Chapter 34

 

 

Energy crackled up her arm and into her heart. She swallowed at the sudden dryness in her throat, her breathing becoming labored as she felt his hand touch hers, exploring her fingers, and folding into her palm.

After six months of no physical contact, the touching of their hands—intentional and tender—filled her body with yearning. Every caress brought a shudder as his hand explored hers. He shifted to sit beside her, and his shoulder pressed against hers, causing a new world of sensations. She marveled at the power of his touch, as if all the resistance of six months had built this—holding hands—into the pinnacle of pleasure and excitement.

The intertwining of their fingers was tentative and intimate, the bridging of a gap that had become so enormous that to cross seemed impossible. She’d anticipated a kiss, but this was so much more, the culmination of suppressed desire suddenly exploding to the fore.

“What about your rules?” she managed to say.

“The game is over,” he said, his voice soft, his breathing rapid. “No more rules.”

“None?”

“Well,” he amended. “Fewer rules.”

“So, no sex?”

He laughed. “It took me six months before I held your hand.”

Kate lifted Reed’s hand and kissed his fingers, causing him to tense and laugh anew. She smiled, pleased that she’d managed to disconcert him. She wanted to look at him, to feel his gaze on her, but the blindfold provided a unique focus, and made the touch of their hands all the more electrifying.

“Ready for dessert?”

“I already had mine,” she said smugly.

“Open your mouth,” he said with a laugh. “Your job is to tell me what it is.”

“Peanut butter cheesecake,” she said.

“You haven’t tasted it yet,” he protested.

“I can smell it,” she said. “And the smell of Brittney’s cheesecake cannot be forgotten.”

He placed the fork in her mouth and she savored the food. It had always been her favorite dish that Brittney made, but the sensations coming from her hand far surpassed it. She ran her thumb along his, feeling every contour and crease.

“Ready for the next?”

“Yes,” she teased. “Whatever you have in store, I’m ready for.”

He laughed lightly, and gave her another bite, which proved to be key lime pie, apparently of Shelby’s make. She’d never really cared for key lime, but this particular pie was a perfect balance of sour and sweet.

For the next few minutes he fed her various pies, but the confections did not compare with the true dessert. The tingling of her arm did not diminish, and with each passing second, she continued to marvel at its power.

As they sampled desserts, she tried to keep her thoughts from running amuck. He’d made it clear from the beginning that he would not hold a girl’s hand or kiss her unless he wanted to date exclusively. And here he was, holding her hand.

It was tantamount to a proclamation of exclusivity, and in an odd way, even stronger than a kiss. He continued to hold her hand, making no move to pull away. She wanted to ask him what it meant, to ask for a verbal confirmation, but wasn’t certain she had the courage. It didn’t help that the fluttering in her stomach refused to abate.

“I never thought holding hands could be so powerful,” he said.

“Right?” she breathed, grateful he’d broached the subject.

“Do you want to take the blindfold off?”

“Do you mind?”

“There are a few more desserts, but I think I’d like to see your eyes.”

She smiled and reached up with her free hand to remove the blindfold. She expected it to be dark, but she was assaulted with a vista of light. She blinked and shielded her gaze, and then she realized the source of light . . .

Thousands of paper lanterns filled the park. Fire twinkled beneath each, filling them with light and heat, making them expand and rise. Kate was surrounded by families holding several at once, the entire park blanketed with lanterns yearning to be free.

The slope of the park and their position allowed her to see the lanterns stretched to the base of the park, which had swollen since it had grown dark. She’d heard a shuffling when her blindfold was on, but her attention had been elsewhere.

“You held my hand to distract me,” she accused.

“Guilty,” he said, pulling her to her feet.

She turned a slow circle, her gaze sweeping the vista of lanterns. “What is all this?” she breathed.

“A Festival of Lanterns,” he replied, his eyes on her.

Many were still lighting the fires beneath the lanterns and more glowed to life, brightening the already stunning scene. Light glowed and people laughed, the anticipation building to a fever pitch. She finally looked to Reed to find him holding the present she’d spotted.

“Open it,” he said.

“Please tell me it’s a lantern.”

He smiled. “Open it and find out.”

She reluctantly pulled her hand free of his and unwrapped the package, and found two prepared lanterns with a lighter between them. She eagerly ripped off the wrapping and they unfolded the large lanterns. Then he helped her light hers and she held it, watching the fire glow to life, the heat gradually filling the lantern. His lit as well, the fire reflecting off his face and twinkling in his eyes.

“It’s almost time,” he said. “Are you ready?”

Her lantern began to lift, yearning to rise into the night sky. She managed to hold it with one hand and reached out to him. He smiled and dropped the lighter in the basket, and then took her hand. Again, lightning arced up her arm and plunged into her heart.

“When do we release?” she asked.

“At nine,” he said. “It should be about now.”

A great hum filled the crowd as last-minute arrivals rushed to prepare their lanterns, some even doing so on the road between cars, unable to find a parking spot. Kids, adults, and grandparents, couples and families and individuals, all held their lanterns and waited.

Kate’s skin tingled and she looked to Reed. His gaze was on her, his smile soft and open. Their hands intertwined further as the hum mounted, the people lifting their lanterns above their heads as they waited . . .

A shout rang out and someone released, the single lantern becoming a catalyst as thousands of people released theirs. Graceful and luminescent, the lanterns lifted, bumping and floating toward the heavens.

The people cheered and shouted, exulting in the breathtaking display. Children leapt about, the excitement bleeding into motion. Couples embraced, and more than one had tears in their eyes.

Some of the lanterns drifted lazily, others raced toward the stars. All were touched by the wind, which caressed and pulled, tugging at the lanterns and causing them to swirl. They drifted about, soaring in complicated patterns until the entire sky seemed a carpet of light.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

She tore her eyes off the lanterns and met his gaze. He stared at her, the lights of the lanterns brightening his frame until he seemed to glow. She’d thought him attractive before, but beneath the tapestry of lanterns and light, he was like a vision from a dream.

He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her back. Her eyelids fluttered as he pulled her in, against his body. She’d thought their holding hands to be the pinnacle, but she’d been wrong.

Energy coursed up her frame until she trembled. Every point of contact was on fire, the heat burning into her heart, her chest an inferno. His eyes were filled with the same longing. He leaned in, his warm breath brushing across her cheeks. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, the motion strange and foreign, yet comfortable and perfect. His grip tightened around her back.

“What about your five thousand dates?” she breathed.

“I want them to be with you,” he said, and pulled her into a kiss.