“I mean, I’m not glad about any of the pain you have suffered, but if all of this hadn’t happened, I would never have known you existed and you would still be living as a girl called Natalie with no family and no identity other than the one you created. Were you really happy?”
I think about his answer. I’m happy that my path brought me to Denham’s door, and no, I wasn’t truly happy. And after experiencing happiness in its purest form over the last few days, and having a glimpse of my future, I know that I would never have been truly happy. I might have some things to sort out, a few obstacles to overcome, but I feel more alive than I ever have and a big chunk of that is down to Denham King.
“No,” I sigh. “No, I wasn’t. It’s been a long time since I remember being happy and carefree.”
“We are going to rectify that, Stunner. I want to fill your head with so many happy memories there won’t be any room for the bad ones. Every time you recall a moment or an event, I want you to remember good times…great times. I want all of them to be with me.”
“Denham, I …”
“Look, I know you can’t give me words to explain how you feel. I know you’re scared that if you say them aloud that it will be set in stone and there will be no going back, but I don’t need you to say anything.” He brushes my hair from my face and runs his thumb along my marked cheekbone. “I feel you, Arianna. There is no explanation for it. I feel when you’re happy and I feel when you’re sad. That faraway look that you had in your eyes is nearlygone. I’ve watched you come to life.” He speaks on a whisper and I feel his breath on my face; I feel every word in my heart.
The background music changes and Paul Weller begins to sing about feelings deep inside. “Dance with me,” Denham says.
“Dance? Here?”
“Yes. Shhh, just close your eyes and feel, Ari.” He pulls my hands up around his neck and closes both of his arms around my waist. His hips rock us gently and we move together, cheeks touching and feeling our heartbeats synchronize through our chests. He’s right. We have a connection, and there is no explanation. It just is what it is.
He hums the gravelly notes to me and I feel them through my body. The sound of him makes my hairs stand on end and I’m overcome. My eyes fill with tears and I’m not sure why.
Who am I kidding? I know why.
I’m falling for him. It is ridiculous to be falling in love after a week, but I know how I felt before and I know how I feel now. Denying it is futile. My glass heart is exposed, and it terrifies me more than anything, but I can’t stop it. I also can’t admit it out loud, it’s too soon. There may never be a right time to bare my heart so openly to someone. It’s my secret, to keep, to cherish, and to hold on tight to. “You’re going too deep in your head again, Stunner.”
“I know,” I reply sadly, I wish I didn’t do it but I can’t stop.
“Tell me …”
“I’m too scared.”
“Look at me,” he demands. “Tell me.”
“Don’t you think this is all crazy? You and me…this…whatever this is…” I trail off at the end, a little frightened at what his response may be.
“What’s crazy about it?”
“We’ve barely known each other a week.”
“And there’s a time limit on these kind of things? Huh, let me see…” he muses, comically rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “The rule book says no sex until after the third date, you must not fall in love before spending at least two months together, marriage is out of the question until you have at least been dating for a year, and after that children may be planned…”
“I’m being serious!” I say, smacking his chest playfully with the flat of my hand.
“Okay,” he replies, continuing to rock us to the beat of the music. “Yes, I do think this is crazy, but not in a bad way. So what if it’s only been a week? Who says it has to be more? Who says there isn’t such a thing as love at first sight? I’ve told you, Ari, I can’t pretend how I feel. I am sorry if that frightens you, but at least you know I’m being honest with you, right?”
I nod into his chest. “Then just let it be. I don’t expect a declaration of undying love from you. In fact, I don’t expect anything from you. Just don’t keep trying to find reasons why this shouldn’t work.” He tilts my chin so I’m looking up at him, looking into those twinkling eyes and seeing nothing but honesty. “When you learn that you can let go and trust me, I’ll be able to show you that I’m here to catch you.”
Our lips find each other. Gently at first, butterfly soft kisses that set my skin alight. I push my fingers up into his hair and pull him closer. Our tongues dance a sensual tango that has me breathless and needy. Denham’s hands slide up my waist, his thumbs rolling in circles along the way until he’s holding my ribs and grazing the underside of my breasts.
“Well, fuck me if Denham King hasn’t gone and got himself a woman to finally get laid.”
We jump apart at the very unwelcome intrusion and our heads snap in the direction of the voice. It takes a second to registerthat I’m not imagining my perfect moment being totally ruined by a young, pretty, foul-mouthed woman.
I can feel my hackles rising.
“Um, do you want to tell me who this unexpected visitor is or do I need to go a little crazy on the pair of you?” I bite with my hands on my hips. I’m still trying to take control of my body which is living in the feeling of two minutes ago as I take in the young girl in front of me, all legs in a pair of short shorts, a sleeveless white shirt tied at her waist, showing her belly button and a mass of blonde curls that tumble around her in all directions.
“Oooh, you got a sharp one here, big bro.” She laughs.
“Tara, what the hell are you doing here and how the fuck did you get in?”
