“Never should have challenged me, Tinkerbell!” Another snowball to the leg took me down. I burst into laughter as I collapsed in the soft, white expanse. I rolled over onto my back, trying to catch my breath as I stared up at the night sky, dotted with the occasional star. Then my view was obscured by an even lovelier sight.
Neil stretched out on top of me, covering me with his huge body. He propped himself up with his elbows on either side of my head, and I noticed that the tip of his nose was red along with his cheeks and lips. I touched his face and found it freezing, so I peppered him with warm kisses wherever his skin felt clammy.
“Selene,” Neil whispered against my lips. “Come with me. Let’s get out of here.” I stared up at him, blinking in surprise.
“How? I can’t. School, my mom… I can’t…”
Neil shook his head and kissed me again before grinning at me.
“I already spoke to your mother. She knows everything, and she’s okay with it. We’ll go away for a few months. I’m not sure how long. All I know is that I want to be with you. I want to experience life with you, far away from everyone and everything else. I want to live the way I never really have before. My life has been more like a prison for me. I want to be free, and I want you to be free with me. Will you fly off to Neverland with me?” he asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
Was he worried I might say no?
That I might leave him?
Never.
We were each other’s future. I never could have lived without Neil.
“Yes, I will. Let’s do this crazy thing together, Mr. Disaster. I’ll follow you anywhere you want to go,” I said softly before capturing his lower lip between my teeth and pulling gently on it. He let out a rough groan. I preened internally at my ability to exert this kind of power over him. Neil belonged to me. He was as much mine as I was his, and it wasn’t about ownership.
It was about union, about sharing and understanding and emotional connection.
Neil got up and held out his hands. I grabbed them, and he pulled me to my feet and leaned against his chest, blushing. He gave me an amused smile, but then my mother interrupted our intimate moment by walking out onto the porch with the candy bouquet in one hand and my red wheelie suitcase in the other.
“Everything’s been arranged,” she explained, shooting a sly smile at the boy I loved before immediately turning stern again. “Now, I have your word that you will take care of my baby and keep me posted every time you move. Do not make me regret placing my trust in you.” My mother lifted her index finger in the air like she was giving a lecture in one of her classes, and Neil just smiled at her, pulling me closer.
I wondered what he could have said to her to convince her to let me leave with him. I knew that Neil had a way with women, but worming his way into my mother’s heart was still quite a coup for him.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Martin. I would lay down my life for your daughter,” he said, his words full of meaning and love. The unspoken love that Neil would never be able to put into words.
He was giving me all of him, and that was enough for me.
He smiled and dropped a kiss on my forehead before grabbing the handle of my suitcase and gesturing for me to follow him.
I grabbed the candy bouquet and hugged my mother, thanking her for giving us a chance.
I stowed my bag in his trunk, and we both got in. Immediately, we looked at each other and locked eyes.
Neil was staring at me like he was seeing me for the very first time, and I felt a flicker of the old fear. Was he thinking about backing out? Was he no longer ready to take on this crazy journey together?
“Neil?” I murmured, pressing a hand to my pounding heart. We were going to be alone together for a long time. We’d be able to really get to know each other, warts and all. I was going to have to learn how to deal with a man like him.
I was filled with joy but also with tension.
He was mine.
Finally, there was an us.
“What are your intentions with me?” He stared seriously at me and bit his lip nervously, and for a second, I genuinely thought he was going to end things again, and I was going to end up as completely destroyed as I’d been before he showed up. But then, his grave face turned excited, and he gave me a sexy smile.
“Only the worst, Tinkerbell…” he said and gave my thighs a fevered look.
“So…can I officially call myself your girlfriend?” I teased, and he just took my hand and lifted it to his mouth for a gentle kiss.
“You’re a lot more than that, Babygirl. You’re my Pearl.”
Then, his fingers still interlaced with mine, he started the car and pulled up, picking up speed like the madman that he was.
