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"Would you hold still before I burn you!" Melanie complained from her place above me, waving the smoking curling iron in my face for emphasis.
"I'm trying…" Her reflection glared back at me as if to say 'try harder' but she was still smiling in spite of her threat. It was a pitiful truth of my existence, but I couldn't stand for Mel to be angry with me.
I managed a whole minuet and a half before the fidgeting started anew. I was trying to hold still, really, I was, but excitement had my tiny body practically vibrating with pent-up energy. In exactly forty-five minuets Ian, my Ian, would be arriving to escort me to my senior prom! If by some cruel twist of fate, I were to die today I would die a happy woman.
"Alright just a few more curls to go, another half a can of hair spray and you'll be ready for the runway." Mel had been working on my hair for the past hour with a single-minded determination that was more than a little impressive. In spite of my assurances that I was perfectly happy to ware my hair in its preferred style; straight as a board that is, Mel insisted that I should do something special for my 'big night'. That something special turned out to be hours worth of Melanie combing, teasing, and curling my hair into submission. If the multiple sore spots dotting my scalp were any indication of the final result I was going to look like a spotted leopard.
A cloud of hair spray enveloped my head causing my eyes to sting painfully. I choked back a cough inhaling a lung full of the noxious fumes that would hold my bouncing curls in place through wind, rain, or a class five tornado
"Done!" Mel proclaimed from somewhere to my left. I had never been so glad to hear anything in my life!
For as long as I can remember I have always been envious of Mel's copper mane that seemed to curl around her face in flowing waves, like living flames dancing against her lightly tanned skin. Mel and I are polar opposites in appearance and personality, fire and ice. I have always wished I could burn as brightly but looking up at Mel's handy work I was stunned by the girl staring back at me in the floor standing mirror leaning against Mel's wall.
"Is that really me?" The words were mine but the lips that formed them were painted a frosted petal pink, creating the illusion of being freshly kissed. My cheeks were brushed with a bright rose that highlighted my ivory skin to perfection. The eyes that I had always thought a dull grey compared to the rich hazel of Melanie's gaze, had been rimmed in a soft charcoal grey and accented in a gold shimmer shadow. The combination brought out subtle hints of pale blue and silver that I had never noticed before. The entire effect was complete by a halo of platinum curls trembling in supple waves around my heart-shaped face.
I barely recognized this new me
"That's you baby sister. You look amazing if I do say so my self." Mel's beaming smile was contagious. An excited giggle bubbled up in my chest. I had the urge to twirl around just to see my gold knee-length dress flair around me. I felt like a princess, and it was all thanks to Mel.
"Thank you so much!" I gushed and pulled her into a tight hug. For a moment we bounced in place still wrapped around each other until a paralyzing thought seizes me around the middle.
Mel must have sensed the change in me; she pulled back and stared down at me, worry clearly reflected in her face. "What's wrong honey
I could feel my throat swell, I had to work to force the words out around the constriction. "What if…what if Ian doesn't like it?" Speaking my fears allowed only gave them more weight to crush me with. I never stopped to consider what Ian might like to see me in. What if he doesn't like gold, or maybe he would prefer my hair up and not down?
Logically I knew that I was being unreasonable, but this was the first time I had dressed up for Ian since we started seeing each other three weeks before. Our relationship was still so new, secretly I was terrified that I was going to mess it up somehow. Then Ian would realize that he can do better than a five foot nothing high school girl who blushed with the slightest touch. Not to mention the stuttering mess of hormones his kisses reduced me to every time.
My fears begun to claw at my insides, dragging me under until Mel was there, shaking my shoulders almost violently, shouting my name to gain my attention. "Wanda! Look at me!" I blinked back tears; if I ruined my makeup Mel would kill me. With effort I looked up to meet her eyes, as she was still several inches taller than me even in the three-inch death traps that were strapped to my feet. How was I meant to walk in these, let alone dance is completely beyond me?
"Now that I have your attention," she said with a smirk. "Ian is going to flip when he sees you. You look amazing, thank you very much." An overly dramatic toss of copper hair had me smiling despite my raging insecurities. "And if you don't believe me, your wonderful sister, then I am just going to have to get you a male opinion."
Oh no…I groaned inwardly. Please, oh please, soft plush carpeting below my feet, if you have any sympathy in your tightly woven threads, please open up and swallow me whole!
"Jared! We need you!" Mel sang loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear.
White hot heat gathered in my cheeks as I listened to the thud of feet skipping up the steps two at a time. Seconds later Jared's mop of sandy curls peaked around the door, his hazel eyes averted in case I was still indecent. Always the gentlemen…I thought with a shake of my head.
"You rang?" In that moment I wanted nothing more than to crawl under Mel's bed and hide. One thing was for certain; before this night was over, I was going to kill Melanie!
"Our little Wanderer here needs a male opinion."
Jared's eye flickered over me, then to Mel before snapping back as if his neck were a coiled rubber band. Eyes, that only weeks ago would have unleashed a swarm of butterflies in my stomach, gawked at me as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. I have heard the express 'his jaw hit the floor' before, I had never actually seen it until then. Jared stood as still as a statue, his jaw hanging open at an almost unnatural angle while his eyes sweep the length of my body growing wider with each pass.
I suppressed a reflexive nervous giggle while he continued to admire me; each sweep over my figure sent a new wave of heat flooding my already scorched cheeks. At this rate I was going to look sunburned by the time Ian showed up. Jared, the same Jared that I had a crush on since we were kids seemed almost…mesmerized by me? How was that even possible?
I glanced over at Mel for help, wondering if she was upset by Jared's reaction but apparently, I had no cause for concern. Mel didn't seem prone to jealousy; at least not when it was her handy work being admired. Obnoxious creature that she was, Mel just stood there with a mega watt smile splitting her face, her hands clutched to her chest and bouncing on her heals in glee.
"I think he's swallowed his tongue, Wanda." She joked with an exaggerated wink.
At that moment Jamie came crashing up the stairs and knocked Jared back to his senses with a not-so-gentle shove. "Mom and Dad want to know how it's going." Jamie pushed his way around Jared until he caught sight of me and grinned excitedly.
"Wow sis! You look amazing, just like an angel." Jamie came bounding over and slung his arm around my waist in a tight hug. Bless Jamie and his sweetness, he always knew just what to do and say to ease my mind.
"See I told you." Mel piped up. She always has to be right.
"I second that kid. You look…amazing, Wanda. Ian is one lucky son of a bitch." My nose wrinkled at Jared's choice of phrase even if I appreciated the sentiment.
"Thank you, guys." I squeaked through the lump logged in my throat. All this attention was more than a little overwhelming.
"Ok that's enough gawking you two. Tell Mom and Dad to let us know when Prince Charming comes to collect Cinderella. Now scram so we can finish." With a playful shove Mel ushered Jamie and Jared out the door, not before Jared sent a wink and air kiss for luck.
"Come on kid, let's go practice dialing 911." I could hear Jared say down the hall. "Why would we do that?" I repressed a snort at Jamie's tone that clearly said he thought Jared was crazy.
"Because I think our dear friend Ian is going to need some medical attention when he sees your sister." It was my turn to be stunned at his words while Melanie erupted in a fit of giggles, rolling around on her bed clutching her stomach as if in pain. She would think that was funny! I stuck my tongue out at her when she finally pulled herself together. With a huff I turned back to check my reflection once more.
I was used to looking into the mirror and seeing the face and body of a little girl staring back at me. But with my hair styled to perfection, skin aglow with residual heat and wrapped in miles of shimmering gold fabric that showcases my petite figure in all the right ways, I no longer saw a little girl. I saw a beautiful, mature woman staring back at me.
"Do you really think Ian is going to like it?" The words slipped out before I could check them. Glancing at Mel, she just smiled over my shoulder.
"Jared is right honey; Ian is going to have a heart attack when he sees you. Besides, he loves you, it wouldn't matter if you wore cutoffs, a tank top, and a bag over your head, he would still think you are the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Loves me?" My brain stalled on the word.
Mel shot me a bewildered glance before she led my pliant body to perch on her bed, pulling the chair I had occupied during my make over to face me. Her cool hands surrounded my trembling fingers in a lose hold in a grounding hold. Contact had always been the fastest way to calm me, a trick our mother discovered when I was six years old and grieving the loss of my birth parents.
"Hasn't Ian told you he loves you yet?" She asked gently.
"No, he tells me how much he adores me everyday, but we have only been together for a few weeks, Mel. How can he possibly be in love with me?" I couldn’t bear to meet her eyes, instead I study the contrast between her sun kissed hands and my ivory complexion.
"Stupid boys…" She muttered under her breath before one of those hands reached up to tilt my chin until our eyes meet. "Honey, I guarantee you Ian will be knocked off his feet tonight and no matter what you're thinking, I know that he's been in love with you for years. I'm sure he’s just waiting for the right time to tell you."
I opened my mouth to contradict her, but the chime of the doorbell silenced me. Melanie and I jumped to our feet at the same moment, almost knocking each other over in the process.
My heart contracted painfully in my chest when Ian's clear voice floated up to caress my ears. Ian's here, my mind and heart screamed in unison and suddenly I felt lightheaded.
"Wanda, honey! Ian is here…" Mom called from the bottom of the stairs.
It took Melanie practically dragging me down the hall to get my body moving again. Mel preceded me down and it was only with the knowledge that Ian waited for me that I was able to descend the stairs under my own steam.
My entrance was greeted with a collective gasp as I clear the landing; I could see Mom and Dad hugging out of the corner of my eye. Mom held a tissue in her hand dabbing at her eyes and Dad was smiling proudly. Jared leaned against the couch with his arms slung loosely around Melanie's waist, both of them wearing matching Cheshire grins, leaving Jamie to man the camera. Normally I would shy away from such attention, at the moment I couldn't see anything but Ian's breathtakingly beautiful face gazing up at me with a look of complete adoration shinning in his stunning sapphire eyes.
So handsome, was all I could think. I hadn't seen him in almost a week and was only just realizing how much I missed him. My hungry eyes dragged up his tall frame, drinking in the way the dark lines of his suit hugged his long legs and broad shoulders like a woman parched from the hot Arizona sun. In stead of a white shirt and tie as Jared had worn to Melanie's prom, Ian chose a royal blue dress shirt with the top two buttons left undone. The tanned columns of his throat and a hint of sculpted chest were left exposed her my feasting pleasure. I bit my lip to resist the temptation to run the flat of my tongue down the exposed skin to taste the hollows of his throat. Feeling dazed again I swayed toward him, my feet tripping over the last step on my way down.
Large hands shot out, fingers clutched my hips and pulled me flush against the body I had been admiring from a distance. Hands reached for his lapels of their own volition to steady myself and drag him closer. Our eyes meet for the first time leaving my lungs feeling oxygen starved. His pupils expanded and swallowed up the sapphire blue I loved so much while they blazed trail up my body in a slow sweep before returning to my face. The look he sent me was almost feral, hungry, and it left me shivering with a familiar longing. Everything else disappeared as thousands of invisible strings attached and dragged my face up to meet him. Strong fingers flexed against my sides lifting me, inching our lips closer…
"Uh hem!" It was Dads not so subtle coughing and Mel's snort of laughter that finally penetrated our lust induced fog. Blushing crimson I buried my head in Ian's chest. I couldn't believe I almost made out with him right in front of my parents, Mel, Jared, and…Jamie. Shameful tears welled in my eyes.
"My apologies Mr. Stryder, I…" Ian trailed off when a particularly pitiful sob escaped my lips.
Stupid hormones! Why couldn't I just get sullen and withdrawn when I was upset like Mel or Jamie? Why did I have to be a crier?
"Wanda? What's wrong?" Ian tried to peer down at my face, I wrapped my arms around him tighter denying him the chance to see my shame. My head remained tucked away while I mumbled Jamie's name loud enough for him to hear. Even embarrassed as I was I couldn't stand to see him worry about me when I could ease his mind.
"Ah." He rumbled from above me in understanding.
Ian exchanged a few words with my parents, and I was sure a few pointed looks as well, then I was being led/carried into the formal living room away from my families prying eyes.
"Come on baby, look at me please." Despite my shame, the feeling of his voice vibrating through his powerful chest sent delightful shivers shooting down my spin and goose flesh prickling my arms. Soft pleas and the feel of his hands tracing down the bare patch of skin exposed by the deep V of my dress was enough to pull me away from my pity party; that and the prospect of seeing his gorgeous face again.
For the millionth time I wonder how I never noticed Ian before. It seemed impossible that I was blind to him before watching him run toward me on the soccer field three weeks ago. He was everything I loved about Jared and so much more, his kindness and gentle ways with me earned him the title of my hero long ago, I always considered him as so far beyond me that it never occurred to me that he could see me or care about be beyond a friend or younger sister type.
Soft fingers wiped softly at my tears before tracing, first my cheeks, then my bottom lip, his fathomless eyes followed the movements, lingering on my lips before snapping back to my eyes. I almost whimpered at the contact, reaching for his lips I met only air. Ian seemed to sober and shook his head as if to clear it, pulling away slightly.
"Why are you crying baby?" He whispered; reminding be how close I came to kissing him in front of my family. It felt so shameful to lose control like that.
"I just *hiccup* can't believe we almost…" I couldn't even think about kissing him without turning into a tomato let alone talk about it.
"Devouring each other?" He supplied with a devilish leer.
The glare I sent him was pure Melanie. "Yes…I can't believe we almost…did that in front of Jamie, not to mention my parents, Mel and Jared." I hissed.
Ian started massaging my hip through the thin material separating us in soothing circles, a habit I noticed he employed when I was anxious. His ministrations were having the desired effect; slowly I felt myself relaxing and my annoyance slipping away.
"Personally, I have no problem making out with you in front of Howe." Ian muttered in my ear and suddenly I remembered why I was mad at him in the first place. My small hands attempted to push him away but were little use against his more substantial bulk. Instead, I returned to glaring at him through my artificially thickened lashes. If there was one thing I learned since we started seeing each other, it was that Ian hated to see me pout.
I couldn't deny that it hurt that even now, Ian still felt jealous of Jared. On some level I knew it was partly my fault. Years of mooning over Jared and overlooking the incredible man standing before me had taken its toll on Ian's confidence. He confided in me one night after a lovely evening of stolen kisses and light touches over dinner that it drove him insane to watch me pine away for his friend all those years while he sat on the side lines.
Remembering the look of sadness that clouded his eyes that night was enough to soften my glare.
"I'm sorry my Wanderer." He breathed my nickname softly; all traces of humor gone, only an honest desire to make amends remained.
"I'm sorry for taking a jab at Howe and I'm sorry I nearly lost my senses when I saw you coming down those stairs. I wanted to tell you how breath-taking you look but I couldn't find my tongue. Then I saw the way you looked at me…god Wanda." He groaned and I felt my body tremble as his words wash over me like liquid honey. Ian had never spoken to me like that, the timber of his voice it was doing wicked things to my insides. "I've fantasized about that exact moment for so long. Seeing the same desire in your eyes, desire for me; not Howe, that I feel for you…I couldn't not touch you."
Somewhere in his confession my back hit the wall, my arms wrapped around his neck, and one arm coiled across my back while the other strayed over my bottom, grasped my thigh, and encouraging me to wrap it around his lean hips. Oh…my…dear…lord. My heart hammered against my chest so hard I’m sure he could feel it, and when he finally lifted me off the ground, out lips meeting in a clash of teeth and tongues I felt his heart beating every bit as hard against my breast.
Time slowed as our passion built to a steady burn. Still drinking him down, Ian abruptly ripped his lips away, loss felt like a blow to the chest. I wanted more, more kisses, and I wanted it now. When I tried to follow his retreating lips, he used the hand tangled in my hair thwart my advances. I pouted between pants, still he remained strong. Hooded eyes watched, foreheads touched, and hands smooth over any skin we could find. The skin at the base of his throat felt like warm velvet under my fingers. I smiled with feminine satisfaction as his pulse jumped under the touch.
"You are incredible, but if I don't get you back in there for pictures your father and Howe are going to drag me out back, find your Uncle Jeb and riddle me with bullet holes for molesting their sweet girl."
Shit! I cursed uncharacteristically in my head.
________________________________________
True to his word, Ian helped me straiten my dress and fix my hair in the hall mirror before we returned to my parents. Jamie was thankfully missing; Mel had sent him to retrieve my bag from her room which allowed me enough time to reign in my guilty blush. As predicted, Dad glared daggers at Ian but didn't comment on my kiss swollen lips or the light smear of Pink Ice lip gloss staining Ian's neck. Mom only smiled her all-knowing smile and proceeds to direct Jamie in what photographs to take.
Mel and Jared were the worst. Mel could barely contain her laughter and Jared kept shooting murderous looks in Ian's direction, which he ignored with an almost smug grin. I was never going to hear the end of this! After another twenty minutes of awkwardness, we managed our escape.
The smell of sweet night air invigorated my senses effectively washing away my anxiety from the last several hours. Unexpectedly Ian swept me off my feet, carrying me to his waiting car. Once settled in the passenger set Ian placed a single butterfly kiss against my lips with an almost bashful smile that sent my heart soaring.
The night turned out every bit as magical as I always envisioned it would be. This year prom was located in a local hotel, not the old, cramped school gym. I gazed around the ballroom taking in the millions of glittering lights decorating the ceiling. Silver streamers swayed all around, dripping from tables and chairs all surrounding the polished ebony dance floor. The completed effect was a bit cheesy. I loved it. The only thing that mattered tonight was Ian, and to my delight he kept me close, never straying far from my side the entire night. It’s wrong but I couldn't deny the rush of satisfaction I felt at the admiring looks the female student body sent Ian, jealously clearly reflected in their eyes. That's right ladies, he's all mine!
We danced, sang, and laughed with my friends until I could barely feel my feet and even then, Ian gathered me close, supporting my weight to ease my discomfort.
After a while we broke away from the crowd. Ian pulled me into his arms so that our bodies met from thigh to chest and we swayed to the music, trading sweet kisses, simply enjoying each other. The heat from earlier had cooled, though not entirely extinguished and as the night progressed our touches became bolder, stroking the fires once more.
Halfway though the evening Wes approached me while Ian fetched us some punch. His handsome face was twisted in a frown. I hadn't seen much of him recently, too wrapped up in finals prep and prom. I assumed that Lily would have told him about Ian, since Lily was just as giddy over Ian as I was half the time. Apparently, I was wrong.
"You're here with Ian?" He questioned without a greeting. Something close to anger reflected in his tone but there was a trace of hurt lurking deeper that pulled at my heart. I know Ian told him to stay away from me, threatened him non the less. I thought Ian had given Wes a reason or perhaps Wes knew about Ian’s feelings. It hadn't occurred to me that Wes might feel betrayed by my appearance on Ian's arm. Suddenly, I felt ill that our actions may have caused him pain.
"I’m sorry Wes, he asked me a few weeks ago and we’ve been together ever since." I wanted to whisper the last part. Although, I couldn't honestly regret the outcome, I did regret hurting him.
His caramel skin darkened as he glared in the direction Ian had gone. "Did he tell you that he threatened me if I asked you to prom?" His voice dripped with surprising animosity.
I swallowed back the uneasy feeling in my gut and opened my mouth to reply when a well-muscled arm slipped around my waist and pulled me in until I was tucked in the hollow of Ian' side. One hand slipped a cool glass in my hand. I was grateful for something to steady my surprisingly shaking hands. I wasn't afraid of Wes; I could never be afraid of him, but I’ve never been good at confrontation.
"Yes, I did tell her. Look you have every right to be angry with me man, but don’t take it out on Wanda. My actions are my own, she knew nothing about what I did until after the fact.” His voice was mild but there was a sharp edge to it that I recognized from years of confrontations between Ian and his brother.
Wes looked between the two of us for a few seconds before he seemed to deflate, his posture slumped, and he offered me a contrite smile. "I'm sorry for snapping at you Wanda; I just wasn't expecting you to show up with O'Shea here." He apologized even if I could hear the tightening on Ian's last name. I offered him a weak smile of my own, hoping the small act would ease some of the tension.
"You could have told me that you wanted her for yourself man, you didn't have to threaten." And just like that they were smiling again. Ian pulled me close kissing my crown and mumbled something in reply that I was too confused to follow. Moments ago, they were poised to fight and like a light switch being thrown they were joking like best friends again. Boys were just too confusing.
I was pulled back to the present to find both Ian and Wes looking at me expectantly. "What? Did I miss something?" I asked warily.
Ian laughed into my hair, his hot breath soothing my nerves and warming me from the inside out. "Wes asked if you would like to dance." He repeated and I blushed prettily as they shared matching grins. I felt as though I had stepped into an alternate reality that I wanted desperately to escape.
One look at Ian confirmed that he was alright with it and although I would have said yes either way it made me feel better to know I wouldn't be offending him.
Wes and I danced around the floor, chatting like nothing happened and I was glad for it. Tension was so tiring, I found that I had missed Wes’s easy nature. It was one of the many reasons I liked him so much. For all the fun I had with Wes I couldn't help steeling glances at Ian every so often. He stood with my friends, laughing happily and no doubt entertaining them with some horrendous joke or another. I loved seeing him like this, happily laughing away in his element.
As soon as the song ended Ian was at my side and Wes excused himself to rejoin his date. "I missed you." He whispered in my ear, eliciting a shy giggle from my lips as we joined our friends again.
At one point Brant Adams, a football player that Lily knew well approached me for a dance, thinking nothing of it I excepted. Brant was handsome enough with dark chestnut hair and freckles dusting his nose and cheeks. I knew he was popular with the cheerleaders and there was a time I would have found him attractive. Now, looking at him, I couldn’t help comparing him to Ian and finding him wanting.
We danced a little clumsily while he tried to make conversation, the exchange was awkward at best.
He tried to claim another dance, just when I was trying to formulate a refusal that wouldn’t offend, Ian cut in and pulled me into the circle of his arms.
"Sorry but this dance in mine."
Brant looked like he wanted to say something for a moment before thinking better of it, with a lingering glance in my direction he disappeared into the crowd.
"What was that about?" I asked feeling like I missed something.
"He likes you, but he can't have you." He whispered possessively. "You my sweet," lips bushed my forehead, "dearest," each eyelid, "beautiful," my nose, which earned him a chortle, "angelic Wanderer are mine." Finally, he claimed my lips in a passionate kiss that left me longing for more.
In a daze we swayed for what felt like hours without pause. At some point I must have winced in pain as my heels pinched my toes painfully. Without a word Ian lifted me in his arms, carried me to our table, sat me down and very carefully removed my heels before carrying me back out to the dance floor; his antics gaining us the attention of most of my classmates causing me to blush. Once we reached the dance floor, he settled me, so I was standing on his polished dress shoes, balanced against his body. My friends and even Wes looked on with sweet smiles as I ducked my head in gleeful embarrassment. We danced like that for the rest of the night, both of us content to be lost in our own little world.
Cocooned in comfortable silence on the way home I sighed in bliss. Tiredly we traded small smiles and relive the glory of the past few hours.
Shivering as Ian helped me out of his car, a cute frown settled on his full lips when he noticed the gooseflesh puckering my skin in a chill. Every bit a true gentleman, he striped his suit jacket off, draping the delicious smelling fabric around my shoulders. Happily, I snuggled into his residual heat. I peeked up through my lashes to see his sapphire eyes darken in a now familiar show of desire. My body responded without a single touch, fire pooled low in my abdomen and my heart rate jumped into a thunderous gallop in my chest.
The fire that simmered just below the surface all night sprung to life between us like a living, breathing thing. I never knew it was possible to want someone as much as I wanted Ian. I couldn’t have imagined I could miss someone as much as I did Ian. In such a short time I’ve stared to crave him like the sunshine after a weeks worth of bitter rain.
Our lips drew together slowly, meeting and tasting the sweetness of our passion. The slow caress of our mouth a complete contradiction to the raging inferno blazing below the surface. It was completely intoxicating to savor him in this way with no interruptions to moderate our desire. My hands snaked around his slim waist, my fingers roamed the taut muscles of his back, while his hands traced a similar trail down the line of my back. I moaned into our kiss as one large hand strayed from the hollow of my spine to brush across the curve of my backside. I felt like I should offer a token protest at his boldness, swat his hand away. My body had other ideas and surged forward to attack his mouth with more force.
Ian grinned into my mouth, his hands pinning my straining hips against his body until I felt his flesh pressing intimately against the softness of my stomach. "That is what you do to me." He growled, nipping at my exposed throat for emphasis.
I was drowning in sensation, practically hyperventilating from desire. I never wanted him to stop, but with another growl he pulled away from me. I felt bereft and lamented my displeasure with a whine.
He held me close while I calmed, sweeping kisses across my hair to sooth my over stimulated body.
"I love you, Ian."
Ian stilled against me, and it took me a full minuet to realize what I said. Oh my lord...what had I done?
Something akin to terror bled the residual heat from my body, replacing it with an arctic freeze that chilled my heart to the core. Icy tears forced their way past my closed lids, biting back the cry that quivered on my tongue I wanted to run. I was afraid I would find a way to mess this up and with three would I accomplished just that.
I was too distraught to notice Ian soften around me until his hands wrapped around my trembling form and dragged me as close as he could without melding our bodies into one. 'Wanda, baby…" He pleaded softly in my ear. "Please look at me."
Knowing what was about to happen I resisted him; I had no wish to face his rejection. Insistent, he pulled my hands from my face, kissing my fingers, knuckles and finally down my wrists. The intimacy of his lips brushing the sensitive skin at my pulse point shocked me into meeting his eyes. Looking up I was surprised to see his own eyes appeared glassy.
"Why are you crying, baby?" He whispered against my wrists, sapphire eyes pulling me in like gravity.
"I shouldn't have said that. I'm so sorry Ian." My tongue felt heavy in my mouth, it physically hurt to say those words to him.
"Don't be sorry unless you didn't mean it."
My head snapped up; I searched his eyes for any sign of deceit but found nothing by hope shinning in those cobalt spheres. "I meant it…" I choked out; this was almost too much to grasp. Melanie said Ian loved me earlier, I hadn't actually believed her at the time.
A heart stopping smiles broke like the morning sun over the horizon at my confession, "I love you to Wanda. More than you will ever know." He breathed.
I was too stunned to do anything but gawk at him. Thankfully, Ian wasn't deterred by my silence, instead he claimed my lips in a lingering kiss that set my fears to rest.
We stayed like that until my heart slowed and our breathing synchronized. Mouth moving slowly, sweet, sweet kisses meant for tasting, and reacquainting.
"You thought I was going to reject you." It wasn't a question; he knew me well and I was momentarily ashamed that I doubted him.
Ian loves me…it just seemed too fantastical to believe.
"Yeah…I'm sorry. Mel told me you loved me. I didn’t believe her. We’ve only been together for a few weeks, and you’ve been at school for most of that." I rambled. Feeling ridiculous, I ducked my head in embarrassment. With a quiet laugh he tipped my chin to catch my averted eyes.
"Mel told you that I love you? Remind me to thank Mel." He joked. "I wanted to tell you before I left for ASU. I was afraid to push my luck after you so obligingly agreed to be mine. and didn't sick Mel on me after I molested you in the park. Thanks for that by the way."
That surprised me. "You wanted to tell me than?" I squeaked.
"Oh Wanda, I’ve been half in love with you for as long as I can remember.” I didn’t need to hear more, that was enough to send my heart soaring.
After a moment of thought I came to a revelation of my own. "I think I've loved you all along."
He looked doubtful but kissed my lips gently as if to say he appreciated the thought. "You do? And why is that?" He asked between kisses.
I pulled away from his lips, looking deeply in his eyes so that he understood my meaning. "Because you are the only one that has ever made me feel this way."
"And what way is that?
"Cherished..." And it was true, in Ian's arms I felt loved and respected. He protected me while still listening to what I wanted and encouraging me to assert myself even if meant going against him. No one else in my life had ever done that for me.
He watched me with pure love reflected in his sapphire pools and I knew I was cherished and always would be in Ian's arms.
The End.