Page 16 of Creed
Its back legs hunched. It was about to lunge again.
Before it could move, I charged forward instead. The cat startled, not expecting the sudden attack. Its hesitation gave me just enough time to drag my knife across the side of its flank. The cut was deep, and blood immediately stained its tawny fur. I hoped the injury wouldn’t be fatal, but I couldn’t afford to hold back anymore.
I’d avoided a killing blow. That would have to be enough.
Still facing the cat, I stepped back while keeping myself between it and Kayden, waiting to see what would happen.
The pain left by my knife seemed to be enough to temporarily shock the creature out of whatever insanity had taken hold of it. Shaking its head, the mountain lion whined and backed off, slowly slipping out of the circle of light created by our fire.
I stayed where I was, bloodied knife still held tight in my hand, as I tracked the faint shadow of the creature in the dark. It hung around for a little longer, just out of sight. It seemed to be looking for a better angle of attack. After several tense minutes, it eventually gave up and disappeared back into the trees. I continued to stay on alert for a little longer, but when it was clear that the creature wasn’t coming back, I finally relaxed.
I knelt down and wiped my blade on the grass to get rid of the blood. I would have to clean it properly later, but many people found blood to be a frightening sight, and I didn’t want to stress Kayden out anymore.
“Sorry about that,” I said as I shoved my knife back in its sheath. “Are you all right?”
He was still lying in the dirt where I’d shoved him. It was a miracle I hadn’t stepped on him during the fight. He seemed completely frozen, staring up at me with an astonished expression.
He didn’t seem to have heard me at all. He wasn’t even blinking, and even when I repeated myself, he still didn’t respond.
I resorted to shouting his name, the same way my drill sergeant used to scold me. This finally got a reaction. Kayden jumped to his feet, moving too quickly and tripping over himself. I caught him before he fell, pulling him closer to help support him.
“It’s okay,” I tried to soothe him. I’d seen people suffer from shellshock after their first run-in with violence, and I was afraid that’s what I was witnessing now. “The creature probably won’t come back now that it’s been scared off. We should be safe now, and if it does come back, I promise I’ll protect you.”
He slid his hands up and gripped my shoulders. At first, I thought he was just trying to steady himself, but then he pulled me forward and kissed me.
I didn’t even realize it was a kiss at first. I’d never actually kissed another man before, and the few kisses I’d exchanged with women had been brief, hesitant exchanges done mostly out of obligation. This was heated and intense. His lips parted and histongue forced its way into my mouth like he intended to devour me.
I was too stunned to move and let him do whatever he wanted.
The kiss lasted for a few moments, but then Kayden suddenly tensed up and pushed me away. Clamping both hands over his own mouth, he backed away until he was well out of arms reaching. As he started at me, his eyes were filled with more fear than he’d even shown for the mountain lion.
I hated that expression.
“I’m sorry,” he gasped out from between his fingers, still holding his hands over his mouth. “I didn’t mean to. I’ve just... I’ve never actually seen you in action before. I knew you were a soldier, but I didn’t expect... I mean, you were just so hot I couldn’t help it.”
He backed away even farther, all the way to the edge of the firelight so he was half concealed in shadow.
Lowering his hands from his mouth, he nervously twisted at the hem of his own shirt like a child waiting to be punished.
“I’m so sorry. Please tell me I haven’t just ruined everything.”
CHAPTER 4
Kayden
Panic filledmy head with an endless string of curses.
How could I have jumped Creed like that?
The man had just barely admitted to being gay, and clearly still wasn’t very comfortable with the idea. Now I’d probably ruined whatever chance I had with him.
Hell, I’d probably ruined our friendship as well.
I waited for him to yell at me, or maybe even turn around and leave me on this mountain to find my own way home.
Instead, he remained silent. His face didn’t even twitch with the slightest hint of emotion. Creed had always been a stoic person, but even for him this was extreme.
It seemed I’d broken him.
