The Knight Of The Rose (30 page)

didn’t mean to laugh. You’re just so sweet and innocent.” Mike shook his head. “I love you, okay? I

meant it when I said—you are
perfect
.”

We both breathed out heavily and sat in complete silence; Mike couldn’t wipe the grin fr om

his face, while I just felt awkward and undesirable.

“Okay, that’s enough,” he said finally. “I have to do it. I’ m just gonna do it slowly though,

okay?” He reached his hand to the side of my fa ce and slid his fingers along my neck—making my

skin tingle so much my shoulders lifted.

Inch by inch, his face moved closer to mine, his lips parting to release his hot breath over my

chin. I swallowed and moistened my lips with my tongue—not daring to breathe, hoping my peanut-

butter breakfast wasn’t still on my breath. And the smile I gave when Mike tilted his head made him

laugh just as our lips touched. Finally touched.

He was so warm, so solid, so real.

His stubble scratched against my chin, while the warm breath from his nose brushed over my

upper lip. It was perfect—gentle, loving—not wet or sloppy like Emily described Spencer’s kiss.

He closed his lips around my tender pout, held there for just a second, then pulled slowly

away, keeping his eyes closed for a second.

We looked at each other and both broke into a smile.

“That was amazing, Ara. I could kiss you every day for the rest of my life and never get tired

of it.”

“I know what you mean. It was so perfect, Mike—the way it should’ve been,” I whi spered

softly, still feeling the tingle of his lips. My first human kiss.

“Do you—wanna try it again?” He grinned.

My eyes rolled a little with the desire in my heart. “I want to try it with our clothes off.”

Without a word, he shook his head. “No way. I won’t be able to control myself if I do that

with you now. And I know damn well you won’t ask me to.”

“Then don’t. I don’t want you to control yourself,” I added quickly.

“Ara, stop it, baby. I can onl y take so much. Why are you so quick to wanna give yourself to

me?”

“Are you kidding? Can you not feel the heat coming off my body? God, I’m only human,

Mike.”

“Yes, but you’re a seventeen-year-old human, Ara, and I’m a twenty-year-old man.”

“So? What would you do if you were me?”

“I’d think about it—think how you’ll feel after. I want our first time to be better than this—to

be special and planned out. I don’t even have protection, baby.” He cupped my chin. “Our first time

should be in a place we’re both comfortable, and alone—so I can take my time—touch you, kiss your

bare skin all over—slowly. I won’t rush our first time in a heated moment of passion. That stuff is for

later.” He chuckled, then took my hand. “I love you, so much, baby. When I finally get to cradle your

naked body in my arms and pres s my skin against you, I don’t want to waste it or risk messing it up

for the sake of uncontrollable desires in
one
moment. You have to remember, it’ s
your
first time—

and that’s special. You’ll always remember it. And I’m so glad it’ll be with me. I always

wanted to be the one.”

My body refused to move—even my face f roze into the teary-eyed smile it was wearing.

“Wow. Well, I don’t know if we need to have sex, now, Mike. I think we just did...in my

imagination. When did you learn to be so expressive?”

“It’s you—” His eyes grew round and wide above his smile. “You have so much emot ion

floating around you all the time—it’s catchy.”

“Well, let’s hope you don’t catch my moods, then.”

“Ha! Haven’t yet, have I?”

“No.” I twiddled my fingers in my lap. “Yet.”

Mike looked at me for a long moment, then traced my ring with his thumb. “Are you happy?”

“Yeah. I mean, I guess we need to decide where we’re going to live and stuff, but—”

“Just come to Perth with me. I’ll be all you’ll ever need. It’s your home, Ara. You belong

there.” I nodded. “I know, and I do miss home. I—”

Mike edged forward on the bed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I hadn’t even made my

decision, but I think we both knew what I’d choose. The lure of the golden sand and blue skies that

can only be found in the stillness of the brightly lit and endless coastline of home was all too much to

keep me away for lon g. “Ara?” Mike gently grabbed my face. “I love you so much,” he said, then

kissed my forehead. “I gotta go tell my dad. He’s gonna be so happy I finally asked you.” He leaped

off the bed and made it only one step away before stopping to face me again. “You. Have made me

the happiest man alive.” My eyes followed him t o where he knelt back down in front of me and took

my hand. “I was sure I’d come here to say goodbye. I—I was ready to leave with a broken heart, but

instead, I’ll be bringing yours home with me.”

As Mike stood up again and walked away, I twisted the ring around on my finger. It was so

delicate that if I knocked i t the wrong way I was sure it’d break. I was ha ppy though. Only, I didn’t

know how I was going to tell my dad. He’d never been too keen on the idea of minors getting

married. He’d probably make me wait until I turned eighteen—or maybe thirty.

Mike popped his head around the corner. “Dad says it’s about time.”

I grinned at him.

“Yes, Dad. I did.” He turned aw ay and spoke into the phone agai n. “No. Well, I need to be

home next week, but we haven’ t told Ara’s dad yet .” My smile dropped when Mike disappear ed

down the hall again—leaving me alone with my thoughts.

What will my dad say? What will Vicki say? I know what my mum would’ve said. She’d be

happy. Even though I’m young. She would’ve been able to see that I love him; she would’ve taken

me shopping for a dress, and....I let that thought slip away with the agony it brought.

What would David say? After all, he wanted this—he gave me away. He must’ ve known,

when he told Mike to have me, that this would happen.

I wonder where he is now? If he’s far away, if he’s hurting?

The pyramids along the Nile came to mind with an image of David flying over them in a

silver plane. Whenever I hear that song—You Belong to Me—I’ll always think of David.

But the next thought that came was a warm one, a happy one, and I smiled.

I think
I’ll
be okay. Mike is enough to keep my heart beating every day. I will love him, and

be happy with him.

But David won’t. He’ll never find love again. He’ll never be okay again.

If things were different—normal, it would’ve been David that placed a ring on my finger.

I looked down at my left hand and traced my fingertip over the ruby. It was such a pretty

ring, and I couldn’t help but to smile at the odd significance of the single red rose.

Mike twisted his fingers throu gh mine and walked with that permanent grin etched onto his

lips as we strolled through the shopping mall. When we passed a tall shop window, with the evening

sun behind us, I caught our reflection in the glass; we looked so right together, like we were actually

one puzzle—split in two. Even though my head only j ust came up to his chin and my hands looked

like a child’s inside of his, we still looked perfect.

He ran his thumb over my ruby ring for the hundr edth time, and I wrapped my ot her hand

over his forearm to get clos er. The smile I wore, though, was forced. Although I was happy about

the engagement, I couldn’t help but to f eel like, somehow, I’d lost some thing I could never get

back.

“What’re you thinkin’ about, pretty girl?” Mike asked, squeezing my hand.

“Um,” I stalled, “I was just thinking...that...your tux is going to look really great next to my

dress.”

“Yeah. Good call bringing a colour swatch to match up the tie.” He nodded to himself. “I

just can’t wait to see you all dressed up—lookin’ like a princess.”

“Well—” I started, then Mike switched sides with me quickly, forcing me closer to the wall

as a group of boys dressed in thick jackets and pants way too big for their bodies fenced us in on the

sidewalk.

“Hey, man, you got a light?” one of them asked in a creepy tone, holding out a cigarette.

“No. Sorry. Don’t smoke.” Mike nodded politely, standing tall, completely unfazed by their

proximity.

The tallest boy, with a half-grown moustache, all but undressed me with his eyes. “Nice girl

you got there.” He nodded. “Looks a little scared, though.”

“Yeah,” another boy said, slapping his friend on the arm. “Maybe
I
can comfort her.”

The rest of the boys laughed.

Mike smiled at me, gripping my hand tighter. I lowered my head. “Well,” he started, “she’s

seventeen, she has a right to be. There are six of you, standing impolitely close to the two of us. You

should have more respect, mate.”

“Mike?” I squeezed his arm. “Shut up.”

“Nah, it’s cool.” The boy raised his palms . “He’s just defending his lady—I’d do the same.

No hard feelin’s, man?” he asked and extended his hand.

Mike, without hesitation, placed his strong, firm grip in the boy’s hand and shook once. The

boy looked up suddenly, his eyes becoming wide.

“Sure thing, mate,” Mike said. “No hard fee lings.” Then, he released his grip, and we

walked away—leaving the boys behind.

“Did you hurt him?” I asked, leaning closer.

“A little.” He shrugged. “I just gave him a clear warning that I wasn’t gonna take any crap.”

“Well, it worked,” I noted, risking one last glance over my shoulder—making sure they

didn’t follow.

“You got a little worried there, huh?” he said in a soothing tone.

“Yes. What’d you expect?”

“You never have to feel unsafe with me, Ara. I can put up a pretty good figh t. Granted, I’d

rather avoid that if I’m with you—but, I’m trained for this stuff, and I’m
really
strong.” He grinned,

raising his eyebrows.

“I know.” I nodded solemnly, not really feeling any better.

Mike stopped walking and grabbed my hips, holding me a few inches out from his. I cast my

eyes to the ground as he leaned in and gent ly, with a touch as soft as a whisper, kissed my cheek—

lingering there for a second. “You know I’ll always protect you, right?”

I nodded, turning my head j ust a little so my lips brushed softly across his chi n. I breathed

him in deeply, closing my eyes, while hi s fingertips inched just under the rim of my top above my

jeans. It felt surreal, the way he touched me so automatically—like we’d been together forever. My

heart still jumped every time, and a part of me wondered how long it would be before it felt

normal to have him touch me, before it became second nature—for me.

I stood back from him. “Well, I may
need
protection soon. We still have to tell my dad.” My

ruby ring sparkled in the sun as I waved my fingers.

“It’ll be fine. If he throws things at us, or gets out his shotgun, we’ll just go back home to

Perth.” Mike took both of my arms in his hands— lowering his chin just a little to meet my eyes.

“Look—” he started. It felt strange to see him look at me that way; the same old Mike, with the hint

of maturity that collected in his eyes when he had to be serious, but unlike before, there was also—

love—a different kind of love. “If it makes you feel any better, we can wait until after the ball to tell

your olds. It’ll give you some time to get used to the idea.”

“I think that’d be best. It’s been a difficult couple of months for everyone, and I don’t know

how he’ll cope with this. Vicki will
freak
out.”

“What about your friends? And David?” Mike stood taller when he said
David
.

“Mike. I can’t talk about him. Not ever. I never, ever want to hear his name again, okay?”

Mike’s eyes widened under his furr owed brow, and his mouth ope ned a little. “Sure.” He

nodded. “No worries, kid. But,
should
I be worried? I mean—
did
he hurt you?”

I shook my head. “No, Mike. It’s just that—I just don’t wanna talk about it. Okay?”

“Okay.”

That wasn’t enough of a reason for Mike. Bu t it’d have to do—for now. Everything to do

with David can stay in the past. Mike will keep trying until I tell him about it one day, and who

knows, maybe I will tell him. But not today.

Mike smiled to himself and started walking ag ain with his hands behind his back. “Okay. I

just can’t keep it in any longer, Ara. I have to tell you.”

“What? Tell me what?” I twisted my ring around on my finger.

“Don’t get mad, okay?” he said , and without wai ting for my response, added, “I already

asked your dad for his blessing. He knows about the ring—knows about everything—except that I

asked you today.”

“Really? Oh, that’s such a relief,” I breathed the words out. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought it was funnier to watch you stew.”

I slapped his chest with the back of my hand. “Jerk. Do you have any id ea what I’ve been

going through these past few hours?”

“I’m sorry. At least I didn’t leave it a few days.”

I rolled my eyes. As if that makes it any better. “Does he know you want to move me back

home?” Mike shook his head. “I left that part out. Told him I might get a job over here.”

“But that’s not what you plan to do, is it?”

“Ara, baby. I want to be wher ever you are. I’ve done t his living without you thing, and it