6. Maya #2
I wanted to be a flippin’ lion.
“I promise you, Maya,” he whispered, running a hand over my jaw, “we can take care of ourselves.”
I felt my brow furrow in frustration. “What type of friend would I be if I put you in trouble, though? I’ll be fine, Marco. I healed already.”
He growled. “So who put the fucking bruises on your neck this morning?”
I paled. “No one.”
“Liar,” he snarled. I flinched and shrank into the wood desk.
He cursed as if frustrated with himself. “Please, Maya.”
He placed his head on my thigh, and I tentatively reached out to run my hands through his silky dark hair.
He was in such a submissive position, it encouraged me to crawl into his lap.
Marco looked up, surprised, but wrapped me up quickly.
I found I liked being wrapped up in his arms—it felt comforting and warm. It felt right.
“Maybe soon,” I mumbled my compromise. “I don’t want to lose you guys just yet.”
“Atlas said your back was flogged and bleeding last night,” he said, his voice strangled as he pressed his lips to my temple. “Why didn’t you say anything? How bad was it? I saw the shirt he brought back.”
I swallowed. “I managed to get myself in bed. It’ll be okay, Marco, I promise.”
He inhaled sharply, taking a moment before finally answering. “I’m not letting this go. But until tonight, let’s just talk about your healing.”
I flushed and looked down. “I’m a freak.”
Marco hissed and brought two massive hands under my chin. “Healing yourself is in your nature. You’re not a freak.”
I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. “My mother said the devil righted my body because I was a sinner.”
A pair of warm hands soothed my back. “Honey, it’s nothing like that at all. I can heal myself as well. I promise you, your mother is wrong.”
I frowned, tears streaming as I blinked. “You can heal?”
He nodded slowly.
Well, that didn’t make sense. Marco wasn’t evil. He was amazing.
“I promise to explain more tonight,” Marco offered in a quiet voice before looking down at his watch. “You need to get your cute butt to class though.”
I nibbled my lip, not liking the idea of being away from him. “Okay. Do you have work today?”
He flashed me a grin. “Why? Want me to stay at school with you?”
My face flamed pink as I stammered, “Always nice to have friends around.”
Marco smiled brilliantly. “I wish I could stay, honey. Unfortunately, I’m a tad old for high school.”
I pursed my lips thoughtfully and asked, “How old are you?”
He rose a brow with a soft smile. “Twenty-four.”
My lips popped into a small circle. “Well, that’s okay. I’m almost eighteen.”
He chuckled, a soft, enticing sound. “Are you worried about our age difference?”
“Well, I don’t want you to think of me as a kid,” I muttered. He’d never be attracted to me if he thought of me that way.
Marco smoothed my hair back. “You don’t have to worry about that, beautiful. You may be new to all of this, but I see you.”
The butterflies in my stomach fluttered nervously. I wasn’t familiar with this feeling, but it encouraged me to curl further into Marco. He obliged and held me close as my nose trailed along his neck. A soft, low sound vibrated through his chest.
“Alright,” he sighed after a peaceful few minutes. “I need to get you to class before I decide to implement a mandatory skip day.”
I rolled my head against his shoulder to look up at him. “That doesn’t sound terrible.” My face was warm, and I could feel myself absorbing his affection like a starving kitten.
“Are you flirting with me, Maya?” Marco cooed while picking up a piece of my hair and twirling it gently between his tanned fingers.
Our noses were so close to one another, and I wasn’t positive why, but I felt like if I just leaned up and pressed my lips to his, it would feel amazing.
I’d never kissed anyone before, but somehow I knew a kiss between Marco and me would be special.
I sat up with raised eyebrows. “Was I? I’ve never flirted with anyone before.”
Marco’s head fell back as a deep chuckle filled the air. “Maker, Maya, you’re a breath of fresh air. I’ve never met someone with as much curiosity as you.”
I flushed. “I have a lot of years to make up for.”
“Well, it seems you have six dragons willing to aid in that endeavor.”
I smiled and asked, “If you’re dragons, do I get to be the princess?”
Marco’s teeth flashed white in a dangerous smile. “Didn’t the dragons eat the princess?”
I blushed at his tone and reached for a response. “Fine, I’ll be a dragon then. Or a knight.”
He hummed appreciatively. “We will create a brand-new character for you, Maya. I promise.”
His eyes softened as he lifted a tanned hand to my cheek and smoothed it gently with a thoughtful look. I leaned into it and practically purred before he wrapped me into a hug again. I waited for him to let go, but with the way my head was tucked under his chin, I wasn’t positive that would happen.
“Marco?” I whispered, loving his name on my tongue.
“Hmm?”
“You told me to go to class, but you won’t let me go,” I whispered, smiling.
He looked down and brushed my chin in a soft hold. “Sorry, Maya.”
As he walked me to the door, I offered him a hand squeeze and moved down the hall.
I slipped into my first class, finding my space open between my three friends.
Anani squeezed my hip in passing, and Ledger tilted his head back so that his messy curls fell back.
Henry offered me a smile that had my face lighting up with a blush.
He made me feel all warm and fuzzy, that Henry.
These feelings were really worrying me.
I would have to watch out—I didn’t want to burden them with my emotions. Of course I was going to feel affection towards them, but they didn’t need to know the extent—I was too much of a weirdo as it was.