21

As Riley leaned over, poised to pounce on his innocent victim, Scarlett grabbed at his hand. It wasn't just another excuse to touch him--the thought of him fighting was one thing but she didn’t want to see it. It made her stomach turn, giving her that same feeling as the time her neighbour’s cat had caught a bird in the bushes. The poor thing had squealed and flapped to no avail, and though she’d desperately wanted to save the poor little thing, her mother stopped her. It was just nature, she said, and it was kinder to let it take its course.

Maybe that was why her wolf hadn’t appeared. Her soft-hearted nature was holding her back. She was no hunter-killer. Not deep down.

He looked down at her and sighed at her pleading eyes.

"Let's go outside and sit on the grass," she suggested, taking hold of his hand. The sun beamed down on the field, drying the ground and making the perfect environment for a picnic. She popped the sandwiches in a bag and grabbed her coffee, waiting for Riley to follow.

He eyed the lad at the next table as he walked past, giving him a death stare that made him cower visibly. Scarlett felt bad for the guy, who ignored his friend when they asked what was up.

"I'm gonna wait till he leaves and beat the shit out of him," Riley said loudly enough for him to hear.

"Oh, don't," Scarlett pleaded. “Please don’t. He looks scared, like a helpless little bird.”

Riley frowned, not understanding the bird reference.

"Fight me instead," she said, placing her bag, coat, and coffee on an even patch of field. “I’ll take his place.”

"I feel like we've been through this already," he said, smirking.

"Round two?" Scarlett asked. It was a thinly veiled ploy to touch him. All she wanted was for him to pin her again. The thought of his weight pressing against her--his warmth and his breath on her face--it was too much to resist.

She screamed as he rugby tackled her to the ground and mounted her.

Time seemed to slow as the pair sat on the grass, entwined. She loved the way his hair fell across his face as he grinned down at her, leaning over to grab a wrist in each hand.

The romance subsided as he used her balled-up fists to hit her gently in the face while repeating, "Stop hitting yourself," in a childish voice.

"Stop, stop," she cried, blinking each time as the fists neared her face.

He finally quit, pinning her arms back behind her head. His face was so close to hers that his stray hairs tickled her cheeks. So close she could smell him—a masculine yet delicately sweet scent.

The cutest dimples formed in his cheeks as he smiled, staring into her eyes.

Then his eyes darted toward the building.

For a horrible moment, she thought Adrian had clocked them. She sighed with relief when she saw it was just the guy from the canteen.

Riley released her and stood in one swift motion before making a beeline for the guy.

'Oh, shit,' Scarlett thought, chasing after him. She had to run to catch him up, and when she did, she clung to his arm, trying to weigh him down and stop him in his tracks.

It didn't work. Her weight was like nothing to him. As ineffectual as air. She might as well have tried to slow down a speeding freight train.

"Oi, dickhead!" he called the guy.

The lad's eyes shot open. He froze like a deer in the headlights as Riley loomed over him.

Scarlett felt so sorry for him. She felt even worse for him when the girl he was with grabbed his hand and stepped in front of him, almost as if she were shielding him. Though the girl was only being protective, it had to make the guy feel even smaller than he already did.

'Please just walk away,' Scarlett willed them.

"What's your problem?" the girl asked. Her face was brave but her heart thudded so loudly in her chest even Scarlett's ears could pick it up.

"Ask him. He was the one giving me dirty looks," Riley said, nudging her aside.

"I—I didn't," the guy stammered and shook his head. "I mean, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry. I—I'm really sorry."

Riley turned to Scarlett, grinning widely, and laughed. "See. What did I tell you?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Riley imitated the guy and laughed.

The poor guy blushed but also breathed a sigh of relief—probably happy he wasn't about to get his face smashed in.

“Don’t shit your pants.” Riley sniffed, looking back at his victim. "I won't beat you up in front of your girl."

The lad, the girl and their other mate all shuffled back a few steps, turned, and broke out in a full-on sprint to get away.

As the pair stood at the canteen doorway snickering quietly, Adrian and Sienna appeared.

"Quick," Sienna urged, ushering them away. "Before the geek squad finds us."

"Huh?" Scarlett asked.

"Did you know he's King Cold?" Sienna asked.

"What's a what now?" Scarlett asked, confused by the question. "Isn't King Cold Freeza's dad in Dragon ball Z?"

"Yeah," Adrian let out a snort-like laugh and scratched his head. "I was twelve when I made my account. I thought the name was witty and cool at the time."

Scarlett had no idea what he was talking about. In all honestly, she didn't care. All she could think about was being beneath Riley, his soft brown hair tickling her face as he smiled down at her.

'I wonder if he was going to kiss me.'