Chapter 8 #2
“We were already even!” he gasped, even as he laughed back. He didn’t think he’d ever been this happy in his life. He took a step toward her, and she took a step back, raising her hands in mock defensiveness.
“Well, we should let bygones be bygones, right?” she said with a smile, though she was starting to look a little nervous.
“Bygones?” he said with a grin, crouching down into a more predatory stance. “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”
On the word revenge, he pounced forward, grabbing Poppy around the waist and gently tossing her into the soft, deep snow.
She shrieked with surprise and delight, laughing breathlessly as he landed above her, hands on either side of her head and legs on either side of her body.
Her chest rose and fell with exertion, creating quite the distraction, but mostly he just wanted to stare into her eyes, feel the warmth of her breath on his face.
Kiss her, you idiot.
Her eyes seemed to be conveying the same sentiment, and so he leaned down, lips starting to brush against hers –
And then the crack! of someone stepping on a branch had him leaping to his feet before he could even process the sound, Poppy following only a moment later.
An instinct he’d never been aware of before had him shielding her with his body, arms out. If they were in danger, then he was happy to put his life on the line for her.
“Hello?” called out a voice. “I’m sorry, am I disturbing you?”
Max relaxed ever so slightly, but still kept his guard up. They probably weren’t about to come under attack so close to such a pleasant town, but he wanted to be sure.
The owner of the voice came into view – and while he didn’t seem overtly threatening, Max couldn’t help but give him a once-over. They were out here alone, after all, mainly surrounded by woods – and no one had ever regretted being extra cautious when it came to strangers in the woods.
The man was probably not that much older than Max, and he was more or less dressed for the weather, but his outfit didn’t seem to quite fit with what would be usual around here.
His winter clothes were beautifully tailored, and didn’t bear any logos or brand names – and there was just something about the way he held himself that indicated a high degree of self-possession.
Rich, thought Max. Not the kind of guy who would usually wander the woods looking for a snowball fight.
Still, he supposed that even rich snooty guys might go for a walk in the woods sometimes.
Poppy was standing at his side now with her jacket back on, apparently satisfied that the man didn’t pose an immediate threat.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“I’m sorry,” said the man again, though Max didn’t think he actually seemed all that sorry. “I seem to have gotten a bit lost.”
I’ll say, Max didn’t reply. There really wasn’t much of anything around here on the outskirts of town.
“Would you be able to give me some directions back into town?” he went on.
Feeling like he was walking into a trap somehow – though why, he didn’t know – Max pointed back in the direction of the road. “Just walk through the trees until you reach the road, then turn left and keep walking. You can’t miss it.”
“Oh, thank you,” said the man, taking Max’s hand and shaking it way too vigorously while staring into his eyes. The man’s eyes were an unusually light shade of green, and had an odd intensity.
“Uh, no problem,” Max said, extracting his hand.
“Where are you from? Do you live around here?” the man went on. “I’m from a place called Green Lake. I don’t think you would know it.”
This guy is definitely on the weird side, Max thought. Normally he would be using his powers right about now in order to get the man to stop noticing him… but the last thing he wanted was for some creepy guy to think that Poppy was alone in the woods and start directing all his attention at her.
“Oh no, we don’t live in Girdwood Springs – we’re on vacation. I’m staying at the B&B,” said Poppy, though she immediately looked like she regretted having said anything.
“Oh?” said the man, his eyes gleaming as he looked back and forth between them. “How long are you staying?”
“Just for a while,” Max said noncommittally.
“And you?” the man asked, turning his gaze from Poppy to Max. “You’re also staying at this B&B? Do you both come from the same place?”
“Look, it’s been lovely to meet you,” Max said with forced friendliness, “but it gets dark pretty early around here. If you want to find your way back into town safely, you might want to head off now.”
“Ah, I see,” said the man, his eyes crinkling as his mouth stretched into a smile. “You wish to be rid of me.”
“Oh no, not at all,” said Poppy, raising her hands and waving them in front of her, as if hoping to dispel his words. “But we have to get back before dark, as well. It’s getting pretty cold.”
“Oh, of course. That reminds me.” The man reached into his jacket, and pulled out Poppy’s beret. “Is this your hat?”
It was all Max could do not to snatch it out of his hands. Clearly the guy had found it behind the bush where Poppy had left it as a decoy.
“I – uh – thank you,” Poppy said, taking it gingerly from him, like she didn’t want to touch the part that he’d been touching. Max couldn’t say he blamed her.
“My pleasure,” said the man, staring at Poppy’s face. “Such lovely eyes you have. They remind me of someone I know.” He leaned closer, tilting his head as he scrutinized her face. “Are you sure you don’t have family in Green Lake? Perhaps you’ve heard of it after all.”
Max tensed, ready to step in as soon as Poppy needed him, but she seemed to be okay dealing with the man for now.
“I haven’t,” Poppy said firmly as she took a step back, with only the slightest hint of strain in her voice. “I think you’ve got me mixed up with someone else. Enjoy your trip.”
Max placed a protective arm around her shoulder and steered her away through the woods without another word, not sparing a backward glance until they were well out of the area. He hadn’t heard any footsteps following them, and when he eventually looked back, there was no one to be seen.
“Ugh,” said Poppy, regarding her beret with dismay for a moment before putting it back on her head. “I’m so sorry I told him where we were staying – I just didn’t think before I opened my mouth. Do you think he’ll follow us? He seemed a bit… intense.”
“I don’t think he will,” said Max, his voice rough with suppressed anger. The way that guy had talked to Poppy and gotten up in her face still had him seething. “But if he does, I’ll be waiting for him. And I’m sure that Kieran and Natasha won’t take any shit from him, either.”
“You know,” Poppy said thoughtfully, “I didn’t put two and two together at first, but I think I saw him wandering through Girdwood Springs this morning – and I’m pretty sure I saw him asking questions to people on the street as well.”
“So maybe it wasn’t directed at us,” Max mused. “Maybe he’s just an all-purpose weirdo. Or just over-friendly, in a kind of strange way. If he’s here on vacation then maybe he just wants to get to know the area. I guess.”
“Maybe.”
Poppy still looked worried, which Max could definitely understand.
He was feeling a little uneasy himself. He was a restaurant critic, after all, not a fighter.
If Poppy needed a bodyguard, she’d be better off with his mom, who at least could turn into a lion at will, though she was plenty imposing in human form as well.
He smiled a little at the thought. His mom would probably enjoy beating up guys with no sense of personal space.
But even if he wasn’t the natural bodyguard type, what he could do, right now, was provide Poppy with a feeling of safety, and a distraction from what had just happened. And if it came down to it, he would defend her to the best of his ability.
It wasn’t like he was weak or helpless, after all – he’d just never been in a fight beyond one or two scuffles back in middle school, before he’d realized that he could use his powers to stay under bullies’ radars.
He put his hand on her shoulder, looking into her eyes and seeing the worry there. He hated that she felt like that, especially after the wonderful time they’d been having.
She shivered, drawing herself closer to him, her eyes searching his as the snow tumbled and swirled.
Apparently what she saw in his eyes led her to a conclusion, because she closed the last inch of space between them and stood on her toes, tilting her head back further.
And Max simply couldn’t resist. Everything he’d ever wanted was right here in front of him.
He leaned down, making up the distance, and brought her face gently to his.
Her lips were cool, but her mouth was wonderfully warm, and he closed his eyes, savoring every moment.
Poppy, he thought dizzily. You are the one for me.
Even if he didn’t have a mate, he didn’t care anymore – there was no one in the world he could want more than this. Poppy was his mate, as far as he was concerned. There had to be a way they could make it work, distance be damned.
The kiss lingered, passionate yet tender, and he lost himself in the feel of her – her soft lips, her cold cheeks, her warm breath.
At last they pulled apart, Poppy breaking contact with a sigh, her eyes still closed. She burrowed her head in against his chest, and Max wrapped his jacket around her, cocooning her in his warmth, content to just hold her for now and stand guardian against any threats that may come.
Let them try, he thought fiercely.
Let them try.