“Come.”
When he held his arm out to her, she slippedhers through it and followed him around to the other side of thehole carved into the earth. Once there, she saw a rocky pathwaythat wasn’t visible from the other side.
Spray from the waterfall made the rocksslippery, but his feet were sure against the surface, and he helpedto steady her when she slipped. Her hair and clothes clung to herface and skin as they grew damp with water, but her heart racedwith excitement as they got closer to the bottom.
They arrived at the pond, and Cole led heraround to the other side. There the water narrowed into a smallerstream; he released her arm and jumped across it. Turning back, heheld his hand out to her, and she took it to follow him across.
When they reached the center of the lawn,with all its beautiful flowers, Cole set the basket he’d beencarrying down. While he removed a blanket from inside and spread itacross the thick grass, Lexi watched a beautiful, yellow butterflyflit from one flower to another before soaring high and departingover the edge of the small canyon.
She crept closer to the water and stopped atits edge. Holding her hands out before her, she twisted them overas she basked in the warmth flowing over her perfectlynormal-looking skin. She wasoutsideagain, and she lookednormal.
Lexi laughed as she held her hands out at hersides, tipped her head back, and spun in a circle as the sun beatdown on her. It was all so fantastic.
She was impatient to unlock more of herabilities but excited to be here, with him, on this beautiful day.When she stopped spinning, she turned to find Cole with a bottle ofsomething in his hand.
He didn’t move as he stared at her with suchawe and love it stole her breath. Then, he broke eye contact as heset the bottle down.
He’d already laid the food out on theblanket, set out candleholders, and lit the two white candles inthem. When one of the flames went out, he waved his hand at it, andthe fire leapt from one wick to the other, so they both blazedagain.
He pulled out two glasses next and set themon the blanket before uncorking the bottle of champagne and fillingthem. Her heart melted while she watched him.
He’d brought her here to relax, but he’d putso much effort into making it a lovely, romantic day. Thatknowledge only served to reinforce how much he loved her.
Not that she’d ever doubted it, but they’dnever had the chance to share time like this, and he’d gone out ofhis way to make it a wonderful day. Seeking to wash her handsbefore joining him, she knelt beside the pool.
She dipped her hands in to discover the waterwas warm, something she hadn’t been expecting from a river-fedpool. Once they finished eating, she would strip and jump in. Shecouldn’t wait.
She was about to rise when Cole knelt at herside.
“Would you like to go for a swim?” heasked.
Lexi glanced back at the beautifully laidblanket. “You just got everything set up.”
“It will still be there afterward.”
“The candles might not be.”
He smiled as he leaned closer. “This day isabout you and whatyouwant. If they are gone, there will beplenty more candles in our future. Do you want to swim?”
Lexi bit her lip as she glanced between thecandles and the pool. She missed swimming in the lake outside themanor all the time.
That was before the war, before things becamedifficult, and before they told her that her father was dead. Ithad been so long since she had the time to swim, but today was justthem, and they had all day to do whatever they wanted.
She looked at the blanket. He was right; itwould still be there. This was what she wanted now.
Rising, she tugged off her shirt and unhookedher bra as she kicked off her boots. His eyes flashed silver whenshe wiggled out of her pants and underwear. Heat flared through herbody as his eyes leisurely perused her.
She’d definitely made the right choice asevery part of her reacted to his obvious arousal. With a grin and asmall crook of her finger, she beckoned to him before diving intothe pool.
She inwardly sighed with joy, and as the warmwater engulfed her, the stress of the past few weeks eased.Kicking, she propelled herself to the bottom.
Her fingers brushed against the purplestones, and she opened her eyes to examine the different hueswithin the rocks. It was all so beautiful, so magical, andamazing.
When her lungs started to burn, she twistedaround in the water, planted her feet against the stones, andpushed herself up. Water streamed past her as she kicked her way tothe surface and broke free.
Water streamed over her as she gasped in airand laughed. Turning in the water, she searched for Cole and foundhim standing where she left him.
His fingers rested on the ground as he kneltto watch her. His eyes glinted silver in the sun, and the thicklength of his erection evidenced his desire, but he didn’t jump inafter her.
