Page 51 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

She looked over at the area I’d suggested, then eyed me a little suspiciously, but she shrugged anyway. “Okay.”

There was practically no one in the section with the Ferris wheel and games, so I continued further in the park.

“I have a feeling we’re not really looking for the rings, are we?” Ivy Jade asked, eyeing me.

My princess was so suspicious, but the excitement on her face made me feel so capable of making her happy. Truly happy. And I wanted to bottle that up. To keep it forever and treasure it. I playfully shrugged, my eyes pointing to the carousel a few yards away.

“Maybe they’re this way?” I proposed, then gently pulled her towards the lit-up carousel.

I hopped on the platform and turned around, holding my hand out.

“Are we allowed to be over here?” she asked, looking around as she took my hand anyway.

“This is my kingdom. Remember?” I said playfully. “I mean, don’t you know who I am by now?”

She shook her head and laughed. “I don’t know why I even ask,” she responded, faking surprise.

“Which one?” I guided her around the carousel slowly, tapping on each fake horse lightly. “This one?” I stopped in front of a pink-and-white pony, its gold saddle adorned with white plastic feathers and jewels. It was very Ivy Jade—prissy and with glittery pink hoofs.

She gave me a confused look. “You want me to get on this?”

I chuckled. “I figured it’s the only ride here that wouldn’t scare you.”

"Haha. Very funny, clown..." she said sarcastically, but grabbed hold of the bar in front of the horse, setting one foot up on a metal stirrup.

I grabbed her waist, helping her up, though she probably didn’t even need my help. I didn’t think she’d mind, though.

She straddled the horse and looked over at me, where I stood beside her. With her elevated off the ground, she was finally the same height as me.

She gasped as the carousel began to slowly spin and gripped the bar. Music echoed above us, and I gently held onto the bar over her hand, watching her lips grow into a wide smile. I was stuck in her gaze as we spun leisurely in circles, unable to look away as I closed the distance between us. I neared her lips, our distance measurable only by a whisper as she anchored her hand over mine.

The way she looked into my eyes, studying my face like a puzzle—I was almost positive she realized who I was under the warm carousel lighting. Right then and there, I nudged myself to tell her before she could point it out. But she licked her lips, then bit the corner of her mouth, staring at me with soft eyes. My heart pounded hard in my chest, and I leaned closer, the ride swaying me slightly.

“Thank you for this,” she said quietly. “This is really nice.”

Heat raced through my body, starting at the backs of my knees and carried up to my neck. I was torn by desire and doubt, and my need to kiss her rang inside me like a bell. It would be wrong to do it, though. Wrong to hide who I was if I were to make the next move. If I kissed her, I’d have to tell her who I was. I had to.

“I really like you, High Jynx,” she whispered, tilting her head a little, giving me a shy smile.

“I really like you too, Ivy Jade,” I murmured, then I leaned closer, and I could see her chest heaving up and down, her breath quickening. I gently placed my palm atop her thigh and squeezed a little, my lips only inches from hers.

Then all of a sudden, the ride halted with a jolt, and the bright lights turned on, the music fading into the distance. I let go, backing up slightly, and cleared my throat.

Ivy Jade looked like she was just snapped out of hypnosis, our moment no longer covered in the veil of something magical. “I… I should probably get going,” she whispered, blinking, coming out of the daze we both seemed to be in.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay. Here.” I held my hand out and helped her climb down onto the platform.

I glanced over at where my buddy, who operated the ride, held up his hands and mouthed, “I’m sorry!”

I shook my head, pissed, though I was sure it wasn’t his fault. I was so close to telling her, to kissing her, and my body was still recovering from the closeness we shared.

Ivy Jade held onto my hand as I led her out of the section, and she pointed to the exit in the opposite direction from where I needed to go.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, and maybe you can help me continue the search?” she asked hopefully.

I nodded, squeezing her hand before I let go. “I’m looking forward to it.”

CHAPTER 21