Now on the outskirts of the crowd, but not far enough to be singled out, she could see the reason for the speedy exit. A pair of women were approaching rapidly, both with a hungry look in their eyes. Chris unconsciously took a step back, but the strong arms kept her from going anywhere.
"Not a chance," he whispered into her ear, "This is your fault. So you are going to help me get out of it."
Chris wasn't entirely sure what exactly she had gotten him into, but if it was enough to make Zeven tense, she was confident that she did not want to be involved either. His grip tightened around her almost reassuring in nature as the women got closer.
The women were like beautiful tigresses as they stalked their prey. Both were young women, hardly older than Chris, and were peerless in looks. There were both brunettes, but their hair was on opposite sides of the spectrum. The taller of the two had chestnut hair that was cropped close to her head, while the shorter one, whose head stopped just above Chris's shoulder had long locks in a color akin to toffee.
She couldn't help but stare at the two women in front of them, which was the wrong move as Zeven's large hand manually guided her face away and into his chest. Fighting the urge to hit him, she took her good arm and wrapped it around his front clinging to the fabric of his shirt.
"Can I help you lovely ladies?"
The tall woman spoke first, her eyes half lidded, "I have a feeling that we have met before."
"That may be true, but I feel there is a better time and place for this discussion. If there is nothing else I can do for you, we'll be on our way."
Zeven politely tried to end the conversation but the shorter one chimed in before he could get away.
"What did you say your name was again?"
"I don't believe I did." This time Zeven clearly ended the conversation, taking a step back towards the crowd.
"Well you should." the taller one filled the spot where Chris was, pushing her out of Zeven's arms. Chris's eyes grew large as she watched her stand on her toes and whisper into Zeven's ear. Her eyes were drawn to the way her left knee brushed against his leg.
"Your chest is so big, I bet the rest of you is big too." the woman worked her hands up and then down Zeven's arms. Placing them on her hips. His hands seemed to fit perfectly around them. "And your arms feel so nice wrapped tightly around me. You are so masculine and strong." Her hands traipsed up his body again. Running a lightly curled hand across his face. "With your chiseled jaw and sharp cheekbones, I'll have to be careful not to cut my hand." She drew a hand back from his face shaking and blowing on it, "It's a shame that you are covering your face with those glasses." she grabbed his glasses and held them in the hand she wrapped around his neck. The other hand stayed on his face, pulling his face closer and down to meet her lips.
Hungrily she nipped and sucked at his lips, trying to elicit a response from him. But he remained indifferent, neither contributing or pulling away.
Chris felt queasy just watching them. The woman looked like she was trying to eat his face, and her friend was doing nothing to stop the situation. Remembering what Zeven had said earlier about her having to fix the situation she caused, she sighed.
"Oxygen deprivation kills."
It was enough to make the woman pull away, and to Chris's disgust a trail of spit connected her lips to Zeven's. "Excuse me?"
"My friend there, you seem to be stuck to his face."
This time it was Zeven's turn to speak up in objection, "Excuse me? Friend? I am your husband." He had yet to push the other girl away, but he did turn to look at Chris.
Her fists clenched and her eyes narrowed at Zeven's comment. The smile on her face did little to conceal her irritation.
The woman's friend with long hair stepped closer, making direct eye contact with Chris. "She's welcome to join us." The girl closed the gap between them at lightning speed. She was shorter than Chris by a goodly amount, so she swung her arms around Chris's head and lowered her face into reach.
In her shock Chris froze, her lips slightly agape. But when the girl's tongue invaded her mouth she snapped back into action.
Zeven stepped out of the first woman's arms just in time to catch Chris's arm as she swung out blindly. Grabbing her arm as it moved, he twisted her into his own arms detaining her there. She was pinned to his front, her chin didn't quite reach his shoulder so her face rolled to the side. His hands held her firmly in place as she squirmed to get away from him.
"My apologies, she is-" Chris stomped on his foot causing him to let out a low hiss, "-shy." he finished through gritted teeth. His grip tightened around Chris, warning her against any such action in the future.
Chris managed to maneuver her head just enough that she could see the woman out of the corner of her eye. They stood closer together now, almost shoulder to shoulder a few feet in front of them. Zeven held his hand out for his glasses to be returned to him. Once they were back in his hand he immediately put them back on before returning his hand to Chris.
Then the faces of women changed quickly as they looked at each other, back at Zeven, and then back at each other before practically dashing away. Since she couldn't see Zeven's face, she assumed that he must have mouthed something to them to make them leave in such a rush.
But as she felt Zeven stiffen against her, she knew that something else must be at play.
"Oww. OWW!" His hands loosened around her enabling her escape.
He was hunched over, led by his ear which was currently being twisted by an older woman. His hands held on to her wrist attempting to ease the tug on his ear, however he did not try to break free. Something that would have been a simple feat for Zeven.
That's when Chris realized that Zeven didn't want to hurt her. He was intentionally avoiding fighting back. She couldn't hear what was being said past Zeven's cries, but she could see the woman's mouth moving as she talked directly into the ear she had a hold of.
She was still holding Zeven's ear when she turned to look at Chris. Surprisingly when she looked at her there was no trace of anything other than a tender maternal feeling.
"You must be Chris. It's a pleasure to meet you." She extended the hand that was not twisting Zeven's ear. Chris took it out of fear more than anything. Any person who could subdue Zeven like that was not someone to be trifled with.
"The pleasure is all mine, ma'am." Chris placed a kiss on the back of her hand, adding in a stiff bow. The woman twisted Zeven's ear making his look at Chris. "That is how a prince should act Zeven, you should be taking note-" her tone completely shifted as she went back to Chris. "-And please dear, call me Mammy."
"You've made your point, can I be released now?" Zeven's nose was scrunched and he was trying to look up at Mammy, but the angle made it hard to do so without also turning his head.
She let go and he immediately ran behind Chris. Mammy didn't seem to mind as she continued to talk to Chris.
"You are even lovelier than he described, how on earth did you get involved with someone like Zeven."
"I was kidnapped-"
"-You weren't kidnapped, you came willingly... Which is somehow worse."
Their responses were not shocking to her, when it came to Zeven she was aware that he could be overly forceful to get what he wanted.
"Oh my sweet, sweet Chris." Mammy's arms consumed Chris's narrow frame. While holding Chris, she turned around almost like she was trying to shield her from Zeven.
Chris was several inches taller than Mammy, so her head easily cleared her shoulder, putting Zeven in plain view. Mammy's embrace tightened, and Chris felt her injured shoulder ache.
Letting out a small hiss of pain, Mammy immediately let go and pulled back to look at Chris. Her eyes scanning for the source of pain. When she saw the way Chris had one shoulder tucked in tighter to her body than the other it was easy to deduce the injury.
Chris cast her gaze down, ashamed of her weakness.
"I assume that this is his work."
Chris nodded but didn't lift her head.
"And is his nose your's?"
Chris nodded again. Mammy looked at Zeven, he was also abashed. It was like they had been caught red handed.
"Well, I have no right to scrutinize what two adults do in bed."
It was easy to see Chris's face as it turned red; it crawled all the way up to her ears. Mammy's heart melted when she saw Chris blushing, so she couldn't resist pulling her into another hug. This time careful of her shoulder.
She mouthed to Zeven 'help', but he was of little use as he was trying his best to muffle his laughter. The glare she sent him didn't help the situation either.
"Zeven I hear you laughing. Don't be an ass." Chris's eyes went wide and she had to blink a few times, dumbfounded by Mammy's bravado. This woman must have eyes in the back of her head.
She finally let go of Chris. Keeping her hands on Chris's arms to ensure that she had her attention. Mammy's face grew serious, maternal. "Zeven really is a good person. Try not to hurt him."
"If you say things like that it'll ruin the entire reputation I have built up for myself."
Mammy didn't pay attention to Zeven's words. Instead she turned, raised her hand, and tousled his hair affectionately. He may not have particularly enjoyed it, but he did bend down so that she didn't have to reach as far. Cupping his face she pinched his cheek before letting go.
"It was nice to meet you Christopher." Before she could stop her, Mammy was patting Chris's head, much like she had to Zeven. Chris found the sensation to be comforting, surprising herself as she leaned into Mammy's hand slightly.
"You are a good kid. I can't wait to see what you do."