Im not, I said, smiling. I think ˜hopeless without his woman is where I want Wil iam the better part of forever.
Wish granted, Cora said, letting out a low whistle as we rounded the east side of the tent. If Id been able, I would have done the same, but the man was exceedingly adept at rendering me speechless.
Hundreds of votives were il uminating the lanterns lining a grass walkway that ended right in front an angel. My angel. Wil iam stood in front of a table fil ed with flowers, food, and candles, wearing a charcoal suit and a smile. A bunch of tulips cascaded from his hands.
Holy . . . I muttered, pondering if this was real. These kinds of things didnt happen in real life, but very little of what Wil iam and I were could be qualified as real life. Thats what made it so special. Thats what made it worth fighting for.
Hotness, a new member to our trio of gape-mouthed girls added. I think you mean to say, holy hotness. Sierra shouldered up next to me, bumping my hip with hers. That boy is sin on a stick. Her eyes took in the scene before us, the William scene, and as always, she looked like she was savoring every inch of him. If you need any help with that, any help at al , you just let me know, honey.
Thanks for the offer, but Ive got him covered, I said, feeling my face go a little dreamy as he made a slight bow at me.
Sierra, as always, your uncanny ability to objectify the male species is inspiring, Cora said, giving me a go get him shoulder nudge. Lets leave these two alone.
Sierra stuck out her lower lip. Youre no fun.
Can I tempt you with coffee, cookies, and girly conversation? Cora asked, weaving her arm around Sierras waist and steering her away.
Is his”she tilted her head Wil iams direction”younger clone going to be there? she asked hopeful y.
For your insidious viewing pleasure. Cora grinned, continuing to maneuver Sierra in the opposite direction. She threw me a thumbs-up behind her back.
Abigail squeezed my arm as she fol owed after the other two. Do you ever give your libido a rest, Sierra? she asked, trying to sound parental.
Your eyes are going to go crossed if you keep it up.
Ha! Now that I wouldnt mind as long as the crossing had to do with them changing a certain sapphire blue.
Their conversation continued as they progressed into the night, but it was the silent man in front of me that held every ounce of my attention.
Everything about the set up screamed elegance and class, so I should have demurely made my way toward him keeping a control ed pace and face.
But elegant I was not.
My grin turned to a beam and my jog became a sprint as I crossed the space separating us. He mimicked my response, meeting me in the middle of the candlelit runway. I threw myself at him, not one for holding back when it came to Wil iam, and he caught me like hed been expecting nothing else from me.
Final y, I said, referring to the past month hed been gone on his mission, the past few hours hed been with the Council, and the past few seconds it had taken to get to him.
Alone at last, he said, plucking the wilted orchid from my ear that Id long forgotten about and replacing it with one from his bouquet.
Just then, something caught my eye. Wel , almost alone, I said, pointing at the four men circled around us, ready to protect Wil iam from whatever threats waited beyond their circle, and there were many.
Theres no one except for you and me tonight, my love, he said, gliding my body down his as he set me down. The heat and desire coming from him was suffocating. Or was that coming from me? Who knows? Who cares?
Our own little world tonight? I said, drawing in a breath to calm the fires.
His eyes glinted with a familiar note of mischief. Our own little world every night.
Now that kind of talk isnt what we need if you want me to restrain myself until were ˜properly”I actual y did the air-quote thing”United so you can make a respectable woman out of me.
With the way youre running your hands al over me right now, he said, grimacing with torture, restraint and respect are not exactly on my mind at present.
In that case, I said, running my fingers up his jackets lapel. Id say youre overdressed for the occasion. I suddenly caught myself as I went to loosen the knot of his tie. I took an investigative look at my attire and, if he was overdressed, and we werent going to be getting undressed anytime soon, I was embarrassingly underdressed. Not only underdressed in a white tee and worn jeans, I was also dirty, wrinkled, and hardly fitting for the man and scene set before me.
Hold that thought? I asked, peering up at him.
Ive been holding that thought for decades, whats a few more minutes? I felt my face iron out in surprise, pleasant surprise. Or weeks, he clarified, causing my face to line with disappointment.
Pious much? I taunted, placing a kiss that was much too quick for my tastes on his lips as I spun around.
Where are you going? he cal ed out after me.
To make myself more presentable, I said over my shoulder as I continued jogging down the candle-il umed path. But how did you make someone like me look presentable for someone like him? You couldnt, but I wasnt going to let that stop me from trying. I had just the dress in mind that promised to have him wringing his napkin in his lap al dinner long. Good thing Id taken up the girls offer for a shopping trip in Missoula last weekend.
Dont be ridiculous, Bryn, Wil iam cal ed out. You look radiant.
I let out a laugh, picking up speed. The sooner I got back to Joseph and Coras, the sooner I could wriggle into said dress, which would hopeful y result in wriggling out of said dress soon after. Perhaps that was a stretch, but hey, the Eiffel Tower wasnt built because people thought smal , right?