Lovina stared at her hand for a split second in utter surprise, then back at his face. Had she really slapped him so hard as to draw blood? No, she hadn't, had she? And if she had, was she pleased at this or not? He deserved it. Still though, Lovina very rarely drew blood from anyone. It was already looked down upon for her to be 'attacking' someone like that anyway without her hurting someone badly enough. She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to see what exactly she had done. Looking as close as she could without getting any closer to him, her eyes started to glow with anger again. The blood on his face hadn't come from her slap. That little fucking liar. Lovina clenched her fists at her side, staring at him furiously again. Where was a bolt of lightning when you needed one? She had a good mind to kick him in the chest and going on her merry way and she was about to do it too. She didn't suffer fools well. Just as she was about to give this asshole something to really whimper about, she was suddenly aware that she wasn't alone with him. Glancing around warily, she saw several people looking at the two with dismay. They were looking at the man with pity and her with shock.
God damn him. They thought she had hurt him. Lovina's eyes went wide with horror. They were all looking at her and thinking she had attacked this man. Everyone knew she was temperamental, but no one had ever seen her strike someone like this. The looks he was giving the people around them were only serving to make it worse for her. That crafty little asshole. He looked back at her suddenly and their eyes locked for one second. Her breath got caught in her throat at the look in his eyes.
They stared into hers angrily, almost evilly. She almost felt burned by the malevolence that seared into her for only a heartbeat before he turned away. Looking over the crowd desperately one more time, she felt her heart drop. She didn't have the option of turning away from him now that he had the sympathy of the townspeople. She closed her eyes, knowing where this was going and despising it. The brunette turned back to him angrily. She didn't care if he frightened her. She wasn't going to let him know that.
"Speak English, you son of a bitch," she snarled. Not everyone around them knew English well, so it was the safest way she could continue to insult him. Knowing herself, she'd probably maim him if she couldn't get her fury out with words. Then the townspeople would really have something to talk about.
A smirk tugged at the fallen man's lips, he just won this game but he could feel the killer intent behind her fiery eyes; frankly, he couldn't wait to show her just what he was capable of as well. The smile was immediately wiped off his face upon hearing the blasted language, almost sure his ears would bleed by the sheer sound of it. He despised English almost as much as being belittled, suppose there was no other way to communicate with his little flower though; was there?
"That's no way to treat someone in my position," amusement coated his words, contrasting the hurt mask he put to the public though judging by her confidence, he was sure not too many knew what either parties were saying. "I wonder if I could have you arrested for assault…" He was only bluffing of course, the last thing he needed was law enforcement on his hide about one thing or another, if they got their hands on him there was no doubt he was in for a less-than pleasant life.
"Why don't you help me up then, before your little friends' jaws break off their skulls?"
After a few moments, the Hispanic male figured she wouldn't go near him any time soon, leaving him to pull himself up with the help of the wall for a better effect, "Ay..." Antonio groaned, resting his head against the glass where the delicious treats were put on display, "I don't think I can go on..."
He was bargaining with the devil himself, but confidence was key in the game; something the Spanish captain practically bled and sweat throughout his life, gaining more with each try. "You'll just have to take me in, less you be hated by your town. Wouldn't that be a shame, amor?"(Love- used in an endearing sense) Antonio grinned lopsidedly at her, soft enough to pass off as any given expression to their watchers.
"Oh shut the fuck up," she growled, stepping back from him. "I don't give a shit about your 'condition'." There was no way in hell she was touching him, no way at all. If he was bodily capable of making a move on her and putting on a performance for the townspeople, than he was perfectly capable of walking, she figured. His words worried her a little though. He was completely determined to twist her around his finger, and he knew how to do it. Lovina had more to lose than he did with people around and her reputation at stake. His threat of arrest was more plausible than she would like as well. In just a few moments, he was blackmailing her. She didn't really have any options here other than to do what he requested. Her face flushed in anger at the idea of taking him in. He was going to pay for this.
She stiffened at the endearment. She knew what that meant. Lovina glared at him, her eyes feeling like they could spit fire at the rat bastard. "Don't. Call. Me. That. Ever. Again." she snarled. She wanted to slap him again. She had never wanted to slap someone more in her life, slap that stupid, annoying, arrogant grin off his face. Feeling his skin under her hand like that would be unbelievably satisfying. Her fists were balled so tight, her nails were digging into her palms and drawing blood. 'God, grant me the self-restraint I so need…'
Take him in. This was insanity. She didn't want this man so close to her, near her brother, in her home. He was manipulating and aggressive and seemed incredibly dangerous. Not to mention she didn't trust him near her at all. She could be putting the entire church at risk. How could she justify this to herself, to her brother and father and Lord?
But wasn't this her calling? She tilted her head, scrutinizing him. He was dirty and injured and hungry and possibly not in his right mind. (She could only hope.) Despite his behavior, maybe something could be brought out of this. He had obviously lost his way. She was perhaps a little rough around the edges, but she was a servant of God and it was her mission to help other souls on the path to righteousness. Wasn't this what her entire life had been telling her to do? He did need help and he needed salvation. Maybe she could reform him. Maybe she could save his soul. If he even had one left.
Lovina abruptly stepped back, refusing to look at the people around them, still judging her. "Bene, (Fine,)" she muttered. She had no choice. "You going to come or what?" She spun around and arranged her basket, starting to walk off without another word.
Bingo.
Large hands shoved themselves into the pockets of his pants, only now noticing how cold the breeze of the ocean was becoming, and dropping degrees by the millisecond as night neared. The Sea was a cruel mistress after all, lashing out even when one wasn't disturbing her.
Olive orbs drifted from narrowing crowd most having lost interest long ago and now going on their merry way to finish their daily duties, unlike her, he had no reason to avert his gaze; turning to the back of the Italian girl- Lovina, he'd heard one of the people whisper. Their 'subtle' voices loud enough for anyone listening to understand, these people meant nothing but trouble. He could smell it from a mile away.
For some reason, he felt somewhat protective of her, their words varying from admirable to sharp; the tanned man didn't like the idea of anyone else giving her hell. Not his new toy.
"Si, of course," Antonio chirped, an extra bounce to his step as he caught up to the silently fuming red-head, not bothering to hide his full blown grin at that point. How could he? Anyone in his position would've jumped for joy, not only had he outsmarted the snarky, proud woman, but he'd be tended to by her. This opened up numerous opportunities for the eager Spaniard, none were overly perverse, in fact he was only thankful for company tonight. Someone who didn't reek of week-old fish, sweat, and blood. Oh, and definitely not someone who was holding a gun to his temple, though at this point it was certain that's exactly what Lovina was wishing for.
"So... come here often?" He tried the oldest line in the book once they were a safe distance away from any people, he briefly wondered if they were going to the woods where they'd try to kill each other in a battle and where they could hide the body without risking it being found. Amusing as the thought was, Antonio didn't particularly feel like dying that day, and he certainly wasn't done playing with his new toy. He decided to stay on her good grace for just a moment longer.
"Si," Lovina deadpanned. She did come here quite often, living here and all, thank you very much. She tried to stay just a step or two in front of him, refusing to make eye contact with him. Or for that matter, refusing to speak to him more than just minimally necessary. Just because she had succumbed to his ploy didn't mean she had to be happy about it. Walking through the town, she held herself no different than when she was alone, with an air of isolation and independence, although she was getting different looks now. People were looking at her more warily than normal, their gazes flickering back and forth between her and her tagalong. There was more space between her and them, the presence of the stranger confusing and frightening. It was probably just as well. She didn't want any more attention from this and she didn't want their questions.
For the rest of the walk, Lovina refused to make any kind of conversation with him, cutting off any attempts on his part to speak to her. She had more important things on her mind than his amusement. Like, for instance, what she was going to do with this man. There was probably a spare room in the church somewhere. But that was the least of the issue. He was filthy. He was going to need new clothes, and a bath. She was not getting involved with that. As much as she brushed it off, he was definitely injured as well. Like it or not, she was going to have to dress his wounds. They raised a very obvious question – what the HELL happened to him?! That was a question she was going to demand an answer to. Later. What else did she need to worry about? Food, of course. She wasn't able to buy anything today with this little disaster going on. They would probably survive to tomorrow though, knowing her brother and his gift for cooking. Oh Dio, her little brother. That was a problem too. She was going to have to explain this to him and make it perfectly clear that he was not to associate with this man. But he never really listened to her anyway, annoying little twerp.
While ignoring her charity case, Lovina looked over the buildings leading up to the other end of town. The church steeple was just coming into view. The church wasn't eh biggest or grandest place ever, but it was where she had grown up since she was small. She couldn't tell whether she was anxious to get home or terrified to be there at the prospect of all she had to do. Hopefully she could avoid her brother long enough to get him situated, then explain as slowly and simply as possible elsewhere.
She sped up her pace towards the church, not giving a single fuck if she was leaving him behind.
Several pebbles, three puddles, and what felt like a bed of nails later, Antonio called it quits trying to avoid the dangers of the ground and came to the conclusion that his feet would look like ground beef by the end of the night. This didn't put him in a grand mood either, having quit trying to make conversation with Lovina at around the same time; he settled for watching her speed ahead of him. On purpose.
"Pendeja...(Bitch…)" He growled under his breath, blood boiling after the third time she sped up- oddly enough, it was in quick bursts of energy as if she were being wound up and then let go of. What the hell was she thinking about that she didn't hear him, or feel his presence for that matter, as he slid behind her?
No matter. As the silhouette of the church- or so he guessed by the large cross at center of the tallest roof- the Spanish man made his first assault; this time without holding back. His large hands wrapped their way around her neck in a firm hold, his intention not to strangle her, but enough to keep her from crying out as their bodies slammed to the nearest wall; resulting in a thundering thud.
"Who do you think you are?" Thickly laced with a Spanish accent, his words were hissed into her ear emphasized with a small squeeze of her throat.
"For someone so confident, slapping men around, you don't look it now." Antonio sneered, licking his lips before sinking his teeth into the outer shell of her ear, back in the ship; his crew members did something along these lines (albeit far more viciously) to claim dominance upon their conquest, in bed or otherwise. The nip wasn't sharp enough to draw blood, though if he'd applied just a singe of excess pressure it would've been a different story. Perhaps he was a bit on the sexist side, juuuust a bit.
He waited long enough to hear a strangled groan, usually made as a second or third stage of suffocation, he couldn't remember, as it'd been far too long since he'd done this to anyone; before deeming it a proper time to release her neck. Long fingers quickly found their way into the gasping woman's hair, yanking at it to meet her gaze. "Listen to me, and listen to me well because I'm not going to repeat myself. I can be your worst nightmare, or your enemy; you don't want both. I suggest you go inside, get food, clothes and a bed ready for me before I lose my temper and have your people pay for it."
The words rolled off his tongue like a song, not missing a heartbeat with their venom seeping from his tongue, it felt good to be in control again.