Page 59 of Guarded from Corruption

“I thought it might be nice to spruce up the backyard a little more,” I answer as I guide Jade along the path. “Make it more festive. More inviting.”

And the unspoken part; to make it a place Jade will want to stay. Because I don’t want her to leave when all this is over. Not that I’m telling her that yet.

“It’s so pretty.” Jade squeezes my hand. “It’s like something you’d see in a movie.”

Man. Rhiannon is good. I really owe her for this.

“Wait until you see what’s in the barn.” I grin at her as more of my nerves ease. “If you like this, I think you’ll like what’s in there.”

I hope.

But when we first walk into the barn, I can’t be sure.

Jade stops stock still in the entrance—we have the big double doors open since the weather is nice—and goes completely silent.

For several seconds, she just looks around, her head on a swivel.

I follow her gaze, taking it all in at night.

More white lights are strung along the rafters; the ceiling high enough to make them twinkle like stars.

On the refurbished tables, there are white candles—only scentless, Rhiannon informed me—set in clear mason jars. Scattered between the candles are clusters of white roses arranged in short, stocky vases.

To one side of the barn, there’s a table set for two, complete with covered dishes, more flowers, and several bottles of wine. As Jade’s gaze lingers on the table, I tell her hurriedly, “Not that I think you want to drink all that wine. But I wasn’t sure which kind you’d want, so I got one of each type.”

Jade whispers, “Niall. Is all this…” Still holding my hand, she moves further into the barn. Then she gasps. “We can watch movies out here, too?”

I kiss her cheek. “We can now.”

“Oh, Niall.” She tugs me in the direction of the projection screen I installed earlier today. Facing it are several couches and armchairs, all set up with throw blankets and cup holders and side tables perfect for holding popcorn and candy. “And a popcorn maker?”

“Is it too much?” I eyeball the large red popcorn machine I impulsively bought, imagining nights in the barn watching movies with Jade and my team.

“Yes.” Jade turns to me, her eyes glistening. For a second, my heart sinks, until she adds, “It’s too much, but I love it. This is all… it’s incredible. And you did all this? Today?”

“I had some help,” I admit. “Rhiannon helped me come up with some of the decorating ideas. Dante and Erik helped me set it up.”

“It’s wonderful.” And then she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist and kissing my jaw. “I love it. I love it. I can’t believe you did this. For me? Really?”

I lift Jade into my arms and carry her over to the couch, setting her down in my lap. “Of course I did it for you. I wanted to do something special. Even though I can’t take you out to fancy places yet, or trips… you deserve this.”

Her lips brush against mine. “I’m not sure what I did to deserve it, but I’m not complaining. Being here with you is already a gift. And to have this perfect spot to spend time with you…”

Stroking her cheek, I tell her quietly, “I thought… I want you to love it here. Even when you don’t have to stay at B and A anymore, I hope you’ll want to—” I cut myself off before I go too far. “Anyway. I thought we could have a nice date out here. Dante helped with dinner, and we can watch a movie and?—”

“Cuddle?” Interest—more than interest, desire—lights her eyes. “Is anyone else coming out here tonight?”

“Not tonight. Everyone knows to stay clear.”

Her smile brightens. “Good.” A pause. “I mean, I like all your friends, but…”

“I know.” I cup her jaw as I capture her mouth again, tasting mint and the sweetness that’s uniquely Jade. She hums into my mouth as the kiss grows deeper, and I feel myself thickening beneath her.

Maybe putting Jade in my lap wasn’t the best idea, because as she clutches my shoulders and leans into the kiss, her ass rubs against me and it’s so incredible all I can think about is making love to her. Not just sex. Loving every part of Jade’s body and showing her all the things I’m holding back from saying.

But that’s not the plan.

Though it’s hard to remember that when Jade turns in my lap to straddle me, and now I can feel her breasts pressing against my chest; small but the perfect size for my hand. Or my mouth. It hasn’t happened yet, but I think about it—kissing her taut nipples, drawing them into my mouth, plumping her soft breasts with my hands…

---