The Alpha’s Desire 4(41)

 

 

 

“I love how our hands fit together, how our magic tingles between our palms. I love getting to be with you. I’m so happy to be here with you finally, safe and together, with time to be alone, too. I just don’t have the words to express what I’m feeling right now,” I said, smiling like a loon at him, and then back at the thick patch of trees we were walking toward.

 

 

 

“I know. I feel it, remember, from the heightened emotions to the flutter of your heartbeat. I get it, and I’m happy and grateful to be here, sharing this with you,” he said, giving my arm a little tug so I’d stop and he could kiss me.

 

 

 

“This place is amazing. The air is so pure, so clean and fresh that you can smell the salt of the water in it. No exhaust. No pollution of any kind, it seems. I mean I’m sure there is some, but still, the wind over the water carries it all away. You can see it in the growth of this forest before us, all the trees and flowers.”

 

 

 

“Well, let me tell you a little about the trees and plants as we go. They were all pointed out to me when I came. I found it fascinating. I hope you will, too, but you can always use it in your story if not, so consider it research.”

 

 

 

“I would love to know, actually. Yes, I can definitely use some specifics outside of basic descriptions of what I see. But, you may have to remind me at some point, as I have no pen and paper to jot down notes. I don’t have a head for tree and flower names, but I do like to see and hear about them. My mother had the green thumb. I used to say that my mind with all the books I’d read just didn’t have the space for foliage names, too.”

 

 

 

“Cute,” he said, his nose wrinkling up. “Just like you. Oh, here, first tree is one of the most common, the coconut palm. I’m sure you are familiar with them.”

 

 

 

“Heard of, but not really familiar outside of pictures. They are amazing up close. So tall and majestic with the fan of leaves over our heads. It reminds me of an umbrella.”

 

 

 

“Yes, they are great until you get hit in the head with a coconut, and I don’t think standing under one would keep you from getting wet in a storm,” he teased.

 

 

 

“That happens? I mean, not storms, but people get hit in the head by randomly falling coconuts?”

 

 

 

“Well, not that I’ve seen, honestly. I’m sure it’s happened to someone, though. I was just making a joke. Poor one if you took it so seriously. Anyway, back to the trees. I liked this one for the lore about it and for the unique, rather creepy look it has to match,” he said, pointing to a tree that had multiple trunks arching out from one base, as if they were bending away from or maybe toward something.

 

 

 

It had a silvery cast to the trunk and long oblique leaves that cascaded down from its branches. It had so much personality, more on the sinister side by the looks of it, so that I had this odd sensation that it might just move, and hit me with its bent trunks or something. Had a strong breeze come along and moved it, I probably would have jumped out of my skin.

 

 

 

“You afraid?” Lex asked, his face scrunched into a non-understanding pose.

 

 

 

“Sure. Being silly. We are out in the middle of nowhere to me, and while it is paradise, something about that tree is rather creepy. Sorry, my emotions are still all over the place, and sort of run away with me at times. So, tell me about it, the tree,” I said as I reached my hand out toward the green apple-looking fruit.

 

 

 

“No, don’t touch it,” he said quickly, grabbing my wrist, but then bringing my hand to his mouth to kiss before dropping it. “This is the Manchineel tree, or as locals refer to it, the death apple tree. Guess your instincts were right to fear it, though I find that rather unnerving. You just have this connection to all things, it seems. A magical thing maybe, but of course, we can’t blame that for everything about you. Anyway, back to the tree: it has been deemed the scariest tree on the island. Acid-like chemicals grow throughout the tissues and the fruit. Touching the fruit or just brushing against the leaves can give you a horrible rash.”

 

 

 

“Wow, worse than poison ivy, it sounds. Guess there is one to stay away from in every patch of trees,” I said as we moved on. But, I couldn’t help but look back at it, and give it one last glance to ensure those curved branches wouldn’t wave down over us, crush us like bugs to the ground. I shivered even as I shook off the silly thoughts.