We walk from the back of the house down the large steps to the crushed granite path. Rochelle smiles, which causes my own. I veer to the left, off the path, and through a grouping of pink flowers, taking her on a short cut. We’re both careful not to crush any as we hop over the bushes. Her laughter draws me to look her way, her beauty captivating my heart entirely.

I’m nervous for some reason, but I keep guiding her. A few more steps and she’ll see it. She stops, another smile gracing her stunning face. The greenhouse is ahead, trees and tall bushes making for a dramatic presentation. The front is covered in a vine of Purple flowers and the entrance is lit by the setting sun, making it more magical, even to me.

“Dex, it’s even prettier in person than from the window upstairs.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I walk forward and open the door for her. Following her inside, I let the door close on its own. Moving to the other side of the center row of plants, I copy her slow, but steady pace as she admires the flowers blooming all around. I don’t bother with the flowers and admire her instead.

She says, “This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”

“My grandfather let the gardener do whatever he wanted. This was the gardener’s private sanctuary.”

“It’s where he kept the good stuff.”

“Yeah, it’s where he kept the good stuff.”

I hear a small gasp and look over at her. She says, “Dex, did you do this?”

The table for two is draped in linens and set with the finest china and crystal. A vase of pink flowers is in the center. “I arranged it. Does that count?”

“Yes,” she says, nodding. “That totally counts. It’s beautiful. Are we having dinner out here?”

“I thought you might like it.”

“I do. So much.” She comes to me, wrapping her arms around my middle and resting her cheek on my chest as we both look at the display before us.

It wasn’t meant to be a big deal, but somehow I realize at the same moment Rochelle does, this is a very big deal. And I’m not talking about the dinner or the little touches, or the surprises I still have in store for her. Being here with her, like this, is a big deal.

“Champagne?” I ask. I feel her nod against me and when she holds me a little tighter, I embrace her fully. “You okay?”

“More than okay. Thank you for doing this. I’m really touched.”

“C’mon before you get me all sentimental too.” I grab the champagne and pop the cork. After pouring her a glass, I set it on the table and pull her chair out, wanting to impress her. When I sit across from her, we toast, “To good times and even better company. Cheers.”

Dinner is served in three courses. I want us satisfied but not stuffed. There’s more planned for the evening ahead. After dessert, the table is cleared by the staff and the champagne bottle is replaced with a bottle of wine. With our glasses in hand, I escort her to the back part of the greenhouse where the heat sensitive and specialty plants are kept. I open the door and as we walk under the arbor, I spin her around, keeping her back to the surprise. “I wanted to thank you for coming here.” Before she can say anything, I kiss her, then slide my tongue down her neck, stopping to suck just enough to taste, but not enough to leave a mark. “You taste edible.”

A small moan escapes her before she whispers, “Are you wooing me, Mr. Caggiano?” I can tell she’s succumbing as her hands glide roughly over my shirt and stomach. She has a thing for my abs I’ve discovered. I do extra sit-ups just for her.

“Trying my hardest.”

“You don’t have to try that hard. I’m already pretty smitten.”

“I like you smitten,” I whisper. “Turn around.”

The queen size bed is on a platform angled in the corner. The sheets a pale green, the comforter white. Mosquito netting is draped around with flowers hanging down. Cynthia did a great job making this happen.

With a hand covering her mouth that’s dropped open in awe, Rochelle quickly closes it and says, “Do we get to sleep out here tonight?”

“If you want.”

“I definitely want to. It’s like a fairytale come to life. Dex,” she says, her excitement getting the best of her. “I can’t believe you did this. You gave me Neverland, again.” She takes my hand and does this little sway of her hips. “I’m liking this romancing business.” Signaling toward the bed, she adds, “I’m feeling like going to bed early. Wanna join—Oh my God! Are those butterflies?” Rochelle chases an orange and black butterfly until it lands and a yellow one flutters by, grabbing her attention. “Dex! They’re everywhere. Look around on the plants. Butterflies.”

I smile, enjoying seeing her so happy, flirtatious, and excited. Running up to me, she grabs me hard, her arms tight around my neck. “You did this. You did all of this for me?”

“I did. It’s all for you.”

“I’m going to spend all night showing you how grateful I am to have you in my life.” She kisses me and it’s not gentle.

“Ms. Floros, I could get used to this kind of gratitude on a regular basis.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

“Neither have you,” I say, holding her steady in my sights.

“You don’t even know what you do to me.” Another kiss lands on my lips as she holds me by my shirt to her. “Make love to me, Dex. I want you.”

The darkness outside and the plants along the walls protect us from outside prying eyes. “Take your clothes off and show me how much you want me.”

Her eyes are sultry, the challenge tempting her. Moving across the room, I turn the lights down, the glow of the candles adding to the mood. The shadowed butterflies still fly about and I lie on the bed, getting comfortable.

Keeping her eyes on me, she takes her shirt over her head and drops it on a chair nearby. Her fingers toy with her jeans like she’s toying with me. My cock is hard and getting harder from watching her before she even takes her shoes off. She turns around and bends over, giving me a full view of her fantastic ass as she takes her jeans down. The lace thong is a tease just like her. My palm rubs over my dick and I decide to give myself some more room to grow by unfastening my jeans.

Her arms reach around her back and she undoes the clasp of her bra with ease, letting it hang while she takes one strap and then the other down her arms. She turns back around, not hiding, but smirking and confident. Lifting the netting, she joins me on the bed by crawling up my body and pushing my shirt up as she goes. “Take your clothes off, Dex. Show me how much you want me,” she says, repeating my earlier demand.

Like her, I strip my clothes off, but without the production, then kneel down in front of her. Slowly, I run my hands up her soft skin. When my fingertips reach her panties, I start to descend, taking them with me. I press my lips to the inside of her thigh. This time sucking hard, wanting her marked as mine. Her fingers find the top of my head and she rubs them through my hair. Moving to her pussy, I mimic her by moving my tongue around her clit, her back arching as her body lowers, bringing her closer. I slide my hands under her ass, gripping her hips and licking, taunting, and fucking harder, eliciting the sexiest moans I’ve ever heard.

My hair is tugged and I inhale her while driving her mad with pleasure. She squirms and I hold on tighter until I hear her breathing stagger and her body starts to tighten. With her head tilted back, her mouth wide open, she comes with desperate moans as her body is overwhelmed and tremors.

“Dex!” Her back falls flat against the mattress and her breath returns, her thighs easing around my head. I place one more kiss on her pussy before I slide up next to her. Her lids are heavy and a smile resides on her face. “It’s been a while,” she says, as if I’m judging her.

“It’s been a while for both of us.” I roll over so I’m resting on her bare chest, our bodies aligned. She kisses me, then I whisper, “I haven’t been with anyone except you in almost a year.”

She kisses me again this time lingering on my lips. “I’ve not been with anyone else in the last three.”

My heart starts racing as I take in her words, her confession, and her commitment. Hovering over her, I feel the need to release my own confession, but this time not running away from fear of rejection. I say, “I love you.”

Her eyes stay locked on mine and she says, “I love you too.”

Pushing inside, her eyes close as her warmth engulfs me. I close my eyes and begin moving. The soft skin of her hand finds the rough surface of my face and she caresses. “Open your eyes, Dex.” Her words are uneven like our breathing.

When I lift my lids, I finally see the love I’ve waited for what feels like a lifetime. It lies in the depths of her amber eyes. A jolt of reality restarts my heart to make every beat count from this moment on. Her nails scrape lightly up my back setting every nerve on fire and I start thrusting, all my energy put into the act.

Rochelle squirms, taking all I give and giving all she has, her desire a turn on and her confidence sexy. “God, Dex. You feel so good.”

“You feel better.” My words are slurred from the haze I’m under. My body moves of its own accord, sensations and frustrations building deep inside. Her body drives me for more, making me want to steal her soul like she’s stolen mine. “Fuck. I’m gonna come soon.”

“Come with me. Harder. Faster.” Her words just escaping breaths. Her mouth tantalizes me, flipping my world upside down, and making me want to fuck her into oblivion. I fuck. I fuck hard as her groans of pleasure instigate. My eyes shut tight as I overcome desires that turn into bonfires, my body burning in her ecstasy as we come. I pulse and she squeezes, our bodies working as one with no end and no beginning, just us together.

I collapse, exhausted with no will or inclination to move. Rochelle’s fingers weave into my hair holding my head to hers. “I love you,” she whispers in my ear, making me smile.

With my eyes closed, I say, “I really could get used to this.”

“I hope you never tire of me.”

Lifting up, I push her dark hair away from her face and kiss her chin, her cheek, then the side of her mouth. “I could never tire of you. I’ve loved you my whole life.”

She smiles, soft and more beautiful than ever before. “You keep saying things like that and I might start believing you.”

With a chuckle, I lean my head against her chest. “Deal.” When I hear a soft sigh of contentment, I ask, “Are you tired?”

“I am.” She moves to get up. “Is the nearest bathroom in the house?”

“Just through the office in the corner over there. Sorry, it’s small.”

“No worries. I’ll be right back.”

I lay there, my chest burning. Putting my arm across my forehead, I stare up past the netting and through the glass, the moon seeming bigger and brighter than usual. My mind drifts to the woman I just made love to, curious if we can move beyond this night. The door opens and I look over, watching her, wanting us to be more than tonight, wanting it more than I have ever wanted anything else.

When she returns, she crawls under the covers and I take my turn in the bathroom. I come back and start turning out the candles.

She takes one and looks at it. “It’s battery-operated. That’s cool.”

“Can’t have the greenhouse filling with smoke.”

“Clever.”

“Not my idea, but I’ll let Cynthia know.”

She laughs lightly, then says, “Let’s go to bed.”

After I turn off the last candle, we lay in the dark, letting our eyes adjust. Lying on our backs, we look up as moonlight fills the greenhouse. “We should have made love with just the moon above.” Cuddling into my side, she closes her eyes.

Whispering, I say, “Keep your eyes open just a few minutes longer.”

She readjusts and looks up. As if on command, the first one lights up on her side of the bed. Sitting up abruptly, she says, “Are those fireflies?”

“They are. Lay back with me.”

Slowly, she lays back down and smiles. “It’s magic. Butterflies and fireflies. You gave me magic, Dex. It’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You deserve romance and more. I’ll give you everything I can because you gave me a reason to live. You gave me life.” Rolling onto my side, I run my hand over her arm. “I never thanked you properly for saving me.”

“I didn’t save you, Dex. I think you might have saved me though. You fill my heart where a hole used to exist. Expecting more would be greedy.”

Caressing her cheek, I lean forward. “I like you greedy… and horny.” I slide my hand between her legs and her eyes look up to meet mine as a small, devious expression appears.

“Let’s be greedy and horny together.”

Under the moon, in a house made of glass, we make love slow and gentle, taking our time, frivolous in the knowledge of having a forever together.

* * *

When I wake up in the morning, I open my eyes, and see the love of my life asleep next to me. An orange, black, and white butterfly sits on her temple, slowly opening and closing its wings. Both of them true beauty personified. I take a mental picture since I know it will fly away if I move.

Cautiously, I put my finger to her temple and the butterfly moves onto my finger. When I lift it up, it flies around the enclosure of the mosquito netting before finally settling on the sheer fabric.

“A fairytale,” she whispers and I look over before following her gaze up. The outside of the netting is covered in butterflies of all different sizes and colors. Rochelle kisses me on the cheek and says, “Enchanting.”

I kiss her hand, letting my tongue taste her sweetness. “Like you, my love. Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

“We should go soon. We have a long drive back.”

“Can’t we stay forever?” Although I know it’s rhetorical, the way she asks makes me want to make her dreams come true.

“I promise you, I’ll fill your life with magic.”

“I don’t need magic, Dex. I just need you.”