Page 6 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Here,” he pointed to his stomach.
“Uhh…”
“You can’t hurt me,” he said with a smirk.
“Rude.”
She frowned but he only shrugged. “Just being honest. Punch me.”
“Alright.” She shook out her arms and resumed the stance.
“Stop hesitating and punch me, princess.”
“Okay okay.” She launched her fist at Casimir’s abs.
He didn’t even flinch when her hit landed. She looked at him, smiling broadly down at her, his eyes lit by the morning sun. She always forgot how tall he was until they were close like this. At a curvy five foot nine, she wasn’t short or small, but Casimir was a giant. At least half a foot taller than her—likely more. And he was large. Broad shoulders and his body made of muscle; he dwarfed her.
“That was weak. Punch me as hard as you can.”
She repeated the gesture, but he remained still as if nothing had even touched him.
“Oh, come on. I know you’re stronger than that.”
She let out a frustrated sigh and this time put all her weight into the punch. It landed in the center of Casimir’s stomach, and he released a small grunt.
“Better?” she asked, backing away.
“That might actually leave a tiny bruise,” he said.
“Oh, you poor baby.”
He chuckled. “Now try to punch me in the face. I’m going to show you how to dodge it and take someone down.”
Ava’s fist flew through the air, but faster than she could comprehend, Casimir ducked, swept her legs out from under her and had her on her back, straddling her. And he’d done it without knocking the breath from her lungs.
“How did you do that?” She gasped.
“I’ll show you.”
3
Ava ran a hand over her face and groaned, tossing and turning in bed for the hundredth time. They’d be arriving in Saxumdale tomorrow and she was much too anxious to sleep. The silence from her otherwise empty cabin didn’t help.
Half an hour later, she was still awake when the door opened and closed, and she turned to find Raine taking off his shirt and boots.
“Scoot over,” he said as he approached the bed.
She sat up. “What? What are you doing? Where’s Casimir?”
“He got roped into the sailors’ games. So, I’m on Ava duty tonight and I’m too good-looking to sleep on the floor. Move over,” he repeated.
“I never said you could sleep in bed with me.”
“I’m not asking permission.” He pulled the blankets back and climbed in bed.
“Oh my god, you’re serious.”
“Absolutely.” He settled in beside her. “We can snuggle if you want. I mean, I’m no Cas…but you can pretend I am if it makes you feel better.”
