"Your enemies are growing stronger, you need a warrior at your side."
Kormac moved swiftly out of Natasha's room and to his own before closing the door and pounding his fist against it. What was he doing? If Lyndon hadn't walked in he would have . . . he didn't want to think about what he would have done. No, he thought to himself, he did want to think about it and that worried him. He couldn't lie to himself, he was deeply attracted to Natasha, her long beautiful hair, her full lips, her gorgeous eyes, and her wonderfully curvy body, but it wasn't just that. She was a good person, she cared for people and had helped many people on their travels. He had never enjoyed just being with another person as he did with her. That attraction had only grown stronger as they grew closer throughout their travels, but he had taken vows as a templar. He would honor those vows, no matter how much self-control it took, and it would take a lot of self-control. He tossed himself on the bed, not bothering to undress before falling asleep.
Kormac sighed to himself, she'd been avoiding him ever since what happened the first night of the trip. He sat alone in his room, the ship swaying in motion with the waves, he had brought this upon himself, but didn't realize how much he missed her companionship until then.
They barely said anything to one another and every time they were alone together she would practically run from the room. She spent more of her time talking to the crew, and even seemed to be talking to Lyndon more than to him.
All their time apart had given him ample time to continue translating the journal that he had taken from Jondar's body. He looked down at the journal in his hands and sighed, remember what she had told him back in New Tristram. "You do not seem the kind of person who was once as sinful as you claim, I wonder if there is any such 'sin' to be found." The thought of it had haunted him. He had taken to translating the journal to unlock any secrets from his past, as Jondar had. It was proving to be a lengthy task.
Kormac stood and walked to the deck. He drew his sword, practicing the training he had learned in the order.
Then sun beat heavily down on the deck, their journey was nearing its end and the hot sun of the east was bearing down on him. It had been a long time since Kormac was in a place of such warmth. It didn't take long before Kormac was sweating, he pulled his shirt over his shoulders and tossed it aside before continuing.
Natasha walked up to the deck and stopped as soon as she saw Kormac. She knew he was a muscular man but hot damn, he looked good with his shirt off. She watched mesmerized by the way his muscles rippled as he swung the sword. Natasha could see the sweat drip down his skin and imagined what it would feel like to have his skin pressed against hers and hated how much she longed for his touch. He was the first man she had ever met who affected her this way. She met plenty of men in her travels but nothing had matter to her then, other than her revenge. It seemed that was slowly changing, now she wanted something more, much more.
Natasha could feel her cheeks flush as she made eye contact with Kormac. Could he tell what she had thought of?
Kormac tensed, he wasn't sure what to say but he didn't want her to leave. He watched to see what she would do. He was amazed at how well she dealt with the heat, even during the hottest part of the day she still wore the red scarf he had given her.
Natasha shared his gaze, watching as the heaving of his chest slowly became a more calm, steady rise and fall.
The wind blew and he watched as it danced through her hair, gently lifting the edge of the scarf off her shoulder. Kormac stepped closer to her, judging her reaction with each step. She didn't move an inch.
Natasha's heart hammered in her chest as he reached towards her, taking the scarf in his hand and placing it back over her shoulder. She mentally scolded herself for letting him have such an effect on her, she couldn't. She wanted him to touch her.
He gently ran his fingers through her hair, brushing it out of her face, it was softer than anything he had felt before. Kormac suddenly dropped his hand and racked his brain for something to say, anything.
"How are you feeling? I know the rocking of the boat makes you uneasy."
Almost as if to make his point the waves rocked the boat, making Natasha fall forward into his arms. He wanted to hold her there forever but she stepped back with a quickness that was nearly painful, almost as if she couldn't stand being near him. This made Kormac question what had happened the first night. He had thought that she wanted him to kiss her but the way she was acting now screamed the opposite.
Natasha saw the look in his eyes, almost sadness, as she moved away from him. How could he be sad? He had been the one to practically run away from her, and had made no attempt to be near her afterwards. She wanted nothing more than to stay there in her arms but she was stubborn and refused to be the one to try to mend the bridge that was slowly forming between them.
"I'm fine," she said and walked away.
Kormac watched her leave, he wanted so badly to go after her, but he couldn't trust himself. He tried to think of his vows . . . blasted vows.
He watched Natasha as she walked away quickly, bumping into Lyndon on her way to her room.
"In a hurry, dear?"
Natasha sighed inwardly, Lyndon was the last person she wanted to speak to about it. She slumped her shoulder when she realized the only two people she had to talk to were Kormac and Lyndon. In that moment she missed the time when she traveled alone, far less trouble when you only have to be content with yourself for company.
"Not at all."
Lyndon gave her a questioning look, "Oh? Then still seasick?" Natasha found herself annoyed at his tone, Kormac and Lyndon seemed particularly fond of picking at her shortcomings. "Maybe I'm just sick of being in the company of you men!"
"Why, I'm positively wounded," he said smirking, "and here I absolutely love your company."
Natasha rolled her eyes, knowing how utterly insincere his comment was and shoved him out of her way.
Lyndon continued on and turned to Kormac, "Don't suppose you know what's put her in a foul mood?"
"What, you aren't enough?" Kormac said before turning to continue taking his frustration out on the air. He heard Lyndon grumble before he, too, left in the opposite direction.
Kormac trained until his arms could hardly lift his blade, and there wasn't much light, other than the stars, to see it with. He walked to his room but stopped at Natasha's door, he wanted to clear the air before they reached Caldeum, she managed to avoid him well enough confined to a ship with him and he didn't want to imagine how little he would see her with a whole desert to escape to.
He knocked gently on the door.
After a few moments of silence he decided to test his luck and slowly opened the door. He found her laying in the bed, asleep. She tossed about and he felt pained watching her, even in her sleep she felt unrest. He was turning to leave when he heard her speak. "Halissa." It started out as a soft murmur and grew louder until Natasha screamed her name, tears streaming down her cheeks. Natasha reached out, rolling over the edge of the bed. Kormac dropped to the ground and caught her before she hit the floor. Natasha tossed about in his arms, not knowing what else to do he pulled her closer and rocked her in his arms, smoothing her hair down and whispering, "It's okay," over and over. Slowly she calmed in his arms and woke, her eyes slowly opened. In that moment she felt something that she had never felt in another's company; safe.
"Kormac," she said, her voice barely loud enough for him to hear. She clutched his shirt and sobbed into his chest. He waited patiently, just holding her until she finished. She lifted her head from his chest but didn't look at him. Natasha brushed her hand down his chest, where her tears had soaked his shirt, the feeling sent a shiver down his spine.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking into his eyes. He nodded and waited a moment before asking, "Who is Halissa?"
"My sister."
"Oh." Kormac pulled her into a tight embrace, happy that she didn't resist his touch, he lifted her up and placed her back in the bed, she smiled at him before he left.
"Wait," she called to him, "will you. . .stay? Just for a little while."
"Of course." He sat in a chair near her bed until she fell asleep again.
Kormac left, pulling the door closed and smiled to himself. He walked to his own room and almost as soon as his head hit the pillow he fell into a deep sleep.