Page 11 of In Love With the Leshy

His words break through my stupor. While I didn’t realize how intensely I was studying his face, taking note of his strong jaw, high cheekbones, and perfect nose, apparently he did. The lines of his face are strong and masculine, even with gem-like eyes and leafy hair. He’s . . . beautiful.

Being in his arms has my mind and body taking a journey that starts with admiration and is leading me to full-on arousal. I won’t admit that though. I can’t. I’m helpless and at his mercy. I won’t leave myself that vulnerable. But I have to say something, keep the conversation going. Anything. This is not the time for a brain fart!

I clear my throat, nervous he’ll see through my lie. “I’m afraid of heights, and you’re so tall. The ground is far away, and I’m afraid you’re going to drop me.”

“I’m tall and strong.” He says with pride, pumping his chest out just a hair more and supporting my head against it the way a parent would with a small child. I feel safe and protected. “I promise.” His lips touch the top of my head, and he kisses me. “I won’t drop you.”

“Not on purpose,” I mutter, holding him tighter and hoping he’ll attribute that to my fear and not the longing for him that fills every cell of my body. I close my eyes, taking in this feeling of closeness, and inhale deeply. “Mmm,” I say, storing his fresh, outdoorsy scent to memory.

“What was that?” He asks, smirking and giving me a sideward glance that makes my belly feel like a funnel cloud’s storming in it. He caught me smelling him. Is there anything more embarrassing and pathetic? I’m mortified. This is why I’ve never had a real relationship. Why do I have to be so weird? “Are you doubting my ability to carry something light as a pillow?”

“Pillow? Sure. If it’s made of bricks.”

“Actually you’re more like a flower. Except you can talk.”

How am I supposed to respond to that? Flowers are fragile and delicate. Is he trying to compliment me? That’s a strange comparison.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Home, so you can rest and regain your strength.”

I stiffen in his embrace. “I don’t want to go to my apartment. Besides, you don’t know where I live, and if Nikolai made it out of—”

“He hasn’t left yet. And I’m taking you to my home, not yours.”

To his house. This beautiful creature kissed me, picked me up, and is carrying me in the moonlight off to his bed. This isn’t real. It’s straight out of a romance. The couple meets, falls instantly in love, and then one of them dies tragically.

Things like this don’t have a happily ever after. Not in real life. Something terrible is going to happen. Maybe he’s taking me to his house, knowing I can’t run away, so he can lock me up and cut off my limbs?

I’m jostled in his arms as he chuckles. I hold my breath, waiting to hear what he finds so amusing.

“I’m not going to cut off your limbs,” he says, stroking my hair. “Only a few fingers and toes.”

“What?” I wriggle in his arms, trying to get out, but his hold on me tightens. Why did he say that? Did my thoughts slip off my lips?

“You didn’t have to say the words,” he says, coming to a stop and setting me on my feet.

“Oh, so now you read minds?”

“Not now.” He starts walking away. “Always.”

“Wait!” I yell, panic-stricken, afraid he’s going to abandon me. “I didn’t mean to be snarky or rude. Please don’t leave me here.”

“It’s okay, Erin.” He reaches for my hand and pulls me toward him until I’m close enough for him to wrap his arms around me. I grip the loops on the waistband of his pants and press my head against his chest. Salty tears trickle down my cheeks and dampen his shirt. He cups my face and tilts it up so he can look into my eyes. “You’re safe, and I’m not going anywhere.”

He called me Erin. I freeze. “You know my name?” I sniffle and wipe my eyes with my fingers. “How?”

“I know everything that happens in the forest.”

“Everything? If you knew everything, you wouldn’t have asked those questions. You would’ve known I didn’t come with them.”

“But you did. You entered the forest at the same time. You were frightened, and yes, they wanted to hurt you,” he shrugs. “Loneliness makes people accept circumstances they shouldn’t.”

“How dare you!” I yell.

I take a wobbly step away from him. I’m so stupid. I was so scared Nikolai and company wanted to rape and kill me, I let a monster take me deep into the forest where human ears will never hear my screams.

“Is that why you’re taking me back to your place? You think I’ll have sex with you because you’ve been kind and I’m lonely?”

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