“Be Prince Charming and breathe new life into me. Which by the way, you’ve already done.”
She frowned.
“Do you remember what I said to you at that ball, when I told you I would get that rifle back to you and you asked,and if it’s loaded?”
“You said to be kind and aim it at your heart. You said the same thing when I held that blade to your chest. You also told me I should know what you meant by it.”
He nodded. “I think I did that because I wanted you to tell me. I’ve been wondering where that came from. Why I said it. Now I know. I was asking you to free me of the prison I’d built for myself, shake the paralysis that’s kept me from moving forward, make me feel deeply again. You did that.”
I’m not invisible. He sees me. Really sees me.
Ceci Rivers is here.
She placed her lips on his and murmured before kissing him. “You breathed new life into me too.”
When they finally came up for air, she felt how much she didn’t want to. How much she wanted his lips on hers forever.
Forever.
“Come on, Sir Galahad. I think it’s time I got you home. Your white charger needs to rest.” She cocked her head and flashed a coy smile. “Besides there’s a catsuit waiting for you.”
His eyes lit up, even the one that was bruised. “Really?”
She nodded.
Clarke stood up but then hesitated. “Wait, you’re the one who’s going to be wearing it, right?”
She laughed. “Yes.” They headed toward the door but she stopped before they reached it. “What was that thing you said to me in Gaelic? You know when you first …”
“Knelt at your feet?”
“Amongst other things.”
“Not worried you’ll be disappointed?”
“Oh, forget it, it doesn’t matter. Maybe you don’t even remember.”
He leaned in and placed his lips up against her ear and murmured, “Is tusa an cruthaitheoir isáillea chonaic mé riamh, an cruthaitheoir isáillea bhí sé ina onóir agus phribhléid agam a chothú i mo lámha. It means,You are the most exquisite creature I have ever laid eyes upon, the most exquisite creature I’ve had the honor and privilege to hold in my arms.” He pulled away. “Disappointed?”
She thought a moment.
He frowned. “You have to even think about it?”
“Well, no. I mean my immediate thought was no, but then I realized you were speaking to my vagina. So it just seems a little weird.”
Laughing, he put his arm around her and headed to the door. “Ceci. Hold in my arms? I can’t hold your vagina in my arms. Much as I might like to try. I was speaking to you.” He suddenly stopped. “Hey, when do you think they start serving breakfast at the hotel?”
“I don’t know. Why? Are you hungry?”
“The Japanese have this thing called dorayaki. It’s two pancakes filled with a sweet red bean paste called anko. They serve it at breakfast,” he said with a sly look, “but I think it qualifies as a dessert. And it’s a dessert I haven’t tasted. Yet.”
She grinned. “You really are relentless.”
Once they were at the door, he turned to her. “So have you decided?”
She didn’t need to ask what.
Smiling, she nodded. “I want to drive.”
