The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 32 [win some, lose some]

Most of dinner was silent, everyone seemed tired. It was hard to believe that just this morning there had been an attack on the house. It had seemed like ages ago and nothing down here looked like it has been amidst a fight, nothing was broken or out of shape. I wondered if Garth had fixed the window in his bedroom and if he had glass all over his bed.

Connor stretched his arms over his head when he finished eating and Garth stood. “I’m getting to bed early. I’ve got a lot of things to attend to tomorrow with the arrival of most the clan leaders and whoever they drag along.” He patted Larkin on the head and made his exit.

Connor got up. “I’m likely to stay up for a few more hours but I believe I’ll read a while before shut eye.” He raised one eyebrow. “I’ll put my blockers in.”

He left and I turned to Larkin. “Blockers?”

Larkin turned in his chair, facing me. “Ear plugs. They use some sort of physics sound wave cancellation technology that stop him from hearing the outside world.”

Oh. I felt my cheeks warm.

“Do you want to play a game? Or… watch another movie?” he asked, hiding his mouth behind his hand as he yawned.

I reached forward and brushed my fingers over the back of his hand. He stared down at the connection and didn’t seem to breathe. I nearly chuckled. Maybe what had changed was that I was more accepting of him, approaching him didn’t worry me anymore.

“I’m going to follow Garth’s lead and hit the hay,” I said softly.

He snatched my fingers into his palm and held them tight. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’m also tired.” He stood and tugged me upright. I yelped when he bent and hooked his arm beneath my knees before straightening and holding me in front of him. In a panicked moment, I grabbed at his shoulders and widened my eyes in shock.

“Larkin, what the…? Put me down!”

He grinned childishly. “I didn’t get to show off this morning when I got you upstairs so quickly. I could carry you for hours.”

“Well, that’s just great,” I said hurriedly, considering a safe way to get out of his hold without landing on my head or hurting him. “But I’m not exactly small and you’re not exactly your dad with the big, big muscles.”

He looked down on me disappointedly. “When we get to bed, remind me to tell you how I bench press more than your weight at the gym twice a week. And how I squat more than twice your weight. And you, puppet, are the perfect size.”

He nudged the door to my room wide with his foot and dropped me onto the bed. I bounced for a moment, still shocked. Very slowly, I pulled myself upright and slipped my shoes off my feet. I couldn’t be bothered changing my clothes and Lark’s big top was comfortable… I wanted to sleep in it. So I scooted under the covers and looked at the wall. I avoided looking at Larkin because I knew he would be taking his t-shirt off and I was already feeling awkward enough without ogling him.

The other side of the bed creaked and I heard him taking off his shoes before he lifted the covers and slid beneath them. I tensed, even though I knew he wasn’t about to attack me.

“One goodnight kiss?” he asked.

I rolled over to face him and he wasted no time, hooking his arm around my waist and dragging me over so that I was pressed against him. But once I was there, he simply held me and though I couldn’t see his features clearly, I could tell his eyes were roving over my face. I smiled and lifted my head up to press my lips against his. I could feel his heart’s pace quicken and felt a spark of happiness knowing that I had caused it. I tentatively brushed my lips back and forth over his and then his stillness broke and he was kissing me back. His hand at the small of my back pulled me tightly against him and I felt bursts of warmth wherever his body met mine.