Page 78 of Cloud Storm

Some things are worth waiting for. You, Ariel Wilkinson, are one of them.

More than ever, you amaze me.

Lancelot x

Chapter 18

As the saying goes, it is better to be unhappy and know the worst, than to be happy in a fool’s paradise.

Here we go.

“Where are we, Lancelot?” I ask again before my courage vanishes.

“The last time I checked, they’re still calling this a bed,” he replies wryly.

“I’m serious,” I protest.

“Me too, and if you haven’t noticed, this is where we belong,” he says, rising on his elbows to look me in the eye. “You, naked in my arms. In my house, in my life.”

“Up until a few hours ago you wanted to be with another woman, you thought you were tied to her.”

He takes a few seconds to think, looking at the headboard of the bed, then leans down to kiss my forehead. One, two, three times.

“To be honest, that’s true, you know that. I loved my California Girl and her way of seeing life, so optimistic, so dreamy and so fun. I was fascinated every time I could share what I couldn’t say to another person, knowing my secrets were safe with her. Ariel, many would say it was nothing more than just a fantasy, but in my case it became something very real, almost tangible. Of course I was amazed by that girl, who could have resisted her?

“Why do you speak in the past?” I ask. “Has finding out it was me broken the spell?”

“No, baby, quite the opposite. The dream has become my reality.”

His confidence takes my heart by storm and sets it racing.

“But what would have happened if it hadn’t been me, if that other woman really existed?” I persist.

He lets out a growl at my question.

“She doesn’t exist, so don’t torment that head of yours thinking about what could have been and fortunately isn’t. We’re here, together, and I’m glad that I can finally see those gray eyes while we talk about everything.”

“But you didn’t even like me...”

“That’s not true, I’ve always liked you.”

“Even in the bank?”

“Even in the bank,” he confesses, repeating my words back to me with an emphatic nod.

“Then why did you behave so rudely?” I want to know. “Were you hungry then?” I say, remembering his words about being a tyrant when hungry.

He stares at me again, then gently caresses the line of my jaw with his thumb.

“Yes,” he acknowledges, “I was hungry.”

“That wasn’t my fault.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my beautiful businesswoman, because I was hungry for you.”

“Lancelot,” I protest, giving him a soft slap on his shoulder.

“What?” he exclaims. “It’s the truth, it just took me some time to realize it. When you switched something on inside of me, Ariel, it really bothered me. I freaked out because you’re not the woman I would have chosen.”

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