Cress

Chapter 4

Scarlet pressed a cotton pad to the corner of Wolf's mouth,

shaking her head. 

"She may not get in many hits, but when she does, she makes

them count."

Despite the bruise creeping around his jaw, Wolf was

 beaming, his eyes bright beneath the medbay's lights.

 "Did you see how she tripped up my feet before she swung?

 I didn't see it coming." 

He rubbed his hands giddily on his thighs, his feet kicking at

 the side of the exam table.

"I think we might finally be getting somewhere."

"Well, I'm glad you're proud of her, but I think it would be nice

 if next time she hit you with her nonmetal hand."

 Scarlet pulled the cotton away. 

The wound was still bleeding where Wolf's lip had broken on his

upper canine, but not as bad as before. 

She reached for a tube of healing salve.

 "You might be adding a new scar to your collection, but it kind

of matches the one on this side of your mouth, so at least

 they'll be symmetrical."

"I don't mind the scars." 

He shrugged, his eyes taking on a mischievous spark.

 "They hold better memories now than they used to."

Scarlet paused with a dab of ointment on her fingertip. 

Wolf's attention had affixed itself to his own knotted hands,

 a hint of color on his cheeks.

Within seconds, she was feeling extra warm herself, remember-

ing the night they'd once spent as stowaways aboard a maglev

train.

How she'd traced her fingers along the pale scar on his arm,

 brushed her lips against the faint marks on his face, been

 taken into his arms ...

She shoved him on the shoulder.

 "Stop smiling so much," she said, dabbing the salve onto

 the wound. 

"You're making it worse."

He quickly schooled his features, but the glint remained in

 his eyes when he dared to look up at her.

That night on the maglev remained the only time they'd

kissed. 

Scarlet couldn't count the time he'd kissed her while she

 was being held captive by him and the rest of his special

 operative "pack."

He had used the chance to give her an ID chip that 

ultimately helped her escape, but there had been no 

affection in that kiss, and at the time she'd despised

him.

But those moments aboard the maglev had caused more