I laughed and tried to pull, but the bindings got tighter. “What are we going to do? I want to touch you!”
“I want tae touch ye as well, yet we are stuck.” We struggled and were laughing by the time he lifted our wrists, and I contorted to get my mouth on the end of the yarn.
I drew it across and got us free. “Phew. That was a close one.” We let the yarn fall to the floor.
“Twas,” he looked deep in my eyes then stood, “stand on yer chair.”
I stepped onto the seat and stood above him. “What are you going to do?”
“I am goin’ tae throw ye over m’shoulder.” He grabbed me around my thighs and picked me up.
I squealed.
He walked to the door. “Ye must bend!”
I draped over his shoulder, laughing.
“Tis upstairs?”
“Yes!”
He jogged up the stairs, I laughed the whole time. Squealing from the silliness. “Torin, is this necessary?”
“Aye, or ye winna ken I am in earnest.” At the top step he asked, “Where is yer room?”
I pointed.
He laughed. “I canna tell where ye are pointin’.” He went tae a door, “This one?”
“The one at the far end.” He rushed me down the hall and into my bedroom. Then he stopped. Looking around.
“You like it?”
“Aye, tis beautiful.”
He let me down gently, sliding down his front, until my feet hit the floor.
I said, “Now that you’ve thrown me over your shoulder...?”
“Ye are mine.”
42
LEXI
2004 - LAUREL RIDGE
Oh my.
I was flushed from laughing on the way up, that had been exciting, and also, now Torin was looking deep into my eyes. My flush deepened, I trembled under his gaze.
We stood breathing together.
I asked, “Do you need a tour of my room?”
He kept his eyes on mine. “Nae.”
We stared into each other's eyes. He leaned closer until no space remained between us.
