Born Of Nothing

21

One chunk at a time, I sliced through his thick black hair until the ponytail was no longer attached. I held it aloft with a delighted grin, but Fen just rolled his eyes playfully. I set the hair aside, and nerves seized me again as I hesitantly ran my fingers through his remaining hair and along his scalp. The thick strands were silky and smooth, unlike my own coarse curls. Wholly focused on my hands exploring, I almost missed Fen’s molten stare in the mirror. Almost, but not quite. His eyes seized me, and for several thudding heartbeats, I was lost. All that existed were those penetrating eyes and the searing heat that ignited every inch of my skin. Somewhat reluctantly, I tore my eyes from his. While my reflection didn’t’ show the heat radiating from my body, it was hard to miss just how painfully erect my n*****s had become. There was no way Fen had missed my blatant display of arousal. I was mortified, and yet too painfully turned on to truly care. Clearing my throat, I took out the clippers and began to trim the hair around the sides and back of his head. Once I got working, I was able to immerse myself in the job. I left a couple fingers length on top but kept the rest trimmed close to his head. By the time I removed the towel and dusted off his neck, I was thrilled with my work. His jaw and cheeks were lined with a heavy stubble, the perfect complement to his new trendy haircut. To anyone on the street, he would look like a footballer or maybe even a model. Only those of us who knew Fen would understand just how much more there was to the man. “I’ll get you some styling cream, but you can wear it with or without. What do you think?” I asked nervously. He held my eyes, not once examining his new look. “I think you’re good with your hands,” he said hoarsely. I smiled shyly at the unexpected compliment. “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 can shower 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! Do you have a specific place you’d like to go? If not, I spotted a place down by the river on my way into town that looked gorgeous.” “I have no preference so long as we are outside. Even before my years in the Shadow Lands, I spent most of my waking hours outdoors. I feel trapped within these walls.” “Well then, let’s get out of here,” I said with a smile. 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 was standing 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 in one.” “There’s nothing to worry about, I promise. And there’s no excuses about this one. You may not have to use a phone, but cars are absolutely necessary in this world. You’ll just have to get used to them,” I ordered firmly as 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 on my lip anxiously, wondering if it would have been better to simply walk. “It’s an iron cage,” he mused softly. Beautiful, Cat. Way to make this all about 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. 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, his long powerful legs folded snuggly 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 to his voice. Laughter bubbled up from my chest—a mixture of relief, joy, pride, and a touch 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 armrest. I didn’t think introducing the seatbelt 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 early June had fully regrown all 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. Fen had encountered a good deal since his arrival two weeks prior, but he had been limited in his exploration, so there would doubtless be yet more discoveries on our outing. On my way into town, I had noticed signs for a pedestrian walking path along a canal system branching off the River Foyle. The area was somewhat outside the city, and being a workday, the car park was empty upon our arrival. 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. Standing at the front of the car, we examined the paved path along the narrow waterway. “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. To keep the pedestrians away from the water, a simple wooden fence like the kind used to contain livestock had been erected along the path. The scrub trees and tall, variegated grasses were not particularly elegant, but it was still beautiful, nonetheless.