“Yeah. You’re hard, and strong, and self-reliant, and independent, but at the same time, you’re caring, and kind.”
“I’m not kind. I’m a Gargoyle,” he teased.
“You know you’re kind. And you know you’re a good male. You’ve never been anything but that with me.”
“Because you matter to me.”
“I also get the feeling you have a strong sense of right and wrong. You wouldn’t hurt anyone, or take advantage of anyone intentionally. Like I said, you’re a good male.”
He walked over and rested his pole next to hers, leaning it against the same tree stump she’d leaned hers against, then followed her over to the grassy bank and sat down beside her before leaning back on his elbows as he looked out over the small pond that was fed by the creek. “I think that in this life you truly only have your actions to speak for you. If you’re someone who takes advantage of others, you obviously don’t have a lot of integrity. But at the same time, you can’t be someone who’s so weak they set themselves up to be taken advantage of. I have no problem being whatever the situation calls for, dependent on who it is I’m dealing with. I’m often told I’m too blunt, too short with people. There are a lot of people that think I’m rather intimidating.”
“You? Intimidating? Not at all,” Angelle said with a smirk.
Boon chuckled. “I hope you don’t think I’m intimidating. There would never be a reason for you to fear me. I’d rather remove my own head before I caused you even one tear, much less caused you physical pain.”
Angelle turned her head to look directly at him. “I’m not afraid of you, Boon.”
Boon gave her a slightly sad smile. “I have to admit I thought that you might be.”
“I’m not the least bit intimidated by or afraid of you. I grew up with a Dragon for a father, and Wolves and Bears and Lions as family. I know that’s not exactly the same as you and some of your people, but it’s as close as it can be, I think.”
“You’re right. I have to admit, though, that I’m more than a little intimidated by you,” Boon confided.
“Me? You’re afraid of me?” Angelle asked.
“I am.”
“But I’m just a human! What could I possibly do to hurt you?”
“You could break me, Angelle. Shatter my heart, split my soul right in two.”
“I would never do that on purpose.”
“I don’t think you would. But all the power is still in your hands. And I’m trusting you. I have to, I have no choice.”
Angelle scooted over a little more closely to him and leaned her shoulder against his body, her head balanced on the curve of his shoulder. “I’m trusting you, too. Because I really want this, more than anything. And the thing I need most to secure it, is the thing that could break it apart all around me.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Allowing you to figure out that all that I really am, is all you see. There’s nothing terribly exciting, adventurous, or glamorous hidden beneath. There’s just me. And I’m as simple and plain as they come.”
Boon pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You are the most perfect female I’ve ever met. You are more than I dared dream existed. You’re all I want, and I want you exactly as you are,” he whispered to her.
Angelle took a deep breath, then slowly let it out, as her eyes closed and she relaxed against him. “I caught more fish than you,” she whispered.
She felt him smile as the skin of his face tightened with the movement against her hair. “You did, though I’m not sure it was fair and square.”
“It wasn’t my fault you don’t know how to fish with bologna and cheese.”
“True. That is true.”
“Do I still get whatever I want?”
“You will always get whatever you want.”
She turned her face up to him. “I’ve never been kissed.”
“Okay.”
