Where was Warwick?
He hadn’t told her he needed to go anywhere, but then the last time she’d seen him they’d… well they’d had other things on their minds. Thankfully no one was close enough to the room she’d slept in to hear what they’d done.
She heard voices, but no one appeared below her, and even if they did, they wouldn’t look up and find her. They always underestimated her, and over the years it had gone in her favor. Swinging her legs, she hummed softly and thought about the path her life would now take.
“Hello.”
Her shriek was more a squeak as she grabbed the branch to stop from falling. Peering down, she found the green eyes of the man she loved looking up at her.
“What are you doing up there, Samantha?”
“Hiding. How did you find me?”
“I heard you humming. I don’t like you up there. You could fall. Come down at once.”
“I have not fallen yet, and this is where I always hide.”
“Ah, so this is why we can rarely find you. Come down, Samantha.”
“Oh, very well.”
“Of course, now I know your secret you can only hide up there if I am with you.”
She didn’t add anything to that. Turning, she placed her foot on the branch below.
“I can see up your skirts.”
“That’s very ungentlemanly of you.”
“I never said I was a gentleman, my love.”
She smiled at the endearment. She was his love, as he was hers.
“Let go, I’ll catch you,” he said as she reached the lowest branch.
“I can—”
His hand gripped her ankle and tugged. She fell into his arms.
“You will never climb up there again. Do you understand me, Samantha? Never again. It’s too dangerous.” His face was inches from hers now, his arms holding her crushed to his chest.
“I-ah, I’m very good at climbing.”
“You’re now mine, Samantha. I will not allow anything to happen to you.” He kissed her softly. “Please don’t climb that high again.”
“Very well, but if you are with me I could. I like to climb trees.” For now, she’d agree.
“All right, that sounds reasonable.”
“Do I get to order you about too?” She looped her arms around his neck as he lowered her feet to the ground.
“Of course. That’s how this works.” He kissed the side of her neck, making her shiver.
“This being love?”
He hummed his agreement.
“I love you, Warwick Sinclair.”
