The Beast (SHORT STORY) (EDITED)

Chapter 3

Hollis sat comfortably, her legs crossed beneath her simple skirt, her gaze steady as she observed Rune. He leaned against the rough bark of a towering tree opposite her, his own intense stare fixed on her, a silent battle of curiosity and caution playing out between them.

"This is weird," Rune finally rumbled, the unexpected words breaking the stillness of the badlands.

A laugh escaped Hollis, light and airy in the otherwise silent landscape. She stood up, brushing dust from her skirt. "Never talk to a woman before?" she teased, walking towards him with her hands tucked behind her back, a picture of innocent boldness. Rune's dark eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. This small human was undeniably intriguing, a persistent itch beneath his skin that he surprisingly didn't entirely dislike.

"What are you up to?" he asked, his voice low and wary.

"Nothing. Can't I just look?" Hollis tilted her head, her blue eyes wide and guileless.

Rune's gaze flickered down his imposing frame and back to her, only to find a delicate wildflower suddenly presented inches from his face.

"Even a beast needs a flower now and then," she said, her smile as bright as the midday sun.

He looked from the fragile bloom to her radiant face, a genuine chuckle finally escaping his lips. "You're a strange girl, Hollis." He gently took the flower, his large fingers surprisingly careful, and her smile widened, illuminating her entire being. She was brighter than the damn sunshine.

"I should probably head back home," Hollis said, a hint of reluctance in her voice. "My brother can be annoyingly protective. Maybe you can visit sometimes?" she suggested, her gaze hopeful.

"You like drama, don't you, little girl?" Rune's brow furrowed slightly.

"I'm not little," Hollis retorted, her chin tilting defiantly. "You're just too unnaturally huge, and for your information, I do not like drama. It will give those men a run for their money, though," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Don't want to get married?" Rune's question was more of an observation.

"They are too skinny," Hollis stated matter-of-factly, wrinkling her nose.

A genuine laugh rumbled in Rune's chest. He found himself oddly fascinated by her preference for someone larger than herself – someone who could, as he darkly mused, crush her like a bug.

"So, what's your ideal type?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"You," Hollis said, the single word delivered with a bluntness that took him aback, though not entirely by surprise. When she had dismissed the village men as too skinny, he had suspected her gaze lingered on his own considerable bulk. "I go for things I want, and I want you." She punctuated her statement with a playful poke to his solid chest.

"Here's the thing, Hollis," Rune said, his voice low and serious. "You can't manage me."

"Maybe," she conceded with a shrug. "But every man has a weak spot, and that includes you. I might not be able to find it now, but men have lots of weaknesses."

He bent down until his face was level with hers, the nearness making her cheeks flush a delicate pink. "I'm not every man, Hollis. You still want me?"

"Yes," she said, her gaze unwavering. "I want my human teddy bear."

A flicker of realization crossed Rune's features. He reached out, his large hand encircling her neck, not in a threatening way, but to draw her closer, his thumb gently brushing her skin.

"I'm not a bear, little girl. I do not cuddle," he growled softly, his eyes searching hers.

"Not fair," Hollis whined, a playful pout forming on her lips. "I want to cuddle." She grabbed a handful of his roughspun shirt, her small hand a stark contrast to the thick fabric. "I'm not letting go."

A sigh, laced with a strange mixture of exasperation and something else he couldn't quite name, escaped Rune. "Very well. But I warn you, little girl..."

"Stop calling me little," Hollis interjected, her grip on his shirt tightening.

"No will do, little girl," Rune countered, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Time for you to go home."

Hollis's eyes widened in sudden realization. She had completely lost track of time! She stood on tiptoe and pressed a quick kiss to his rough cheek.

"I'll see you tomorrow by the river," she said, her voice a breathless promise. "Do not be late."

With a quick grab of her forgotten basket, she turned and hurried back towards the border, leaving a stunned Rune standing alone in the silent badlands, a single wildflower clutched in his massive hand.