Page 15 of Reign or Shine

But that’s what this is. A day that I will never forget. With a woman who I never saw coming.

It was funny, really, to think that when we met she was a fake princess, thinking I was her prince. Because in reality, it was the reverse. I had been a royal, faking his way through the day-to-day until she charged into my life. Saving me.

When I came up with this plan to have her lead me on a private hike, my hope was that we would get to know each other and see if what I was feeling was real. If there was a possibility of more with her.

I never expected that minutes into the hike I would know she was it for me. The one. Whatever you wanted to call it. She just made me feel…more. Feel everything.

Like the rain that was gently misting around us, this knowledge didn’t wash over me all at once. It was a gradual buildup. With every step we took up this mountain, with every word and thought and feeling we shared, the sentiment grew. Until it burst and I realized I was in deep.

Head-over-heels in love with this woman.

The scariest part was that I wasn’t afraid of my feelings at all. It was like every step I had ever taken, every decision and move I’d ever made was to lead me to her.

And the first moment I saw her, ridiculous wig and all, it clicked into place.

Squeezing her tighter into my side, I let out a long exhale. The view is miraculous. Every shade of green and the bright blooms that signalled the start of spring. But it was nothing to the beauty that I held in my arms.

I turn her so that she’s facing me, and my eyes meet Ellie’s. Her moss-green orbs shine back at me, her lashes dark and wet from the mist. They told me everything I needed, and yet, I had to make sure.

“Ellie,” I whisper, my voice low and husky. “I’m going to kiss you. I’m going to kiss you and never stop unless you tell me no right now.”

Her eyes flare with surprise at my words. I told her my intentions yesterday, but even I had no idea that I would take this step so soon.

Instead of answering me, Ellie takes matters into her own hands, revving up my desire for her. Grabbing the edges of my open vest, she fists the material and pulls me down at the same time she rises on her tiptoes.

Our lips crash together.

She pushes her tongue into my mouth, kissing me like a starved woman. The thought has me growing hard, thinking about her needing me so desperately. Only me.

My touch turns possessive. I grip her neck a little tighter, pulling her deeper into me so that I can feel all her curves, then I drag my hand down her back.

Ellie’s leg lifts, wrapping around me. When she starts to grind on me, I almost lose all reason. I want her, need her with a fierceness I’ve never experienced before, but I didn’t want our first time to be out in the open. Exposed to the elements.

Reluctantly, and with more willpower than I thought myself capable of, I slow our kiss until it turns into gentle pecks.

“We—” She clears her throat, a charming blush reddening her cheeks. “We should keep going. We still have a couple more hours until we hit our destination.”

Both my hands come up, each tucking her hair behind her ears before trailing down to cup her neck. With a gentle squeeze, I silently demand her eyes come back to me. She swallows and I know the emotions she’s fighting. I’m fighting them too.

“Okay,” I tell her, hoping she understands my hidden meaning. If she needs a little more time to get used to the idea of us, I’ll give it to her. But I won’t back down. When the time was right, I’d show her that our heated kiss was just the beginning.

Releasing her, I take a step back but offer her my bent arm. “M’lady,” I joke with her, giving her a slight bow. Her nervous energy instantly vanishes, and she loosens up again. With an exaggerated eye roll and a small smile, she loops her arm in mine.

“M’lord. Shall we?”

“We shall! Lead on.”

We both chuckle at our absurd back-and-forth.

Our arms stay linked for only a couple minutes until the trail path grows thinner. Ellie takes the lead, telling me this is the most challenging part of the hike but that the end view will be worth it. From where I’m standing behind her, I already agree the view is spectacular.

My legs begin to burn as we ascend the rocky path and my heart rate kicks up. Splashes of mud begin to cake my shins, and I have to catch myself a few times when I lose my footing. My attention darts back and forth between watching Ellie in front of me and down to where I’m stepping. It might not have rained hard where Ellie and I were resting only minutes ago, but I had the feeling the same couldn’t be said for higher up the mountain.

Concerned that this might be getting too dangerous, I open my mouth to ask Ellie if we should stop and consider our options, when I see her teeter to one side. The scene that plays out before me happens in slow motion.

Ellie’s upper body sways to the right the exact moment her foot slips off a wet rock. She catches herself, but not before her ankle rolls unnaturally in the opposite direction. There’s a ringing in my ears. I don’t hear her cry of pain, but I watch helplessly as her face contorts and her body falls to the muddy ground.

“Ellie!” I shout, fumbling toward her as fast as I can. The mud is thick and causes me to slip as I try to get to her. Ellie’s hands are clutching her left ankle, her face pale as what’s just happened dawns on her. “It’s okay. You’re okay,” I repeat to her, praying my words are true.

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