A/N: Once again, my thanks goes to my beta-reader Lady Gisborne 15.
Hope you all enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to leave your lovely review!
Guy cursed under his breath as he walked through the castle's cold, stone hallway. He already had a sleepless night and the brunette he met earlier didn't make it any easier, for now he was totally exhausted. Luckily, the Sheriff was out of town, which gave him an opportunity to catch up on some sleep, and for that he was grateful.
When he finally reached his chambers, he went directly to his bed; not bothering to take off any of his clothes, not even his boots. He slammed into the bed, buried his head into the pillow, and before his body had the chance to surrender to slumber, his mind drifted to his earlier encounter with the rather lively lass.
"I shall call you nothing, you ignorant fool!" Guy snapped at Malak. Who was still hovering above him.
"Why the foul mood?" Malak asked, tilting her head to her side in confusion, "I just wished to touch that handsome creature. I meant no harm, sir... honest."
"You are most definitely not touching anything that belongs to me." Guy hissed as he sensed his temper getting the better of him. It felt like his words couldn't reach her or were simply foreign to her ears, as she clearly showed no sign of comprehension regarding the situation she was in. She held no remorse for trespassing on his lands or for getting caught prying around like a thief. Nonetheless, it might have been due to the fact that she obviously had no idea who he was and what he was capable of, yet it ignited his bad-temper.
"Alright, I'm sorry for touching your property. I admit it, I was at fault, so please accept my deepest apologies." Malak stated sincerely, giving Guy a slight bow with her head.
This seemed to have the opposite effect on Guy than what the lass had hoped for. The guy clad in black seemed to be offended by her apology, and at the moment, she could clearly see that she was making him seethe with. She was about to say something in hope of soothing his anger, but stopped and decided her silence might be a better choice with this ill-tempered man. Therefore, she adjusted her position, trying to make her body comfortable, before silence dawned on both of them as they stared at each other.
Guy tried to calm himself, and felt the need to change his tactics if he really wanted to catch this annoying lass. He wholly admitted that his power was useless against her, since he could neveroverpower what he couldn't even touch; she was incredibly fast and agile, and was good at sensing her surroundings. At this point, he felt like he was trying to hunt down a deer; ironically, a deer is smart enough to sense danger. So, after analyzing the situation, he choose to ignore her apology and stood there in silence staring at her, whilst trying to come up with a plan, and hoping she would stay still until he did so.
All the while, Malak cupped her tiny face as she sat casually on the wooden beam with her thin legs dangling in the air while she stared at the man. It was at that moment, when she felt both her eyes and brain had just acknowledged, for the first time, the man standing a few inches below her. When she first encountered him, she didn't really focus at his features at all. He was just another male figure, as her senses were wildly set on the mare behind him. She knew she lacked concentration and could only focus on one thing at a time; it was a fact that she hated about herself. Nevertheless, she was now solely focused on this person, who called himself Guy of Gisborne.
He was around seven inches taller than her, and had quite a well-built body...no, it was more that just well-built. She flushed with thought. Clearly a rich man, she observed, since most people around here were merely skin and bones. Next, her eyes trailed up to his face, taking in his sharp features; he had piercing, blue eyes, a regal nose, and thin lips, which were twisted into a smirk that sent a shiver through her thin body. His hair was pitch black and framed his chiseled face perfectly. She kept staring in silence, allowing the features of the tall man she had just met to sink down and settle before her eyes widened in fascination.
"Like his mare…" She suddenly spoke softly, as if she was in a trance.
"What?" Guy asked rhetorically, he then tilted his head, and added with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, "'Like his mare', you say? Does that mean you find me handsome too?"
Malak clasped her hands over her mouth, and felt her face burning as she realized what she had said. Guy was clearly amused by her reaction, and thought that teasing the lass further might lower her gaurd. "So… if I remember correctly," He added with a sly grin, as he brashly tugged at his collar, "You can't help touching handsome creatures either?"
The lass gasped, she had never felt this embarrassed in her entire life, and as a result, she lost her balance and was so close to falling but her quick senses were acute enough to save her from further humiliation. She was barely able to hang on to the beam but managed to swiftly pull herself up and stand on her feet. Her embarrassment was now replaced with anger which soon changed to an emotion that she could not comprehend as she saw the sly grin below her turn into a smile accompanied by a low, heartfelt laugh. She had already acknowledged that he was one of the most handsome men she had ever met, but with that smile on his face, he was beyond handsome. She hid her face in her palms, as she felt a tingling sensation creeping across her cheeks.
Down on the ground, Guy was surprised by his own actions and lack of judgment; he was never the type to act so obscenely, and he had never even known he could still laugh the way he used to sixteen years ago. He crossed his arms defensively and let out a curt cough, clearing his throat, while trying to regain his lost composure. However, before he could say anything, sunrays crept into the stables, at last declaring the arrival of a new morning. The moment the rays had found their way through Malak's slender fingers, she jumped and darted her eyes to one of the openings.
"O' God! It's already this late!" She exclaimed, "How did time pass by so fast?!"
She ran over the beam, jumped gracefully to the one above it and once she reached one of the openings in the barn walls, she looked down at the baffled man, who was now at least seven feet below her, and said with the brightest smile she could muster, "It was really nice making your acquaintance Guy of Gisborne." And before disappearing through the window, she added, "You should always smile, it really suits you."
It was Guy's turn to blush; he hated it but accepted it grimly, for the young lass was something different, dare he say special? She managed to bring out a side of him that he had no idea he had, and another, which he thought was long gone. It made him feel so light and free, something he never felt around anyone, not even around his beloved Lady Marian.