Free Orion by Cyndi Goodgame Page B

trutted a bit at his smart remark.
    Calum took two fluid steps backward and punched his arm, hard!  His face went close to Derrick ’s and I could have sworn nothing was said, but he must of because his head shot to the side of Calum’s peeking out, “Sorry, Stace.  You’re just so hot. I don’t know what got into me.  Just asking for a share.”
    Calum growled.
    He looked at Derrick and nodded.  Derrick nodded back.  Derrick yelled out, “Okay already, get back to practice.  Quit your rubbernecking.”  And just like that, everyone moved back to their places.  Derrick and the other boy who I’d not met yet formally were flanking the sides of the bow area like bouncers.
    I grabbed an arrow and handed it to him seeing him think heavily ab out something.  Absolutely no one was looking at the exchange.
    “You ’re mine next, Princess!” A growl of desire like a character from one of my books came from Calum. 
    Alarm hit me as I ignored the feeling it sent, “Why did you call me that?”  My face must of spoke loads.
    “Um…sorry.  Only being…funny I guess.”  Calum ’s face distorted so. 
    “You ’re right.  I’m sorry.”  I told myself to think fast.  “Sorry, my dad calls me that.  Just not used to men calling me that.”
    “Men?  What do other men call you then?” he choked not smiling.
    “Um, Stace .  The only men, boys, etc. I’ve ever known are my tutors, Dyer, my dad, and now you.”  I saw Calum’s shorter friend pop his head to me eavesdropping.
      “Who is Dyer?”
    “A boy who was tutored with me.  He is back in Russia now.  Why?”  This seemed like really off behavior to me.
    “Oh.  Sorry.  No reason,” a fear coming from Calum again as he tossed a look back to the unknown friend.  I ’m really confused with his fears.  They aren’t like the fears of other men.  This fear seems to pop up when he was talking about me.  Hmm!  
    These Hunter s were strange to say the least.
    I motioned for him to turn.  “Back to work.  Time will run out and my turn will be lost.”
    “Not lost.  I will have my glory moment.”
    I laughed totally losing any thought of danger.  This was fun.  He was great.  I’d never laughed this much. 
    “Ah, she laughs.  What else hath I not seen?”
    “Tis’ not for you to know my dear Romeo.”  This was thrilling.
    “Ah, tis ’ well versed in Shakespeare also, my dear Juliet.”
    Both of us were laughing now!
    “Yes, found me out.  My weakness.  Now, I shall find out yours.”
    “Tis’ already shown, for sure, is it not.  For my lady, you are.” His face didn’t change, but he held his breathe I noticed very close to my face.
    I gasped.  He just said I am his weakness.  What did I do?  I didn ’t mean to do that.  Is this bad?
    He was turned sideways so he only heard the gasp and didn ’t see my face.   Composed again, I reached for his elbow when he positioned.  “Hit me with your best shot,” I muttered more to myself.  He flinched at my press to the top of his shirt.  It was warm where his skin touched it. When he arched the arrow back I saw that his arrow was not leaned against his cheek.  In my haste I reached my hand up to the arrow to tip it into his cheek.  Simultaneously, he released the arrow at precisely the same time I touched my fingertips to his cheek.
    And…
    The arrow slammed into the wall below the Roman numeral clock hanging dead center to the entire room’s back wall.  I got so caught up in the wittiness of this Hunter boy I’ve endangered the rest.  Half of the gym that it soared towards was now in a duck and cover.  And I was frozen stiff standing next to Calum who, in error, whipped around and knocked me in the head with his huge hand, was now catching me as I was falling into blackness. 
    When I came to, Calum was above my face breathing laborously into it with the same musky scent I’d just had a whiff of standing close to him.  Like the guys from sparring all