“You do know how much I love you?” he whispered.
Oddily became giddy with happiness while she gazed into his handsome face. “I love you too…more than anyone in the whole world!”
Maxim threaded his fingers through her long hair. His pale blue eyes were so intent, his smile so tender, she felt her heightened energy level begin to subside.
“Nexa says you don’t believe in marriage.” She spoke lazily, as if her comment was commonplace.
Maxim lifted a long strand of hair and rubbed it on his lips. “She’s right. Our father taught us to believe in the ways of the future. Besides, legally, Nexa and I don’t exist. We have no paper trail to claim otherwise.”
Suddenly his smile widened mischievously. “Where is your hair brush? I want to brush your hair.”
“I’ll get it!” Several minutes later, Oddily was back sitting between Maxim’s legs while the brush moved through her hair in long deep strokes. For a long time, the only noise in the room was the swishing sound of the bristles in the thickness of her hair.
“I like that,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
”I’ve never had someone else brush my hair before.”
“It is so long!” He mused as he shifted the heavy mane of hair over her right shoulder, his warm fingers brushing the nape of her neck. Then the light touch was gone and the bristles of the brush were once again moving through her hair.
Oddily tried to hold onto her contentment, but Maxim’s comments about marriage had put a damper on their intimate moment together.
“Would you ever consider marrying me anyway?” She asked impulsively.
Maxim hesitated in mid-stroke as she glanced at him over her shoulder, and then put the brush on the bed avoiding her gaze. “I don’t see how I could, under the circumstances. Besides, we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives. Isn’t that enough?”
Maxim caught Oddily’s disappointment and cursed beneath his breath.
Oddly felt a crushing blow to her heart and thought maybe she would be sick. She began to swallow her spit in an attempt to calm her stomach, but it wasn’t working. “Would you mind if I go downstairs and rest on the couch—just for awhile?”
Maxim wanted her to remain with him but he could see that she was upset, or sick…maybe both.
“I have a better idea. Follow me!”
Maxim wrapped his arm around Oddily’s shoulder and guided her to a room around the bend in the hallway. Unlike the rest of the rooms, this one had a door.
“I don’t remember that door there before!”
Maxim kissed the top of her head. “That’s because I just installed it.”
“That’s strange. Why would you do that?”
“I did it for you!”
“But why?”
“It’s just that sometimes, like right now, you seem to need your own space. I thought it over and came up with the idea to surprise you with your own room. I’ve been secretly working on it for over a week now. It’s not finished yet, but the bed is in place. It will be more comfortable for you than the couch.”
Maxim opened the door and then waited for Oddily to enter the room. Oddily smiled, despite her heavy heart and upset stomach, when a golden four-poster bed with intricate carving of angels, came into view. “How do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful!” She said, gawking at the feminine bedcover in a soft shade of gray.
Maxim was pleased to witness the same childish excitement he had seen many times before. “While you get yourself comfortable, I’ll go and scrounge us up something to eat. What can I get for you?”
“Nothing…I’m fine, thanks!”
“Not even chocolate ice cream?”
Oddily’s sweet tooth spoke for her. “Mmmm, okay!”
After Maxim left, Oddily sat on the floor away from the bed and continued to stare at it’s magnificence. She wanted to lay down and rest her head on the fluffy pillows; but if she did, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the sight of the bed very well.
Then she had a disturbing thought. Should she continue to stay with Maxim if he didn’t intend to marry her? Tears began to well up in her eyes as she came to her feet and, in a moment of defeat, she dived onto the beautiful bed and buried her face in the pillows. Her emotional upheaval continued to surface even after Maxim had come back with the bowl of ice cream.
“Here you go!” Maxim waited for Oddily to sit up, but she didn’t move. Instead, she kept her face covered, pretending to be asleep.
Maxim stared at her curiously and then left the room.
After a few minutes, she raised her head to make sure she was alone, and then sat up to stare at the closed door. It was unlike her to deceive him, but dismissing her questions about marriage in the nonchalant way that he did had hurt her feelings.
Then a curious noise, like the humming sound of electricity, began to make her ears tingle. She automatically glanced towards the window and none too soon. She was just in time to catch sight of an orb of light as it floated through the glass pane into her room.
When Oddily saw it, she anticipated that she would scream and bolt for the door but for some reason, she didn’t! In fact, her overwhelming sadness was momentarily forgotten and, in it’s place, a feeling of awe and wonder. When the orb of light moved towards her, she spontaneously held up her right hand as if wanting to touch it. Did the light understand her desire? Maybe it did, because the light brushed against her fingertips, sending a burst of energy up her arm. Oddily smiled in amazement when her hand and arm began to tingle.
Then she held up her left hand and spoke. “If you can understand me, touch my other hand.”
A split second later, the light did as she asked and made that hand and arm tingle as well.
“You do understand!” She gazed at the glowing ball. Obviously, it was intelligent. She wondered what kind of creature was floating before her. But then it abruptly left, as though it had never been there at all. The light had flickered and then skyrocketed out the window. The sight of its departure reminded her of a shooting star so she quickly made a wish. I wish I may, I wish I might, have Maxim propose to me tonight.
After leaving Oddily to herself, Maxim had sauntered into Nexa’s room and sat down on her bed. I’ve got a problem sis.
Nexa came out from the dressing room and glanced at her forlorn looking brother. What is that? She glanced at the bowel in his hand.
It’s chocolate ice cream.
Eeeew!
I know. It was for Oddily, but she’s pretending to be asleep.
Do you want me to find out what’s on her mind, or do you know already?
Maxim nodded and then looked away.
Okay, you must have done something embarrassing. What is it?
I said I couldn’t marry her.
And now you’re sad!
Sis, I had assumed that claiming her as my mate was all I needed to do, but I was wrong. The marriage ritual must be very important to her.
It is!
Wait a minute! Maxim glanced up at his sister. Do you already know something about this?
Yes, I do! Your so-called mate informed me that she’s going to remain a virgin until her wedding night.
Come on sis. Did Oddily really say that?
Ask her for yourself!
Maxim stood up when he saw Oddily standing at Nexa’s bedroom door staring at him.
“I wasn’t really sleeping.” She confessed with a soft voice.
“That’s okay!” He forced a smile, but the rest of his features conveyed his sadness.
“Can I have my ice cream now?” She stared at the bowl.
“Sure, but it’s melted now.”
“I don’t care. I’ll pretend that it’s a chocolate milk shake.”
Maxim thought it strange that Oddily wouldn’t enter Nexa’s bedroom. Instead, she held out her hand as if waiting for him to hand her the bowl. Maxim got the gist of what she wanted from him, so he stepped forward and g
ave her the ice cream.
“Oh, and Nexa!” Oddily gazed at the beautiful girl. “Is it too late for us to go to the salon?”
“No, it’s still morning.” She smiled. “I was just getting ready to go there myself when Maxim paid me a visit.”
“Then will it be okay if I tag along?”
“Yes, of course!”
“And can we go shopping afterwards? I want to find a pretty dress for tonight—actually a beautiful dress!”
“Sure! I know just the place.”
“Okay, give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
When Oddily left, Nexa raised her eyebrows at Maxim. What was all that about?
Maxim frowned. I’m not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that our rollercoaster ride isn’t over yet.
THE ROMANCE AND DANGER CONTINUES WITH
HELD IN SECRECY
THE THIRD BOOK IN THE ODDILY SERIES
COMING 2012
For more information go to:
http://lindapohringwrites.blogspot.com/
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MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) Page 20
