If you are allergic to "ZukoxKatara or Zutaran" type stories [Steamy/waterxfire]. The whole story has a sort of "Zutaran" theme but not really. Because its mine. And its more fun.
So. You have been fair warned. If you read and are offended, that is your own fault for reading it. That said, I appreciate any comments on what I can do to improve this piece. Critiques are very much welcomed! Read on please! ^^
So. You have been fair warned. If you read and are offended, that is your own fault for reading it. That said, I appreciate any comments on what I can do to improve this piece. Critiques are very much welcomed! Read on please! ^^
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•Chapter Two • Cold•
"No."
I turn and look at the man called Zain, confused by his refusal. Didn't he want to be free? Didn't he want to be able to do as he wished? Didn't he understand that I didn't want to own him, I wanted to help him?
"Why?" I asked him, anger and the hurt of rejection making my words harsher than I had intended them to be. "Why not?"
"Because I am too stubborn for someone like you," he replied simply, looking smug as he watched the play of emotions on my face.
"Like hell!" I screamed, suddenly outraged by this man. Who did he think he was?! Saying that he was too stubborn for me! Hmmph, I thought, glaring at him before I turned back to the trader, He thinks he's stubborn. I'll show him stubborn. Ridiculous man!
"Sir," I addressed the trader, drawing out a bag brimming with gold coins, "I would really like to buy that man. I'm quite certain I have enough to pay for him."
"Um.." The trader eyed the bag hungrily, and I could see his conflicting emotions clear on his face. He wanted the money, but something in him still didn't want to give Zain up that easily. Please let greed win out, I prayed, chewing on my lower lip as I watched the man carefully. "Well um miss," he started, stroking his chin as he stared at the money bag I still held in my hand, "Why do you want him?"
"Sir," I said, my tone blunt and to the point, "I live alone in a large house. I'm a healer and I also run a small inn. Everyone in this village works so I very rarely have any help. A strong man like him would be very helpful to me."
The man blinked and glanced at Zain before looking back at me and smiling cheerfully. "Well, congratulations miss. You have a new helper." He held out his hand for the bag and I dropped five gold and ten silver coins into his outstretched palm.
"Thank you sir," I smiled sweetly and looked back at Zain, a slight frown forming on my face as I studied him. Shiny, blue black hair and skin browned by the sun marked him as handsome while his broad shoulders and height of six feet made him tower over everyone else in the village. His hypnotic golden eyes glared at me, and the warmth that had suffused my being earlier was replaced by a bitter cold. "Come on, Zain." What is going on here? I wondered as I led him back to my home, forgetting the purchases I'd made earlier in the day that now littered the ground in the village square. Where is the warmth? Why am I suddenly so cold? Why do I get the feeling that he hates me now?
"So, Mr Zain," I started once we reached the house and were safely inside, hidden from prying eyes, "Do you have a last name?"
I had my back turned to him and wasn't really paying any attention, so I didn't hear him walk up behind me. I was turning to ask him my question again when he grabbed me and covered my mouth with a callused hand.
"Why?" He growled at me, keeping a hand over my mouth and pulling me closer with the other. "Why did you buy me?! Why do you keep appearing in my dreams? Who are you dammit?!"
Growling again, he removed the hand that was covering my mouth only to replace it with his lips. I gasped at the contact and gripped his arms for support, trying not to melt in his hot kiss. Growling, he placed both of his hands on my hips and pushed me back into a wall, ravaging my mouth and grinding against me at the same time.
"Ah.." I whimpered at the anger behind his kiss, and yet I arched against him, encouraging him and wanting more. Wanting what had been in the dream.
And then suddenly he stopped, letting go of me and stalking off, leaving me leaning against the wall for support. Oh.My.God. I thought, pressing a hand against my heart, trying to still its fast beat. What just happened?
"Dammit to hell," Zain cursed as he paced up and down the hall. "Why did I do that? Why? That was uncalled for. Rude and uncalled for and…" He paused, afraid to say the word out loud. Afraid that saying the word might make the situation worse than it already was. But he had no will in the matter, and his heart dared to utter the word his lips would not. Hot.
"No no no." He muttered, shaking his head and leaning against the wall. "There's got to be a rational explanation for why she looks like the woman in the dream. But how do I explain the kiss?" Growling again, he turned and was about to vent his frustration on the wall when he heard laughter. Looking up, he followed the sound of the laughter to the end of the hall and stopped in shock.
Giggling and blushing like a school girl, was the woman, shyly staring at the floor and slowly, almost imperceptibly, edging away from a man standing beside her. Zain growled as he watched the man flirt with her, following her slow steps towards the kitchen. For awhile, he watched the man flirt with the woman, angry as hell but unable to make himself move.
He was just about to decide that everything was alright, it was just flirting, when he saw the man lean in. That's it! Zain thought, growling and quickly stalking over towards the couple. No one kisses her but me!
"Please excuse me madam, for my actions earlier." I gasped and turned to see Zain standing just behind Kyle Fortense, a glimmer of anger in his eyes. Why is he angry? I wondered, blinking at him. And then it hit me what he was doing there.
"Oh! Yes, yes. Right." I said, quickly sliding behind the reception counter in front of the kitchen, "Where did you run off to? I hadn't shown you your room yet."
I watched something flicker across Zain's face before he regained control of his composure. What is going on? "I went wandering, madam. I am sorry to have worried you." I blinked in surprise when he bowed low to me, and I wondered at the sudden attitude change.
"That's fi-" I started but Kyle cut me off, his voice full of anger and suspicion.
"Who the hell are you?!" He demanded, stalking over to Zain and pushing him backwards a little bit. "Why are you here?!"
"I am the lady's servant, milord." Zain blinked innocently as he stared at Kyle, silently daring him to push him again. I bit my lip, nervously watching the silent standoff between the two men.
Both of them were well muscled, but Zain was taller by at least three inches and probably smarter. Kyle was… Well, Kyle was the village chieftain's son. There was nothing that I could do to him without being reprimanded for my actions. And whatever Zain did, would fall back on me since I had bought him and he was therefore under my command. I was just about to tell them to stop it, but right then, Kyle decided to push his luck and shove my "servant."
"No!" I yelped, watching in horror as Zain grabbed Kyle and twisted him around until the smaller man was lying on the floor, both hands held behind him and his head being held up by Zain's other hand. I couldn't move, for the fear that was gripping me as I stared at the scene before me.
Zain was holding Kyle down on the floor with one hand holding his head up with the other. But he was telling him something as well, and I could tell by the way he gripped Kyle's hair that he was expressing how pissed he was. And I wanted to know what he was saying, but I was only human.
"Stay away from her," Zain growled, murderous intent clear in his eyes as he glared at the man he held captive. "If I see you here again I won't hesitate to smack you around and make you understand my warning better. I do not want you near her."
The man just glared right back, not flinching, but desperately struggling to escape his tight hold. "Do you understand, milord?" He nodded quickly, and continued to struggle.
"Good." I sighed in relief when I saw Zain release his captive, only to gasp when Kyle lunged at him. But I needn't have worried that Zain would grab him again, because all he did was block while Kyle tried everyway he knew to land a punch. But it was all for naught. And when Kyle was flat on his back on the floor, I could only stare in awe.
Zain hadn't even broken a sweat, and yet he had laid the chieftain's son flat. Who was this man that I had brought into my home?!
"You filthy piece of shit," Kyle growled, wiping sweat off his brow he stood up. "I don't know who you are, but you are not going to be here for very much longer, I can promise you that!"
"Kyle!" I yelled, running out from behind the counter and getting between them. "Kyle," I growled, glaring at him, "Stop it! I don't know what you're trying to prove by picking a fight with my help, and I don't particularly care. But you need to stop. Now."
"But Tish!" He whined, gesturing at Zain behind me, a look of incredulity in his sapphire eyes. "He started it! I was just..."
"Go home Kyle. Now." I gestured at a bowl of water sitting on the counter, feeling the water eagerly flow into my hand and form into the shape of a bullwhip. "I don't want to have to use violence just to tell you to go home," I whispered, feeling the water formed bullwhip writhe at my side, eager to tear at someone's flesh. "So go. Now."
"Fine." He growled, slowly backing towards the door, and talking back to me as he went. "But either you make him leave or I will!" And then he was gone and I suddenly felt tired.
I should not be using my bending for violence, I thought, directing the water back to the bowl, That's probably why I feel tired. Sighing, I leaned against the counter, rubbing at my temples. Why does this always happen to me?
"Hey uh.." Zain started and then paused, rubbing at the back of his neck. I glanced up at him before turning and walking towards the kitchen, clearly ignoring him. "Hey! Wait up!" I grit my teeth and grabbed the bowl of water from the counter, intending to empty it and refill it with fresh water. "Tish!"
"What?!" I snapped and turned around, glaring at him. "What do you want Zain?!"
"I was just going to tell that your display back there was awesome." He lowered his eyes and shuffled his feet, acting as if he had been properly reprimanded. But I wasn't so fooled by the innocent act. "And.. I was wanting to..."
"To what, Zain?! God just spit it out already!"
"Fine!" He yelled, suddenly glaring back at me. "I was wanting to apologize for the kiss!"
I blinked and stared at him, watching the blush grow on his face and feeling it work on mine. "Oh," I said, setting the bowl of water down by the sink, "Well. That.." I blinked again and swallowed, at a loss for words. Why did he want to apologize? It wasn't like I had exactly been pushing him away. I was going to add say something else, but decided better on it and returned to what I had been doing.
Besides, I was still mad at him.
