Mirage

Chapter Four

        Ryder was sipping on an iced coffee, sprawled out in a booth, when a shadow fell over him. He'd been gazing out the window, admiring the view of the busy street pondering how different life was here in Feinnral. People smiled and stopped to chat with each other on the street while maneuvering around playing children who'd been left unattended and to their own devices. 

             "Hey, I'm Panther Strix!" The oddly familiar voice made Ryder jump slightly. He felt his heart sink slightly as he turned to glance at the owner of the deep voice. He did his best to keep the surprise and shock off his face as a pair of maroon eyes met his. His hand instinctively dropped to a knife tucked underneath his hoodie.

            It was the police officer who'd chased him three blocks. Panther was out of uniform and the serious, brooding expression was friendly. He wore a white shirt and a pair of jeans. Those previously cold and calculating eyes were gentle and even a little misty and a very charming smile made his face light up. He held a coffee in his hands.

         "What's a cute guy like you doing here alone?" Panther flirted as he slid into the booth across from Ryder. Out of everything he'd been expecting, maybe Panther flashing his badge or even arresting him, this wasn't it.

        Ryder froze, his cheeks going red as he felt his cheeks warm. He bit his lower lip, unable to meet the other man's gaze and instead stared down at his coffee. Panther flashed Ryder the kind of smile that could knock someone off their feet. Ryder started rubbing the hilt of his knife, something he did when he got nervous. 

       "So, what's your name?" Panther asked, his maroon eyes dancing with a happy light. Ryder swallowed nervously. He couldn't take off running. Whisper's information was good. If the Peace Corps didn't know who he was or his crimes then they really didn't know. He'd only cast suspicion on himself if he ran.

      "I'm Ryder." He mumbled, then hastily took a gulp of his coffee as he gazed up into those captivating eyes. Panther smiled then offered Ryder a huge calloused hand. Ryder's were dainty and slender. His heart did a summersault in his chest as he quickly shook the Peace Officer's hand. Panther's hand was warm but his grip was gentle. 

       "How old are you?" Panther's voice was the kind of gentle that made every muscle in Ryder's body relax in a way he hadn't in years. He could hardly believe this was the same man that had yelled him across a crowd then followed him into The Needles. 

       "Uh, i'm 20." Ryder blurted before he had time to think about lying. One look at that face and those maroon eyes and he forgot how to think. This man was attractive, and not only that but he had the kind of presence that made Ryder want to spill every last secret he had while nestled in those big strong arms. 

     "Twenty, huh? I'm Thirty." For a moment Panther almost seemed to shrink back in his spot, a slightly flustered look on his face. Ryder couldn't have cared less about the age difference. How could he when the mere sight of those lips curled into that little smirk, those maroon eyes full of intelligence yet warmth and that strikingly handsome face turned him into the disgusting pile of mush he now was? 

     "Does age really matter when you can live for thousands of years?" Ryder blurted, then winced. Wait, that sounded wrong. He opened his mouth to say something then quickly closed it again as Panther gave him a smile that almost seemed a little shy. 

     "Hey, I have the day off. Want to go get some food with me?" Panther asked, his maroon eyes sparkling with happiness. Ryder slowly let go of the knife he'd been clutching. Why are my hands shaking? This is ridiculous.

        "Uh, yeah. Sure. I'd love that." Ryder said, the words spilling off his lips before he could stop himself. The happy smile Panther aimed at him, and only him, made Ryder feel faint. For a moment he wondered why his vision was going a little blurry and then he realized he was so nervous he hadn't taken a breath in almost a minute and a half.