Fairy Rings

9. Alone

Glancing back down at the ground level to ensure no one was watching his actions, Ambrosia waited momentarily before releasing his grip. His hands smoothed the dirt and hay off his jacket, which seemed to fit Navaeha better than himself. "There are a few rules I think you should know," Ambrosia looked into her captivating green eyes and found himself stumbling over his words, unable to form coherent sentences. Mesmerized by the depth and beauty of her gaze, he struggled to maintain his composure, feeling as though he was being drawn into a hypnotic trance. Despite his best efforts to stay focused, he couldn't help but get lost in the sea of emotions that her eyes seemed to evoke within him. It was as though he was seeing the world through a different lens, one that was tinted with the alluring hues of her gaze. "If anyone calls someone by their first name at the fortress, that means they are romantically involved and off-limits to everyone else. . . I am called an Ogre because well. Lots of reasons but one is that men bring their problematic lovers to me to help them learn obedience." Navaeha's eyes widened as he spoke. No wonder her father had gotten so angry.

"What do you do to teach them obedience? Do you hurt them?. . . Will I be sent to you?" Getting a little closer, she studied his handsome features.

"I do whatever is necessary. You will only be sent to me if you're bad," Ambrosia answered with a nervous laugh. But hanging out with you is a reward. . . I might have to have a little bit of a nasty streak. Navaeha thought, inching closer, her eyes slowly making their way down his chest, which seemed a little too big for the sweats he wore; her bottom lip bit nervously. A quick huff escaped him, his face red with embarrassment as he bit his tongue hard. He couldn't help himself, his hand gently grazing her chin to pull her face up to his. "It's a reward, huh?" As she slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes widened in surprise, and her cheeks immediately flushed a deep shade of crimson. She could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks as she locked eyes with his again, captivated by his gaze. Now known to her that her flirty little comment had slipped her lips, his eyes gazing at them, trying to decipher its meaning. She was lost in the moment, completely unaware of the impact her words had made on him.

"Ambrosia?" She swallowed hard. His name left a sweet taste in her mouth, leaving her longing for more. She let her hand slip up his arm and intertwine with his.

"Yes?" Blinking hard, he cast his gaze down to the ground floor, the two men were still taking out boxes and paid no attention to what was happening upstairs. He could see her father's silhouette far off in the distance, flames licking around it as the house quickly tumbled more.

"Why didn't you tell my father where I was if you knew? I'm very grateful for it, but why did you do it if it would have gotten you in trouble?" Her doe-eyed stare, waiting intently for an answer as he smiled.

"Well," Careful with his wording, he thought for a moment before answering more, "hanging out with you is a reward. Now, if you don't mind. . . I would like to not be skinned alive by your father. Let's find those weapons and start looking for other things of use."

"Okay, but I'll have you know: my offer still stands, there's a ladder in the back, and if those three men are the only other ones here. . ." her voice barely a whisper, "we would kind of be obligated to hang out all we wanted." Her offer was very tempting, his mind now fixated on the more complex things he'd be able to do to her: a kiss flashing through his mind, his jacket hanging open exposing her soft, tender flesh, the rest of her clothing strung out over the floor as she laid in his arms between warm sheets. He closed his eyes and let out an involuntary groan as he envisioned a future with her, one that would take them far away from the confines of their current reality. In his mind's eye, he saw the two of them sitting in a quaint café on the other side of the world, savoring the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and basking in the sun's warm glow. As he imagined the delicious moments, he felt a sense of freedom wash over him, a feeling he'd never experienced before. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to be lost in the fantasy, imagining a life where they were free to be together without any fear of repercussions.

"Navaeha." He opened his saddened eyes to gaze down at her, storm clouds brewing in them as he spoke. "I can't. The risk is far too great, and even if we do get away, I wouldn't always be there to protect you. But here, even though the rules are extreme. . . I can. I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to leave." He hadn't realized it, but his hands were gripping her shoulders. Biting his tongue hard, he grimaced at the metal taste that took over his mind, erasing all the complex scenarios that would have gotten him beaten or, worse, dead.

"What are you two doing up there? We found the gun case down here." The Dame called out, his skeletal frame peaking up to look around the barn's loft.

"We're grabbing my rope collection." Navaeha spat out, the lie rolling quickly off her tongue. Bowing his head, Ambrosia released his grip on her before taking a few steps into view of the Dame, quickly grabbing a bundle of rope he found sitting in a box to show him.

"Ah, don't take too long. Once this truck is loaded, His Excellence wants us to leave." As quickly and as silently as he appeared, he disappeared down the steps, his back hunched a bit while he walked.

"Ambrosia," Navaeha whispered urgently. Hastily turning back toward her, Ambrosia looked down into her pleading stare. "If I stay, will you promise me that you'll protect me."

"I promise. Nothing will happen to you." His nervous smile was convincing enough for the time being. As her fingertips traced a path up his muscular arms, she couldn't help but ignore the rope that he held. With a gentle lift onto her toes, she enveloped him in a tender hug, her arms wrapping securely around his neck. The warmth of her embrace was both comforting and enticing, drawing her closer to his shielded, cold heart. Although it was most likely a horrible lie and possibly too tricky of a promise to keep, he intended on keeping it, holding its authority above all else, even to the extent of betraying her father to keep it. The sweet aroma of smoke and heavy cologne enveloped her as she pulled her body closer to his; never before did she think a hug could cause such a stir of emotions, but as she nuzzled her face into his neck and heard a soft gasp, she bit her bottom lip and sighed. Her eyes were hazily cast out over the barn, closed to let her imagine wonderful things and even more beautiful things when she felt his strong arms wrap around her torso.