Page 120 of Enthrall
“What’s that one?” I pointed.
“Pluto, demoted to a dwarf planet,” he said. “Scientists argued it didn’t dominate the neighborhood around its orbit enough.”
I giggled.
“Dirty mind,” he said with a smirk.
The breathtaking display above of twirling planets made me feel so small compared to the lush earth with its vivid blues and greens.
“How did Cameron pull this off?” I said.
“He has some of the most influential contacts in the world. Our members include politicians, celebrities, and we even have a member who’s an astronaut.”
“Seriously?”
“You’d be surprised.” He moved in closer and wrapped his arm around me. “Research has proven the higher the IQ the more likely the individual will be drawn to our lifestyle.”
“Huh.”
He rolled over to face me, raising himself up onto one elbow. Resting his head upon his other hand, his gaze locked on mine. “I want to make you happy. Make you feel safe.”
“You do. I am. This is perfect.”
“You’re so breathtakingly beautiful, Mia. Inside and out. Once I get over this feeling I don’t deserve you...”
“Oh Richard, can’t you see how much I love you?”
“I don’t remember having loved like this. Whatever’s going on inside my heart is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s terrifying. Trust me, I face off with fear all the time but this, this is different. Feels different.” He took in a deep cleansing breath. “Feel.”
Snuggling into his chest, I breathed Richard in, yearning for him despite our closeness.
“Humans are made from the stars,” he whispered. “Did you know that? I truly believe that you and I come from the exact same star. That star split off a millennia ago into a thousand pieces and yet we’ve found each other by some remarkable twist of fate. That’s why it’s only now, after reuniting with you all these centuries later, that I feel whole again.”
“Home,” I said. “I feel like I’ve come home for the very first time.”
He planted kiss upon kiss on my forehead. “I’ll protect you. Love you. Die for you.”
Looking into his ocean blue eyes, I held his gaze. “Then we’ll die together.”
“Not sure Cameron would approve,” he said with a smile.
“We do have him to thank for this.”
“He knows me better than I know myself,” he said. “He’s certainly making up for his rascally behavior.”
“Is rascally really a word?” I said.
“It really is. I know this for a fact because it’s not the first time I’ve called him it.” He brushed a stray hair out of my eyes.
“I’m going with dastardly.”
“See.” He rested a fingertip between my eyes. “A higher vocabulary indicates a higher intellect, which in turns leans towards,” he lowered his gaze, “BDSM.”
“Don’t jump off anymore high buildings, okay? Or climb without a safety harness.”
“Bossing me around already.” He took my hand in his and rested it over his solar plexus. Although he didn’t say the words, I knew his meaning.
I caressed his cheek with the back of my curled hand. “Doctor’s orders.” My legs felt like jelly.
