“Ok I’ll be right here.” She said quietly, not once looking away.
Connor got up, took a few steps over from where he sat earlier and slid Tool back into his belt loop. As he left the small clearing he felt Sarah staring at him
***
“What a great dream…” “Sun’s almost up Princess, time to wake up.” “Why? I’m so happy right here. Just a little longer, please… Oh what a deep and sexy voice… Connor?”
At that moment Sarah slowly turned her head to the sound of his voice and her eyes shot open, finding Connor’s handsome features just inches from her own. She stop dead in her tracks and held herself completely still. “Don’t move Sarah.” She told herself wildly. “Wow! I can’t look away from those soul piercing hazel eyes.” Another part of her told him, “Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me…” All the while he held her Sarah’s heart kept beating faster and faster. This was the best wake up of her existence. Only she hoped he couldn’t hear her heart beating.
Feeing a soft breeze chill the cold plastic on her back Connor pulled away from her very slowly. “No! Don’t go.” He tilted his head up and sniffed the air for something. She did as well, but couldn’t detect anything except the fresh smell after a good rain. He spoke quickly in embarrassment “Are you hungry? I smell apples. I go get us some breakfast.”
“No. Don’t go. Stay here with me.” Instead iv voicing that plea she heard herself say “Ok I’ll be right here.”
Connor stood up, taking his warmth with him, but his musky male scent lingered and she enjoyed it. He picked up Tool his hammer/hatchet thing and Sarah watch him disappear into the dark forest. His walk was so silent that if she wasn’t watching him leave, she would swear he didn’t exist. He then melded into the forest like the shadows and Connor were one again.
Thinking back to when their faces were so close, her face flushed so brightly that the tips of her ears burned hotter than ever. “Wait! Did I really want Connor to kiss me?” In the back of her mind she heard a voice demand “YES!”
Sarah realized in the short time of being alone that she still wore the poncho that Connor loaned, yet the rain was long gone and the sun brought the dawn again. “Not only is he sweet; he thought ahead to keep me dry and warm…” She slid the poncho over her head and sat it aside after folding it back up and knocking out much of the rain.
“Now it is my turn to be patient and wait on Connor, after all he took time out of his life to see that I was ok.”
***
“Alright time to go back to Sarah. Six apples should be enough to satisfy us for a little while.” Stepping back into the small clearing Connor stopped dead in his tracks. Sarah just sat there, comfortable yet alert, like a regal queen.
When she finally realized he returned she said in a sly way “Finally! You're back, Connor. I’m hungry, how many did you bring?”
“Six.” He said, still mesmerized by her beauty and lovely smile.
Connor sat down in front of her and handed over three apples. She bit into the apple and groaned with pleasure. Apparently she was quite hungry. She ate the other two that were given in quick order. So he gave her his last one since he already finished off two.
When she finished tossing the core into the woods Connor asked “How did you sleep?”
“Very well thank you, I would have been miserable without your help… and company…last night I mean.” She smiled and glanced at him from under her long eyelashes while biting her bottom lip. This in turn, made his heart race.
“Glad to be of some help.”
When it became bright enough to travel, he looked at Sarah to ask “Ready?”
She looked around the trees and then at him. Understanding what Connor meant she said “Yep.”
Connor stood up first and held out his hand. When she took it he felt that same jolt again. It seared trough him from where they touched. He couldn’t stop himself from asking “Did you feel that too?”
“Weird huh?” And that is all she said. “She doesn’t know what it is either.”
As Connor guided her out of the forest, she asked many questions, trying to see what he knew about the outdoors. “Teacher’s right?” “Connor, why didn’t we leave when you first found me last night?”
“Because Sarah, the night can be dangerous to wonder around aimlessly in. Especially if you don’t know the area. The rain would wash away our tracks that we made, so we couldn’t backtrack. Also it was too dark to see the stars, I would have gotten both of us lost and I won’t risk your safety for anything. Finally I swore to myself that I will protect you.” Answering her question felt effortless. “I’m your protector now Sarah. Get used to it.”
Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. Connor stopped as well and turned to look at her. Sarah’s face burned bright red. “Oh no. Is she upset or embarrassed…? Well only one way to find out.”
Connor walked right up to Sarah and asked “Are you ill?” He grabbed Sarah’s shoulders gently, and pulled her closer. He leaned down and placed his lips upon her forehead.
Sarah went completely rigid. Her face somehow became even redder and warmer. And his test was: “If she goes rigid and blushes redder, she’ll be embarrassed. If I get slapped, she’s upset.” She went rigid and his lips warmed up instantaneously. Connor’s answer proved that she was embarrassed.
He pulled away from her and said with relief “Nope. You’re not running a fever. So why are you so red then?”
***
“Let’s just keep moving.” She said in a quiet and breathless voice. He started walking again, but he became silent and had a hint of a smile tugging at the corner on his lips.
Walking with her eyes glued to the ground she started thinking. “Oh my… All I wanted to do was see if he knew why not to track back home in the dark. How does he do that to me? I feel faint…
“ Not only did he make me blush like some young maiden, but he did something I didn’t expect. He… he… he kissed me. Even if it was on my forehead I’ve never been more shocked yet thrilled that he was the one to kiss me. I don’t care if he just pretended to see if I was ill. He still kissed me, our first kiss, I cannot understand why, but even in all my years, I can’t remember being so alive.” All Sarah did from then on was smile despite the hot sensation filling her features.
***
Yes! I finally kissed her… Connor kept praising himself in his head. “Don’t fall behind or you might get lost.”
She quickened her pace and he thought she mumbled “Maybe it would be worth it…”
They continued to walk slowly together through the dense woods silently for an hour until…
SNAP...! SNAP! Came the odd sound of twigs and sticks breaking.
All the hairs on the back of Connor’s neck began to rise which meant something bad was about to happen. Danger quickly approached them, serious danger. The breaking sounds pulled him out of his thoughts, from the almost kiss with Sarah. He knew he didn’t have to do it, but was honestly glad that he took the opportunity.
Listening for the sounds of the forest Connor heard absolutely… Nothing!
No bird calls and no scurrying in the leaves from little animals, just dead silence.
“Predator?
Twigs snapping, after a rainy night… what could…?
A big predator!”
Connor turned instantly to his side from where the sound originated and grabbed Sarah, pulling her protectively behind him in the blink of an eye. Connor also yanked out Tool within that split second. Sarah gasped when he pulled her into a safer location. Separating her from the threat.
Then all sound stopped completely, even their breathing.
“There’s danger close by… No! Sarah is the one in danger!”
Sarah said quietly and playfully “What’s wrong? Are you upset over something? I forgive you for kissing me.”
When she saw Connor look at her, she knew he wasn’t playing around.
This wasn’t the time to be teasing at the moment because he could now taste
the hunger of another presence close by and looking at them both.
“It Comes!” Connor announced, ready to defend her at all costs.
Not two seconds later he heard more wet twigs go SNAP! SNAP!
“It’s much closer. Bring it!”
That’s when Connor found the deadly eyes of an experienced killer.
Predator or Prey
Connor’s expression turned fierce, sharp, dangerous and focused on something. It felt frightening and some primal part of her felt a thrill of seeing a dominant male become protective over her. Still… When he looked back at her with those hunter’s eyes, she still felt truly frightened, but not from him. Sarah felt frightened from what could make Connor look so dangerous and deadly.
When Sarah heard Connor say “It Comes!” she knew he wasn’t joking or playing around anymore. The situation couldn’t be any more serious. Everything from his voice to his posture screamed DANGER!
Standing right behind Connor, Sarah noticed everything about him in an instant. He had leaned forward in a crouched position. Long, strong arms and wide muscular back were so large that she was unable to see what exactly IT is. Connor’s jaw muscles were set and flexing tightly. In his right hand stood Tool. He gripped the steel handle so tightly that his large knuckles were all ghost white and she could see the tendons and muscles bulging in the lone hand waiting to be set free. The weapon itself wasn’t very intimidating, but he sure was.
Throughout her entire life she recognized that stance and focused face anywhere, all too easily. It’s the face of a man getting ready for a battle to the death. But what would tempt fate and challenge such a large man?
Sarah then heard a twig or branch snapping. Gathering all of the courage she could muster, she sidestepped to the left just enough to see around Connor’s enormous shoulder. She wanted to see what put Connor on high alert.
Not even twenty five yards away crouched a massive Cougar. A full grown, sleek and hungry Mountain Lion at that. It has short golden fur and a long slender body designed to chase and kill. Its body pressed low to the ground and hung in a crouched position. The shoulder muscles were bunched up, ready to pounce or chase his prey and its legs were slightly out to its side for maintaining balance. The paws of the big cat were just as menacing because the claws were extended. Its long tail twitched side to side in anticipation of its next large meal. What froze Sarah like a stone carving, were its eyes. It had sharp, golden, piercing eyes that said only one thing, ‘Breakfast!’
The Cougar roared, trying to make its prey run.
Well, it worked on her.
Sarah screamed in terror and stepped back involuntarily.
In the next instant Connor’s left hand reached back and grabbed her shoulder firmly, to hold her still. His large and firm grasp kept her from tripping and falling backwards. Shocked, Sarah looked up at him to notice that the only thing that moved on him had been his left hand. Everything else about him stayed in the exact same battle ready stance. Especially his eyes, they didn’t even leave the terrifying hunter for a moment, as if the roar didn’t affect him at all.
Quietly and evenly he spoke “Don’t run, he wants to attack you with your back turned to him. So he can more easily get to your pretty little throat.”
In all her years, she should already know that by now, but Sarah still felt scared witless from this hungry predator. Her adrenaline began pumping through her veins, telling her to run for it, yet Connor knew instinctively what not to do. She needed to stay calm and trust in Connor’s skills if she wanted to survive.
Not a moment later the massive feline lunged.
Connor didn’t hesitate in his attack either.
As the Cougar jumped in the air, fangs bared and claws out, aiming for Connor’s throat. Connor brought Tool in a blurred arch around to meet the airborne cat, using the hammer side of his weapon.
With all of the massive strength contained within his enormous frame, Connor connected first with the cat’s skull. With a sickening, bone splitting crunch that streaked through the area, the Cougar went instantly limp in the air. Unfortunately since Connor and the golden creature both charged at each other with their full weight behind them, they crashed into each other with a loud and audible thud.
Both Connor and the great cat crumpled to the ground together. The twitching cougar landed on top of Connor. Neither moved and that frightened Sarah even more. She didn’t want him to be hurt, but what she just witnessed…
“CONNOR!!!” Sarah yelled and ran over to him as quickly as she could because she had fallen down when Connor released her shoulder to confront the feline. She forcibly tried pushing the heavy Cougar off of him with all of the strength she had, to see if Connor was injured and hoped he still lived.
Feeling the weight of the Cougar getting lighter Connor said “I’m glad that’s over. At least he wasn’t a pack animal like wolves or wild dogs. I’m not sure I could have fended off more than one and protected you simultaneously…”
A very beautiful face, full of concern began looking down upon him, filling his whole vision with Sarah. “Oh thank goodness. Connor, are you alright?” Sarah could barley suppressing her tears, blinking quickly to keep them at bay. It made her emerald irises shine that much more.
Trying to alleviate her sadness and fear, he chuckled and smiled. “So you forgive me for kissing your forehead huh? And here I thought you were one to hold grudges for a long time…”
Sarah just couldn’t hold her tears any longer. Streams fell from her eyes and caressed down her cheeks until they dripped off her chin. “You fool, you lucky fool. You could have been killed.” Still crying, she went on “I have never seen anyone survive such an attack like that without a rifle or bow. Your something else, you know that…” She somehow stopped crying and turned serious. “I need to check and see if you are wounded. It landed on you. That was a quick, but powerful fight…”
Connor, still laying on his back in the damp grass, watched as Sarah reached for the bottom of his shirt and he quickly managed to grab her hand to stop her from lifting the cloth up any further.
Connor said very quickly and clearly “No, No, No, No, No. I’m alright Sarah; I’m not hurt at all.” Now his voice turned calm and controlled. “Sarah, you have your secrets and so do I. Please do not lift up my shirt. You need to respect my only wish.” Sarah knelt at his left side while he still held her hand.
“Ok, Connor.” She said quietly and he released her hand. She then put her hands together and sat them in her lap. She waited patiently for him to elaborate just a little bit more because she had already given away a portion of her secret, at least a piece anyway.
“It’s just that I really do not want to drive you away so soon. I have never felt so very connected to someone like you before and I really don’t want to lose that so soon.” She nodded, satisfied for the moment.
She restated his thought. “I understand completely because I feel the exact same way about you…” Her words struck Connor speechless and joyful at the same time. “She really feels the same? I’ve never felt more relieved.” His heart seconded the thought by beating ferociously and happily.
Not even the skirmish with the cougar made his heart sound and beat like this. Connor then had another thought “Either I am in love or that Sarah is even more dangerous than the cougar… Ha why can’t it be both? That will be more fun and a bigger challenge. I’m not sure I can win… hahahahaha…”
Sarah’s mask of concern etched itself upon her delicate features again, so Connor said something even he didn’t even expect to say. “Well this has been one crazy first date huh?”
First her face turned shocked then melted into a blush and a shy smile. She bit her lip and looked down at her hands and wrung them a few times together before saying “Yes it is.” After a few more moments she explained “Connor you cannot tell anyone…”
He jumped in before she could continue her speech. “Listen Sarah, I will keep your secrets to myself, as long as you do the same for m
e. Your secrets are your own anyway. I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I went around and told everyone another’s secret. Ok, so don’t worry?”
“If someone asks about last night?” She prompted, lifting her head to look at him with concern pleading within her green eyes. There wasn’t a single part of Connor that could deny Sarah of anything she wanted.
“I’ll simply say ‘I got worried that my new neighbor was lost in the woods and I tracked her down and made sure she was safe. We decided to wait until morning and I brought her back without difficulty’.” She nodded deciding that was a good and easy story to stick with.
“And the Cougar?” Her eyes looked over at the motionless cat.
“What Cougar?” Connor grinned meaningfully. “Are you calling yourself that now? You’re definitely the older woman.”
Sarah burst into a calm laughter as she tried to stand up. Instead she slipped on the wet grass and fell directly on top of Connor.
As she laid on top of Connor they both stared at each other in shocked surprise. He noticed how very light she was. They were thigh to thigh, belly to belly and breast to chest. Most importantly their faces were even closer than when she woke up this morning. She had a very pleasant smell on her; strawberries and apples. It was a faint smell, but it seductive nonetheless.
As their faces were so close, they shared each other’s breath and it sent Connor’s senses reeling. She was the perfect size for him. A compliment to his size. Her long and luscious hair fell over her back and on to his chest and neck. Their hand found each other and they instinctively laced themselves together. They were just moments from kissing each other when he felt something in his hands getting wetter.
Balancer's Soul Page 5
