The Kiss (C. A. Newsome) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: fantasy fairytale quest sleeping beauty, humor, neardeath experience heaven hell, mystery crime detective, sci fi postapocaliptic distopian alien invasion, blarney stone, paranormal vampire werewolf romance, romance historical regency, time travel highland scotland romance, ya urban high school bittersweet first love romance, contemporary secondchance love
Published: 2014-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

That First Kiss

S. Patrick O’Connell

The air in the tavern was a little too still in the warm autumn afternoon. An aroma of baking bread and roasting meat mingled with the sweet smell of fermented beverages and strong tobaccos. Merrick sat in the semi-darkness nursing a mug of thick foamy ale and pondering his ill fortune.

It had been thirteen months since he had landed in this nasty little backwater city-state and in that time he had found little employment for his skills. His purse was nearly empty and he wasn’t looking forward to another winter in this place―especially a winter with no means to pay for his warmth. His tunic was faded and torn in places; his leggings were grimy and stained; there was a hole in the bottom of his right slipper that simply would not stay mended, no matter what, and he had lost his hat somewhere along the line. A change of luck was more than overdue.

The curtain that covered the doorway in fairer weather pushed aside and a woman strode in and stopped to gain her bearings. She was tall and fair, with brown hair pulled back in the spacer style and a posture that showed confidence and authority. Her tight flight suit followed the curves of her muscular body, hugging her like an exoskeleton. A pair of gold ellipses on her shoulder announced her rank as captain.

After a moment to allow her eyes to adjust, the young woman approached the bar, leaning across to speak to the innkeeper. He gestured toward Merrick.

Could this be the appointment Merrick was waiting for? Most of his assignments on this world, so far, had involved lost goats and family feuds. Whatever the job, it would likely pay more than he had made in a year.

The woman looked Merrick over and then approached with what appeared to be an air of resignation.

“Are you the thief?” she asked.

“Please,” Merrick said, “I prefer ‘paladin’ or ‘advocate’ or ‘man-at-arms.’”

“I would prefer those things, too, but on short notice, you’re what I’m stuck with.”

Merrick signaled for the woman to have a seat.

“I am Merrick of Owsley,” he said. “And you would be?”

“I am Captain Severide,” the woman said. “Just call me ‘Captain.’ It’s what I answer to.”

Merrick was nearly overcome by the woman’s intense green eyes. He drew a deep breath to compose himself. Negotiating with authority figures required a special cleverness. Negotiating with a beautiful authority figure was going to require all the slickness Merrick could muster.

“So, I understand you need my help,” he said.

“Against my better judgment and all that I hold holy, it appears that I do. If I had time to spare, I believe I would hold out for someone a bit more . . .” she looked him up and down, “professional,” she finished, after a pause.

“Please, don’t let my appearance fool you,” Merrick said. “I am a traveler and not of this place. I do my best to fit in, but I assure you I am no simple bumpkin.”

“I

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