Now it’s my turn to laugh. I hadn’t expected that. “Spank me? Uh…yeah, I guess that might work. I…uh…don’t think I’ve ever had a spanking before." She makes a strange snorting sound that I realize is a quirky little laugh, and when I glance at her, her cheeks almost match her flaming red hair.
“You mean, your momma never spanked you?” she tries to save face, and I adore her for it, especially when she realizes she’s just making the hole deeper.
“She wasn’t around much; she left when I was nine,” I say softly, and she looks at me sharply. I’m not sure why I said it, but something in me wants her to know me.
“Oh! Oh, Sam, I’m so sorry,” she murmurs and reaches a hand to touch my arm gently. I give a small shrug and shake my head.
“Not a big deal. Happened a long time ago. Ancient history,” I say.
“No! No, thatisabig deal. The worst kind of deal. No child should go through that…ever.” Her hand is still on my arm, fingers stroking slightly. I find the gesture oddly comforting. Arielle’s capacity for nurturing seems unlimited. I wonder if that’s one of the reasons I’m so drawn to her.
Do I have ‘mommy’ issues?The thought pops unbidden into my mind, leaving me uncomfortable.
I look down at where the skirt of her dress has ridden up to expose an expanse of creamy thigh.Oh, hell no…nothing about my reaction makes me think of my mother. We’re pulling into the parking lot of the Adventuredome, and her eyes widen.
“You’re taking me to the funfair?” she asks, her voice edged with excitement.
“It’s a little bit more than a funfair,” I chuckle as I park and get out to open her door. I reach for her hand as we head towards the entrance, and her fingers entwine through mine in a way that feels so natural it makes my heart sing. She tips her head back and looks up and around as we walk into the soaring dome.
“Wow! This place is amazing!” she says. “I’ve never been here before.”
“You’re kidding,” I say, heading to a ticket booth. “How long have you lived in Vegas? A week?”
She laughs and shakes her head. “I guess I’ve just never thought about it. And it’s not the kind of place Austin would cope with.”
I nod. “I can imagine. It must be difficult.” I have her hand again, and I’m leading her to where a schooner is swooping through the air, a great airborne ship.
“It has its challenges,” she admits, “but I don’t regret a single second of it.” A gentle smile curves her lips, and I’m reminded again of the bond she shares with her son. Her mouth drops open as I guide her to the gate to the ship, feeling her hanging back. “We’re going on this?”
“Yip,” I grin. “Thought I’d start you out easy.”
She gives a nervous laugh. “Doesn’t look easy to me! I hope I don’t throw up!” We’re secured into our seats now, and the vessel is swinging through the air. Arielle grabs my hand and squeezes my fingers tightly, pressing up against me as we soar. There’s a moment of suspension, and then we drop in a rush, and she lets out a little scream followed by a burst of laughter.
“Oh. My. God!” she shrieks, her face flushed with excitement. We’re swinging back up again, and we repeat the whole process. It’s barely a minute before it’s all over, but it feels like a lifetime that I watch her reactions, memorizing the joy on her face. “Again!” she cries. “I want to do it again!”
I laugh. “I think we should try something else. How about that?” I suggest, nodding over at a disk swirling around in giddying circles. The occupants are screaming as they spin. She nods eagerly and is already skipping over ahead of me. In minutes it’s our turn, and then we’re spinning and clinging to each other, breathless with laughter.
“I can’t remember when I had this much fun,” Arielle says a while later. By this time, I’m mentally patting myself on the back. I’d assumed we’d have a good time but hadn’t counted on the limitless opportunities to have Arielle plastered against me. She feels every bit as good as I’d imagined, and my mind flashes back to my dream the night before.
“Hungry?” I ask, and she nods vigorously. There’s a snack bar nearby, and we head over for popcorn and cotton candy.
“Thank you,” she says before sucking on the straw of her soft drink. Her eyes are shining as she gazes up at me. “You don’t know how much I needed this.”
I smile back at her. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” I mean it. Seeing her happy makes me feel warm inside. It occurs to me that her life can’t be easy, and that tears me up a little.
“I guess…I don’t get a lot of time to myself,” she says, echoing my thoughts. “Don’t get me wrong! I love Austin so much, and I wouldn’t change my life for anything. But some days…” she heaves a sigh. “Some days, it’s nice to remember that I’m a woman too.”
I lift my hand and stroke my fingers against her cheek. “Oh, yes, you are…and what a woman,” I murmur, then lean down to brush my mouth over hers. I hear her suck in a breath, and I straighten up again. Her lips are parted, and the smooth column of her throat moves as she swallows hard. For several long seconds, we sink into each other’s eyes. There’s so much in there. Confusion. Need. And a soft edge of sorrow. I recognize that emotion all too well, and I feel myself wanting to wipe every scrap of it from her heart. I want to take it away and replace it with joy. I quirk my mouth into a quick grin and nod over to where a guy is assisting guests into low-slung bumper cars.
“Wanna race?” I suggest, and the mood lightens immediately.
“Oh, you’re gonna wish you hadn’t asked!” She laughingly turns and runs over to the cars. “I’m an ace!”
By the time we get out of our little vehicles after racing around, my teeth feel like they’ve rattled loose. The woman has a killer instinct that makes me laugh out loud. But it’s getting late, and I feel myself growing a little bleak; I don’t want it to end. She shoots a glance at the exit, and I guess she’s thinking the same thing.
“Ready to head home?” I ask, and she pulls a little face and gives a tiny nod.
“Yeah, I’m going to have to. Austin is going to need me there before bedtime," she sighs. I’ve taken her hand, and we’re heading out, strolling back across the parking bay to where my car is parked. I open the door and catch a glimpse of smooth thigh as she slides into the front seat.
