A Lovesick Couple
Snow crunched underfoot as she trudged along beside the company with her cup of chai. It had long since grown cold, taking up space in a hand that was slowly turning into a block of ice.
Littering is bad and irresponsible.
Even though her limb had begun to tingle, the thought kept the drink stuck firmly in her grip. And for a lack of a bin, this is how it would be for the duration of their walk. As if nothing could make this moment even better. Yay.
This being… torture. Clara just wouldn’t shut up. Anything was enough to spark a chat. Slip over the ice? She’d once strained her knee while ice skating. A footprint etched onto the snow clearly belonging to a fox was that of a bunny. And the weather, when she’d finally run out of ideas.
“The sky is beautiful today, isn’t it?” Clara’s statement was directed to only one person in their company.
Lucien had nodded along with the woman, a calm expression on his face.
Nothing to indicate he was eating himself up from the inside.
Still, she knew now why he hadn’t been dancing on his feet for the walk either.
Or why he had used her to get rid of the girl’s crush.
It all made sense now. There was but one upside to this whole charade.
The scenery was breathtaking. The mountains as imposing as the man who hadn’t left her side. If anything, Lucien fit right into the decor with his green eyes scanning the forest path. His stride confident, while she found her feet skidding over the ice more often than she dared admit.
He felt her gaze, arching an eyebrow in question. But she turned to stare straight ahead. The conversation they had half an hour ago living painfully fresh in the back of her mind.
Sunlight glinted through the bare branches, guiding them along the path. The sun, it had been weeks of dark, doom and gloom days. It fit her mood alright, but seeing the blazing orb lifted her spirits, if for a bit.
We’re supposed to look like little lovebirds.
Kate didn’t forget it nor did she forget the threats, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Apparently, dear old Lucien was thinking along the same lines. His hand grazed her free one lightly, but she snapped it out of his grip. Moving to push it deep into the pocket of his jacket. But… it was the one bearing DNA. She let it fall back to her side.
Taking that as his cue, Lucien shifted to her other side. He took the coffee cup from her with zero hesitation and locked their hands together. Fingers slipping through hers as easily as he had done seven days ago.
She could do it. Withstand the touch. What was so hard about holding hands with the person hired to kill you? And at least it was finally… warm. Kate started to hum internally, mentally distancing herself from the man next to her, the one touching her. Roses are red, violets are–
Lucien traced a slow circle over her palm. —blue… You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.
She drew her hand back, but his grip held firm. His lips lowered to her ear, and a soft whisper brushed up against it. “Actions have consequences, sweetheart.”
Her hair rose on end, but she barked back. “They do indeed.”
A loud laugh escaped him, spooking Denise and Clara at the front of their convoy. His voice deepened temptingly. “I’ll be waiting.”
Kate’s cheeks reddened in shame, and she turned to stare at the mountains.
They surrounded them from all sides, cutting her off from the world.
And it hit her, made her swallow back the heavy ache in her throat.
She was in the company of three people. And still, she was as alone as she’d ever been.
No one really knew her. Not her dreams. Not her hopes.
All she’d ever had was nature. But it was enough, it had to be.
A smack resounded through the clearing, and it took a moment for her to realize it was Denise, who’d dropped back to her side and hit her with a second slap to her arm. “You need not worry, I would blush even more in the presence of this man.” She winked at Lucien, who chuckled along.
Clara popped up beside Denise. “So, Kate, What do you do for a living? I’m sure Lucien loves a woman with a good head on her shoulders.”
Ouch. She hadn’t quite prepared for a barrage of personal questions. Her cheeks heated even more. A tomato. Don’t become a tomato.
Had that been meant as a jab? If so… lame.
Kate had become used to it growing up. There wasn’t a lot that people could say that would set her off. The reverse was true for questions. Especially considering her worth to society.
How do I say, nothing at all, in an educated manner?
“We met during work for the shelter. Kate here is a social worker.” Warmth burned against her sides as Lucien pulled her flush against him. “In this case, it was her heart that pulled me in for the ride.” He gave her a soft smile.
Did he just rescue me or himself?
Her eyes narrowed. Shelter? Well, lies it is. “We sure did.” She smacked an enthusiastic pat right over his injured rib. He stiffened against her and she smiled. “Though this one,” Another pat. “has had to work his ass off for me to agree to a first date.”
She could practically hear Clara’s eyes roll around in her skull and Denise snickered, asking “What is it with men and women who play hard to get?”
Even though her pulse skittered away from his touch, repulsed by the man in front of her. The warmth spreading from him was… welcome. It was the only reason she didn’t pull away. Tell yourself that.
Sending the voice within her a mental middle finger.
She refocused, in time to see a devilish smirk take over his face.
“True that.” Lucien leaned in, not giving her a chance to back away before nuzzling her neck with his nose.
“She wouldn’t want to leave now though.” Her neck curled in, skin jittery under his touch. Fuck pretending.
Lucien pulled away in the nick of time. Knowing the wrath boiling in her veins could set their little charade on fire. Her mouth opened, ready to spurt a stream of words a sailor would be proud of when he sent her a warning look. You’ve brought this on yourself.
She clamped her mouth shut, but the fake smile she’d been wearing had slipped. And it hadn’t gone by unnoticed.
Denise coughed loudly. “Anyway… tell us the goods.” Lucien and Kate stared at her, a question in their eyes. “Come on, little lovebirds.” The older woman rubbed her hands in glee, oblivious to Kate’s wince. “When do I get to babysit?”
“Oh, about that.” Kate waved a hand. “False news.”
The older woman’s face fell. “Oh no. Here I was hoping to see a little Lucien bounce around soon.” She crooned.
Kate didn’t miss the flash of hope lighting up in Clara’s eyes. Pathetic.
If Lucien killed a man in front of her, Clara would still be looking at him as if he were the only man to ever walk the Earth.
“Yeah well…” Kate trailed off.
He deserves it, though.
The way he’d so shamelessly put his hands on her.
“We won’t be having kids and not due to my shortcomings.” She grasped Lucien’s hand a bit firmer, swinging it between them. “Lucien is the problem here.”
Clara’s hand shot up to her face while Denise gasped, face paling.
Shit. That came out even more harshly than she’d anticipated.
Lucien’s eyes merely narrowed, fixing her with a stare. “Thank you, sweetheart. For throwing it out there like that.”
He is going along with it?
“Nothing more you wanna throw out there?”
Denise coughed again. “You both obviously… have some things to figure out.” She turned, pulling Clara along with her. “We’ll see ourselves home.”
Lucien stopped her. “You sure? It’ll be dark soon.” She waved his concern away. “I’m often in the woods. Besides, it’s not that far.” She glanced between Kate and him. “You guys… support each other through this, yes? Such news, it’s hard to take.”
Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead she flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Denise, for real. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
The woman patted her on the arm. “It’s okay, we’ll catch up soon! Until then, take care!”
The two made haste, disappearing between the trees. Nothing but upturned snow to indicate they’d ever even been there.
Kate turned away from Lucien, alone with him once more. Only this time, she had herself to thank for it. She didn’t linger, trudging along the path while he stayed in place.
“You’re going the wrong way.’”
Those weren’t the first words she’d expected to hear.
They’d been jabbing at each other all day. Testing the waters, to see how far they could go. She’d literally called his manhood incapable. And still, he did not explode? A shame, cause she was nearing that breaking point.
“Yeah well. You’ve damn well lost your senses. What was that?”
“A show.”
Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. “You played your part very convincingly. If I didn’t know any better, even I would second guess your intentions!”
Again that head tilt. What did he think he was, a fox?
“Perhaps… but your acting skills may just outweigh my own.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Well, you didn’t exactly flinch away when I pulled you against me.”
He’s right.
Her cheeks flamed to life. “You… oh my God. I have never met someone so full of themselves. Maybe your radar is spinning because I did pull away.”
But you didn’t… Yeah, what can I say. It’s cold.
“Eventually you did, but initially? I can tell when someone is tense, Kate. And you weren’t.” He glanced up, frowning as a cloud moved over the sun. It sucked away the last bit of warmth she’d been holding on to.
Kate hugged her arms tightly around herself, trying to keep her teeth from chattering as she said. “You laid it on real thick. Sure you’re not feeling things you shouldn’t be? Busy projecting them on someone else?”
His eyes were still raised to the sky. “We better head back.”
He was right. The sun had slipped from sight entirely. And with it, the cold took over. Fast.
Kate brushed past him to follow their old footsteps back up.
Glancing at the mountains, she watched as they merged with the clouds until she couldn’t even tell them apart anymore.
Where the rays of sunshine had set them aflame with color earlier, the giant heaps of earth now sat around them like hulking shadows.
Darkness creeping over the roots of the forest.
There were no footsteps crunching over the snow behind her, so she turned with a frown to see if he still followed.
He did. Of course Lucien had to do it like a damn panther slinking through the woods.
How was it even possible to walk on snow without making a sound?
Meanwhile, she sent the branches creaking, and let out a tiny yelp when she slipped over the slick moss of an upturned rock.
He appeared by her side, splitting the silence. “You looked… lost for a second.”
Kate blinked. That sounded almost… thoughtful. She replayed the moment in her mind. He’d filled in the blank for her? No. Just a way to cover before she could blurt out something that reeked like a lie. Even then, he had no liberty to touch her like that.
Her voice rose an octave. “And your idea of helping me was to piss me off?”
Lucien shoved his hands in his pockets. “Exactly. Anger is better.”
“Well good instincts Lucien. You successfully pissed me off.” She strode past him, stepping over a branch before halting to say. “If you ever touch me in that way again, I won’t care if it’s pretend.”
“Duly noted.” He caught up, long strides easily covering the distance. “Just make sure it’s due to no fault of your own next time and I’ll play cool.”
“I’ll remember next time I get kidnapped by a psychopath.” Her words were met with silence. Kate didn’t dare throw a glance over her shoulders, knowing he’d stopped. Her feet sped up. Needing to create space between them before she would say or do anything else she might come to regret later.
His voice rose up behind her. “Kate, slow down. There are worse things out here than me.”
“I freaking doubt it.” She hollered back while stiffly keeping to her pace.