“What was that?” I’m proud of myself for the steadiness in my voice.
“Kill shot.”
Holy shit.
Nox comes up behind me, raises my hand and repeats the motion over and over again, bladeless. I’m confident in myself. I feel like I know what I’m doing now.
He places the blade into my hand and jerks his chin to the piggie. Clearly hesitating, he asks seriously, “You’re thinking about it all wrong. What if this carcass was a bad guy? A person who was trying to hurt you?”
It’s not very motivating but I get what he’s saying.
Then he utters, “What if it was someone trying to hurt Terah?”
And without thinking, I grit my teeth and attack.
Perfectly.
My blade sticks out of the swinging pig’s belly and Nox’s hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing. Pulling me back a little, his lips hit my temple. I feel his smile there. The hand on my shoulder moves up to my neck and with another quick squeeze, he separates himself.
“Again,” he demands.
And I smile.
Yeah.
I can do this.
***
Today was a good day.
I learned to protect myself in a way I hope I never have to use, but the simple fact is, knowing what I now know could save my life.
Nox is (surprisingly) a very patient teacher. Even when I almost stabbed him in the eye.
I told him! I warned him! I said, “You sure you want me to come at you with something sharp in my hand?”
He grinned. “Lily.” He said this while shaking his head…like it was cute.
Alright, mister. You asked for it.
What Nox was not expecting was for me to incorporate the defensive and attack skills that he, Rock, and Boo had been teaching me for a month. So when he lunged at me and I feinted then jabbed, he didn’t see it coming. My hand with the switchblade jerked back as soon as I realized this.
What actually happened was I got him. I got Nox.
Insert shit eating grin here.
The sharp blade pressed against his cheek bone for not even a second, but it was enough to draw blood.
So, of course, I shit myself.
Dropping the blade as if it was burning a hole in my hand, I stepped back and waited for the yelling and arguments to start.
But they never came.
Instead, I got another neck squeeze and smiling lips at my temple. Still with his lips against me, he muttered thoughtfully, “Maybe I wasn’t the only one born for this life.”
My heart clenched for a full ten seconds before it released when I whispered my reply, “Maybe it’s because we’re lonely.”
His arms wrapped around my waist and he held me close, my side tucked into his hard stomach and chest. I closed my eyes, savoring the rare sessions of closeness he allows. When he kissed the top of my head and murmured, “Yeah. Maybe,” I did something that stunned even me.
Turning my head, I stood on my tiptoes and brushed my lips against his.
Lightly.
Whisper soft.
Pulling back, I told him, “I don’t feel lonely when I’m with you.”
His eyes met mine, searching for something. When he found whatever it was he was looking for, I lost his deep blues. With a squeeze of my waist, he let me go, and walked away.
I stood there thinking about what just happened, and I knew it changed things. Yet again.
Why was I feeling like this?
What was it about this man that made my brain stupid and irrational?
Why did I never want this threat against me to end?
Nox.
I wanted to stay with him.
And tonight would help me make my decision.
***
Already sitting on the blue sheets of Nox’s bed, I wait for him to undress and get comfortable.
Dressed in a spaghetti strapped tank and white cotton panties, I’m sure I’m far from sexy right now, but I made sure to shave my legs and underarms. I even blow-dried my thick reddish locks and applied a little gloss to my lips. I don’t have perfume here at the safe house so I had to make do with deodorant.
Isn’t that how one becomes sexy?
My brain slaps a hand to its forehead, shaking its head in despair.
Removing shoes and socks first, he undoes his leather belt and he narrows his eyes at me. “You ‘kay?”
Shit! Play it cool, Lil.
Rolling my eyes, I scoff, “Uh, yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
The zipper to his cargo’s come down and I swallow hard. His lips purse. “I don’t know. You’re too quiet tonight. Normally talkin’ my ear off before bed.”
This was true.
I always had something to say and Nox was a good listener. He never once fell asleep while I was talking. He would always answer when asked. And he always made me feel like what I was saying was worth listening to, just by providing the attention.
That’s one of the things I love about him. Just one. There are too many things to name, and right now, looking at Nox undress, I can spot a few good ones.