There was a small tremble in her hands resting against his chest. The unexpectedness of the force of this attraction came crashing down around her. In an instant it’d shifted, her world had exploded with meeting this one single man. What was it about him that had the power to cause that sort of a shift? What was different about him that wasn’t different from the other boys that she’d kissed? Silence passing between them as she stared up at him her mind shifting into overdrive as she tried to process this shocking turn of events.
The arch of his brows furrowed as he stared down at him leaving her body and her mind warring with one another. It’d be so easy for her fingers to tighten back into the fabric covering his flesh and lean into him. There in her mind though, she knew that would be a terrible idea.
His darkened gaze narrowed down at her and his lips drawing into a mocking smirk, ‘Satisfied?’ Reality took a sinking dive down. What had she done? Her fingers burned at touching him and her gaze flicked down to see if her fingers were being scorched by some sort of invisible force. Jerking her hands back from him, she took a step backward.
“Hmmm..?” She murmured, her teeth capturing her bruised lip and worrying on it. Lifting her eyes slowly up to meet his again, she inhaled sharply. Was she satisfied? Not by a long shot. But she wasn’t about to toss aside the lines she’d thoroughly drawn. Oh, but that glint in his gaze. He’d undressed her with eyes, and it made her want to step closer and give in to the need of sliding her body up against his warmth. Taking a step backward, and drew her arms up to subconsciously embracing herself and grasping onto the strap of her over the shoulder satchel.
No. She wasn’t going to slide her body up against him and explore every suddenly very interesting little bit of him. No!
She couldn’t hide the pretty pink stain that started at her chest and went up her neck into her cheeks but she could pretend this had not just happened. She didn’t even know his name. Her eyes widened slightly at that thought. Oh, Isi! You’ve sunk to a new low. Her head dropped and one of her hands came up to pinch the bridge of her nose as she turned to step back towards the doorway. She needed to leave. She needed to get out of here before she foolishly embarrassed her self more.
“It was nice to meet you,” She waved at him but didn’t glance backward at him as she started scurrying to the door. “I’ll be sure to send Adrian in to see to your needs.” Ismene cleared her throat and hurried out of the stable. If the Gods were with her, she’d never have to see him again and this whole incident would and could be forgotten and she was never ever going to treat another horse alone.
Outside, she glanced around and flagged Adrian down. The two of them had grown up together, he still had red hair and freckles and lean of form. He owed her over the years beating up the bullies for him. He smiled and waved, ‘Always a pleasure, Ismene. What can I do for you?’ She hazarded a quick glance over her shoulder and then looked back to Adrian, an uncomfortable smile forming on her lips and having Adrian raise an eyebrow at her. “I think there is a soldier inside that could use his assistance… And I was never here.” Reaching into her satchel she pulled out a couple of little cloth satchels to hand Adrian, “Here, give these to your mother… they’ll help with that joint pain in her fingers she’s been having.”
He smiled and shoved them into his pocket, ‘I’ll go help the man and my mother thanks you… she wants you to stop around for some tea. She’s always happier when you visit.’ Reaching, Ismene gave his arm a squeeze and started to walk away, “I will. I promise. I’ll try and stop around tomorrow to see her.”
A glance over her shoulder, just one last look at the stable… that’s all she wanted. Maybe it was her imagination but she could still feel the warmth of his gaze traveling over her form.
|