With that unhappy thought, I leave my bathroom and head for my closet. I throw on some white silk pajamas. I love the way they feel and I don’t mind walking down the garden in them to Monty’s campervan.
Just as I’m tying the drawstring of my pants, there is a gentle tap on my bedroom door. I whirl to face it as if I can see through the wood. My heart starts to race. I don’t need laser vision. It is Monty. I can sense his magic.
I run to the door and fling it open.
Monty has tried to tame his wild hair by tying it up in a tiny neat bun. His navy blue henley shirt and black jeans are very smart, without being formal. Oh lord, he has rolled the sleeves up. And he is holding a bunch of roses and a box of chocolates.
“Come in,” I say weakly as I step back.
This level of romance shortly after a very hot shower, has me at a very real risk of fainting.
Monty steps calmly into my room.
“I’m afraid I don’t keep any drinks in here, so I can’t offer you one,” I babble.
Monty smiles. “It is you I wanted, not a drink.”
My cheeks are burning, aren’t they? Monty hands me the flowers and chocolates and I busy myself with finding somewhere to put them.
“I hope you can forgive the intrusion, but I sensed you were ripe, and I thought we should discuss matters.”
“Yes, of course,” I mutter while nodding frantically. Luckily, my back is to him while I’m retrieving a previously unused vase from my shelf of knick-knacks.
“Pink, I just wanted to make it clear that I understand and respect your wishes, whatever they may be. If you wish to keep things formal, then that is what we will do.”
I dump the roses unartfully in the vase, and turn back to face Monty. My stomach is fluttering like crazy. I should have known he would understand.
“Would…would you prefer a different mage empty you, just for now?” Monty’s eyes are wide and anxious.
My hands fly up to my mouth. “Heaven’s no!” I can’t imagine anything worse.
Monty nods and I catch a glimpse of a very pleased and relieved smile before he schools his features into a neutral expression.
“Sorry for suggesting it. I just want you to be as comfortable as possible, Pink. So, I’d like to discuss all options.”
How is anyone so lovely? It doesn’t seem possible. Monty really is unlike anyone else I have ever known.
I take a deep breath and let it out, along with all my tension. “Thank you Monty, I really appreciate it. I was nervous because if I wasn’t tapped…I wouldn’t…yet. But…” I give up and trail off.
Monty steps forward and takes my hand. I stare into his blue eyes and see just how much he understands and just how much he feels the same way.
“What do we do?” I whisper.
He gives my hand a squeeze. “How about we start with a kiss and take it from there? If at any point, going back to being formal seems like it would be better, then that’s what we will do.”
I nod. It all sounds so simple when he puts it like that.
Monty smiles at me and my heart thumps so loudly in response he has to have heard it.
“I..um…I,” I stammer. “I don’t actually know how to do things informally.” In the harem, I simply did as I was told, which was mostly to lie still.
Monty brings my hand up to his lips and places a soft kiss on my knuckles. “We can learn together.”
A wave of dizziness spins through me. Monty catches my shoulders and steadies me. I blink at him as my vision returns.
“I think you just made me swoon,” I croak.
Monty chuckles, blue eyes sparkling with delight. “I’d be honored to have that effect on you Pink, but sadly, it was probably just your magic.”
