Page 21 of The Fighter
“You look appetizing. Maybe I should sample you?”
I shifted in my seat. “Um, what did you say?”
Gennie was looking straight into my eyes, now, and speaking with a sultry voice. “Have you ever been kissed by a woman?”
“No.”
She leaned a little closer. “Would you like to?”
My eyes were staring at her lips as I tried to make my brain work.
“That’s enough, Gennie, back the fuck off.” Raven rose to her full height and came to stand next to me.
“There’s no need to be vulgar.”
“If you want to sleep with a thousand Nmen, go for it. I really don’t give a shit but pick someone else.”
Gennie broke into a small chuckle that sounded fake. “I see the Northlands rubbed off on you. Look at you swearing and being possessive.”
“That’s right, and you know what else I learned here?” Raven had a challenging glint in her eyes as she looked down on Gennie. “I learned to kick ass and since I’m not a man I won’t be held to the same laws. I could literally beat you up and not go to jail for it.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m educating you! Stay away from married men and get yourself under control.”
Gennie’s eyes darted between me and Raven, and even though she appeared to look calm, it was a telling sign that her fingers were fiddling with that necklace of hers again. “My mistake. I didn’t realize he was your husband.”
Raven placed her hands on her hips. “What Leo is or isn’t is none of your concern. Touch him and I’ll break your arms.”
I rose up from my chair. “Raven, calm down.”
“Iamcalm.”
“Is this interrogation over now?” Gennie pulled the blanket back over her shoulder and looked away.
“Yes. You didn’t commit any crime, but I’m warning you: you’re playing with fire. Gennie, our culture isn’t like the one you know back in the Motherlands. You are lucky that none of your lovers have killed each other yet.”
Gennie didn’t respond to my warning.
“Let’s go, Raven.” Placing my hand on the small of her back, I pushed her forward. It was unheard of for an unmarried man to touch a woman, but that rule was suspended with Raven during fight training, and as her mentor, I felt closer to her than most.
We had only just taken off in the drone when I turned to her. “What the hell was that about? You’ll break her arms if she touches me?”
Raven was looking straight ahead. “We were supposed to do our job, but you lost focus.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You were literally drooling.”
“I was surprised, that’s all. She said I looked appetizing.”
Raven rolled her eyes.
“What? You can’t blame me for wondering if she might have…”
“Might have what?”
“Tell me honestly, do you think she would’ve slept with me?”
