Shielded - The Marilla Chronicles

Chapter 21

He starred down at me tracing over my eyes and my lips. He brought his hand up and brushed my lower lip with my thumb, my lips parting slightly.

He smiled at the sight. My heart began to pound in my chest, and I knew he could feel it. I knew because I could feel his.

His head tilted down and froze as I felt his lips brushed over mine. I didn't move, didn't know how to. I had forgotten how I was supposed to feel.

His lips closed down over mine and I responded with passion. His fingers laced into my hair and continued to kiss him back. I pressed myself against him, and gripped his shirt.

No thought were running through my mind, except how amazing his lips felt. How calm I felt in his arms. His hands trailed down from my hair, and down my spin.

I shivered which caused him to release my lips and chuckle. I stared up at him, silently pleading with my eyes for him to continue.

His thumb brushed my lips again, "Marilla." He whispered as he bent his head down again.

"What are you doing?" Maxwell's voice caused us to freeze. Malaki let out a sigh of frustration as he moved his face away from mine. I swallowed deeply before he dropped his wings and exposed us to my best friend.

Maxwell stood with an inquisitive face and folded arms over his chest. He hadn't seen what we were doing, how Malaki had kissed me, how I kissed him back. But he had seen the Wings, wrapped around us completely.

"Keeping her warm." Malaki said with a sly grin.

"Sure." Maxwell said with a sarcastic smile.

I flushed red, as much as I tried to hide it, I knew that was not an option. "I should get to bed." I said walking to the ocean leaving them on the shore.

Malaki's hands drifted into his pockets as he shot me a respectful nod.

"Hold up." Maxwell said jogging towards me. "Can I get twenty minutes on our rock?" He asked with a smile.

I looked back at Malaki who looked down at the ground, avoiding my gaze now.

"Sure." I said with a smile.

We lay on the rock starring at the skies. Maxwell had been babbling on about how Isaac was in a foul mood, and that we needed to fix things between us.

But all I could think about was that kiss. His lips on mine. How I wanted it to go further...

"And I think Malaki is in love with you."

I snapped my head at him. "What?"

"Oh, that you respond to." He said smiling at me.

I narrowed my eyes, and rolled them in annoyance. I think I have been caught red handed.

"I miss my friend Mar." He said with a gentle smile.

"I miss my friend too Max, I'm not the one who keeps trying to force us to be something more." I wrapped my arms around my legs. That was the truth, all I wanted was my friend, and he kept trying to be more.

"You are right." He said softly. "You are such an amazing girl, and would be the perfect mate."

I looked at him feeling annoyed again. I did not want to hear him declare his feeling for me, again.

"But take this as my white flag." He said pretending to wave a flag in the air. "I lost, and I might have pushed you into the arms of a psychopath while doing it."

He let out a laugh that made me smile. "Do me a favor, make him beg." His smile continued to grow and I didn't know how to respond to him.

"I mean, get him on his hands and knees." He began joking out and I smile. "Have him fall madly in love with you." He began making gestures with his hands, "Then he is on his knees, begging for you. Crush him." I began laughing at my best friends very detailed request.

He chuckled to until our breath became a bit more steady.

"I see how you look at him." He began a bit more seriously. My breaths shallowed and I quickly filled with shame.

"Be careful." He said nudging me arm gently, "Try to not fall too hard."

"Love is."

"Not logical." Maxwell mocked, "I know." I looked over at him and smiled.

"And yet." He looked back at the shore, "Somehow, you have the Dark Prince helping you defeat his own father."

"I made a deal." I shrugged, and gripped tighter onto my legs.

"Mar." Maxwell's hand rested on my shoulder, "He could have killed you a million ways on that roof." I looked over at my greens eyes, "Instead, he dropped you into my arms."

I arched my eyebrow at him. "Why are you giving him the benefit of the doubt?" I muttered.

"Because he thinks I have great footwork." He said with a pride smile as he leaned back against the rock again.

"And." His face turned a bit more morbid. "I think is right, I think Jake would have done something."

I looked down at Maxwell, panic seeping through every part of my blood.

"You know how many rapists there are Mar?" He said with sadness, "People make jokes, and to me its just a joke." His eyes deepened, "Because I would never..." His voice croaked.

I placed my hand on his arm as I read between the lines.

"I am so sorry." His eyes filled with tears.

I leaned down at wrapped my arms around his neck. "You did not do anything."

His arms wrapped around me, and we held each other like this for what seemed like hours. Not as lovers, but as friends, comforting each other.

We eventually said goodnight, and he returned back to the training facility. I wondered if Malaki was awake, if he would want to continue that kiss...

I shook the thought out of my head and dipped into the water.