Chapter Eighteen
The sun streamed in through the thin netting Nash placed around the forest bed, diffusing the light and making everything even more surreal. His Petals was strewn on top of him, her hair in his mouth, her legs tangled in his and her arms around his chest. Her soft breaths puffed against his neck and at waking up in his own personal fantasy, his erection throbbed.
When he arrived in the forest the day before, he built the bed for the sheer purpose of making love to her, but a big part of him never believed it would happen. He wanted her to see what he wanted, possibly slap him across the face and then stomp back through the forest, back to wherever she belonged. All he knew was she didn’t belong here. Didn’t belong with him.
Then, as she had done since the moment she stumbled into his life, she surprised him. She made the first move, she crawled across the bed, and she let him have the honor of making love to her.
Now he had to somehow do the right thing and let her go. No, they couldn’t indulge any more. She had her life, he had a mess and they needed to part. With her, he would lose himself, drown and never come up for air and then take her down with him.
He combed his fingers through her hair and couldn’t stop a smile at the state of her usually pristine golden locks. Making love was messy business and in a different world—one where he could be with her, where they were together in a home—he would have carried her right to the shower, kissed her, cleansed her, and then started the whole process all over again.
It was time. He needed to wake her, somehow help her get put back together and face his reality.
He went to wake her but she stirred, stretched and lifted her head.
Her makeup smeared, her lips still swollen from their hours spent kissing, her eyes droopy with sleep, her breasts luscious and pressed against him. In his entire life, he had never seen anyone more gorgeous.
Before he had the chance to utter a word, a smile lit up her face and she put her fingers over his mouth.
Her eyes on his, her free hand skimmed down his side to his hip.
Weak. He was weak. He could speak anytime, but instead he lay there among the pillows and blankets he put here on purpose with Petals exactly where he wanted her.
The second her hand slipped between them and took hold of him, stroking his length with a mix of innocence and ownership, he knew he wasn’t going to say a word.
There would never be a touch that equaled hers. The arousal stirring within him since he woke only amplified.
She scooted up and kissed him, first light then deeper, taking the lead and slipping her tongue in his mouth and straddling him.
“Petals.” He spoke into her open mouth, knowing he should stop this before it went too far.
“Shh.” Still kissing him, she got up on her knees and guided him inside her.
His breath hitched as she engulfed him. Perfectly tight and wet, he would never be able to get enough.
A little coo escaped her throat. Rather than a rush to an end, they slowly moved together, let the passion build. She sat up and braced herself on his chest and he was treated to a more magnificent sight than having her wake up by his side as she ground her hips to his.
“Yes.” He reached up and palmed her breasts, grazed his fingertips over her nipples and relished in how, with his touches, she sped up.
Within him, the tell-tale signs of his end crept up upon him. He could spend his life making love to her, if only they could exist on that alone.
“Oh.” She let out a series of short, shallow pants and now that they had been together, he knew she would climax soon.
“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down, holding her as he propelled into her.
“More.” She twisted the sheets in her fist.
He grabbed her ass and gave her what she wanted. Fast, strong, deep thrusts.
“Knight.” Her body tensed. “Knight.”
“Let go.” The ecstasy was upon him, any second he would explode. “Now!”
At his command, she gasped and her body tightened around him. The ripples of her orgasm caressed him and he had no choice but to join her.
His body was overcome with his own end and he pressed her down, getting as deep as possible as he let loose. “Ah.” He pulled back and slammed into her once again with another wave of euphoria.
They came down and she rested her head on his chest, breathing in unison.
Spent, he fell back on the pillows and looked up at the blue sky. It was a perfect day, one made for lovers and couples, something they could never be. “Petals.”
“Don’t say it.” She shook her head.
“We have to talk about it.” What did she expect him to do? He gnashed his teeth together. She didn’t know him and honestly he didn’t want her to know. All he wanted was to remain the hero she created in her mind. At least, they would both have that.
“Knight.” She slid off to one side and stared at him. “I agree we can’t go on like this.”
He nodded. Maybe it would be easier if she said the words, yet his chest tightened. “It’s time.”
“It is.” Tears glistened in her eyes.
He took her hand and pressed his lips to the back. “We need to move on with our lives.”
“I’m never going to come back here.” She pulled her hand away and got off the bed, wrapping herself in the sheet. “We can’t live in a fantasy.”
“I agree. Just remember we had something special, magical.” His own voice didn’t even sound like him. Was he really going to let her go?
She turned her back to him, gathered up her clothes and dressed.
For several moments they remained in silence, each at their own crossroads.
“I’m going to give you one chance, Knight. I’m going to give us one chance.” She cleared her throat. “One chance for the real world.”
Energy coursing through him, he sat up. “What do you mean?”
“A week from today my company is having a party at the Crown Rose Hotel, its annual huge formal affair. We take this time and get our lives together. If you show, then we do it as our true selves.” Finally, she faced him.
“What if I can’t make it?” A million thoughts ran through his mind. How could he straighten himself out enough to be with her?
“Then it’s over.” She raised her chin. “It’s over and it’s a memory.”
“Petals.” He held his hand out to her. Maybe he should be honest and tell her not to wait for him.
“I never want you to call me that again.” She touched his hand, then spun on her heel and ran off.
He watched her leave. It was over. The second he stepped foot into this gala affair, she would know everything and some things about him could never be fixed. Better she have a memory.