Hate & love

004

"What's the matter, Annie? What were you guys talking about?” He watches me as I stand stiffly in the doorway. I'm standing right in front of him now, a few inches away from him. Sniff and smell the faint, spicy scent of his aftershave. Then I raise my head, look into his eyes.

"You'll find out soon enough." My gaze slowly wanders down from his eyes, gets caught on his mouth and his lips twist into a mocking grin.

"Are you done staring now?"

I must have frostbite somewhere in my head as my brain is blocked for a few seconds, but then I seethe with anger. I can really feel the anger rising in my cheeks. How dare he? Is it me or is everyone stupid today?

And he should take care of me? Bah! I don't think that's very nice, which is very unfortunate.

"Stop grinning," I hiss angrily. Better put a babysitter's folder on, I think sullenly and stare out the window. I'd rather stare out the window than at Gaard.

"Is it that bad?" His voice is so low, as if he wants to calm me down with his words. He mirrors my movement and also stares out the window.

I nod reluctantly, with a look of utter dejection on my face and notice a muscle twitch in my calves.

"How old are you, Annie?" I snap my head in his direction.

"17 years old."

"And you?" I ask curiously, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

"You mean in numbers?" he asks back with a grin and rubs the bridge of his nose.

"What?" His answer confuses me. But then I look at him expectantly.

"24" I'm silent. "My age. I'm 24...any other questions?"

What is his problem? In any case, his demeanor is not normal and it is too idle for me to think about his motives, so I ignore his comment and open my mouth: "My father would like to speak to you."

"Sounds interesting!" Gaard has both hands in his pockets and seems to be thinking hard about something. What is he thinking?

"Well, then we don't want to keep him waiting." I stare after him with a queasy feeling and go back to the waiting room.

There are half a meter stacks of women's magazines on the desk. I pick up the journal “Love & Life”... and everything gets mixed up.

I sit down, leaf through the magazine and browse through it from A - Z. And now? I'm starting to get bored, bored to death. I don't feel like reading anymore either. Where is Mina staying? Nobody can shop for that long.

Having a dry throat, I reach for the refreshments for the great thirst. I take a huge gulp and drink, drink, drink until the glass is empty.

"Ah, fantastic!" I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and stare at the door. Gaard disappeared behind it, about five minutes ago. How much longer will it take? Surely he didn't agree and get involved in this nonsense?

We don't even know. I mean, maybe he doesn't have to, maybe Gaard says no. And if not. is he that dumb Probably yes. Meno! This can not be true. I hope he's not such a terrible person. My nerves are at zero and I'm really fed up.

I've now bent over a new magazine again and when I suddenly hear footsteps, I instinctively turn in that direction. Look at him with an expression on his face like I've never seen him before.

So far it was still quite funny.

"Hey!" he murmurs, handing his fingers through his hair across from me while smiling.

"Hey!" What's next? I want to know now. How, how, how? "And?" I ask expectantly.

He slowly takes a few more steps towards me and I just stare at him. At this moment it's just me and this man, but why isn't he saying anything anymore when there's so much to talk about. I take critical note of this and stretch my face towards him. He lifts his head a little: "I don't understand too much about it, but your father wants me to take care of you. As long as....

Now he's smiling again, looking really happy and the grin on his face is getting bigger and bigger. That's what I was missing. That's not the sight I'm hoping for. I look past him. It doesn't look good at all and he pushes his way closer to me inch by inch. Only the table in the waiting room separates us from each other and my knees start to tremble. I claw my fingers into the edge of the table and push myself up. I'm aroused, which I really wanted to avoid.

I lift my chin defiantly, glaring at him, eyes sparkling, and see the determination on his face.

"Damn!" I say softly. "But I don't want you to take care of me." Out of sheer nervousness, I hold on to my backpack convulsively and feel a tingling sensation under my abdominal wall.

"Come here!"

"Why?"

"So I can pull the spider out of your hair!" His eyes light up with smugness.

Oh my God! I fall into a kind of "shock rigidity" and can hardly breathe. Anyone who knows me knows: Annie and spiders?

"I don't know you, but I know you're lying to me." At least I hope so. A bead of sweat drips from my forehead - I'm sweating with fear.

"If I haven't lied, I want a prize!" "What's that?"

"A kiss!"

I ignore his request in a state of lingering outrage.

"Never!"

"There are two possibilities," he finally says in a deep, calm voice. "Either I get a kiss or the spider stays where it is."

I shoot an angry look in his direction, studying his expression and swallowing my anger. As it looks it seems to be option 1, because I hate the stupid critters.

Stay calm...

I encourage myself to calm down. Fear only makes things worse.

"So how's it going now?" Gaard has thrown me completely off balance and I'm shifting on my feet in despair. Ponder, tilting his head to the side in frustration, pondering his tricky suggestion.

"It's best if we forget all that," he says roughly.

I beg your pardon? I hold my breath in shock, freeze into a statue and am flooded with freezing cold. He even takes a few steps away. Another small step and then another. I look up at him uneasily.

His eyes. Eyes can be incredibly electric. But not now. Hard and cold they look down on me.

Help! A giant killer spider might crawl over my head and it just warps away. Out of sheer fear I start whimpering helplessly: "Gaard please!" I stammer on. "Do something!" What is he up to now, he can't do that.

A trace of displeasure crosses his face as he stands in front of me again. But then he runs his fingertips over my right cheek. It's a simple gesture. Still, it takes my breath away and leaves me wanting more. Longingly, I nestle my cheek even closer against his warm palm. The hint of a smile makes the corners of his mouth twitch.

I feel the pressure of his fingers, slowly moving up my cheekbones, then they gently brush my temples and only move very, very slowly. I tremble and he...

He takes a step away again, lets me stand there for a moment, looks at me for a while and grins cheekily. Damn what is he waiting for?

"Go on!" I beg. "You'll get a reward too."

That's what he seems to have been waiting for. Gaard pulls me closer to him.

Now let's get down to business. He definitely sees the spider and it seems as if reality is slipping more and more into the center of his observation.

"Do you trust me?" he whispers softly to me.

I nod silently, trustingly place myself in his hands and even manage a faint smile.

When he pulls something out of my strand of hair in a few seconds, I am grateful to him. phew! lucky. So now he gets his reward too. My fingertips rub gleefully over his abdominal muscles and an exclamation of relief escapes my lips.

"Thank you!" I murmur in his direction.

"Look here, Annie!" Robotically, I stare straight at his outstretched hand. It's unbelievable how calmly this man holds his palm and as the little black spider walks on his hand I close my eyes in agony.

"Are you very scared?" he asks, amused. Looks at me like a father and I feel like a little kid.

"Not a bit," I fib. In the moment of silence, the air is noticeably charged and his hand gently strokes my cheek again.

"It's already over." I open my eyes and sure enough... Oh, thank God!

The price will he claim it now? I don't like the idea. Should I flee? I feel his presence all too clearly and not knowing what will happen next increases my fear and heart rate.

"Don't move." And already I feel him behind me. "Your hair is blocking my view."

I bite my bottom lip nervously. What is he up to?

"Gaard," I whisper softly. He puts a finger on my lips from behind.

"Psst!" He gently pushes my ponytail to the side, hugs my head, bends down and kisses my neck tenderly. I'm horrified when my crotch responds to him with a yearning tingle. Not possible!

"Cool, good enough to eat," he breathes on the back of my neck. was that all? My heart jumps.

I want to turn around but he holds me tight. Suddenly I discover his hand on my backpack, his fingers brushing mine almost unintentionally.

"Huhu!" Gaard quips as he stands in front of me again.

I lift my head and stare at him in amazement, and then a dangerous glint comes into his eyes.

"Tell me, what do you think of us getting to know each other better?"

I look at him sharply for a moment.

"Perhaps you'll think about it a bit?" Lightly and unconcernedly, his fingertips run through my hair.

I avoid his gaze and feel uneasiness rising in me.

"I'm not sure... Irritated, he cuts me off and frowns.

"Bullshit!" he growls.

"Well, what spoiled your mood?" Mina gasps with two shopping bags in her hand.

I won't respond to her slightly joking tone. We stand there for a while and I push my thoughts aside.

"Did you get everything?" asks Gaard.

"We still have to buy cheese, otherwise...

"Other what?" Gaard growls without batting an eyelid.

"Otherwise there is salad without cheese." He is silent for a moment, as if weighing the possible consequences. Finally he says: "I don't give a damn about the cheese." His voice sounds slightly irritated and with helpless raising of his hands he indicates that we should be on our way.

"I appreciate your tactful manner of conversation," Mina replies snippy. "Thank you too." She turns to her brother, bags in hand, and grimaces.

"Give it here," says Gaard as he accepts the flood of bags.

He listlessly drags the plastic bags with the groceries to the Vito, puts them in the trunk with a muddy noise and it comes loudly from the street up to us.

"Be careful! These are high-quality foods,” Mina snaps.

I yelp as I put my hand on the hot tin roof for a second, fingertips feeling my sore spot as we get into the car.

With a chewing gum in his mouth, Gaard climbs into the driver's seat and turns on the air conditioning before we drive off.

Thank God! The heat has caused the temperature in the car to rise and I'm starting to sweat even more. I'm stuck in the back seat, my heart pounding loud and fast.

Mina has rolled down the window and casually lets her arm hang out.

I take a deep breath and brush a loose strand of hair from my face as we turn left onto a gravel road. Walking pace is announced because of the bike rack.

A full half hour later we arrive at the Heuhotel. Dreaming in fragrant hay.

My motto is - experience nature - relax - breathe easy.

"I'm very impressed," I say to the two of them.

"We also have a covered barbecue area and a campfire site here," Mina proudly tells me. “And in twelve separate cabins you can sleep wonderfully soft on fresh hay.

I watch Gaard intently, but he just shifts impatiently in the seat.

"What is it?" Mina asks her brother impatiently. He turns to me and coolly slides his arm off the driver's seat.

"How about a bungalow of your own, Annie?"

Like right now? A bungalow all to myself? That's great!

He looks at me thoughtfully, as if he can guess my thoughts.

Mina works her lower lip with her fingers, taps against it. "Isn't there a bungalow available next to Connor?"

Gaard's huge, powerful body looms threateningly in front of Mina.

"Yes?" It's more of a growl than a polite question. "Take it easy young man," she jokes.

I look up in surprise, but Gaard gives Mina an odd look.

"Connor is a tick!" he curses, his voice vibrating with anger.

What had he called him? a tick. Ticks are hard to get rid of, I know that.

“You don't seriously think I'll let Annie near him. This busybodies and have-nots from the service.”

"No...no, of course not, why?" she says soothingly.

Eventually all the alarm bells start ringing in my head. Mina wants to annoy him. Why the hell is she doing this? Nobody understands the world anymore.

"Well!" he says in a hard voice. "Perhaps there is another possibility."

I crawl out of the car with stiff limbs. Dig out my backpack and a coat-weary serenity has settled over me in the meantime. I close my eyes, smell the fresh hay in my nose and wait until he has summarily picked up my bike.

"You look tired," Gaard says worriedly, drawing a hot trail across my elbow with his index finger.