Groom Wars

60. Confrontation

My shower had been interrupted by war. To survive, I had quickly changed and helped Cadmus defend against the first wave of intruders. We had kicked, slashed, and thrown objects at the attackers till they retreated. When the assailants left, Cadmus and I had hidden in separate stalls and waited for the next assault.

Beyond the yellow curtain of my defensive stall, the bathroom door opened and shut.

I heard the sound of soft, approaching steps.

I took a moment to compose myself and dashed through the opening as my breath expired. The curtain slid across my skin, then hung limply on its frame. I screamed my greatest battle cry and, skidding to a stop, pointed my sword at...

Leandro?

His face was still bruised, but new wounds had been added. His clothes were ripped in some places and covered in blood. He smiled upon seeing me. "What do you intend to do with that, little one?"

Beckoned by Leandro's voice, Cadmus exited his hiding place and lowered his sword. Leandro told Cadmus, "Thanks, I'll take over from here."

Cadmus glanced at me, a mask of complicated emotions seizing his face.

I nodded.

Bowing slightly, Cadmus then turned and exited the room.

Leandro stood before me, saying, "Your hair is still damp. Did you get to shower properly?"

By the smirk on his face, he knew what had happened and had come to gloat about being right.

I told him, "They came shortly after I entered."

"I did talk to you about changing your schedule weekly or daily."

"You might have said something like that, yes."

"I did tell you to go home, but you wanted to fight. So, tell me, was it worth it?"

"Yes, I did a wonderful job. Ask Cadmus if you don't believe me."

Leandro smirked and circled me. As he disappeared behind my line of sight, I felt the urge to turn around and spot him. I poised to whirl, but I was forced to halt when he pressed his abdomen to my back and wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me in his embrace. I felt his sturdy form, his weight pressing down on me.

"You cut your arm?" he said, running his thumb over my bloody, ripped sleeve.

I remembered getting slashed by Sid, an ex-Dryad, and told him, "I have far fewer cuts than you."

He placed his chin on my head, and it was easy to imagine him as he was before. Beautiful skin. Bright, watchful green eyes. The type of chiseled face that others would kill for. A prized specimen.

After a moment of silence, he said, "I'm angry with you."

"Why?"

His hands pinned me to his solid mess. I felt his body mold to fit mine as if we were two puzzle pieces, one being the lock, the other the key. So, I closed my eyes, focusing on the warmth radiating off him.

"I'm angry that you break up with me, then cry by yourself."

"I didn't cry," I muttered.

He asked, "What caused your puffy eyes, if not tears?"

"Allergies." I felt vulnerable, standing in the centre of the aisle in his arms. Anyone could walk in on us. Hear us.

"Do you get allergies often?"

"Once in a while."

He chuckled next to my ear, his breath traveling inside the canal. A feeling that I could only describe as warm and prickly filled my belly. He whispered, "Why do you enjoy lying so much? Why not be honest?"

"I'm a habitual liar, sir. Picked it up when I was a child."

"Now that, that you were honest about." His arms left my waist; he circled me again, then stood in front of me.

My gaze stayed on the ground.

"Do you find me ugly?"

I shook my head.

"Then look at me."

Slowly, I raised my head.

He cupped my face in his rough hands. "What does the expression mean?"

"I think you look like an ogre, sir, but I suppose you make a handsome ogre."

He smiled. "Do not worry about my ogrish appearance; my wounds will heal quickly, little one." His hands found my waist again. He said, "I have something to tell you."

"Alright."

"I will not break up with you, and you will not break up with me." He leaned his head close to mine. A distracting tingle ran through me.

"Why not?" I asked. We had spoken about this before. We had already come to a decision; why do this now? After I had shed so many tears saying goodbye to him. After I had worked up the courage to end things.

He said, "A great many reasons, but first and foremost, I simply refuse to end something I've spent months trying to build."

He kissed my neck and sucked the skin between his teeth. I felt pain give way to something warm as his tongue grazed my skin.

I thought, 'You're the worst temptation I have ever had the pleasure and displeasure of encountering.'

I dug my fingers into my palm, using the sharp pain it brought to distract me from his all-encompassing existence. "I can't be with you. I'm sorry, but—"

"It's not your decision." He smiled. "You owe me one. You were safe because of the measures I took. You will do what I want from now on." He kissed my forehead.

Releasing my waist, Leandro walked backwards while watching me, wearing a satisfied grin, then turned and went out the door.

***