Page 75 of Air Of Mystery
His eyes darkened.
“Let me be clear,” I said. “It’s been weeks, Charlie, and I want you. Badly.”
“I need you too, and for the record I don’t want quick.” He stepped closer. “I plan to take my time and enjoy it. Enjoy you.” He ran one finger over my bottom lip. “And Skye...you’ll be shouting down the walls by the time I’m finished with you.”
“Now who’s teasing?” I asked in a shaking voice.
“I’mnotteasing,” he said. “I’m basically putting you on notice. Tonight. All night. You’re mine.”
“Wow,” was about all I could manage.
With effort, I tried to put aside my raging hormones. A part of me knew he was right about the rehearsal. Wedidneed to be there, and not arriving late looking like we just went after each other. I would never embarrass my sister like that.
When he offered me his arm, I literally sighed over his gallantry. I looped my good arm through his and we went back out and down the steps. Charlie and I began to walk across the gardens and up the hill to the spot where the lawn began to meld into the trees of the woods.
The weather appeared to be cooperating for the wedding weekend. It was mild, in the 60s, partly cloudy, and the leaves in the woods were brilliant in shades of butterscotch yellow and gold. The guest chairs were already in neat rows for the following day’s ceremony and I saw Gabriella speaking to Nicole as an arbor was moved into position.
Behind them the three Marquette children were chasing each other around the chairs.
“Hi, Skye!” Danielle Marquette spotted me and ran over.
“Hi, Danielle!” I said a second before she threw her arms around my waist for a hug.
“How’s your arm?Mamansaid you broke it and got a cast. Can I see it?”
Obligingly, I held out my arm.
“Wow!” Danielle seemed impressed. “How much longer do you have to wear it?’
“A few more weeks,” I said.
“Hi Skye!” Archer and Celeste arrived. I got hugs from both of them and allowed the twins to inspect my cast as well.
“Are you feeling better now?” Celeste looked up at me and her big green eyes were sad.
“Oh, sweetie.” I ran my hand through her dark blonde hair. “I’m fine. Don’t you worry.”
Archer tapped his fingers against my cast. “Charlie told us he was going to stay with you at night at your house for a while, so he could keep his eye on you.”
“Skye tends to get herself into trouble,” he told the kids. “Somebody has to make sure she behaves.”
The kids thought that was hilarious and with the sound of their giggles floating on the air, the five of us walked up the slope to join the rest of the gang for the rehearsal.
A short time later I sat in one of the rows and watched as the officiant walked Brynn and Austin through the ceremony. A light breeze blew a few leaves out of a nearby maple, and I shifted my head toward the east to savor its breath across my face.
“East wind,” I said to myself. “For beginnings.”
“What was that?” Charlie asked.
Instead of explaining, I said, “This will be absolutely beautiful tomorrow evening for the ceremony.”
“Absolutely beautiful,” he agreed. But his eyes weren’t looking over the ceremony space. Instead, they were practically devouring me. “You look beautiful today,” he said.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”
He leaned closer and spoke softly in my ear. “I love the dress, but I’m dying to know…what’s under it?”
“Hardly anything,” I whispered back. “I’ll show you after the dinner when we’re back at your place.”
