The Hidden Luxury

Aaron took a step closer, letting the lantern light catch his dark eyes. There was something about his gaze in the dark that made people more easily persuaded–he'd never fully understood it, only that it worked better when they couldn't look away, and firelight against darkness made that harder to do. “It is, actually, but you don’t have to sit out in it. I’d be willing to let you stay in my home for the night if you’d like to stay out of the rain. The forest is a dark and dangerous place this time of night, not something you should be walking through alone.”

The man seemed almost lost in his eyes, gaze fixed. Aaron already knew he was considering taking him somewhere, so he doubted the man would refuse. Yet he still managed to look away, indicating he was more stubborn than Aaron had first thought. “I can… Take care of myself, and I don’t really know you-”