The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,99

wondered what would become of him when he left them. Fretting over this was something she was doing more and more, indeed it kept her awake at night. King needed company, needed looking after. He might be a big, strong looking fellow, and he was filling his clothes out properly now after plenty of rest and good healthy meals, but he wasn’t nearly as unbreakable as his appearance might suggest. There was a gentle soul beneath that fierce exterior. Seeing him with George was enough to illustrate that fact with no doubt. He adored the boy, and she feared leaving the children would hurt him more than he realised. If ever a man needed a family, it was King.

They had fallen behind the others and no one was paying them any mind, so Livvy slipped her hand into his. His gloves were of the finest leather and she felt the heat of him as his fingers curled about hers. He glanced down at her.

“Christmas already,” he said, smiling. “I don’t know where the time went.”

Livvy shook her head. “Me either. I… I wish….”

“Don’t,” he said, and she looked up sharply, aware of a desperate edge to his voice. He met her eyes, and she saw the apology there as he shook his head. He did not wish for them to speak of it, to acknowledge it. Well, perhaps that was for the best.

“Look, Ke re ow,” George sounded out, pointing as a large black bird swooped overhead.

“Crow!” Livvy said, smiling at him. “Quite right, well done, George, clever boy. It’s Mr Moon.”

King glowered. “Ugh.”

“Be nice,” Livvy warned him, smiling, even though she wanted to cry.

“S’alright, Ing,” George said, patting his shoulder. “No be ‘fraid. George keep Ing safe.”

King gave a surprised little laugh and hugged George to him. “Thank you. Thank you, George,” he said, and Livvy had to hurry away as tears pricked at her eyes and her throat grew tight.

By lunchtime, they had a huge barrow full of greenery, holy and ivy and evergreen, laurel and hawthorn, but still no mistletoe. The children were cold and hungry by now though, so everyone headed back towards the house. Livvy turned to see where King was, realising he was not giving up the hunt. Charlie had taken George and the other children were rushing home with the prospect of hot chocolate and food giving them a last burst of energy. No one was paying her any mind, and though she knew he would be cross with her, she would not let King leave with nothing said between them. She was desperate to feel his arms about her again, and the very least he owed her was a kiss after thwarting her plans so thoroughly.

She crept through the woodland as quietly as she could so he did not realise she was there until she was quite close to him.

He turned and saw her and let out a huff of laughter. “I should have known.”

“You did know,” she said, smiling at him. “You wanted me to come after you.”

He lowered his eyes and looked away from her.

“Yes,” he said simply. “Though I thought perhaps good sense might prevail.”

“Don’t be silly.”

She moved closer to him and then stilled as something caught her eye. “Oh, King, look,” she said, laughing now. “How perfect.”

King looked up, to see a large ball of mistletoe in the branches of the tree he was standing beneath. He shook his head. “The universe is conspiring against me as usual,” he said with a snort.

Livvy moved closer, relieved when he didn’t step away. “Perhaps the universe knows a thing or two that we don’t,” she said softly and slid her arms about his waist.

King let out a breath. “I wish it would give me a bit of help in that case.”

“I think this one is easy enough to interpret,” Livvy said, reaching up with one hand and drawing his head down, seeking his mouth.

“Livvy,” he protested, but it was a half-hearted effort at best.

He kissed her, pulling her into his arms, so tight she could hardly breathe, his kiss so fierce it was as though he needed it like he needed air. Livvy’s heart raced in her chest, giddy with desire and happiness and longing and the desperation of knowing this was all she would have of him.

“King, oh, King, I can’t bear it.”

“Don’t, Livvy, don’t say it, I can’t…”

Livvy heard the pain in his voice and her heart leapt even as she knew it changed nothing. He did care,