Page 132 of Tiger's Dream
“No. I mean, you don’t have to. I don’t expect that. It’s not…it’s not the way a man should treat a woman.”
Ana sighed. “Will you say what you will and cease bumbling about? It wears on my patience to listen to you sawing back and forth about things that make no sense.”
“There. You see?” I said, pointing a finger at her. “That’s what I’m talking about. I’m trying to be understanding here. I don’t think I’m that hard to get along with, but then you have to go and throw things back in my face, and it’s all I can do to be a nice guy.”
“Yes, I know. You are next going to tell me all about how you got along with Kelsey famously.”
“Ididget along with Kelsey. She was easy compared to you.”
“Fine! Then if she makes you happy, you should just go back to her time and leave me alone. I don’t need your help and I certainly don’t want you feeling trapped by my side.”
Turning, she headed off through the trees and I scrambled to follow. “Ana, wait. Ana, please stop. I’m sorry. Believe it or not, I was trying to apologize.”
She spun quickly and stalked toward me. Stopping a few inches away from me, her body tense with anger and her jewel-like eyes steely, she said, “Then say what you will, Kishan, and get it over with.”
“First of all, you need to know that I don’t feel trapped. At least, not anymore. I want to be here, helping you. Second, Kelsey, is a part of my past. An important one, yes, but I have accepted that she’s with my brother. She’s happy with him. I won’t interfere with that.”
“And third?” she mumbled quietly. The wrath had gone out of her. She’d deflated like a balloon.
“Third? I don’t like you calling me Kishan. I much prefer Sohan.”
Her lip twitched. “Would you prefer instead Prince Sohan the Great?”
“Don’t get me distracted. I haven’t even gotten to the most important part.”
“And that is?”
I held out my hands. She glanced down, pursed her lips, and finally placed her hands in mine.
“The last point is…no matter how angry I get or how frustrated I am, I would never, ever treat you like the man who abused you.”
She opened her mouth to speak and I shook her hands lightly.
“Let me finish. I don’t expect anything from you, Ana. You don’t have to rub my shoulders, kiss me, or even hug me. In fact, I am perfectly content to serve as your tiger for the rest of my existence. You can consider me a protector, like your brother. I know what you’ve been through and I won’t be the one to cause you more pain. Please believe this, Ana, trust me when I say that I will never,everlay my hands on you in that way.”
I lowered my head to look into her face, hoping she would see my earnestness. Again, a myriad of emotions played beneath the surface but she kept them hidden from me. Squeezing her hands, I said, “Do you understand, Ana?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice dull and low, “I understand.”
“Good.” I blew out a breath and gave her what I hoped was a brotherly sort of smile. “Now, what’s next on our list? The four houses?”
“No,” she answered distractedly. “Yes.” She shook her head and stepped away. “I mean, can we do it tomorrow? I feel weary.”
Concerned, I touched her shoulder. “Of course, I mean, yes, you’ve been using a great deal of your power. You must be exhausted. We should get some sleep. Do you want to go home?”
“No. Our work here is unfinished. Perhaps we can sleep here?”
“Yeah.” I ran a hand through my hair and turned in a circle, considering. An idea sprang to mind. “I, um, I know a place. Maybe you’d like to try the Grove of Dreams? I slept there once with Kelsey.” I winced right after I said it, knowing it might still be a sore spot, but she just nodded uninterestedly.
I led her to the site and groaned when I remembered that we were creating everything. “Do you trust me to handle this one?” I asked.
She waved a hand and wandered over to pluck some flowers.
“Okay, here goes,” I said, and pulled from the powers of the goddess, accessing it through our connection. Using the earth piece of the amulet, I created the bower, and then, with the scarf, I fashioned a grand hanging bed that was strung between the trees like a large hammock. Flowers and vines grew to fill the gaps in the trees for privacy.
When I was done, she ran a hand over the mattress. “It looks comfortable,” she said. “Perhaps I should create one in my garden.”
“I’d be happy to make one for you.”
