New chapter! Oookay this may be a little short… idk
I was on the veranda when I heard the apartment door open at around four thirty… early for Neal to be home.
"Where is she?" he asked Mozzie who stayed even though I insisted I needn't have a babysitter. He stepped onto the Veranda and I glanced up from my book.
A mixed look of worry and dread filled his eyes and I knew that Mozzie told him. I closed the book and lay it aside, all snide remarks I had planned fleeing.
"Neal, I-"
"Just," he cut me off, "Just tell me the truth. Are your people at war?" he asked taking a seat and pulling my hands into his own, engulfing my scarred warrior hands with his soft artist fingers.
I sighed defeated, "Yes."
"And obviously I can't stop you from going and leading instead from afar."
"I don't take the coward's way," I agreed.
"What am I going to do with you?" he sighs dropping his head. I lifted his face to mine and gave a little smile.
"Pray," I said. He gave me a confused look.
"Pray that God should give us strength. For if God is with us who can be against us?" Neal smiled and pushed an errant strand of hair behind my ear.
"I suppose you are right but will He listen to the prayers of a thief?"
"If you seek His help He is pleased because you asked it of your Father. He wants us to ask for forgiveness and help," I explained.
"You know a lot about this for a Half-demon" Neal smirked.
"Yeah I am a freak of nature," I snickered, knowing he knew my druid half was very holy.
He raised back up and went into the apartment to speak with Mozzie about something. Unconcerned I returned to my book.
"What are you reading?" his suddenly there voice asked. I jumped, clutching my chest in surprise.
"Jeez, Neal!" I muttered when I came back to my senses, "I'm gonna tell you like I told Moz. Don't startle me. I have a tendency to throw things when startled."
"Understood," he smirked, taking a seat. I lay my bare feet in his lap returning to my book.
"I' reading a book Isla gave me. A history of my people and our wars." He me an acknowledging sound as his hand stroked the top of my foot. I closed my eyes, forced to place the book aside once more.
"I get the sense I'm not going to get any reading done," I said in a somewhat joking manner.
"Not if we are going to make our dinner date with the Burkes'."
"Crap!" I yelped jumping up, "I completely forgot about that!" I dashed through the apartment running a brush through my waving locks, pulling on a button-down shirt, and a long flowing western skirt over my worn boots. I had just started weaving my hair into a braid when Neal's hand lighted on mine and he leaned forward, his lips brushing against my ear.
"I like it when you wear your hair down," he whispered. I felt blood rush to my face as I glanced at him. Neal placed a chaste kiss on my lips before mentioning we needed to get going.
Still flushed and in a bit of a daze, I gestured a farewell to Mozzie as we headed out the door.
Yeah it was super-short but I thought it was going to be longer! Don't kill me! I will try and get the following chapters to be longer.
DeansTrueGirl: You are always cold
Melinda: Yeah that pretty much says it all.