Page 22 of Hair, She Bears
“If I wanted to punish my father, I would have cut your hair and left you to his anger.” Malik raised his hand, closing it around a golden strand, then dragged his fingers down the tress and tucked it behind her ear. “Yes, there is the added benefit of revenge if you come with me. However, if I can’t locate your parents and must climb up here every day to see you, so be it.”
“You’re going to climb up here every day just to see me?”
“I’d prefer to do other things to you too, but…”
“Show me.” She was not given to rash decisions, but the reality of eternity weighed on her mind. Tonight could be her last moment of human contact, save her exchanges with Mother.
“Zenna.” Hesitancy saturated the word.
She scowled, pushed off the floor, and stalked to the window. Leaning out, she grabbed one shutter and pulled it closed, then repeated the process with the other shutter and latched the two of them together. When she finished, she spun around.
“I don’t know the depth of your talents, but there is a high probability you will not find my parents, or worse, Mother will discover your plan. If I’m going to be trapped in this tower for the rest of my life…”
“You’re not.”
“You can’t know that!” She untied the half-apron, ripped it from her waist, and slammed it down on the sofa, her heart hammering. “Your father controls what I wear, what I eat, where I sleep, and until now, who I see. You are my only chance to defy him.”
Malik opened his mouth.
She held up her hand. “Please, don’t tell me no.”
“Why would I tell you no?” He climbed to his feet and dragged a hand through his hair. “You should know, you look absolutely petrified.”
“I am.”
“That’s not really a motivating factor in my decision.”
“Do you want me to beg?”
A whisper of a smile crossed his mouth. “I do, but not yet.”
“Does that mean yes?”
“Are you certain you want to do this?”
“Absolutely.” Her head bobbed, a violent answer to his question.
He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Promise me, you’ll tell me the moment you change your mind.”
“I’m not going to.”
“How did you get to be so stubborn?” He cupped her face, his thumb skated across her lower lip.
“Years of practice.” She shivered, her eyes half-closed.
“Something my father never managed to beat from you?” he whispered.
“He didn’t beat it from you either.”
“True.”
Before she could react, Malik scooped her into his arms.
“What are you doing?” She squealed in shock.
“Taking you upstairs.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’d prefer a bed to the sofa, and yours is very comfortable.”
