That's a Promise (33 page)

I simply return the smirk, tilt my head slightly, and give a small shrug. I start to turn to lead us into the apartment, but Blake’s arm shoots out and grabs me to pull me into his embrace. He nuzzles my neck, and I sigh at the simple intimate gesture.

“I don’t mind if you ogle me, love, just don’t be pissed when I am only staring at your legs tonight,” he says with a smile in his voice. I shove him playfully and he laughs at me. His arms expand in mock confusion and I put my hands on my hips, giving him my best fake glare. It doesn’t help that I am smiling while I do it, so it is not so surprising when he laughs again while watching me.        

“Oh come on, look at them in that dress!” He gives me a wink, steps towards me, and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You look gorgeous, as always.”

“Thanks. You look alright… shouldn’t embarrass me too much,” I say critically. He chuckles at my lie, and shakes his head.

Blake leans against the wall as I go to make sure I have everything that I might need in my purse. When I am ready, he grabs my hand and walks us down to his car. Ever the gentleman, he opens my car door for me, but before I get in his hand slides up my thigh and under my dress briefly. My insides clench at the simple sensual touch. His hand is gone all too soon, and I am left getting into the car with wobbly legs. Goose bumps cover my arms so I try to rub them before he sits in the car next to me, but I hear him laugh under his breath as he climbs into his seat.

Cocky fucker,
I think to myself. I determine that I will not let him affect me so much again for the rest of the night, but I could feel my insides and the universe around me laughing at the absurdity of the thought. There is no way that I will be immune to the advances of Blake Porter.
Asshole
.

We pull into Seneca Park, and the place looks incredible. It seems that the Illuminate Festival has been getting more publicity, because the lots are filled with cars. I remember the first year it started, and the only people who turned up were the locals.

Blake takes my hand as we enter the festival. There are booths along the walkway, where people can sell or hand out their homemade crafts, artwork, church merchandise, community information and many other things. Everyone has a smile on their face, and everyone who enters the atmosphere can’t help but feel the thrill and excitement in the air. It’s going to be a good night. I can feel it.

The days are longer this time of year, so it’s still nice and sunny even at six o’clock. Dusk will fall around eight o’clock, and that’s about when the park will turn into a wonderland of soft illumination. Blake and I take our time going through the booths.

We find a couple of new cheese spreads we want to try and some exquisite handmade jewelry. When we reach a booth that is covered with black and pink decorations, I am automatically drawn into it. I soon find various adult goodies when I walk into the booth. Blake, being the ever mature man that he is, takes the vibrator that I am looking at out of my hands and puts it on the opposite side of the tent.

“You will absolutely not be needing that, love,” he says to me and tries to pull me out of the booth. I am laughing loudly, because the expression on his face when he saw me pick up that intense looking vibrator was priceless.

“Wait! I’m not done, Blake,” I say loudly, laughing and trying to pull out of his grasp. I manage to escape and go back into the tent to pick up a strap-on that’s laying on one of the tables. I look at it in mock seriousness and tilt my head as if inspecting it for personal use. I can’t keep a straight face though, when Blake stands nearby and glares at me while I look. I start cracking up laughing again, as he comes towards me and picks me up to put me over his shoulder.

I scream out as he lifts me, knowing my ass is about to show to the world, but he shushes me and covers my butt so it’s not showing.

“Put me down, Neanderthal!” I shout, banging on his back.

“You’re the one banging on my back! I’ll put you down when I think you’ve learned your lesson.”

I can’t stop the giggles that escape me while he walks me down the strip where the other festivities reside. He swats my butt, but it just makes me giggle more. People turn their heads as we walk by, and I just smile and give them a small wave as we pass by.

“I’m going to move my arm so your ass shows to everyone, if you don’t stop,” he says.

“No you won’t! I’m wearing a thong,” I say knowing he wouldn’t want anyone to see me like that. His hand slips up my thigh and onto my ass until he realizes that I am indeed bare. I hear him moan before he pulls me back down to the earth. We stand chest to chest and stare at each other. I pull my lips in between my teeth, trying not to smile. I definitely won that round.

Bake’s hand reaches out and fixes some of my wayward hair. “Wipe that smile from your face, Miss,” he says and pulls my hand, tugging me along. I laugh one last time and continue my walk with him.

“You should have seen your face, Blake,” I say with one last chuckle. He puts his arm around me and laughs with me.

We walk towards the lake and enough time has passed that we can start to see the beginnings of the pretty lights that will be displayed. Around the lake, there are paper bags with LED flameless tea lights, which will look gorgeous when the sun goes down completely. On the pavilion they have built a stage that will house the musical entertainment for the night. The stage looks better this year, and I know that the music will probably be better as well. On the side, before the walkway in the trees, there is a Ferris wheel, carousel, rapid slide, swings, spinning strawberries, and some inflatables.

There are also booths for fried junk food, cotton candy, and other very unhealthy foods. Perfection. I love festivals.

“I want a fried Oreo!” I shout louder than I probably should have, when we were about to pass the stand. Blake laughs and shakes his head.

“So gross,” he says, but goes to the stand anyway.

“No way, Blake! They are delish!” I am so giddy at the thought of having this small piece of heavenly death, and am bouncing on the balls of my feet. Blake keeps looking at me while we wait in the line and laughing as he watches me act like a child. He starts to order only one fired Oreo but I, being the sweet and loving woman that I am, ask for two, because I know he needs some unhealthy goodness in that sexy perfect body of his.

“Gotta try it babe,” I say to him as we walk away and find a picnic table to sit and eat the Oreo. He smiles as we sit and takes a few moments to stare at me before he takes a bite of his treat. I am already halfway through mine, by the time he puts his in his mouth. These are perfect deep fried Oreos, when the filling is melted but not liquid, the cookie is soft but not falling apart so there is still a small crunch, and the funnel cake-like fried batter fried just right. I see him close his eyes as he takes his bite and know I’ve won him over in this battle.

“Man, I should have bought like ten more of these,” he says when he opens his eyes and stuffs the rest of the treat in his mouth. I laugh at him.

“We have to make room for funnel cake and cotton candy, so wait until we get those things into your stomach first.”

We spend most of our time going to each junk food stand at the festival trying delicious and disgusting new things. The music starts as darkness starts to fall, and the park is illuminated with soft lights from the lakeside tea lights, the hanging paper lanterns, and twinkle lights. Couples start to gather in front of the stage and start dancing to the music.

I like to watch couples dance, because it’s always sweet and surprising to see some of them together. Old couples that have been together for years, who are madly in love. New couples who can’t take their hands off of each other. The odd looking couple who you don’t expect to see together, but are so cute dancing together. Even the ones that have seen better days in their relationship, are interesting to watch.

Blake leaves the table to get some water, so I’m watching the band and dancers. A song that I love starts to play, and I get a little excited. I don’t hear it often, but I have always loved it. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’s
Your Guardian Angel
plays, and the dancers start swaying with their partners. I get up because I can’t resist the pull of the song to my soul.

I close my eyes and let the music sway my body. I probably look ridiculous to the others watching, but I don’t mind because it’s such a beautiful song. Not too long after the song begins, I feel familiar arms slide around my body. I recognize Blake’s smell of rain and citrus immediately, so there’s no fear in his touch.

He leans his head into my neck and places his lips to my ear. In a husky deep voice, he starts to sing the song to me.

Seasons are changing

And waves are crashing

And stars are falling all for us

Days grow longer and nights grow shorter

I can show you I’ll be the one

I will never let you fall

I’ll stand up with you forever

I’ll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

I’ve heard Blake sing before and he isn’t that great of a singer, but there is something so sensual, sexy, and intimate about a husky voice singing in a person’s ear. It didn’t matter if he was off key, because all he needs is that deep voice to take me to the beautiful abyss filled with the love and passion Blake has for me. My body still shivers even after he is finished singing to me. He keeps his arms wrapped around me as we sway in place enjoying the intimate moment.

He is the type of love that makes a girl want to cling on for dear life. The type of person that makes a girl want to lie, cheat, steal, crawl, kneel, or degrade herself in hopes for a shot of being with him for one moment: one moment to feel the ferocity of his passion and love. Even after that moment, there is still the deep-seated desire and raw craving to keep him firmly in place as a lover and protector.

In this moment, I become that girl. I have a carnal yearning to keep Blake wrapped around me and keep his attention and love focused on me. I see women and a couple of men staring at Blake with wistful expressions, and know that my being stubborn could result in the loss of the greatest love I will ever know. I will not lose him.

I turn around and face him. His face shows ease and contentment while holding me to him, and I take in his features. His deep brown eyes are hungry and expressing admiration. His mouth tilts slightly upward in satisfaction. He is standing before me, hoping and actively trying to get a second chance, and I can’t refuse him any longer. Emotion swells inside of me as I start to tell him exactly how I feel.

“I love you,” I say to him, keeping my eyes focused on his.

Blake stops swaying abruptly, and his hand that is settled on my back grips the material of my dress and pulls me even closer into him. His eyes flash with a mixture of heat, love, and caution. I love him. He needs to know he’s
it
for me too. I move my hand to his cheek and rub my thumb over his stubble. I smirk a little at his speechlessness, and try again.

“I love you so much, Blake,” I say again with more emphasis and determination. I see a triumphant grin grace his beautiful features before he envelops me in his embrace and brings his hungry mouth to mine.

This kiss is one of complete abandon and wildness. There are no more barriers in the feelings that we both possess for each other. I am no longer keeping my feelings hidden out of fear. Sure, the fear will probably creep back up once the spell is broken, but in this moment I have no worries or fears. I kiss him with every ounce of emotion that has been buried and has been trying to claw its way back out for the past year.

We stop the kiss when a couple of dancers bump into us. The connection, although slightly broken, is still clearly palpable as we stare into each other’s eyes. I can feel the worry creeping back inside of me, but I try my hardest to push it away. His hand grips mine, and he tugs me away from the crowd. He leads me in the same direction that I led him four days ago, through the trees and into the “secret” secluded area where we won’t be distracted or interrupted.

Blake, still in the lead, pulls my arm so that I have to jog to catch up to him. He pushes me against the tree that’s in my spot, and leans his body against mine. Heat emanates from him, and I’m soon feeling hot with desire.

“You love me?” he asks me with a small smirk. I nod and push myself further into him. “I love you too, Josie. It feels so fucking good to hear that come out of your mouth.”

Blake’s hand reaches the hair that is blowing from the light breeze. Tucking it behind my ear, his head follows and he places a light kiss below my ear. I close my eyes and shiver slightly at the contact, and I brace myself for an onslaught of powerful sensations. Only they never come. In fact I feel emptiness and a loneliness creep through my body. I open my eyes to find Blake sitting on the ground and leaning against the rough bark of the tree.

I try to gracefully slide down next to him in order to find out what happened, while he watches me fumble with the hem of my dress. He moves forward, and takes off his shirt quickly.
Well that was easy,
I think, enjoying the view of this bare chested hunk of a man.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Blake says with a laugh in his voice. He lays the shirt down on the ground so I have something to sit on instead of my getting my dress or ass dirty. I sit down comfortably and wait for him to say what he needs to say. I can practically see the gears turning in his brain, and I know that this is the moment we are going to talk about everything that happened.