last night", she says then, her words hardly betraying more than the flush upon fair-skinned cheeks already had, a sheepishness plain there in her voice. However, when thanks him, there is a softness, a sincere appreciation for the fae man. They are followed by a small smile that dances across her lips then, dark lashing blinking softly over baby blue eyes.

She tries not to think about it too much, the fondness that now resonated from the depths of her heart for Andras. These were all thoughts and emotions that were supposed to have been buried long ago in the past life that she'd left behind. And yet, how effortlessly the fae man was able to awaken them again in the fae woman.

A fresh wave of warmth colors her cheeks when she seeks that look of satisfaction darkening his gaze again and Lani realizes that she was glancing back down to his bare chest again Surely he could have at least snuck into his own bedroom and pulled a shirt from one of the drawers or perhaps the closet! She simply clears her throat at first, attempting to finish what remains of her coffee only to very nearly choke on it at his next words, revealing to Lani a part of the conversation she hadn't the foggiest idea of. She said what?! The warmth washes over her like water being dumped over her head in that moment, the fae woman almost entirely certain that her cheeks had deepened further with that flushed hue. He purrs to her then, hardly seeming surprised that she could not remember, crossing strong arms over his bare... chiseled... defined chest, assuring her that it had been her that had been insistent. The fae woman was about to insist otherwise, but then, a sensation brushes across her mind. A scene appears there, the two of them talking, Lani seeing herself from what she could only image was his eyes. Stars above, the flush of wine upon her cheeks! There is a haze over this vision, she feels want and lust that sets her heart rushing again. And, just as he'd said, she was most certainly flirting with Andras as he so boldly suggested the photography studio.Need a model?! What time are you free?!!, she exclaims within her own thoughts then. She really had said those things! She's struck entirely speechless and overwhelmed with disbelief at her sheer boldness as the memory fades, fair-skinned cheeks practically red with embarrassment, Lani hardly even thinking to ask what it was he'd done to show her that. Blinking as if to rid herself of the images, wide baby blue eyes look at Andras only to see the way he was lazily smiling at her. What had she been thinking?! The answer to that had been pretty clear... she hadn't been thinking.

How he seemed to enjoy the expression of alarm and utter bewilderment painted there upon the face woman's face! She finds herself completely forgetting the nearly empty cup of coffee she'd sat on the counter in front of her, unable to look away from him as if she were wanting for him to tell her that nothing more had been said beyond that.

Instead, his grin only widens, darkens ever so slightly as he assures her of the exact opposite she'd been hoping for. More?! What more could have possibly been done?... She almost has to repeat his words within her thoughts again, as though her mind simply wanted to reject the very notion that anything had been, as he'd said, done. No, he had in fact said "done"... Insisting now that he simply couldn't be the only one to remember, Lani swallows once more as he situates himself with one leg crossed over the other. Again, she was about to insist that she'd be more than happy to let him be the only one to remember their evening together, but again, he reveals more. If she hadn't have had a hand on the counter, she surely would have stumbled as he tells her that she'd kissed him. Kissed! She feels that sensation from moments ago touch her consciousness, and just as he'd said, the fae woman sees herself leaning towards him and pressing his lips to hers. It deepens as the fae man abandoned those keys, and they are lost in that drunken kiss, Andras eagerly accepting her kiss and even going to the length of pressing her into him, his hips pressing against her... She's breathless, gasping almost inaudibly as the image fades. For a moment, she can't un-see the memory he'd clearly shared with her, doesn't see anything but his lips when finally her baby blue eyes focus in flustered shock. His words are almost lost on Lani, and yet every part of her registering the low growl as his voice deepens with the question. No, she hadn't. But she does now.... She needed air more than ever now."I... I have to go", she stammers, still entirely breathless as she moves carefully around the fae man. Please don't stumble, please don't stumble... She moves across to the foyer her mind hardly has time to notice. She pauses at the door, a slender hand on the door knob, casting baby blues over her shoulder to him.

"Thank you for everything, Andras. I look forward to your call about... the job", she says quietly, although Lani knows perfectly well that he can hear her. She lingers there for only a moment longer before finally she opens the door and slips out into the cold air of Sacrosanct. And... yet... despite the cold morning air in her lungs.... she's still breathless as she disappears into the crowded street, focused on getting home, determined to put space between her, the townhouse, and Andras.