Blood And Breath

20

I could hardly breathe through the overwhelming wave of arousal that engulfed me. A shiver rippled through Fen’s entire body. “If you were wise,” he whispered coarsely. “You would not respond to me in this way.” My eyes closed in a long blink as I tried to think clearly. “I can only be who I am.” His fingers gripped tighter before swiftly retreating. I brought my eyes to his face, but he kept his gaze cast to the side and said nothing. “I don’t believe you’ll hurt me, Fen.” I got the sense he thought of himself as a threat to me, but I also felt down in my bones that he was wrong. He finally brought his shuttered gaze to mine. “Danger comes in many forms.” “And I believe you’re as lethal as they come, but that doesn’t make you dangerous to me.” Fenodree grunted and looked away. A grin teased the corners of my mouth as I finished the last touches of my work. I left a couple of finger lengths on top but kept the rest trimmed close to his head. His jaw and cheeks were lined with heavy stubble, the perfect complement to his new trendy haircut. He would look like a footballer or maybe even a model to anyone on the street. Only those who knew Fen would understand just how much more there was to the man. “What do you think?” I asked nervously, lifting the towel from his shoulders and dusting off his neck. He held my eyes, not once examining his new look. “I think you’re good with your hands,” he murmured. Heat blazed across my cheeks. “Well, you may want to shower off the extra hair. I can just wait out there.” He stood from the chair and looked down at me, giving me a perfect view of his chest and delicious abs. “I think fresh air is a better idea. I can bathe later. The sun is shining today, and I have been trying to enjoy its warmth every chance I get. Are you interested in a walk?” Despite his casual words, his voice was thick and affected. Relieved that he had provided a distraction from the mounting tension between us, I jumped on the suggestion. “That sounds perfect. I spotted a trail down by the river on my way into town that looked gorgeous.” “I am happy to follow your lead.” We gathered our things and walked to the front of the hotel. In the car park, I led us to my rusty old car, cringing inwardly that it was the best I had to offer. As I began to unlock the driver’s side door, I realized that Fen had followed me to the driver’s side and stood uneasily next to me. “Has Becca given you a ride in a car yet?” His jaw clenched as he eyed the vehicle warily. “I have not been inside one of these metal carriages, no.” “There’s nothing to worry about, I promise. And you really have to get used to these. Unlike a phone, cars are an essential part of life these days.” I took his hand and walked him around to the passenger side. He followed reluctantly, but when I opened the door and motioned for him to get in, he became rooted to the ground. Was he looking at the ripped upholstery? A flood of embarrassment washed over me. “I know, it’s dirty and old, but it’s all I’ve got. It gets me where I need to be, and that’s all that matters.” I bit my lip, wondering if it would have been better to simply walk. “It’s an iron cage,” he mused softly. Silly, Cat. His reluctance has nothing to do with you. I was reminded of just how much change this man had been forced to overcome, and I hated myself for not being more considerate. “I’m sorry, Fen,” I said more softly. “We don’t have to ride in the car. We can just walk.” “No, this is simply a new experience like all the others. I only needed a moment.” He gave an almost imperceptible nod before slowly lowering himself into the passenger seat. Who would have thought I’d ever find such joy in seeing someone sit in a car? Pride swelled in my chest at the sight of Fen as he dubiously eyed the dashboard and interior. This man had more courage and fortitude than most anyone I knew, and I considered myself beyond lucky to have met him. With one more glance to sear the moment into my memory, I offered a warning that I was going to close the door, then scurried around to the driver’s side. As soon as we were both inside the vehicle with the doors shut, I looked at Fen with a smile so broad it made my cheeks hurt. “Do what you must, woman. Let us get this over with,” Fen grumbled with just a touch of humor. Laughter bubbled up from my chest—a mixture of relief, joy, pride, and a hint of worry for this man, who was quickly becoming one of the few people I called a friend. I started the car, noticing Fen’s white-knuckle grip on the door handle. I didn’t think introducing the seat belt was a good idea yet, so I let that one slide. The day was shaping up to be absolutely gorgeous. The sky was a brilliant blue, not a cloud in sight, and the air was comfortably warm without being overly hot. The trees in late May had regrown the leaves they’d shed last fall, and their heavy branches swayed gently in a light breeze. Fen relaxed noticeably on the short drive over to the canal waterway. We rode in comfortable silence, and I looked at the passing scenery through new eyes. I wondered at the questions he might have and what all he’d already learned in my absence. If I could, I’d have joined him every single day to share in his exploration. I didn’t want to miss a moment. Instead, I would have to settle for stolen moments and soak up each minute I could. The pedestrian walking path along a canal system off the River Foyle looked to be a perfect location for an outing. The area was somewhat outside the city, and being a workday, the car park was empty upon our arrival. I sensed Fen preferred nature to an urban setting, and the waterway was lovely. The moment I turned off the engine, Fen exhaled a lungful of air into the quiet car. I kept my chuckle to myself as we both exited the vehicle. “I know it’s man-made and not exactly nature at its finest, but it has a certain appeal,” I offered as we walked toward the path. A simple wooden fence like the kind used to contain livestock had been erected along the path to keep the pedestrians away from the water. The scrub trees and tall, variegated grasses were not particularly elegant, but it was still beautiful, nonetheless. “Should you ever have the misfortune of seeing the Shadow Lands, you would never again doubt the beauty of this world,” he responded wistfully as his eyes roamed the vegetation around us.