Chapter Nine
Ryane never rebelled. All her life she was the personification of her Daddy’s little girl, and in turn her father provided everything. It was a system that worked for them.
No matter what her father asked, she gave it to him. At sixteen when she wanted to dye her hair pink, she kept it blonde for him. At eighteen when she wanted to go to the rock concert with her friends, she went to the opera instead. At twenty-two she graduated with a degree in business instead of the degree in fashion merchandising she wanted. Now at twenty-five she was supposed to allow this man to choose her husband from a pedigree pool of eligible bachelors.
With another one of his so-called matches on the horizon, she disobeyed him, lied, and rushed back to her haven at the lake to have the date she really wanted with a mystery man. She didn’t even know his real name. The only thing she knew was the connection she felt to him, the tingles that ran through her at his touch, and the warm sensations that overtook her when he looked at her were all too real.
She never experienced anything quite like her Knight, and she must go on this so-called date, experience the freedom once before she got back to her regularly scheduled life. In her real world, she would have had her date with Patrick, and would allow her father to take her to a cocktail party later this week where she would be on display like a prize cow.
Yes, she admitted to herself on her way out, she would let herself have this date and be the bad girl, but she wouldn’t defy her father any further than one night. He would never know. Knight wasn’t running after her with his name, his occupation, or a way to reach him. Every girl deserved a fantasy at least once.
Once she parked her car by the gate, she triple checked her makeup, added a little gloss to her lips, then checked her hair once more.
Not sure what Knight had planned, she grabbed a little dessert she picked up before she started out on her drive.
By the time she made her way through the forest in the boots she bought for the specific purpose of trudging through fallen leaves and wildness, the sun was beginning to set.
The second she made her way near the clearing, an ethereal glow met her. When she rounded the bend, she stopped dead in her tracks to take in the sight before her.
Twinkle lights sparkled off the trees, bathing everything in silver light. Even more incredible was in the middle of nature, somehow Knight brought in a formal dining table, complete with a white cloth, silver domed dishes and candles.
Suddenly, some light music began, an acoustic guitar fitting the setting.
Everything was here, except her date. She held her breath.
Right before she was about to call out to him, he appeared from behind a tree.
Tall, lean and dressed in black pants, a matching, form-fitting shirt, and his long hair down past his shoulders, the man was the epitome of bad and gorgeous.
She bit her lip and waited. The distance between them felt never-ending and part of her wanted to run to him, tell him they had to escape. The other part reminded her after tonight she had to let the fantasy go, so she stood there wanting a sign on what to do next.
As if he could read her mind, he held his hand out to her.
With no resistance, she dropped her items and rushed to him. The moment she placed her hand in his, she swore her whole body sizzled.
“Good evening.” He pulled her closer, dipped his head down and gave her a soft kiss behind her ear.
“Hi.” she gasped and winced. After the anticipation, all she had to say to him was hi?
“Tell me how you are.” His deep voice rumbled through her.
“Better now.” She shut her eyes.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and swayed her in time to the music.
For the first time, he didn’t wear his leather jacket and she could clearly make out his hard, smooth muscles beneath his shirt. The man was a movie hero come to life, unreal down to what she called him.
“Then let’s dance.” Still keeping up with the music, he ran his hand down her back and pressed their bodies together.
For several minutes they danced, more like held each other and stared into the other’s eyes. “I’ve never heard music like this before.”
“I’m glad you are enjoying it.” He continued their slow dance. “What draws you to it?”
Before answering, she paused. The music changed. Another tune, only guitar. “I don’t know. You don’t need anything other than the guitar. Not even a voice. It’s simple and beautiful all at the same time.”
“You’re beautiful.” He licked his lips. “But you are far from simple.”
His compliment caused her cheeks to warm. “You don’t know the half of it.” A little tease never hurt anyone.
“And that, my gorgeous Petals, is the beauty of our situation.” Keeping hold of her, he guided her over to the table, pulled out one of the chairs, and they sat side by side. He poured some wine and offered her a glass.
“How did you do all this?” She held the glass up. The man didn’t know she knew her wine, in fact, Windsome holdings owned a vineyard, and her life had been an education in the proper vintage. It was refreshing to be served a glass of mediocre wine with no pretense, no expectation or nervousness that somehow the drink wouldn’t be pleasing. Knight didn’t know many things. The idea was both freeing and confining.
“It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re both here.” He tapped his glass against hers.
The wine warmed her. No, she didn’t taste dollar signs, only tasted what could be and what would never happen. Her life was relegated to four digit bottles of wine, and country clubs, not sitting back and listening to music and worrying about costs. “We’re here.” She repeated his sentiment.
“Let me ask you this.” He put his glass aside and took her hand. “If I wasn’t here, would it have made things easier?”
She laced her fingers in his, then studied how his large hand encompassed hers. “In ways. What about me?”
“Absolutely.” His eyes lit up with his smile. “But who ever said anything should be easy?”
“Nothing is ever easy.” Why did she have to meet him now? Why did this have to be difficult?
“Tell me what’s troubling you, Petals.” A little flourish in his actions, he lifted the domes off the dishes revealing a plate with a little bit of meat, chicken, fish and vegetables. “I didn’t know what you liked.”
“That’s the trouble.” She studied the plate and turned away.
“What is?” Instead of forcing her to look at him, he gently massaged the back of her neck.
Any touch he treated her to sent shock waves of desire through her body, only another one of her problems that seemed to pile up on her. “I want you to know what I prefer, I want to know what you want, and I feel like I’m not going to get the chance.” Gathering her strength, she faced him again. “I wanted you there yesterday when…” She shook her head and shrugged. Yes, she wanted him to save her from Jerold and Patrick and anyone else. “It’s not fair to put on you, I don’t even know you really, but I can’t help wondering if we met a different way if things would be different.”
“Things would be different.” He took her face in his hands. “If we changed one thing about us, things would be different.”
“Why does it have to be you?” she whispered.
“Because what we have is magic.” As if taking her all in, he grazed his thumbs over her cheeks. “The only problem with magic is the spell is too easily broken. In the real world, we wouldn’t work.”
Tears clouded her vision. He voiced everything she’d been thinking. Were they saying goodbye? Isn’t that what she came here to do in the first place?
“Do you know what my magic is when I’m with you?” He inched his face closer to hers.
All she could do was shake her head.
“With you, I can be anything I want to be. Everything else goes away.” He gave her a light kiss.
“Oh.” Her heart sped, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and held on. “I’m afraid you’re going to go away.”
“And you’re afraid I’m not going to go away.” Once more he kissed her, not opened mouth, but more than a peck with his lips lingering.
“Knight.” She tangled her hand in his hair. The silky strands wrapped around her fingers and she never wanted to let go.
“I need to taste you.” At last, he connected their mouths.
First kisses were always awkward, a moment of worry and fumbling while one found the rhythm with their partner.
Of course, she'd never kissed Knight before.
His soft lips melded to hers. There was no pause, no uncertainty, he simply kissed her. Hard and commanding, he took over, but took it slow. In unison, their mouths opened, he guided their tongues together, and she savored his incredible taste, wine mixed with something purely masculine yet sweet.
Her entire body became enveloped in heat, and she held him tighter. A low moan escaped his throat and he deepened this kiss. His hands roamed over her body, sensitizing every nerve ending he graced with his touch.
She grabbed his collar, twisted the fabric in her fist and fought the urge to tear the garment right off him. There was something about him she needed. How would they ever make this work? Maybe all they needed was to end this charade.
Too soon, he broke the kiss and trailed his lips down to her neck, over to her ear. “You’re delicious.”
“Knight.” She swallowed and put her hand on the back of his head.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.” He kissed her ear. “I’m sorry about it all.”
She pulled back. “You can be there.” He could come back with her, they could reveal all, then they could make love.
“Pretty Petals.” He shook his head. “I’m not the man you see here and when you get back to your real life, I want you to remember a fantasy, not know what I truly am. That’s one gift we can both give each other.”
The euphoria of kissing him faded, and settled into a sick feeling right in her throat. She came here to end this, but when faced with the reality, she couldn’t do it. “Maybe—”
He cut her off by pressing his fingertips to her lips.
Rather than argue, she turned to her plate. “I was always partial to steak.”
“I’ll remember that.” He took her hand and kissed the back.
She shrugged. They both knew the fantasy was over.