Now, there was mad and there wasmad. And Nate was next levelmad. Maddy felt as if the very air around them changed. Her heart, which up to that moment had beat calmly and steadily, now sped up as she took in Nate’s fury.
He stood like an avenging angel, his eyes pools of darkness, zeroed in on the hand still gripping her arm.
Clearly this dude had no survival instinct.
Nate stepped closer, his gait deceptively calm, his eyes now settling on the guy’s face. Nate’s hand shot out so fast the guy didn’t even see it coming, and pinned him to the wall by the throat.
“I suggest you let her go,” Nate’s voice barely above a low, menacing whisper.
The guy started sputtering, his unfocused eyes bulging, probably just then realizing what was going on, before his hand let hers go and went limp by his side.
“Touch her again without her permission and I’ll make sure you won’t have a hand to touch anything else ever again.” Nate’s voice sent a shudder through Maddy, chills breaking at the back of her neck.
But not in fear.
Fear was the furthest thing from her mind.
Since the guy would probably need to start breathing again soon, Maddy moved closer to Nate, brushing a hand up his back. His muscles were tight with tension but as soon as he registered her touch, he seemed to relax imperceptibly.
“It’s okay, Nate. Everything is fine,” she whispered to him in a soft voice.
The guy slumped against the wall as soon as Nate released him, trying to catch his breath.
Nate’s anger did not dissipate immediately but his dark eyes were full of concern and regret when they focused on Maddy. His hands found their way to her upper arms in a barely there touch, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom, as if making sure she hadn’t been hurt anywhere.
“I’m so sorry, Madison,” he said, taking her by surprise.
Maddy frowned, perplexed.
“Why would you be sorry, Nate?” His breathing was becoming uneven.
“Because I should have seen it sooner. You shouldn’t have had to deal with this piece of shit.”
His visible agitation made her heart squeeze almost painfully.
“I’m fine, Nate. I promise you. You took care of it.” She smiled at him in a way that she hoped conveyed the sincerity of her words. “See? A Gryffindor through and through,” she teased.
Nate’s huff of laughter made her release some of the tension she’d inadvertently been carrying.
“How about we get the hell out of here and grab some ice-cream?” he asked, letting go of her arms and extending his hand.
“Ice-cream in winter?” Maddy threw back at him, sliding her hand in his. “You are shameless, Nathaniel Keaton.”
“You have no idea how much, Madison Pierce.”
***
Apparently, it was never too late or too cold for ice-cream because they did manage to find a place to get a couple of scoops to go. Nate’s choice was of vanilla and pistachio, while Maddy settled on some good old chocolate and strawberry.
“That was a good suggestion, Nate. Now I can be frozen inside and out.” Maddy could feel her lips and her nose turning blue from the cold, though she didn’t really care. She was enjoying this too much.
“Thank you. I do have the best ideas,” Nate said, already tossing his finished cup in a nearby trashcan.
“I didn’t take you for a vanilla guy, though.”
Nate turned to look at her, his eyes twinkling.
“Anything against vanilla, Mads?”
