It’s hard to speak calmly while my body still rages with red-hot lust, but I rein myself in, refusing to let my desire for her get in the way of taking care of her.
It was my selfishness that got me into this mess. I won’t make that mistake again.
Lexa looks up, then her eyes dart furtively around, looking into the trees.
“No,” she whispers. “Don’t go.”
“Okay,” I answer, nodding. “Do you think we should go back home? You look like you could use a rest.”
“Uh-uh,” she mutters, shaking her head and wiping her nose. “The last thing I want to do is just get stuck between four walls, locked in with my thoughts. I need a distraction.”
“How about we go out?” I suggest.
“Out? I don’t think I could deal with people right now.”
“We’ll go to a movie. Nice and dark and cozy, no interaction. We can get takeout for dinner.”
For a moment, her face is fairly blank, then a smile slowly creeps over her face.
“Okay, Kit. That sounds like a great idea. Thank you.”
I stand up quickly, reaching out to her. Joy surges through me at the knowledge that I’ve finally done something right, something good.
Lexa looks up at me and takes my hand, letting me help her up. She carefully dusts off her clothes, and I notice the deep blush of red across her cheeks.
Thinking about how all the dirt and dry leaves got there, maybe.
Lust threatens to rise in me again, but I hold it back. As wonderful as our time in the woods was, it doesn’t mean she forgives me or that I have a free pass. I still have a lot of work to do.
And secrets to keep.
When we walk over to the movie theater, the streets are fairly empty. Lexa looks comfortable with me, which is a good thing. If the town suspects the match isn’t a good one, then the elders can contest it.
Like Loretta is already doing. I still have to decide on a punishment for her.
We stop outside the theater to check out the showings. I point out a couple of foreign films that catch my eye.
“This Polish one, I’ve been wanting to see it. It’s a historical piece about a poet and the development of literature.”
Lexa looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“That is not my idea of fun, Kit. I’ll be bored as hell.”
“Okay, well, what about this one?” I point to another showing. “It’s a modern film, with main themes of the survival of the human spirit, the meaning of true courage—”
“Kit,” Lexa says, crossing her arms, “if you want to go to the movies with me, these are your choices.” She walks over tothe last two posters and points to them with a big flourish. One of them is apparently about machine guns and monster trucks, and the other is about a lake monster.
“Are you serious?” I mutter.
“Completely,” Lexa answers. “Action or creature feature. I’d argue that the creature feature has all those elements you like—the meaning of courage, I think you said?”
“I don’t see how—”
Lexa giggles. “This was your idea. Are you with me or not?”
The sound of her laughter is so sweet to me, and the smile on her face touches me so deeply, it hurts.
