The Knight Of The Rose (29 page)

romantic—he’s willing to give me everything I ever wanted out of life. Do I want that with him?

“Please?” Mike slipped off the bed and knelt on the ground in front of me. He reached i nto

his bedside drawer and pulled out a small, purple box, then lifted the lid just a fraction as he looked

into my eyes. “Make me the happiest man on the planet. Tell me you’ll marry me, Ara-Rose.”

With his trembling fingertips he lifted the lid on the box completely, and a small red stone in

the shape of a rose caught my eye; two emeralds rested atop a thin gold vine on either side of t he

flower. I lost my breath to a lump that formed in my throat. Oh, my God. He’s really proposing. This

is it. This is the moment. I can change everything in my world for the rest of my life, for forever. For

my forever, and for Mike ’s forever, too—because they’re the same. We are the same . We belong

together.

But my heart... will it always truly belong to David?

“Yes,” I whispered so quietly that Mike’s eyes focused on my lips.

“Did you just say yes?”

“Yes. I...yeah, I did.” I could feel my eyes sparkling with tears as the afternoon light streamed

through the window.

“Seriously?” A breath of laughter escaped with the word.

“Yeah, seriously. It’s a yes. It was always meant to be that way.”

Mike laughed, then gently lifted the ring from the box and held it between his fingertips. “I...I

have a speech.” His cheeks flushed. “I kinda planned this for a while.”

I shrugged, smiling widely. “Let’s hear it then.”

He cleared the awkwardness from the back of his throat, then rested the ring to the tip of my

nail, holding my fi ngers firmly—almost unintentionally too tight. “I desi gned this for you, because

it’s perfect, beautiful, like you—a delicate flower.” He swallowed and slid the ring a little further

onto my finger. “It...it sparkles like the way you bring light to my life, and just like when I first saw

you on the day you were born, Ar a, when I got to see this ring in all of its completed grandeur, I fell

in love. I knew it was the one; just like the girl that’ll wear it for the rest of her life.
My
girl. My

beautiful rose.”

The ring, when he slid it all th e way to the base of my f inger, fit so perfectly—like Mike fit

me. We were made to go together—the sun and the sand—and as the ruby rested against my skin, it

felt like a bolt of electricity shot out through the emeralds beside the rose. The energy warmed my

hand, then my arm, and travelled into my heart; pumping that feeling, that love, all around my body.

I smoothed my fingertip around the base of the gold band. “It’s perfect, Mike.”

“I know.” The corners of hi s eyes softened and he grinned, running his fingers from my

hands, along my forearms, then rested them behind my elbows.

As I parted my legs at the knees and let him kneel between them, he seemed a li ttle rigid,

jittery, I suppose—a kind of school-boy awkwardness I’d never seen my confident, womanising best

friend wear before. I wished I had the guts to ask him to kiss me. I wanted so badly to feel the way

his lips would connect with mine—to see if they’d mould to the shape of my mouth—a kiss that

matched—or if they’d be stiff and rigid—a kiss that belonged to two stone carvings.

“What’re you thinking, Mike?”

“Nothing,” he said, but his eyes held the smile of poorly concealed thoughts.

“Liar.”

He looked away, leaving his thumbs on my hipbones and his f

ingers almost completely

wrapping my wa ist. He se emed lost fo r words. “Sorry. It’s just...I’ve never fel t this way before.

About anyone. Not like this. I—I just don’t know what to do with you.”

“You could...” I swallowed, tr ying to force down the rising heat in my cheeks. “You could

kiss me. That’s always a start.”

But he laughed at me instead. “I want to...ki ss you. So bad it’s actually causing pain in my

chest. But I just don’t wanna get it all wrong—”

“Mike?” I pulled his face t oward me and closed my eyes tight. He smelled so fresh and

sexy—a vibrant, musky cologne. I just wanted to press my face into his neck and breathe him in.

“What can a kiss hurt?”

“Everything. I’ll go too far. I won’t be able to stop. My knees are shaking, baby—” He

laughed and looked down. “I’ve wanted this for too long. It’s taking everything in me right now not

to throw you on the bed and tear off your clothes.” He chuckled, but stopped, biting his lip. “I’m so

sorry, Ara—I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Mike. Just shut up and kiss me.”

He shook his lowered head and closed his eyes for a second.

“Please?” I wrapped my ankles around his hips, gripping him tight. I just didn’t get it. Why

would he ask me to marry him, then make some lame-ass excuse not to kiss me?

Like a heart-consuming sadness, the need to feel him close to me pulled at my brow, and

when he looked up at me again, he frowned. “What is it, Ara? Why are you frowning?”

“I—I’m…I’ve wanted this, too. Don’t you get it? It’s not just you.”

“I know.”

“Then, kiss me.” He went to shake his head, but I s topped him with a finger to his lips.

“Then, afterward, I—I want you to make love to me.”

The breath he was obviously holding blast fro m his smiling lips. “I’m not gonna do that ,

baby. Not until we’re married.”

“What? Why?”

“You know why.”

I went to clutch my locket, dropping my ha nd when I realised it wasn’t there. “I—I’m

hideous, aren’t I?”

“Ara, baby. No way. You are so perfect I have to dig my nails into my palms to st op from

listening to my evil conscience—” he shook his head, “— but we talked about this once, remember?

You told me you wanted a guy who coul d respect you. And any guy that w ouldn’t have...sex with

you until you got married would be the right one for you. You meant it then, and it’s up to me to help

you keep those values intact—even in times of...pressure.”

He’s right. I did say that. But it was so l ong ago, when absti nence was in fashion, and I

must’ve only been, like, fourteen. How can he remember that? “Well, maybe I changed my mind.”

“Ara, I’m a gr own man. I ’ve done this be fore, but you—you’re so young, and you don’t

know what you’re getting your self into. We have the rest of our lives for grown-up stuff. Let ’s just

wait a while before we take that step, okay?”

“But you won’t even kiss me?” The heat moved from my heart and limbs to places in my

body that normally only felt hot around David.

“I want to. I just don’t wanna lose control.”

“Is it that bad if you do? I mean, it won’t be the end of the world, right?”
You’re not going to

eat me, like my last boyfriend.

Mike chuckled and looked down at my legs around him. “No, you’re right. It really wouldn’t.

I guess—I don’t know, I guess I’m not used to being allowed to to uch you like this. My blood’s

going mad in here trying to control my fingers.”

“Me too—”

“Really?” Mike said.

Why is that so hard to believe?

“Okay, well, I go tta stand up ‘cause my feet’re going numb.” He laughed and sat beside me

on the bed again; I sighed aloud. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“It just seems like a convenient excuse. Are you afraid if you see me naked you’ll change

your mind about me?”

“What? Why would you say a thing like that?”

I shrugged.

“Ara, baby, the thought of you naked is...” He shook his head. “You can’t even ment ion

things like that to a guy who’s trying not to sedu ce you. Look what you’ve done to me—here, feel.”

He placed my hand on his chest—over his heart. It thumped rapidly through its cage, like, I could

almost feel it tapping my hand.

“That doesn’t mean anything.” I dropped my hand. “Just because you want sex doesn’t mean

you’re attracted to me. I’ve
seen
some of the girls you took home.”

“Ara—”

“Just...you would tell me, right?” I kept my head down, but looked at him from under my

lashes. “If there was something wrong with me—you’d tell me?”

Behind closed lips, his laughter rumbled in the back of his thr oat. “Oh, Ara. I’m sorry—I

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